Best places for family photos in Salt Lake City
Planning family photos in Salt Lake City? 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 Salt Lake City
Utah State Capitol
Kids get real room to run across the paved plazas here, with the marble steps doubling as a place to sit and watch instead of chase. Free street and lot parking means the visit does not have to be a production, and cherry blossoms ring the grounds if you time it for spring.
For family photos: room for the whole group to spread out.
Red Butte Garden
A hundred acres of themed gardens give kids somewhere to wander that is not the same three lawns everyone else in town uses, and foothill trails split them off from the main paths when a crowd gathers. On-site parking keeps the day simple, and weekday mornings beat the tour groups to the best light.
For family photos: an easygoing setting that keeps kids engaged.
Memory Grove Park
The creek running through this canyon gives kids something to do besides pose, and the shaded groves keep the whole group comfortable even in the middle of a hot afternoon. It stays quieter than the bigger downtown parks, so fewer strangers end up wandering into the background of a frame.
For family photos: a backdrop that still feels like home year after year.
Liberty Park
Broad lawns and a pond give a family plenty of room to spread out, with tree-lined promenades to fall back on once everyone tires of running. Free lot and street parking make it an easy stop, though a weekday visit keeps the city's oldest large park from feeling crowded in the background.
For family photos: space to run without wandering out of frame.
Temple Square Gardens
Seasonal flower beds and fountains give kids something to point at while the adults get organized, and the flat paved paths mean strollers and toddlers move at the same pace. Morning light on the gardens and spires is softest, and a downtown garage keeps parking close by.
For family photos: somewhere the grandparents can reach and sit comfortably.
This Is The Place Heritage Park
Open meadows against the foothills give a family more space to spread out than any city park nearby, and the rustic fences and pioneer buildings hold a kid's attention without anyone needing to entertain them. On-site parking and flat dirt roads make the whole outing easier to manage with little ones in tow.
For family photos: a spot that holds a large group without a crowd behind them.
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International Peace Gardens
Bridges and themed plots representing different countries turn a walk here into something closer to an adventure than a photo stop, which helps when the group includes restless kids. Free lot parking and flat paved paths keep logistics simple, and the garden empties out on weekday mornings before the crowds arrive.
For family photos: enough going on to keep toddlers cheerful between frames.
Sugar House Park
A hundred and ten rolling acres give kids room to run in every direction without a fence in sight, and the pond adds one more thing to look at when attention starts to wander. Free interior parking and ample lawns make this an easy pick for a bigger family group, especially at golden hour.
For family photos: open ground for the classic everyone-together shot.
The Gateway
Brick plazas and a landmark fountain keep younger kids entertained without any props, since there is always something splashing or echoing nearby to hold their attention. On-site garages make parking painless downtown, and an overcast day keeps the modern facades from throwing hard shadows across the group.
For family photos: corners for the smaller, quieter groupings.
Tunnel Springs Park
Open fields and trails give a family room to fan out across the hillside instead of bunching up in front of a backdrop, with panoramic valley views doing the rest of the work. Free parking sits right at the trailhead, and the dirt and gravel paths hold up fine under kids' shoes.
For family photos: a setting that suits repeat visits as the family grows.
Cactus & Tropicals
A greenhouse keeps the whole visit out of the weather entirely, and the leafy aisles are narrow enough that kids stay close by default rather than needing to be corralled. Weekday mornings are calmest, before the retail traffic picks up and the aisles fill with other shoppers.
For family photos: forgiving light for a group with mixed heights.
University of Utah Presidents Circle
A wide oval lawn ringed by early-1900s halls gives kids plenty of grass to cover while the group figures out where to stand, and mature trees offer shade if the day runs warm. Weekends are quietest once classes clear out, and metered parking nearby keeps the stop short and simple.
For family photos: a backdrop that reads as your city, not anywhere.
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Shooting family photos in Salt Lake City
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 Salt Lake City. Booking takes a couple of minutes, and you can reschedule for free if plans change.
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