8 Best Portrait Locations in Vancouver
With so many scenic areas in Vancouver, it can often be difficult to find the perfect one for a photo shoot. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to shoot pretty much everywhere from the snow-capped mountains of the North Shore, the Victorian buildings in Gastown, to beaches like Spanish Banks.
My goal with this guide is to help you see what some of the various popular spots offer during photoshoots and hopefully give you the resources you need to figure out the perfect portrait location for you!
Lonsdale Quay
What makes Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver so special for photoshoots is the variety of photos we’re able to get. We can take business headshots in front of the Vancouver skyline, lifestyle photos in the Chiba Gardens, and indoor photos in the market and Shipyards all in the same shoot. Lonsdale Quay is often my top outdoor location recommendation for lifestyle business portraits.
Lighthouse Park
Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver is one of my most popular lifestyle shoot locations for those wanting to get out in nature. It’s fairly close to Vancouver and offers an incredible walk through towering trees to the rocky coast overlooking the ocean. Make sure to bring proper footwear because of the uneven and sometimes steep terrain.
Stanley Park
For those wanting to shoot somewhere in nature but still close to the city, look no further than Stanley Park. We could visit its long seawall, walk onto the Lions Gate bridge, visit the rose garden… the list is endless.
Lynn Canyon
You’ll enter Lynn Canyon through a suspension bridge hanging 50m above the Lynn Creek, then through a beautiful forest with trails that lead to parts of the creek and canyon below. To experience this North Vancouver park with fewer crowds, I highly recommend going early in the morning or on weekdays. The areas surrounding Lynn Canyon like Interiver Park, Rice Lake, and the Seymour Demonstration Forest are also great options for a foresty shoot.
thisopenspace - Hourly indoor space rental
For those wanting to have an indoor shoot, there’s a wonderful website called thisopenspace which allows you to rent spaces by the hour. Many of these properties are designed with photography in mind. One thing I personally love about shooting indoors is that I can bring more lighting gear to create more flattering images. Another short-term rental website is the popular Airbnb but the minimum rental time on most places is a full day.
Whytecliff Park
This park in Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver is one of my favourite photoshoot locations because it’s easy to access and offers great variety in scenes. If we plan the shoot during low tide, we can walk to the little island while enjoying some amazing sunsets!
Cleveland Dam
Cleveland Dam is forested and has a parking lot at the top and bottom which have some nice spots shoot. The bottom of the park has an old bridge that crosses the Capilano River and a path down to it. The top of the park is home to the famous dam and an incredible view of Capilano Lake.
Downtown/ Gastown
Downtown is filled with so many incredible places to take photos. From the concrete jungle of the downtown core to the tree-lined sea wall paths, the city has something for everyone. One of my favorite locations for lifestyle portraits is the Gastown neighborhood because of its beautiful architecture and great backdrops. Business headshots also always look great with skyscrapers in the background. Because of the abundance of shoot location options in Downtown Vancouver, I’m hoping to make a second photoshoot location guide soon but only focusing on the city!
Honorable Mentions
Horseshoe Bay
Spanish Banks
Pitt Lake
Squamish (for the adventurous!)
That’s all folks!
I hope you found this portrait location guide useful to plan the location for your photo session. If you like my style and are looking for portraits, I’d love to hear from you!
