Best places for senior pictures in denver

Finding the perfect setting for your high school senior portraits can be just as challenging as choosing the perfect outfit! Not every convenient spot offers the picturesque charm needed for these special photos. When selecting a location in the Denver-Metro area, consider elements like shade availability, diverse backdrops, parking convenience, crowd levels (such as those at Washington Park), and any necessary permits. Explore some of the area's top sites for stunning senior portraits, keeping in mind that the best location depends on your personal style, the image theme, and any permit needs. Have a favorite spot in mind? I'm eager to explore it with you!

Botanic Gardens: Perfect for Senior Portraits

For senior photos, the Denver Botanic Gardens is a standout choice. This location is a visual delight year-round, offering a myriad of styles and settings. With my photography permit, we can also access Cheesman Park via the garden's back gate, providing a quick transition to a different atmosphere. The Gardens boast a rich tapestry of trees, shrubs, and floral arrangements, with diverse themes ranging from English gardens to bamboo groves. If you seek a locale with extensive variety, the Botanic Gardens is unmatched, complete with easy parking. However, if you're looking to incorporate an urban feel or simple brick backdrop, this might not be the ideal spot.

City Park & DMNS: Ideal Spots for Senior Portraits

Capture your high school senior portraits against the diverse and enchanting backdrops of City Park and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS). City Park offers a stunning array of settings, from serene lakes and small ponds to majestic evergreen trees and vibrant spring blossoms. The spacious grounds provide ample convenient parking and numerous picturesque locations for memorable photoshoots.

The DMNS adds a modern twist with its striking architecture and intriguing walls, perfect for a contemporary aesthetic. The museum is also notably photographer-friendly, offering several indoor spaces (outside of the exhibits) that are perfect for capturing beautiful portraits. These versatile locations promise a variety of styles to suit your vision for unforgettable senior year memories.

Bear Creek Greenbelt: Scenic spot for Senior pictures

Bear Creek Greenbelt in Lakewood is the perfect setting for capturing unforgettable senior portraits. Nestled between Wadsworth and Kipling near Yale, this picturesque location offers a tranquil escape with its meandering creek, lush tall grasses, and serene pond. The area is dotted with fascinating fallen trees and a network of bridges and railings, providing a wealth of creative posing possibilities.

The Greenbelt's varied landscape, including low foliage and impressive tree stumps, invites endless opportunities for unique and personalized photo sessions. With a convenient main parking lot, meeting up is hassle-free, and the low bike traffic ensures an uninterrupted and relaxed photoshoot experience. Whether you're seeking a rustic charm or a natural backdrop, Bear Creek Greenbelt delivers a stunning environment to capture the essence of your senior year.

Bluff Lake Nature Center: A Tranquil Escape for Senior Photos

Bluff Lake Nature Preserve offers a serene and picturesque setting for high school senior portraits, perfectly balancing the feeling of seclusion with convenient city access. Situated at the edge of Central Park (formerly known as Stapleton) near MLK and Havana, this hidden gem provides a tranquil retreat without the need for a lengthy drive.

The preserve boasts a stunning array of natural features, including a serene pond adorned with cattails, as well as clusters of deciduous trees and sweeping tall grasses. These elements create a beautiful backdrop for capturing the essence of your senior year in a peaceful, nature-filled environment.

While the preserve's trails are easily accessible from a nearby parking lot, please note that most areas require navigating stairs or a meandering path to reach the main park. Additionally, due to the no-dog policy, it's not suitable for those wishing to include pets in their portraits. Nonetheless, Bluff Lake Nature Preserve remains an ideal choice for those seeking to capture their senior memories amidst nature's glory, offering an escape that feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Cherry Creek State Park: Senior portraits with a beach in denver

Cherry Creek State Park offers a unique opportunity for high school seniors and their families to capture unforgettable portraits. While it may not be the most conveniently located for everyone, its diverse settings make the trek worthwhile. The park features a charming sandy beach and a scenic reservoir, providing a a multitude of stunning backdrops within a compact space.

One of the park's most captivating features is the tall grasses, which turn a rich gold in the fall and maintain their beauty throughout the winter, offering an aesthetic that's hard to replicate in the urban landscape. This seasonal transformation provides a unique and dynamic setting, enhancing the visual storytelling of your senior year.

Please note that Cherry Creek State Park requires an admission fee for those without a State Parks pass.

Downtown Denver: Edgy Urban Scenes for High School Senior Portraits

For those seniors who gravitate towards a more daring and edgy aesthetic, Downtown Denver provides the perfect urban canvas. The city streets pulse with energy, offering a backdrop that is as bold and dynamic as the graduates themselves. From the raw textures of old train bridges entangled with ivy to striking modern bridges that span the cityscape, each location brings a distinctive flair to senior portraits.

Downtown Denver is a playground for creativity, where seniors can express their unique style against the backdrop of iconic locales like the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA), the historic charm of LoDo, and the open expanses of Commons Park. The Civic Center Park area, with its blend of historic landmarks such as the Supreme Court, State Capitol, Library, and Museum, provides a dramatic and powerful setting that enhances the narrative of each photograph.

