Little boy walking on ground with both hands held by two fathers during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
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Mueller Lake Park Family Portrait

ByKelly Williams, Photographer

With spring approaching and flowers coming out to bloom, you may be thinking it’s time to start planning a family portrait. And if you’re in the Austin area, there’s no better location than Mueller Lake Park. In today’s blog post, I’ll give you all the details for how to plan your next Mueller Lake Park family portrait. From where to go to get the best images, to things to avoid during your session, today’s blog post is an informative guide guaranteed to bring out the best smiles from your family.

Two fathers and little boy standing beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait

Meet James and Alastair

James and Alastair sought me out when they were looking for a new family portrait of their little boy. The couple lives near Mueller Lake Park, and frequent the area as a family. The focus of the shoot was to be on their son because as they noted, James and Alastair were quite shy in front of the camera.

Two fathers playing with little boy while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait

How I Turn Nervous Clients into Confident Subjects

As someone who feels the same trepidation in front of the camera, I empathize with my clients anxiety towards being photographed. Coming from this firsthand perspective is why I always try to make my photo shoot as comfortable an experience as possible.

I do this in two ways. First, I search out locations that are reasonably private. If you’re nervous in front of the camera, there’s nothing worse than feeling like you are performing or an audience. Second, I make sure and give my clients as much information beforehand, including clothing and posing advice so that they can practice at home and come prepared to the shoot.

Little boy playing with toys while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait

Preparing for the Session

I had many conversations with James back-and-forth regarding outfits and locations. I also made a trip from San Antonio to Austin to search for the perfect spot in the park for our session. I then prepared a Pinterest board with photos from my location scouting trip and presented my findings to James.

Lake surrounded by trees at Mueller Lake Park

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Ready to book your family portrait? Contact me here.

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Mueller Lake Park Logistics

Mueller Lake Park encompasses 30 acres in northwest Austin. The park is the focal point of the Mueller neighborhood, a planned development community that is the former site of the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, the remnants of which can be found in the Browning Hangar building. While the park does not have any particular sports facilities, it does include a 2.6-mile paved trail, plenty of picnic areas, an open-air amphitheater and stage, and of course, the 6.5-acre lake. For families in the area, there is also a playground and the Thinkery interactive children’s museum is located next door on Simond Avenue.

The park is open from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and there are public restrooms available. There is a free parking lot available along Simond Avenue.

Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait

Things to Consider for a Mueller Lake Park Family Portrait

Crowds

As one of Austin’s largest parks, Mueller Lake Park is in constant use throughout the day and evening. As such, there is never a ‘slow’ time to sneak in a photo shoot. If I had to pick one time that would be best to avoid crowds, however, I would say weekday mornings. Weekends are especially popular with families and children, particularly since the Thinkery children’s museum is a popular destination.

That said, because of how large the park is, you can almost always expect to have a stretch of grass to yourself for your own photo shoot. Just don’t expect to be able to have the playground to yourself.

Little boy being held by father while looking at ducks in lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait

Lack of Shade

One other problem with Mueller Lake Park is the lack of shade. While there are trees scattered here and there and on the eastern edge of the lake, the park is mostly a vast, grassy plain. This means you’re going to need to schedule your photo session wisely so as to avoid the harsh, overhead sun. Furthermore, there is no place to run to in case of inclement weather.

Two fathers playing with little boy while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait

The Best Locations for a Mueller Lake Park Family Portrait

For my photo shoot with James and Alastair, we started off with a quick little walk around the lake. We then proceeded to a tree I had selected beforehand at the southern side of the lake. This tree had low branches that could shield us from the sun, thus providing a little bit more shade. This is where we took the bulk of our family photos. Other such trees offering enough shade can be found near the fire pit.

Our next location was the colonnade next to the lake. Note that this is one of the most popular spots in the entire park so you may have to do a little Photoshop magic to remove other people from your photos. It’s virtually impossible to have this spot all to yourself.

Lake Nessy sculpture by Dixie Friend Gay at Mueller Lake Park
Lake Nessy

Here are a few other photo locations you might consider:

The hangar steps overlooking the lake. These steps offer a wonderful view of the lake and you can get an interesting view if you’re shooting from the top down on your subject.

Walking along the lake by the fire pit. To me, this is the most photogenic part of the lake, and it offers the most diverse landscaping. This area would be great for an engagement shoot or for a family portrait with older children.

Lake Nessy. How can you not take photos in front of this colorful creature? ‘Lake Nessy‘ is actually a mosaic sculpture created by the artist Dixie Friend Gay. The piece is beloved by the community and you can find children crawling all over it 24/7. The sculpture is located directly in front of the playground (of course) on Simond Avenue.

