KCP Location Guide

Here are my top 5 favorite outdoor locations. I keep up-to-date photography permits to these locations and am extremely familiar with the lighting and what photographs best there at different times of the day and year. As you can see, they are all equally beautiful with a different look and feel to each one.

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Location #1: Spring Lake Park Reserve. Hastings, MN

Pros:
-Can work for both morning and evening sessions
-Several beautiful areas of the park to choose from
-Short walks from parking
-Multiple restrooms
-Playground for kiddos for after the session
-Great all year round

Cons:
-Only works great late May through late October

Location #2: St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park. Hastings, MN

Pros:
-Great for winter months due to lots of pines and fir trees
-Great for “beach” photos in the summer
-Restrooms in the park vicinity

Cons:
-$7 Washington County Parks vehicle pass needed to enter (can be purchased at entrance)

Location #3: Grey Cloud Dunes SNA. Cottage Grove, MN

Pros:
-Beautiful and private location with lots of texture, rolling hills & sand trails.
-There is no other place like it for golden hour sessions!

Cons:
-Moderate walk from the parking lot
-No restrooms.
-Several wood ticks May-July
-Due to lack of trees and location of the river valley, this location works best for golden hour sessions and not mornings.

Location #4: Whitetail Woods Regional Park. Farmington, MN

Pros:
-Variety of backdrops within a short to moderate walk from parking lot
-Great all year round due to the pine trees and lake
-Restrooms in the park vicinity

Cons:
-This location is best at golden hour
-It can get crowded with lots of other photographers + families using the same spots during the busy months.

Location #5: Lebannon Hills Regional Park. Eagan, MN

Pros:
-Variety of backdrops within a short to moderate walk from parking lot
-Best late Spring through mid Fall
-Restrooms in the park vicinity

Cons:
-Can be difficult to find parking sometimes
-It can get crowded with lots of other photographers + families using the same spots during the busy months.