There’s Texas, and then there’s Austin. This eclectic capital city is an oasis of cool in a land of honky-tonk that’s best known for its live music scene and keeping things weird. A hotbed of art and culture, Austin marches to its own drumbeat. There’s more magic than expected to capture here through photography, it’s hard to know where to start.
That’s where photographer and influencer Alejandro Toro comes in. He visited SpringHill Suites by Marriott Austin Cedar Park to shoot the sights of this Texas gem and came up with a list of Instagrammable Austin photo destinations that with a little digging, go beyond expectations. From flying bats to stunning murals, here’s your guide to can’t-miss snaps in America’s quirkiest city.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Rainey Street
If you’re looking for Instagrammable Austin moments, Alejandro says spending an afternoon on Rainey Street is the way to find them. Here, bungalow-houses-turned-bars, food trucks, and other funky hangouts line the block, and both Austinites and tourists mingle and meander on the streets.
Photography Tip: At this location, Alejandro encourages photographers to think beyond their Instagram grids: “You could make good Instagram stories with everything that’s happening on this busy and fun street.”
Capture the experience in ways your audience might not expect, such as close-up videos, to tell the story of your day.
Texas State Capitol
They say everything is bigger in Texas, so it’s no surprise that the Texas State Capitol is the largest state capitol building in the nation, and it’s about 14 feet higher than the U.S. Capitol — bigger than most visitors expect.
Completed in 1888, the pink granite structure features Renaissance Revival architecture and makes a stunning photo backdrop on sunny days.
Photography Tip: For Alejandro, photo editing begins right before he takes a picture. The focus, framing, and lighting come together to form a message as soon as he clicks the shutter, so he focuses on planning the shot before taking it.
Practice this technique at the Capitol building to create better images, but don’t miss the surrounding scenery. The Capitol grounds feature a stellar view of Austin’s commercial district on one side and the Colorado River on the other.
Uncommon Objects
Filled to the brim with knickknacks showcasing Americana culture, this emporium was assembled by dozens of antique sellers, and everything here is for sale. Expect a daily restocked barrage of antique photos and bottles, unsettling masks and busts, and an assortment of old children’s toys. Come to snap, shop and take a walk down memory lane.
Photography Tip: When it comes to photographing here, choose objects that stand out — that exceed expectations. Perhaps a toy that reminds you of one you had as a child or anything else that evokes a sense of nostalgia.
Alejandro says, “Place your chosen object in either your hand — as far away from your phone as possible — or somewhere separated from the background … Then bring your aperture as low as possible or choose portrait mode on your phone, focus on your ‘uncommon object,’ and snap!”
‘Greetings from Austin’ Mural
Austin is famous for its murals, but this “Greetings from Austin” postcard-style painting is Instagram gold. Find it downtown on South 1st Street beside a business called Roadhouse Relics.
Photography Tip: Adding a shot here to your grid? Since the mural is wide, consider shooting your iPhone image in square to capture it all in the frame. If you’re toting a DSLR camera rig, note that you’ll have to step into the street to fit everything.
Watch for oncoming traffic, and don’t leave a camera set up on a tripod here.
Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
On every summer night in Austin, hundreds of people gather to watch the world’s largest urban bat colony emerge from underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge in search of food. When engineers reconstructed this bridge in 1980, they had no clue that the crevices they designed were an ideal space for bats to roost.
Today, an estimated 1.5 million of these Mexican free-tailed bats migrate here from central Mexico for the summer. And while Austinites were at first reluctant to embrace the bat population, over time the nightly flight has become a beloved attraction.
Alejandro says it was a highlight of his Austin visit. “For me, it’s a symbolism for migration and how it can be magical if we look at it as nature running its course.”
Photography Tip: While many people watch the bats from the bridge, you’ll get the best photo vantage point on the water. Take a bat-watching boat or kayak tour to snap spectacular sunset and bat pictures in one fell swoop.
Be in place about 20 minutes before sunset to shoot the bats as they first begin to take flight. Shoot a time lapse of the entire bat flight in Instagram to add to your story. Tag the location to maximize your views.
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