Now that you’ve been thoroughly educated on how to optimize your smartphone for the best photos by our CLT photographers, you need a beautiful setting to put your new skills into practice! From the weeping willow kissing the lake’s surface in Freedom Park to her “crown” atop the Bank of America building, our Queen is beautiful. Charlotte offers the perfect backdrop for summer adventure: be it of the urban variety or otherwise. We’ve teamed up with our friends at Laurel Belle Photography and Vintage Daisy Photography to bring you our most Instagram-able locations to explore. Don’t forget to tag @scoopcharlotte during your adventures.
We’re not experts, but thank goodness we have expert photographer friends to back us up with some of their favorite local spots for snap shots. Meet Laura Frederick Tompkins of Laurel Belle Photography! She’s shared some of her favorite locations in Charlotte with us to help you up your photography game.
Laura Frederick Tompkins
Owner/Photographer
www.laurelbellephotography.com
South End
SouthEnd as a whole gets high marks for its city views and fun stops along the way. A new addition to the area’s Rail Trail, 3 underfoot murals let you “ride” magic carpets sans that thieving mischief-maker, Aladdin. These works were the product of Jessie Unterhalter and Katey Truhn’s concept brought to life by community volunteer painters. Now that’s a beautiful thing!
NoDa
Another favorite is the eclectic neighborhood of North Davidson, or NoDa as it is warmly known. Her favorite time of day to roam the sidewalks and be inspired and explore hidden gems is early in the morning before the breweries, restaurants, and stores open.
The Green
“The Green uptown is small but mighty with tons of open green space to photograph in,” according to Laura. Not only do you have the beautiful lawn from which the park gets its name, but you have an excellent view of the Duke Energy Center as well as fun and interesting sculptures and other art installations throughout.
Independence Park
Located on Hawthorne, this park has a gorgeous rock waterfall & a pretty rock arch for perfectly elegant backdrops for your photos.
Jamie Shook of Vintage Daisy Photography also has some great location tricks up her sleeve in both North and South Carolina. Gotta love variety! Take a peek at some of her local favorites.
Jamie Shook
Owner/Photographer
www.vintagedaisyphotography.com
Freedom Park
The stone bridge over the water, ducks meandering through the ripples, loungers pouring over books as they dangle in self-strung hammocks, and kids on training wheels daring you to step in their path are ubiquitous here. The faces change, but the scenes are almost always the same.
Romare Bearden Park
Nighttime is the right time for Instagram-ing in the park. Not only does the park’s water feature come alive with changing colors, but you have an up-close view of the skyline, complete with twinkling lights from the offices of uptown workers putting in overtime. Jamie also likes to venture across Church Street to Brevard Court for it’s brick walkways and charming bistro lights that zig zag overhead.
The Ivy Place
Although you have to make an appointment for photos at this location, you could kill 2 birds with one stone by heading to The Ivy Place in the spring for strawberry picking! What you do with your harvest is up to you, but I recommend a margarita.
Andrew Jackson State Park
With a mysterious, woodsy vibe, this gem takes the cake when it comes to romantic engagement or wedding shoots. Take a trip here to connect with your inner woodland fairy on your own personal photo safari too!
Glencairn Gardens
Nestled in the nearby suburb of Rock Hill, Glencairn Gardens gives visitors a respite from the big city and offers plenty of opportunities to stop and smell the roses (then snap a photo of said rose).
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Just over the border in Fort Mill, adventure-seekers will find boating, camping, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, and more are at your fingertips. ASCG also hosts events from a jammin’ summer concert series under the stars to beginner courses in everything from bird watching to mountain biking in breathtaking settings. Jamie uses this location often!
Although we’re not photography experts, we think we have great taste when it comes to Instagram-able spots around town. Here are a few more places we think you’ll love!
Skyline
The best skyline vantage point is a matter of personal preference. I’ve heard lately that the view from City Lights’ rooftop bar is the best, but I am hesitant to dethrone my favorite view of the city from the Central Avenue bridge over I-77.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGpMBClBRGZ/?taken-at=478667194
Booty Loop
When I moved to DC, my departure was teary to say the least. It seemed a cruel joke to my parents that I had come home from college only to get them used to having me around then disappear to my new, “adult” life and first job out of college. My dad fumbled around our house that day trying to find a piece of home that I could bring with me. What surfaced is one of my favorite views in Charlotte captured on canvas. He presented me with one of my favorite things: a painting of Queens Road with her canopy spread as if to welcome you home and it has made its way with me move after move. There are no houses in the painting, but the road is unmistakably Queens. Don’t forget to check out 24 Hours of Booty, a charity bike ride that raises funds for cancer research this weekend, July 29th-30th!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BF-Op11FJrm/?tagged=bootyloop
BB&T Ballpark
The third baseline not only gives you killer seats and a front-row view of all of the action, regardless of the number on your ticket, but also offers the best angle of the skyline and view of the fireworks they set off after every Friday night game.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHfNuEDBYbf/?taken-by=charlotteskyline
Crowders Mountain
Reward yourself with a summit selfie. On a clear day, you can even spot a tiny glimpse of the Charlotte skyline in the distance.
Wing Haven Gardens
Beautifully maintained, this Myers Park oasis is ideal for stopping to smell the roses.
Discovery Place
It’s not just for kids anymore. There are so many nooks, crannies, and rainforests (seriously) to explore and make the backdrop for your next “high-like” post. Beat the heat and score major brownie points for one of the best date night spots during one of their monthly Science on the Rocks Friday night events.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIBf6UlDAUU/?taken-at=693689
Bechtler Firebird
Set against the backdrop of the modern architectural masterpiece that is The Bechtler, don’t be surprised if there is a line to snap a photo with our audacious avian friend.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BH04s_nhONB/?taken-at=565670
Liberty Walk
There is something magical about blending old and new. Take a step back in time on the self-guided Liberty Walk. Markers guide you through Uptown’s sky scrappers as you visit sites significant to Charlotte’s history.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFuHGJgmLsZ/?tagged=libertywalkcharlotte
Lake Norman/Lake Wylie
Sunset cruise or catching air on a wakeboard, your friends will all be envious of your new tan tines and multitude of likes.
Central Avenue
Although the friendly neighborhood drugstore is emblazoned neon red with C-V-S, the stretch of Central between Pecan and The Plaza is as close to the quintessential Main Street as you could hope to find inside the city limits. There are neighborhood watering holes (Soul Gastrolounge), a bakery (Nova’s), and quirky antique stores next to sneaker and head shops. To me, this is iconic, funky Charlotte.
Although I love what social media stands for – bringing people together, maintaining connections that might otherwise fray, and spreading the word about your favorite place to relax, eat, or a local attraction – try to be present in Instagram-worthy moments. Share these moments first with the people that are in them with you while you take it all in. Don’t spend too long on your filter choice (Valencia is always the right choice anyway), put your phone down and live your life #unfiltered. The beauty in these places can be captured from behind the lens of your smartphone, but the real-life version will always be better!
