If you are in search of the best locations for Upper Valley photo sessions across New Hampshire and Vermont, look no further! Locations are listed by town, with details about favorite features, the best time of the year and day to visit, along with images.

We don’t need anything extravagant or overly complex to make beautiful images together.

While finalizing details for your portrait session, one of the big decisions we make is where to hold it! There are many beautiful spots in the Upper Valley and throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. I encourage you to consider spots that are personal to you, or that you know well, such as your home or favorite place to go with your family and loved ones. Sometimes easy accessibility is important to prevent any difficulty getting to a location, as well as with young children, a backyard or the park down the street may be the easiest, lowest stress option for you.

What makes a great photo location?

The most important thing for me to consider when choosing a location is the lighting, which coincides with the time of the day that we hold your session, the topography, and natural and structural features of the land. I consider the amount of open area, access to the sky, reflective surfaces such as gravel, pavement, water, facades; and the density of surrounding foliage. All of these factors affect lighting and composition and determine the overall mood and look of your images. An open field or the dense woods provides a very different vibe and light scenario.

Locations produce an airy, cheerful vibe

You’ve likely hired me for my natural and light-inspired look. It’s not just airy editing that gives this style, location has a lot to do with it! I seek out locations that are open, neutral, provide ample access to sunlight, have reflective surfaces for beautiful skin tones, and offer open shade or foliage for gentle diffused lighting. All of these aspects occur everywhere when you know what to look for. They include:

• Light-filtering shrubbery and bushes
• Most trees, but not a deep tree-line or forest
• Fields with tall, golden grasses
• White, light-colored, stone architecture and buildings
• Light colored pavement and gravel, sand

Spots that produce artful, moody images:

• Dense forest with little access to the open sky
• Inside barns, covered bridges, or buildings with small windows
• Positioned right against trees and bushes
• Positioned close to wood or dark-colored surfaces
• Basically anywhere with pocket or low light

Low-fuss Locations

While location is important, my subjects are the focus. The location we choose does not need to be full of ornate features or overly complex. I am always so excited to go to places like The Fells Estate or Saint-Gaudens, because of the rich landscape, architecture, views, and flowers that are there, however, I’ve had gorgeous shoots in fields, backyards, and in urban settings that might not have been considered.

Locations by Feature

Covered Bridges
Nothing says New England more than the nostalgia of a covered bridge.

• Packard Hill Covered Bridge (Lebanon)
• Quechee Covered Bridge
• Meriden Covered Bridge
• Middle Covered Bridge (Woodstock)

Barns & Rustic Vibes

One of my favorite rustic spots in the Upper Valley with big, rewarding views!

Farms & Orchards
I love venturing to these spots when possible, and depending on season.

• Riverview Farm
• Muster Field Farm (Sutton)
• Patch Orchards
• Wellwood Orchard

Urban/Town
While nature is plentiful here in the Upper Valley, we have some beautiful quaint towns and architecture that make for a lovely backdrop.

• White River Junction
• Woodstock
• Hanover and Dartmouth College Campus

Architecture & Gardens
My top garden locations are Saint-Gaudens and The Fells. It’s always a treat to photograph at these places.

• Saint-Gaudens
• The Fells
• Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park
• Enfield Shaker Village

Woodsy and Natural
Certain locations lend themselves to seasons, such as Mink Brook in the fall, or Dewey’s landing in the spring with it’s lush trees and depth.

• Mink Brook
• Trails near Hanover Golf Course
• Nathan’s Garden (bring the bug spray!)
• Dewey’s Landing / Quechee Gorge
• Various local trails & hikes

Views
If you are hoping for rolling hills and mountain views in the Upper Valley, there are a few spots to consider.

• Saint-Gaudens
• Clark’s Lookout
• Mt. Peg Hike (Woodstock)
• Patch Orchards

Water
I love to photograph near the water whenever I can! We are surrounded by lakes, rivers, and brooks. They provide such a gorgeous setting for summer and fall photo sessions.

• Boston Lot Lake
• Brookside Park (Grantham)
• Clark’s Lookout (View of the lake)
• Foley Park (Hanover/Norwich)
• Dewey’s Landing
• Lake Morey
• Lakeside Park (Enfield)
• Lake Sunapee
• Treasure Island (Lake Fairlee)
• Quechee Gorge

Upper Valley New Hampshire Photo Locations

Cornish & Plainfield

• Riverview Farm – Easy to access farm open from August through October. On occasion they allow photo sessions when the apple blossoms are in bloom. Here, there are many rows of apple trees, flowers, and pumpkins.
• My Favorite Barn – I’ll share my favorite semi-private hiking and relaxation spot. A beautiful restored barn sits on the property, long-range views, fields, and a country dirt road.
• Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park – Home to a famous sculptor and once an artist colony. Saint-Gaudens has beautiful manicured grounds with flowers, a birch alley, and a sweeping view of Mount Ascutney. Gorgeous all year around.
• Cornish Recreation and Education Center – A favorite spot in the fall. A field bordering a forest, with a pond, and views of a picturesque red barn.

