It’s summer, y’all! For a minute, I swear we would be stuck in early spring purgatory. But, BAM! With June came that first 95-degree day. We have plenty of sunshine and all the flowers are in bloom so I can safely declare: Summer is here my friends!

Now that the world has greened up, I’m gearing up for a summer full of fun outdoor portrait sessions. Here’s a quick little list of some of my favorite locations in our area for summer portrait sessions.

Parkland along river

The one positive to our recent streak of 100-year floods is the amount of beautiful river shore now opened to the public. Both Moorhead and Fargo have recently converted miles of river shore land into public spaces and they are getting more accessible each year. These areas are safe and clean (and often partially mowed) but still offer an authentic “country” feel. I find the parkland along the river is fantastic for nature lovers who like a little adventure but want to stick to town.

The Campuses of Concordia, MSUM or NDSU

My husband pointed out to me once that college campuses are always more beautiful in summer than any other time of the year, joking that it’s because they spiff up to get new recruits who often visit off-season. There is no doubt a kernel of truth to that observation, which is lucky for us townies.

All three of our area campuses have gorgeous display of flowers but each have their own flavor, and, for some of us, a lot more sentimental value (Go Dragons!).

Concordia’s campus wins the award for best flowers and most likely to have a duck sighting. The area by “Old Main”, the ginormous old building looking over the pond you often see along 8th street, is a favorite for wedding parties and family portrait sessions alike. But there are other areas within the campus that are great too. I love especially the area near the bell tower. There are always beautiful flower arrangements there and a great area to run around.

For die-hard Bison fans, NDSU offers both a beautiful campus with old buildings AND the potential to get a picture by a giant bison statue. The landscaped area near the Union is must have stop for any portrait session. I love strolling around the south-east side of campus near between Union and University Ave where the easy--easy walking paths are always lined with beautiful flowers and canopied by giant Elms.

MSUM isn’t always on top of mind for a photoshoot but there are so many fun areas on this campus too! I love the area around Livingston Lord Library, the wide-open mall, and, of course, the front of Weld Hall. The acorns sculptures in the center of campus is a great spot to take a break and get some fun candid images of kiddos and the area between the Center for the Arts and McLean hall offers a little more of an edgy look to photographs.

MSUM Nature Conservatory near Glyndon

For those who don’t mind a bit of a drive out of the metro, one of my favorite locations is the MSUM Nature Conservatory located next to Buffalo River State Park near Glyndon, Minnesota. The 20-minute drive out of town is worth it for the natural grasses, beautiful trails and seclusion. The area I love best is along the trail that winds back into the woods and along beginning stream of the Buffalo River.

That said, bug spray is a must.

SoMa - South of Main Avenue

SoMa - or “South of Main Avenue” is the area south of Main Avenue between Island Park and 10th Street South. My very first studio was in the SoMa neighborhood and during my time there I fell in love with this gem of a neighborhood. With its cute shops and towering Elms, this section of Fargo is both quaint downtown and historic Fargo.

The obvious place to start and end a session in this neighborhood is along the portion of 8th Street between Main Avenue and 1st Street South. The adorable shops along this street make a great backdrop for portraits AND you can reward yourself for smiling big by eating a tasty treat at Nicholes (gelato anybody?). Plus, if you want both an urban setting AND a park setting in the same session, Island Park is just a quick walk!

Your ‘hood

While parkland and urban areas are fun, one of my favorite locations is your home. There is a comfort to your home turf that can’t get anywhere else. It’s part of your history which I believe is always worth incorporating as part of a family session.

Often times, when I photograph someone at their home I’ll also request we take pictures both on their front steps and strolling around the neighborhood. Like your kids, neighborhoods change over time and it’s fun to look back and see how your neighborhood has transformed.