The Best Family Portrait Locations in Rochester, MN
Warmer temperatures have us thinking about outdoor family photo shoots again. One of the questions we get most often is: Where do you shoot? The short answer is everywhere. The long answer is “it depends.” It depends on who we are photographing, the time of day, and where we’ve photographed before.
Here is our guide to the best outdoor portrait locations in and around Rochester, MN — the popular spots and the hidden gems.
How We Choose a Portrait Location in Rochester, MN
Who We Are Photographing
A portrait, by definition, is about a person’s face, not a fountain or building. That’s why we spend so much time and energy coaxing genuine smiles out of people. The more at ease you are and the more fun you’re having, the faster those smiles come.
For family portraits with little kids, the ideal location has room to run, things to explore, lots of refreshments, and a bathroom. We can go to a public park, but staying close to your home or cabin is often better. At home, we have access to familiar things - toys, outdoor play set, climbing trees, pool, scooters, wagons, water hose, chicken coops, etc. Kids are excited to show off their prized possessions, and especially love it when Kelly tells them to run Scott over with their tricycles.
For newborn sessions, we almost always recommend staying at home. It is not just about convenience. Being at home means we have access to the baby’s own blankets, props, and things that smell like theirs. It means we can grab a favorite toy or replacement outfit the minute we need one (think diaper blowout). Also, the best newborn portrait location is the one where mom is not stressed about logistics or privacy (babies tend to cluster feed at photo shoots because, like grown-ups, they overeat when stressed).
For high school senior portraits, location matters more than for any other session type. A senior portrait session is essentially a fashion shoot — and the backdrop is part of the editorial. We want the environment to reflect who they are. That means real conversations with seniors (and their parents) about personality, interests, achievements, vibe, wardrobe, and the story they want to tell.
For families with special needs, the ideal location might also need to be wheelchair accessible or completely private.
The Time of Day
Time of day is everything. Parents are usually in their best moods in the evening and when they are on vacation because they’re not thinking about work. Babies and kids are usually in their best moods in the morning because they’ve had a full night of sleep and a meal. High school seniors are usually in their best moods in the late afternoon because they’ve had time to sleep late, eat well, and plan their evening with friends. We take our best photos in mornings and late afternoons because Midday sun is harsh and unflattering (think raccoon eyes). Clearly, it is difficult to find an ideal time for everyone, so we defer to the most important subjects: the babies and young kids. This is because they are too little to understand reason, and (we assume) everyone else is mature enough to “suck it up” and smile when they have to.
Where We’ve Photographed Before
Many of our families come back to us every year for a new photo shoot. They think of us as their personal biographers and trust us to build a visual history of their kids as they grow and change. For this reason alone, we don’t like to use the same place twice. We want their life story to look exciting and varied.
Another problem we have is that many of our families know each other. That’s how they found us. Great word of mouth. We try to never photograph two families at the same location in the same year because we do not want their Christmas cards to look alike. If we do have to use the same location, we definitely don’t use the same vantage points, backgrounds or poses.
A few practical things to know before we get into the list:
Some locations may require advance permission and charge a fee.
Some locations are “one hit wonders” or have limited background options. This means you spend more time traveling to different locations to get different looks.
It is possible to do both “urban” and “nature” backgrounds in the same photo shoot. The drawback is that you are never in one place long enough to relax, settle into your photo shoot, and enjoy your surroundings.
Some locations are better than others at different times of year. Parks with leafy shade trees look great in Summer and ugly in Winter.
Scott visits every location before a photo shoot to make sure nothing has changed due to construction, maintenance, or weather.
If you are going it alone, please treat all locations with care and respect, and leave everything as you found it. The Mayowood Stone Barn no longer allows anyone (not even professional photographers) to photograph portraits on its property due to bad behavior.
Popular Outdoor Portrait Locations in Rochester, MN
These are the spots you will see in many of our photos. There is a reason for that — they are genuinely beautiful and versatile. Just know that you may not have them entirely to yourself.
Quarry Hill Nature Center
Quarry Hill is one of the most versatile family portrait locations in Rochester. You get trails, open meadows, bridges, weeping willow trees, a creek, and dramatic limestone outcroppings — all within city limits. The variety of backdrops means there’s no need to go anywhere else. Golden hour light filtering through the tree canopy here is stunning. It is also the most-used portrait location in town, so expect company on busy weekend evenings.
