What Makes a Great Family Photo Location in the Lehigh Valley

Before we get into the specific spots, I point out something that doesn’t get said enough.

The best location for your family photos is not always the most stunning one. The best locations for family photos in the Lehigh Valley are where your family can be themselves.

I have photographed sessions at beautiful places that felt stiff and unnatural the whole time. And I have photographed sessions at ordinary spots where it just clicked, everyone relaxed, the kids started doing their thing, and the whole session felt easy. The difference was almost never the location or the backgrounds. It was the space giving everyone room to breathe.

So when I talk about these locations, I am thinking about two things at one time: what it is going to look like in your photos, and what it actually feels like to be there with your people.

Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center (Nazareth/Belfast Area)

Jacobsburg has everything you could ask for in an outdoor family session: open meadows, tree canopy, creek access, and enough variety in a small area that you can have two or three completely different looks in a single session without anyone travelling very far.

The meadow sections are great in late summer and fall when the grasses go golden. The light in the late afternoon on a clear day is that warm summery golden hour goodness you would want from a location like this.

If you’re a family with young kids, the creek is great. If things get tense or a kid needs a reset, we walk to the water and let them chuck rocks for a few minutes. I know mine could spend an hour doing that.  Ninety percent of the time, a little rock skipping is enough to get everyone back on track again.

Best season: Late September through mid-November. Second place goes to early May when everything is green and new.

Best time of day: Two hours before sunset for golden light. Morning sessions work too and the park is usually quieter.

Parking and logistics: Parking and restrooms are easily accessible. Depending on where we go, a stroller might be a little challenging as some of the paths are not paved. 

Malcolm Gross Rose Garden – Allentown Rose Garden (Allentown)

When I think of the best locations for family photos in the Lehigh Valley, this spot is at the top of my list. At one end of the park, you have a huge variety of flowering gardens that change throughout the season. Next are the rose gardens which are always a stunning feature. There are a few stone structures and gazebos which lend themselves to a nice change of scenery. Just a little bit down the path, there is a nice little bridge, a few ponds, and a creek. 

The wooded sections near the water have a natural, dappled light quality that works really well for a relaxed, outdoorsy session. One of my favorite parts of this area are the willow trees that line the water. They make for some great shade cover and are just a really nice spot for some seated poses on a blanket. 

There are also plenty of spots for when kids need to move. There is enough space to chase each other around without anyone ending up in a parking lot, and the creek gives the same reset option I mentioned at Jacobsburg, although probably not the best for throwing rocks.

Best season: Honestly good most of the year.

Best time of day: Early morning or late afternoon. While there is adequate shade cover, you don’t want to be out there at 3:00pm in August.

Parking and logistics: Plenty of street parking, the paths are paved. The restroom is located on the other side of the Cedar Creek Path

Kalmbach Park

This is truly a hidden gem in Macungie! Kalmbach is a well maintained park with large open grassy areas, a pine forest with some REALLY tall trees, gravel paths and a nice little trail that goes through a small wooded section by a creek. .

The sections through the trees are especially good in fall. There are also open sections that give you that big-sky feel if you want contrast. You absolutely can’t go wrong with Kalmbach.   

Best season: Fall, no question, lots of color here. Also worth considering late spring.

Best time of day: Late afternoon/golden hour. The low angle sun coming through the trees is absolutely gorgeous here. 

Parking and logistics: Good access, easy parking, flat terrain. Might be tough in some spots for strollers on the gravel walkways. Restrooms are not always open, but there is a Wawa just down the road for emergencies.

 

Monocacy Park/ Illick’s Mill (Bethlehem)

I’ve photographed a bunch of family portrait sessions here and it’s one of my favorite spots in the Lehigh Valley because of all the reasons I stated above. 

If you are a family that likes a more modern look for your photos, this is worth considering. It photographs differently from the field-and-forest sessions most people default to, and the variety is legitimately cool.

There’s a great mix of trees and greenery when combined with the stone, provide a great variety of backdrops. Just like all of the other locations, there’s plenty of room for kids to blow off some energy in between photos.

