Boom Island
Discover Boom Island, a Great Place For a Photo Session In Minneapolis
After your surprise proposal in the Cities, you are looking for the perfect location for your engagement session. Boom Island is a popular park for families, so you might have heard about it. That said, you don’t know the place well (or want the point of view of a professional photographer). In other words, you are wondering how marvelous this location would be for photography.
Let me introduce this location to you, its specificities, and what you can expect in your photographs.
Table of Contents
What makes Boom Island a great place for photo sessions?
- its view of the city skyline
- it spreads over many acres and isn’t crowded
- it has a public restroom
- it’s easy to park
- it has direct access to the riverfront
- it’s close to other famous locations for photo sessions
- it features a nice industrial iron bridge
- it has pines
- it’s dog-friendly
The View of the City Skyline
First of all, to capture tremendous memories of your engagement session in the cities, your wedding photographer needs a beautiful location.
The most seductive advantage of Boom Island is, by far, its direct point of view of the city’s skyline. It is located at a perfect distance, so a photographer can take a couple’s portrait (using a telephoto lens) and can include in the frame the surrounding vegetation and the city skyline in the backdrop. For comparison, the island located to the east of the park is much closer to downtown. Thus it doesn’t offer such a view (you would have only one or two immediately adjacent constructions in your picture’s background).
The view of the city includes many skyscrapers, and as a result the metropolis looks bigger and more dynamic. The view presents a myriad of building heights, instead of only one big building. It’s the typical representation of the city you have in movies.
It Spreads Over Many Acres and It’s Not Crowded
This recreation area is very big and each time I have been there, it was not full of people. So in comparison with the popular Stone Arch Bridge or the famous SE Main Street, you would have the feeling of being alone. That’s really ideal for shy people who are not especially comfortable taking pictures with another family having their own family pictures taken a couple of feet away.
Overall, Boom Island is big enough so you can isolate yourself and focus on the photo session.
Restroom
That’s the kind of point we don’t often consider, but bathrooms are always welcome, especially for ladies who need to change their outfits!
Easy to Park
That may sound like a detail, but it’s really convenient. Indeed, it can be difficult to find a parking spot at more popular photo spots such as the Stone Arch Bridge area.
Direct Access to the Mississippi Riverfront
Boom Island Park has some concrete floor slabs alongside the riverfront, so you don’t have to walk in the mud or sand. Therefore, you can easily take some pictures with the Mississippi River, which creates nice backdrops.
Connected to Nicollet Island
Do not confuse it with Harriet Island (also famous for engagement session)!) It’s located close to Main Street and its old buildings, such as the St. Anthony Theater. The island offers a wedding venue, a bridge, a park, and a view of the city. It is a pretty popular location. You can access it from Boom Island by taking a pedestrian bridge.
Close to Other Famous Locations for Photo Sessions in MPLS
You want your images to be different than other sessions? Then you might wish to go to several locations, in order to have a variety of backdrop types. The park is located very close to downtown and all the famous spots loved by photographers in Minnesota!
Serious Alternative to the Popular Como Park and Minnehaha Falls Park
Boom Island is a valuable alternative to those parks, which are probably the two most famous among photographers for taking couples’ pictures (maybe I should add the Rose Garden on Lyndale Avenue).
Nice Industrial Iron Bridge
You will find a nice industrial iron bridge. It’s always a good “accessory” to include in your pictures, bringing memories and imagination associated with the industrial period.
Pines
You will find some pines in Boom Island Park. There are not a lot, but enough for some pictures. And as you may have already guessed, the major advantage of pines regarding photos is that they are evergreen. It means they work all year long for your photographs! So they are perfect for winter pictures, too!
Dog Friendly
It’s a detail that some people would like to consider. It’s a dog-friendly park where you can keep your dog unleashed! So it will delight people who want to include their furry friend in their pictures.
No Permit Needed
It’s free, except for parking. Keep in mind that anywhere you go in the city you will have to pay for parking.
What Are the Few Disadvantages of Boom Island?
No Immediate Outstanding Edifice
There are no beautiful historical or modern edifices you can enjoy for their architecture, where you can sit on the stairs and stand on the porch.
But it’s a park, and most parks don’t offer that.
Outdoor Location, So Weather Dependent
Like most parks, there is no indoor option, so you are totally weather dependent.
Each time I have been there for sessions, I remember we have been exposed to the famous Minnesotan winds!
No Brick Walls
There is no construction at all, except the restroom.
It means no beautiful red brick walls to use in the pictures.
No Rooftops
If you like rooftops for your engagement session in Minneapolis, you might be happy to know that there are many located no further than five minutes driving. Rooftops offer an amazing view of the city.
Adjacent Breweries to Stay Warm During Winter
If you are planning a winter session in Boom Island in Minneapolis, then a brewery (such as Harriet Brewery) usually works well. They offer an original backdrop for your pictures and a perfect place to warm up.
Or Historic Streets and Coffee Shops
In case of bad weather in Minnesota, families go warm up at a coffee shop in Minneapolis. If the location is beautiful, like Nina Coffee, then we might take advantage of it for more pictures.
Pretty Flat, Not Many Deciduous Trees
The area is mostly flat, and except for a few spots, it’s only lawn. So maybe it’s not ideal for a fall photo session if you want a variety of fall colors in your pictures. Though, there are some deciduous trees along the length of the riverfront which could work sublimely.
The lack of trees also implies that there is no spot to hide. So you can be isolated from other people by distance, but you can’t really hide in a corner, or among some bushes. It’s flat.
What Should You Consider if You Plan an Engagement Session at Boom Island?
- Bring some comfortable shoes, because we will probably walk a lot.
- The best light, regarding the sun’s direction, is early in the morning or late in the evening, shortly before sunset.
- If you choose Boom Island Park, then you may want to complete the session going to another photo spot (mostly on St. Main Street and its historic buildings), or a rooftop downtown, a theater (such as the one on St. Anthony Main or one of the many located on Hennepin Avenue), or a pub.
- Bring food if you wish to feed ducks. Indeed, often there are some ducks or geese close to the riverfront, and I have seen some people feeding them. That could produce funny photos.
