If you’re travelling to Vancouver and considering family photos while you’re here, you might be wondering: where do visiting families usually go for photos in Vancouver?
As a Vancouver family photographer who grew up here, I photograph families who are visiting from all over the world and my answer is rarely just “I’ve got a spot.” I ask you a handful of questions to get to know you better :)
When you’re on vacation, I think your photo location should make sense for your trip and your family. Where you’re staying, whether you have a car, your kids’ ages and what you actually want to remember about Vancouver all factor into my recommendations.
Where Should You Take Family Photos While Visiting Vancouver?
Before recommending a location to a visiting family, I usually want to know:
- Where are you staying?
- Do you have access to a car?
- How old are your kids?
- Does anyone have accessibility or mobility considerations?
- Do you want epic Vancouver scenery, or is your family’s connection the priority?
- When you picture Vancouver, do you imagine mountains, ocean, forest or the city?
- I also ask for screenshots—what are you drawn to? Show me! If you want to explore even more options, I’ve put together a guide to some of my favourite locations for family photos around Vancouver, including options beyond the city.
Stanley Park for Families Staying Downtown
Stanley Park is a favourite for families visiting Vancouver, particularly if they’re staying downtown.
I photographed a family of three visiting from California whose little boy loved to run. And I mean run. I could barely keep up with him!
The Stanley Park Rose Garden and nearby Lost Lagoon were perfect because we didn’t need him to stand still. We could chase, explore and let him be himself while still creating beautiful family photographs.
We can also move between the Rose Garden, Lost Lagoon and the seawall, so families get several different Vancouver backdrops without spending their vacation driving between locations.
Prefer Gardens? Family Photos Around Stanley Park’s Gardens
If mountains and beaches aren’t necessarily your thing, Stanley Park also has some beautiful garden areas for family photos. The Rose Garden and surrounding gardens give us colourful flowers, greenery, pretty pathways and a softer, more romantic backdrop—all while still being right in the heart of Vancouver.
Cleveland Dam for Visiting Families Who Want Mountains
A family of three visiting from Florida wanted the big mountain scenery they associated with British Columbia.
They were staying in West Vancouver, so rather than sending them all the way across the city, I recommended Cleveland Dam.
It gave us exactly what they were hoping for: mountains, water and trails, with plenty of variety for their gallery. It’s also relatively accessible and has a washroom, which can make a surprisingly big difference when you’re travelling with kids.
Vancouver Beaches for Family Vacation Photos
If the ocean is part of how you picture your Vancouver vacation, we have some beautiful options.
Third Beach
Third Beach gives you that classic West Coast combination of ocean and trees and is a great choice if you want the Vancouver landscape to feature prominently in your photographs. Siwash Rock makes for an epic backdrop for this location. This is an image above the beach. We would be down on the beach for a session here :)
Jericho Beach
Jericho Beach is another favourite for beach sessions, particularly if you love having the mountains visible across the water. This family from Singapore loved the idea of getting beach, mountains and ocean in one location.
Locarno Beach
Locarno Beach is a great option if you want a relaxed West Coast feel with sand, water and beautiful views toward the North Shore mountains. I especially like the combination of open beach and tall trees, which gives us some variety without having to travel between locations.
Coal Harbour for a Downtown Vancouver Feel
Coal Harbour is beautiful for families who want their vacation photos to have a distinctly urban Vancouver feel while still getting water and mountain views. When doing photos here, I recommend we meet at Jack Poole Plaza, go down to the gardens, then the Seawall for and lastly atop the Cactus Club is a gorgeous living roof with views of the ocean, mountains and the Harbour Air seaplanes.
The trade-off is crowds. It’s rare to have Coal Harbour to ourselves, so I’m usually working around other people. There can also be stairs and more walking involved, so I wouldn’t automatically recommend it for a family with accessibility concerns.
Your Photo Session Can Be Part of Your Vancouver Vacation
This is the part I think is easy to overlook.
You’re not just hiring someone to photograph you in front of a Vancouver landmark. The session itself can become one of the experiences you remember from your trip.
I grew up in Vancouver and love this city. I also scout locations ahead of sessions so I can look for interesting spots and make sure a location still makes sense for the family I’m photographing.
And if you’ve discovered something fascinating about Vancouver during your travels, tell me! I love hearing what visiting families notice about the city I’ve known my whole life.
Ultimately, I don’t want you to leave with photographs that simply prove you visited Vancouver.
I want you to remember what your family was like while you were here—the kid who couldn’t stop running, the things you explored together, the way your children interacted at this particular age, and what it felt like to experience Vancouver together.
That’s what makes vacation photos worth taking.
Travelling to Vancouver and want to document your family while you’re here? Explore my Vancouver family photography sessions and let’s plan something that feels like you.