Best season: I’ve photographed here year round, and there are aspects that look amazing in every season. It’s a great spot for winter outfits with all of the stone and evergreens in the background. 

Best time of day: Morning or late afternoon. 

Parking and logistics: It’s a very walkable location and is stroller friendly. Parking can be a little tricky. There is a lot that is by the waterfall, and another one on the other side of the park (I always talk to families about this before the session).

 

Lockridge Park

Lockridge Park is probably one of the best known parks for family photos in the Lehigh Valley. From the bluebells in the spring (it’s a madhouse!) to some stunning fall foliage, it’s great for just about every season.

If you’re looking for large open areas, check. Stone structures, check. Long walkways, check. It really has it all! There’s even a little stream with a stone arch bridge over it. I don’t recommend the stairs going down to the stream, they can be a little sketchy, and you could lose your footing rather easily.

If you’re in the Emmaus, Macungie, Alburtis area, you’ve probably heard about this park. To be honest, there’s plenty of reasons why so many families choose to do their photos here. 

Best season: Lockridge is a pretty versatile location, but the fall is hands down the best here.

Best time of day: Depends entirely on the specific street and which direction it faces.
Parking and logistics: It’s a very walkable location and is stroller friendly. There are bathrooms that are usually unlocked. 

 

Steel Stacks (Bethlehem)

This one is for the family that does not want anything to look like a typical family session. And that is a completely legitimate thing to want.

Steel Stacks has a raw, industrial quality that reads completely differently from every other spot on this list. Brick, metal, big open sky, and a backdrop that is unique to Bethlehem. If you want photos that truly feature one of the greatest parts of Lehigh Valley history, the Steel Stacks are for you!

It works especially well for families with older kids, blended families, or families who just want something different than an open field with tall grass.

It is not the right spot for everyone. But for the right family, it is genuinely amazing.

Best season: It’s a great location for any time of year, even in winter. It is usually heavily decorated for the Christmas season, but also a little crowded with Christkindlmarkt.

Best time of day: Early morning if you want the sun behind the stacks, late afternoon is a great time as well.
Parking and logistics: Plenty of parking, easy for strollers, multiple restrooms available on site.

Nockamixon State Park (Quakertown, worth the drive)

Lake Nockamixon is technically outside of the Lehigh Valley, but it is also a popular location for family photos because it’s worth the drive. There’s obviously a nice large lake, but also several walking paths, tall trees and shaded areas that can be great for creating a variety of backdrops. One of my personal favorite spots is right along the shore line (and we’re back to kids taking rock throwing breaks).

If you’re looking for a longer session that’s a bit more relaxed and don’t mind the drive, Lake Nockamixon is a great location for a family portrait session.

Best season: Fall for foliage, summer for the water.

Best time of day: Late afternoon for light on the lake.
Parking and logistics: The park is big with a few different parking lots. Make sure that where you meet is discussed. The park is stroller friendly and it does have restrooms on site.

 

The Honest Part About Choosing a Location

One thing that I discuss with every family is this: the location matters, but it’s not the most important thing.

What’s going to make or break the session is if your family feels comfortable and can be themselves at the location. You definitely want to work with a photographer who can read people and knows when a kid needs a break, or is about to have a meltdown. 

I have two kids. I go through this every year with my own family. I have tried to wrangle a three-year-old into looking at a camera while also trying to look like a functioning adult myself. I built my whole process around that experience, not in spite of it.

This guide is mainly about logistics and finding locations that work for you and your people.

If you read through this, and feel like nothing really sticks, please reach out to me. While I feel that these are the best locations for family photos in the Lehigh Valley, there are plenty of other locations that I have used that might work for you as well. 

Even if you’re not sure about booking yet, send me a message, give me a call. We can talk it through. I always advocate for families to have the best experience possible, and sometimes that may not be with me, and that’s ok. I truly believe in the power of families seeing the love between them as artwork on the walls in their home, and at the end of that day, that’s what matters most.

Steve Braglio is a Lehigh Valley family and wedding photographer based in Easton, PA. He has been a Technology Education teacher for 25 years and is a parent of two young kids. His sessions are built around real families, real moments, and the occasional friendly meltdown.