When families reach out to me, one of the first questions they ask is:

“Where should we take our photos?”

As a Southern Maine photographer, this is one of my favorite questions to answer.

The truth is that the best location isn’t always the most popular one—it’s the place that allows your family to slow down, connect, explore, and simply be together. The best family photographs happen when children are free to be curious, parents can focus on each other instead of the camera, and everyone has room to breathe.

Southern Maine offers an incredible variety of landscapes, from sandy beaches and rocky coastlines to quiet forests, rolling fields, and freshwater lakes. Whether you’re planning an annual family session, celebrating a new baby, documenting motherhood, or gathering multiple generations together, there’s a location that fits your story.

Here are ten of my favorite locations for family photos in Southern Maine.

1. Pine Point Beach | Scarborough, Maine

If you’re dreaming of classic Maine beach photographs, Pine Point is one of my favorite locations for family sessions.

The beach offers wide stretches of sand, beautiful dune grass, gentle waves, and some of the most breathtaking sunsets in Southern Maine. Because there is so much space, children can run, dig, explore, and simply be themselves.

As a documentary-style Southern Maine family photographer, I love how Pine Point allows families to interact naturally rather than feeling confined to one spot.

Why families love it:

• Soft sunset light
• Wide sandy beach
• Easy parking and access
• Beautiful year-round
• Great for all ages and abilities

Best for:

• Family sessions
• Couples sessions
• Maternity photography
• Vacationing families

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2. Sebago Lake

Sebago Lake holds a special place in my heart.

Living on the lake means I’ve spent countless evenings watching the sun sink behind the water, and every session here feels a little different. The shoreline offers a sense of adventure that many children naturally gravitate toward.

Instead of posing, families can skip rocks, explore the shoreline, search for treasures, and create genuine moments together.

For families who want something uniquely Maine without the crowds of the coast, Sebago Lake is hard to beat.

Why families love it:

• Lake and mountain views
• Quiet atmosphere
• Beautiful golden-hour light
• Adventurous feel

Best for:

• Family photography
• Motherhood sessions
• Maternity photography
• Storytelling sessions

Requires about a 10 minute walk through a wooded area and walking through large rocks, over roots, etc.

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3. Mackworth Island | Falmouth, Maine

If your family can’t decide between the woods and the ocean, Mackworth Island gives you both.

The island offers winding trails beneath towering trees, rocky shoreline, ocean views, and hidden pockets that feel almost magical. It’s one of the most versatile locations for family photos in Southern Maine.

Children often thrive here because there’s always something new to discover around the next corner.

Why families love it:

• Forest and coastline together
• Easy walking trails
• Beautiful in every season
• Endless opportunities for exploration (some wooded cliffs to be mindful of if you have small children!)

Best for:

• Family sessions
• Couples sessions
• Motherhood photography

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4. Crescent Beach State Park | Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Crescent Beach is one of Southern Maine’s most beautiful coastal locations.

The combination of beach, dunes, grass, and surrounding greenery creates incredible variety within a single session. It feels peaceful and expansive while still being easy for families with young children.

The sunsets here are especially beautiful during summer and early fall.

Why families love it:

• Gorgeous coastal scenery
• Soft evening light
• Plenty of room for movement
• Family-friendly environment

Best for:

• Family photography
• Maternity sessions
• Couples and engagement sessions

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5. Gilsland Farm Audubon Center | Falmouth, Maine

Gilsland Farm is one of Southern Maine’s hidden gems.

With open fields, marsh views, walking paths, and beautiful seasonal colors and blossoms, it offers a quieter experience than many coastal locations.

This is an especially wonderful location for families who enjoy nature and want a session that feels peaceful and relaxed.

Why families love it:

• Open natural landscapes
• Coastal marsh views
• Fewer crowds
• Beautiful year-round scenery

Best for:

• Family sessions
• Motherhood sessions
• Nature-loving families
• Intimate engagements

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6. Pineland Farms | New Gloucester, Maine

Pineland Farms offers some of the most versatile scenery available for photos in Maine.

Gardens, fields, trails, stone walls, and seasonal blooms all create opportunities for a gallery that feels rich and varied.