Best for: families with pets, families with older kids, senior portraits, prom parties, nature background
Watch out for: mosquitoes, other people’s pets, gravel walkways
Plummer House
If you’re not from around here, the Plummer House is Rochester’s best-kept architectural secret for portrait photography. It’s a secret because it’s tucked high on a hill and its access is hidden in a neighborhood by St. Mary’s Hospital. The stone manor, the formal gardens, and the carriage house are owned by the City of Rochester and create a backdrop that feels like you left Minnesota entirely. Prom and bridal parties especially like the breezeway arches at the back of the main house and the fountains located on both sides of its lower-level lawn.
Best for: Senior portraits, family portraits with older kids, fairytale background, stone architecture lovers
Watch out for: narrow dirt paths and steep staircases
Mayo Foundation House
Mayo Foundation House is one of Rochester’s most architecturally distinctive properties — a historic home blocks from downtown with a red brick paver driveway, green slate roof, gold stone walls, and a brilliant display of colorful mums in the Fall. It is owned by Mayo Clinic, so be careful to stay on the city sidewalk, outside property walls.
Best for: families with older kids, seniors, elegant background, stone architecture lovers
Watch out for: on-site caretaker
Mayo Civic Center & Rochester Art Center
Clean lines and modern architecture make the Mayo Civic Center and connected Rochester Art Center a strong choice for senior portraits, prom and wedding parties, and professionals who want something contemporary. The exterior geometry is striking, especially in early morning or late afternoon light. It reads urban and editorial with orange railings and undulating blue/green glass walls. The City of Rochester owns these properties, so if you stay outside, they are free to use.
Best for: senior portraits, individuals, modern city vibe, anyone who needs accessibility
Watch out for: traffic, bikers on riverfront trail
Silver Lake Park
Silver Lake Park is peaceful and accessible. The waterfront, the stone bridges, and wide open spaces make it a comfortable, low-pressure location. Midday light at Silver Lake is brutal, so look for shade trees or wait until golden hour.
Best for: family portrait sessions with older kids, nature background, anyone who needs accessibility
Watch out for: goose poop
Soldiers Memorial Field Park
Soldiers Memorial Field Park works particularly well in Spring, when its crab apple trees are full and fragrant with blossoms. The accessible playground is more picturesque than others because it has wood structures that look like a barn, a rowboat, and Rochester’s iconic corn tower. Street parking is usually plentiful.
Best for: families with young kids, anyone who needs accessibility, playground
Watch out for: other parents and kids in background
Peace Plaza
Peace Plaza is located downtown Rochester, between the Galleria at University Square and Mayo Clinic’s Gonda building. Our favorite features are the old Chateau Theater marquee, colorful tables and chairs, and shallow reflecting pond.
Best for: small family sessions, younger kids, senior portraits, colorful urban background, anyone who needs accessibility
Watch out for: busy pedestrians walking to appointments
Old City Hall
The exterior of Old City Hall is a short walk from Peace Plaza and features a beautiful brick and stone staircase with tall Art Deco light fixtures. It photographs with a classic, timeless quality — especially at golden hour when warm light hits the facade. This is not a location for romping-in-the-meadow energy; it works when you want something structured and polished.
Best for: senior portraits, families going for an architectural or urban look
Watch out for: curious onlookers (not a good location for shy, private people)
Discovery Square
Discovery Square is in the heart of Rochester’s innovation district. Its buildings are bright, clean, modern, and architecturally interesting — geometric elements and polished surfaces that read professional and contemporary. Less “golden retriever and kids” and more “senior heading somewhere interesting.” Our favorite features are its large white stone walls, blue outdoor furniture, skate-ramp style gardens, blue/green glass, and wood swings. The trees look like something you’d see in Arizona, not Minnesota.
Best for: senior portraits, clean and modern background, anyone with ties to Mayo Clinic, a quick stop at a coffee shop
Watch out for: parking
History Center of Olmsted County
The old white schoolhouse at History Center of Olmsted County looks like something from the TV series, Little House on the Prairie.
Best for: families with older kids, senior portraits, timeless farmhouse feel
Watch out for: pay for use, may not be worth it for only one or two backdrops
Cascade Lake Park
Cascade Lake Park offers a man-made lake, sandy beach, landscaped walking paths, covered picnic pavilions, and a playground.
Best for: families with young kids, high school seniors, overcast days, lake background, proximity to downtown
Watch out for: goose poop, no shade trees, lots of people in the background
Others of Note
These locations are also highly recommended in lists created by other professional photographers. They are most popular with high school seniors who want to frolic in fields of tall grass or pose with Kahler Hotel’s neon sign in the background.
