Best Locations for Maternity Photos in San Antonio
Wondering where to take maternity photos in San Antonio? You’re in luck, friend—as a San Antonio maternity photographer, you can bet I’ve got plentyyy of breathtaking locations up my sleeve. And what’s the use in keeping them a secret?
I know you’ve probably got plenty on your plate as you await your new babe’s grand entrance into the world, so I thought I’d take one task off your plate by compiling a list of the best, most beautiful maternity portrait locations in San Antonio. Whether you’d feel most at home in a lush garden surrounded by vibrant blooms, strolling through a lively park in the city, or cozied up in, well, in your own home, each and every one of these locations has something unique to offer for your session. Let’s find the one that feels right for you.
How to Choose A Location for Your San Antonio Maternity Photos
There are hardly words to describe the feeling of waiting for your new little one to join your family, whether it’s your first, third, or fifth—the anticipation is undoubtedly the same. Capturing these treasured moments is what I do best, and is such a crucial way to freeze them in time to look back on months, years, decades into the future.
Do you ever wish you could just hit pause and remember how you felt when you looked in the mirror as you inched closer to your due date, admiring your glow, beauty, and strength without a care in the world? That is the feeling we want to capture, the feeling I want you to be able to remember on your tougher days.🤍
I truly believe that your maternity photos should feel like YOU, which is why the location of your shoot is so important. The place we document your session will impact the mood and vibe you’re going for; the setting and atmosphere will play a huge role in the way you feel throughout. So before I actually give you my favorite maternity photoshoot locations in San Antonio, I wanted to give you a few tips on how to choose the right one for you:
Don’t choose a location just because it’s popular, or because you think you “should.” Sure, maybe the rest of the mamas in your area have taken their maternity photos at that one grassy field on the outskirts of the city—but that doesn’t mean you have to! You deserve photos that are unique and personal to you, and what works for others won’t necessarily be what works for you. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and go somewhere you’ve never seen on Instagram, Pinterest, or wherever you’ve been browsing for maternity inspo.
Pick somewhere that’s meaningful to you, such as your own backyard, the place where you and your partner got engaged, a favorite spot in the city, the park your future kiddo will play at, maybe even the place where you first realized you were pregnant. Trust me when I tell you that your photos will be 10 times more sentimental if you take them somewhere that’s close to your heart.
Ask your photographer for guidance, and trust their judgement. After all, the reason you’re hiring a photographer is to make things easy and effortless for you, so that all you have to worry about is enjoying yourselves. Not thinking about the lighting, or how you look, or what pose you should be in next. When you hire a photographer who is devoted to caring for you and creating the best experience possible, they’ll be able to help you find just the right place. See if we’d be a good fit here :)
Best Locations for Maternity Photos in San Antonio
Now, let’s get to what you came here for: a list of the best places for maternity sessions in San Antonio. I have no doubt that one of these gorgeous locations will provide the perfect setting for your unique session, no matter what your vision may be or what kind of atmosphere you’re dreaming of.
1. Eisenhower Park
Located on the northwest side of San Antonio, Eisenhower Park is a super picturesque little park that offers a variety of spots to explore during a maternity session. With 420 acres full of rocky canyons, dry creek beds, paved and unpaved trails, and an abundance of foliage, the vibrant greenery around the park is striking against the dirt paths and bright blue Texas skies. It’s the perfect place for your maternity photos if you’d like to escape the noise of San Antonio without driving more than half an hour from downtown, trading the cityscapes for more outdoorsy landscapes bursting with beautiful nature everywhere you look. There are seven different trails you can take to explore all the park has to offer, from an easy, paved 0.45 mile trail to a slightly longer 2.5 mile loop. And did I mention there’s a little observation tower you can climb up to get beautiful views of the city?
2. Phil Hardberger Park
The wooded landscapes of Phil Hardberger Park provide a haven for outdoor lovers craving a retreat from the busy streets of San Antonio, boasting over 300 acres of sustainable, natural area for visitors of all kinds to enjoy. If you and your partner love to hit the trails but typically find it hard to hike around San Antonio due to the harsh sun, you’ll love Phil Hardberger Park and all the shaded pathways it has to offer. With play areas for any little ones you may already have, and dog parks for your fur babies, there’s something for everyone to enjoy amidst this lush green environment—including the super cool Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge that connects both sides of the park!
3. Landa Library
If you read the word “library” and are thinking that this is some typical library branch with an old building and maybeee a tiny area of seating out in front, boy are you going to be surprised to find out just how spectacular Landa Library actually is. Yes, it is a branch of the San Antonio Library, but it’s also an entire conservancy featuring what are probably the most breathtaking grounds in the city. Full of both historical charm and contemporary design thanks to a recent renovation in 2017, the property boasts a Spanish-style mansion surrounded by manicured lawns, lavish gardens, and cobblestone pathways leading to hidden nooks and crannies even more beautiful than the last. It’s become a popular destination for photoshoots in San Antonio (for good reason, obviously), so keep in mind that we will need to get a free photography permit in order to use the grounds for your session—but that’s easy peasy!
