Best Locations for Family and Maternity Photos in Toronto and the GTA

By Pamela Yool, Toronto Family Photographer

A family smiles warmly beneath a rustic wooden archway, framed by vibrant autumn foliage in a serene garden setting.

Choosing where to take your portraits is one of the biggest decisions in planning a session. The right backdrop adds colour, light and mood, and it helps everyone relax. As a Toronto family photographer and maternity photographer, I'm often asked for location ideas, so here are my favourite gardens and green spaces across Toronto, Scarborough, Etobicoke, North York and beyond.

What to look for in a portrait location

Whether it's a family photography session or a maternity photography session, the best locations share a few things:

• Beautiful, soft light. Gardens with trees and open sky give flattering, even light.

• Easy walking. Little ones, grandparents and expecting moms all need comfortable paths and places to rest.

• Variety in one spot. Flower beds, pergolas, bridges, ponds and different views give you many different backdrops in a single hour.

• Easy access and parking. A stress-free arrival means calmer, happier photos.

A joyful family moment captured in the vibrant Distillery District, surrounded by historic brick architecture and festive lights.

Best locations in Toronto, North York and Scarborough

Toronto Botanical Garden and Edwards Gardens (North York)

The Toronto Botanical Garden has more than a dozen themed gardens, and the neighbouring Edwards Gardens adds walking trails, rock gardens and blooms such as rhododendrons and roses. Both are open daily from dawn until dusk, admission is free and there is paid parking on-site. It's an excellent choice for family portraits in Toronto, with plenty of variety for children to explore.

Address: 777 Lawrence Avenue East, North York

Aga Khan Park (North York)

Inspired by Persian and Mughal gardens, this park has clean lines, reflecting pools, rows of trees, cedar hedges and a two-kilometre walking path. It's open daily, free to enter, and has paid parking on-site. Its clean, symmetrical look is wonderful for formal family portraits and elegant maternity images.

Address: 77 Wynford Drive, North York Toronto Music Garden (Toronto)

Set along the inner harbour, this garden is designed around Bach's First Suite in G Major for Unaccompanied Cello. Its swirling paths and lakeside setting are perfect for relaxed couples, maternity and family sessions. It's free and open year-round.

Address: 479 Queens Quay West, Toronto

Rosetta McClain Gardens (Scarborough)

This is one of my top picks for Scarborough family photography and maternity photos. The garden sits on top of the Scarborough Bluffs, so you get views of Lake Ontario along with a curved pergola, an intimate gazebo, an aromatic rose garden and a rock fountain. It's fully accessible, admission is free, there's an on-site parking lot, and it's open year-round. Please note that dogs aren't allowed, except service animals.

Address: 5 Glen Everest Road, Scarborough

Rouge National Park (Scarborough)

Trails, forest, meadows and marsh make Rouge National Park a wonderful choice for Scarborough family photography. It's especially beautiful in fall, when the colours are at their best.

Address: Main trailhead: Rouge Valley Conservation Centre, 1749 Meadowvale Road, Toronto.

Orchard Trail south trailhead: 55 Twyn Rivers Drive, Toronto

Guild Park & Gardens (Scarborough)

Set on the Scarborough Bluffs, Guild Park & Gardens is known for its sculpture garden, where architectural fragments from old Toronto buildings stand among the trees. The dramatic backdrops work beautifully for family and maternity photos.

Address: 201 Guildwood Parkway, Scarborough

Allan Gardens Conservatory (Toronto)

Founded in 1858, Allan Gardens has five greenhouses filled with rare and exotic plants, including a tropical area with hibiscus, orchids and bromeliads, plus a koi pond. It's free, open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and open year-round, which makes it a great option for maternity photos in Toronto when it's cold or wet outside.

Address: 160 Gerrard Street East, Toronto

Evergreen Brick Works (Toronto)

This former quarry and brick factory in the Don Valley blends industrial history with gardens and nature. It has a food garden, a pollinator garden, Koerner Gardens and The Healing Gardens. Admission is free, and you can arrive by transit, bike or walking trails, with paid parking on-site and a free shuttle from Broadview Subway Station. It suits families who like a more modern, urban look.

Address: 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto

High Park Gardens (Toronto)

Toronto's largest public park has themed gardens, forested walking paths, picnic areas and a grove of Sakura cherry trees. It's open year-round and free to enter, but parking is limited, and no vehicle traffic is allowed on public holidays and weekends, so plan your arrival. It's easy to reach by transit.

Address: 1873 Bloor Street West, Toronto

Distillery District (Toronto)

Historic brick buildings and cobblestone streets in a pedestrian-only neighbourhood give you a warm, urban backdrop. It looks great all year, and it's a favourite for family portraits and holiday-season sessions.

Address: 55 Mill Street, Toronto

Toronto Island (Toronto)

A short ferry ride from downtown, Toronto Island has beaches, trails and views of the city skyline across the water. It's lovely at golden hour for family, maternity and couple portraits. Check the ferry schedule when choosing your session time.

