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The 5 Best Locations for Photography in Bend, Oregon

January 30, 2020

SHE photography in Bend, Oregon

Every photo has a setting. One of the most important aspects of photography in Bend is choosing the perfect location. The location will drive all other decisions for the shoot, including which props to take, which clothes the subject should wear, and how to look natural in front of the camera.

Should I Shoot in a Studio? | Photography in Bend, Oregon

While shooting in a studio with a plain background is always an option, it’s not an exciting option. For visually appealing and engaging portraits, you want a location that showcases your personality and the place where you live and work.

Thankfully, Bend has beautiful outdoor and indoor locations where you can take pictures! Here are my five top sites for photography in Bend.

Riverbend Park

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Riverbend Park is a thirteen-acre park that hosts special events throughout the year, provides public access to the Deschutes River, and boasts an expansive network of walking trails that immerse visitors in the gorgeous riparian landscape that the park strives to preserve.

The area features wide-open lawn areas, a picnic shelter, public restrooms, and a sandy beach that’s perfect for a sunny day by the river. The Deschutes River Trail connects to Riverbend Park as well, which includes a specialized soft surface running trail that weaves its way along the traditional ten-foot-wide walking path. The trail leads as far as Farewell Bend Park across the river and to the south canyon walking trails upstream.

What I particularly like about shooting here is the access to both beautiful pathways, shots of the river, and ample shade for placing my subject in. (Read my last blog on How I Can Look Natural in Photos, and refer to the Open Shade sections for more detail!)

Drake Park and Mirror Pond

This popular downtown gathering place hosts many events throughout the spring, summer, and fall, including the District’s Old Fashioned July 4th Celebration.

The area features stunning views of the water, nearly a half-mile of riverfront, acres of open lawn, an outdoor stage, and small picnic tables. Bend fully renovated Drake Park in 2003, so it’s in excellent condition for photoshoots. Pathways throughout the park have been replaced with pavers to make walkways wider, new lighting systems have been installed, bike racks have been installed, a seating and viewing area was added at Mirror Pond, and the High Wheel has made a triumphant return to the park. Today, Drake Park is more beautiful than ever! Photos taken at this iconic location have a breathtaking backdrop, provide easy access to downtown for additional shoots, and offer perfect light for outdoor shots.

Downtown

Nina Casual and Relaxed in Bend SHE Photography

Downtown Bend is one of the most popular spots in town for food, brews, and independently owned shops.

Walkable streets and attractions offer a place to try new activities. Bend is known as one of the most charming downtowns in Oregon, thanks to its friendly atmosphere paired with modernity.

Downtown features over 300 businesses. The area’s walkable layout gives photographers and subjects access to hundreds of boutiques for inspiration, as well as a variety of textures and colors perfect for creative photoshoots.

From hundred-year-old buildings with stunning architecture to modern art galleries and cozy coffee and tea shops, you’ll find the perfect shooting spot for your needs downtown.

It’s essential to shoot in open shade, which makes this location ideal. You should be able to find one side of the road shaded by the buildings at most times during the day. Downtown is the perfect location for your lifestyle shoot since it showcases the Bend, Oregon lifestyle and provides excellent branding for business owners.

Old Mill District 

The Old Mill District in Bend has been the hub of social life for Central Oregon since the 1990s. The Mill features over 40 shops, 12 restaurants, and an amphitheater featuring almost every kind of entertainment you can imagine. But it’s not just the mall itself that is special. Situated in the midst of a rugged wilderness with miles of hiking trails, rushing rivers, and the breathtaking scenery that makes Oregon so unique, the Old Mill District combines the sophisticated and the primitive and really makes it work!

The Les Schwab Amphitheater offers musical entertainment during the summer months and makes for an expansive shoot location for the rest of the year. Travel & Leisure even named it one of “America’s coolest music venues”.

The Old Mill has a lighter and brighter backdrop than downtown, which is mostly brick and slightly more masculine. The Mill has a feminine touch that brings bright colors and neutral grays into the background. This area provides beautiful landscaping and boasts an abundance of vibrant wildflowers in the spring. With easy access to the river, this location is perfect for both lifestyle and branding shots.

