• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Andrea Linn Photography | Cumming, Alpharetta, Milton, John's Creek Photographer

Personal Branding and Headshot Photographer for female entrepreneurs and social influencers.

  • Home
  • Galleries
    • Personal Branding Gallery
    • Professional Headshots
    • High School Seniors
    • Corporate Event Photography
    • Live Event and Concert Photography
    • Dancer Portraits
  • Meet Andrea
  • On the Blog
  • Contact
  • Free Shoot Planner
Home » High School Seniors » My Favorite Senior Picture Locations

My Favorite Senior Picture Locations

September 8, 2018 By Andrea 11 Comments

We are pretty lucky living where we do! There are so many great places to choose from! While I'd love to photograph every senior here in Forsyth County, I know that's not possible nor a reality. That's why I want to share my favorite senior picture locations in and around Cumming if you decide to head out on your own. I love these locations for their light, their variety, and their proximity to Cumming. 

#1 Downtown Buford

Downtown Buford is one of my favorite places to take my seniors! There is so much variety there. Do you want green space and outdoors? Check! Do you want an urban feel? Check? Do you like beautiful sun and backlighting? Check and check! You can walk down W. Main Street and there are storefronts, restaurants, flowers and these amazing old buildings. There is white brick, red brick, and black brick. I love the interesting murals that are painted on the sides of the buildings as well.

From there you can turn down the alleys and they have their own set of interesting textures. Believe it or not, you can turn the garbage cans and back doors into beautiful blurred backgrounds that make the loveliest patterns. There are so many options that I can take multiple seniors there to shoot and they all walk away with different looking photos. It isn't cookie cutter at all.

Same place, different looks
senior pictures locations in Cumming
senior pictures locations near Cumming
Favorite Location to take Senior Pictures
senior pictures locations near Cumming

#2 Lower Pool Park at Buford Dam

If you want nature, then this is an AMAZING spot. It's important to start down below and work your way back up to the top of the road (near the entrance) as the sun sets. I like to get there about 2 hours before sunset and when the sun dips behind the tree line move upward and continue to shoot. You get a whole new dose of sun up near the exit. It's great!

I like to start along the river. There are some really beautiful places to shoot where it is very shallow (always be cognizant of the dam and any warnings to get away from the river if they are letting the water out!!) There are some rocks to stand on and the light is very beautiful. Then you can walk along the path toward the dam and there are some great places to shoot depending on what time of the year it is.

Lastly, go up near the pay for parking booth and there is a spot where the goats roam around and the sun sets down the road and you can get really pretty backlit shots. There are usually some high weeds right there too which can be really pretty (just pay attention to where you are stepping.) It is $5 to park and they have a credit card machine. They do check so don't drive by. Also, check the website and make sure it isn't closed for deer hunting season. I have been burned not once but twice with that one!

Start at the bottom and work your way up...
senior pictures locations near Cumming
my favorite places to take senior pictures near Cumming, GA
Lower Pool Park in Cumming
senior pictures in Cumming, GA
my favorite places to shoot senior pictures in Cumming, GA
my favorite place to take senior pictures in Cumming, GA

#3 Lake Lanier Park

If you love lake life, this is the spot for you!! What's great about it is that you can get both beach shots down on the right (you might have to photoshop out the buoys,) and you can get sunset lake shots by the picnic area on the left. It is hard to find a west facing lake shot on this side of Cumming so this was a key find for me. If you stay right up until the sun is about to dip behind the tree line you can get some really beautiful shots!! It is $5 to park and there is a credit card machine now (they no longer take cash.)

Lake Lanier Park in Cumming Senior Pictures
favorite places to take senior pictures in cummming, GA
my favorite places to shoot senior pictures in Cumming
favorite place to take senior pictures in Cumming, GA
favorite place to take senior picture in Cumming

#4 Mary Alice Park (be prepared to wake up early!)

