Welcome to our philosophy on family photography. When it’s time to capture your family’s story, the first question is always, “Where should we go?”

For decades, the default answer in Edmonton has been the Legislature Grounds. And it’s a beautiful spot! The grass is “always green,” the “flowerbeds are… well tended,” and the fountains are lovely.

But let’s be honest. It’s also where everyone has their photos taken. It can feel crowded, “played out,” and carry a bit of that “high school grad photo” vibe. Those sessions often become about standing still, smiling at the camera, and performing for the photo.

We believe in a different approach. We believe in “real life” sessions.

Defining the “Real-Life” Session: A Philosophy for Modern Families

The “Real Life” Philosophy: Location as a Facilitator, Not a Backdrop

The perfect photo location isn’t just about finding the “prettiest” backdrop. The perfect location is a place that feels like your family.

Its job is to shape the “mood” and “story” of your session. A gritty urban alley can feel “playful and edgy”, while a quiet meadow at sunset feels “soft and romantic”.

More importantly, the location’s primary job is to help your family forget about the camera.

This is the secret to capturing “genuine smiles” and “real moments”. When your kids (and, let’s face it, your partner) can relax in a “familiar, low-pressure space” or are given a fun activity—like splashing in a creek, exploring a new playground, or grabbing ice cream—their focus shifts from the camera to each other.

That’s when the magic happens. Our job as photographers isn’t to force you into stiff poses. It’s to “guide families into experiences”. We use prompts like “everyone hold hands and walk toward me” or “who can give mom the biggest bear hug?” to create natural, candid interactions.

The Power of Personal Meaning

The most “scenic” locations often have the least personal meaning. Some of the most powerful and cherished photographs happen in “ordinary” places: your own backyard, the park down the street, or your cozy living room. Why? Because those are the places where your “real memories live”.

Photos taken in these “sentimental spaces” will “always feel extra special” because they “carry layers of personal meaning”.

With that philosophy in mind, we’ve curated our top 5 “real life” locations in Edmonton. These are places chosen specifically for their ability to facilitate comfort, play, connection, and authentic storytelling.

Location Dossier 1: Mill Creek Ravine (The Playful Nature Escape)

• The Vibe: Adventure, Exploration, and “Natural Nature”
• Why We Love It: If your family loves to explore, Mill Creek Ravine is your spot. This isn’t a manicured park; it’s a true “ravine” with a “natural nature look”. Running from Argyle Road all the way to the downtown core, it’s a vast “large area” that’s perfect for the family that “want[s] to get playful”.

Candid Hotspots: Where to Get the “Real” Shots

• The Creek: This is the main attraction. In warmer months, the creek is a “natural playground” and provides the session’s central activity: “splashing, throwing rocks, and exploring nature”. This is a guaranteed way to keep “busy little ones” engaged and joyful.
• The Bridges: The ravine is famous for its “mini bridges” and “footbridges”. The “wooden bridge in Richie neighborhood,” in particular, is “super rad” and perfect for framing shots of the whole family.
• The Trails: A “fun little network of trails”, including both “paved and granular shared pathways”, offers endless opportunities for walking, running, and capturing your family in motion.

Pro-Tips for Families & Photographers

• The Dog Factor: Mill Creek is one of Edmonton’s most popular “off-leash areas”. This is a massive pro if you want to include your “fur babies” in the photos. However, if anyone in your family (especially a little one) is nervous around dogs, this is not the location for you.
• The Kid Factor: This location is for the “adventurous spirit”. Be prepared for messy, candid moments as your kids explore. Think sturdy shoes, not dressy ones.

Logistics: Accessibility, Parking, and Planning

• Meeting Point: Because the ravine is so “large,” having a “specific meeting point in mind” is non-negotiable.
• Parking: Good parking is available at lots “near Shamrock Curling Club” and at “95A Street & 82 Avenue”.
• Accessibility: This is a crucial consideration. While some sources mention stroller access in “some areas”, the official City of Edmonton page states “limited accessibility” for its walking trails. One personal account describes a “long steep hill” with “loose gravel”. We do not recommend this location for strollers, wheelchairs, or anyone with mobility concerns. A baby wrap or carrier is a much better choice.

