Senior Photos in OKC Parks

Are you a high school senior looking for locations to take senior photos? If so, consider taking them in one of the many beautiful parks in Oklahoma City. Whether you're going for manicured gardens, rustic boho vibes, or preppy nautical in your pictures, you will likely find a park around OKC that suits you perfectly.

This hidden gem is one of my fav places for senior pictures! When you enter this rustic woodland, you won’t even believe you’re in the middle of OKC. There’s tree-lined paths, creeks, bridges and even an open field all in a convenient space. If you’re wanting a rustic, country or boho look in your photos, this is a great spot. Another reason this is one of the best parks in OKC for photos is that it’s so close to other places around the city, making it easy to have multiple locations with totally different looks in your photos. Parking is also free, close and convenient.

The only drawback at this park is that it has winter hours from October 1-March 31. That means it closes at 6 pm which is well before sunset some of the time. This prevents you from getting to shoot at golden hour when most photo sessions happen. (Although this may not affect your session if you’re planning to stay in the trees and shade.) Just be sure to check their website for the latest info. 

This park is so beautiful! Manicured gardens, tall trees and water features are just the start of what it has to offer for photo spots. It is especially perfect if you’re looking for vibrant fall color in your pictures. It’s big enough, but not so large that you can’t access most spots in a short amount of time. Because of its convenient location off I-44, it’s an easy second location that is close to other photo spots around OKC. Also parking is free, super easy and convenient!

Potential drawbacks: Just like Martin Nature Park, the gardens close at 5 pm in the winter season which runs from October 1-March 31. So plan the start time of your fall and spring sessions accordingly. Also because it is so pretty, it's a popular spot. Be prepared for delays and to be polite as you work around other photographers and their clients. 

This is one of the newest parks in OKC, with the latest addition opening in September 2022. It features open spaces, ornamental gardens and a small lake. One of the most iconic features is the Skydance Bridge that connects the upper and lower park. The bridge is shaped like a Scissortail Flycatcher, also the state bird, and its unique architecture looks modern and fresh in pictures. Contrasting with that, there’s the Oklahoma City Union Station building with stone walls that gives rustic, old world vibes. Another great advantage to this park is you can capture panoramic OKC skyline views in your photos. As the trees and plants continue to grow and fill in it will keep getting that much better as a photo location. 

Drawbacks: there is some free parking around the park, but it’s limited. Be ready to pay in one of the nearby lots if necessary. Fair warning-it’s a hopping place, so dodging foot traffic and activities can be a big challenge.

Want a preppy nautical look that (almost) passes for New England in your pictures? Or do you want to have access to get in the water for pictures and/or have a beach vibe? For either option and everything in between, Lake Hefner and the shorelines around Stars & Stripes Park have you covered. I love these spots because they can give you a totally different look from typical Oklahoma terrain which is great for variety in your photo gallery.

Head to the east side of Lake Hefner and you can capture the adorable mini lighthouse along the shoreline that is surrounded by the marina. Or keep driving west around the lake towards Stars & Stripes Park and there are tons of little hidden spots along the dirt road that give you a rugged beachy vibe.

Ever dreamed of doing senior pictures in the water? I recently did a water session here and it was so beautiful! You can see some of the photos  HERE.

Pros: Everything is easy to access and free. Cons: Because of the restaurants and popularity around the lighthouse, you may have to work around people to get your photos. And if you go further west, be ready to drive on dirt roads and hike through some tall grass. But it’s all totally worth it for the photos you can get!

From my research, I don’t think this is classified as an official city park. But it should definitely be considered as an option if you’re wanting some garden beauty in your pictures. I go into more detail about it with My Favorite Downtown OKC Photo Locations blog post. Click the link for more details about this gorgeous spot.

In conclusion, Oklahoma City has some really awesome parks that can provide you with just about any look you’re going for in your senior photos. For the time being, they are free to enter to take pro photos. (Side note-at the time of writing there’s a potential law that could take effect that will require pro photographers to purchase a permit to take pictures in OKC parks.)

Between the wide variety and close proximity to other great photo locations around OKC, including a park in your senior photos is definitely worth considering!