4. Confluence Park
If you appreciate eccentric architecture and one-of-a-kind design, then you’ll love Confluence Park and all the variety it has to offer! Not only is Confluence Park home to an eight-mile stretch of woodland ecosystem that’s really beautiful to explore; the main pavilion features a unique, geometric design, intended to represent the way the park’s water cycle relates to San Antonio’s system of rivers, creeks, and streams. It’s a pretty cool place to learn about the ecosystems found in the South Texas region, if that’s something that interests you, but is also just a gorgeous little spot to admire the greenery, walkways, and views of downtown in the distance.
5. Japanese Tea Garden
Botanical gardens are ALWAYS a fantastic option when it comes to maternity photo locations; after all, who wouldn’t love to take their photos in a dreamy garden surrounded by breathtaking botanicals, vibrant greenery, lush florals, and stunning architecture + design? Located in Brackenridge Park, the Japanese Tea Garden boasts an abundance of whimsical backdrops for maternity photos, including unique Japanese art installations, a Japanese pavilion, stone archways, koi ponds, and waterfalls. There’s even a delicious Japanese restaurant on site if you’d like to extend your adventure and make a little date out of it (highly recommend, because why not?). We won’t need a permit to take photos at the garden during operating hours, but we will want to pick our time + date carefully to avoid large crowds if possible—something I’ll help you with, don’t worry!
6. Joshua Springs Park
Do you and your partner/fam enjoy going fishing together on the weekends? Joshua Springs Park and Preserve is the perfect location to incorporate your love for fishing into your maternity session, offering a fish-filled pond great for catch-and-release fishing. While you wait to make your first catch, you can enjoy watching the native birds and wildlife around you, and maybe pop over to the covered picnic area afterward for a little mid-session snack, or maybe to the walking trails for a stroll through the trees. The park also has multiple pavilions that make for great photo ops, and an overlook at the top of the hill with gorgeous, panoramic views of the countryside. I can just picture you looking out over the scenery, hand on your belly as you admire the beauty around you, take in the present moment, and reflect on this unique journey you’ve been on.
7. Denman Estate Park
This 20-acre park is one of the smaller ones on this list, but don’t let that fool you: it is just as stunning as the rest. It’s honestly a hidden gem in San Antonio, situated just northwest of downtown, featuring a beautiful space brimming with greenery, a colorful Korean pagoda, and the historic Denman Estate itself, of course. Can’t you just picture yourselves cozied up on a picnic blanket on the shores of the sweet little pond, enjoying the view of the gorgeous pagoda, manicured grounds, and trees that line the shores? If you have a little one with you already tagging along to your session, they’ll have a blast checking out the 0.5 mile walking trail and the mysterious labyrinth beneath the trees.
8. Cibolo Nature Center
Cibolo Nature Center is the ideal spot for anyone who would like their session to revolve around a connection with nature, and being present in the beauty of the great outdoors. Boasting more than six miles of trails as well as a variety of marshes, creeks, and wildlife, the tranquility of these landscapes plus the stunning scenery is the dream formula for a peaceful, stress-free maternity photoshoot. Grab a field guide at the visitor center to identify birds as you go, or dip your toes in the creek for a moment of refreshment on a hot day; however you choose to spend your time exploring Cibolo Nature Center, it’ll be well worth your time when you see the beautiful photos you get out of it.
BONUS: Your own home/property
You’d probably be surprised how many clients hesitate to have in-home sessions because their space isn’t “good enough.”
Can I tell you something? Your home is the place to tell the story of you and your people. Where you can celebrate the real, lived-in beauty of your life together, not the stiff, don’t-sit-on-the-bed-or-you’ll-mess-it-up-feels.
For me, this is where you do life. Your gloriously messy, sweet, exhausting, all encompassing, soul stirring, perfectly imperfect life.
The place where memories are made.
So this is my reminder to you that perfection is not a prerequisite. In fact, you should probably just write that on a post-it note and stick it on the fridge, ok?
Learn how to prepare for your in-home session here!
How to Plan & Prepare for Your San Antonio Maternity Photos
Soo by now, I’m hoping you have a better idea of where you may want to take your San Antonio maternity photos—but you may still be wondering how the heck to actually plan your session. Don’t fret, because I’ve got just the resource for you to dive into next: a full guide to planning & preparing for your maternity session.
In this guide, I recommend the best time of day for your maternity session, go through additional tips for picking your perfect location, include fun activity ideas you may want to include, and so much more. It’s your one-stop shop to planning a session you’ll never forget—with photos you’ll adore for as long as you live. Read it here!
Hiring Your San Antonio Maternity Photographer
Remember how earlier, I emphasized the importance of hiring a photographer who you can trust to support you in planning your perfect session? Well friend, I’d hate to leave you hanging with nowhere to go next—so I’d love to introduce myself and see if I’d be a good match for you as your San Antonio maternity photographer :) Browse my San Antonio maternity photo packages, then inquire with me so we can tell your one of a kind story together.
