The Best Photography Locations
Keep scrolling towards the bottom to see Pamela Goodyer’s all-time best places to do photography!
QUICK REFERENCE
- Canada
- Puerto Rico
- Iceland – COMING SOON!
The Best Photography Spots
Be sure to read about our favorite locations below.
The Ultimate Guide to Top Photography Areas
There are many unique places in the United States to photograph, but some locations offer something unique. This Ultimate Photography Hot Spot Guide will tell you the best places to get those awe-inspiring shots, from national parks to local destinations. Check out Pamela Goodyer’s years of Travel Photography information created to inspire and motivate you!
Hotel and Resort Photography
We are extending our special into the Fall. Just mention you saw this and receive deep discounts on Hotel and Resort Photography—the most Affordable, High-Quality Photography around.
THE BEST PLACES TO DO PHOTOGRAPHY
An essential part of creating dynamic photography is to have the proper subject matter. It is challenging to develop incredible, jaw-dropping pictures if you do not have a good subject matter for photography. While most of us focus on technique, we must concentrate on the area we shoot at just as much. Here are some of the best places in the USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico to create fabulous photography. And coming up Iceland photography locations!
Check out Pamela Goodyer’s top recommendations for the most visually striking photography locations below. As she teaches, one of the key aspects of incredible photography is having the right subject matter. Why not follow her lead and travel to these incredible locations?
HOW TO FIND GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS
THE BASICS
The main thing to do is use our Photography Magazine as a photography location guide! :)
Pamela Goodyer had been visiting and creating photographs on and off for fifteen years, each trip yielding the potential for new shots.
So, for now, you can start with the basics. What kind of photos are you looking to take? Are you looking for a scenic landscape or a more urban setting? Once you know what type of photos you’re looking for, research different areas offering those views. You can look online at pictures or before visiting places in person to understand better what you can expect.
ONLINE SEARCHES
Of course, you can do online searches. Then, hit the images button below the top line, and tons of pictures will appear. You can also use it for your photography bucket list. You can search more locally using terms like Maine Photography Locations or Milky Way Photography Location or narrow it down by town—then hit the image button And view the photographs of the area. Remember, most of the time, you’re only going to see the best top spots.
JOIN PHOTOGRAPHY CLUBS
If you belong to a photography club, you can ask group members where to go for great photography, but please remember, you must look at their images or online images. We have encountered photographers who won’t say; I have been doing photography for about a month before they tell you the most incredible place they have ever photographed. Be sure to understand your source of information. For example, asking Pamela Goodyer, the top photography spot, to create incredible dynamic photography versus asking your next-door neighbor who bought a new camera at Christmas time are completely different.
BE MINDFUL OF WHO YOU ASK
Be sure to understand your source of information. For example, asking Pamela Goodyer, the top photography spot, to create incredible dynamic award winning photography versus asking your next-door neighbor who bought a new camera at Christmas time are completely different. And people who do not do photography see things completely differently than photographers. When we were new to this, we asked local people, “Where’s the best place for photography? And yeah, they would send us to beautiful natural locations such as a plain lake with absolutely nothing around it. We agree that it’s a beautiful, majestic location, but it was absolutely completely boring for photography.
TIME OF YEAR & MILKY WAY
Before planning a trip, it’s always important to check the weather and temperature for the location of the photography. Costa Rica, for example, has seen an increase in rainfall this year because of El Niño. This can damper photography activities and may leave us feeling soggy and disappointed. Then, there is much more rain in certain months than in others.
On the other hand, Iceland boasts around-the-clock daylight during the summer months. Sure, the midnight sun provides some vibrant spectacle for sightseers. Still, because of its northern latitude, stargazers often miss out on seeing the Milky Way – which could be a deciding factor when booking your photography trip.
Also, the northern lights can only be seen in Iceland during the fall and winter, but will it be too cold for you? September and October are good for the best temperatures and still seeing the northern lights.
GO ON A PHOTO TOUR
We run Extra Eyes Photo Tours—check out all our tours in the photography workshops section. We go to only the best, most dynamic photography locations and put the perfect subject matter right before your eyes. We instruct you as much as you would like to be instructed. (Some high-end pros come along and desire less instruction.) We have created many award-winning photos on our photo tours.
Because of our extensive travel to various locations, we have discovered the best spots for jaw-dropping photography. We are passionate about supporting all photographers and their tours and instructional opportunities. However, we have also come across some tours that take place in uninteresting places. This brings us to our next point: be aware of what you are signing up for.
HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT PHOTO TOUR
When selecting your next photography tour destination, It’s important to understand all the aspects of the tour. Cost is essential when planning any tour and can vary significantly depending on the location. Read all available tours to compare prices, activities, accommodation, meals, entrance fees, and transportation. The most significant advantage of taking a tour versus self-organizing is receiving specialized instruction for your chosen activity. Ensure you understand the group size or student/leader ratio before booking to get the best out of the tour.