Worth the Drive: Southeast Minnesota Portrait Locations
Rochester is surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes in the state. If you are willing to drive 30 to 60 minutes, the options expand dramatically — and the crowds thin out considerably.
Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo (Byron, MN)
Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo have a wildness to them that Quarry Hill does not. The Zumbro River runs through it, the tree coverage is dense, and late-afternoon light through the canopy is genuinely spectacular. Located about 20 minutes west of Rochester in Byron, MN, it draws fewer crowds than the city parks. The playground on the property is a genuine asset for family sessions, and the zoo is perfect for bribing kids who don’t want to cooperate.
Best for: families with young children, nature portraits, senior photo sessions, moody or editorial feel, playground action shots
Watch out for: gnats, used drink boxes (our customer’s kid found one in the grass and drank from it…during COVID…gag)
Whitewater State Park (Altura, MN)
About 40 minutes from Rochester, Whitewater State Park is in a league of its own. The bluffs, the river valley, the cedar canopy, the wildflowers in early summer — it is legitimately dramatic like the movie River Runs Through It. Fall foliage at Whitewater is among the best in Minnesota.
Best for: senior portraits, family photos, water backdrop, anyone serious about fishing or nature
Watch out for: State Park fee, mosquitoes, light hiking, not wheelchair accessible
Allis Park (Oronoco, MN)
Allis Park is a public parking lot located on the banks of the Zumbro River in Oronoco, Minnesota. This water spot is closer to Rochester than Whitewater State Park, but it looks less wild because there is a tall bridge in the background.
Best for: high school seniors looking for natural, unpretentious outdoor portraits near water
Watch out for: steep banks, people fishing, slippery rocks, limited backdrop options
Lake Pepin Marina (Lake City, MN)
Lake Pepin and the Lake City Marina are about an hour from Rochester, and they are worth it. Their white sailboats, weathered wood, open water, and rock cliffs create a stunning backdrop reminiscent of faraway places like Nantucket.
Best for: senior portraits, families with a connection to lake and river life, Summer portrait sessions
Watch out for: harsh midday light, mayfly season
The Orchard & Farm Cluster: Sekapp, Northwoods, Squash Blossom, Garten Marketplatz
Southeast Minnesota also has an extraordinary collection of working farms and orchards that double as portrait locations — especially in late Summer and Fall. Sekapp Orchard, Northwoods Apple Orchard, Squash Blossom Farm, and Garten Marketplatz each have their own character: apple trees heavy with fruit, weathered farm structures, pumpkins and sunflowers, market stalls, and old-world charm. These locations are at their peak from late August through October. They are also working businesses, so permission is always required, and fees may apply.
Best for: Fall family portrait sessions, a photo shoot that feels like a field trip
Watch out for: chickens, open fire pits, shoppers
For the Adventurous: A Little Further Afield
Some clients want something so specific — or so singular — that we go further. Here are two locations worth the trip for the right senior portrait session.
The Old-Style Phone Booth (Lanesboro, MN)
Lanesboro is one of Minnesota’s most charming small towns — a former mill town tucked into a river valley with a thriving arts scene and main street architecture that feels lifted from another era. Tucked into that setting is a genuine old-style phone booth, and it is exactly as delightful as it sounds. For senior portraits especially, it is a prop and a backdrop rolled into one — quirky, specific, and completely impossible to replicate anywhere else in the region. The town itself offers additional shooting locations: the Root River trail, the historic bridge, and old-school storefronts. If you are going to make the drive, plan to shoot in a few spots.
Best for: seniors who want something travel-inspired, families up for an adventure
Watch out for: bring drinks and snacks for the drive, take a break and enjoy the ice cream shop
The Star Wall at First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN)
First Avenue’s exterior wall of stars is one of the most iconic backdrops in Minnesota — a living hall of fame for every artist who has sold out the legendary Minneapolis venue. For the right senior, it is not just a backdrop. It is a statement. If your kid has been talking about going to space, launching a music career, or has a deep and abiding love for Prince, this is the wall. It is a public exterior location, so no permission is required — but parking and timing take planning, and the energy is decidedly urban.
Best for: seniors with a music connection, seniors with big city dreams, future astronauts
Watch out for: parking, traffic
The Ones We Won’t Tell You About
Scott claims to have 38 more secret spots, but you have to hire him to find out where they are (if they are right for you). When you’re ready to start planning your portrait session, give him a call at 507-252-0490.