Narragansett Family Photographer
Updated May 2026
By Katie, Rhode Island and Cape Cod family photographer for 13+ years
I’m a Narragansett family photographer, and after years of working these beaches, I know this stretch of the Rhode Island coast well. From the Point Judith Lighthouse to Bonnet Shores, Scarborough State Beach, and the rocky ends of Narragansett Town Beach, there’s a reason families keep coming back here. Some are visiting for a week in the summer. Some have been coming their whole lives. Either way, my job is to help your family feel at home in front of the camera, wherever in town we end up.
This guide walks through my favorite spots for family photos in Narragansett, what each one is like, and the practical things worth knowing before you go, parking, light, crowds, and when to come. If you’d rather just talk it through, you can always send me a note.
Best Family Photo Locations in Narragansett:
- Point Judith Lighthouse: best for lighthouse views, dunes, flowers, and tidal pools
- Bonnet Shores: best for private, south-facing, sunsets
- Scarborough State Beach: best for ample parking
- The Towers & Narragansett Town Beach: best for an iconic landmark
Point Judith Lighthouse Narragansett Family Photographer
The Point Judith Lighthouse is one of the most recognizable spots in Narragansett, and one of my favorites for family photos. The lighthouse itself is owned by the Coast Guard and fenced off, so it’s less charming up close than you’d think, but the views of it from the surrounding area are wonderful. The best of those are at Fisherman’s Memorial and at Camp Cronin, the small fishing beach at the far end of the same parking lot. Camp Cronin is where you’ll find the little wildflower dune path, the tidal pools, the jetty, and a quiet stretch of beach.
Here’s the thing about this spot: the weather runs the show. The sun and the wind are often working against each other out here, so we get creative. There are good windbreaks if we need them, like the wildflower dune area at Camp Cronin or the hydrangea-lined memorial at Fisherman’s Memorial. And some of the best sessions happen in conditions you’d never plan for. Hazy sunshine, a still evening, even dense fog, which sounds like a problem and turns out dreamy. A few practical notes: the access road and lot are unpaved and often badly rutted, so drive slowly. The lot is small but usually has space later in the day, when the light is better anyway. There’s no lifeguard. If you want the flowers, June is the peak flush for the roses and hydrangeas at Fisherman’s Memorial, and August is best for the wildflower dune path at Camp Cronin.
Ready to plan a Point Judith session? Get in touch →
Bonnet Shores Narragansett Family Photographer
Bonnet Shores is a lovely spot for Narragansett family photos, with one catch worth knowing up front. It isn’t open to the public. You’ll need beach club access, or to own or rent a house in the Bonnet Shores neighborhoods, to photograph here. If you’ve got one of those, you’ve got good options. I’ve photographed families in the neighborhood backyards and gardens, at the small neighborhood beaches, and at the beach club itself.
The beach at the club is big and wide, with nice rocks and dune grasses at the west end. It’s a protected south-facing beach, which means it’s nicely situated for sunset photos. It’s quieter than the big state beaches too, which suits the families who’d rather not share their photos with a crowd.
I’d love to meet you at Bonnet Shores. Send me a note →
Scarborough State Beach Family Photographer
Scarborough State Beach is one of the bigger, busier beaches in Narragansett, but it has a quieter side if you know where to walk. I like to park as close to the north end of the lot as I can, head onto the beach, and walk left a ways to get the crowds and the parking lot out of the background. About five minutes north on the sand there are some nice trees and beach grasses, and that’s where the good light and the room to roam tend to be.
A few practical notes. There’s a fee to park here until 6pm. After that it’s free, but they close the lot at sunset, so you can’t linger too long after the light goes. It can get crowded during the day and thins out later, which works in our favor anyway since the late light is the prettiest.
The Towers & Narragansett Town Beach Family Photographer
The Towers is the landmark everyone pictures when they think of Narragansett, so families almost always ask about photos here. I’ll be honest with you, it’s tricky. There’s a steady stream of traffic driving under the archway, cars parked all along the sea wall, and on weekends there’s often an event in the park next door or a wedding inside The Towers itself. The best straight-on view of the building is from the beach, or from the middle of the street, which is exactly as dicey as it sounds. There are a few good little spots nearby, though. The sea wall works, as does the area in front of the houses close by, and there’s a small rocky stretch with a bench at the end of the Coast Guard House parking lot that’s sweet for a very small group.
