I'm always on the lookout for new photography locations in and around the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex. I pay attention to social media feeds, newspaper articles and always ask new clients if they have a location in mind.

If I need a break from what I'm doing, I'll try Googling different search terms to see what might come up. Another favorite tactic is to go to the Parks and Recreation page of municipal websites and look at their parks system to find something unique and interesting; that's how I found the Historical Park of Farmers Branch. Over the years I've built up quite a library of options for my pet and family portrait clients alike.

The park is a quick 10 minute drive from studio in historic old town Carrollton and covers twenty seven acres that traces more than 175 years of Farmers Branch history. There are over a dozen structures in the park that provide a plethora of options for pet, high school senior and family photo shoots alike. The historic buildings represent the time period of 1840-1940 and consist of a general store, train station and platform along with various cabins and houses.

So Many Options To Sit Everyone Close Together With The Family Dog

There are gorgeous evergreen trees, beautiful flowers throughout the park as well as open lawn areas. The park also has rental facilities available and hosts a number of weddings a year along with other events such as school field trips. There's even a historic baseball team that plays at the park. The mission of the Historical Park is to collect, preserve, interpret and celebrate the history of the United States and Texas with an emphasis on Peters Colony and Farmers Branch, all of this and it's free to attend.

I called the director of the facility to ask if photography was allowed in the park and was very happy to hear "yes it was, with a paid permit". My next question was "are dogs allowed in the park" and did the Snoopy dance of joy when I heard they were as long as they were kept on leash. Not a problem! I filled out the necessary forms, paid the permit fee and a few days later I received a lanyard in the mail along with a photographer pass.

A few weeks after that I scheduled my first family and pet portrait session in the park. I offered a number of locations to the family and they picked the Historical Park because it had special meaning to them as their son had attended a number of Cub Scout sleepovers there.

Their session was in October and even though it was fall, we had plenty of green to enjoy along with fall treatments like hay bales and corn stalks. No mater the season, the park is filled with so much visual interest and texture like a real train car (and its RED!), split rail fencing, rustic log cabins and more. I can't wait to explore it more in future sessions.

A boy and his dog and a train car, what could be more perfect?

I love the front porch of this cabin complete with rocking chairs

The platform of the old station is perfect to get everyone comfortably seated close to one another

Even Without The Puppers, This Location Offers So Much Variety For Family Photos

A nice benefit of the need for a photography permit is that tends to limit the amount of other photographers you might run into in the park. Its big, so wouldn't be difficult at all to work around one another, but when things get really busy in the fall as we head into the hectic holiday family portrait season, it's nice to have a quiet location option to schedule clients in.

I've also made it a top pick for photographing nervous or reactive dogs as it's not a park that the local neighborhood walks their dogs through. The chances of seeing another dog during a photo session are pretty slim and that's music to a reactive dog owner's ears.

A lot of my family portrait sessions include pets, I think that's how a lot of folks find me (and being a dog trainer as well doesn't hurt), but I do say "no dogs required" when asked about a family photos. Of course if you have pets, they're welcome and I never charge more to include them in your session. Pets are family too and should be in your portraits, but I do understand that maybe Aunt Sue doesn't really feel the same way about a dog she's never met, so I always make sure to make some images of just the humans for her :).

In the summertime this garden archway is full of flowers

Mom and son portraits are always a favorite

I always make sure to capture just the guys too

All too often the last time a couple was photographed together was for their wedding

All Around The Circle

This week is a walk in the park in the pet photographer's blog circle because everyone's going to share some info and images from some of their favorite parks so let's kick things off with a walk in Lettuce Lake Park, Tampa Florida with VPShoots Photography and then continue clicking on the link at the bottom of each page until you land right back here and then you will have completed the circle.

Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography is a Certified Professional Photographer with the organization Professional Photographers of America; a designation held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry and professionalism. Tracy's always on the lookout for new and unique locations for pet, high school senior and family portraits around the DFW metroplex so be sure to share your ideas with her in your pre-session consultation.

Penny Whistle specializes in both on-location and studio photography providing pet, equine, family, couples & engagement and high school senior portraits as well as corporate headshots and commercial photography services in her studio located in historic downtown Carrollton as well as on location in Coppell, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and surrounding communities in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.

Let's talk about your family and pet portrait!

3 Comments

Apr 4, 2022, 11:11:32 AM

Nicole - I love, love, love all that red in the first image! What a great background! I'm sure this family is over the top excited about these gorgeous images!

Apr 3, 2022, 3:54:44 PM

Darlene - What a beautiful park! I think my favorite part is the log cabin with the chairs. Gorgeous family portraits! (guilty - our last pictures were our wedding lol!)

Apr 1, 2022, 8:56:19 AM

Angela Schneider - Weird. The ONLY time we've been professionally photographed together was our wedding! I need to strong-arm him into a session with Bella.

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