Golden Gardens is one of my absolute favorite places to shoot. It has a variety of backdrops, all easily within walking distance from the parking lot! It is located in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle and is one of the most beautiful beaches in the city!
There is also a fantastic playground for your kiddos to enjoy after their session, too!
Like I do for all of my sessions, I recommend shooting within an hour or two of sunrise/sunset – This is especially helpful for the beautiful light at *GOLDEN* Gardens! Wink, wink! If it’s cloudy, though, this timing doesn’t matter as much, and the softer diffused light works great for beach photos!
Tip: Wondering when this would be? You can simply Google “Seattle Sunset Date” (date of your session)
Cons: Like any Seattle hot spot, it can be extremely crowded on sunny summer evenings. Parking can be a nightmare, honestly! If possible, I highly encourage booking a sunrise session in the summer months. It can also be pretty windy and chilly on the water, so just be prepared for that!
Sunrise
Even though Golden Gardens is probably best known for its beautiful sunsets, I actually love shooting here at sunrise! You won’t get the sun setting over the water and mountains, but you will get soft, morning glow (and way fewer crowds!)
Sunset
There’s not much that can beat a magical sunset over the Puget Sound, and Golden Gardens gets the best of them. Sail boats from the marina are also out on occasion during sunset, which is pretty darn picturesque.
Cloudy
Cloudy the day of your shoot? No worries! Golden Gardens is beautiful on a grey day, too! (Plus again, bonus of fewer people!)
Different Backdrops
The options of having both greenery/open field as well as beach views is one of my favorite things about Golden Gardens! Their proximity to each other is also what makes this a great spot for mini sessions. It’s easy to get both vibes during a 30 minute shoot!
Greenery + Open Field
Beach
The biggest draw for Golden Gardens is probably the beach! There’s driftwood, rocks to throw, and a curving coastline. Plus, the Olympic Mountains across the sound… Perfection!
Here are a few full session blog posts from shoots at Golden Gardens you can check out!
If you’re interested in booking a session at Golden Gardens, check out package and pricing information here + email me at meredith@meredithmckee.com / contact me here!
Looking for more location inspiration? Check out my master guide here!
