Having shot many weddings in Brisbane since 2015, I have come to conclusion that Roma Street Parklands is arguably the best wedding portrait location that Brisbane has to offer.

Let’s face it, Brisbane is not blessed with the same beautiful harbour backdrop that Sydney offers, nor the urban feel or character-filled laneways that Melbourne is famous for.

And with the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast only an hour or two away, many couples choose beach settings for their weddings which Brisbane is not exactly known for.

When most people think of beautiful parks in Brisbane they often think of Brisbane Botanic gardens. And this park is really good for photography, but it has some frustrating limitations, not the least of which is extremely limited parking.

The riverside of Brisbane Botanic Gardens is also often left in dark shade towards the latter part of the afternoon, making the lighting very tricky to work with.

While the buildings around QUT offer some nice architecture for wedding portraits, this does depend on exactly the right timing in terms of the sun and shadows. The gardens themselves are limited, and very much dependent on what is flowering that time of the year.

To make the Botanic Gardens even more challenging, their main flower bed is often dug up and becomes barren for a week or more as new plants are laid. This is really frustrating and is not something that can be anticipated.

Then there is Mt Coot-Tha gardens which might seem even more epic than Roma Street Parklands. The problem I have with Mt Coot-Tha as a wedding portrait destination is the sheer logistics of getting around this very large expanse.

Parking is often non-existent at Mt Coot-Tha on weekends, which is always risky, although this has improved considerably since COVID-19 border restrictions (meaning essentially no tourists). But the main problem is that the whole area is quite hilly. There are virtually no flat areas that offer easy access. Every scene or location requires a decent walk often up and down hills. That is tough going in the Brisbane heat, and especially in wedding dresses, high heels and tuxedos!

The lake at Mt Coot-Tha is lovely, but it also suffers from being a little ‘too popular’ on weekends, meaning most shots have to be taken tighter rather than wider, and this can limit opportunities just depending on how many tourists and visitors there are on the day.

The jewel in the crown for Mt Coot-Tha is the Japanese garden of course, however at times of the year when the flowers are not blooming, it can be rather ordinary! I would definitely recommend Mt Coot-Tha gardens in Spring, but at other times it is somewhat lacking. Also, good luck finding spots that aren’t inundated with tourists and kids running into the frame!

Which leads me to Roma Street Parklands! Unless you are unlucky enough to visit when a major festival or event is on (which due to COVID is unlikely in the medium term) it is never super busy, and parking is almost always available on site. This can mean parking in the far ‘overflow’ car park down the end, but that offers a pleasant and cool walk through the rainforest on the way to other locations.

Here are three of my favourite spots within Roma Street Parklands for wedding photos:

Lake and Gazebo Area

The lake area and gazebo with walkway is a great spot for portraits, but works best around sunset. Just be careful not to miss the sun completely, as it often sets behind apartment buildings. So if you want that sun kissed look, arrive at least an hour before sunset. The secret to getting great natural light photos under the Flying Duck is to capture them at exactly the right time of the day, when the light is still falling on the location but is lowest in the sky.

2. Spectacle Garden

This centrally located, continually manicured garden about 300m from the roadway offers beautiful backdrops for wedding portrait photography all year round.

There is always the chance the gardeners may be in the middle of planting new season flowers, so check it out well in advance of any shoot! The centrepiece of spectacle garden is this awesome sculpture that is perfectly positioned (with subjects backs to the sun) making it an ideal place for portraits most times of the year.

3. Celebration Lawn & Waterfall

Some people love the waterfall at Roma Street Parklands, others are not that fussed about man made water features. I personally think it offers a great location for bridal party photos, couples portraits and walking shots across the vast green lawn.

At certain times of the year, the sun will bounce off the highly reflective surfaces of the large skyscrapers in the nearby city, filling the waterfall and celebration lawn with wonderful fill light that makes the waterfall glisten. At other times, the whole area will be in shade.