TAKING PICTURES ON NIAGARA FALLS TOURS

Taking pictures during your Niagara Falls Canada tour is the best way to capture those once in a lifetime moments that you’ll want to remember forever.

ARE CAMERAS ALLOWED ON NIAGARA FALLS TOURS?

Yes!

They’re encouraged during all parts of the tour, including on all included attractions.

Note: This covers personal hand held cameras. Some additional commercial photography equipment may not be allowed within the attractions without permission from Niagara Parks or Hornblower cruises.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your Niagara Falls photos.

PROTECT YOUR CAMERA OR SMARTPHONE DURING THE TOUR

The mist from the falls can be intense, especially when you’re up close to the falls at the Table Rock Centre or during the boat tour portion of the experience.

Here’s some advice from Niagara Falls Tourism’s expert media designer:

“Taking pictures close to the falls can be tricky, mainly because of the mist. Always account for your camera or cell phone to get wet, but you can still take photos even if you’re getting wet. This is usually what I do:

I put my camera in a small clear bag that has a hole at the end for the lens, and I tie it with elastics. That’s enough to keep the main features of the camera protected. Sometimes I would ask the staff at the Hornblower boat tour to provide me with a kids’ size poncho. That helps too.

I recommend a monopod for those who want to bring a professional camera. A tripod is too big, and since the boat is moving, it defeats its purpose. A monopod is much more versatile and gives you some stability.

Bring a towel – you’ll need it to wipe down the lens or your phone.

For phones, you can place them in waterproof cases, but it may not be necessary. Most phones nowadays have some kind of water resistance protection. For the time the boat stays close to the Falls and you’re getting wet, it should be fine to have your phone out.”

FOCUS ON THE BEST LOCATIONS TO TAKE PHOTOS DURING THE TOUR

There’s really no bad time to take photos during our walking tour but there are certain vantage points that are more impressive than others.

• Table Rock Welcome Centre: Offers stunning views of the Horseshoe Falls. Keep an eye out for a rainbow!


• Skylon Tower: Provides a panoramic view from above.


• Nikola Tesla Statue: The position of the statue was purposely chosen to give it a wonderful view of Niagara Falls, making it a great spot for pics.


• Hornblower Boat Cruise: This is where the tips from Valentina above about protecting your camera come in handy.

HOW TO TAKE THE BEST PICTURES DURING A NIAGARA FALLS TOUR

Now that you know WHERE to take the best pictures let’s take about some ways you can make sure your pictures turn out.

• Take Them During Golden Hour: Early morning or late afternoon provides softer, more dramatic lighting.


• Take Some at Night: The falls are illuminated after dark with colorful lights. Use a tripod for long exposures.


• Take Action Shots: Capture the dynamic action of mist and waves while wearing a poncho to stay dry.


• Include people in your shots: For a sense of scale, but balance the composition to keep the falls as the focal point.


• Experiment with low angles: For dramatic perspectives.

These days with the capabilities of our phone cameras it’s hard to take bad pictures, but hopefully these tips and ideas help you capture the absolute BEST pictures of your Niagara Falls tour experience.