Best Martha's Vineyard Locations for Family Portrait Sessions
It all starts with the question: "Mila, do you have any suggestions for a good location?". The answer is yes I do! Location matters, but remember our goal is to make you feel relaxed and have a fun experience during your session. Honestly, almost any Vineyard location would make an idyllic backdrop
My favorite photographs are those where you can see and feel the love! Focusing on the love you have for your children and each other is the key to success. In the end, it's not about the best location or best outfits, but rather about capturing the present moments of love and kindness.
Some of my families already have a place in mind which is meaningful to them and connects to their island memories, but if a family is new to the Island, or looking for a new place to discover, I can suggest a few authentic and beautiful island locations for your session. First,I would like to share a few tips on how to pick a good location.What do you and your children like to do for fun? How do you spend your time as a family? Do you like kayaking, hiking, biking? Spending all day on the beach? Watching sunsets and having a picnic in Menemsha? Each of these activities have areas of the island that work best especially when being used for photography.
The Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse Beach
Choose a location that will represent your family's personality. For example, if you love hiking together, we may want to head out to the Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary. It has a beautiful woodsy 10 min hiking walk and a photogenic entrance through dunes to the beach.
Think about the season your session is planned for. For example, there are some gorgeous gardens like the Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury or Japanese MyToi garden on Chappaquiddick Island. These places show the beautiful autumn colors in the fall and different blooms throughout. Beach locations are perfect for a warm sunny day. Let your kids get their feet wet and dirty and have fun!
#1 Lighthouses and Beach
Lighthouses are the most popular locations if you are all about an authentic New England look. Lighthouses, boats, docks, and beaches are all within the panoramic view. There are five lighthouses on Martha's Vineyard, but I generally use only three. The Edgartown, East Chop and Gay Head Lighthouses are located close to good beaches so it’s easy for us to combine locations. Read more about each lighthouse here.
The most popular routes:
If you are staying up-island in West Tisbury, Chilmark or Aquinnah. The Aquinnah Lighthouse and Aquinnah Public Beach would be a good choice. We would start the session at the beach and end at the lighthouse. The beach is approximately a ten-minute walk from the parking lot on a cleared trail. There is a $15 parking fee. We can park at one location and walk to both if that is preferable, but there is a lot of walking for those who have limitations.
East Chop Lighthouse and East Chop Beach are perfect for everyone who is staying in Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs. We would meet at the beach to start and end up at the lighthouse which is less than a 5-minute drive. There is parking very close to the locations.
If you are staying in Edgartown then the Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse Beach is a way to go! The lighthouse is at the beach with some beautiful and short walking trails from parking on North Water Street. Leave some extra time to find parking in the summer.
#2 Simply select an Island beach
We are so lucky to be surrounded by an abundance of wonderful beaches! It's important to know that some of them are public and some are only for residents and finding a parking spot can sometimes take quite a bit of time. Remember to arrive earlier than your scheduled session time. Read more about beaches on Martha's Vineyard (click here).
The most popular PUBLIC beaches. Open to all.
Oak Bluffs
East Chop Public Beach: Harbor with boats, docks, and beach grass with ferries passing in and out. Close to town but intimate.
Eastville Beach: At the bridge between Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven with the Vineyard Haven harbor and west chop as a backdrop.
Oak Bluffs Town Beach: Calm, shallow water. Just across the road from scenic Ocean Park. Right in town if a town location is also desireable
Vineyard Haven
Owen Park Beach: A harbor beach off of Main St., near the center of town. Boats and docks with kid’s swings and a nice lawn.
Tisbury Town Beach: End of Owen Little Way, next to the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club. Small but pretty beach farther up west chop with views across the harbor to East Chop.
Lake Tashmoo Town Beach: At Herring Creek on Lake Tashmoo. Although this beach at the opening of Tashmoo lake is beautiful, It has a long and rather bad dirt road to reach it. It can be a logistical challenge without the right vehicle.
Aquinnah
Aquinnah Public Beach in Aquinnah or Gay Head Public Beach (Moshup Beach). Beautiful beach with cliffs off of Moshup Trail. The beach is approximately a ten-minute walk from the parking lot on a cleared trail. There is a $15 parking fee. We can park at one location and walk to both if that is preferable, but there is a lot of walking for those who have limitation
Lobsterville Beach: Two miles of beautiful Vineyard Sound beach and dune along Lobsterville Road. Includes a seagull nesting area, and is a favorite fishing spot. Parking is prohibited on Lobsterville Road.
Edgartown
Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse Beach: The lighthouse is at the beach with some beautiful and short walking trails from parking on North Water Street. Leave some extra time to find parking in the summer.
Katama Beach (South Beach): This is a long sandy beach with grassy dunes and two entrances called left and right fork. The left entrance is close to the Winnetu Hotel and the right fork is past the Katama Airfield.
