It’s as important to morning mom-walking groups as it is to Gen Z festival-goers. It’s an open expanse of grass and picnic blankets. It’s highly requested despite a lack of Texas’s most sought-after resource: shade
Zilker Park may be the place I’ve done the most photo sessions, particularly engagements and suprise proposals, of anywhere in Austin. But despite its highly sought-after nature, Zilker remains a slog for many photographers due to its crowds, large footprint, and the one thing you can’t hack or fake: harsh sunlight at most times of day.
To be sure, there is charm at the golden hours, but it seems a shame to limit such a huge part of Austin’s green space to 2 hours a day. So I recently took it upon myself to hunt for shade and privacy and found it in the unlikeliest of places.
I don’t like to bury the lead too much, and since I have a 13-month daughter to look after, I’ll be brief: Unless you’re looking for the full skyline view, the wins are near the pedestrian bridge on the east side of the park. The time of year? September. The time of day? 9:30 a.m. The day? Fridays.
When I arrived at 9 a.m. to scope out spots for a family shoot, the bridge and surrounding area were swamped with joggers and cyclists. Within 20 minutes, 90% of that crowd disappeared, and I was able to snag this shot near the overlook at a time when it would usually be mobbed with people.
Family Photography at Zilker Park
And this little number:
Family Photography at Zilker Park
And yes, we took the bridge photo. But we also took our time.
Family Photography at Zilker Park
Happy hunting for shade and privacy to all y’all!