The Imagerys Top 80 and more Photoshoot Locations in a tri-state area of MN, WI, and IA

For more than 35 years, one of the questions we've heard most often is:

"Where should we have our session?"

The funny thing is... the "perfect" location isn't always the most famous one.

Sometimes it's a quiet park with beautiful evening light.

Sometimes it's a colorful alley full of murals.

Sometimes it's your own backyard.

Over the years, Rod has probably photographed portraits in hundreds of different places throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and beyond. Along the way, he's kept a running mental list of locations that consistently create beautiful portraits—and just as importantly, which ones are easy to access, have convenient parking, are worth the drive, or come with a few challenges.

So we finally decided to write them down.

Whether you're planning senior pictures, family portraits, engagement photos, business branding, or just looking for inspiration, here's Rod's growing list of favorite portrait locations.

And we're not finished yet.

If you know a hidden gem we should explore, we'd genuinely love to hear about it. Send us your suggestion at theimagerymn@aol.com. We're always looking for the next beautiful place to tell someone's story.

Here's the list (with some from Duluth, Des Moines, and Wisconsin sprinkled in).

1. The Imagery’s Portrait Park - So many options in a close convenient space. 

2. Hot Sams - WOW, so many options at this Antique Store. 

3. Terrace Oaks - Easy Parking, Easy walk to high grasses, usually not crowded 

4. Lebanon Hills - Lakes, hills, high grasses, LOTS of people 

5. Thomas Lake Park - VERY easy parking easy to get around

6. Stone Arch Bridge - Poor Parking, Lots of people but tops for scenery of Minneapolis

7. Loring Park - Poor Parking, Lots of people but tops for scenery of Minneapolis

8. Sculpture Gardens (Franconia better than Minneapolis) MSP has poor Parking, Lots of people but tops for scenery of Minneapolis best shot just before sunset as not a lot of spots for shade.

9. Your back yard and home - many spots within personal spaces are probably ones that you never thought of before--doors, garages, fun furniture, rugs and comforters can transform into backgrounds…lots of creative possibilities.

10.  Skyline Minneapolis – anywhere downtown is logistically harder, parking issues and walking distances, lots of people in background, can use tops of parking garages for scenery of Minneapolis

11.  Big Stone Mini Golf - Hidden Gem 

12.  Stillwater - Downtown

13.  Duluth Shore, Leif Erikson Park Garden

14.  Peavey Plaza

15.  St. Paul Library and Downtown Area

16.  Ames Center - Burnsville

17.  Mill Ruins

18.  Japanese Garden Normandale

19.  First Avenue/Downtown Streets

20.  St. Paul-Minneapolis Union Depot

21.  Landmark Center

22.  James J. Hill Center

23.  Rice Park

24.  Mick’s Dinner

25.  Lake Harriet Band Shelter

26.  Hunt and Gather Antiques Store (fun large signs and letters)

27.  Lake Nokomis 

28.  9 mile creek

29.  Old Mill Park Hastings

30.  LaCrosse - Beach/Downtown

31.  Duluth (to many places to name)

32.  Minnehaha Falls

33.  Taylor Falls

34.  Swing Bridge park (Hastings)

35.  The Little Log House Pioneer Village

36.  Willow River State Park

37.  Minnesota Transportation Museum

38.  Split Rock Light House

39.  Gooseberry Falls

40.  Lyndale Park Rose Garden

41.  Hidden Falls Park.

42.  Normandale Japanese Garden

43.  Gale Mansion

44.  Stone Arch Bridge

45.  Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

46.  Centennial Lakes Park

47.  Fort Snelling State Park

48.  Lake Harriett

49.  Como Park

50.  Normandale Lake Park

51.  Ritter Park

52.  Walker Art Center

53.  Minnehaha Dog Park

54.  Northern Pacific Center in Brainerd, MN

55.  Blair Arcade building

56.  Commonwealth Ave, Duluth, MN 55808

57.  Can Can Wonderland

58.  https://rh.com/minneapolis/restaurant

59.  Bond Falls, MI

60.  Willow River State Park

61.  Burkhardt, Wisconsin - sunflower field 

62.  Find murals around town with a mural guide

63.  Wisconsin-Paradise Springs Nature Trail

64.  Botanical Center Gardens, Des Moines, IA

65.  Lake Vermilion (We have private water-only access property, boat access to many scenic areas around the lake, and can explore Cook, Tower, and Ely, MN downtown as well.)

66.  Burwell House in Minnetonka

67.  the tunnel behind the Sibley House in Mendota for graffiti 

68. Devils doorway- wiBaraboo, WI

69. Glade Creek Grist Mill (fun trip)

70. Fort Snelling Park by the MSP airport  airplane over head Airport Dog Park 1 off 28th

71. Tower Hill Prospect Park

72. https://www.planetware.com/wisconsin/best-waterfalls-in-wisconsin-us-wi-105.htm 

73. Northfield  

74.  FRGMNT coffee shop in Minneapolis

75.  Minneapolis street art graffiti 

76. Parking ramps of minneapolis 

77. Foshay Museum & Observation Deck

78. Coldwater Spring     -  Castle Ruins… 

79. Photographers go here for portraits. Not sure if the tall grass is still matted down from winter or not though. Its cool because it has the tall grass with isolated trees but also ponds and an old barn. All great for portraits

80. Whitetail Woods Regional Park just outside Farmington

81. lyndale park rose garden

82. Archibald Mill Ruins - Dundas (MN)