If you have a senior who doesn't mind waking up early, you can find the BEST sunrises at Mary Alice Park. You want to get there well before sunrise to be ready. It goes from orange golden sun to harsh midday light very quickly. If you are lucky, you'll catch an amazing sunrise just like we did. Be prepared to pay to park but if you get there early enough you are usually out of there before anyone starts checking. It will just be you and maybe a few triathletes getting in their morning swim.

senior pictures locations in Cumming, GA
favorite places to take senior pictures in Cumming
silhouette on Lake Lanier at Mary Alice Park

#5 The Barn next to First Baptist Church

Ok, I am going to be honest. I "think" it is ok to shoot here. I have never had a problem. I had heard that the church owned the barn and they didn't mind if people took photos there. I guess I will soon hear if I am wrong if someone sees this blog post and it is inaccurate :).  This barn is really beautiful and it has some cool light. You can get a neat sunset over the barn and then as the sun sets you can either get some great backlit shots or some pretty shots right after the sun goes behind the tree line against the barn. It is a  beautiful soft light. 

my favorite location to shoot senior pictures near Cumming
favorite places to take senior pictures in Cumming, GA
senior picture locations in Cumming

Do you have a favorite place to shoot?

I also love anywhere that has trees with the sun setting behind them. You can get some beautiful, simple shots of your senior. I'd love to hear where your favorite places are! Please share in the comments below. 

Share this with anyone you know who is a senior! These are all great places to get pictures with your friends for your party invite as well. 


About Andrea

Andrea is a personal branding photographer who helps female entrepreneurs, and small business owners bring their brand to life. She is based in Cumming, Georgia but you can find her shooting from coast to coast.


Spread the love!

Filed Under: High School Seniors

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jeannine says

    September 9, 2018 at 11:15 AM

    Great location ideas! I’ve enjoyed shooting at Caney Creek Preserve…it’s a hidden gem!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      September 9, 2018 at 11:52 AM

      Oh thank you! I will have to check that out!!

      Reply
    • Andrea says

      May 12, 2019 at 10:57 AM

      I just passed this the other day and i need to go check it out!

      Reply
  2. Isadora says

    May 11, 2019 at 2:56 PM

    This helped a lot thank you! There’s a park called Birmingham park with tall green and golden colored grass and a small barn that is super cute for pictures! it’s beautiful if you want to check it out!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      May 12, 2019 at 10:57 AM

      Thank you so much!!! I will have to check that out soon. I love a new location. Xoxo.

      Reply
  3. Bryan says

    October 23, 2019 at 11:02 AM

    Hey! Bryan from First Baptist staff here. You are absolutely allowed to use it! We love seeing photographers use it ! Thanks for sharing such great pictures as examples!

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      October 28, 2019 at 10:05 AM

      Thank you so much! We really appreciate it!

      Reply
  4. Bob Jolly says

    October 23, 2019 at 11:20 AM

    Andrea
    I am the lead pastor at First Baptist. I love the barn for pictures. My daughter used it for some great wedding pictures when she got married. FBC is delighted to share this spot for creating memories. We also invite you to worship Jesus with us – all the light we need for pictures comes from Him – He is the light of the world.

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      October 28, 2019 at 10:06 AM

      Thank you so much for allowing us to use the barn and for the invitation. We really appreciate being able to use such a beautiful spot.

      Reply
  5. Summer Ridings says

    March 1, 2020 at 10:21 PM

    Hi! Would you be able to tell me exactly how to get to the vintage background it was the blue and white doors. It was in downtown Buford?!?

    Reply
    • Andrea says

      March 2, 2020 at 5:30 AM

      Yes. If you go down Main Street where aqua terra and 37 main are…go on the backside of those buildings in the alley and the blue doors will be near the end away from the square. Good luck!!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Footer

Plan Your Personal Branding Shoot

This FREE resource includes a checklist and fillable planner. Makes planning your ultimate personal branding photo shoot easy and streamlined so you get photos that you can actually use, photos you feel proud of, and most of all … photos that attract your ideal clients.
Download Now

Copyright © 2021 · Andrea Linn Photography, LLC | Cumming, GA

470-839-5855