Longwood Gardens Christmas Photography Guide
In case you were wondering …
What is the best way to photograph Longwood Gardens Christmas lights?
The best time to photograph Longwood Gardens at Christmas is during 'Blue Hour' (approx. 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM), which balances the exposure of LED displays against a deep blue sky rather than a pitch-black background. Use a wide aperture (f/2.8) and high ISO 1600–3200. Note: Tripods are not permitted inside the Conservatory during Christmas, so a fast lens (f/2.8 & 24-70mm or similar) is essential for sharp handheld shots indoors.
Below you’ll find a suggested scouting walk and evening shoot path. Start indoors, grab some food, head outdoors. Repeat! Images with settings from the past few years follow!
Longwood Gardens Christmas Photography Scout Sheet: Best Locations and Settings
Exhibition Hall at Longwood Gardens During Christmas 2023
The Conservatory (Indoors)
Note: Tripods are generally prohibited inside during Christmas. Fast lenses are essential.
| Zone / Location | Best Subject | Recommended Lens | Photography Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Wall | Portrait Backgrounds Lush living wall |
35mm - 50mm f/1.8 - 2.8 Fast lens or iPhone essential. |
Often overlooked! The 30,000+ plants create a stunning backdrop that looks amazing with a shallow depth of field (bokeh). Bonus! Right near the restrooms. |
| The Music Room | Elaborate Decor Detailed interior |
35mm or 50mm f/1.8 - 2.8 Fast lens / iPhone essential |
This room changes annually and is often dark. Keep your aperture wide open here to capture details without ISO noise. |
| Exhibition Hall | The "Main" display Changes dramatically every year |
14-24mm Ultra Wide Angle |
Be Patient At 24mm you'll need to be back in the hallway a bit. At 14mm you can be closer. The best wide shot will be a challenge to take with all of the people walking in front of you. |
| Acacia Passage | Leading Lines Symmetrical hallway |
24-70mm or 50mm Standard Zoom/Prime |
Use the repeating columns and hanging display decorations to create a strong leading line. Center your subject for a perfect shot. |
| West Conservatory | Floating Gardens Modern glass & water |
16-35mm Wide Angle |
Balance the Light. This new space is massive and glassy. Shoot at twilight to balance warm interior lights with cool blue sky. |
Lake reflections at A Longwood Christmas 2025
The Gardens (Outdoors)
Note: Tripods are generally permitted outdoors.
| Zone / Location | Best Subject | Recommended Lens | Photography Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illuminated Fountain | Choreographed Water Light & Water Show |
24-70mm / 70-200mm Versatile Zoom |
Freeze or Flow. Use fast shutter (1/250s+) to freeze droplets, or slow shutter (1/10s) to blur water while keeping lights sharp. |
| Large Lake | Reflections "Floating" light displays |
Tripod + 50mm Stabilization Required |
Requires a long exposure (2-10 seconds) to smooth the water. Tripod pretty important here to smooth the water. |
| Italian Water Garden | Symmetry & Pools Geometric Reflection |
24-70mm Standard Zoom |
The "Mirror" Shot. Stand dead center at the viewing platform. The illuminated fountains reflect perfectly in the pools. Best at twilight. |
| The Light Tunnel | "Infinity" Portrait Dense light tunnel |
85mm - 200mm Telephoto |
Compression is key. Stand far back on the path and zoom in to make the lights look denser and "stack" the background behind your subject. |
| Peirce-du Pont House | Classic Christmas "A Dicken's Christmas" Look |
16-35mm Wide Angle |
Lovely ornaments, wreaths and presents. Near to the Garden trains if you enjoy model train sets. |
| Holiday Tree | The Main Tree Massive scale |
16-35mm or 70mm from up the pathway. |
The scale is massive. Shoot from a distance. Great opportunity for silouhetted images in front of the tree. |
Longwood Gardens’ Christmas display is legendary - for good reason - it’s visual magic. Because of its popularity, tickets are timed, and evening arrivals sell out quickly. But that’s 100% okay - because you want to reach the grounds with enough time to walk the paths, figure out the light, and make a plan for when the sun goes down, and the lights go up.