The city’s essence is captured in its unexpected corners—industrial alleyways, gritty garages, and the rhythmic hum of the light rail—offering a raw and authentic edge to photo sessions. These unconventional backdrops are perfect for seniors who want their images to reflect their individuality and fearless spirit.

Whether posing against a rusty metal wall or capturing a moment of reflection in front of Denver’s cityscape, each portrait becomes a piece of art that tells a story. Downtown Denver ensures that every portrait is not just a picture, but a story of this exciting transition in life, encapsulating the spirit and vitality of youth in the city's vibrant heartbeat.

O'Fallon Park: A Scenic and Unique Location for Senior Portraits Near Bear Creek

Nestled as a trailhead to scenic hikes, O’Fallon Park also offers easy access to the picturesque Bear Creek. With its open meadows, shallow creek perfect for a little wading, and lush, leafy trees, this spot is ideal for adding variety to your senior portraits. Incorporating water elements into your photos can make for a fun and unique session. Keep in mind, though, that the park gets crowded on summer weekends, so weekday sessions are best. While it’s a bit of a drive for those in Central Denver, the serene beauty of this location makes the trip worthwhile for a completely different backdrop.

RiNo Arts District & Mural Walls: Vibrant Senior Portraits in an Evolving Artistic Neighborhood

The mural walls in Denver's RiNo Arts District offer a vibrant and creative backdrop for senior portraits. This ever-evolving neighborhood showcases a variety of murals, with new artwork appearing each year, making every session unique. Whether you want to feature bold, colorful murals or use parts of the artwork as an interesting accent, the options are limitless. Along with the art, RiNo also provides more neutral backgrounds, like brick walls or industrial settings, perfect for a balanced mix of urban style. Wandering through the area, we can discover hidden nooks and unexpected spots that add a unique flair to your photos. If you're seeking an energetic, city-inspired setting, the RiNo neighborhood is the perfect fit for your senior portraits.

Hildebrand Ranch Park: Stunning Senior Portraits with Foothills and Natural Backdrops

Tucked against the hogback in Littleton, Hildebrand Ranch Park offers a beautiful blend of tall trees, sweeping grasses, and foothill views—perfect for senior portraits with a natural, scenic backdrop. There’s even an old barn for those who want a rustic touch. Located near the Chatfield Botanic Gardens, the park is easily accessible from C-470 and Wadsworth. While it's a popular spot for photographers, there's always plenty of space to find your own unique angles and picturesque nooks. If you're looking to feature "mountains" (foothills) in your photos, this location is an ideal choice.

Industrial: Bold Senior Portraits with Urban Decay, Graffiti Art, and Parkour Vibes

Industrial settings offer a perfect backdrop for senior portraits with an edgy, adventurous spirit. Featuring concrete, graffiti art, urban decay, and hidden spots perfect for parkour and climbing, these spaces bring a unique energy to your photos. I love exploring areas under bridges where water and striking columns create photo-friendly, dramatic settings. From scaling walls to embracing the rugged beauty of the city, this style is ideal for those looking to stand out with bold, dynamic portraits. If you’re drawn to graffiti, raw textures, and the thrill of urban exploration, an industrial shoot will be a perfect fit.

Cheesman Park: Classic Denver Spot for Senior Portraits

Cheesman Park is known for its low flower gardens, sprawling lawns, and the striking marble Greek-style pavilion. It's a popular destination for prom and graduation photos, which means it can get crowded, and parking can be a challenge. Finding moments for wide shots in the pavilion without others around can be tricky. However, if you're looking for a classic Denver backdrop with the pavilion and garden spaces, this park offers a unique setting for your senior portraits.

Ketring Park

This park is located in old downtown Littleton, between Broadway and Santa Fe just off Littleton Blvd. This park has a small lake but the best parts are the old growth deciduous trees that are old and dense enough to look almost like forest. There’s a lovely grassy park area encircled by old trees, creating beautiful shade (which we photographers love). This location is beautiful morning or evening.

Your Own Location - Tailored Senior Portraits in the Perfect Setting

Your senior portraits should reflect your unique personality, and the right location makes all the difference. Whether it's the natural beauty of Roxborough State Park, the cozy familiarity of your own back yard, or the rustic charm of your horse stable, the options are endless. I love capturing portraits in rural horse stables, where the open fields, weathered barns, and natural surroundings offer a serene, picturesque backdrop. These settings beautifully highlight the bond between you and your horse while embracing the peaceful beauty of rural life.

For athletes, an athletic field or your favorite bike park might set the perfect stage. If you’re looking for something offbeat, we can head to a cemetery or even shoot underwater in a pool for a truly unique look.

Have a dream location in mind, like Arches National Park? I’m happy to travel with you to make your senior portraits unforgettable. I also work in Carbondale and the Roaring Fork Valley for those who live in and love the beauty of that area. Whatever your vision, I’m here to bring it to life with portraits that are as unique as you are.

Want more location options you don’t see here? Contact me and I am happy to share other locations I have used or new locations that I’m not ready to feature here yet.