it’s no secret that finding that **seemingly** perfect location for a blogger photo shoot can prove difficult. important considerations: a colorful background (or a neutral background, depending on your aesthetic) ; multiple spaces and/or locations (to provide varying backdrops) ; and of course, convenient food and drink options (i love incorporating a smoothie, cup of coffee, or ice cream cone into my photos).
one of my favorite places to visit and take photos is the ballard neighborhood, located in seattle, washington. ballard has ample dining options, boutiques and vintage shops, scenic backdrops (such as the ballard locks), and more!
prior to scheduling a photo shoot, i brainstorm outfit ideas. at times, this can be a lengthy process (unfortunately) and requires trying on multiple outfit options. i then consider shoot locations. where is my photographer located? will the desired area be overly crowded? what else is nearby? (this girl loves her coffee.) if the weather is bad, will there be covered options? is there a convenient place to change looks?
i generally prefer an urban background and enjoy utilizing crosswalks, posing in front of colorful buildings, and gazing at the cityscape during shoots. downtown seattle, capitol hill, and ballard are my favorite locations!
if you’re not local to seattle, ballard is located in the northwestern part of seattle, washington (east of greenwood and fremont). the shilshole bay marina, golden gardens park, and the nordic museum are popular landmarks. additionally, ballard is home to numerous restaurants, bars, coffee shops, boutiques, consignment shops, furniture stores, and more. ballard is a 30-minute drive from my house, and when visiting, i make sure to stop by verve bowls (for acai bowls), buffalo exchange, frankie & jo’s (for a vegan ice cream cone), and secret garden books.
i enjoy wandering around and scouting scenic (and cute) locations for blog photos. during this particular shoot, my photographer and i ventured down several side streets, not far from verve bowls, to avoid crowded streets. one question people often ask, “how do you take photos and pose in front of other people?” it can be uncomfortable at times—and it certainly takes some getting used to. after doing this for several years, i hardly notice. =)
photos by sarah wolfe photography
t-shirt: target (exact here), bomber jacket: target, jeans: brandy melville (via pacsun), shoes: thrifted via seatttle goodwill, backpack: thrifted
have you visited the ballard neighborhood? do you have a favorite restaurant or coffee shop? please send all the recommendations my way!
(i previously shared what to pack for a blogger shoot here. enjoy!)
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This post has me craving a trip to Seattle! I havent been out there in a few years, but maybe in the next few years we’ll take a trip. I’d love to explore more.
XO, Sincerely Colleen
Thank you, Colleen! You should definitely visit. =) If you do, let me know! XO, Megan