The Best Family Photo Spots in OKC and Tulsa

With the autumn sun managing to keep the winter chill on hold for a moment longer, the thrill of the holiday season in the air and the kids soon to be on school break, now may be the perfect time to gather your family together for a new batch of family photos. At Homes by Taber, our communities are carefully crafted in sought-after locations, and the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas offer an abundance of location options for the perfect family portraits.

Explore the beauty of Oklahoma City

When you live in an area as beautiful as Oklahoma City, it’s not hard to find a spot that would be perfect for a family photoshoot—but just to be sure you don’t miss out on the location that perfectly accentuates your photo ops, here are a few sites that stick out.

The outdoor wonderland that is the Myriad Botanic Garden fully encompasses the enchanting aspects of the city, and it is an ideal place to capture incredible family photos. No matter the season, the garden will always be a pristine backdrop, playing host to the vivid color changes taking place from month to month. Whether placed on the steps venturing upward toward the Crystal Bridge Conservatory, situated in front of the cascading stream or walking throughout the immaculate pathways, you will have a hard time choosing a favorite portrait among these location contenders.

Moving from natural beauty to a striking display of architecture, we come to the next potential family photo spot—Scissortail Bridge. The eye-catching display that the bridge creates gives a perfect backdrop if you’re looking for an interesting urban setting for your portraits. Time your appointment to coincide with golden hour, and marvel at the incredibly rich shots you receive back from your photographer and the lighting options that the bridge provides. 

Oklahoma City is a great place for young families, so making a trip to the noteworthy Wheeler Ferris Wheel offers an animated setting for family photos that your children are sure to love. Take advantage of the large, grassy area around the ferris wheel to lay out a blanket and get some incredible group shots with the fairground ride creating a whimsical background. Finish off the day by taking a few photographs riding on the ferris wheel, and you’re sure to bring out natural smiles from the young ones, while at the same time, showcasing the incredible views of the surrounding OKC community. 

Sometimes all you need to do is wander the streets of downtown OKC to find some incredible spots—and for a truly unique location, the Bricktown Canal never disappoints. Formerly a warehouse district in the city, the buildings in Bricktown have kept the old time charm and create a great background for your family photos. With the street lights reflecting on the canal waters, this urban setting constructs breathtaking photos to hang around your home. 

Although OKC has some incredible locations in their downtown area, sometimes hopping in your car for a short drive brings you to the perfect destination. Roughly 15 miles north of downtown OKC, Lake Hefner boasts an impressive spectacle. Having a lighthouse attraction in Oklahoma seems far-fetched, but stepping out of your car and taking in the views of the calm waters and stunning lighthouse seemingly transports you to an oceanfront town nestled on the East Coast without the price of a plane ticket. 

Discover the gems in Tulsa

The city of Tulsa is another Oklahoma treasure with some truly exquisite scenes, perfect for capturing family photos. One of the most well-known outdoor gardens that should be on your list of contenders is the Tulsa Botanic Garden. A quick drive northwest of downtown Tulsa, and with 170 acres to explore, you’ll easily find the perfect photo spot. Don’t forget to take advantage of the holiday specific decorations that change out with each season for a few themed portraits. 

If you find yourself daydreaming of trips to Europe, you may just be in luck with this next location. At the Philbrook Museum of Art, have your photographer capture images while you and your family wander the 25 acres of fountains, pools and flower beds and marvel at how the museum in the background gives off the impression of an exquisite Italian villa. 

It seems like the city of Tulsa is in no short supply of outdoor areas for your next family photoshoot, so make sure to take a look at the Tulsa Garden Center located at Woodward Park to see if the setting is what you’re looking for. Since the garden boasts marvelous views throughout the entire year with spring flowers, summer sunshine, autumn foliage and winter snowfalls, it is never too late to take advantage of this city staple. 

Sometimes, it can be difficult to keep your young children preoccupied enough to sit still throughout a family photoshoot. In times like this, it may be best to simply lean into the idea of movement. Heading out to the Gathering Place for a family photo session is sure to bring a genuine smile to your children’s faces and give you some incredible memories to always keep with you.

Although the open fields and winding garden paths are nice, sometimes the best shots can simply be found downtown. The city streets of Tulsa are bursting with life and energy and are in no short supply of incredible photoshoot spots. For a truly colorful family portrait session, take some shots at the plethora of murals throughout the streets or gather around some Tulsa staples, such as the Centennial Clock for scenes unique to the city. 

Take inspiration from your surroundings when choosing your color theme

When you have the perfect location (or locations) in mind for your family photoshoot, the next thing you’ll need to think about is what you’ll all be wearing. Deciding on a color theme gives an overall sense of unity to the photographs, but it also allows for personal preferences to make their way in for each family member.

The time of year for your photos will definitely help in your color choices if you are going with a location that showcases the natural scenery of the area. The spring and summer months are perfect for light, pastel colors of yellow, blue, pink and white while the fall and winter months favor rich tones of green, red, orange and black. 

When choosing the downtown cityscape to be the backdrop of your family photos, you want to keep in mind that many of your surroundings, such as murals, typically have an enormous amount of color around them. If this is the case with many of your locations, you might want to stick to a neutral color palette for your attire. 

You can also think about where you’ll be displaying your family photos when deciding on your color theme. The mantel above the fireplace is a focal point in every Taber home and could be an incredible way to highlight your family photos in your living room area. Take inspiration from your color choices throughout your home to ensure that whatever outfits you choose will look incredible on the wall space in your living and dining rooms. 

The perfect family photo location could be closer than you think

Although Oklahoma City and Tulsa have plenty of unique locations that are well worth the trip, we have to admit that our favorite family photo spot is a lot closer to home than you think. There’s something magical and nostalgic about capturing a family photograph in a place as welcoming as your own home, so when in doubt, grab some deck chairs, throw on some comfy clothes and smile for the camera at the pure joy you feel when you’re with your family on your own front porch. 

At Homes by Taber, we pride ourselves on crafting Proudly Overbuilt homes time after time, and we love seeing them come to life when our homeowners take the keys. If you’re looking to move to the Oklahoma City or Tulsa area, take a look at our floor plans and give us a call at (405) 285-5105 or contact us online to see how we can help you create the perfect home for you and your family to enjoy.

Gathering Place Photo: gatheringplace.org/