Photography & Video Production in Bend & Beyond: Top Locations to Shoot

Central Oregon offers some of the most versatile and striking locations in the state—whether you're filming a commercial, photographing a portrait session, or producing branded visual content. From alpine lakes to downtown storefronts, these spots deliver cinematic and photographic beauty with easy access and plenty of golden hour potential.

Here’s a look at some of the standout places for photography and video production in Bend and beyond, with notes on what makes each one visually compelling—and a few key insights for drone users where it really matters.

Bend

Pilot Butte

A go-to for city-wide panoramas. From the summit, you can capture 360° views stretching from Mt. Bachelor to Smith Rock. The road to the top is open to vehicles from mid-April to November, weather permitting. It’s especially striking at sunrise or sunset, and offers a solid option for establishing shots, time-lapse sequences, or golden-hour portraits. Drone flights are permitted here.

Drake Park & Mirror Pond

Classic Bend visuals—mirror-like reflections, grassy banks, and a central footbridge. Great for community and lifestyle shoots. The setting pairs well with interview footage, walk-and-talks, or casual outdoor portraits. In fall, the foliage reflects beautifully in the water for vivid color contrast.

Old Mill District & Deschutes River Trail

Versatile for lifestyle content, product visuals, or walk-and-talk segments. Bridges, trails, and mountain views give it a lot of texture. Drone use here is possible with property management approval. This stretch of the river is especially photogenic during early morning or golden hour.

Shevlin Park

Tall pines, aspen groves, and a creek that shifts with the seasons make Shevlin a go-to for grounded, natural visuals. Its quiet trails and clear natural soundscape also make it great for dialogue scenes or voiceover work in nature. Photographers will love the aspen leaves in fall and the soft snow coverage in winter.

West of Bend

Cascade Lakes Highway

Open seasonally (late May through October), this route gives you Sparks, Elk, and Devil’s Lake—each offering alpine water, lava rock, and forest backdrops. Ideal for cinematic b-roll, quiet storytelling, dramatic sunrise scenes, or crisp lake reflections. Drones are allowed in most areas along this route, outside designated wilderness zones. Photographers often favor Sparks Lake at dawn for iconic mountain reflections.

Tumalo Falls

One of Central Oregon’s most iconic waterfall shots. Easy to access, stunning from both across the canyon and up close. A great fit for outdoor brands or moody scenic interludes. The roar of the falls makes it better for visual work than clean audio, unless recorded at a distance. Drone flights are allowed here. It's especially photogenic in spring, when the water flow peaks.

East & Southeast of Bend

Alfalfa Market Road Area

Long, straight roads meet rolling high desert. This area is perfect for stylized product shots, vehicle visuals, editorial portraits, or atmospheric storytelling. With wide-open skies and minimal background clutter, it’s a strong fit for minimalistic or conceptual work. Drone use is permitted here and can enhance the sweeping visual scale.

Millican Valley OHV Area

Rugged, dusty, and wide open. Ideal for action-heavy visuals, off-road content, or projects that need an untamed backdrop. The textures here—dust clouds, scrub brush, raw trails—lend themselves well to dynamic motion shots or adventurous photoshoots. Drones are allowed.

Redmond

Downtown Redmond

Brick storefronts, wide sidewalks, and light foot traffic make downtown Redmond a hidden gem for commercial shoots. It’s especially great for small business storytelling or portrait work with architectural interest. Compared to downtown Bend, it’s easier to film or shoot without interruption or extensive permitting.

Canyon Ridge Area

Views into the canyon plus suburban textures make this area ideal for shoots that blend natural and built environments. Golden hour here casts beautiful light on the rimrock, creating a subtle but dramatic tone. Drone use is allowed if launched from outside restricted areas.

Terrebonne & Beyond

Smith Rock State Park

Towering cliffs, golden light, and winding river trails make this one of Central Oregon’s most cinematic locations.

Fun fact: Smith Rock is home to nesting raptors, and drones are grounded from January 1 through July 31 to protect them. On-the-ground shooting is welcome year-round. The golden-hour glow on the rock faces is particularly striking for both wide landscape shots and intimate portraits.

Crooked River Ranch

Quiet, scenic, and full of wide-open drama. Ideal for narrative scenes, character portraits, or landscape-rich b-roll. The canyons here feel vast and remote without being far from services or paved roads. Drones are allowed and useful here for capturing the scale of the terrain.

Prineville

Downtown Prineville

Stone architecture and a relaxed pace give this downtown a charm that’s hard to fake. Perfect for shoots with a heritage, agricultural, or small-town storytelling angle. The town’s historic structures and slower pace also make it a favorite for stylized photo sessions.

From downtown storefronts to alpine lakes and desert overlooks, Central Oregon has no shortage of standout locations for photography and video production. Whether you’re filming a story in Bend, building a brand in Redmond, or advertising a horse-riding business near Crooked River Ranch, the right backdrop is already waiting—it just takes a little local know-how to find it.

If you’re looking for help with your next shoot—photo, video, or drone—I’d love to hear what you’re working on. I offer visual production services in Bend, and across the wider Central Oregon region, and I’m always up for collaborating on projects that make the most of this place.