Here are 8 TRIED AND TRUE Photoshoot Locations around the Tri-Cities!

lifestyle and portraits
Written By Emily Golding
 

Tri-Cities Picture Locations You will Want to Go back to!

If you are anything like me, you have probably searched this phrase several times. When I was just starting out as a photographer, my mind started to blank pretty fast on new location ideas. You get into the habit of reusing the same location repeatedly, so you turn to Google to help with brainstorming. Below, I listed some of my go-to places for family and senior portraits. Hopefully, this list can help anyone new to the area or if you feel like you go to the same spots over and over again.

As photographers, we are so lucky to have the opportunity to shoot in so many locations. I hope we encourage each other to leave these locations as good— if not better—than when we arrived. So many locations I have shot at have slowly become littered and trampled. Pick up after yourself! Follow signs. We don't want these places to be closed off to the public.

  1. Columbia Park Trail

A high school senior stands in front of sagebrush and native plants along Columbia Park Trail in Tri-Cities Washington.
A high school senior boy poses against a railing. His hand is in his pocket and he smiles at the camera. Photo taken by 400 Lux Photography in Kennewick, Washington.

Columbia Park Trail is a six-mile stretch of road along the south side of the Columbia River. Because of how long the stretch is, you can't point at two spots along it and get identical scenery and backdrop. If you shoot at some parts of the trail, you will get more sagebrush and desert vibes, whereas down by the Blue Bridge, there is more greenery and trees. 

The versatility can be an advantage and a disadvantage. What you expect it to look like might not be the case, so don't go in blind to what the location looks like. There are so many hidden nooks and crannies that the area always looks different each time I return. This location is always on the top of my mind whenever a client wants a location with a green, lush feel opposite to the desert of the Tri-Cities. 

2. Downtown Kennewick/Pasco/Richland

A high school senior picture taken in at the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland, Washington. The senior is posed with his hands in his jacke pocket. He is standing in the back alley of a building.
A senior is posing while standing in between a bunch of large ferns. He is wearing a blue dress shirt and red tie. This photo is taken in downtown Kennewick by 400 Lux Photography.
A high school senior leans against a building at sunset. His shadow is seen next to him. He looks off to the side with his hands in his pockets.

If a client even whispers “city vibe,” my instinct is to go to downtown Kennewick, Pasco, or Richland. Each of these has its strengths and weaknesses as locations. However, I can interchangeably accomplish the same end goal for the session at each location.  

3. Bateman Island

A high school senior poses with her arms crossed smiling at the camera for a senior photo. She is on location at Bateman Island in Kennewick Washington.
A fall family photo with a mother and father holding their young child in between them. The mom is smiling at their son and the dad looks at the camera. The photo is taken on location at Bateman Island in Kennewick, Washington.
A high school senior boy sits in the green grass of Bateman Island for his senior photo. He is wearing a pink polo and smiles for a senior photo.

Bateman Island is off the Columbia Park trail in Kennewick, Washington. I tend to use this location a lot because it gets excellent afternoon lighting. I also am a big fan of the fall colors that pop up here, and I highly recommend this location for a fall session. There are views of the Columbia River, and the native plants on the island are in the desert color palette, so they compliment a lot of client's wardrobe picks for the season. 

4. Mid-Columbia Library/Grange Park 

A high school senior girl stands by sunflowers for a senior photo session. She is smiling while the sun sets behind her at the WSU Demonstration Gardens in Kennewick, Washington.
A teen portrait in front of gladiolus and a setting sun in Kennewick, Washington. The model[s arms are crossed and she poses with one shoulder more towards the camera.
A model poses in front of a arch covered with red climbing roses. She is reaching out and is grabbing one rose with her hand, her other hand is grabbing the arch. She is smiling and looking at the camera. Photo is taken in Kennewick, Washington.

The Mid-Columbia Library is home to the WSU Master Gardener Demonstration Garden and one of the American Rose Selection trial gardens. This makes this location one of the prime spots in the area for portraits with florals and gorgeous landscaping. The gardens are constantly changing with the season. In spring, the bulbs are blooming as the buds on trees form. The rose garden is at its peak, with over 200 roses in the summer, displaying a rainbow of variety. Fall ushers in reds, yellows, and a chorus from the landscaping within the gardens. The landscaping provides a structure that can even give a backdrop in the winter if necessary. This location is popular for a reason, as it is one of those that sometimes can break up the monotony of desert sagebrush.

5. Columbia Point

A couple poses for their engagement photos underneath a bridge by Columbia point. Photo taken by 400 Lux Photography in Richland, Washington.
A mom takes photos of her son and his date before they go to Prom. They are dressed in formal clothes and are standing on location at Columbia Point.

Columbia Point is a location that might only work for some types of photo sessions. I love this spot for large groups, which is where this location's strength is. The location is very open, allowing for lots of room for these large groups to move around. You can very easily have groups of 10+ people here. My favorite session I shot here was a Prom Group with approx 20 people as well as their parents. You get gorgeous golden light, which looks pretty against the juniper trees and sagebrush.  

The easiest way to get here is to park at the end of Columbia Point Drive and walk under the underpass. You can get some shots under the underpass + the river if you want some backdrop versatility. 

6. Pasco Sand Dunes

A model poses while standing on a sand dune. She is turned, facing the sunset in Pasco, Washington.
Adult siblings with their spouses pose for a family picture while sitting on a sand dune in Pasco, Washington. Taken by 400 Lux Photography in Tricities Washington.
A high school senior sits posing for a senior portrait on a sand dune in Pasco, Washington. The sun in setting behind her. Photo is taken by 400 Lux photography in Tricities, Washington.

There are two main sand dune locations that I shoot at in Pasco. The Juniper Sand Dunes and the dunes off of Broadmoor and Burns Rd. I have more personal experience shooting at the Broadmoor dunes, as they are closer to the Tri-Cities and are easier to get to for many clients, especially when going to a second location after. 

The Broadmoor dunes have a good line of sight of the sun setting, so it is a great location for afternoon/golden hour photos. It is also very open, so if other photographers are there, it doesn't feel too cramped! You can easily share the space and not get in each other's way. Construction is starting around the area, so who knows how long the Broadmoor dunes will be around. I'm soaking up the location for as long as I can. 

7. Zintel Canyon

A high school football player wearing his letterman jacket poses for his senior picture. He stands in front of sagebrush at the start of Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington.

Zintel Canyon is a walking trail/park in Kennewick. Don't be alarmed by the idea of it being a canyon or hike, as it is a very neutral trail in elevation that, altogether, is a 1.2-mile loop. Parts of the trail can be lush and green, so this is a good option for portraits when you want a location with trees and greenery. From my experience, I don't think it would be good for large groups of people because of how narrow the trail is. However, I think it works best for seniors or couples photo sessions.

8. Where you Least expect it

A fall senior picture with a senior posing in front of a red bush. He head is turned to the side and he is smiling. Photo is taken in Tri-Cities, Washington.
A family poses grouped together standing in the sagebrush of Eastern Washington. They are smiling at the camera and the sky is blue behind them. Photo taken by 400 Lux Photography.
A grandmother sits on the steps of the Columbia River Temple with her grand children in her arms. They are smiling and posing for a family picture.

The Tri-Cities has so many different places to take photos; you need to take the time to explore. Some of my favorite spots to shoot have been found by driving to spots in town—new and old—and trying to view them from a different perspective. Sometimes, this perspective change makes spots you least expect your new favorite location.

 
Emily Golding
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