family photos location guide
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Your guide to amazing locations around the Twin Cities area for your family photos.
FLOWERS
Magical, Whimsical, Feminine
LYNDALE PARK ROSE GARDEN
Iconic Minneapolis flower garden with fountains, lush gardens, greenery, paths. Located across the street from Lake Harriet, it is great for a lot of beautiful variety for senior pictures!
Best time of year: May for apple blossoms, June for lilacs, August for roses (beautiful all year long!)
LONGFELLOW GARDENS
4124 Roseway Rd, Mpls
3933 E. Minnehaha Pkwy, Mpls
Straight out of a fairytale, these gardens offer ultimate variety of flowers, trellises, pergola, trees, grasses, wildflowers. Gardens of all sorts- this is beautiful and dreamy! Just across the street from Minnehaha Falls, it's a no brainer pairing for ultimate variety.
Best time of year: June through October
NOERENBURG GARDENS
The meticulously manicured grounds of Noerenburg Gardens creates a magic photo vibe. Stunning flowers, shaded trees, and to top it off- a charming lakeside pavillion right along the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
Best time of year: June through August
ARNESON ACRES PARK
2865 North Shore Drive, Orono
4711 W. 70th St, Edina
A beautiful Edina park! Gorgeous greenery, flowers, a fountain, cobblestone paths, open greenery, trees. Beautiful at sunrise and sunset.
Best time of year: June through November
MILLENIUM GARDEN
If you want a huge variety of beautiful flowers in your photos, with the sun setting behind you - then this is your spot! Tons of flowers, a marsh area, wooded area.
Best time of year: June-July
COMO PARK CONSERVATORY
14800 34th Ave, Plymouth
1225 Estabrook Drive, St. Paul
The grounds outside of Como Park Conservatory are stunning! Lush flowers, a bridge and pond, greenery, walking paths. The clean, white structure of the Conservatory is a neutral, yet breathtaking backdrop to photos. The Conservatory's staircase also adds beautiful interest in photos.
Best time of year: June-August
LAKES
Calm, Tranquil, Classic Minnesota
LAKE HARRIET
My favorite of the Minneapolis chain of lakes, you can never go wrong with Lake Harriet! In addition to the lake, beautiful sailboats and docks, the iconic Lake Harriet Bandshell creates a stunning, neutral backdrop for photos!
Best time of year: June through September
CENTENNIAL LAKES PARK
4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Mpls
7499 France Ave, Edina
TTons of variety in one park! Walking paths, bridges, lake, pavillion, beautiful soft, whispy trees with the sun peeking from behind! This urban park is dreamy and elegant!
Best time of year: June through September
EXCELSIOR BEACH
This beach is made for golden hour! The sun sets right across the lake creating the most golden, dreamy light! Think barefoot in the sand with the sun gleaming behind you!
Best time of year: June through September
2 1st Street, Excelsior
TREES & NATURE
Golden Fields, Classic Greenery
RICHARDSON NATURE CENTER
Think birch trees, nature, and a wide open prairie that is absolutely stunning at golden hour! This is nature at it's finest right close to home!
Best time of year: June through October
LEBANON HILLS REGIONAL PARK
8737 E Bush Lake Rd, Bloomington
8600 Cliff Rd, Eagan
One of my favorite locations!! Think tall, dreamy, whispy grasses, open lawn, a lake, a bridge, beautiful trees and trails. So much nature variety in one location! If you love nature- then look no further - Lebanon Hills Regional Park is for you!
Best time of year: June through October
HYLAND LAKE PARK
10145 Bush Lake Rd, Bloomington
The whispy grasses with trees in the backdrop create that dreamy, golden hour setting that so many desire! There's also a beautiful lake nearby, offering a lot of variety.
Best time of year: June through October
URBAN
Historic Charm or Big City Edge
ST ANTHONY MAIN
This charming area is perfect for those who want the iconic Minneapolis photos! River with sweeping skyline views, charming restaurant and storefronts, stone buildings, cobblestone streets and beautiful bridges. This can't be beat!
Best time of year: June through October
MILL RUINS PARK
115 SE Main St, Mpls
102 Portland ave, Mpls
This is the ultimate urban vibe! The Mill ruins area and urban area behind the Guthrie Theater offers so much urban variety in one spot. You'll have the historic and industrial buildings, the Stone Arch Bridge, river and view of St. Anthony Main all within steps of each other.
Best time of year: Anytime!
BOOM ISLAND PARK
This park is just minutes from St. Anthony Main and is a perfect mix of nature and urban! This is a beautiful park in the heart of Minneapolis with tall grasses, flowers, open greenery, bridges, the river and breathtaking skyline views!
Best time of year: June through September
724 Sibley St NE, Mpls
DOWNTOWN EXCELSIOR
Historic charm, brick buildings, clean storefronts, wooden staircases, and docks filled with elegant boats! Can also be paired with Excelsior Beach for extra variety!
Best time of year: June-October
DOWNTOWN WAYZATA
2 Water St, Excelsior
700 Lake St E, Wayzata
Full of clean, white storefronts and restaurants, a library filled with lush wildflowers, and beautiful docks. What doesn't DT Wayzata have? Filled with variety, it's an excellent choice for photos!
Best time of year: June-October