Enfield

• Enfield Shaker Village – The architecture is lovely, but faces the sun, so best to visit this spot at golden hour in the morning or evening. Across the street there is a little stream with a footbridge that is beautiful for portraits, as well as a field, pathway into the treeline, and stone architecture.
• Rail Trail – This location combines well with Lakeside Park. In Enfield, there is a dramatic spot along the trail with granite ledges on either side. However, the depth of the trail during fall foliage season provides a lovely backdrop on its own. There are lake views along portions of the trail in Enfield.
• Lakeside Park, Mascoma Lake – An easy-access spot with views of the lake, and nearby trails for filtered light and foliage. Golden hour is the best time of day to visit. When the lake freezes it fills up with fishing shanties.

Grantham

• Brookside Park – Perfect for a fall photo session with a wooden walking bridge that spans a brook that is moderately easy to access for photos on the rocks.

Hanover

• Foley Park – A manicured peninsula of land that is adjacent to Ledyard Bridge, on the Norwich side. Wonderful easy-access spot that is great to visit in the spring through fall, with flowering trees in mid-May, views of the river, and gorgeous foliage in fall. I’ve photographed two fall surprise proposals at this spot!
• Nathan’s Garden – Private land off Allen Street that has been made public in honor of the owner’s who lost their son. It’s a hidden gem, a bit of a secret garden. Wonderful in the spring and summer when there is a lot of light. Best to come during daylight as shade abounds. Bug spray recommended.
• Occom Pond & Golf Course – The grounds around Occom Pond are pretty in the late spring through fall. There are trails off from the golf course for lovely summer through winter photo sessions.
• Mink Brook – If you are looking for a woodsy adventure along a beautiful brook, this may be the spot for you. I have a favorite spot with a clearing where the light streams in at golden hour. Images of children and parents playing near the water’s edge is a highlight here. In early May, the path via Brook Road is covered with ferns and phlox, and has a lush vibe.

Lake Sunapee Region

• John Hay Estate at The Fells – If you want to be surrounded in gardens and enjoy historic architecture, this may be the option for you!
• Clark’s Lookout – This is one of the easiest hikes around, about 5 minutes to the summit with a sweeping view of Lake Sunapee and the mountain. Lighting can be tricky in the evening, and I recommend coming a couple hours before sunset. I’ve been in all seasons. It’s prettiest in the spring after the trees have popped through late fall.
• Lake Sunapee – Various locations, public and private.
• Newbury Docks – The docks here are beautiful and afford a lovely view of the lake and passing boats at golden hour. I imagine it may get busy in the summertime.
• Muster Field Farm – This is a new favorite location with ample space, a variety of terrain, from stone walls to fields, and some rustic buildings. A great spot for fall photos at golden hour, however the trees provide shade, so a daytime session may be possible here as well.

Lebanon

• Rail Trail – Perfect for a simple portrait session, the rail trail offers lots of depth especially in the fall. There are a lot of fun spots along the rail trail, and if you are adventurous, we could ride our bikes and stop along the way for portraits.
• Packard Hill Covered Bridge – I love this spot in the fall and winter. The evening light as it sets behind the bridge is lovely. A very easy access location for a New England vibe.
• Patch Orchards, Riverview Farm, Poverty Lane Orchards – Perfect spots for families with in the late summer through fall. On occasion we can access for photos with the blossoms in the spring.

Lyme

• Post Pond – A serene woodsy lake
• Chaffee Wildlife Area – Great to pair with post pond, the fields are gorgeous at golden hour and can pair this spot well with Post Pond.

Upper Valley Vermont Photo Locations

Norwich

• Various fields and trails

Fairlee

• Lake Morey and Treasure Island

Quechee

• Dewey’s Landing & Pond – Idyllic in the spring, and also lovely in the summer and fall. Dewey’s Pond features a slip of land with a tree-lined path and a pond on one side and the Ottauquechee River on the other. Best to come in the morning or golden hour.
• Quechee Gorge (brief hike to bottom) – Though I’ve lived in the area for years, I didn’t start holding sessions here until just recently. Take a quick hike to the bottom of the gorge, and the rocks, river, and bridge high up in the distance make for a stunning backdrop. This could be a challenging spot with young children, as safety on the rocks may be a concern. The walk back up is steep, but short. It’s best to come in the summer when the river is low enough to expose the rocks. Fall is gorgeous as well, and expect many other visitors.

White River Junction

• Town garden space and architecture – There are numerous interesting building facades, textures, and nooks in downtown White River Junction for an editorial shoot. Photos among the architectural characteristics can be paired with a few images in nature, at a local park.

Woodstock

• Faulkner Park

• Woodstock History Center
• Middle Covered Bridge

• Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park

• Billings Farm
• Kelly Ways Gardens