Best places for family photos in Norfolk
Planning family photos in Norfolk? These are the spots worth shortlisting, chosen for the light, the backdrop, and how easily a session comes together.
12 places to shoot family photos & videos in Norfolk
Norfolk Botanical Garden
At 175 acres, there's enough ground here that kids can run ahead down a path without leaving the frame, and the lakeside stretches give them somewhere to crouch and look at water instead of the camera. Go on a weekday morning, ahead of the tour groups, for beds and pergolas with nobody else wandering through the shot.
For family photos: room for the whole group to spread out.
Pagoda & Oriental Garden
The garden is compact, which keeps a family in one tight cluster instead of spread across a lawn, and the koi pond gives younger kids something to stare at besides the lens. It's best for small groups rather than a crowd, so weekday mornings before the tour buses are the window to have the curved pagoda to yourselves.
For family photos: an easygoing setting that keeps kids engaged.
The Hermitage Museum and Gardens
Wooded trails and open lawns give a family room to spread out, chase each other, or just wander while one kid refuses to stand still. The riverfront lawn is wide enough that nobody else's group crowds the frame on a weekday, though weekend queues build here fast.
For family photos: a backdrop that still feels like home year after year.
Chrysler Museum of Art
The plaza in front of the museum is flat and open, plenty of room for kids to move around without wandering off the grounds, and it's comfortable enough for a bigger family or extended group. Free admission and weekday mornings mean fewer strangers crossing behind you before the museum crowd arrives.
For family photos: space to run without wandering out of frame.
Town Point Park
Open lawns stretch wide enough here that kids can chase each other in view of the Battleship Wisconsin without crowding the shot, and weekday evenings keep the grass clearer than the weekends, when the sand fills up. Sunset over the Elizabeth River gives the whole group warm, even light to work with.
For family photos: somewhere the grandparents can reach and sit comfortably.
Freemason Historic District
Early morning on these cobblestone streets means almost nobody else is out, so a family can spread across the block without strangers drifting into frame. The 18th and 19th century townhomes give kids plenty to point at while adults navigate the uneven stones in flat shoes.
For family photos: a spot that holds a large group without a crowd behind them.
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Historic Granby Street
Weekday mornings, before the sidewalks fill with foot traffic, this stretch of early-1900s facades and marquee signs is nearly empty, giving a family the whole block to move through. The flat sidewalks are easy for smaller kids to run along, even if strollers have to share space with metered parking and garages nearby.
For family photos: enough going on to keep toddlers cheerful between frames.
Ocean View Beach Park
The beach here is wide enough for kids to run toward the water and back without disappearing from the shot, and the gentle Chesapeake surf is calm enough for little ones to wade in safely. Weekday mornings leave the sand mostly empty, well before the free lot fills up on weekends.
For family photos: open ground for the classic everyone-together shot.
Elizabeth River Trail
The paved trail runs flat and wide enough for kids to ride ahead or double back without losing the group, mixing skyline views with patches of greenery along the water. Weekday golden hour along the waterfront segments keeps the path clear of the crowds that show up here on weekends.
For family photos: corners for the smaller, quieter groupings.
Lafayette Park
This park is roomy enough for a big family group to spread out under the trees or gather on the bridges without crowding one shot. Weekday mornings bring soft, dappled light and fewer other families, since weekends draw the biggest crowds here.
For family photos: a setting that suits repeat visits as the family grows.
Waterside District Boardwalk
The boardwalk stays flat and wide, giving kids room to run toward the marina view without leaving the frame, and there's an adjacent garage if the group arrives in more than one car. It's set up for couples and small groups more than a crowd, so a weekday visit keeps the boardwalk from feeling crowded.
For family photos: forgiving light for a group with mixed heights.
Old Dominion University
Kaufman Mall's open lawn gives a family plenty of room to let kids loose under the oaks while the group photo comes together at its own pace. Weekends, once classes clear out, are quietest for keeping strangers out of the background, and the late-day sun warms the brick walkways nicely.
For family photos: a backdrop that reads as your city, not anywhere.
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Shooting family photos in Norfolk
It depends on the spot. Public streets and sidewalks usually don't, while many parks, gardens, and landmarks require a permit for professional sessions. Each location above notes what we found on permits — confirm the current rules and any fee with the venue or city before you book.
Golden hour — the hour after sunrise or before sunset — flatters almost every location, and each spot above lists the light that works best there. Early morning also means thinner crowds at the popular ones.
Snappr pricing is flat and set before you book, with no travel or editing surprises. Most sessions run one to two hours; you can see current rates and what each tier includes on the pricing page.
Pick your date and shoot type and we match you with a vetted local photographer who shoots in Norfolk. Booking takes a couple of minutes, and you can reschedule for free if plans change.
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