I adore photographing family sessions, and what makes Kansas City so special is that we are lucky to have so many great locations you could choose as your backdrop! With that being said, I wanted to create a guide to help you narrow down your search options. All of the locations I’ve included in this guide, I’ve already scouted and had sessions at, and they’ve made my favorites list for different reasons.
Let’s dive into the best spots to plan your family session in Kansas City!
The Best 5 Family Photo Spots in Kansas City
As a Kansas City family photographer, here are my top locations to choose from for your family session:
Loose Park
If I had to pick a favorite spot to photograph family sessions, it would hands-down be Loose Park. There’s a good reason why this is such a sought-after location for photos. You just can’t top the scenery, beauty, and the various backdrops. Another reason to love this location? It photographs beautifully at any time of the year!
The park offers you a playful, candid backdrop, and there’s so much variety throughout the park. Here you’ll find beautiful willow trees, wide open lawns, fountains, a rose garden, woods, and much, much more to explore. Loose Park truly has everything you need for an amazing family session.
There’s plenty of open space, stunning backdrops, and it’s in an easy-to-access location! Want a more in-depth guide to Loose Park and to see some of the different family sessions I’ve previously photographed here? Go here!
Nelson-Atkins Museum
The Nelson-Atkins Museum is not only a beloved gem in Kansas City, but it’s also a beautiful (and fun) spot for family photos. There is so much versatility here, with lots of great backdrops for photos, including the iconic badminton sculptures, green spaces, reflecting pools, the columns in front of the museum, and more.
It’s also a location that photographs beautifully in any season, and another reason I love it is that it’s centrally located in downtown Kansas City, making it easy and convenient to access.
Burr Oaks Woods
If your family loves the outdoors and you want a laidback, playful session, Burr Oaks Woods sounds like just the place. Burr Oaks Woods is a conservation area in Blue Springs, MO, with lots of trails to discover, and it has 1,000 of acres of woods.
The park also has trails and an abundance of tall prairie grass. But my favorite spot is the iconic tall tree area that is right at the front of the Park. There’s so much to explore here, and you and your family will love wandering through the woods underneath the towering trees.
The tall trees stay the same throughout the year, so it looks stunning throughout the entire year.
Blue Springs Lake
Blue Springs Lake is a gorgeous freshwater reservoir located near Blue Springs in Jackson County, Missouri. It has a public beach, and it’s a short drive from Kansas City.
The most common area to photograph for a session here is the beautiful rock wall area. There is also a charming dock nearby if you want to be by the water for your session.
Overland Park Arboretum
Overland Park Arboretum is a colorful, beautiful backdrop for your family session. The arboretum has themed gardens, walking trails, and art installations, and it’s a serene backdrop for your family session.
Some of my favorite spots for photos are underneath the trellis and next to the tranquil pond! This spot is particularly beautiful in the spring when everything is in full bloom.
There is a required entrance fee of $7 per person to photograph here!
How to Choose the Perfect Location for Your Family Session
Choosing the right spot for your session is super important, and there’s a lot to consider before just picking any random spot (especially from the viewpoint of a photographer). Here are some of what I consider to be the most important things to consider before finalizing your choice:
Seasonality
I recommend picking the season you and your family love the most. If you aren’t a fan of the muggy Kansas summer heat, then I wouldn’t suggest planning a session at this time of year.
It’s important that you all feel comfortable and relaxed during your session (this is especially true if you’re planning an extended family session), as the weather can significantly impact how you and your family show up and feel at your session.
Also, remember each location looks different depending on the time of year you choose, which affects the overall aesthetic.
Safety
Safety is always important, and especially so if we are photographing young kids. Be sure to check the level of safety of a location before finalizing your selection, such as checking to see if there’s water nearby, steep hills, or if you’re out in nature, how the trails are to access different areas. For example, Loose Park normally has ducks wandering in their ponds, which always excites kids, but we don’t want anyone accidentally falling in. Or, for Burr Oaks, some extra bug spray may be needed to deter ticks.
Start Time & Lighting
Lighting is super important when planning where to have your family session. However, what’s more important is happy children. Is it right after a nap? Right after they eat? I always recommend shooting in the early morning or towards sunset for lighting purposes, but if your kiddos are the happiest at 1:00 pm, we will make it work, and we will choose a location that accommodates that.
Ready to Plan Your Family Photo Session in Kansas City?
I hope you found all of this info about different locations for your family photo session in Kansas City helpful. No matter which location you choose for your session, the most important thing is getting to spend meaningful time with your family and create special memories together!
Looking for a Kansas City family photographer for your family session? I’d love to connect! My approach to family photos is letting kids be kids. Perfection is not the goal here! It shouldn’t be a chore to get great photos of your kiddos. It should be a fun experience for all involved, and a reflection of your lives.
We will work together to find the perfect location for your session, time of year, and of course, I’ll help you figure out what you and your family are going to wear! You can learn more about my family sessions here or get in contact with me here!
I also host mini-session marathons twice a year, which are shorter sessions great for families who want updated photos once a year. You can sign up here to get alerts for my mini-session marathons!
Read these next:
Why Loose Park is the Best Location for Family Photos in Kansas City
