Whatcom County is absolutely jam packed with beautiful locations for photo sessions, but over the years I have found a number of staples that give me consistently good access to a variety of different backdrops, great lighting and are easy to trek around whether we’re doing headshots for your business or you’ve got two toddlers with you 😉 Below you can see samples of each location, what I recommend them for and where you can find them!
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North Lake Whatcom, Bellingham WA
I absolutely love this park. Easily one of my very favorite parks in all of Bellingham. Easy trail and beach access makes this location perfect for headshots, families, little kids, pets and engagement sessions. This location is mostly natural with no buildings or landmarks to include aside from a few bridges found in the woods and can be busy on weekends when it’s nice out. There are only a few spots to get down to the water, so I recommend this for a morning or mid-afternoon session, not ideal for weekends or evenings when the weather is nice due to the crowds!
2. Boulevard Park, Bellingham WA
A very well known and super picturesque park right on Bellingham Bay, this spot is great for families, headshots, kids, pets, engagement and maternity sessions. The biggest struggles with this location are that is can often be windy here, so winter and early spring can sometimes be a little too brisk and this spot it POPULAR. High traffic on nice days and weekends. Best for weekdays, mornings and afternoons if you want to avoid the crowds!
3. Hovander Homestead Park, Ferndale WA
Just a quick 20-ish minute drive from Bellingham, this park offers tonnnnss of variety from the giant red barn to the apple trees and the beautiful old home. There are lots of trails and things change depending on the season. A beautiful grassy field and colorful trees in the fall, huge whimsical dahlias in the summer! Perfect for all occasions with very easy access no matter the age. It can be a busy place, but typically, even when it’s busy, this spot is large enough we can avoid the crowds!
4. Semiahmoo Spit, Blaine WA
A little bit further than Hovander, but totally worth it with expansive beaches, a view of White Rock, trails and easy parking. I love the old building over the water and the docks, too. I like this spot specifically for families, engagement, multi-generational families and maternity sessions! It is slightly outside my travel range, so there is a fee to get here, but if you’re looking for something unique and very Pacific Northwest-esque, this is for you. There are pathways around most of the property, but getting down on the beach is ideal here, so if you have members of your group that aren’t super mobile, this might not be ideal!
5. Squalicum Beach Park, Bellingham WA
This location is another wonderful little spot that usually isn’t too crowded. They have recently reopened access to the water, which is awesome for some variety! It’s a flat, gravel pathway from the parking lot to the trees and on to the beach. You’ll want to be efficient to make it all the way down to the water in the allotted time for a typical session, but it’s worth it. One of my favorite places in town for that beautiful golden light on a sunny day, but even when weather is your typical PNW clouds, it’s a stunning place. There are a few trails around and through the treed area and it’s perfect for families, maternity, multi-generational families and couples! Dog friendly!
6. Elizabeth Park, Bellingham WA
Elizabeth Park is just block from downtown Bellingham and is surrounded by beautiful old homes. Nestled in the center of the park are a lovely gazebo and a cute fountain. Tons of huge, old trees throughout the park give lots of nice shade throughout the year and some color in the fall. I love being able to utilize some of the nice homes along the edges of the park for a slightly more urban look, too! Great for all kinds of sessions and very walkable!
7. Euclid Park, Bellingham WA
This little gem of a park is on your way out towards Sudden Valley, sandwiched between a bunch of houses. You’d never know it, though! These winding paths are surrounded by trees, a little creek (if it’s not too dry out!) and access to Lake Whatcom! It’s a small park, so there isn’t a ton of variety in backdrops, but it’s perfect if you’re looking for something simple and with very little distractions or people. The light tends to be better here in the morning or early afternoon, particularly on sunny days, so you can get the forest and the lake in the same exposure. Perfect for families, kids, pets, lovers and expecting mommas.
8. Woodstock Farm, Bellingham WA
This beautiful park is located off Chuckanut Drive. Perched on a bluff that overlooks Bellingham Bay and the train, this location has 16 acres of property to wander. I love the old homestead, the barn and the view! There is VERY limited parking – only 6 total spots onsite – at this location and does include hiking up and down some large hills, so this is best for outdoorsy people that are open to a little bit of a walk. This location is best on a weekday and if you’re hoping for a weekend, you’ll want to check in with the City of Bellingham to see if someone has rented our that site for a private event.
9. Whatcom Falls Park, Bellingham WA
Another easily accessed location with some variety in backdrops from the falls themselves, wide trails, a large pond and even a walking bridge! This location can sometimes be a little bit dark depending on the time of day and season and can be busy on weekends, particularly on the main bride overlooking the falls, but overall I love this location for the size and options. Great for all kinds of sessions and fairly walkable with some minor hills and uneven ground. It is a little spread out, so choosing the spots most important to you is a good place to start!
10. Waypoint Park, Bellingham WA
Last, but not least, Waypoint! A fairly new park to the area that is still being developed, it offers a really awesome “urban” look. The refurbished Granary Building is modern and sleek, the old buildings left over from the paper factory offer excellent contrast, there is a small beach area, the large acid ball and the new container village are all really fun. This location is a bit sprawling, so being efficient with your time is important here, but you have access to have a huge variety of backdrops! I love this spot for headshots, seniors, families and engagements!