Lastly, there, of course is the playground. I did take photos here with James and Alastair, but it was a lesson in patience. We had to wait our turn for the swings, as I wanted to make sure not to photograph other children or to be in the way of other parents. If you see James and Alastair‘s little boy looking off to the side and smiling, that’s because of a kind dad on the other swing set, making happy faces at him to entertain him. It really does take a village to get through a photo shoot!

Wooden house playground at Mary Elizabeth Branch Park
Mary Elizabeth Branch Park playground

Mueller Lake Park Nearby Alternatives

Let’s say that you find Mueller Lake Park a bit too crowded on a summer afternoon. Where do you go?  Lucky for you, there are lots of green spaces nearby.

The Northwest Greenway is a long park that stretches along Philomena and Robert Browning Streets. It’s basically just grass and trees, but what more do you need for a family portrait? There is a small colonnade structure as well as a small playground.

Mary Elizabeth Branch Park is also nearby at the intersection of Philomena and Aldrich Streets. This is the site of the farner’s market in Mueller. There is a cute little playground here with a wooden house and a plane.

Enjoy the images, and as always, I’ll have more photo adventures for you next week!

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If you find this ‘Confluence Park Family Portrait Tips’ article useful, then check out these equally helpful blog posts:

Looking to book a family portrait session in San Antonio, Austin, or anywhere in the Hill Country? Drop me a line and let’s chat about how I can help you. I have hourly rates, and all photo shoots include editing and high-resolution files.

To view more images from my photography portfolio, please visit my website – KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com

Little boy playing with toys while sitting on blanket on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with toys while sitting on blanket on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with toys while sitting on blanket on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with toys while sitting on blanket on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with bubbles while standing on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with bubbles while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with bubbles while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers playing with little boy while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers playing with little boy while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers playing with little boy while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers playing with little boy while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers playing with little boy while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers playing with little boy while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers playing with little boy while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers playing with little boy while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers playing with little boy surrounded by bubbles while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers playing with little boy surrounded by bubbles while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father holding little boy surrounded by bubbles while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father holding little boy surrounded by bubbles while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father wearing pink shirt using machine to blow bubbles while sitting on grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers holding little boy under trees in front of grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers holding little boy under trees in front of grass during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy being held by father wearing purple shirt during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy being kissed on head by father wearing purple shirt during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait Little boy being thrown in the air by father wearing pink shirt beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with father wearing pink shirt beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with father wearing pink shirt beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with father wearing pink shirt beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with father wearing pink shirt beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with father wearing pink shirt beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with father wearing pink shirt beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with father wearing pink shirt beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with father wearing pink shirt beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with father wearing pink shirt beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy playing with father wearing pink shirt beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy walking on ground with both hands held by two fathers during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy walking on ground with both hands held by two fathers during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy walking on ground with both hands held by two fathers during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy being held over shoulder of father wearing purple shirt while being buttoned up by other father during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy wearing a cloth crown beside Mueller Lake at sunset during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy wearing a cloth crown beside Mueller Lake at sunset during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy wearing furry fox hat beside Mueller Lake at sunset during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Little boy wearing furry fox hat beside Mueller Lake at sunset during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers and little boy standing beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers and little boy standing beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Father and little boy playing on concrete ground beside Mueller Lake during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers pushing little boy on a swing at a playground during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Two fathers pushing little boy on a swing at a playground during a Mueller Lake Park family portrait
Lake Nessy sculpture by Dixie Friend Gay at Mueller Lake Park
Lake Nessy sculpture by Dixie Friend Gay at Mueller Lake Park
Lake surrounded by trees at Mueller Lake Park
Colonnade wrapped in vines beside lake at Mueller Lake Park
Lake surrounded by trees and rocks at Mueller Lake Park
Grassy plain with blue sky surrounded by trees at Mueller Lake Park
Goose eating bugs out of the grass at Mueller Lake Park
Lake next to colonnade at Mueller Lake Park
Lake surrounded by trees at Mueller Lake Park
Lake surrounded by trees at Mueller Lake Park
Colorful playground under trees at Mueller Lake Park
Colonnade with trees beside lake at Mueller Lake Park
Colonnade wrapped in vines beside lake at Mueller Lake Park
Concrete pathway leading to tall trees at Mueller Lake Park
Grassy plain with blue sky surrounded by trees at Mueller Lake Park
Grassy plain surrounded by trees at Mueller Lake Park
Concrete pathway leading to trees at Mueller Lake Park
Two people sitting beside lake at Mueller Lake Park

Hi! My name is Kelly Williams, and I am a wedding and family photographer serving San Antonio and Austin, Texas. I love telling the story of someone’s love, life, and happiness in one frame.

I proudly call San Antonio home, but I have lived in NYC for the past 21 years.

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