Location Dossier 2: Old Strathcona & Whyte Ave (The Vibrant Urban Story)

• The Vibe: Funky, Modern, and “Too Cool for School”
• Why We Love It: If a nature shoot feels too quiet for your crew, Old Strathcona is the perfect alternative. This is for the “modern, fun-loving, relaxed family”. The area offers a “funky vibe,” “bright colors,” and a “truly urban feel”. It’s especially great for families with “big kids and teenagers” who might find a park session “stuffy or boring”.

Candid Hotspots: Alleys, Art, and Ice Cream

• The Murals: This is the #1 draw. Old Strathcona has a “vibrant street art scene” with over 70 murals documented on the “Old Strathcona Mural Map”. From the massive 6-storey “Okuda San Miguel Wall” behind El Cortez to the art-filled “Spur Line Alley”, you have a dynamic, colorful backdrop everywhere you look.
• The Textures: Beyond the murals, the area is rich with “classic brick buildings” and “funky alleyways” that create contemporary, dynamic photos.
• The Session is the Activity: This is the key to a “real life” urban shoot. We don’t just pose you against a wall. We build a story. We’ll capture your family “doing TikToks in a colourful back alley”, and end the session with a “sweet stop at Yelo’d Ice Cream on Whyte Ave”. The photos become a documentary of a genuinely fun family outing.

Pro-Tips for Families & Photographers

• Crowd Control: Whyte Avenue is a “busier area”. It’s essential to check if any festivals are happening before scheduling. “Early mornings” are often best to avoid crowds and catch beautiful light.

Logistics: Accessibility, Parking, and Planning

• Parking: Parking is plentiful but not free. The area has “more than 3,000 parking spots”, including paid meters, “private paid parking lots, parkades, [and] underground parking”.
• Accessibility: As a commercial district with public sidewalks, this location is generally very accessible for strollers and wheelchairs, making it a great alternative to Mill Creek.

Location Dossier 3: Borden Park (The Whimsical Art & Play Hub)

• The Vibe: Imaginative, Artistic, and a “Secret Treehouse”
• Why We Love It: Borden Park is one of Edmonton’s true “hidden gems”. This is not a typical nature park; it’s an innovative art and play park, making it our top choice for families with toddlers and young children. The whole vibe is whimsical and imaginative, feeling “like you’ve uncovered a secret treehouse in the woods”.

Candid Hotspots: Playgrounds and Public Art

• The Playground (The Main Event): This is the reason you come here. The playground is “innovative” and divided into “three distinctive play areas”:
  • The “Bear” Theme (Toddler Park): The “most visually appealing” section, this park features a “giant mother bear and her cubs” and a “coiled snake” that are “excellent climbers”.
  • The “Treetop Village”: This is the “secret treehouse”. It features “enormous, exquisitely detailed trees” and a main structure that looks like a “giant tree that has been hollowed out” with 8 ways to climb and 4 slides.
  • The “Roller Coaster”: A unique climbing structure “modeled after a historic coaster”.
• The ‘Vaulted Willow’ Sculpture: This stunning “kaleidoscope of colour” sculpture provides a vibrant, modern, and artistic backdrop that contrasts beautifully with the nature-themed playground.

Pro-Tips for Families & Photographers

• Focus on Play: The unique structures are the story. The entire session should be built around documenting play, resulting in the most natural, joyful, and “real” photos of your children.
• Logistical Warnings: Two critical tips from parents: “Bathrooms are really far away from the park,” and “Bring bug spray!!!”. Plan accordingly!

Logistics: Accessibility, Parking, and Planning

• Accessibility: Borden Park (the one in Edmonton!) is “partially accessible”. It features “accessible pathways” and “curb cuts in the parking area”, making it a good, accessible option for strollers.
• Parking: Free parking is available in the lots.

Location Dossier 4: Muttart Conservatory (The All-Weather “Lush” Button)

• The Vibe: Tropical, Architectural, and an “Escape from Winter”
• Why We Love It: The Muttart Conservatory is an “iconic” “spectacular indoor location”. Its primary value is as the perfect all-weather plan. Whether it’s -30°C or pouring rain, the Muttart offers “springtime in the middle of winter”. It’s an escape to a lush, tropical world.

