Crisp air, golden light, and colorful backdrops make fall the perfect time to gather the family for photos. After a long Texas summer, it finally feels good to pull on a cozy sweater (or at least pretend it’s cool enough) and capture those sweet, silly moments together. Here are our favorite spots around Austin to snap picture-perfect memories this season.
Please note: *Professional photographers will need to get permission and pay fees before using venues with locations marked with an asterisk.
Park Settings
- Brushy Creek Park | This 90-acre park in Cedar Park offers plenty of trails and a lake for a natural setting.
- Mayfield Park* | You’ll find peacocks, small ponds full of lily pads, and flowering gardens at this popular Austin park.
- Laguna Gloria* | Part of the Contemporary Austin art museum, this location includes the Driscoll Villa, beautiful grounds, sculptures, and views of Lake Austin.
- Commons Ford Ranch | This city park on Lake Austin offers plenty of scenic waterside views for a pretty photo.
- Texas State Capitol | The grassy, shaded grounds of the Capitol are great for kids to run and play.
- 360 Bridge | The Pennybacker Bridge is a classic Austin landmark that can also serve as a beautiful backdrop to your family photo.
- Old Settlers Park | This Round Rock park offers lots of space to run and play for great action shots.
- Mueller Lake Park | Located next to the Thinkery, the pond full of ducks offers a nice waterside view.
- Zilker Park | Austin’s beloved park offers many various settings, including Barton Springs, the Zilker Botanical Gardens, and the Austin Nature & Science Center.
- Bull Creek District Park | You can’t go wrong with the beautiful trails and water views at Bull Creek.
- Walnut Creek Metro Park | This North Austin park offers many meandering trails.
- Onion Creek Park | Located in Southeast Austin, this park has a small playscape and many shady hiking trails.
- McKinney Falls State Park | This State Park offers many trails for hiking & biking and beautiful landscapes for picnics and family photos.
- Lake Pflugerville | Northeast of Austin, the area around this 180-acre reservoir includes a 3-mile trail, playground, boat launch, and beach area.
- Mills Pond | Within the Wells Branch subdivision, you’ll find trails, a fishing pier, and a floating boat dock.
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center* | With gardens and sweeping meadows, this is a beautiful landscape for fall photos.
via Uhland Fall Fest
Pumpkin Patches
Nothing says fall in Austin quite like posing with pumpkins when it’s still 90 degrees outside! They do make amazing backdrops for family photos, and you can make a whole outing of it while you’re there. Here are some of our faves with great photo ops.
- Sweet Eats Fruit Farm | Georgetown’s huge fall festival has pumpkins galore and tons of colorful photo ops throughout the farm, plus plenty to keep the kids entertained when you’re done snapping pictures.
- Sweet Berry Farm | Head to Marble Falls for a classic Hill Country fall backdrop with rows of pumpkins, farm scenery, flowers and plenty of cute seasonal photo ops.
- Uhland Fall Fest | Set on a shaded, historic 15-acre farmstead south of Austin, this fall festival offers pumpkins, rustic farm scenery and lots of festive spots for family photos.
Urban Settings
- South Congress Ave. | You can’t go wrong with the I Love You So Much sign at 1300 S. Congress.
- Long Center & Butler Park | You can’t beat the city skyline view from the terrace of the Long Center.
- Downtown Georgetown & Downtown San Marcos | Both quaint towns offer historic downtown squares featuring locally-owned shops and restaurants in a small-town setting.
- Boardwalk Trail on Lady Bird Lake | Here you’ll find gorgeous lakeside views of downtown.
More to explore:
