10+ Photo Locations in Utah Valley & Salt Lake City Area
Beautiful Utah locations for senior, engagement, wedding, family, motherhood, and children’s photography.
Utah is filled with incredible scenery for portraits. From dramatic mountain views and pine forests to elegant architecture, open neutral landscapes, and modern city backdrops. I love exploring everything this state has to offer!
One of the biggest things that shapes the overall feel of your photos is the location itself. Some locations feel soft and romantic while others feel cinematic, adventurous, timeless, or editorial.
Whether you're planning:
senior photos
engagement pictures
temple wedding portraits
family photography
motherhood sessions
maternity portraits
…or other genres, these are some of my favorite photo locations throughout Salt Lake City, Utah Valley, and the surrounding Wasatch Front.
Tibble Fork Reservoir
Tibble Fork is one of the most versatile portrait locations in Utah. The combination of mountain views, pine trees, shoreline, and soft evening light makes it beautiful for nearly every type of session.
This location photographs especially well during summer and early fall (and a little bit of winter!) and offers a perfect balance between scenic and timeless.
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Big Cottonwood Canyon is known for its towering pine trees, winding mountain roads, dramatic scenery, and beautiful soft light.
The canyon creates a romantic, elevated mountain feel without looking overly rugged or harsh in photos.
Fall colors here are especially stunning.
Sundance & Provo Canyon
Sundance and Provo Canyon offer some of the most iconic scenery in Utah with:
rivers
aspens
forest trails
mountain backdrops
open meadow areas
The variety throughout this area makes it one of the best year-round portrait locations in Utah.
Alpine Loop
Alpine Loop is one of Utah’s most popular photography areas because of how much variety it offers in a relatively small area.
Between the aspens, forests, mountain views, and open natural spaces, it works beautifully for everything from seniors and couples to family and motherhood sessions.
Tunnel Springs Park
Tunnel Springs Park offers rolling hills, wide open space, and stunning mountain and valley views.
This location photographs beautifully at sunset and creates a softer, airy look that works especially well for emotional and natural portrait sessions.
Antelope Island
Antelope Island creates one of the most unique landscapes near Salt Lake City with open natural terrain, lake views, soft grasses, and dramatic sunsets.
The scenery feels expansive and cinematic while still remaining neutral and timeless in photographs.
Downtown Salt Lake City
Downtown Salt Lake offers a more modern, editorial aesthetic with:
architecture
textured walls
city streets
clean lines
urban backdrops
This area works beautifully for seniors, couples, and sessions wanting a polished or fashion-inspired feel.
Utah State Capitol
The Utah State Capitol is one of the most elegant portrait locations in the area.
The architecture, staircases, stone details, and mountain views create a timeless and elevated backdrop for portraits throughout every season.
Murray Park
Murray Park is one of the best locations near Salt Lake City for lush greenery and mature trees.
The park offers:
beautiful shaded areas
open green space
pathways
bridges
soft natural light
making it a versatile option for families, seniors, motherhood sessions, and couples.
Memory Grove Park
Memory Grove Park combines mature trees, stone architecture, walking paths, and beautiful greenery near downtown Salt Lake City.
It has a romantic, timeless atmosphere that photographs beautifully throughout spring, summer, and fall.
Saratoga Springs & Utah Lake Areas
The Saratoga Springs area offers beautiful open scenery with mountain views, soft neutral tones, lakeside light, and rolling natural landscapes that photograph beautifully year-round.
Golden hour here is especially beautiful with the open western light over Utah Lake.
Bonneville Salt Flats
The Bonneville Salt Flats are one of the most iconic photography locations in Utah.
The clean white landscape creates a dramatic minimalist feel that photographs beautifully for:
seniors
couples
bridals
maternity
motherhood sessions
The simplicity of the scenery allows emotion, styling, and connection to become the focus of the images.
Choosing the Right Utah Photo Location
The best location for your session depends on:
your personal style
the season
wardrobe choices
lighting
the emotional feel you want your images to capture
Some clients love dramatic mountain scenery while others are drawn to soft natural landscapes, elegant architecture, or modern city backdrops.
I help every client choose a location that fits both their vision and the feeling they want their images to have. Send me a message or call me at 480-340-4530 and we can get you all set up!
Bonus: Southern Utah Photo Locations Worth the Drive
Southern Utah offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country and creates an entirely different feel from northern Utah locations.
For clients wanting a more dramatic, adventurous, or cinematic atmosphere, Southern Utah sessions are always unforgettable.
Moab
Moab offers iconic red rock landscapes, desert textures, cliffs, arches, and dramatic sunsets that create stunning imagery for seniors, couples, bridals, and adventurous portrait sessions. It’s such a beautiful area and the best part is, you don’t even need to wait in long lines to be inside the National Park - there’s SO many other amazing views in the area!
The contrast between soft emotion and rugged scenery photographs beautifully here.
St. George
St. George combines warm desert tones, soft sandstone textures, open landscapes, and gorgeous golden light nearly year-round.
It’s an incredible option for:
engagements
seniors
anniversary sessions
motherhood portraits
destination-style sessions
especially during fall, winter, and early spring when temperatures are milder.