As a native Texan, I’ve spent a lot of time on backroads throughout the state. Although, I’ve called Austin home for over 30 years. I’ve watched the downtown skyline grow taller and spread along the shores of Lady Bird Lake. The vibrancy of Austin draws in visitors and offers a wide variety of cultural experiences. Like no other Texas city, Austin prides itself on being just a bit “weird” — but in a very good way. Food trucks, colorful graffiti, neon lights, and an endless number of live music venues make Austin a fun place to explore with a camera in hand. Whether your gear of choice is your phone or a top-of-the-line mirrorless camera, this article will point you in the direction of locations in Austin for your next photoshoot. You’re bound to enjoy the challenge of making these Austin photo spots your own.
Texas State Capitol
A must-see subject is both the inside and outside of the Texas State Capitol (1100 Congress Avenue). Most people just wander inside the building to check out the dome and rotunda, but be sure to walk through the underground extension on the north side of the building that leads to a beautiful atrium. Along the corridors and galleries, there are many architectural elements that make interesting subjects. The Capitol is open late so, if you visit near closing time you’ll find it much easier to photograph people-free interior shots.
One of the most popular shots in Austin is of the State Capitol taken from the middle of Congress Avenue. You’ll be tempted to take this shot from a crosswalk on this busy downtown street. Although, if you have a telephoto lens that is 200mm or greater, you can take the same amazing shot without putting yourself in harm’s way. Head south and across the river to the parking lot of a pizza restaurant (2206 S. Congress Avenue).
Sixth Street (Between Congress Avenue and Red River Street)
Want to do some street, urban, or long exposure photography? Sixth Street (between Congress Avenue and Red River Street) is a prime spot for people watching. It’s packed with an array of neon-lit bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors, and music venues. Street and urban photographers will enjoy the gritty nooks and crannies along alleys and the colorful characters hanging out on the street. The Driskill (604 Brazos Street) is an iconic and historic hotel dating back to 1886 built by a wealthy cattle baron. It is designed in Romanesque-style architecture and is the oldest operating hotel in Austin. It has an impressive foyer and plenty of not-so-subtle design elements that will entice you to pull out your tripod and a wide angle lens.
Doug Sahm Hill
Want to catch the sunrise over the city? There is no prettier spot overlooking downtown than Doug Sahm Hill (836 W. Riverside Drive) in Butler Park. With an ever-changing skyline, there is rarely an opportunity to see the Austin skyline without a crane. Although,they are nice reminders that the city is thriving and architectural designs will continue to add interest to the modern-day horizon. Right next to Butler Park is The Long Center for the Performing Arts (701 W. Riverside Drive) where you will find the HEB terrace with columns that perfectly frame the skyline. It’s a great location for portraits. At the front of the terrace, a round, illuminated platform offers a perfect spot to highlight an individual subject.
Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail
The calm waters of Lady Bird Lake flow underneath six bridges in the city. These include Interstate Highway-35, Congress Avenue Bridge, South 1st Street Bridge, Pflugerville Pedestrian Bridge, Lamar Street Bridge, and the bridge below the MoPac Expressway. Each bridge offers a unique view of the city and can easily be accessed via The Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail. This is a 10-mile crushed gravel/dirt/asphalt trail that loops around the lake. It’s the perfect spot to catch early morning reflections of the skyline.
At the eastern end of the loop, the Boardwalk Trail sits just above the water to provide wonderful views of the trail with a skyline backdrop. Between late March and mid-October, large crowds of people gather along the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk to witness an estimated 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats take flight against a dark sky, creating a dramatic visual.
Heading west on the trail, the statue of famed guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn stands at the water’s edge. He’s almost perfectly centered in front of the skyline. Sometimes you’ll find him holding a flower or donning a scarf left by a fan. Keep heading west and access the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, a foot bridge that connects downtown to Auditorium Shores and Butler Park. The ever-changing graffiti along the train tracks, reflections of the skyline, and the energy of those that use the bridge make it a popular location to photograph the Austin skyline at sunset.
Lake Travis and the Pennybacker Bridge
The vista over Lake Travis and the Pennybacker Bridge (N. Capital of Texas Highway) is a short drive from downtown but it’s worth the field trip. Access to the trails are just north of the bridge on each side of the highway. The most popular view is on the west side of the highway and is a great place to photograph sunrise and sunset. On the east side of the highway, the views of sunset are better and if you don’t mind walking down the hill in the dark, it’s a fun spot to shoot light trails of the cars crossing the bridge. Bull Creek District Park (6701 Lakewood Drive) is three miles north of the bridge and is a quiet local park. You’ll only see locals and their dogs along the trail. Also of interest is a small creek that runs along the hiking trail passes some interesting rock formations.
Barton Creek Greenbelt
If you’re a nature or landscape photographer, you’ll want to make a beeline to the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Multiple entrances are along the creek. Depending which trailhead you choose, you’ll have many opportunities to photograph this area of the Hill Country. Wear hiking shoes so that you can safely follow the Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail to Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls.
McKinney Falls State Park
Nature photographers will welcome a break from the concrete jungle of the city. Austin is within an hour’s drive from six state parks and dozens of local area parks. The easiest to reach is a 20-minute drive from downtown to McKinney Falls State Park (5808 McKinney Falls Parkway). The sunsets here can be magical. If you’re looking for wildlife you’ll have many opportunities to see birds, large mammals, and plenty of cute critters. Another Austin gem are the trails through the prairie, canyon, and chaparral of Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park (614 Commons Ford Road). Wildlife sightings in spring are particularly good in this park because it supports a natural habitat for native and migratory birds.
Other Popular Spots
A quick search for Austin’s most popular Instagram spots will include these locations:
- “Tau Ceti,” a 10-story art mural (corner of E. 2nd Street and Brazos Street)
- Second Street Bridge (aka Butterfly Bridge)
- Austin” Blanton Museum of Art (200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard)
- The “I love you so much.” mural in SoCo (1300 S. Congress Avenue)
All are fun photo spots and represent the colorful and trendy side of Austin.
Finally, if you visit Austin and don’t have that selfie in front of the “Welcome to Austin” mural (1720 S. 1st Street) can you truly say that you were in Austin? This is one of the most popular photo spots and who you bring with you will make it special and memorable.
