Top Kelowna Wedding Photographer Locations
Here are my top photography locations for shoots for weddings, engagements and really anything portraits really. I get asked by clients and photographers all of the time where the best spots are and it’s easiest to just be able to show people what photos look like when you go to each spot. I posted a page like this a while back for the Lower Mainland (View that here) and it was a huge hit with photographers, getting over 25,000 hits and counting. So without further ado…
Knox Mountain, Kelowna, BC.
Knox Mountain is by far my favourite spot to go in Kelowna for many reasons. It is close to many of the major wedding venues in Kelowna, making it easy to hit during the usual time crunch. It is fairly close to me as well, about a 20 minute drive. Sporting a plethora of backdrops, for those of you who have read my other page, you’ll know that the main reason I choose a location is for it’s diversity of scenery. At the bottom of the mountain, you have lakeside beach areas with willow trees, rocky mountainous backdrops, long golden grassy fields, some deciduous forest (Sorry disc golf guys. I try to be fast as I know you get annoyed) and old wooden fences with vines.
A 5 minute drive up the mountain has many areas you can stop, but my favourite is the top. There are amazing views of the city and lake, one side with a gazebo! Also, pine trees, pathways through the forest, large rocks and fantastic areas to view the sunset make this one a winner. Keeping in mind that they will lock the gate at 9pm and won’t come back until 11pm, then the next morning to let you out. Yes, this has happened to me. Sorry security fellas, it won’t happen again. But these are a few shots from Knox to give you an idea of what you can get from shooting there.
Waterfront Park, Kelowna, BC.
Second in Kelowna is Waterfront Park. It is MUCH more busy here, especially in the Summer. It has a nice boardwalk along the lake, beaches, a little rocky waterfall, long grassy areas along the water, pathways and a bird sanctuary where I once saw an osprey repeatedly dive bomb a heron for no apparent reason. Ospreys are jerks apparently. You can take pics at the dolphin fountain is there too if you’re into dolphins. Here a a few shots from weddings and engagements I have done there.
Father Pandosy Mission, Kelowna, BC.
Next is Father Pandosy Mission. It has some pretty cool backdrops with old historical log buildings for a different look than the other spots. However, there isn’t a lot more than that. But if heritage buildings are your jam, you might want to check it out and do your wedding or engagement photography there.
Kalamoir Beach, West Kelowna, BC.
One thing about Kelowna is that if, like me, you like to shoot late in the day for the best light, it tends to be very limiting on the west side of the lake. I enjoy shooting at Kalamoir Beach but because its at the bottom of mountains, your light is gone fast and then you don’t really get a sunset. It is still amazing for different spots however. There are huge mountainous backdrops, lake views, beaches, grassy field and even a pretty cool rocky cavelike structure that make it look like you’re someplace exotic. Check these weddings and engagements out from Kalamoir.
Gellatly Nut Farm, West Kelowna, BC.
Gellatly Nut Farm suffers similar lighting complications to Kalamoir being in West Kelowna. It is very rare that I get a great epic sunset shot there. However, there are some great looks there that I haven’t found anywhere else. It has old barn wood type sheds with log benches, a pebbly beach, a tree farm, old wooden fences and mountains overlooking the lake. Which I guess everywhere has if you can see the lake, but though I’d mention it. Here are some weddings and engagements I’ve done here and at The Cove next door.
Skaha Lake Park, Penticton, BC.
A little ways down the road in Penticton is Skaha Lake Park. Willow trees, which I am a fan of, beaches and a dock are here which makes this one a great spot to choose. It also seems to be much more lush there. That’s one thing that I noticed in the Okanagan compared to Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. The way the camera picks up colour here is different. The majority of the time, the greens are much more muted here. In Vancouver, I would often have to desaturate the greens because it is so lush. Maybe something to do with it being a rainforest there. But here it is very dry and greens come out dull in comparison. But Skaha Lake Park, possibly due to maintenance, comes out with very lush greensand can be great if that’s what you’re looking for.
Hotel 1912 and area, Kaleden, BC.
On the other side of the Skaha is the Hotel 1912. In and around that area is so gorgeous! The hotel looks like it was taken out of the Legend of Zelda. On the edge of Skaha Lake, between the hotel are pathways, a beach, trees, and a dock to shoot on. The Skaha is just so amazing! It has this creamy light blue colour that makes for the most ethereal scenery. Here is a wedding I shot there last year. Just, wow!
Kaloya Regional Park, Lake Country, BC.
Just north of Kelowna is Lake Country. It is home to one of the most beautiful lakes in BC, Kalamalka. Kal Lake is one of the most gorgeous turquoise lakes I’ve seen, especially when the sun is shining! The only problem here is that it doesn’t light up the same when the sun is low in the sky. If you have ever been to the caribbean, you may have noticed that it is slightly less impressive on a cloudy day, or late in the day. When the sun is high, it shines straight down and lights up the water. But when low, depending on which side you’re on, it will either skim across the lake at you, blowing out the water so its white, or be behind the mountain behind you, shading it to make it look darker and more dull.
The dilemma here is that with the sun high in the sky, it’s terrible to take portraits then. The only way around this, in my opinion, is to have a couple of assistants hold a large diffuser over the couple mid day to soften the light. That would make for a beautiful shot. These were taken at Kaloya Park on the Westside of Kalamalka.
Kalamalka Lake Park, Coldstream, BC.
I took these at Kalamalka Lake Park on the east side of Kalamalka Lake, just south of Vernon.
Honorable Mentions
So these are my prime locations that I like to shoot at in the Okanagan. You will get beautiful images at all of them. You just have to consider the obstacles that I have found while shooting and come prepared. I have shot at many more, and while some are still gorgeous, they just don’t deliver the uniqueness or as well rounded a shoot as the ones listed above. You can take shots like these all around the Okanagan though. It’s just that some spots are better for full shoots. Check out some of these