Candid Hotspots: Biomes, Backdrops, and Light

• The Four Pyramids: Each biome is a different world. The Tropical pyramid is “lush” with “towering banana trees and huge palms”. The Arid pyramid offers the graphic, “spiky” shapes of cacti. The greenhouses also provide beautiful, “soft evening light”.
• The Exterior: The iconic glass pyramids themselves are a powerful architectural backdrop, especially when captured with their reflections in the “still water” of the surrounding pools.

Pro-Tips for Families & Photographers

• Session Type: The Muttart is extremely popular for maternity and small family sessions.
• Kid-Friendliness: The facility is very child-friendly and even has a drop-in “Imagination Station” for children 5 and under.
• Know Before You Go: Wednesdays from 5-9 pm are “adults only (ages 18+)”—perfect for a quiet maternity shoot, but a no-go for a family session.

Logistics: Accessibility, Parking, and a Very Different Permit

• Accessibility: Good. The facility has “Accessible parking,” “Power doors at entranceway,” “Accessible washrooms,” and “Ramp access to the greenhouse”.
• Key Warning: The “Ramps to pavilions are steep”, so some assistance may be required for wheelchairs or strollers.
• Access & Parking: The Muttart is now easily accessible via the Valley Line LRT and has “Free Parking” for about 85 vehicles.
• The Permit (This is IMPORTANT): The Muttart does not use the standard City permit. To have a professional photo session, you must make an “Exclusive Booking” by emailing Muttartquestions@edmonton.ca. This requires a “Minimum of two weeks notice” and has a significant rental fee (in 2022, this was $250 for 60 minutes). While “casual” personal photos are fine, a session with a professional photographer triggers this booking requirement.

Location Dossier 5: The “Ultimate Real-Life” Spot (The Family’s Own Home)

• The Vibe: Intimate, Authentic, Meaningful, and Zero-Stress
• Why We Love It: This is our favorite location, and it’s the most “real-life” spot on earth: your own home. The vibe is “intimate and heartwarming”, “raw and emotional”. This is where “the most meaningful moments unfold”.

Why It Works: The “Real Life”

• It is Your Family’s Story: “Home is more than just a place—it’s the heart of your family’s story”. These photos “tell your family’s story in a way no posed studio session ever could”.
• Ultimate Comfort: This is the #1 benefit. “Everyone is more relaxed when they’re in their own space”. Babies, shy children, and self-conscious partners are “most comfortable” and “natural” in their own home.
• Perfect Logistics:
  • Weather-proof: “Bad weather is not a problem”. No rescheduling for rain, snow, or wind.
  • Convenient: There is “no hassle”. No travel time, no being late. All snacks, outfit changes, and bathrooms are “at your fingertips”.
• Meaningful Details: This is where we capture the “everyday magic”—the “smudges of dirt on tiny hands after digging in the sandbox”, the “giggles echo[ing] down the hall”, the way the light hits your kitchen window. It “memorialize[s]… your family home right now”.
• Pets Included, Naturally: “Cherished members of the family”, pets are “easy to include” and can “roam free” in their own environment.
• 100% Unique: “No one else’s pictures will look like yours”.

Candid Hotspots: The Backyard, The Bed, The Floor

The “hotspots” are your family’s real-life activities. We can “cuddle in mom + dad’s bed”, “play in the backyard”, build a fort in the living room, “shoot… hoops”, or “mak[e] pancakes on Saturday mornings”.

Pro-Tips & Logistics

• The “Tidy” Debate: “Tidy up beforehand, but don’t be afraid to showcase the authentic chaos of family life—it adds character!”. We want your home to look lived-in, not sterile.
• Permits: None. Ever. This is a major logistical and financial benefit.

Conclusion: Finding Your Perfect Location

This “Top 5” list is really a starting point, not a prescription. The best location for your family photos isn’t on any list—it’s the place that feels like your family.

It’s the place where you can “connect with your family, leaving behind all the distractions of your busy world”.

Ready to tell your family’s real story? We’d love to hear it. Learn more about our fun, flexible family sessions or contact us today to plan a session that’s authentically you—whether that’s splashing in a creek, grabbing an ice cream, or just cuddling on your own couch.