Utah Location Guide
Yay! I’m so excited to be working with you! Here is a list of some of my favorite places to take photos. You are not limited to this list, but if you want to do a new location, I typically need to see the location in person or video prior to doing your session there!
​There are so many choices when it comes to locations…I’ve included my favorites below!
Haley Thomas Photography's Favorite
Utah Photography Locations
NOTES:
When applicable, travel fees will be added to your final invoice.
For 1 hour photo sessions, in the mountains, we will start shooting 1.5-2 hours before sunset. All other locations start 30 minute-1 hour before sunset.
Make sure you bring a jacket incase it is cold, and shoes you can walk in (through snow or rocks).
Bountiful PonD Trees
No restroom, Street Parking, 200 yard walk. No travel fee. Best 1-2 hours before sunset.
This spot is best spring-fall. To say there are a lot of mosquitos is an understatement. I have to douse myself in bug spray to get through a session here, and even then I usually get a few bites. But, the light at this location is pure magic.
Bountiful PonD: mountains
No restroom, Street Parking, 100 yard walk. No travel fee. Best at sunset or on cloudy days.
I can not do extended family groups here.
This spot is best spring-fall. To say there are a lot of mosquitos is an understatement. I have to douse myself in bug spray to get through a session here, and even then I usually get a few bites. But, the light at this location is pure magic.
Downtown Bountiful
This location has no additional travel fee, and is best in the evening 1-2 hours before sunset from spring to fall. There is no public restroom, but there are several businesses where you can use the restroom if you purchase something. I like to park near Sweet Cake Bakery and go to several spots around there!
Utah State CAPITOL BUILDING: STEPS & inside
Salt Lake City
Easy parking – Indoor area & Bathroom until 5pm
Lighting good during the days during most of the year.
Park near the steps on the West side.
I DO NOT shoot at The State Capitol Building in April during the Cherry Blossom bloom.
INTERNATIONAL PEACE GARDENS
Salt Lake City
Easy parking
In the green months this location is gorgeous. Plan to start 1.5 hours before sunset.
TUNNEL SPRINGS PARK
North Salt Lake
I can not do extended family groups here.
Easy parking, no bathrooms. I only use this location for mini sessions, or on cloudy days.
This location is all field. There are no trees, though there is a section of pampas grass.
5 minute walk, bring shoes that are easy to walk in.
Park city Mountains
Travel fee $200. Drop Toilet available.
Time of year Summer-Fall (until the first snow). Best 1 hour before sunset. Groups of 6 maximum. Not wheelchair accessible.
Bug spray recommended! Example photos taken in mid-June.
Mueller Park in Bountiful
Easy Parking - Bathroom - Parking fee ($15/first car, $10 each additional car)
This is a great fall location, like in these family photos. The trees turn in late September and last through October 20th, typically. If the gate is closed, it is a 5 minute walk from parking.
North Canyon PARK
I can not do extended family groups here.
These photos were taken in May and Mid-October. No travel fee.
Good any time in the afternoon.
Lilac Bush in woods cross
This is on private property, and along a busy road.
No restrooms. Best in the middle of the day, blooms in the middle of May only!
Woodland Park in Farmington
Easy Parking - $30 travel fee
This is a great location for late fall colors, around Thanksgiving. The trees turn in Early November.
GREAT SALTAIR
Salt Lake City
Easy parking - NO RESTROOM – Travel Fee ($50)
May not be available when there are concerts scheduled at the venue.
NOTE: I do not go to the water's edge here.
I can not do extended family groups here.
The salt does wash out of clothing and shoes, but fancy fabrics (like suede) might not wash perfectly.
This is a great option if you like the look of the Salt Flats but don’t want to drive for hours or pay the bigger travel fee.
The biggest differences between the Saltair and the Salt Flats:
1 – The Saltair sand is patchy. The Salt Flats are white.
2 – The Saltair is the beach of the Great Salt Lake.
This location is dry or wet depending on the season. Every season is gorgeous.
Many of the colors you see in the Salt Flats can be achieved at the Saltair, just depending on the lighting that day.
Ogden Botanical Garden
Easy Parking, Easy Walking, Travel fee ($100)
I can not do extended family groups here.
Beautiful in Spring and Early Summer
University of Utah, President's Circle
Easy Parking - NO Bathroom - Travel fee ($100)
This is one of my favorite spots in for Grad Photos, but it would also work for family photos. Beautiful light, short walk from parking. Amazing during spring-fall. Best in early evening.
I can not do extended family groups here.
Snow Basin Overlook
Easy Parking - NO Bathroom - Travel fee ($120)
This is one of my favorite spots in Utah. Tree covered mountain views, beautiful light, short walk from parking. Amazing during spring-fall. Best in early evening. Photo taken in early August.
Alpine Field
Easy Parking - Bathroom - Travel fee ($180)
I can not do extended family groups here.
This is my absolute favorite location. Tree covered mountain views, sage brush, beautiful light, 2 minute walk from parking.
Mini sessions only in the Winter, due to the placement of the sun limiting the time we can shoot here.
Amazing during spring-fall. This is one of my favorite spots.
Alpine Poppies
Easy Parking - NO Bathroom - Travel fee ($180)
These are only in bloom for about 2 weeks, the end of May to the middle of June, depending on the year. This spot also gets very busy, so I only photograph here on weekday sunrise sessions.