If you are looking for a simple photo-taking experience without needing guidance from the leader, some tours do not include photography instruction but solely provide access to unique locations, and it’s not always the right timing. It’s basically just a tour to stop at each location for a short time. Avoid these if possible. They just take you from place to place, and they don’t know anything about photography, the positioning of the lighting, or the best times to get dynamic images. They stop for a certain amount of time. But when you want to photograph in an incredible location, you could spend hours, even half a day, in one spot. These tours do not offer that kind of opportunity.
INSTRUCTORS AND LOCATIONS
We have seen incredible instructors who know how to take you to dynamic locations, and we saw one tour on social media to one place for seven days. It was the most boring location we have seen. We could drive through it, stop two or three times in this desert-type area, and move on to try to find dynamic image possibilities. How you can create jaw-dropping award-winning images in the desert for seven days is beyond us. If you are good, you may come home with 10 to 15 okay pictures and possibly an award winner. Still, on suitable tours, you have numerous dynamic locations daily with massive amounts of opportunity for excellent photography.
However, good instructors will guide their students to dynamic locations daily, giving plenty of scope for genuinely amazing photographs. With such a tour, you could come home with hundreds of good shots–and possibly many different award winners. You will discover all you need to know by thoroughly checking out their photographs. If you decide to take a photography tour, it would be beneficial to VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS TAKEN ON THE TOUR! We cannot emphasize this enough.
WHERE TO CREATE THE BEST PHOTOS
As discussed, photography requires the proper subject matter to create incredible, jaw-dropping pictures. While most of us focus on technique, we must also concentrate on the area we shoot at. Would you like to learn how to create dynamic images and fine art? That is what this magazine is all about. The first part of creating incredible photography is finding outstanding subject matter.
You can read about some places in more detail on our Travel Photography Pages.
One way dynamic images are created with moving waters, and the milky water effect is used to awe your fans. Look at how to shoot waterfall photography if you need some pointers. Grab a Think Tank Camera Bag, head to an incredible destination, and start creating fine art for yourself.
PAMELA GOODYER’S TOP PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS
We declare our top selections. Yet, our journey is far from complete as we strive to capture each state in its purest form in the future. Our publication remains barely touched by monetary gain, spanning over 250 pages of unadulterated beauty. We refrain from bombarding you with countless advertisements, only presenting a hint of commercialism. For us, this magazine is more than just a product—it is a spiritual quest to showcase the diverse wonders of our nation. We do this at our own cost. Shortly, we will monetize the magazine sum to afford us to travel to this great nation and document its beauty. The few links we have on ads make us a few dollars, so please check them out!
We are on the cusp of a monumental decision: to offer an exclusive membership section for those truly dedicated to supporting our travel efforts. For over a decade, we have selflessly poured our time and resources into documenting our journeys, mapping out every step and providing invaluable insight and advice for others to follow in our footsteps. We have braved treacherous terrain and captured breathtaking moments to guide, motivate, and inspire individuals to create unforgettable photographic masterpieces. We will soon invite you to become part of our inner circle, where we will continue pushing the boundaries of adventure and capturing life’s essence through our lenses.
NEW JERSEY PHOTOGRAPHY, OUR HOME STATE
As our journey continues, we reflect on the states we have explored. New Jersey holds a special place in our hearts as it is our birthplace. We have traversed its length and breadth, but hidden gems still await us. If you have any photography havens that we have yet to uncover, please share them with us via email. Our thirst for new experiences knows no bounds.
NEW JERSEY PHOTOGRAPHY
As you can see from our New Jersey photography hot spot page, New Jersey is diverse in more ways than one. New Jersey is an eclectic blend of natural beauty from the sandy shores of Cape May to the secluded waterfalls of the Delaware Water Gap. On our travels, we have discovered the robust cityscape of Jersey City, contrasting sharply with the rural charm of Sussex County’s sprawling farms. For every urbanite who finds inspiration in man-made marvels, there is a countryside lover who revels in the serenity of nature untouched.
The Pine Barrens stretches over a million acres across seven counties, almost a quarter of New Jersey’s land area. This vast expanse of forest proves that New Jersey is much more than the bustling cities and paved roads that come to mind for many. Only a handful of prime photography spots are scattered among these regions, with the potential for incredible shots. The dark sky and Milky Way can be found in this area, but locating good foreground subjects is challenging, so you must be creative. To achieve this, we make our way closer to the shoreline for optimal views of the Milky Way.
