For many people, choosing a special place to remember that unique moment and transmit the desired feeling is often a difficult task. So it is common for many of my clients to ask me for suggestions on which place I can recommend for that photo session they want.
Personally, I like to ask my clients if there is any place that has that sentimental value in their relationship where we could create a story and believe me, many times we have the perception that the ideal places for a photo session in Santo Domingo are only the Botanical Garden, the Colonial Zone or the beach, but the simple truth is, even in an emblematic street of our beautiful Santo Domingo, a park or one of the many businesses we have with charming interiors we can achieve a beautiful photographic story and get out of the same photo routine that we see frequently many times.
It is for these reasons that I decided to prepare this list with the best photo shoot places in Santo Domingo just for you!And it is good to note that these suggestions apply to many types of photo sessions, to highlight a few: bridal and groom sessions, 15-year-old sessions, personal sessions, pregnant women and in many cases baby and children sessions as well, because No? 😀
You can also see this list of all the places in the Dominican Republic where I do photo shoots and with sample photos of each place to further expand your information.
Anyway, these are my favorite places where I do photo shoots in the great Santo Domingo and not have to travel so far:
National Botanical Garden Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso
As we all know, it is one of the most emblematic places when thinking about doing a photo shoot in the city of Santo Domingo. This is located between Av. República de Argentina esq.Av. Los Próceres.
Its great popularity focuses on the fact that it is a cool and relaxing place, with beautiful landscapes, a wide variety of spaces and decorations that give the feeling of being in a place far away from the metropolitan hustle and bustle.
The Botanical Garden is an inexhaustible source of inspiration, which has numerous pavilions, lakes and sanctuaries, as well as the Japanese Garden, which is the most visited part of the Garden, with its famous red bridge, lake and Japanese-style house, which are places ideal for numerous photo sessions.
Requirements:
- To take professional photographs you must pay a fee of RD$2,000 pesos (approximately US$42), with which you are allowed to enter 1 vehicle and have access to all areas of the garden. It is important that you carry the invoice with you since in the Japanese garden they ask for it in order to take photographs.
SEE MORE PHOTOS IN THE BOTANICAL GARDEN
See location of the Botanical Garden
Colonial Zone
The Colonial Zone is the oldest European settlement in America and was declared a cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO. Due to its great importance in Dominican and world culture and history, the colonial zone is one of the places preferred by Dominicans when choosing to do a photo session due to its ancient touch and European style in a point of the Caribbean. .
Requirements:
- In most places in the colonial zone it is not necessary to pay or ask for permits to carry out a professional photo session. However, there are places that do require payment to allow professional photographs to be taken. Such is the case of the ruins of San Francisco and the Ozama Fortress, which have an approximate cost of RD$1,800 pesos and each place has its Ministry of Culture office, who collects the fee and issues permits.
SEE MORE PHOTOS IN THE COLONIAL ZONE
National Aquarium
Many are unaware of the attractiveness of the internal zones and green areas of the National Aquarium. This is a sanctuary of coastal marine biodiversity and offers very beautiful landscapes for photo sessions. With a nice wardrobe, appropriate for the location, you can get a unique and beautiful memory of your photo session.
Requirements:
- To do the photo session at the National Aquarium you only have to go and pay a fee to have rights to photos of RD1,500 Dominican pesos, plus the tickets for each of the adults and children respectively who decide to participate in it and You must fill out a form indicating the number of people who will participate in the photo session.
SEE MORE PHOTOS AT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM
See location of the National Aquarium
Navy Naval Club, Sans Souci
In the first place, this Arabic-Spanish style structure was built by its owner, the architect Félix Benítez Rexach, at the end of the 1940s and beginning of the 50s, then it became the Naval Club for Navy Officers to the fall of the Trujillo government.
The place, due to its variety of environments, allows for exclusive photo sessions that you will not find anywhere else in the city. But the most majestic thing is the blue of the sea and its entire beach up to the wave break that it has on it.
Requirements:
- A direct permit from the Navy is required, which costs RD$5,000 pesos and must be done at least 1 month in advance of the photo session.
