Best Portrait Session Location Guide for Phoenix Arizona

You’re wanting to do a shoot near or around Phoenix, AZ, but want to compare options and get the best location. Here’s the Best Portrait Session Location Guide for Phoenix Arizona, and also includes some areas that are within an hour’s drive of Phoenix.

The locations are organized based on their look they most align with. Many places are free, but several require a fee for a photography session. Based on information from other photographers and what’s available online, we’ll keep this location guide updated with fees to help save you time and effort.

I’ll also update this list with new categories from time to time, such as seasonal ideas! If you have any suggestions, please comment below – I’d love to hear your ideas.

 

*Asterisks mean there’s a known location fee*

 

Rustic, Rural

**Lost Dutchman Museum (4087 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119)**
-Adults Entry Fee $5.00
-Seniors Entry Fee $4.00 (55 and over)
-Children 17 and under “FREE” with paid Adult
https://superstitionmountainmuseum.org/

 

Goldfield Ghost Town (4650 N Mammoth Mine Rd, Apache Junction, AZ 85119)
http://goldfieldghosttown.com/

 

**Agritopia Farm (3000 E Ray Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296)**
-Professional photographers pay $50 per shoot, though it may not be required. Click HERE for the guidelines regarding their fee.
https://agritopiafarm.com/

 

**Photos at the Farm** (one acre farm on the border of Gilbert and Queen Creek AZ, near Chandler Heights and Power.)
-$40 for 2 hours, and then $5 per each additional hour
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1563966080571167/

 

Tumbleweed Park (745 E Germann Rd, Chandler, AZ 85286)
https://www.visitchandler.com/listings/tumbleweed-park/679/

 

Sahuaro Ranch (9802 N 59th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85302)
https://www.glendaleaz.com/Live/Amenities/parks_facilities_trails/regional_parks/sahuaro_ranch_park

 

Old Town Glendale (Glendale)
https://visitdowntownglendale.com/

 

Pioneer Village (Peoria)
https://www.pioneervillage.org/

 

**Schnepf Farms (24610 E Rittenhouse Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142)**
-There is a $100.00 fee for use of the farm for any sessions for 3 hours photography on the Farm. These may be scheduled 7 days a week at any time you desire for best light.
https://schnepffarms.com

 

 

Modern/Urban

Mesa Arts Center (1 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201)
https://www.mesaartscenter.com/

 

Tempe Center of Arts (700 W. Rio Salado, Tempe, AZ 85281)
https://www.tempecenterforthearts.com/

 

ASU Art Building (900 S Forest Mall)
https://art.asu.edu/galleries-and-facilities/art-building

 

Gammage Theatre (1200 S Forest Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281)
https://www.asugammage.com/

 

Tempe Town Lake (Tempe)
https://www.tempe.gov/government/community-services/tempe-town-lake

 

Mill Ave (Tempe)
https://www.downtowntempe.com/explore

 

Downtown Gilbert (Gilbert)
https://www.discovergilbert.com

 

Market Street at DC Ranch (Scottsdale)
https://beonmarketstreet.com/

Arabian Library (10215 E McDowell Mountain Ranch Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255)
https://www.scottsdalelibrary.org/

 

Downtown Chandler (Chandler)
https://downtownchandler.org/

 

Roosevelt Art District (Phoenix)
https://www.rooseveltrow.org/
Get ideas for backgrounds on my Roosevelt Row blog post: “ROOSEVELT ROW – A WONDERLAND OF GRAFFITI“

 

Near and around Talking Stick Resort Arena, historic buildings (201 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85004)

 

 

Desert

**Lost Dutchman State Park (6109 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119)**
–Per Vehicle: $7/day
https://azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman/
Here’s a link to a recent portrait session of mine at The Lost Dutchman State Park to get ideas

 

**Salt River, Phon D’Sutton, Coon Bluff (Fort McDowell)**
-Daily pass is $8 per vehicle, plus taxes. Click HERE to view a list of vendors where you can purchase a pass.
Phon D Sutton Website
Coon Bluff Website

 

San Tan Regional Mountain (6533 W Phillips Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142)
https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/san-tan-mountain-regional-park/

 

**Usery Pass (3939 Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207)**
-$7 per vehicle
https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/park-locator/usery-mountain-regional-park/

 