MILKY WAY
Several beach areas are great locations for Milky Way photography. Island Beach State Park, Avalon, NJ, and East Point Lighthouse are among our favorites.
WHERE TO DO MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY IN NJ
The boardwalks and beaches of New Jersey offer ample opportunity for photography, especially with the fishing piers at sunrise and sunset, which is one of our favorite things to photograph.
The wooden boardwalks, weathered and worn by the salty sea air, stretch like long fingers beckoning us to explore. Each step brings us closer to the sandy beaches of New Jersey, where a canvas of endless possibilities awaits us. The sun casts its warm glow, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange as it rises or sets over the horizon. One of our greatest joys is creating dynamic photography during these fleeting moments along the piers, where dynamic colors appear in the sky at sunrise and sunset, and waves crash against the wooden pillars below. With every click of the camera, we freeze these memories in time, immortalizing the beauty of the Jersey shore through our photography, the state in which we reside.
In our wanderings, the stark tranquility of Sandy Hook, with its hauntingly beautiful lighthouse and panoramic views of the ocean, was a sight to behold. The architectural domesticity of Morristown, with its well-preserved Georgian, Victorian, and Colonial Revival homes, held us captive, drawing us into a story that spoke of a time long past. At the same time, the vibrancy of Trenton, with its raw urban artistry and pulsing life, is a backdrop for creative artistic expression.
NORTH JERSEY
Traveling towards the northern region of New Jersey, we are greeted by the stunning landscapes of the Kittatinny Mountains. The eerily beautiful forests stretch out in a kaleidoscope of greens, crisscrossed by clear streams and punctuated by the occasional deer or rabbit. The mountains rose in a gradient of blues, their jagged peaks effectively hiding the mysteries they held close. In the northeast, you’ll find the incredible Patterson waterfalls, one of our favorite locations.
The beauty of New Jersey is not limited to its natural spectrum. The state’s rich history has left behind a vibrant visual symphony of contrasting hues, each season offering its unique palette. The crimsons and golds of autumn, the stark whites and blues of winter, the fresh greens of spring, and the rich earth tones of summer—each transition brought a new aspect of New Jersey’s inherent beauty to create incredible photography.
From the George Washington Bridge to Liberty State Park, New Jersey’s urban scenery is a stunning canvas of steel and concrete against the backdrop of the Hudson River. For cityscape photographers, the glistening skyscrapers under twilight hues or their silhouette against a dawning sun become perfect subjects for their portfolios.
The quaint beauty of Cape May was not to be overlooked. This historic town, with its meticulously preserved Victorian-era houses, twinkles like a well-kept jewel against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. Its vibrant history provides a paradox: an island of past grandeur surrounded by the state’s fast-paced modernity. The charm is palpable, with bicycle-friendly streets. This is also a top Milky Way photography location in New Jersey.
PAMELA GOODYER’S FAVORITE NEW JERSEY HOT SPOTS
- The Great Falls – Patterson waterfalls.
- East Point Lighthouse for Milky Way photography.
- All of the fishing piers along the coast.
- Barnegat Light State Park.
- Pamela Goodyer’s hometown, where she grew up: The Kingston Mill in South Brunswick, New Jersey.
The New Jersey list goes on and on, so be sure to visit the New Jersey State photography hotspot page. And see them all in great detail.
NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHY
A golden destination for photography expeditions. Renowned for its stunning natural beauty, the region provides an array of picturesque landscapes waiting to be immortalized through the lens. From the sun-dappled foliage of the Adirondacks, whispering tales of ancient earth, to the triumphant roar of Niagara Falls, every corner of Upstate New York is a photographer’s oasis, replete with vivid hues, dramatic lighting, and organic textures.
We have explored the Adirondack Mountains, where we photographed the ethereal beauty of early morning fog lifting over placid mountain lakes. We embarked on a journey to the breathtaking Finger Lakes region, our trusty camera in hand as we captured the beauty of each lake and surrounding area. Our travels then took us to the majestic Catskill Mountains, where we photographed an incredible castle nestled among towering trees and charming small towns that seemed frozen in time. As night fell, we turned our lenses towards the sky and captured the twinkling stars of the Milky Way. No trip to the Catskills would be complete without witnessing the sheer power and grandeur of enormous waterfalls cascading down into crystal clear pools below, such as Kaaterskill Falls.
Hidden deep within the embrace of Mother Gaia, Kaaterskill Falls is one of our most cherished places – an enchanting waterfall. The air is alive with a mystical energy, drawing us closer to this sacred spot. It’s a place not to be missed, for it holds secrets and wonders that can only be found here. As we capture the beauty of Kaaterskill Falls through our photography, we cannot help but feel a deep connection to the spirituality of this place. It’s more than just a natural wonder; it’s a doorway to another realm that speaks to our souls and enriches our spirits.