This year’s spectacle (2025) was even more special, with totally reinvented gardens and new buildings… aka. “Longwood Reimagined”. Highlights included the new West Conservatory and the beautiful Cascade Garden. The architecture of the West Conservatory alone is worth the price of admission—a floating palace of glass and steel that feels like it defies gravity. Of course, the Main Conservatory still steals the show, and I spent a solid hour there noting angles, rooms, and displays that I wanted to photograph once the sun went down.
Just remember, if you arrive at night, you’re shooting in the dark—literally. Arrive early to scout locations and capture the intricate details of the updated gardens while having natural light.
PRO TIP - Grab a fast, early dinner at the restaurant before the rush starts. I’d target 4 pm or so. It gets really busy around 4:30 - 5 pm, and you could spend a solid 30 minutes waiting for food and eating. I HIGHLY recommend the mushroom soup!
Decorations from A Gilded Gala in the Music Room at the Longwood Gardens Christmas display
Never Been to Longwood Gardens? Here’s What You'll SEE
Green Wall Tree
Every year, a stunningly decorated tree can be found at the beginning of the Green Wall.
Longwood Gardens Pipe Organ
The Ballroom also features a gorgeous sounding pipe organ where live organists perform Christmas carols. Enjoy this moment for sure, but be careful with your time! You may find yourself enjoying it too much!
Music Room - 2023
Every year the Music Room is completely re-invented. In 2023, the room had a swanky 1950’s bar vibe!
Exhibition Hall Close Up Detail - 2025
The 2025 Exhibition Hall featured a jewel-toned fabric tree. I loved the angular ferns that mirrored the fabric elements.
Acacia Passage
It will be next to impossible to get a shot without guests in the hall … and that’s 100% okay! If you’re truly telling the story of Longwood Gardens visitors are one of the key chapters.
Glowing Globes at Sunset - outside of the West Conservatory
The magic hour at Longwood isn't midnight; it’s twilight. That 20-minute window when the sky moves from gold to royal blue and the Christmas lights have just clicked on.
Christmas Night Lights
Blue Hour and early evening offer promising photo ops, with the sunset behind the Conservatories and the Main Fountain Garden. There are some elevated areas near the Fountain Garden, in particular, that can deliver great shots, and the glowing globes above matched the colors of sunset just beautifully.
As nightfall sets in, it’s time to leverage all of the information in your head (or note pad) from the afternoon of scouting. Note that inside you won’t see dramatic changes in the rooms except for shots that pick up the glass roof. So, if you feel you got all of the photos you wanted while scouting the conservatories, spend the bulk of your remaining time in the gardens.
The grounds at Longwood Gardens are massive - over 1,100 acres! Just follow the path I’ve laid out and you’ll cover the majority of the sites.
Enjoy the lights and musical show at the Main Fountain Garden - they’re located immediately beside/ below the Conservatories and provide an infinite number of angles and shots while listening to Christmas music.
Head back toward the main lighted area for the Illuminated Fountain show at the Open Air Theater (runs every :15 minutes)
Continue down the path to the Small Lake Light and Large Lake Light Displays. Reminder, these areas are best shot with a tripod and offer some amazing reflections and colors
Continue to the Italian Water Garden Light Display
Wander along the path through the lighted meadow
Grab some pics of the Meadown Tunnel Light Display - very social media worthy :)
Duck into the Peirce-du Pont House - a beautifully decorated ‘Gilded Age’ style Christmas house
Head toward the visitors center and photograph the snowflakes and Visitors Tree
PRO TIP - Longwood Gardens offers a mobile map that is incredbily informative and beneficial when you are onsite!
Don’t Miss Sunset!
The Fountain Gardens in 2023 as “Blue Hour” takes command of the light.
On The Fly Creativity
Light, natural or human, can deliver some amazing moments.
Christmas Light Tunnel
Super fun, Instagram-worthy spot along the trail.
