Best Locations for Family Photos in Winnipeg & Around Manitoba

One of the things I enjoy most about photographing families is choosing a location that actually fits them.

Some families want something easy and close to home. Others would rather head into a forest, spend an evening beside the water or turn their session into a small Manitoba adventure.

I’ve photographed families, couples and weddings in a lot of different places around Winnipeg and across the province, and these are some of the locations I find myself coming back to — along with a few that offer something completely different when a family wants to go beyond the usual park session.

There really isn’t one “best” location for everyone. The right choice depends on your family, the season, the kind of scenery you love and how much of an adventure you want the session to be.

Assiniboine Forest

Assiniboine Forest is one of the locations I recommend most often for family photos in Winnipeg.

It gives us a lot of variety without needing to travel far between photographs. We can work along the trails, among the trees and grasses, and in more open areas where the evening light comes through beautifully.

I especially like it for families with younger children because the session doesn’t have to feel structured. Kids can walk, explore, laugh and interact while I photograph what happens naturally in between the more traditional family portraits.

Fall is probably my favourite time to photograph here. The warmer grasses, birch trees and changing colour create a really natural Manitoba backdrop without leaving the city.

See a complete fall family session at Assiniboine Forest.

Beaudry Provincial Park

Beaudry is another location I really like when a family wants something quieter and more natural without travelling too far outside Winnipeg.

It has a more secluded feel than a city park, with mature trees, trails and riverside scenery that work well for relaxed outdoor portraits.

I’d usually suggest Beaudry to a family that likes the idea of photographs feeling a little more outdoorsy and less manicured.

Because it’s a natural river environment, conditions can change from season to season, so I always check the exact area before confirming a session.

Birds Hill Provincial Park

Birds Hill is one of those places where the look of a session can change completely depending on where we go.

There are wooded areas, open spaces, trails, grasses and plenty of room to create photographs that feel more like an outdoor experience than a traditional park session.

It’s a good option for families who want something natural and spacious but don’t necessarily want to make the longer drive into the Whiteshell.

Because the park is so large, I prefer choosing a specific area based on the season and light rather than simply deciding to “meet at Birds Hill.”

Assiniboine Park & the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden

Not every family wants forests and tall grass.

For families who prefer something a little more polished, Assiniboine Park gives us a very different look, with landscaped areas, gardens, pathways and mature trees.

The Leo Mol Sculpture Garden is one of the locations there that I’ve photographed before. I’ve used it for wedding portraits, and the gardens, pergola and structured landscaping create a more refined feel than the natural locations elsewhere on this list.

This can be a great choice if you like outdoor photographs but want something a little more elegant.

Some areas of the park require photography bookings, so that’s something we would confirm when planning the session.

The Forks

If you want your photographs to feel unmistakably Winnipeg, The Forks gives us something completely different from forests and provincial parks.

I’ve photographed wedding couples around The Forks and really like the variety you can create there. Within a relatively small area we can work with architecture, pathways, river views and recognizable Winnipeg landmarks.

It’s a good fit for families who prefer an urban look or who have a personal connection to downtown Winnipeg.

It can also work particularly well for older children and teenagers when a traditional park setting doesn’t feel quite right.

Autumn Adventures MB

Autumn Adventures is probably the most seasonal location on this list, but that’s exactly what makes it fun.

I recently photographed an engagement session there, and between the sunflowers, fall setting and farm atmosphere, it creates a look you simply can’t reproduce in a regular park.

This would be a great fit for families who really love fall and want their session to feel colourful, playful and seasonal.

Because it’s a privately operated attraction, photography there would need to be arranged in advance.

Camp Morton & Lake Winnipeg

Camp Morton is one of my favourite examples of how much the look of a session can change once you leave the city.

I’ve photographed an engagement session there along the Lake Winnipeg shoreline, and the open water immediately gives the photographs a completely different feel.

It’s a location I’d especially consider for families who spend time around Gimli or the Interlake, have a cottage connection to Lake Winnipeg or simply love being near the water.

The shoreline also gives us the ability to create both wider environmental photographs and closer family portraits without the whole gallery looking the same.

Whiteshell Provincial Park

The Whiteshell is where the location possibilities really open up.

I spend a lot of time exploring the area through both my portrait work and my nature photography, and it’s one of my favourite parts of Manitoba to photograph.

There isn’t one single “Whiteshell location” I recommend. There are lakes, waterfalls, granite, forest, rivers and trails throughout the park, so the exact place can be chosen around your family and the experience you want.

