Here is a photography location guide that I curated for Rockwall County for those looking for something special and diverse for your next family photo session.
Downtown Rockwall
101 E Rusk St, Rockwall, TX 75087. Located in the middle of the Downtown Square is the Historic Courthouse and is often used as the center of hometown events. The Farmers Market is annually May through September on Saturday mornings from 10am to Noon. Many sidewalks run along a variety of retail shops and restaurants that would be excellent backdrops for walking scenes. Benches, oversized floral containers, trees, main street lighting poles and a variety of sitting areas. There are lots of textured walls, exposed brick and there is also a retro area called Cain’s Used Corner Park. Parking is free and you could easily spend an entire photo session here.
San Jacinto Plaza
101-115 S San Jacinto St, Rockwall, TX 75087. In the 85th Texas Legislative Session the city of Rockwall was designated as the official Free Live Music Capital of North Texas. This is where the San Jacinto Plaza Music Series is held annually from May through October on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Rockwall County Historical Museum
901 E Washington St, Rockwall, TX 75087. The Rockwall County Historical Foundation was organized in 1978 to collect and preserve the county’s history. There are three historic buildings in Harry Meyers Park: The Manson-LaMoreaux-Hartman House, the Bailey House, and the Tenant Cabin. A portion of the “mysterious rock wall” is also located on the property. Use the buildings as a backdrop for your family photos or use the other natural surroundings. There are two ponds, old wooden fencing, mature trees and open space.
Harry Myers Park
815 E Washington St, Rockwall, TX 75087. There are a number of locations at Harry Myers park that has fantastic scenery that you can utilize in staging for your next family session. Pickens Lake has wildlife that may just fly in at the right moment. Pickens Bridge would be nice to capture the family sitting on the wooden walkway or sitting against the railings. There is also a nice size wooden dock that looks over Pickens Lake. There are very large rocks and an outdoor amphitheater around the lake. There are many mature trees, rolling hills, winding trails, creeks, a pergola walkway, lush green spaces, public art and a butterfly garden.
Harry Myers Community Center
815 E Washington St, Rockwall, TX 75087. Behind the Harry Myers Community Center is a gated dog park and there is a wooden wrap around porch with wooden steps. In front of the pool facing the road a parallel bridge goes over a creek bed and leads to another path towards Harry Myers Park where you will see another bridge. More scenes for family’s to pose, hug or walk hand-in-hand.
Huddin Homestead Fun Farm
1666 FM1141, Rockwall, TX 75087. Visit a homestead farm that includes animal encounters! Pumpkin patches, bluebonnets in the spring and a family friendly outdoor farm experience! Check their website or social media for weather related closings. There may be a small fee for their petting zoo and other costs for snacks at their food trailer.
Rockwall Harbor
2059 Summer Lee Dr, Rockwall, TX 75032. This is one of the best places to capture a majestic sunset right off of Lake Ray Hubbard in Rockwall’s Harbor District. Work with your photographer to preplan all of your spots before sunset so you can utilize that golden hour. When the sun is low on the horizon it creates that signature warm glow. The blue hour arrives shortly after sunset that may last approximately 15 minutes. The blue hour is when the sun’s position is just below the horizon producing those cooler tones.
The Harbor District is inspired by the Tuscany region with warm simple toned plaster and masonry buildings with pitched clay tile roofs that form “hilltop compounds” punctuated with tower elements. There are plenty of green screens, water features, bridges, lush landscaped walkways to shoot a variety of poses with your family.
Right off the lakefront shoreline there is an open space area, there are wide walkable trails that wind around a cascading waterfall, ornamental trees, canopy trees, a breezeway bridge across the waterfall, stairs, retaining walls, benches and various furnishings that could be utilized for amazing family photo scenes.
Here are my suggestions of some ideas to try: slow dance in the middle of the plaza, have candid moments right on the amphitheater, bring some themed accessories, a footstool and some textured materials to capture a loving moment and/or take a walk towards the lighthouse.
SH 66 Public Boat Ramp
1120 West Rusk, Rockwall, Texas 75087. The City of Rockwall’s Park & Recreation department has improved the two boat ramps and courtesy docks to have access to Lake Ray Hubbard. It is a natural open space and a modern bridge that goes over a little creek that feeds into the lake.