Address: Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, 9 Queens Quay West, Toronto

Trillium Park at Ontario Place (Toronto)

Built on part of the former Ontario Place theme park site, Trillium Park has clear views of the CN Tower and the Toronto skyline across Lake Ontario. The 1.3 km William G. Davis Trail, rocky shoreline and open lawns give you plenty of variety for family, maternity and couple portraits, especially at golden hour. Admission is free. Please check the Ontario Place website for current hours and any closures, since parts of the site are still being redeveloped.

Adddress: 955 Lake Shore Boulevard West, Toronto

Alexander Muir Gardens (Toronto)

Formal flower beds and tidy paths near Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue are lovely for classic family and maternity portraits in spring and summer.

Address: 2901 Yonge Street, Toronto

Kew Beach and Kew Gardens (The Beaches)

The Lake Ontario shoreline, sandy beach, boardwalk and a leafy park all sit together in The Beaches. It's a relaxed, easy setting for family portraits, especially at golden hour.

Address: 2075 Queen Street East, Toronto

A family enjoying a beautiful autumn day at Edwards Gardens, surrounded by vibrant foliage and accompanied by their happy dog.

Best locations in Etobicoke and Mississauga

Centennial Park Conservatory (Etobicoke)

This west-end attraction has three greenhouses with more than 200 varieties of cacti, succulents and tropical plants, including palms and fruit trees. It's open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., free to visit, and has on-site parking. It's ideal for Etobicoke family photography and indoor maternity portraits, any time of year.

Address: 151 Elmcrest Road, Etobicoke

Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens (Mississauga)

With Lake Ontario as the backdrop, this seven-hectare garden has one of the largest public collections of rhododendrons and azaleas in Canada. The flowers are usually in full bloom from early May to June, but the trails and lake views are lovely all year. It's free, with limited parking.

Address: 660 Lakeshore Road West, Mississauga

James Gardens (Etobicoke)

Garden paths, stone steps and mature trees make James Gardens a favourite for Etobicoke maternity photography and family portraits.

Address: 99 Edenbridge Drive, Etobicoke

Humber Arboretum (Etobicoke)

Gardens, woodland and walking trails give you natural, green backdrops in Etobicoke without going far from the city.

Address: 205 Humber College Boulevard, Etobicoke (Humber College North Campus)

A serene, sunlit moment captured at the historic Guild Inn, featuring a gracefully posed pregnant woman in a flowing white maternity gown framed by a stone archway.

Worth the drive

If you'd like something special, these gardens are a bit farther from the city:

• Royal Botanical Gardens (Burlington and Hamilton): Canada's largest botanical garden, with formal gardens and 27 kilometres of nature trails.

• Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens (Oshawa): More than 300 varieties of peonies bloom from late May through June.

• Guelph Arboretum (Guelph): Over 160 hectares of gardens, trails, woodlands and meadows, free to enter all year round.

• Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens (Niagara Falls): A formal parterre design and more than 2,500 roses.

• Purple Woods (Oshawa): Forest trails and mature hardwood trees make Purple Woods a beautiful spot for fall family portraits in Durham Region. Address: 38 Coates Road East, Oshawa

A family shares a joyful moment together amidst the fall foliage at Rouge National Urban Park.

Which location for which session?

Session	Locations I'd consider
Family portraits	Edwards Gardens, Evergreen Brick Works, High Park, Aga Khan Park, Toronto Island, Alexander Muir Gardens.
Maternity photos	Rosetta McClain Gardens, Toronto Music Garden, Allan Gardens, Centennial Park Conservatory, James Gardens, Oshawa Botanical Gardens, Guild Park & Gardens, Humber Arboretum. Trillium Park at Ontario Place.
Spring blooms	Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens, Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens, Edwards Gardens.
Cold or rainy days	Allan Gardens, Centennial Park Conservatory

Tips before you book

1. Check what's in bloom. Many gardens publish a bloom guide, and timing matters for flowers.

2. Check the rules. Some locations have their own policies for professional photography, so I always confirm before your session.

3. Stay on the paths. Please don't pick or remove any plants, so the gardens stay beautiful for everyone.

4. Choose comfortable shoes. Especially for maternity sessions and toddlers.

Not sure where to go? Tell me what you love, and I'll suggest the perfect spot for your family.

Book your session

I photograph families and expecting parents in Toronto, Scarborough, Markham, Vaughan, Etobicoke and nearby, outdoors or in my home studio.

• See Family Portrait session details and book here: https://www.pamelayool.com/family

• See Maternity Portrait session detials and book here: https://www.pamelayool.com/maternity

• See family mini session details and booking details here: https://www.pamelayool.com/outdoor-family-photography-toronto

An extended family reunion at Sunnyside Beach, capturing treasured moments together amidst the vibrant greenery, Lake Ontario and the warm glow of the sunrise.