OSU-Cascades Campus

Oregon State University-Cascades is a branch campus of Oregon State University located in Bend. This new campus features stunning modern architecture, an abundance of nature spots, and an array of colors and natural textures. Its variety makes it perfect for photoshoots.

The OSU-Cascades campus is a little-known gem in the photography community since it’s a recent addition to our town. Even when it becomes more widely known, there’s still more to come! Over the next several years, OSU-Cascades will continue to expand. Eventually, it will become a 128-acre campus for up to 5,000 students. OSU plans to add one new building every two years.

The area was once a pumice mine and a Deschutes County demolition landfill. The transformation of the university properties today is deemed of the most innovative university development projects in the country.

Branding Photography in Bend, Oregon

The best thing about living in Bend is that there are new things to discover here every day! My favorite spots for photography in Bend, Oregon might change next month as new spots are discovered. Where are your favorite places to get photos taken in Bend? Drop them in the comments below!

Similar Posts: Personal Branding Photography,  Portraits,  Tips and Advice

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Suzette created a relaxing, fun, natural environment for our family of six and the results were incredible. EVERY member of the family was thrilled with the results and we have a wonderful compilation of great memories. Now when anyone in the family needs to have some great photographs we call Suzette.

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Happy holidays to my friends and families around the world.  Today we spend the holiday in flight from Costa Rica to LA to Bend.  Not a traditional celebration, but feeling the spirit and much gratitude in my heart.  I am grateful for my wonderful family, who make traveling together fun and easy.  We had an easy going, connected trip.  Thank you to my hard working husband for creating this opportunity for us.  We feel the love!  Love to all!  Happy holidays however it is you celebrate.
Video walk through of our shared home in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica.  Now available on AirBnB.

https://abnb.me/9FTdK8eWWvb
Surf lesson in Jacó.  So much fun.
Costa Rica seems to warrant an early rise.  My body doesn’t recognize that the clocks in Costa Rica are 2 hours later than the clocks in Bend, OR.  I still seem to arrise 2 hours earlier.  This morning my eyes popped open at 4:45am, 2:45am in Bend.  I’m usually asleep by 10, so I’m getting sufficient rest.  I am ready to soak in all the day has to offer. 

I start this morning on the roof top patio in silence (other than the array of chirping birds and the hustle of the world beginning to stir around me in the distance) sipping my coffee and taking a moment to go inward.  Followed by my outward expression here on FB land. 

I love that my Bend counterparts are shoveling show and warming their bones up bye a fire.  While I sit here in the tropical moist heat. 

I’m constantly amazed at how adaptable humans can be.  This is my life now, at least for this moment.  Sometimes it feels like forever.  I’ve always thought one could drop me most anywhere in the world and I would adapt quickly.  It’s certainly not hard to adapt to life here in, Costa Rica. 

What are you all up to today?

May you all relish in the delight of your day, however it is you are spending it.
Chilling beachside with a passion fruit smoothie, watching my family boogie board in the surf.  We’re taking it super slow on this trip and enjoying the pace. 

Maria and I began the day with yoga at the local yoga retreat center, walked home, and now at the beach with the fam for a couple hours.  There is a lazy sloth above my head, enjoying a tree top nap, reminding me to take it slow, que tranquillo. 

Had an amazing body work session last night, under that stars of our roof top patio.  Uncovered and healed old deep wounds, that held me wound up and rigid for years.  Today I am lighter in my body, releasing a lifetime of tension.  Thank you Nikki Pava for the referral. 

Lunch and a lazy siesta this afternoon followed by lobster tacos. 

Pura Vida
Not a bad way to start out the day!
Two bendy teenagers. 💕 these were much more difficult, than photographing one kid.  We had fun, and a couple interesting tumbles #dancemom #dancephotographer #bendygirl #dancelife
#dancemom #dancelife #dancephotography #handstand
Fun playing w trying my hand at dance photos. #dancemom #dancelife @thedanceconnectionbend  @mayahibble_dance

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