Right alongside The Towers is Narragansett Town Beach, a long stretch where the first decision is which end you’re headed to. The south end has the sea wall, sits closest to The Towers, and is where the surfers gather, so it tends to be the more crowded side. The north end is quieter, especially if you walk toward the Dunes Club, where the shoreline feels more natural and wild. Parking takes some planning. There are free three-hour spots along the sea wall, but they can be hard to find on a nice day, and every other lot is a paid lot until 5pm (the north and south lots are resident-only, and the west lot is the non-resident one). There’s also a beach entry fee of $12 per person. Your best bet for parking, smaller crowds, and avoiding the fees is to come in the off-season or later in the day, when the light is better anyway. In June we can start as late as 6:30, and by late August closer to 5:30.
Want a Narragansett session near The Towers? Get in touch →
Off the Beaten Path in Narragansett
Some of my favorite Narragansett sessions happen at spots you won’t find on a list of public beaches. If you own or rent a home with a yard, a garden, or a deep-water dock, that’s often the most relaxed place to start, on your own turf, where the kids already feel at home.
I’ve photographed at Breakwater Village, a quiet, private neighborhood between Sand Hill Cove and Camp Cronin with gardeny stretches along the water, a beach, and pretty marsh trails. I’ve also worked at Lasata, a historic Pier-area home with rose-covered arbors that the Bouvier family kept for decades, where a young Jacqueline Bouvier, the future Jackie Kennedy Onassis, visited with her father. Both need owner or renter access, but if you’ve got it, they’re lovely and uncrowded places to photograph.
What to Expect from a Narragansett Family Session with Brave Hearts
A Narragansett family session with me runs about an hour. You’ll get 50 or more edited images back, usually within one to two weeks, delivered in a private online gallery. Sessions start at $850, and you can find the full details on my sessions page.
Here’s the part most people are actually worried about. Almost every family who books me says some version of the same thing. We’re awkward, our kids won’t cooperate, my husband would rather do anything else. I promise you’re not the exception. My sessions feel less like a photoshoot and more like a walk with a friend who happens to have a camera. I use prompts and play instead of stiff poses, so instead of asking everyone to say cheese, I’m more likely to ask your kids who has the stinkiest farts. They crack up, you crack up, and that’s the photo.
Narragansett Family Photography FAQs
When is the best time of year for family photos in Narragansett? Most, if not all, of the spots in Narragansett are outdoors, so the warmer months are best, roughly May through October. Summer gives you long evenings and warm water for the kids to play in, which is perfect for vacationing families. Fall brings softer light, smaller crowds, and that golden September and October feeling that makes for great holiday cards.
What time of day produces the best light at the beach in Narragansett? The last couple of hours before sunset, almost always. The light is soft and warm, the harsh midday glare is gone, and the beaches have started to empty out. In June we can begin as late as 6:30, and by late August closer to 5:30. Early morning works too if your kids are at their best early.
How far in advance should I book a Narragansett photographer? For weekend dates, the earlier the better, since those book up a few months in advance, especially in summer and fall. Weekday evenings are easier and can usually be found with a few weeks’ notice. If you have a specific date in mind, it’s worth sending a note sooner rather than later.
What should we wear for our Narragansett family session? Keep it comfortable and simple. Outfits you can move, sit, and play in always photograph better than anything stiff or fussy. I’m happy to talk through outfit choices with you after you book.
Can you travel to Narragansett for a session? Yes. I’m a Rhode Island family photographer and Narragansett is well within my regular range, along with the rest of South County, Newport, and the Providence area. If you’re renting a home here for the summer, I can come to you.
What if our kids won’t cooperate? This is the question I hear most, and it’s the one I’m least worried about. I don’t need anyone to sit still and smile on command. I use prompts and play to keep things moving, so the kids are busy being themselves and the good photos happen on their own. Meltdowns, shy phases, and wiggly toddlers are all completely normal, and I know how to work with them.
Narragansett Photo Spots Map
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Book Your Narragansett Family Session
Narragansett is one of my favorite corners of Rhode Island to photograph, and I’d love to spend an hour on the beach with your family. Weekend dates in summer and fall fill a few months out, so if you have a date in mind, send me a note, and we’ll find a time.
