If you're looking for the best places to take pictures in Bryson City, Cherokee, or the Great Smoky Mountains, you're definitely not short on options.

One of my favorite things about being a photographer in Western North Carolina is how much variety we have packed into one area. You can have wide-open fields and mountain views for one session, then head somewhere completely different for creeks, forests, waterfalls, or a Smoky Mountain overlook.

Whether you're planning family photos in Bryson City, a couples session in Cherokee, maternity photos in the mountains, senior portraits, or even a Smoky Mountain proposal, choosing the right location is a big part of deciding how your final gallery will look.

Here are a few of my favorite types of photography locations around Bryson City, Cherokee, and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Kituwah Fields: Open Fields & Mountain Views Near Cherokee, NC

If you want an open, natural setting with the mountains in the background, Kituwah Fields is one of my favorite options near Cherokee.

You get plenty of room to move around, which works especially well for the way I photograph. We aren't stuck standing in one tiny spot smiling at the camera for the entire session. There is room for kids to move, couples to walk together, and families to actually interact.

The open landscape also gives us those beautiful Western North Carolina mountain views without requiring a big hike to get them.

I love this kind of setting for family photography in Cherokee, NC, couples sessions, maternity photos, senior portraits, individual portraits, and even engagement photos.

If your idea of Smoky Mountain photos includes open fields, mountains, and plenty of space, this is probably going to be high on my list of recommendations.

Quick note: Kituwah is a culturally significant Cherokee site, so I treat the location with respect and recommend that visitors do the same.

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Overlooks

Want the mountain photos?

Like... mountain mountain photos?

An overlook in or around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is hard to beat.

The Smokies are known for those layers of mountains fading into the distance, and an overlook lets the landscape become a huge part of your photographs. Scenic overlooks are already commonly recommended as photo locations throughout the Smokies, including along Newfound Gap Road.

Visit My Smokies

They're especially good for couples photography, engagement photos, proposals, maternity sessions, senior portraits, and family photos in the Smoky Mountains when you really want the location to be obvious in the finished images.

They're also a great option if you're visiting Western North Carolina and want your photos to feel connected to your trip.

The mountains do get the final say, though.

Clouds roll in. Fog happens. The view can change incredibly quickly. But that's part of photographing in the Smokies—and sometimes the foggy, moody mountain photos end up being just as beautiful as the perfectly clear ones.

Creekside Photography Locations in Bryson City & Cherokee

Mountain views aren't the only way to make your photos look like they were taken in Western North Carolina.

We have creeks, rivers, rocks, trees, and wooded areas everywhere around Bryson City and Cherokee, and creekside locations give sessions a completely different feel from an open field or overlook.

I especially love these locations for families.

Kids don't have to spend the whole session worrying about sitting perfectly still. We can move around, explore, play near the water, and let things happen a little more naturally.

Creekside locations also give us a lot of variety without necessarily having to travel between several different places. Turn one direction and we have the water; turn another and we're surrounded by trees.

For anyone searching for natural family photos in Bryson City or Cherokee, a creekside session is definitely worth considering.

And yes, depending on what we're planning, there's always a chance somebody's feet are getting wet.

Waterfall Photography in the Smoky Mountains

If you want something a little more adventurous, waterfall photos in the Smoky Mountains can be gorgeous.

Western North Carolina gives us plenty of wooded, rocky, water-filled scenery, and waterfalls can create a completely different background from the traditional mountain overlook.

But this is also where choosing a location based on the people being photographed becomes especially important.

Some waterfall locations can involve walking, uneven terrain, wet areas, or slippery rocks. That's something I take into consideration before recommending one.

A waterfall that works perfectly for an adventurous couples session might not be the location I'd choose for a family with several tiny kids—and that's okay.

My goal isn't to pick the most impressive location on Google.

It's to pick a beautiful location that actually works for your session.

What's the Best Place for Family Photos in Bryson City or Cherokee?

There isn't one.

I know, incredibly helpful answer from the photographer.

But the best location for your Bryson City family photos depends on your family.

A family with small children may need something different from a couple planning an engagement session. Someone bringing grandparents may care more about how much walking is involved. A senior might want huge mountain views, while another person might love being beside the water.

When I'm helping choose a photography location, I want to know what scenery you're drawn to and what will realistically work for everyone coming with you.

You don't need to choose a location simply because it's the place everyone else uses.

What Kind of Smoky Mountain Scenery Do You Want?

If you're trying to narrow it down, start here:

For open space + mountains: Kituwah Fields may be a great fit.

For huge mountain views: Look at Smoky Mountain overlooks.

For water + trees + a relaxed feel: Consider a creekside location.

For something more adventurous: Let's talk waterfalls.

And if your answer is simply, “I don't know. I just want somewhere pretty.”

That's completely fine too.

Helping you choose where to take your pictures is part of planning the session.

Planning Photos in Bryson City, Cherokee or the Great Smoky Mountains?

You don't need to arrive knowing the exact overlook, creek, field, or waterfall you want.

Tell me what you're picturing.

Mountains? Water? Open fields? Trees? A little adventure? Somewhere easy with the kids?

We'll go from there.

I'm Samantha, a storytelling portrait photographer based in Bryson City, North Carolina, photographing families, couples, maternity, seniors, individuals, engagements, and proposals throughout Bryson City, Cherokee, the Great Smoky Mountains, and surrounding Western North Carolina.

If you're ready to plan your own session, you can view my portfolio, learn more about photography sessions in Western North Carolina, or book your session and we'll find a location that fits you.