The Best Senior Portrait Photography Locations on the NH & Maine Seacoast

As a senior portrait photographer on the NH & Maine Seacoast for the last 15 years, I have pretty strong opinions about locations. Not only is this one of the most asked questions, it's one that is often misguided.

Let me offer some education.

First, an unpopular opinion: I think people are too hung up on session locations. Lay people look at locations as a whole: a wide angle view, if you will. They're taking in the entirety of the space, they're feeling the breeze and smelling the flowers. However, portrait photographers are looking at locations critically, and we've got one thing on our minds: how is this going to look as a background behind my client? How will this light my client? Where can I place my client here to create magic? We don't look at a beach and see the beauty of the ocean, we look at it and see a background that's going to appear largely white with a blue line cutting through it. That's the truth.

The Best Seacoast NH & Maine Senior Portrait Locations

Okay, let's get into it: seniors are the easiest to find photoshoot locations for. There are very few places they don’t look good. So let’s start there.

• Locations with no shade are unfavorable. If you want to be photographed on an open beach, you're at the mercy of the sun. Unfortunately at sunset, that translates to having your back opposite the ocean, which is not what you had in mind. Nature dictated that the sun would set on the west, so if you're on the east coast with your back to the water, the sun is setting directly in your eyes - which will either burn your retinas or leave you squinting. Not ideal.

  
  

  Unless you find a beach with shade cover, or a curly little inlet where the water is on the west side of the inlet. These are few and far between - and that's why when you go to NewCastle Commons at sunset there are fifteen other photographers there.

• Another tricky location is the forest. Like inside the deep forest. There's not a lot of light in there, so we either have to shoot along the edge - "forest adjacent" or bring lighting. I've seen other photographers shoot this poorly - I'm talking green casts a la Shrek. If you must go into the forest, make sure you choose a photographer that is skilled and has lighting.

• The third location that can be tricky is indoor locations. If you want to be photographed at home, in a coffee shop, or book store - we LOVE it - but we will be bringing lights. If you are working with a "natural light photographer" (translation: they don't use lighting) - they will have difficulty shooting indoors. Or every picture will be you next to a window.

Anywhere else is pretty much game on...but you have to trust your photographer because we value lighting so much more than any natural element.

As portrait photographers, we're looking at you. We are about your face, your being, your beautiful essence. The water, the sunset, the cool tree, the interesting rock are just accessories. They can add or detract from you, but you, you are our star. Nothing compares to you. If those natural elements exist in bad lighting, they're going to detract from you, and we aren't having that. We would prefer to leave the cool rock as a fond memory than capture you with it in poor light.

If you're here because you want to know of a few beautiful locations for senior pictures on the Maine & NH Seacoast, here are my top three:

Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH is a treasure trove. Honestly it's got everything. Water, flowers, cool old buildings, a pier, great lighting, and enough space for fifteen photographers to shoot at the same time. Across the street is Strawberry Village - another treasure trove (that no one shoots at, for reasons I can't explain), Four Tree Island is a walkable distance, and Downtown Portsmouth kisses the park, so you can have your cake and eat it too.

Prescott Park Portsmouth, NH Senior Portraits

Fort Foster in Kittery Point has long been one of my favorite locations. Oh, you lucky Traip Seniors - you get to go for free - the rest of us are forking over big bucks to use this glorious photography playground. I do think this is what keeps the crowds at bay though. The entry fee is steep for 1 hour in the park - buuut it will give you access to some of the best photography spots on the seacoast. The rocks, the pier, the forts, the trees, the lighting, it just gives and gives and gives. It's also so big it can accommodate fifteen photographers at a time; there's room for everyone!

Fort Foster, Kittery Maine Senior Portraits

Wagon Hill Farm in Durham, NH is giving. Another large location that is utilized by a lot of photographers - but it's big enough that we aren't falling over each other or waiting in line for "a spot" (like some other places cough Great Island Common cough). Wagon Hill Farm has all the major Fs (fields, forest, flowers, farm, fence) plus two Ws (wagon and water)! It's free, you can bring your puppy (if that's your thing), and it hugs Oyster River (Little Bay). This location gives so much variety, it is truly one of the most nature-rich locations.

Wagon Hill Farm, Durham NH Senior Portraits

But here's the unexpected twist.

I photographed my own kids senior portraits: in my front yard (in November - which was nothing special - 2016), in NYC - 2018, and on the side of the road - 2023. I did photography my oldest at Fort Foster (in the rain - 2015) - but that was over ten years ago... before I discovered the secret: that there is magic all around us.

If I could give one piece of advice about choosing a location for any photoshoot, it would be to choose the location based on the best lighting.

Understandably most people aren't able to discern good from not-so-good lighting, but this is where we trust our professional senior portrait photographer to help us choose the best time of day (we prefer the golden hour) and the best location for your session.

If you want something unique, let's explore your ideas together. If you aren't sure about the lighting, we can help. And if you have to be photographed with the rock, we really will take the picture for you.