Fall is such a beautiful time in New Jersey, and the perfect season is get some family photos taken. With that being said, I wanted to share my top 3 favorite locations for fall family pictures in the Central, New Jersey area. Now I know there are a ton of great locations all throughout New Jersey. The locations that I will be highlighting in this blog are among hundreds of great photo spots. If you don’t know me already, I’m Danielle! I’m a New Jersey family photographer.

Location # 1: Cross Estate Gardens

If you’ve never been to Cross Estate Gardens in Bernardsville, New Jersey; you are definitely missing out. The park is a hidden gem in Somerset County. The park has so much to offer in terms of photo ops. First off, there is a beautiful garden with a large trellis (one of my favorite areas to photograph in the park.) There is a large tower that remind me of Rapunzel’s tower which also makes a great backdrop. There is a large stone house with beautiful architecture. So if you’re looking for a different kind of backdrop (other than green grass) this is the place to go. There is also a field in the back of the home which looks amazing at sunset. The field contains a lot of tall grass which also makes a beautiful landscape for Fall photos. I have to say Cross Estate Gardens is definitely a top choice when taking fall family pictures in Central, New Jersey.

Location # 2: Oak Ridge Park

Oak Ridge Park in Clark is another one of my favorite locations to photograph in. Not only is this park huge (it was once a golf course); it has a lot of cute bridges that make great photo locations. This park also contains large open fields and paved paths, as well as some rolling hills. There are also some cute wooden fences that make great back drops for photos. The park isn’t terribly crowded either, which I prefer for family photos.

Location # 3: Lenape Park

I saved the best for last! Lenape Park in Cranford is one of my most favorite locations to photograph at in Central NJ. Lenape Park is another hidden gem within Union County. It’s a bit off the beaten path and tucked away from the main road. The park itself is not very big and there isn’t much to do in terms of children’s activities. However, the location is filled with great little spots to take photos. Inside the park, there is a paved trail that cuts through some fields and woods. However, along the trail there is a large meadow with tall grass (my absolute favorite backdrop) especially in the Fall. There is also a wooden fence that runs along the meadow (another one of my favorite backdrops.) Another thing I love about this park is that it’s quiet. There aren’t too many people, which means you don’t have to wait until people pass by to get the perfect photo. This location also looks amazing during golden hour (which is my favorite time to photograph.) 

So the next time you are looking to take some photos of your family, keep these 3 locations in mind. If you liked the photos you saw, and you would like some more information about booking a session; feel free to contact me here. 

Did you find this blog post helpful?

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