Rochester, Minnesota and the surrounding area is such a beautiful part of the state and a great area to take your photos. Many locations change throughout the seasons, so be sure to check in for your photoshoot date to make sure you have the perfect spot during the time of year you are looking at.
Quarry Hill Nature Center and Park, Rochester, MN
The Quarry Hill area has so much to offer. A little known fact is that there are multiple sides to this park. Two of them are the Nature Center side and then a trail entry side called “Quarry Hill Park”. Quarry Hill has a rock quarry, an Oak Savannah, beautiful evergreen trees, bridges, pond, grasses and wild flowers. The scenery is so diverse that at any time of year you will find a great spot for photos. This is a hot spot for photographers, so it’s possible it may feel “overdone” when you get used to the more common spots. If you are looking for some unique areas, let me know and we will find the hidden gems. Winter brings easy access to a gorgeous area that we can get a lot of different looks at quickly while staying protected from the wind. Spring brings new life to the forest but may have too much mud to enjoy some spots if it’s been wet. Summer is a beautiful time full of flowers and an abundance of greens and yellows at the end of the season. Fall brings deep rust colors, reds and dark greens with less leaves and a bed of amazing pine needles.
One location in different seasons
Plummer House, Rochester, MN
Plummer house is a public park that was donated to the city by the Plummer family. This park sits high on a hill behind Mayo Clinic, St. Mary’s hospital. The park offers a variety of settings throughout the year. The house itself provides a gorgeous backdrop made with local limestone. The grounds offer numerous levels filled with flowers and the highlight of two fountains. Accessibility can be tricky to various parts of this location due to the stairs, but there is plenty to photograph on the main level. The park is open to the public and photographers when it isn’t booked by a private party. This makes the location tricky on the weekends as it is a popular wedding venue. An online calendar shows the dates it is booked so you can plan around the events. This location is also close to the studio which makes it idea to have some indoor studio portraits along with a different outdoor look. The wind is typically minimal here and there is great shade on a sunny day.
Rochester, MN Trail system
Rochester, Minnesota has 85+ miles of trails. This allows for some gorgeous scenery throughout the seasons. My favorite spring opportunity only happens for about a week in May each year and that is when the bluebells bloom. The bluebells transform the forest floor into a fairytale land straight out of a storybook.
Bluebell forest
Another favorite time of year is Daisy season. Typically the month of June you will find wild daisies scattered around. This spot is a must book each year to capture the magic of these amazing wildflowers.
Oxbow Park, Byron, MN
Sometimes leaving Rochester is a great opportunity to explore other areas. Another favorite location throughout the year is Oxbow park. The park is filled with hiking trails, a beautiful river, the Olmsted County Zollman Zoo, and the famous Nature playground. There are so many great things to see from Buffalo roaming to wildflowers, to a pond to catch frogs. For photos, we have wildflower fields, evergreen trees and a prairie filled with native grasses. There isn’t a bad season here and each change in the calendar brings out new life in nature.
Small towns in Southern Minnesota
Southeastern Minnesota offers a variety of unique small towns. Mantorville, Lanesboro, Zumbrota, Pine Island and Stewartville are just a few great areas for photos. There may be a travel fee, but it may be worth it for you to have a unique setting.
Downtown and The Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN
Downtown is a great place for photos. From unique textures to interesting buildings and ally ways. Downtown is the home of the Mayo Clinic. If you are looking for a memorable family shoot at the clinic or fun senior session with all the colors and antique offerings on Historic 3rd avenue, downtown is the place to be.