Riparian Preserve (2757 E Guadalupe Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234)
https://www.gilbertaz.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/riparian-preserve-at-water-ranch

 

Veteran’s Oasis (4050 E Chandler Heights Rd, Chandler, AZ 85249)
https://www.chandleraz.gov/explore/chandler-parks/guide/veterans-oasis-park

 

Zanjero Park (3785 S Lindsay Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85297)
https://www.gilbertaz.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks-facility-and-sport-field-rentals/parks-infomation/parks/zanjero-park

 

Papago Park (625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008)
https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/papago-park

 

Apache Wash Trailhead (1600 E Sonoran Desert Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85085)
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/apache-wash-trail-head

 

**Desert Botanical Garden (1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008)**
-Admission costs $24.95 for adults and $12.95 for kids 3 to 17. May be able to obtain free passes from the public libraries around the valley.
https://www.dbg.org/

 

Estella Mountain Regional Park (W Vineyard Ave, Goodyear, AZ 85338)
https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/park-locator/estrella-mountain-regional-park/park-activities/hiking/

 

Phoenix Sonoran Preserve (1600 E Sonoran Desert Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85085)
https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/sonoran-preserve

 

White Tank Mountain Regional Park (20304 W White Tank Mountain Rd, Waddell, AZ 85355)
https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/park-locator/white-tank-mountain-regional-park/

 

Verrado Trailhead (W Lost Creek Dr W, Buckeye, AZ 85396)
https://www.verrado.com/life-verrado/trails/

 

 

Fall Season

In Phoenix, fall colors don’t start showing till November. Payson, Flagstaff, and Prescott will show fall colors sooner if you’re willing to travel!

Nichols Park (700 N Higley Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234)
https://www.gilbertaz.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks-facility-and-sport-field-rentals/parks-infomation/parks/nichols-park

 

**Agritopia Farm (3000 E Ray Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296)**
-Professional photographers pay $50 per shoot, though it may not be required. Click HERE for the guidelines regarding their fee.
https://agritopiafarm.com/

 

**Boyce Thompson Arboretum (37615 E US Highway #60, Superior, AZ 85173)
-General Admission $15
-Children’s Admission (Ages 5-12) $5
https://www.btarboretum.org/

 

**Photos at the Farm** (one acre farm on the border of Gilbert and Queen Creek AZ, near Chandler Heights and Power.)
-$40 for 2 hours, and then $5 per each additional hour
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1563966080571167/

 

**Schnepf Farms (24610 E Rittenhouse Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142)**
-There is a $100.00 fee for use of the farm for any sessions for 3 hours photography on the Farm. These may be scheduled 7 days a week at any time you desire for best light.
https://schnepffarms.com

Pumpkin Patches

**Mother Nature’s Farm (1663 E Baseline Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85233)**
-$50 session fee
http://www.mothernaturesfarm.com

 

**Vertuccio Farms (4011 S Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212)**
-$10 per person entry fee, ages 2 yrs and under free
https://vertucciofarms.com/fall-festival/

 

 

Recommended Studios Around the Phoenix Valley with Short Description

**Parkwood Photography Studios (2212 E McDowell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85006)**
Large studio with multiple rooms with high ceilings and colored seamless paper and textured walls. The studio provides lighting equipment and soft boxes upon request. Check website for pricing – starts at $50/hour with a 2 hour minimum.
https://parkwoodstudio.com/

 

**Space One2One (123 N Centennial Way Suite 121, Mesa, AZ 85201)**
Smaller studio than Parkwood, great for small families in their lifestyle room, children, newborns, boudoir,  and headshots. Beautiful setups for holidays, and seasons, such as Christmas, Easter, and even going Back to School. The studio provides lighting equipment and soft boxes, though there are large windows with lots of natural light. Pricing starts at $45 per hour and varies with the room rented.
https://www.facebook.com/spaceone2one/

 

**Blok Photo Studio (1002 E Pierce St STE 102, Phoenix, AZ 85006)**
Large studio with white walls and lots of  natural lighting. Seamless provided with white, black or gray backgrounds. Prices are for a minimum of two hours and start at $110.
https://www.blokphotostudio.com

 

Thanks for reading our comprehensive best portrait session location guide for Phoenix Arizona. Let us know if there’s a favorite spot you’d like to add to the list!