Great seasonal photography locations in Knoxville
weather you are starting out and want to challenge yourself to shoot in different places or experienced but are new to the area! Here are some of the best places right in Knox County.
- April: Knoxville botanical gardens
- April and May: UT gardens
- June: World’s fair park
- Mid July: The Sunflower Fields! TWRA Sunflowers are on McClure RD.
- Late August: Concord Park
- Early September TN Valley Fair
- September and October: Melton Hill Park
- Christmas: Market Square
- Winter: Gay st
TWRA Sunflower fields in South Knoxville.
These signs of summer bloom in late June to about the first 10 days of July. Bring bug spray and drink water, it’s hot and humid here in July. Sunflowers face east, so if you really want those happy sunflower faces in the background of your photos consider going in the early morning.
Update: there is now a designated parking area and a shuttle at the parking area near the quarry.
You just go down Island Home pike past Ijams Nature Center opposite the mead quarry entrance is a parking lot to meet the shuttle. You’ll know the sunflowers are still blooming if the parking lot is super full.
You might like to see this Adorable Sunflower and dog photo session
Volunteer landing
Volunteer landing is a nice location for photos with the clean light reflecting off the water and the Henley st bridge framing the background.
X35M+G7 Knoxville, Tennessee
The Calhoun’s dock
From this dock there is a beautiful angle to photograph the Henley St Bridge.
400 Neyland Dr, Knoxville, TN 37902
Concord Park Marina
With an abundance of clean light reflecting off the water, this park is small but offers quite a bit. There are some walking paths, volleyball, and some easterly facing shore too.
10924 S Northshore Dr, Knoxville, TN 37922 | No Photography fee
Tennessee Valley Fair: Early September
This location is great for fun bright colors in your photos. I will warn you it’s a fair, so you have to be ok with people watching and the smell of fried dough while you’re creating art. The pond at Jacobs building end of the Fair is gorgeous in early evening.
Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center
3301 E Magnolia Ave, Knoxville, TN 37914 | Fair entrance fee
Worlds Fair Park
Worlds Fair Park has the iconic Knoxville Sunsphere in the background. There are also walking paths, bridges and some really great landmarks and features for photographing people. Or just for going for a walk on your own photography adventure.
525 Henley St, Knoxville, TN 37902 | No charge
Knoxville Botanical Gardens
Right in the heart of Knoxville sits the Knoxville botanical gardens with multiple gardens on both sides of Wimpole Ave. For those hot summer days there is plenty of shaded pathways. My favorite, is the Lavender garden near the The Dogwood Center. The Dogwood center is also used as a wedding venue!
This is a ideal location for photography sessions such as engagement and families.
2743 Wimpole Ave B, Knoxville, TN 37914 | Fee to photograph
Melton Hill Park
Melton Hill Park features water, tall grass and paved walking paths and plenty of wide open space. The best feature if how the afternoon light is diffused by the rock cliff across the river that makes for some lovely softly lit photos.
3230 Williams Bend Rd, Knoxville, TN 37932 | No photography fee
Market Square Parking Garage roof
From the roof of the parking garage you can capture a little bit of the Knoxville skyline in the background. This is a great location to add to your list if you were going to be parking in that garage anyway.
402 Walnut St, Knoxville, TN 37902 | No photography fee
Market Square
Go in the Spring for the Dogwood art festival. Go at Christmas time for the lights. Go any weekend for people watching and dog watching. People bring some of the cutest dogs out with them.
Graffiti Alley
There’s a graffiti alley behind Market Square is great for someone who likes an abundance of Graffiti and murals all in one space. There is the occasional juicy trash can, as these are the back access to businesses. So if you’re ok with this type of urban adventure you’ll enjoy the alley.
| No photography fee
Train behind Southern Railway
Note: Photographing on Train tracks is illegal in most places. Southern railway has non-active trains
306 W Depot Ave, Knoxville, TN 37917 | photography fee
UT Gardens
UT Gardens
A beautifully cared for garden at the University of Tennessee with an array of colorful blooms all spring. A great location for spring photography.
2518 Jacob Dr, Knoxville, TN 37996 | photography fee
Truist Bank back patio
From the back patio there’s a little patio with a view of the Coliseum. Great for people who want to stay on level ground and still get a mini view.
900 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902 | Be courteous, cooperative and clean with security and you’ll probably have no trouble.
Mead’s Quarry
3518 Island Home Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920
The Butterfly garden in South Knoxville
I came across this is butterfly garden as a complete surprise on my way down Sevier ave. It’s borderlandtees.com idea put into action on what to do with a vacant lot.
818 Sevier Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920
September
Off of Broadway in Knoxville is a dead end street before you get to Riffle Ridge road and when the light is just right it’s pretty nice. Warning there is no parking available.
Any season
If you’re really looking for snow but don’t want to leave Knoxville. You might catch some out behind one of the hockey rinks like the Ice Chalet in Bearden or downtown at the civic coliseum. Getting permission first is always best practice.