See location of the Navy Naval Club
Malecon of Santo Santo Domingo
On the 30 de Mayo Highway there are metal platforms that the Dominican government recently built in support of the fishermen who frequent the southern limits of that part of Santo Domingo. These intense red platforms that protrude largely towards the immense Caribbean Sea provide an ideal environment for photo sessions with that Caribbean touch and with a good sunset they further increase the opportunity to create unique environments in your photos. .
It is good to note that its surroundings have also been enhanced with paths and trees that offer a good opportunity to create charming moments and portraits.
Requirements:
- There is no requirement to take photos at this location.
SEE MORE PHOTOS ON THE MALECON OF SANTO DOMINGO
See location of MALECON OF SANTO DOMINGO
Mirador Sur Park
It is another of the most extensive green areas in the city of Santo Domingo, it has 8 km long of pure vegetation. It also has underground caverns, a pool for rowing boats, paths, sculptures, parks, playgrounds and various fountains in its surroundings.
My recommendation is the spaces around the Lake Garden where you can find various settings that will make your photo session enviable.
Requirements:
- There is no requirement to take photos at this location as long as you do not use the restaurant spaces which are limited to the building and the bridge over the lake.
SEE MORE PHOTOS IN MIRADOR SUR PARK
See location of Mirador Sur Park
Mirador Norte Park
Mirador Norte Park is located between Hermanas Mirabal and Jacobo Majluta avenues in the city of Santo Domingo Norte, Villa Mella. It is the park with the greatest biodiversity in greater Santo Domingo and is an excellent site for photo shoots in all its diverse settings.
It has artificial lakes, extensive green areas, hills and streams, islands and trails, boat rides, paved roads surrounded by beautiful vegetation and places where only your imagination will have limits.
Requirements:
- A payment of RD$1,000 pesos is required, which can be paid at entrance No. 5 on the same day and go to entrance No. 4 for photos where you will find parking and access to the best areas of the park.
SEE MORE PHOTOS IN THE MIRADOR NORTE PARK
See location of Mirador Norte Park
Humedales del Ozama Park
In this park you can find a fairly large forest and several lagoons and streams. This also includes an area of wetlands and mangroves that are found on the banks of the Ozama River.
It is a place where you can do very particular photo sessions that will make a difference in your photo session.
You should be careful because it is a very desolate place and there is no security except at the entrance of the place.
Requirements:
- There is no requirement to take photos at this location.
SEE MORE PHOTOS IN THE HUMEDALES DEL OZAMA PARK
See location of the Humedales del Ozama Park
Juan Baron Plaza
It is a space that combines the sea and a variety of spaces to pose and create a fascinating photographic story. Thanks to the restoration of this place, it is now possible to carry out very particular photo sessions. In addition, there is security at certain times that will make the moment calmer.
Requirements:
- There is no requirement to take photos at this location.
Ver ubicación de la Juan Barón Plaza
Los 3 Ojos Park
Los 3 ojos is an area that has 3 caves that are fed by underground water and their color varies between blue and green.
It is one of the busiest tourist places in the country due to its natural attractiveness and unique beauty. This is why it is an ideal place to hold that wedding or quinceanera session that you long for.
Requirements:
- You must pay a fee of RD5,000 pesos to be able to take photos in this place and request permission at the environmental offices at least 2 weeks in advance.
SEE MORE PHOTOS IN LOS 3 OJOS PARK
See location of Los 3 Ojos Park
A little beyond the limits of Santo Domingo but a few minutes away are:
Ruins of Engombe
Requirements:
- Participation for photo sessions in this park is free. IMPORTANT: this can change at any time since the Ministry of the Environment is the one that protects this space and it is their decision to change this measure at any time. It is important that you confirm in advance with the ministry to confirm any changes.
SEE MORE PHOTOS IN THE RUINS OF ENGOMBE
I hope this helps you get an idea of the infinite possibilities there are to make your photo session a beautiful and unique opportunity. Also, if you have doubts about what clothes to wear for a photo session, I have prepared this post with some tips on what clothes to wear for your photos otherwise you will use a wedding dress.
Don’t forget to leave your comments, your opinion is extremely important, as well as share it with your friends.
