Best Bucks County Photography Session Locations
With the current health restrictions, a good outdoor location is key to successful portrait sessions. Here's an ongoing list of some of my favorites in and around Bucks County, PA.
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve
New Hope, PA
Bowman's Hills Wildflower Preserve is a 4 season treat. The abundance of flowers appear in Spring and Summer, but the foliage in Fall and wonderland in Winter make for beautiful pictures year round. The prize feature is a stone bridge that remains shaded through much of the day for optimum picture opportunities.
The only drawback is their limited hours as the preserve is gated up when closed.
Entrance fee is below $10 a person when I last checked.
Washington Crossing Park
Washington Crossing, PA
Towering trees, views of the river and bridge, and some colonial inspiration make this a picturesque Bucks County photo location. While the park has listed hours, they apply to the visitor center and bathroom access. The areas by the river are free and available to the public at all times.
Tyler State Park
Newtown, PA
Open from 8am until sunset all year long. Tyler State Park is broken up into 2 sections. The main area of the park is accessible by the Swamp Road entrance and contains a wide variety of settings for pictures. As a favorite destination for locals to get fresh air, this park gets crowded at times. Parking may be limited so arrive early for access to the popular boathouse area. There is currently no photography permit required for non-commercial photography at Tyler State Park. Drones are not permitted.
Covered Bridge in Tyler State Park
Newtown, PA
If you travel further up Swamp Road towards the Bucks County Community College, there is a separate entrance (with smaller signage) that leads to the Schofield Ford covered bridge. The covered bridge is only accessible by walking a short hike from the parking lot. Be aware that this trail can get very muddy and buggy at times. Access to the covered bridge parking lot is not as predictable as the main portion of Tyler and has been known to be closed at random times I have tried to access it for family portrait sessions.
Yardley Canal Towpath
Yardley, PA
The towpath is a 60 mile trail running through Yardley from South in Bristol all the way past New Hope in the North. While the trail has beautiful spots all along the path, Yardley has some nice variety all in one easy accessible location. Access the trail by Canal Street and head North. Be on the lookout for blue heron along the way.
Tyler Formal Gardens
Newtown, PA
The gardens, fashioned after French and Italian royal landscaping are located behind Tyler Hall on the campus of Bucks County Community College. They were renovated in the last few years as they are now used as a wedding venue for Open Aire Events. You can still utilize the now well-maintained garden space for a small permit fee of $100, allowing you exclusive access for one hour. Some of the features include sweeping stone staircases, stone walls, fountains, and bronze sculptures.
Peace Valley Park
Doylestown, PA
Stunning lake views. For a less crowded and equally beautiful area, try parking by the Nature Center. There's a gorgeous meadow pathway once you cross the bridge and head up the hill.
New Hope
New Hope, PA
Yes...that's an entire town. New Hope is home to eclectic and quaint shops selling all the things you never knew you wanted. Stroll along Main Street to discover a treasure trove of colorful scenery, and magical nooks to duck into for some fun photos. There's the bridge between New Hope and Lambertville that's open to pedestrian traffic. Head up W. Bridge Street to see old fashioned trains at the New Hope Train Station. And check out the area behind the new Ghost Light Inn for views of the river. Be mindful that New Hope is almost always crowded with tourists and locals. Sidewalks can be narrow in areas, and parking can be tricky to find. Come early or during the week to avoid photo bombers.
Updike Farm
Princeton, NJ
Sayen Gardens
Hamilton, NJ
Hidden Spring Lavender Farm