For some families, that might mean somewhere easy to reach. For others, it might mean hiking farther into the park to create something much more personal.

Alf Hole Goose Sanctuary

I’ve photographed a full fall family session at Alf Hole Goose Sanctuary, and it’s a great example of why I like working in the Whiteshell.

During one session we were able to create full-family portraits, photographs of the brothers together, individual portraits and smaller family combinations while moving through several different parts of the sanctuary.

The mix of water, forest, granite and open areas gave us plenty of variety without having to drive to another location.

See the complete Alf Hole Goose Sanctuary family session

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls gives us another completely different Whiteshell setting.

The combination of granite, water and forest works especially well in fall when the surrounding colour starts changing.

I’ve photographed portraits there before, and I like that the landscape itself becomes part of the photograph rather than simply acting as a background.

Have a Favourite Place in the Whiteshell?

This is where I’d encourage families to think beyond the locations I’ve already photographed.

If your family has a favourite lake, cottage area, trail, waterfall or lookout in the Whiteshell, tell me about it.

If it’s somewhere I can reasonably and safely photograph, I’m happy to explore whether we can build the session around a place that already means something to your family.

I’d have no problem hiking into somewhere like Pine Point Rapids or McGillivray Falls if that’s the kind of session your family wants and everyone is comfortable with the hike.

Sometimes a meaningful location is worth far more than choosing somewhere simply because it happens to photograph well.

Winter Family Photos in the Manitoba Backcountry

Winter opens up another side of Manitoba completely.

Depending on weather, access and conditions, I’m also open to more adventurous winter sessions, including locations that may be reached by snowmobile.

That’s an area where my family and nature photography really overlap.

A lot of my fine-art nature photography comes from exploring Manitoba’s backcountry in winter, so I’m comfortable working around snow, changing light, remote locations and the kind of conditions that come with photographing outside the city.

How I Help Families Choose a Location

You don’t need to have the location figured out before you book.

Usually I’ll start by asking what kind of setting you’re drawn to.

Do you want trees and trails? Open landscape? Water? A polished garden? Something that feels unmistakably Winnipeg? Or somewhere that already has meaning to your family?

The ages of your children matter too.

With very young children, I usually favour locations where we can get plenty of variety without spending half the session walking between spots. Families with older children or families that already spend a lot of time outdoors may be much more comfortable turning the session into a little adventure.

The season and time of day also change what I’d recommend.

The goal isn’t just to find a pretty background. It’s to choose a place where your family can actually enjoy the session.

What Should We Wear?

Once the location is chosen, clothing is usually the next big question.

I generally recommend coordinating rather than matching. Colours and textures should work together without everyone looking like they were dressed from the same rack.

Fall is especially good for layers, warm neutrals, rust, burgundy, muted greens, denim and other colours that work naturally with Manitoba’s autumn landscape.

For a full breakdown, see my What to Wear for Fall Family Photos in Winnipeg guide.

When Is the Best Time for Outdoor Family Photos?

For most outdoor sessions, I prefer working when the sun is lower rather than photographing in harsh midday light.

That usually means later in the day, although the exact time changes dramatically throughout the year.

The location matters too. A forest session, open prairie, shoreline and waterfall can all behave differently with the same sunlight.

Once we choose the date and location, I’ll recommend the session time that gives us the best chance of getting the kind of light I’m looking for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where are some of your favourite places for family photos in Winnipeg?

A: Assiniboine Forest is one of my favourites for a natural setting within the city. Assiniboine Park works well when a family wants something more landscaped, while The Forks is a great choice for a more urban Winnipeg look.

Q: What if we want family photos outside Winnipeg?

A: Absolutely. Beaudry and Birds Hill are good options close to the city, while Camp Morton, Lake Winnipeg and the Whiteshell open up much more adventurous possibilities.

Q: Can we choose somewhere that isn’t on this list?

A: Yes. Some of the best sessions can come from photographing somewhere that already means something to your family. Tell me what you have in mind and I’ll see whether I can accommodate it.

Q: Can we hike to a more remote photography location?

A: Potentially, yes. If your family is comfortable hiking and the location and conditions are appropriate, I’m open to more adventurous sessions.

Q: Do some locations require bookings or permission?

A: Yes. Some gardens, historic sites and privately operated locations have their own photography requirements. If that applies to the location we choose, we’ll account for it during the planning process.