5 Beautiful Places for Family Photos in the Metrowest and Greater Merrimack Valley

One of the first questions I get when families inquire about outdoor photography is:

"Where should we take the pictures?"

And honestly, choosing a location can completely change the feeling of your gallery.

Do you want trees?

Water?

Open fields?

Gardens?

Urban architecture?

Something that feels very New England?

Luckily, if you're in the Lowell and Merrimack Valley area, we have plenty of options.

Here are five locations I think are worth considering.

1. Acton Arboretum — Acton

Acton Arboretum

If you love greenery, gardens, and natural scenery, Acton Arboretum gives you a lot to work with.

The arboretum is a 65-acre town conservation property with gardens, meadows, woodland edges, ponds and a bog. It's also free to visit and is open from dawn to dusk under Acton's conservation-land rules.

For photography, that variety is wonderful.

You can get photographs that feel lush and colorful without needing to travel hours outside the area.

It's especially beautiful when the gardens are blooming or when the landscape begins changing for fall.

Best for: Families, maternity, and children. Basically anything.

2. Kittredge Park — Lowell

Kittredge Park is a smaller green space in Lowell's Belvidere neighborhood. The park includes a gazebo that is used for wedding photographs, making it an interesting option if you want something a little more structured than a wooded trail.

It's a nice reminder that you don't always need a huge park for beautiful photographs.

Sometimes a smaller location with the right light is all you need.

Best for: Smaller family sessions, couples, and children.

3. Lowell's historic areas and canals

If you want something that feels unmistakably City, lean into Lowell.

The historic mill buildings, brick, canals, and industrial architecture give photographs a completely different personality from a traditional field or garden.

Lowell Heritage State Park showcases the city's riverfront and historic character, while other downtown areas add additional architectural textures.

This can be especially fun for families who want photographs that feel more urban and less traditional.

Best for: Families with older kids, branding, headshots, and lifestyle sessions.

4. Russell Mill Pond — Chelmsford

Russell Mill Pond and Town Forest

Chelmsford has some beautiful natural spaces that don't always get the attention they deserve.

Russell Mill Pond and Town Forest includes woodland trails and a pond, with approximately 3,000 feet of shoreline along Russell Mill Pond.

Water can add such a beautiful element to photographs.

And because the scenery is different from an open field, you can create images that feel quiet, natural, and intimate.

Best for: Families, couples, and nature-loving families.

5. Littleton's Oak Hill

Oak Hill Reservation Lookout Rock Trailhead

If your family is the "let's go explore" type, Littleton's Oak Hill area offers something different.

The conservation property includes wooded trails, Tophet Chasm and Lookout Rock, which provides scenic views.

This isn't necessarily the location I'd choose for every newborn session—you have to consider accessibility and your family's comfort—but for an adventurous family session, it could be a fun option.

Best for: Active families, older children, couples and lifestyle sessions.

But here's my biggest tip…

Don't choose a location just because it's pretty.

Choose a place that fits your family. A place that is meaningful to your family.

If your kids love running, give them somewhere to run.

If your family loves nature, let's find trees and water.

If you're a city family, let's use the city.

If your toddler has approximately 14 seconds of patience, let's pick somewhere easy.

The location should support your family—not the other way around.

And remember: beautiful photographs can happen almost anywhere when the light, timing and connection are right.

If you're looking for family photography in Lowell, Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton, Tewksbury or surrounding Massachusetts towns, I'll help you choose a location that fits your family and the kind of photographs you want to create.

You bring the people you love. I'll help with the rest.