Known for its outdoorsy spirit and natural beauty, Portland stands out as one of the most scenic cities in Oregon. Be it the greenery of Forest Park, or the rooftop plazas near Hawthorne Boulevard, this town is filled with endless creative backdrops to fill your frame in style.
Whether you want a portfolio shoot or something more high-end for a wedding or a reception party, the Giggster app brings the topmost locations in town that are equipped with the latest amenities. Enjoy a hassle-free experience and streamlined booking process with our easy-to-use app, filled with exclusive photo shoot locations in Portland.
Portland's photo shoot locations are not just pretty, but also incredibly accessible and in close proximity to the city's best attractions. Giggster has options for every price range, catering to all photography needs of creatives.
From vintage shops and large estates to outdoor venues like gardens and popular attractions, you can get it all on Giggster. Snap the perfect shot at the lovely location in Portland, and book the ultimate venue with Giggster now!
Be it the attractive allure of Pearl District or the endless canopy of greenery within Forest Park, you will surely find a spot in Portland that matches your shoot and style. With Giggster, you can filter through multiple options based on fees, capacity, themes, and much more. Book today!
Looking for a vintage, old-world charm in Portland? Explore our selection of retro venues, mansions, and beautifully preserved houses near the Irvington neighborhood. These places are ideal for grand celebrations and high-end photo shoots.
Want to click pictures of sleek, urban structures? Head over to Mount Hood and book rooftop venues or warehouses that give you an urban vibe within a budget. You can also look into photo studios and indoor lofts perfect for product photography.
Want a casual and cozy vibe? Shoot your shot at an art museum, photo studio, or boutique hotel surrounded by cozy furniture and lush decor. The Giggster app gives you access to the most exclusive properties in Portland.
Let your inner creative shine and step out to take the best shots in Portland. With Giggster's curated collection of the best photography locations, you can now find the perfect backdrop to match your artsy vision. Find the ultimate venue today.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: See the best of Portland with iconic venues near Washington Park, the International Rose Test Garden, St. John's Bridge, and much more. Pick from over 138 beautiful locations ideal for everything ranging from a family photo session to cinematic photography.
Hassle-Free Booking: Say goodbye to booking hassles and complicated steps when booking a venue online. Giggster's straightforward booking process and easy-to-use platform ensure that you can view, filter, and secure the best picks starting at $25 without any hassle.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Stay prepared for any last-minute uncertainties with Giggster's 24-hour free cancellation policy that lets you make changes to your booking date and time. You'll have free cancellation for a booking canceled within 24 hours of confirmation, provided the booking is made at least 48 hours before the shoot date.
Platform Protections: Getting quality insurance coverage helps you use your preferred location with complete peace of mind. Enjoy optional insurance coverage that shelters you from mishaps like cancellations, event liability, and accidental damage to the property. Book the top photography spots like Industrial Chic Wine Bar and Event Space with peace of mind.
Getting the right location is highly imperative if you want to get the right colors and undertones in your pictures. Here are some pros and cons that you must carefully weigh down before picking a photo shoot location in the heart of the Pacific Northwest.
Advantages
Portland is known for its high-quality craft brewers and tasty local food, which can be a bonus for those conducting outstation photo shoots.
The low population density of this town helps you get clutter-free shots without any hindrances, no matter what time of the day you pick for your photo shoot.
Portland is full of scenic landscapes and gardens like the Hoyt Arboretum, Forest Park, the nearby Oregon Coast Cannon Beach, and the Portland Japanese Garden.
A rich music scene and film-friendly policies allow creators to easily get permits and ordinances to shoot in almost all areas throughout the city.
Disadvantages
Frequent rain showers might be an issue if you have not weatherproofed your camera gear.
The public transport in Portland is not the best, especially during late nights. Larger crews must have a dedicated camera van if they want to haul heavy equipment around town.
Tight parking spots and narrow alleyways near the city center and north Portland may cause additional headaches for crews.
You might need to travel 80-100 miles to Pacific City if you want to conduct a retro shoot in historic buildings.
Picking the right venue can be the difference between an ordinary-looking picture and a frame-worthy shot. These are some of the best backdrops from Giggster's 138 listings you will find in Portland.
Museums and Libraries – Fashion Shoots. Museums and galleries in the Alberta Arts District offer a plain backdrop in white hues that are common in fashion photography and portraits. You can also look at library venues like Powell's City of Books, one of the largest bookstores in the world, located right in Portland.
Lakefront Lofts – Rustic Engagement Photos. Those looking for fall family photos or wedding photographs can venture out to Mount Hood, Lake Oswego, or the Columbia River Gorge. These spots offer the perfect balance of serenity combined with pocket-friendly venues that are not too far from town.
Vintage Theaters – Retro Photo Shoots. Being a town that's steeped in cinema culture and buzzing with retro music all the time, you will find countless small and large indoor theaters in Portland. Places like the luxurious Hollywood Theatre and the old-school Bagdad Theater are perfect for capturing film noir-style pictures.
Forest Parks – Gorgeous Outdoor Shots. Portland has the perfect spaces for nature lovers who want a hint of green in their shots while being able to cover an expansive area where their subjects can freely move around. The Forest Park in Portland is known for its towering trees and dense canopy, ideal for outdoor fitness photography and portraits.
Modern Warehouses – All-Around Flexible Spaces. If you are going to shoot indoors, you need a place that can support the latest equipment while having plenty of natural light. This is where modern warehouses come in. Elements like exposed brick walls, central locations, and metallic accents within the walls make them ideal for vibrant shoots, dance/music videos, and grunge-themed shots. Northwest Industrial area, the South waterfront, and Hawthorne are perfect for finding such places.
Planning your photo shoot well in advance will help you get the most out of your time at your preferred venue. Here's a brief guide on how to plan your next shoot in Portland.
Mood Board and Background Selection – Every photo shoot requires a certain aesthetic and vision. Start by ideating and laying out a list of shots that you want to include and the kind of backgrounds that you prefer. This will help you filter through locations easily.
Venue Scouting – Once you have client approvals on the kind of shots you want to capture, start filtering through venue options from Giggster's 138 photo locations. Your final pick should complement the type of photo shoot you want to conduct, i.e., family photos, product shoots, wedding photography, etc.
Setting Up Your Shoot Location – Every venue that you pick can be elevated a bit further by adding some DIY decor elements. You can also arrange extras for your set to help you out, along with renting equipment like strobe lights and green screens to add to the production quality.
Post-production Touches – Shortlist the best shots once you are done with your photo shoot, followed by carrying out the post-production process which includes editing and final touches.
Need premium backdrops near Cathedral Park, Columbia River Gorge, and George Rogers Park, but running on a tight budget? These hacks will help you make some smart savings that you can then channel into your production and elevate the production quality.
Rent gear instead of buying new.
Buying new gear can set you back by several thousand dollars. A better alternative would be to rent cameras and lenses based on your requirements from a local store in Downtown Portland.
Infuse green screen and VFX elements into your shots.
Instead of shooting at multiple outdoor locations, adding to the overall rental costs, consider using a green screen for certain shots that are not highly dependent on the venue. Some good examples include portraits and product shots.
Shoot during the early morning hours.
Contrary to evening and nighttime when streets are filled with people, early morning shoots let you capture crisp shots without the rush. Moreover, venues also run several discounts on bookings that are made during the morning hours.
Be it the natural scenery along the Willamette River or the posh venues in Pearl District, Portland is filled with endless photo shoot opportunities that let you capture memories in style. Pick from Giggster's exclusive collection of photo shoot venues in Portland, and click your way into cinematic mastery. Your perfect Portland photo shoot venue awaits!