Way way back in 2021 I had the great idea to take Christopher to all 22 squares in Savannah and photograph him in each one. I needed marketing material, to get to know downtown even better, and practice with my camera so off we went! Since he’d just turned 5 I told myself I would do the same project with Ada when she turned 5.
Five seemed like a good enough milestone year and at that time it would be 3 years until I took her around, which meant I could not just use the project to have more marketing material and work with my camera but also to see how some things downtown had changed over 3 years. Well…this spring Ada turned 5 and downtown we went!
For almost 5 months…photographing each square with her was vastly different than photographing each square with Christopher. He was so easy and has always been such a camera ham – her on the other hand…she needs to be interested in the assignment in order to truly participate lol.
This time around also rather than just share photos I’ve gone through the exercise of rating each square so I can speak to why I do or don’t care to hold sessions in each square. The rating criteria (because alliteration is the best) are parking, privacy, and pretty. I’ve ranked each square 1-5 and added the three up for total scores.
For parking I’ve based my numbers on how easy it is to find parking when I head downtown at any given time. I realize this is subject to so many factors but it is what it is from my opinion, 1 being the worst and 5 being no trouble ever to find a spot close by. For privacy I’ve based my numbers on how many people are typically in the area, not many people want a ton of spectators during their sessions and no one really wants people in the background of all their photos. This scale is 1 for no privacy and 5 being pretty quiet around the area. For pretty, I’ve ranked on a 1 to 5 from not the prettiest backdrop to the prettiest backdrop.
I’ll be sharing the squares in groups alphabetically – I hope this post is helpful when you are considering your downtown Savannah photoshoots and helps you choose the square that’s right for you! And also, enjoy the cute pictures of Ada-tot.
Chatham, Chippewa, Columbia, and Crawford Squares
Chatham Square is one of the higher ranked squares on my list scoring 12 out of 15 points – 4 for parking, 4 for privacy, and 4 for pretty. It’s a pretty standard square in Savannah – great oak trees, brick walkways, nice houses, etc. It’s also close enough to Forsyth Park to walk over during the session and get a 2 for 1 location – especially if you’re doing a senior session and want to stretch the squares and side streets location.
Chippewa Square scored an 8 out of 15 – 3 for parking, 2 for privacy, and 3 for pretty. I wouldn’t necessarily suggest a client have a photoshoot in this square but also if a client had a specific reason to request this square I wouldn’t try to talk them out of it.
Columbia Square is also a high scoring square – 13 out of 15 – 5 for parking, 4 for privacy, and 4 for pretty. I use this square quite a bit and I’ve never had trouble finding parking either right on the square or so close by you can see the square from your parking spot. The fountain in the middle makes for a nice backdrop and the square has some nice oak trees which frame the sidewalks for some great shots.
Crawford Square ties for the highest ranking square on the list (are you surprised?? lol) scoring a 14 out of 15 – 5 for parking, 4 for privacy, and 5 for pretty. The only reason this square doesn’t get a perfect score is because of the basketball court. During most of the sessions I photograph in Crawford Square there’s a pickup game going on and so there are people in the square.
Ellis, Franklin, and Greene Squares
Ok not to hate and when I say the next statement I know this is my post and I can do whatever I want but…if I could give zeros I’d give them to Ellis and Franklin Squares. As it were though, I’ve given both squares a 3 – 1 point each for parking, privacy, and pretty. The ONLY reason you don’t see a ton of people in the background of the photos I’ve taken it because we went down one Friday morning at 7 am to get these photos and people just weren’t out (or awake) yet. In general these two square are busy and parking is a nightmare – with city market sitting between the two they just are not the most photogenic spots in Savannah.
Greene Square however scored an 12 out of 15 – 4 for parking, 4 for privacy, and 4 for pretty. It’s one of the squares I photograph in the most because its square neighbor is Crawford Square. Greene Square has a great green middle, oyster shell sidewalks, and large oak trees. It’s a great square if you have a larger group and want some green space featured in your photos.
Johnson, Lafayette, and Madison Squares
Johnson Square is another low scoring square in my book scoring a 4 out of 15 – 1 for parking, 1 for privacy, and 2 for pretty. I’m throwing it a bone with the 2 on pretty because there are two fountain in the square and when they are full and turned on they make for a cute photo spot, if there aren’t tons of people camped out in the background.
Lafayette Square hits the middle of the road with is score 9 out of 15 – 3 for parking, 3 for privacy, and 3 for pretty. The cathedral being right off the square makes for a pretty backdrop and the fountain is nice but the square it smaller and there are usually a lot of people walking through so getting great photos easily can be a little challenging.
Madison Square scores a 10 out of 15 in my book – 3 for parking, 3 for privacy, and 4 for pretty. There are some nice hydrangeas in the square in early June and the area around the square is a 5 out of 5 for pretty. It’s not my favorite square but it’s also well placed on the higher side of the list.
Monterey, Oglethorpe, and Orleans Squares
Monterey Square scored an 8 out of 15 – 3 for parking, 2 for privacy, and 3 for pretty. It’s another that is a little than other squares and because it doesn’t have a specific “feature” just is. In truth the area surrounding the square is more photogenic than the square itself and outside of the photo above the other photos I took and included in Ada’s squares album are from the buildings and streets right around the square.
