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

Jul 13 2026 | By: The Imagery Portrait Photography

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

  1. Whitetail Woods Regional Park just outside Farmington

  2. lyndale park rose garden

  3. Archibald Mill Ruins - Dundas (MN)

 

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