It’s particularly beautiful in late spring, summer, and early fall.

Why families love it:

• Gorgeous gardens
• Rolling fields
• Seasonal beauty
• Multiple backdrops in one location

Best for:

• Family sessions (its a contained area due to the fencing and pathways!)
• Maternity photography
• Extended family photography

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7. Vaughn Woods | Hallowell, Maine

Often called a hidden fairytale forest, Vaughn Woods offers a completely different feel than Maine’s coastal locations.

The wooded trails, historic bridges, and filtered light create a sense of quiet intimacy that works beautifully for storytelling-focused photography. It weaves its own magic

Why families love it:

• Storybook atmosphere
• Natural shade
• Unique scenery
• Beautiful throughout the year

Best for:

• Family photography
• Motherhood sessions
• Couples sessions

This location does have steep edge drops, rocks that can be slippery when wet if you choose to use them, and does require walking on trails.

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8. Fort Williams + Portland Head Light | Cape Elizabeth, Maine

When people imagine Maine, they’re often imagining Portland Head Light.

Fort Williams offers one of the most iconic backdrops in the state while also providing ocean cliffs, grassy fields, rocky shoreline, and panoramic coastal views.

For families visiting Maine on vacation, this location instantly captures that classic New England feeling.

Why families love it:

• Portland Head Light
• Dramatic coastal scenery
• Multiple backdrops
• Quintessential Maine atmosphere

Best for:

• Vacation family sessions
• Family photography
• Engagement sessions

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9. East Pine Plant Shop | Portland, Maine

Not every family session needs sweeping ocean views or wide-open fields.

Sometimes the most meaningful photographs are created in smaller, quieter spaces.

East Pine Plant Shop offers a cozy, living plant-filled environment that feels intimate from the moment you step inside. Surrounded by greenery, natural light, and warm textures, the space encourages families to slow down and simply be together. Without the distractions of a busy beach or expansive landscape, the focus naturally shifts to connection—the way your baby nestles into your chest, the way your child reaches for your hand, or the way your partner looks at you when no one thinks they’re being photographed.

There’s something incredibly special about the closeness this space creates. It feels less like a photoshoot and more like spending an afternoon together in a sunlit greenhouse and wandering their beautiful outdoor gardens during the warmer months.

For families who value emotion, connection, and storytelling, East Pine provides a beautiful backdrop while never overshadowing the people in front of the camera.

Why families love it:

• Cozy, intimate atmosphere
• Beautiful natural light year-round
• Lush greenery and organic textures
• Comfortable indoor setting during colder months
• Keeps the focus on connection and emotion

Best for:

• Maternity photography
• Motherhood sessions
• Families with babies and young children
• Couples and engagement sessions
• Winter photography sessions

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10. A Place That Means Something to You

Sometimes the most meaningful location isn’t a popular photography destination at all.

Sometimes it’s your family camp.

The beach you’ve visited every summer.

The lake where your children learned to swim.

The backyard where you spend every evening together.

As a Maine family photographer, some of my favorite sessions have taken place in locations that would never appear on a “best of” list but it mattered deeply to the family standing in front of my camera.

Meaning creates magic.

And that always photographs beautifully.

How to Choose the Best Location for Family Photos in Southern Maine

When choosing a location, I encourage families to think beyond what looks pretty.

Ask yourself:

• Where does your family naturally spend time together?
• Do your children love beaches, woods, or open fields?
• Would you rather explore or relax?
• Are you hoping for an adventurous session or a quiet one?

The right location creates space for genuine connection, and those moments are what turn photographs into memories.

Looking for a Maine Photographer?

Whether you’re envisioning sandy toes at Pine Point, an adventurous evening along Sebago Lake, a stroll through Mackworth Island, or a location that holds special meaning to your family, I’d love to help you create photographs that feel like home.

My sessions are centered around light, connection, movement, and storytelling. Heart and soul.

Because years from now, the moments you’ll treasure most won’t be the perfectly posed ones.

They’ll be the way your child reached for your hand.

Your creative inspiration and celebration of life.

The way your family laughed together.

The way love felt at the beginning of your story.

The way this season of life felt.

Ready to start planning your session? I’m here.