Oglethorpe Square is another middle of the road square scoring a 9 out of 15 – 3 for parking, 3 for privacy, and 3 for pretty. As with most of the middle of the scoring squares there just isn’t that special pop to the square that makes it irresistible. It’s not a bad place for photos, there is a pretty tree in the late fall early winter that has leaves that will turn pretty colors and the area outside the square is pretty picturesque.
Orleans Square has a score of 12 out of 15 – 4 for parking, 3 for privacy, and 5 for pretty. I will say I should asterisk that 4 out of 5 for parking because I’ve not had issues finding an easy spot BUT if there is something going on at the civic center I imagine parking wouldn’t necessarily be the easiest to find. Orleans Square is one of my top squares for senior and family sessions. The fountain in the middle is great, the green space around the square is adequate, there are azaleas that bloom in the spring and fall, there really isn’t much more you can ask for!
Pulaski, Reynolds, and Taylor Square
Pulaski Square was a hard one to score…I gave it a 12 out of 15 – 5 for parking, 4 for privacy, and 3 for pretty. I think in the spring when the jasmine is blooming Pulaski fully deserves a 5 out of 5 for pretty because the jasmine right off the square is to die for but outside of that the square is typical Savannah pretty. I do like having senior sessions in Pulaski square though because there are usually not many people floating about and the walk over to Jones Street is very short.
Reynolds Square scores a 7 out of 15 – 2 for parking, 2 for privacy, and 3 for pretty. There is a parking garage right on the square so I probably should rank the parking higher but I don’t like parking in the garages, especially for photoshoots so that’s just a personal thing. Having The Olde Pink House right off the square also gives Reynolds a little boost in the pretty department but honestly outside of that one photo on the wall beside The Pink House the Reynolds Square charm can be found in other squares without the hassle of the crowd.
Taylor Square (formerly known as Calhoun Square) has a score of 10 out of 15 – 3 for parking, 3 for privacy, and 4 or pretty. I like Taylor Square but really only as a complementary square to Whitefield Square (park in between and walk to both). There are some pretty oak trees and during the winter months the camellias are gorgeous but I don’t typically suggest Taylor as the main event for a session.
Telfair, Troup, and Warren Squares
Telfair Square scored a 7 out of 15 in my rankings – 2 for parking, 2 for privacy, and 3 for pretty. This is another square in town that would score a lot higher if it were in a different part of downtown but the business of the area make it kind of a pain to photograph.
I gave Troup Square a 10 out of 15 – 5 for parking, 4 for privacy, and 2 for pretty. This square is another square that pairs well with Whitefield Square and has a few buildings around the square that make it worth walking down to during a senior session. There are also some pretty blue hydrangeas in early June that help boost the pretty factor here.
Warren Square is another middle of the road square scoring a 9 out of 15 – 3 for parking, 3 for privacy, and 3 for pretty. Much like Reynolds Square I could score the parking higher due to a parking garage right off the square but eh. This is a square that is just fine but really you can find some of the charming aspects (like the oyster shell benches) in other squares that have prettier photographic points.
Washington, Whitefield, and Wright Squares
The square that ties with Crawford for the highest score is Washington Square, 14 out of 15 – 5 for parking, 4 for privacy, and 5 for pretty. This is a square that is so close to Bay Street but I never have an issue finding parking, the foot traffic is pretty light, and the pretty is just perfect! The square has oyster shell benches and walkways, nice trees, pretty buildings surrounding the area, etc. It’s definitely one of my go-to squares in Savannah for photoshoots.
Whitefield Square is just behind Crawford and Washington scoring a 13 out of 15 – 5 for parking, 3 for privacy, and 5 for pretty. I dinged this square for privacy because there always seems to be people hanging out in the gazebo. The floral aspects in the square and the area surrounding it make up for this though and Whitefield is one of my favorite squares for senior photoshoots in Savannah!
Last but not least (although close to least 😬) is Wright Square which scores a 6 out of 15 – 2 for parking, 2 for privacy, and 2 for pretty. The ONLY reason I was able to shoot this square with ease was because it was sprinkling the afternoon we went downtown to do this square. It’s one that I should have done in the morning before Savannah wakes up but Ada isn’t really a morning girl so I made it work one afternoon. It’s in a busier part of town and just not my favorite.
Ada’s Square Project Wrap Up
Well there you have it – some cute photos of Ada and my thoughts on each square as I see them fit for senior and family photoshoots in Savannah. This project really was fun, even though she gave me a harder time than Christopher did haha!! It’s definitely something that I know I will look back on and be happy we did. I already ordered her an album of “her” squares and she’s excited to see it when it arrives.
In a couple of years when Christopher turns 10 I’m planning to do it all again! It really is a great exercise for me as a photographer here in Savannah to stay familiar with these areas of downtown and to refresh myself on why I do or don’t like photographing certain squares. It’s also a great exercise to help me get back to certain squares that I have shot before but maybe don’t gravitate toward and revisit them to decide if they should go on my recommended squares list.
Want to know more about photoshoots in Savannah, Georgia?
You can some of the photos from Christopher’s Savannah Squares project with the links below!
Savannah Squares | Christopher | Part One
Savannah Squares | Christopher | Part Two
If you’re interested in a squares and side streets photoshoot please take a moment to fill out a contact form! I’d love to send you information about senior sessions in Savannah or family sessions in Savannah!
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