If you’re planning a photoshoot in the Dallas, Texas area, I guarantee the Dallas Arboretum has crossed your mind as a possible spot to do it! It’s one of the most picturesque places in DFW. As a wedding photographer in Dallas, I love taking my clients here, but there are a few things to keep in mind before scheduling your photoshoot at the gardens.

My name is Madeline, and I’m a wedding photographer in Dallas that specializes in colorful weddings, so the bright colors of the arboretum make it one of my favorite places to take photos! If you want someone who already knows all the best spots at the garden, feel free to reach out to me HERE. I’d love to be your photographer. But if you’re still thinking about whether or not to take photos at the gardens, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. The best time to take photos is when the gardens open at 9am

The arboretum is only open from 9am-5pm. This means, you’re not able to get photos at sunrise or sunset. So if those glowy, sunset photos are important to you, this might not be the best location to choose. But visiting the garden right when it opens will allow you to get the best light, avoid crowds and avoid the Texas heat.

2. Plan your route out beforehand

The Dallas Arboretum is very big! It’s impossible to visit every photo spot within a 1 hour photo session. I’d recommend looking online at photos and picking out 2-3 spots you really like for photos, then mapping them out ahead of time. Or, simply hire a photographer who has been there before, and show them the spots you like beforehand.

A few of my favorite places to visit are the Women’s Garden, Crape Myrtle Allee, McCasland Sunken Garden, and the Water Walls.

3. Wear comfortable shoes or bring walking shoes

You simply can’t walk around the garden in heels. You’ll be limping to your car by the end of the photos. If you want heels in your photos, I recommend wearing a pair that can easily slip on and off, and bringing some flats to put on in between photos.

I’d also recommend bring in a water bottle with you. Especially if you’re taking photos in the summer and don’t want to pay for water there.

4. Don’t forget the cost of admission and parking

The park is $20 per person to enter, plus a $15 parking fee. So don’t forget to include that in your budget when planning your photos. You’ll also need to pay these fees for your photographer if they don’t have a membership.

5. Avoid going during holidays to dodge the pumpkins and Christmas lights

The arboretum is known for putting on beautiful displays for the holidays, like creating entire statues out of pumpkins, or stringing Christmas lights in trees. But if you don’t want to date your photos, it might be best to avoid the garden during these times. We can hide them in photos the best we can, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.

I do, however, recommend visiting the garden during their yearly tulip festival in the spring. The garden is overflowing with colorful tulips that make for the most beautiful photos!

If you’re thinking of taking photos at the Dallas Arboretum, I’d love to be your guide/photographer! You can see other photos I’ve taken at the arboretum in my portfolio HERE, and send me a message to get the planning started HERE. Talk soon!