My 4 Favorite Public Spots In And Around Fredericksburg, VA



As a Photographer, finding good spots to work in is crucial. I think Virginia is a beautiful state, and Fredericksburg is no less. I am an avid forest-explorer and an herbalist, so I am always out looking at plants, walking the edges of fields, and watching how the sun moves in those spaces. I've found a lot of good spots but these are some of my favorite versatile and public ones.



Chatham Manor

The grounds of this historic house are beautifully maintained and offer a wide variety of flowers, backdrops, and textures. The sun moves beautifully through the front garden and sets on the open back lawn. This is a popular spot for proms, portraits, and family sessions.

Alum Springs

If you're local, you were definitely waiting for this one. Photographers love this park! The iconic bridge is a staple, the lower meadow has excellent light at sunset, and the creek is shallow enough to wade in but wide and pebbly enough to be dramatic. Then there's the neat rock formations found deeper in the trails, and the fact that it seems Alum Springs holds it's fall color longer than anywhere else in FXBG. The October show is glorious and when you add in the creek, it's no wonder this spot is so popular.

3 children playing in a creek in whimsical clothes.

Riverfront Park

Speaking of dramatic water, the Riverfront Park in Downtown Fredericksburg over looks a portion of the Rappahannock, with views of 2 bridges. It has a tall wildflower meadow, lot's of places for family group shots, and if you like lifestyle moments in your session there is a small splashpad for the kids in summer.

Caledon State Park


I did say Fredericksburg and the surrounding areas, heavy on the surrounding for this one. Caledon is out in King George but it's genuinely my favorite place. I even got married there! It's a massive old growth forest with beautiful spring ephemerals, bright fall colors, a beach (if you like to walk), cliffs, and this cool stage. They also have a very cute nature playground that would make for some very aesthetic lifestyle shots. Truly a peaceful healthy feeling forest that I love to visit.

There are so many wonderful little slices of beauty in Fredericksburg and I love searching for them. If you are a photographer in the area, looking for new places to visit make sure you don't overlook these they are popular for a reason!