Location Guide
Location Guide
Looking for the perfect spot for your photo session? I’ve put together a guide to some of my favorite locations in and around Baltimore City and the surrounding counties, places that offer beautiful backdrops for everything from family sessions to seniors, engagements, and more.
Each location below includes highlights of what makes it special, the best time of year for photos and notes on whether a permit is required.
Permit fees are included in mini session pricing, but please note they are not included for extended family, engagement, or senior sessions and will be added to your total if needed.
Whether you’re drawn to historic stone buildings, waterfront views, colorful gardens, or open fields, there’s something here for every style and season!
Cylburn Arboretum
Baltimore City
Best in: Spring, Summer & Fall
Cylburn Arboretum features lush gardens, wide open lawns, wooded paths, a historic mansion house, and a greenhouse — offering a wide variety of natural and architectural backdrops all in one location.
Under 10 people, permit required but free. Must submit 21 days in advance or pay $25/fee
Hampton Mansion, Farm Side
Towson, MD
Best in: All seasons
The farm area at Hampton Mansion includes fenced pastures, historic barns, log cabins, and open fields, all set against the backdrop of an 18th-century estate and preserved farmland.
No permit required
Sherwood Gardens
Baltimore City
Best in: Spring (peak bloom is 2 weeks)
Sherwood Gardens in Baltimore, Maryland, is known for its vibrant seasonal flower, the tulip that peak in late April. While April is peak, it does off open lawns, mature trees, and manicured landscaping year round.
$75/hour permit required
Hampton Mansion
Towson, MD
Best in: All seasons
Hampton National Historic Site includes a grand 18th-century mansion, formal gardens, stone walkways, open fields, historic outbuildings, and tree-lined drives all set across a large, well-preserved estate.
No permit required
Springlake Pond
Timonium, MD
Best in: Spring & Fall
Springlake Pond in Timonium, Maryland, features a small tree-lined pond with a walking path, footbridge, and seasonal foliage.
No permit required
Cromwell Valley Park
Towson, MD
Best in : All Seasons
Cromwell Valley Park offers open meadows, wooded trails, footbridges, and farm-style buildings, with a mix of natural landscapes that change with the seasons.
No permit required
Maryland Agricultural Center
Hunt Valley, MD
Best in : Spring & Fall
The Maryland Agricultural Resource Center features wide open fields, rustic barns, split-rail fences, and wooded areas, offering a classic rural setting with plenty of open space and natural light. Horses, cows and pigs may be viewable.
No permit required
Fells Point
Baltimore City
Best in : All Seasons
Fells Point in Baltimore, Maryland, features cobblestone streets, historic rowhomes, waterfront piers, and charming brick facades, blending urban character with harbor views for a classic Baltimore backdrop.
No permit required
Shrine of St. Anthony
Howard County
Best in Spring & Fall
The Shrine of St. Anthony features stone archways, manicured gardens, wooded paths, and a historic monastery building, all set on rolling hills that give the property a peaceful and timeless atmosphere.
$25 Permit fee
Kinder Park Farm
Millersville, MD
Best in Fall
Kinder Park Farm is a big open field and overgrown woods that is perfect at sunset.
No permit required
Rockburn Branch Park
Howard County
Best in Fall
Rockburn Branch Park includes open fields, wooded trails, historic stone buildings, and creek crossings, providing a mix of natural and historic settings throughout the park.
No permit required
Bromo Seltzer Art Clock Tower
Baltimore City
Best in Winter (indoor)
The Bromo Seltzer Clock Tower features industrial brick interiors, dramatic natural light from oversized windows, and a distinctive historic atmosphere.
$100/hour permit required
Marshy Point State Park
Essex, MD
Best in Fall
Marshy Point Park in Essex offers wooded trails, waterfront views, boardwalks through wetlands, and open grassy areas, with a natural, coastal feel.
No permit required
Christmas Tree Farm
Monkton, MD
Best in late Fall
A Christmas tree farm offers rows of evergreens, open fields, and a vintage truck creating a festive, rustic backdrop ideal for winter photo sessions.
$50/per session
Jerusalem Mill
Kingsville, MD
Best in All Seasons
Jerusalem Mill Village features historic stone buildings, wooded trails, a scenic mill stream, and rustic fences.
$75/permit required
Sunflower Garden
Westminter, MD
Best in Summer & Fall
The Sunflower Garden in Westminster, Maryland, offers fields of bright sunflowers in peak bloom during late summer, along with rustic barns, farm stands, and open skies that create a warm, colorful backdrop for photos.
$25/hour permit
Terrapin Beach
Stevensville, MD
Terrapin Beach Park features a sandy shoreline, tall grasses, wooded trails, and views of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, with a mix of beach, marsh, and forest all in one spot.
no permit required
Federal Hill
Baltimore City
Best in : All seasons
Federal Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland, offers sweeping views of the Inner Harbor, historic brick paths, grassy open space, and city skyline backdrops, making it a favorite spot for iconic Baltimore photos.
no permit required
Wildflower Field
Ronks, PA
Best in SummerÂ
$65/hour
Farm Girl Flowers
Best in Summer & Fall
Farm Girl Flowers is set on a working flower farm with colorful seasonal blooms, open fields, rustic greenhouse structures, and charming garden paths that create a bright, natural setting throughout the growing season.
$50/hour fee
Star Brite Farm
White Hall, MD
Best in June & July
Star Bright Farm offers wide open lavender fields, flower gardens, and beautifully restored barns, with views of the surrounding countryside and a mix of cultivated and wild landscapes.
$150/hour