McLendon-Chisholm Fire Station
1371 West FM 550, McLendon-Chisholm, TX 75032. This state-of-the-art 11,400 square foot facility consists of a three apparatus bay fire station and exterior stone walls that would be a great background.
Royse City Industrial Railroad Track
145 S Elm St, Royse City, TX 75189. Located in the heart of the Blackland Cotton Belt, Royse City thrived with considerable business in cotton trading, cottonseed oil manufacturing, and cotton ginning until the early 20th century. Unfortunately, the Great Depression was hard on Royse City’s economy, and synthetic fiber technology began replacing cotton products, which threw the local industry into a spin. While 54 businesses still operated in the town in 1936, the aftermath of World War II caused many families to move to Dallas for work, and Royse City businesses declined. There is a lot of railroad line history and remnants of the factory structures still standing.
Industrial sites are full of opportunities to create fascinating background scenes for a family photo session. There is also a railroad track, a charming preserved historic main street, public art, vintage brick exposures and depending on the season there are variety of events held throughout the year in downtown Royse City.
Lofland Park Train
407 Kernodle Street, Rockwall, TX 75087. This could be a great portrait scene for family photos at this mini park in Rockwall. From using a wide range of focal lengths it can add a playful view to your photo session.
Rockwall Golf & Athletic Club
2600 Champions Drive. Rockwall, TX 75087. Overlooking Lake Ray Hubbard at the 12th Hole Vista is a spectacular photo opportunity on the golf course. Outdoor family photos don’t have to be all posed or frolicking through a field. If that feels unnatural, try a family activity instead. Consider action shots! And even if you have small children have fun and throw them over your shoulder or give them a butterfly kiss or photograph their laughter. There is plenty of manicured green space to capture natural reactions.
Downtown Fate Mural
113 E Fate Main Pl, Fate, TX 75087. Take impressive family photos interacting with the Downtown Fate Mural by freelance artist Caleb Jacks. Interaction can be both observing the work or engaging with the space like walking a dog, dancing, throwing your hats in the air or blowing bubbles. Consider telling a bigger story with a wide-angle lens and panoramas.
Little Wren White Chapel
509 E Boydstun Ave, Rockwall, TX 75087. Nestled in the trees is the old Day Spring Church which has a new name, Little Wren Wedding Chapel. There is a beautiful garden setting, a wooden bridge, open green space and also consider the seasonal changes. Have fun mixing up the framing of your shots a little. Bring a ladder for a photographer to take some elevated shots. The high vantage point could add an interesting perspective with your family photos or group shots.
The Yacht Club (TYC)
501 Yacht Club Dr, Rockwall, TX 75032. Outstanding waterfront views can be captured right outside of The Yacht Club overlooking Lake Ray Hubbard. Utilize the lighting at sunset can make for some stunning photos. Depending on the season you may capture boat traffic cruising or flocks of birds flying in a formation across the horizon.
Bass Pro Shoreline
5001 Bass Pro Dr, Garland, TX 75043. There is a partly sandy landscaped terrace that is facing Lake Ray Hubbard shoreline that you can easily walk to from the back glass doors in Bass Pro or around from the parking lot. There is also pathways that lead towards the boat docks.
The fields at the McLendon-Chisholm City Hall
1371 West FM 550, McLendon-Chisholm, TX 75032. Around the McLendon-Chisholm City Hall you could capture the open space, gorgeous sunsets and rolling cloud formations for a family farmstead photoshoot. Depending on the season you may see hay baled across the fields, livestock or tall grass. There is also a large Christmas tree located near the Veterans Memorial.
Rowlett Main Street
3886 Main St, Rowlett, TX 75088. Embrace the character of Rowlett’s Main Street with an urban family photo shoot. Allow the car or foot traffic to be part of the story that you are trying to convey. Look for stone walls, stairs, unusual signage, water towers, public art to incorporate in your session. Here are some ideas to inspire you.