Living in New Jersey makes it a breeze for us to visit the city. However, we tend to prefer the unspoiled beauty of Mother Earth in its natural state, without the influence of humans. Therefore, our activities were limited during our visit and focused on capturing photographs of the inner city.
PAMELA GOODYER’S FAVORITE NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS
- Kaaterskill Falls – A top 10 all-time photography hot spot.
- Dundas Castle – No longer accessible.
- Watkins Glen State Park – A top photography hotspot.
PENNSYLVANIA PHOTOGRAPHY
Pennsylvania has offered us many wonderful places to explore and photograph. However, there are still so many areas left for us to discover. Our goal is to travel to every corner of the state and capture the beauty of Mother Nature. Until then, if you know of any breathtaking photography spots, please share them with us. We would love to feature your photo with proper credit.
The state of Pennsylvania boasts a varied and beautiful landscape. From the rolling Appalachian Mountains that cut through the center to the majestic Allegheny and Pocono mountains in the Northeast, over half of the state is covered in lush forests. There are 140 miles of shoreline along Lake Erie and the Delaware River; Pennsylvania possesses an abundance of navigable waterways, including the Deleware, Allegheny, Genesee, Ohio, Schuylkill, and Susquehanna rivers.
PAMELA GOODYER’S FAVORITE PENNSYLVANIA PHOTOGRAPHY SPOTS
- Ricketts Glenn State Park – a top 10 all-time photography hot spot.
- Cherry Springs State Park and the Frosty Hollow B & B
- Jim Thorpe, PA.
- The waterfalls of the Poconos.
MAINE PHOTOGRAPHY
Maine’s terrain consists of dense forests, shimmering lakes, and expansive marshlands, each presenting a unique backdrop for stunning visuals. The forests are rich in pine, spruce, and fir trees, their dense canopies allowing only dappled sunlight to penetrate. This natural light show offers countless opportunities for dramatic captures—the stark contrast between the deep shadows and the bright patches of sunlight creates an ethereal, haunting beauty that can lend an otherworldly feel to your photos.
The rugged coastline boasts numerous lighthouses and many of them can be photographed under the Milky Way skies during the right time of the year. Lighthouses are one of our favorite things to photograph under the Milky Way.
PAMELA GOODYER’S FAVORITE MAINE PHOTOGRAPHY SPOTS
- Acadia National Park – A top-10 all-time favorite
- Old Orchard Beach Pier
- Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
- Nubble Lighthouse
MARYLAND PHOTOGRAPHY
Despite numerous unexplored places in Maryland, we have discovered one of our favorite photography locations—Conowingo Dam. This area is a haven for wildlife photographers, with countless opportunities to capture the beauty of nature. We call it a display of wildlife at its finest, with majestic eagles soaring above us in great numbers.
PAMELA GOODYER’S FAVORITE MARYLAND PHOTOGRAPHY SPOTS
- Conowingo Dam – Top-10 all-time favorite
- Chincoteague Island and the Refuge Inn (Especially for Milky Way photography)
- Assateague Island (Especially for Milky Way photography)
CANADA PHOTOGRAPHY
People often ask us where the best place to do photography is. Well, we can tell you that our number one all-time favorite spot to travel to is the Canadian Rockies. The Canadian Rockies offer multiple incredible dynamic photography spots where you can easily create jaw-dropping, award-winning photography.
Canada is the resplendent variety of natural landscapes it offers. From the soaring peaks and turquoise lakes of Banff National Park in Alberta to the wild coastline of Newfoundland to the Northern Lights in the Yukon – Canada is a visual feast for any photographer.
Banff National Park is filled with unmatched, stunning vistas. The turquoise glacial lakes are phenomenal. One of Pamela Goodyer’s award-winning photographs was created at Emerald Lake. Surrounded by towering mountain peaks and vibrant forests, the Canadian Rockies are mesmerizing. One of the most photographed spots is Lake Louise. The emerald water reflects the surrounding mountains and the Victoria Glacier, creating a jaw-dropping scene that is genuinely photogenic.
PAMELA GOODYER’S FAVORITE CANADA PHOTOGRAPHY SPOTS
- Emerald Lake (Pam won an award for a picture created here.)
- Takkakaw Falls
- The Natural Bridge
- Lake Louise
- Campobello Island
- One Nation’s Grizzly Bear Photography Locations
ARIZONA PHOTOGRAPHY
Arizona’s astonishing geographical diversity is a photographer’s paradise. From the scorching desert landscapes dotted with cacti and mesquite trees to the snow-capped peaks of Flagstaff, an array of visual content awaits the lens. Although we have yet to journey through the entire state of Arizona, we have picked some of our favorite photography spots.
