Locations for family ports

[kikiluv]

Hi there...I'm doing a family port session with my friend and his two young kids in August and I'm looking for some fun, bright colored walls that would make good backdrops. I live in Austin and despite being originally from Dallas, this town changes every time I come in so I'm clueless as to where to take them.

I found a great local Dallas photog (Square-something studios) who had some fabulous photos of what I'm looking for but I hate to ask her or is this acceptable? She had one in particular that I'm totally lusting over - a huge wall with a zebra-esq print. Any ideas of where this spot in particular is?

Thanks for all the help in advance.

[photopam]

Not sure where the wall you are looking for is, but Deep Ellum is where a lot of photographers go for brightly colored walls. I don't make it over to Dallas and Fort Worth doesn't really have anything like that, that I know of.
Hope you find something!

[kikiluv]

Thanks, photopam. Deep Ellum is an option I've been considering. I'm guessing it is safe during the day.

[AHPhoto]

I know this is old, but the Zebra wall is on Lower Greenville - it's one of the stores.

[MikkiStreak]

Originally Posted by kikiluv

Thanks, photopam. Deep Ellum is an option I've been considering. I'm guessing it is safe during the day.

Yes, very safe during the day. At night too, if common sense is used (which most people apparently don't use much these days)...

I did some photos down there this past weekend... My husband was part of the music scene down there for years and years, and I used to hang out down there every weekend when he was working. Some of the murals have changed out, but there are some really amazing ones that are "constants" too. And there's a lot of buildings without murals, but have been painted solid colors that really stand out in photos.

[lilgriff78]

I agree, deep ellum is fantastic...its sort of like the 6th st area of austin, though its kind of dying out a little bit. its safe in the day time, but you might get some beggers coming up to you trying to give you tips on places to shoot before they ask for some $ (at least i did) ..lol i loooove this flag painted wall there

[Namie]

Wow I love the flag mural. I have a friend that is a marine who will be leaving this spring for Japan -- I'd love to get a shot of him in dress blues in front of that mural --- where is it? I'm not familiar with the area.

Thanks

[lilgriff78]

Originally Posted by Namie

Wow I love the flag mural. I have a friend that is a marine who will be leaving this spring for Japan -- I'd love to get a shot of him in dress blues in front of that mural --- where is it? I'm not familiar with the area.

Thanks

It's in deep ellum. I think it's on elm street but I'm not sure.
The best thing to do is park and walk around. That side of the building faces away from the skyline part of downtown (south I think). If u walk around u can ask people, that's what we did

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Kristi,

What part of Dallas are you going to be in? Also, it would depend on what kind of family portrait they are looking for. Personally, I wouldn't want a large family portrait hanging over my fireplace with a huge American flag as a background... but someone might.

Let me know if you're going to be in the North Dallas to Frisco area... there are a lot of places in that region.

- Wil

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Originally Posted by lilgriff78

That side of the building faces away from the skyline part of downtown (south I think). If u walk around u can ask people, that's what we did

Deep Ellum is on the East side of the skyline so if the wall faces away from the skyline then it has to face East.

[lilgriff78]

Ok yeah I'm horrible with knowing what direction something is

[jcopes]

Will:

I have a photoshoot tomorrow in Frisco with a 4 year old. What good area's up there would be good for her? I am not familiar with that area. So I have been doing some resesarch and haven't found much.

Thanks
Jen

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Jen,

If you're ok with the freezing temps outside right now, this place is excellent for outdoors:
Google maps address: 3701 Twin Lakes Way, Plano, TX 75093

Here is a shot of that location:


This location is nice and you'll probably see quite a few other photograhers doing family and portrait photos here as well:
5780 Daniel Road, Plano, TX

Here are some shots of that location:






If you want really nice brick-and-mortar gazebos, there are two... one faces East across a pond with a fountain and the other faces South over a small creek. I've used both and are just different in their own respects. But for shooting a 4-year-old, I would go with the one with the fountain.
Gazebo with fountain





Gazebo with creek

If it's really windy or you just need absolute shade (but still well-lit), you can also use St. Andrews United Methodist Church on Plano, Parkway.

Oh, and if the kid is wild... Arbor Hills Nature Preserve:






- Wil

[bthompson]

Just a warning.. beware of the tall grass at the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve.. They have chiggers. Perhaps not now that it's frozen, but just keep it in mind during the warmer months. It's not very nice.

[dmcantrell]

This is great info about Frisco! Any indoor locations that would work for a group photo (other than the Gaylord)?

Thanks,

Dave