Where to Take Perfect Family Photos in Ottawa

There’s something about fall sunlight that makes for the perfect family photo. And with gorgeous coloured leaves providing the backdrop and your kiddos decked out in chunky sweaters and rosy cheeks, you’ve got a magical moment worth capturing. So give these great natural backdrops a try for your autumn family photo session.

Located in the Green Belt near Moodie and Hunt Club, the Jack Pine Trail is a great natural outdoor location for West End families. In the fall, the forest is lovely with colour, and wide tree-lined paths make for great natural frames. There’s a small boardwalk and best of all, the chickadees are anxious to gather seeds for the winter, so a handful of black sunflower seeds will lead to some great candid photo ops.

For East Enders, the Mer Bleue Bog is a riot of fall colours that make for an amazing photo backdrop. The lovely boardwalk, framed with tall reeds and grasses, is a favourite, and if you arrive early in the morning, you’ll get some amazing light and often a little bit of mist to frame your shots.

Lastly, Gatineau Park is chock full of great locations—you can practically pull over along any pathway and snap away. But we love the varied backdrops at the Mackenzie King Estate best—there are stone ruins, cultivated gardens, forested areas, plus the lovely house itself. There’s no charge for using the grounds, just the usual park entrance fee; try to arrive early on fall weekends to avoid competition from wedding parties.

Fall is a brilliant time of year for family photos, plus it sets you up nicely for those annual Christmas cards. We’ve got 10 more ideas for stunning family pics.

See the rest of our Gorgeous Fall Photo Opps in Ottawa here.