THIS LOCATION IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
Storm Mountain
Big Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake City
Easy parking – NO bathroom – Travel fee ($200)
Mountain views, steep 30 second hike. loose rock, red rock boulder.
Amazing Spring-Fall. During winter this location is not safe to walk to.
I can not do extended family groups here.
Silver Lake
Big Cottonwood Canyon. Restroom. Travel Fee $250.
Best Summer and Fall. I will not go here after the first snow in the mountains.
I can not do extended family groups here.
Millcreek Canyon
This spot is beautiful in late September and early October. $5 parking fee.
Travel fee ($70)
Easy parking, bathrooms, slightly steep hike up trail.
Utah Lake in VINEYARD
Easy Parking - no restroom - Travel fee ($200)
This is a great location year round. If you want the ice shards, we need to schedule with flexibility on a warm day after it has been really cold.
The family session example was taken the end of November with overcast.
THIS LOCATION IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE due to the extra rain we got last year!
Butterfield Canyon
Easy Parking - NO bathroom - Walk over a creek - Travel Fee ($200)
Sage brush, beautiful light, 2 minute walk from parking.
Amazing during spring-fall. This is one of my favorite spots. Photos taken in the spring.
Albion Basin
Limited Parking - Bathroom - Parking Fee $10, Travel fee ($300)
This is a very popular location. The flowers bloom in the middle of July until the first week of August.
Amazing during the summer, the only time of year these trails are open. The sun sets 45 minutes early over this peek.
I can not do extended family groups here.
THE Pink Beach at the great salt lake
Easy Parking - Bathroom - Travel fee ($400)
This is a 60 minute drive from SLC, and very bump. I recommend a car that can handle off road driving.
This is somewhat secret location, but even with very few crowds, this spot is tricky because the bugs are horrible in the summer,
so I like this spot in the spring and fall, but the water is very cold at that those times of the year.
Mcpolin barn in park city
Park City- Travel Fee ($200)
Bathroom, fits large groups. Best all year round.
Parking is on the other of the highway, and then we walk through a tunnel to walk up to the barn!
TIBBLE FORK
American Fork - Travel Fee ($200) plus $50 National Park Permit fee
Google Pin I only do Sunrise Sessions here.
Easy parking – Bathroom
WEATHER: In the winter the weather can be quite unpredictable. Winter sessions here should have a backup plan in case it’s too cold or too snowy to shoot.
NOTE: I lose cell reception as soon as I enter the canyon (about 25 minutes before the photo shoot starts). I will meet you on the sidewalk in the parking lot.
DIRECTIONS: For some reason Google maps won’t take you through American Fork Canyon (it will have you drive around through Heber. That adds hours). Never fear…that road is open, and it only takes 25 min to drive through in good weather! I’ve never seen the road to Tibble Fork close down, even in the winter. You can put this location at the mouth of the canyon into Google maps. Drive straight into the canyon, take the left at the fork and continue to drive into the parking lot.
Midway Canyon Spot
This spot is pretty cool, because it has so many pines in one gorgeous view. - Travel fee ($300)
I have only photographed this spot one time for this family,
and I do not know what the spot looks like year round. This session was taken at the end of May.
There is no bathroom, and we have to park on the side of the road.
NOTE: I lose cell reception as soon as I enter the canyon (about 5 minutes before the photo shoot starts).
BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS
Salt Lake City
Easy parking – Bathroom – Travel fee ($500)
Amazing sunset photos. Very windy. Long drive.
The results I can achieve depend on the lighting and weather that day!
NOTE: Lots of walking. Bring walking shoes. The salt does wash out of clothing and shoes, but fancy fabrics (like suede) might not wash perfectly.
This location is dry or wet depending on the season. Every season is gorgeous.
I do not recommend extended family groups here, but it is possible.
SAND DUNES
Nephi, UT
Easy parking – Travel fee ($450) – Bring cas hto pay to enter park.
Amazing sunset photos. Very windy. These photos were taken in November.
Warm tones with blue sky
I can not do extended family groups here.
THANKSGIVING POINT GARDENS
American Fork - Travel fee ($150) & $100 Photo Permit Fee
Easy parking – Bathroom – Pay to enter venue (They charge a $100 fee for doing photos + ticket fee to garden)
Always gorgeous!
This is a good spot for a morning extended family session!
NATURAL LIGHT STUDIOS
There are studios everywhere. I have listed my favorites below.
Easy parking – Bathroom – Pay to rent the space ($75-95/hr). We usually need 1 hour.
Indoor options are a great backup in case of poor weather.
I will reserve the studio after we select a time and place. The studio rental fee will be added to your invoice.
Studio Noire Noir in SLC
Downtown SLC
Almost no props, but this studio has a desk, some stools, a tall mirror and gorgeous white brick.
The Light Loft Studio in Layton
Layton
This is my absolute favorite space to photograph in, because the light is so beautiful,
and they have great props, like a couch, an egg chair, a bed and side table, a crib and a ton of chairs and stools.
OTU STUDIO
Taylorsville
I like this space for morning newborn sessions. There is a bassinet, white couch, bed and some chairs. Best for small families of 3 or 4.
