A couples photoshoot might not be on your average Vancouver itinerary, but it should be. Of course, you can still take your stroll through Stanley Park and watch the sunset on a harbour cruise, but don’t forget to head outside of the city to explore what British Columbia really does best – all things nature. I’ve got a long list of recommendations for you, but when it comes to the top spot for a photoshoot and the best hiking near Vancouver, there’s a clear winner. Mount Seymour does it best.

Planning Ashley and Nathan’s anniversary photoshoot

As a destination wedding and elopement photographer, often my clients are travelling to BC from far and wide. As a local, it never gets old seeing their eyes light up as they take in the landscapes and views. It is truly one of the best parts of my job. So when Ashley and Nathan reached out and explained they were planning a vacation to Vancouver from Texas for their 10th anniversary, I was ecstatic!

They shared that they were avid hikers visiting for the first time and had a long list of impressive hikes close to Vancouver, but wanted a second opinion on where might be best. Because they didn’t prioritise wedding photography the first time around, it was clear they wanted stunning views and a bit of adventure, but ultimately photos they felt represented their years together.

Mount Seymour Park immediately came to mind. In comparison to neighbouring parks and trails, the viewpoints have plenty of space at the top to move around for a photoshoot. With only about an hour’s drive away from downtown Vancouver, you’ll find a variety of hikes, outdoor activities, and a nature lovers oasis of mountains, lakes, and wildlife. You can wake up early, explore the mountainside, and be back in time for dinner reservations that night.

And that’s exactly what Ashley and Nathan did! As a fellow foodie, I knew their reservations were important to them, but as a photographer, light is important to me. Usually, I suggest sunset as midday in the mountains isn’t ideal, but with their plans, we compromised with a sunrise session.

Hiking & headlamps for this sunrise couples photoshoot on Mount Seymour

I won’t lie, sunrise sessions aren’t always my first suggestion. In the mountains, sunrise and sunset times vary throughout the year. Summer days start as early as 5:30am and winter as late as 8am, so if you aren’t a morning person this might not be your thing. Ashley and Nathan visited in mid-October with a sunrise of 7:30am, giving us a bit more time to sleep in before heading to the trailhead.

The trick about sunrise shoots? You’ve got to get to the views before the sun comes up. With our headlamps and flashlights, we set off for our 6-8 kilometre hike with the well-marked trails almost entirely to ourselves and without a single wrong turn. The weather was nearly perfect as we made it to the lookout just before the sun and in just a few moments, that early alarm was entirely worth it as we watched the sun light the valley below (and I lived vicariously through them as they took in those big, beautiful British Columbia views for the first time).

Why a Mount Seymour photoshoot should make your Vancouver itinerary:

There are three ski mountains close to the city, but Seymour is the best for photos if you’re up for a hike. From east to west, you’ll find Mount Seymour, Grouse Mountain, and Cypress Mountain. Each has its own pros and cons, depending on what you’re looking for. Seymour is my favourite for hiking, snowshoeing, and for mountain-top photoshoots. There is plenty of room to move around, which makes my job easier and gives more variety to your photos. The views are without a doubt the best compared to the others! As a side note, Cypress is my favourite for skiing and Grouse is the best if you want to take advantage of their Light Walk in the winter time for a magical winter wonderland vibe.

You can visit all year round. Oftentimes, I cannot recommend a photoshoot location for both winter and summer. But Mount Seymour has great opportunities no matter the season! In the winter, grab some snowshoes and bundle up for white wonderland vibes. During summer, plan a picnic at an alpine lake. And while it’s possible during all months, I will warn that the spring is probably my least favourite time to visit, with a mix of melting snow patches and wet trails. If I had to pick the best month for a trip, I’d say September as that’s when all the wild blueberries are out and ready for munching. This also means you might stumble across a black bear, so just be careful.

You’ll get a big reward with less effort. When chatting about the best places to hike in BC, it’s common to drive 1.5 hours to 3 hours for worthwhile views, less crowds, and easy-to-moderate trails. Mount Seymour is an exception. Only 45 minutes from Vancouver, the windy mountain road gains elevation which helps with getting beautiful views without long hikes. While the hike Ashley and Nathan did was a moderate to hard level hike with a consistent uphill, it only took 1.5 hours to reach the top and about an hour for our trip back down.

You’ve got space to roam about and I’ve got space to capture it all. It’s easy to get excited about big views when planning a couples photoshoot and not think about how much space is actually at the top. Some lookouts are very small and if there are even a few other hikers around, it gets crowded easily. In order to capture you and the big views, I need space to step back and move about. Seymour is ideal because it often has less crowds as it has plenty of space at the top. I’d avoid super popular spots with small viewpoints, like St. Marks Summit on Cypress Mountain for example.

Tips & tricks for planning your couples photoshoot:

Sunset? Sunrise? How to choose? Start with asking yourself, “am I a morning person?” Because it’s an early start and if you won’t actually enjoy your time, what’s the point? Both times of day give beautiful light and therefore create incredible photos. Check the times of the sunrise and sunset in the mountains for the month you’re visiting and then plan accordingly. Summer days are long, starting early and ending late, around 5:30am to 9:30pm. During winter days are cut short, starting around 8am and ending as early as 4:30pm.

Check into logistics, like opening times, passes, and parking. The gate for the main parking lot for the Mount Seymour Trail closes at night. This trail does allow backcountry camping, so there is a small outcrop for overnight parking a 5-10 minute walk from the main lot. Make sure you park in the correct lot because the gate does close. If you’re going for sunset in summer, there’s a chance you’ll be back after closing time. Check times online when planning! In the winter, they do require a park pass. It’s free, but you have to get it ahead of time! You can do that here.

Monitor the weather. The actual city of Vancouver could have sunny clear skies, but the mountains might be experiencing something entirely different. Checking the weather is also not only about rain or sun, it’s about cloud coverage. Clouds love to hover around mountaintops which can obstruct the views you’re looking for, but they can also move in and out, adding cool elements to your photos. Use SpotWx or Windy for accurate weather updates based on your location!

Make a backup plan. If the clouds betray you and the viewpoint is socked in, you can choose to embrace the weather as is or Plan B you love ready to go. There are other great spots in the area to choose from. Check out this blog post on the best couples sessions photo locations on Mount Seymour! You’ll notice that the photos in the blog were actually taken in a white out with no big views at all, but still turned out great in their own way.