Kids Kingdom
5300 Main St, Rowlett, TX 75088. Take some great photos at Kid’s Kingdom Park of you and your kids at play. The shapes and lines of the playground equipment with the right aperture to blur out background distractions. With the geometric shapes it could be a creative way to frame up your family or for individual portraits. For example, walking through a rope course, laying down inside a tube tunnel or peering through the crawl space, leaning up against the playstation doorways, candid laughing right on the stairs. Change your perspective by shooting up towards the sky and capture photos from your child’s eye level. Behind the park is also an open green space with mature trees that may be worth your time to consider for a family photo session.
Rowlett Nature Trail
1610 Miller Rd, Rowlett, TX 75088. Take great family photographs while out on the trail that is approximately 7.3 miles of concrete that winds and forks through mature trees. Get down on your little ones level as they pick up leaves during the fall to get a better view of their face. Take advantage of a tripod to take photos of hiking the trail with your family. Look for an interesting background to sit or stand on or lean against like a fallen log, a unique rock formation, an exposed root ball of an upturned tree or a pretty bend in the nearby creek. Allow the natural elements to inspire your photo story telling by throwing leaves in the air, let scarves catch the wind, adjust your hats as you laugh or try to give your kids a piggy back ride for a candid scene. See Rowlett Creek Trails Map.
Windsurf Bay Area Park
5556 Locust Grove Rd, Garland, TX 75043. Depending on the time of year windsurfers may be out on Lake Ray Hubbard. It could lead to a fun family photo session capturing feet splashing in the shallow beach area. A wide-angle lens will allow you to include the lake and the surrounding scenery into one frame. Changing the perspective to a low angle allows for adequate background and sky.
The Park at Breezy Hill
4400 Ketten Drive, Rockwall, TX 75087. This is a quaint mini park that has a playground, benches, grills, concrete trail, pond, open green space and mature trees. Visit PlayRockwall.com to learn more about park locations and events.
J.E.R. Chilton YMCA at Rockwall
1210 N Goliad St, Rockwall, TX 75087. There are sport fields and a play area on the property that could work for an outdoor family photo session.
Hidden Creek
215 Chris Cuny Pkwy, Heath, TX 75032. The Hidden Creek venue specializes in weddings and special events. There is a pathway through beautiful trees to an open area behind their vintage styled barn.
Terry Park
599 Terry Ln, Heath, TX 75032. Set sail off of Terry Park for a family photo shoot. Of course this would make sense if you own a boat or you commonly spend time at the lake renting watercraft. Take a leisurely stroll around the park holding hands at sunset or posing against a mature tree or pavilion column. Stage a picnic or bring some props like goofy sunglasses, large deck of cards or a football. Visit Pinterest for inspiration on ideas for family photos by searching for “sailing family photoshoot”.
ShangriLlama
Private Residence in Royse City, Texas. For the privacy of the family who live at the castle, and for the safety of their beautiful pedigreed llamas the castle’s countryside address is only provided when a reservation is made. ShangriLlama Castle is a replica of Ireland’s Waterford Castle and the estate offers plenty of land for your family to frolic with the llamas. Enjoy a unique family photo session with royal llamas through the Enchanted Forest trail that surrounds the castle. It could be fun and an educational adventure! Visit their website to reserve your time.
The Labyrinth at Chandlers Landing
2 Commodore Plaza, Rockwall, TX 75032. On the right of the Chandlers Landing Guard House off of Yacht Club Drive there is a beautifully designed labyrinth. The Labyrinth at Chandlers Landing is a copy of a labyrinth inside the Chartres Cathedral in France, circa 1215 AD.
Smoke Monkey Barbecue
11139 State Hwy 205, Rockwall, TX 75032. Smoke Monkey Barbecue has an outdoor area that has a southern eclectic charm. For a photo background consider a family standing several feet off of the rusty metal fences. Utilize the old chevy truck as a prop. Incorporate the tall metal or wooden structures as interesting scenery. There are black and white butcher charts under the covered patio, stringed patio lights, vintage coca cola cooler and dispenser.
Quick Guide To Family Photo Poses
The reality of family photography is not exactly often magical. I can speak with experience because I have years of having to endure with what I could get. If you are looking for some stress free ideas check out this guide for some inspiration. And hang in there it will get better. View QUICK GUIDE.
