My Favourite Places to Photograph in Perth (and Why I Keep Going Back)
Film portraits rooted in place, light, and emotion.
Perth offers such a rich variety of landscapes; from raw coastlines and textured limestone to native bushland and quiet city corners. These places have shaped the way I photograph. Each one offers a different feeling, a different kind of light, and I find myself returning to them over and over again with the people I work with.
This isn’t just a list of pretty backdrops. These are spaces that hold emotion, softness, and story, perfect for film photography and honest portraits.
Why Perth is Made for Film Photography
There’s something about Perth light. It’s clean and golden, yet soft when it needs to be. Whether you're by the coast or tucked into the hills, the landscape here invites you to slow down and just be. That energy matters, it shapes the way a session feels.
Film photography loves this kind of environment. The texture, the mood, the movement. It’s not about perfection, it’s about presence.
My Favourite Locations for Portrait Sessions
These are the places I return to for their soul, their stillness, and their subtle magic. Whether you're planning a branding session, a motherhood shoot, or something just for you; each of these locations has something different to offer.
1. Leighton Beach
A clean, open stretch of coastline with calm energy. The dunes here have a soft wildness that photographs beautifully, especially on film. I often shoot here at golden hour when the light wraps everything in warmth. It’s never too busy, and there’s a beautiful simplicity to it that lets emotion lead.
Best for: minimalist backdrops, barefoot movement, golden tones
2. Mettam’s Pool
One of Perth’s most underrated coastal spots.
With rocky edges, tide pools, and crystal-clear water, Mettam’s Pool is raw and honest; perfect for emotive, grounded sessions. It’s especially beautiful when you’re craving something less polished and more real. At quieter times of day, it also offers a sense of privacy, making it easier to truly drop in and let go. This is where I go when we want to blend stillness with connection and to let the elements do their thing.
Best for: natural textures, water reflection, ocean stillness
3. Rocky Pools
Tucked away from the city, this location feels sacred. Quiet rock pools, soft earthy tones, and moments of still water; it’s a space that invites inwardness and calm. It’s one of my favourite WA photoshoot locations when the goal is to create something a little deeper, a little more elemental.
We often walk slowly here. We pause. We listen. And that energy shows in the images.
Best for: slow portraiture, earthy emotion, introspective moments
4. Lesmurdie Area
This pocket of the Perth Hills offers a refreshing contrast to the coast. Think native bushland, winding paths, eucalyptus trees, and seasonal streams. In cooler months, the colours deepen and the air feels crisp. It’s especially grounding for people who feel most themselves in nature or who want to reconnect with that part of themselves.
This is also a beautiful place for walking sessions, where we move slowly, shoot gently, and simply see what unfolds.
Best for: woodland tones, barefoot grounding, forest energy
5. West End, Fremantle
This one’s for the architecture lovers. The West End of Fremantle has character cobbled lanes, heritage facades, weathered doors, and soft limestone walls that bounce the light just right. It feels both nostalgic and contemporary, and when paired with soft wardrobe tones and natural movement, it creates portraits that feel editorial but human.
There’s a stillness in the early morning here that I love. It allows us to work slowly, intentionally, with very little distraction.
Best for: urban texture, editorial vibes, heritage tones
How to Choose the Right Location for Your Shoot
I always start with this question: how do you want to feel?
Because the location isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a container for your energy. It’s the space that supports how you move, how you soften, how you show up.
- Light and free – head to Leighton or Mettam’s
- Earthy and slow – try Rocky Pools or Lesmurdie
- Nostalgic and editorial – the West End never misses
Your location should support the version of you we’re capturing.
Film doesn’t rush. It lets you land in the space, in your body, in the light and just exist as you are.
Final Thoughts
There are countless places around Perth that make beautiful settings for portrait sessions, but these are the ones I keep coming back to.
They hold space for you to be still, soft, powerful, or playful. They let the real you come through.
If you’re dreaming of a portrait session on film, something honest, artful, and rooted in presence, I’d love to create it with you.
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