Holiday Tree
The Holiday Tree near the visitor’s center presents some pretty incredible photo opportunities. If I could have only gotten this couple to move just a little farther to the left!
Ready to Photograph Longwood Gardens at Christmas?
You’ve seen the photos on Facebook and Instagram. Your friends have been talking about it for years. Guess what, it's even more spectacular in person!
Here’s the last Pro Tip: Tickets sell out fast. Weekends and Fridays are particularly tough to get. Arriving at 2:30 pm will definitely improve your odds of going but get your tickets early!
📸 Intereseted in These Images? Browse available prints
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A Longwood Christmas runs from November 21, 2025, through January 11, 2026. The Gardens are open daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. During this period, the display features over 500,000 outdoor lights, festive fountain shows, and meticulously decorated indoor conservatories.ext goes here
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Yes, timed-entry tickets are required and must be purchased in advance. Because this is the most popular season of the year, tickets frequently sell out weeks ahead of time—especially for weekends and the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Tickets are not sold on-site when a time slot is sold out.
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The best time to visit for smaller crowds is Monday through Thursday during the first two weeks of December or the first week of January. For the best visual experience, book a 2:00 - 2:30 pm arrival. This allows you to see the indoor conservatory displays in daylight and witness the outdoor lights as they turn on at dusk.
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For the 2025 season, ticket prices vary by date (Peak vs. Off-Peak). Generally:
Adults (19+): $30–$44
Youth (5–18): $16–$25
Children (4 & under): Free (but still require a timed reservation)
Members: Free, but require a timed reservation for every day of the Christmas season.
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The 2025 theme is "A Gem of a Holiday," featuring gemstone-inspired displays. Visitors can expect to see the Main Conservatory transformed with "gilded gala" décor, featuring sapphire blues, ruby reds, and emerald greens. A highlight includes the West Conservatory, part of the newly opened Longwood Reimagined expansion, featuring floating trees and Mediterranean-inspired holiday flair.
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Longwood Gardens offers free on-site parking. During peak visitation times, staff will direct you to overflow lots. A free shuttle service is provided from these overflow lots directly to the Visitor Center entrance. Accessible parking is located near the front of the main lot for those with valid permits.
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Yes, but they are weather-dependent. The Open Air Theatre features 5-minute fountain shows choreographed to holiday music every 15 minutes starting at 12:00 pm. Note that fountains will not run if temperatures drop below freezing. The Main Fountain Garden remains closed for the winter season.
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There are several dining options available. Get the mushroom soup!
The Café: Self-service dining with seasonal soups, sandwiches, and hot cocoa.
1906: A full-service, fine-dining experience (reservations highly recommended).
The Beer Garden: Outdoor festive snacks and local brews, often featuring fire pits.
The Fountain Room: Offers a "Taste of Christmas" buffet on select dates (requires a separate ticket).
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Tripods and monopods are permitted in outdoor gardens only. To ensure guest safety and flow, they are prohibited inside all Conservatories and during Illuminated Fountain Performances. If you are using a tripod outdoors, you must be mindful not to block pathways or guest movement. Longwood staff reserves the right to restrict tripod use on high-volume "Peak" days.
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Any professional, contracted, or special occasion photography requires a paid permit and must be scheduled at least 14 days in advance. This includes engagement, family portrait, and holiday card sessions. For the 2025 season:
Permit Fee: Starts at $250 (covers the photographer only; clients need separate tickets).
Location: Professional sessions are restricted to outdoor areas only; no professional photography is permitted inside the Conservatories.
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No, drones and all other remote-controlled aircraft are strictly prohibited at Longwood Gardens. This policy is in place to protect the safety of guests and the integrity of the botanical displays.
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Yes, Longwood occasionally offers "Open Photography Hours" on select mornings (typically 7:00 am – 10:00 am). These ticketed events allow photographers to capture the Conservatories and gardens with professional gear before the general public arrives. Check the official event calendar for specific dates in December 2025 and January 2026.
Last updated January 2026.
© 2026 Don Mennig Fine Art Photography
