Favourite Places for Photo Sessions in the Comox Valley

One of the best parts about living and photographing on Vancouver Island is how much variety we have within such a small area.

In the Comox Valley, you can go from a windswept beach to a quiet forest trail, from river rocks and waterfalls to lake views and mountain-backed bluffs — sometimes all in the same afternoon.

As a Comox Valley photographer, these are the kinds of places I’m always drawn back to for couples sessions, engagement photos, maternity sessions, family sessions, and portraits. Not because they’re overly polished or perfect, but because they feel natural, relaxed, and connected to real life here on the Island.

If you’re someone who feels a little awkward in front of the camera, these locations make it easier to settle in. You have somewhere to walk, something to do with your hands, wind in your hair, sand under your feet, trees around you — all the things that help a session feel less like a photoshoot and more like a little adventure together.

My approach is always laid-back and relaxed, with a mix of candid, documentary-style photos and light posing when you need a bit of direction. You don’t need to know what to do. You just need to show up as yourselves, and we’ll let the location, the light, and the moment do the rest.

Why the Comox Valley Is Such a Beautiful Place for Photos

The Comox Valley has that very specific Vancouver Island magic: ocean, forest, rivers, mountains, lakes, and trails all close together.

For people who feel most like themselves outside, it’s hard to beat.

Within a short drive, you can find:

• Wide open beaches
• Quiet forest trails
• River rocks and waterfalls
• Mountain views
• Lakefront spots
• Moody coastal skies
• Soft golden-hour light

And honestly, even when the weather shifts — which it often does here — it usually adds something beautiful. Wind, mist, clouds, soft rain, and changing light can make photos feel more honest and atmospheric. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s photos that feel like a memory.

How to Choose the Right Comox Valley Photo Location

Before picking a location, I always like to think about the kind of experience you want.

Do you want something playful and beachy? Quiet and forested? A little more adventurous? Somewhere easy for kids to explore? Somewhere you can bring the dog? Somewhere that feels meaningful because you already spend time there?

The best photo session locations are usually the ones that feel connected to who you already are.

If you’re drawn to ocean air and wide open space, Goose Spit or Air Force Beach might be the right fit. If you want something softer, shaded, and forested, Nymph Falls or Bevan Trails could feel more like you. If you’re up for something with lake views and a little more rugged texture, Comox Lake and the bluffs area can be beautiful.

Here are a few of my favourite places for photo sessions in the Comox Valley.

1. Goose Spit — Comox

Goose Spit is one of those classic Comox Valley locations that works in almost every season.

It has ocean views, mountain backdrops, beach grass, driftwood, rocky shoreline, and those wide open skies that make everything feel a little more spacious.

From a photography perspective, it’s such a good spot for relaxed, candid sessions because there’s room to move. You can walk along the water, sit in the sand, explore the driftwood, or just take in the view together.

It’s especially beautiful for couples or engagement sessions where you want that laid-back coastal feeling without needing to overthink anything.

Why I love it:

• Beautiful ocean and mountain views
• Lots of variety in a small area
• Great for movement-based, candid photos
• Works well for couples, maternity, family, and portrait sessions
• Gorgeous in wind, clouds, or golden light

2. Nymph Falls — Courtenay

Nymph Falls is one of my favourite forest-and-river locations in the Comox Valley.

It feels calm, grounded, and a little tucked away, while still being easy to access. The park is situated along the Puntledge River, which gives it that beautiful mix of trails, trees, river rock, and moving water.

This is a great location for people who want their session to feel quiet, natural, and a little more intimate. The forest softens everything. The river gives us movement and texture. And the falls themselves add that little bit of drama without the session needing to feel overly posed.

For camera-shy couples, Nymph Falls is especially nice because there’s always something to do: walk the trail, sit by the river, climb over rocks, lean into each other, take it slow.

Why I love it:

• Beautiful forest light
• River rocks, trails, and waterfall views
• Feels peaceful and grounded
• Great for documentary-style movement
• Works well in cloudy or moody weather

3. Air Force Beach — Comox

Air Force Beach has such a beautiful open, coastal feeling.

It’s a little softer and sandier than some other beaches in the area, with big sky, ocean views, and the Coastal Mountains in the distance. With viewpoints overlooking the beach, Georgia Strait, and Coastal Mountains.

This location is especially lovely if you want a session that feels relaxed, playful, and easy. It’s great for families because there’s space for kids (+ your pup) to run and explore. It’s also beautiful for couples who want something casual and candid — walking along the beach, sitting in the sand, leaning into the wind, and just letting the session unfold.

At low tide, the beach can feel wide and expansive, which gives photos a really peaceful, open quality.

Why I love it:

• Wide sandy beach
• Big open skies
• Dog friendly
• Beautiful coastal mountain views
• Great for playful, candid movement
• Relaxed and unfussy

4. Bevan Trails — Cumberland / Puntledge River Area

Bevan Trails has that quiet, local, forested feeling that makes a session feel a little more tucked away.

For photo sessions, this kind of setting is perfect if you want something less obvious than the beach, but still very connected to the Comox Valley landscape. Think forest paths, river access, mossy textures, tall trees, and that peaceful feeling of being somewhere a little quieter.

It’s a great choice for couples or families who spend a lot of time hiking, biking, walking their dog, or just being outside together. It doesn’t feel overly formal, which is exactly why I like it.

Why I love it:

• Quiet forest atmosphere
• Beautiful natural textures
• Great for relaxed walking photos
• Feels local and personal
• Works well for people who want something more understated

5. Comox Lake / Comox Lake Bluffs

Comox Lake is one of those places that gives you a little bit of everything: beautiful lake views, forested walking paths, mountain backdrops, and beach access all in one area.

It has a slightly more adventurous feel than some of the other Comox Valley photo locations, but it can still feel really relaxed and easy. We can wander through the trees, walk along the lakefront, pause by the water, or use the rocky shoreline and open views for something a little more dramatic.

I love this spot for sessions that feel outdoorsy, grounded, and natural without needing to go too far off the beaten path. There’s always options for lots of variety here to keep things comfortable and laid-back.

It’s a great fit for couples, families, or portraits where you want the landscape to feel like part of the story.

Why I love it:

• Beautiful lake and mountain views
• A mix of forest, beach, and rocky shoreline
• Great walking paths for natural, candid movement
• Lots of variety in one location
• Feels outdoorsy without being overly complicated

Planning a Photo Session in the Comox Valley

Whether you’re drawn to the ocean, the forest, the river, or the lake, the Comox Valley has so many beautiful places for photos that feel relaxed and real.

Goose Spit is perfect for that windswept coastal feeling. Nymph Falls brings forest, river, and softness. Air Force Beach feels playful and open. Bevan Trails are quiet and grounded. Comox Lake and the bluffs offer something a little more rugged and adventurous.

As a Vancouver Island photographer based in the Comox Valley, my favourite sessions are the ones where people can settle in, move around, laugh a little, and feel like they don’t have to perform for the camera.

The location matters, but the feeling matters more.

So whether we’re walking along the beach, wandering through the forest, or standing beside the lake with the wind doing whatever it wants, the goal is always the same: honest photos that feel like you.

If you’re planning a couples session, engagement session, maternity session, or family session in the Comox Valley, I’d love to help you choose a location that feels like you.