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

No restroom, Street Parking, 200 yard walk. No travel fee. Best 1 hour before sunset.

I can do large groups here, but not with the mountain view.

This spot is best spring-fall, but these photos were taken in June. 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 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

Google Pin

Easy parking – Bathroom until 5pm

Lighting good during the days during most of the year.

Park near the steps on the West side.

Utah State CAPITOL BUILDING: Cherry Blossoms

Salt Lake City

Google Pin

Easy parking

Parking on lot on East side, or park on the road on the East side.

Blossoms only bloom in early spring.

INTERNATIONAL PEACE GARDENS

Salt Lake City

Google Pin

Easy parking

In the green months this location is gorgeous. In the winter it’s bare.

TUNNEL SPRINGS PARK

North Salt Lake

Google Pin

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.

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.

Creekside PARK IN BOUNTIFUL

Easy Parking - No Restroom in the Fall.

This is right next to the playground, but the light it absolutely stunning at this spot.

These photos were taken in early October, at 4pm

North Canyon PARK

Google Pin

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 - $50 travel fee

This is a great location for late fall colors, around Thanksgiving. The trees turn in Early November.

GREAT SALTAIR

Salt Lake City

Google Pin

Easy parking - NO RESTROOM – Travel Fee ($60)

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 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 and clean.

2 – The Saltair is the beach of the Great Salt Lake. We can jump in the water, if you don't mind walking out 15 minutes.

This location is dry or wet depending on the season. Every season is gorgeous.

Many of the colors you see in the Salt Flats gallery above can be achieved at the Saltair, just depending on the lighting that day

Ogden Botanical Garden

Easy Parking, Easy Walking, Travel fee ($100)

Google Pin

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. Beautiful light, short walk from parking. Amazing during spring-fall. Best in early evening.

Snow Basin Overlook

Easy Parking - NO Bathroom - Travel fee ($150)

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 ($200)

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

Google Pin

Easy Parking - NO Bathroom - Travel fee ($200)

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 mornings and afternoons.

Storm Mountain

Big Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake City

Easy parking – NO bathroom – Travel fee ($200) (You can combine this location with your Jordan Pines location)

Mountain views, steep 30 second hike. loose rock, red rock boulder.

Amazing Spring-Fall. During winter this location is not safe to hike to.

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.

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)

Google Pin

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.

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

Mountain views, rich greens in summer.

In snow seasons there is usually still some green from the evergreen trees.

WEATHER: In the winter the weather can be quite unpredictable. The weather conditions are usually twice as intense at this location as they are in Cedar Hills. Winter sessions here should have a backup plan in case it’s too cold or too snowy to shoot.

NOTE: I loose cell reception as soon as I enter the canyon (about 25 minutes before the photo shoot starts). I will meet you in front of the bathroom at the beginning of 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 25min 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 and then follow the map I’ve drawn below. 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)

Google Pin

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 loose cell reception as soon as I enter the canyon (about 5 minutes before the photo shoot starts). I will meet you in front of the bathroom at the beginning of the parking lot.