Preparing for a photography session does not need to be stressful. Trying to coordinate outfits and keep everyone in a good mood can be a struggle. On top of that, you have to choose the best photography locations too. However, you can have a stress-free photography experience with the right photographer! This is where I come in.

Hello, my name is Nikki! You have already made the decision that you need a professional photographer, whether that be for maternity photos or capturing new family portraits. You have already made the hardest decision: book a south jersey photographer!

When you book with me, I provide all my couples with an outfit inspiration guide to take the stress out of planning outfits. I also have many tools to keep everything in the family happy, including toddlers and dads! Another part of photography is choosing a location to capture your session. Luckily, with my help from this blog post, this can also be a stress-free experience!

Furthermore, as you will find below, I have listed numerous locations where I have had the honor to capture memorable images. I encourage you to peek at what I think are the best photography locations in south jersey!

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Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area

First, Stafford Forge is such a beautiful, hole-in-the-wall spot that not many people think of for portraits! Stafford Forge offers some of the best sunset views and colors, with a gorgeous pond and tall grass! This location is best for summer or fall, as they control burns normally in February, so the foliage does not return pretty until around May! In May you’ll see fields with green grass. In the fall month returns the tall whispy grass.

• Onsite parking
• No permit required
• Pets allowed
• NO public bathrooms

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Barnegat Lighthouse State Park

I love Barnigate Light House beach because it offers a great variety with the jetty and the lighthouse! The sunsets here are gorgeous as well! It can tend to get a little crowded in the summer months.

• Free parking on site
• No permit required
• Public restrooms
• Pets allowed between September 16th – March 31st

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Allaire State Park

Without a doubt, Allaire state park is one of my favorite locations because it offers a rustic charm with beautiful greenery. The village gives you the options for the historic feel with white-washed brick and a herringbone barn. However, most of my clients love this location because of the greenery and iconic road lined with huge hanging trees.

• Onsite parking
• No permit required
• Pets allowed
• My travel fee is $40 for this location

Historic Smithville Village

Next is Smithville Village offers a rustic downtown feel with a carousel, mom-and-pop shops, a pond, a bridge, and more! It has many cherry blossom trees, making this location perfect for the spring season! I recommend avoiding this spot for a weekend session because it tends to get VERY busy!

• Free admission
• Free onsite parking
• No permit required
• Public bathrooms
• Pets allowed

Best in early spring for the Cherry Blossoms or fall for the historic/rustic vibe!

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Holland Ridge Farms

Furthermore, If you’ve ever seen the tulip fields in Holland and thought to yourself, “wow, I want to go there”, you’ve come to the right place! Holland Ridge Farms is a pristine flower farm bursting with millions of rainbow blooms. The good news is, you don’t have to travel to the Netherlands to experience it – they are right here in Cream Ridge, NJ! They currently host two pick-your-own flower seasons – tulips in the spring and sunflowers in the fall. 

• Free parking on site
• Small entrance fee of around $20 (depending on time of year)
• The farm closes at 6:00 pm
• No pets allowed
• Tulips sessions are for late April to early May
• Sunflower sessions are for mid to late October
• My travel fee is $100 for this location

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Batsto Village

Batsto has a rustic, historical, natural type of vibe. This location has a variety of buildings from wood, stone, and brick, with beautiful landscapes and a stunning lake for sunset shots! Batsto can get pretty busy, so I highly advise avoiding it for weekend sessions; weekdays are best.

Check out more Batsto Family Photos Here!

• Free admission
• Free onsite parking
• No permit required
• Public bathrooms open until 6:00p
• Pets allowed

Side Note: Bring bug spray; sometimes the nats or ticks can get a bit annoying! This location is best in late fall and winter to avoid the bugs!

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Seven Bridges

Furthermore, Seven Bridges is a very small and secluded strip on beach along a road with, you guessed it, seven bridges. At the very end of the road, it has a strip of beach to the bay where we can capture glowy sunset portraits. Toward the end of the session, we make our way to the first bridge where we can capture the most gorgeous cotton candy sunsets on a small patch of beach.

View A Family Session Here

Check Out A Maternity Session

• Free admission
• Free onsite parking
• No permit required
• No restrooms
• Pets allowed

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Graveling Point Beach

Graveling Point Beach offers a strip of beach along the bay with Atlantic City views with beautiful sunsets and greenery. Super easy access to the beach that is typically not crowded during the week. I have yet to venture here on the weekends!

Check Out An Extended Family Session (Blog Coming Soon)

• On-site parking
• No permit fee
• Pets are allowed
• No public restrooms