Chilmark
Menemsha Beach in Chilmark. Next to Menemsha Harbor and a delightful fishing village. A gentle beach with the clear, bright water that is typical of the North Shore. It’s a beautiful place for a picnic and wine/beer is allowed. It is known as one of the best places on the island to watch the sunset.It’s hard to find parking during the late afternoon so plan ahead, arriving early is a must for this location.
Residents only. You need to have a permit sticker for your car. I only have a sticker for Lambert’s Cove Beach in West Tisbury. We can carpool if you have a sticker for a different beach.
Philbin Beach in Aquinnah: Surf beach off Moshup Trail. Gay Head residents only.
Lucy Vincent Beach in Chilmark. Chilmark section of South Shore. Surf, bluffs. Chilmark residents only.
Squibnocket Beach in Chilmark. Chilmark section of South Shore. A surf beach. Chilmark residents only.
Lambert’s Cove Beach: Considered by many to have the finest sand and clearest water on the North Shore. West Tisbury residents only.
Your Private Beach
#3 Combine town beach and island town exploring adventures.
Edgartown, Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs or Menemsha
We can spend some of our time by taking a walk to an ice-cream shop in any of these towns, take a ride at the flying horse's carousel in Oak Bluffs and walk around the gingerbread houses but we will start the session at the nearest beach in town. Island towns have some incredible, historical architecture and fun places for kids.
The most popular routes.
East Chop Beach in Oak Bluffs and Flying Horses Carouses or Gingerbread Houses
Owen Park Beach in Vineyard Haven and exploring the Main Street
Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse Beach and exploring the Main Street
Menemsha Beach and exploring the Fishing Village
#4 Woods, Gardens and Open fields.
We have beautiful wooded paths at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary, Polly Hill Arboretum and Mytoi Garden / Chappaquiddick Island *Ferry fee. If your family loves to spend time in the woods these are the best locations for your session
Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary is a place for everyone, protecting the habitats, wildlife, and spectacular views for which Martha’s Vineyard is renowned. Four miles of trails through woodlands, meadows, ponds, salt marsh, and along shorelines allow for exploration, discovery, and quiet contemplation.
Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary. It has a beautiful woodsy 10 min hiking walk and a photogenic entrance through dunes to the beach. The Vineyard Sound waves beat against the boulders, beach grasses bend before salt-laden breezes, stunted American beeches bear wooden witness to constant, sculpting wind, and freshwater tumbles down a rocky stream bed to meet the sea. One also finds excellent examples of the habitats and vistas that make Martha’s Vineyard such a special place. A one-time visitor here can get a sense of the varied natural endowment of the Vineyard; a seasoned naturalist could spend a lifetime pursuing the secrets of the Sanctuary’s diverse flora and fauna.
Polly Hill Arboretum: The Polly Hill Arboretum, a Martha’s Vineyard horticultural and botanical landmark. Rare trees and shrubs from around the world are set among stone walls, meadows, and fields, including Polly’s famous North Tisbury azaleas, the national stewartia collection, camellias, hollies, rhododendrons, crabapples, conifers, magnolias, and many more.
MyToi Garden: Nestled within Chappaquiddick Island on Martha's Vineyard, emerald-like, is the intimate Japanese-style garden, Mytoi, which offers natural serenity and a place of contemplation to visitors who venture here. Sheltered by a lovely pine grove, the preserve includes a small pond and island, non-native and native flowers and plants, footpaths leading past a birch walk and stone garden, and a trail winding toward Poucha Pond and the salt marsh. In order to get there, you will need to take a 3 min ferry ride from Edgartown to Chappy.
#5 Explore a Fishing Village in Menemsha
Menemsha is home to the best sunsets and beach picnic area, fishing, and place to eat a lobster outside with a sea view. The colors are vibrant and positive. You will see lots of lobster pots, nets, and artistic workboats and painter around. It's well known as friends and family gathering place on the beach where you can relax, take it easy, go for a swim, set up a picnic and bring your own drinks and maybe do a little bit of fishing. I would love to photograph a connection between Dad and his children while they are fishing. Plan a beach picnic, and I will join you! Just say you old friend Mila will swing by and will take some fun pictures for us or we can start your session with a lobster meal by sitting outside and having a little introduction chat and then walk around the tiny fishing village streets and of course spending some time at Menemsha Beach. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Note: It’s hard to find parking during the late afternoon so plan ahead, arriving early is a must for this location.
#6 Your Home
I absolutely LOVE photographing sessions in my client’s homes. Nothing feels better than home or a stunning summer rental house. Some of the island houses are located just a couple walking feet from the beach or have a beautiful backyard with an iconic ocean view. We can start your session at your home and then move outside to the nearest by a beach. These sessions are personal and meaningful. Perfect for children who get nervous meeting new people.
There you have it! Hopefully, this gives you some great ideas about where to have your next family photography session. I am so excited to work with you and your family!
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