Let’s be honest, nowadays, with our smartphones, we are all basically amateur photographers. Of course our phone pictures are no replacement for professional portraits, but that doesn’t mean they can’t look good! One of the keys to making even your phone photos look fabulous is finding great looking backgrounds. Luckily for us Tacomans, there are a ton of Instagram-worthy spots in our city. Here are 10 unique spots for your photos that you can only find right here in Tacoma! This is by no means a comprehensive list, so we would love to hear about your favorite spots too!
The Moss Graffiti Wall – In the parking lot above Owen Beach there is mossy wall with some very Pacific Northwest style graffiti carved into the green. As you can see, it makes for a super interesting and unique background for a photo. 5605 Owen Beach Rd, Tacoma, WA 98407
The Museum of Glass – This has been a favorite photo spot of Tacomans for years and it still holds up! Modern architecture paired with striking glass art provides some really fun photo opportunities. 1801 Dock St, Tacoma, WA 98402
Market St. Murals – Market St. downtown between 9th and 11th has an ever changing array of murals that will give you a variety of cool urban background options, all within a couple blocks of each other. 1122 Market St, Tacoma, WA 98402
Shake Shake Shake – This burger joint in the Stadium district has the coolest vibe and a giant EAT sign that is begging to be Instagrammed! 124 N Tacoma Ave, Tacoma, WA 98403
Sanford and Son – This awesome antique shop is a labyrinth of cool things to Instagram, and outside there is a fantastic blue door that (when there aren’t antique desks in front of it) will make your friends think you took a trip to Morocco! 743 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402
W.W. Seymour Conservatory – Stepping into the conservatory is a bit like stepping into another world. Its warm and full of beautiful plants you’ve never seen anywhere else. Pretty much any spot in here makes for a great instagram background. 316 S G St, Tacoma, WA 98405
Tree – Tree is an amazing new addition to the Tacoma landscape that sells beautiful eco-friendly furniture and home decor. They have transformed the old Nisqually Power Sub-Station and now every corner looks like a magazine. You have to see this place to believe it and any photo you take here will turn out gorgeous. 2416 S C St, Tacoma, WA 98402
Opera Alley – If you want bright solid color backgrounds for your photos you’ll definitely want to go here. And there are plenty of colors to choose from! Opera Alley is one of the most colorful spots in Tacoma and it makes for some pretty magical photos. 709 Court C/Opera Alley Tacoma, WA 98402
10th & Commerce St. Bridge – This is a cool spot that often gets overlooked as a photo location because it is just a footbridge that runs over a bus stop. The unique domed glass roof and brightly painted sides look awesome in photos though! 923 Commerce St, Tacoma, WA 98402
The Umbrella Wall – This Tacoma classic is a perfect representation of the Tacoma spirit. It may be grey and rainy here, but we like to make the best of it! 216 Puyallup Ave, Tacoma, WA 98421
