If Joint Base Lewis-McChord is in your future, this location guide is for you! Melanie Lopez knows the Tacoma area well and is ready to share her favorite spots. Keep reading for her insight in this JBLM Photography Spotlight!

What are your top three favorite locations for sessions? Briefly share about each.

Tolmie State Park

Tolmie has beautiful greenery where the sun sets on one side and the water on the other, but you absolutely have to watch the tide and sunset charts. If the tide is too high, the water comes all the way up to the bridge and cuts off most of your beach access. On the flip side, a really low tide leaves you with nothing but mudflats. Aim for that sweet spot in the middle so you get a clean beach to work with.

Burfoot Park

The combination of the water and those massive, towering trees gives you that quintessential PNW look. The big catch here is the trek back up. It’s a steep climb with a ton of stairs at the very end. I’d think twice before booking a maternity session here, or at least warn your clients, because it is an exhausting hike back to the parking lot.

Van Lierop Park (Puyallup)

If you can catch the lupines during their peak spring bloom, it’s incredible. There is a tiny 2 week window where they look like giant fields of lavender. Shooting in the evening with Mount Rainier in the background is gorgeous, but it gets packed. You have to be incredibly intentional with your angles here; if it’s a clear day with no cloud cover, the evening sun will completely blow out your frame if you aren’t careful with how you angle your shot.

Are there any particularly busy seasons for photographers in this area? Any events an incoming photographer should know about?

Summer and early fall are incredibly busy here, especially for micro-weddings and elopements. Since we’re so close to the Oregon coast, it’s a massive destination spot for couples looking for that vibe. If intimate weddings are your thing, you’ll love it here. On the flip side, the local family photography market is heavily saturated. Coming into this area, you really have to know your cost of doing business (CODB) and be incredibly diligent about your pricing and marketing structure so you don’t get lost in the noise.

What should an incoming photographer know about permits in this area?

Coming from the D.C. area where you need a permit for everything, it was a huge relief that permits aren’t really a major issue around here – and they just canceled the permit process for Mount Rainier! Instead, your biggest logistical hurdles will be the environment itself (rain, rain, and more rain). Some of the local beaches close on specific weekdays, so you always have to double check their schedules. Honestly, the most time-consuming part of the job is constantly checking the accuweather app, keeping backup dates ready for rain, and obsessively tracking tide levels.

What is the biggest piece of advice you’d give to an incoming photographer?

Don’t let the saturation of the local market discourage you when you first move here. It can feel overwhelming, but there really is a style and a photographer for everyone, so don’t give up hope.

My biggest piece of practical advice is to get out and explore the area immediately, and specifically practice shooting in direct sun and full cloud coverage. Because we are in the Pacific Northwest and so many of our beautiful beaches face west, you’re going to deal with a lot of direct, intense light as the sun sets. You either have to master your angles and client positioning or time your sessions perfectly, which can be stressful if you aren’t prepared for it.

Any other local expertise you’d like to share?

Networking in local Facebook groups is big here, but you have to be really careful about their rules on advertising. Most groups don’t allow business promos at all and will kick you out instantly. Others might have a strict “promo Sunday” once a month. There are a few rare groups where you can post anytime, but those usually get so spammy that people just tune them out. The key is to be intentional, track which days are allowed for which groups, and focus on building genuine connections rather than just dropping your link everywhere.

Where can other milspouse photographers connect with you?

Website: https://www.melanielopezphotography.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanielopezphotography

---

Are you a milspouse photographer interested in contributing? I’d love to have your insight! Please send me an email at erin@erinthompsonphoto.com and I’ll be in touch with the details!

If you enjoyed this JBLM photography spotlight, be sure to check out other featured location guides and tips for moving your business!