Grassy Fields
Discovery Park
Discovery Park has stunning open grassy fields, and it's also a versatile location with views of the water, beach access, historic buildings, and forest paths. There are ample parking spaces, but this park is massive, so it's best to plan for about a 10-15 minute walk from the parking lot to the grassy meadow. Make sure you bring what you need with you - it's a long distance to any bathroom, but I always bring my pop-up changing tent with me to this location for outfit swaps.
Rustic
The Park at Bothell Landing
Featuring historic buildings, grassy lawns, wooden boardwalks, and a view of the Sammamish river, this park has a ton of versatility for your senior photo shoot. I especially love how this park looks in the fall with colorful falling leaves. This is a dog-friendly area so you can even bring your pup along for your shoot! There is a dedicated parking lot for the park, though it is small and can fill up quick when the weather is nice, so be sure to plan ahead and arrive a little early. There are public restrooms available to change your outfit.
Magnuson Park
The park itself used to be a naval station back in the 1930s and 1940s and then it was converted to a massive park in 1975. Many of the original buildings from its time as a naval station have remained, including one of my personal favorites for photos, Hangar 30. It provides a completely unique rustic texture with its blue-gray painted metal doors and surrounding brick facades. Nearby there is also a grassy amphitheater, and community P-patch garden. Take a short drive to the Magnuson Boat Launch at the east side of the park, there are grassy fields, docks, and a view of Lake Washington. There is ample parking and bathroom access all around the park.
City/Urban
Seattle Waterfront
The renovation of the Seattle waterfront in downtown is now finished and perfect for seniors that love the feel of a big city. Walking down Alaskan Way, there are endless spots to take pictures where the skyscrapers of Seattle are prominent in the background. There is even a new public restroom available for you to change your outfit in between Union St. and University St. While parking can be a challenge, there are maps available to help locate parking garages. If you want to travel by rail instead (my preferred method to get downtown) the Westlake, Symphony, and Pioneer Square light rail stations are all only a 5-10 minute walk to the waterfront.
Downtown Edmonds
For small city vibes, downtown Edmonds has a recognizable and charming home town feel. I especially love taking senior pictures here for high schoolers that grew up or go to high school nearby.
The beach at Brackett's Landing has views of the water, ferries, and sandy beaches with the additional benefit of having a parking lot and a restroom nearby. Walking up Main St. there are tons of murals painted by local artists and quaint little shops and side alleys to take pictures. There is typically parking available on the street, though on weekends and evenings with nice weather you may need to budget some time to circle around a bit.
