Lebanon Hills for your photos in Minnesota
Lebanon Hills Regional Park for your Engagement Photos
Today I will share with you my memories of Sydney and Nath’s engagement session in the Twin Cities. I first met them in Stillwater when they were looking for their wedding photographer. After a two-hour rendezvous, explaining to them my way of doing photography, and giving them tips for their future photo sessions, they decided to hire me. A few weeks later, it was time for them to have their photos taken!
They chose a regional park that they know and appreciate being the background of their images: the Lebanon Hills Regional Park, which I will present here to you.
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A piece of nature in Eagan
Located in the South metro area, the Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers almost 2000 acres of nature, including 13 lakes and ponds, and miles of trails. Loved and cherished by Apple Valley residents, it’s a fantastic recreational area for families and for fabulous wedding photography.
Why People Choose the Lebanon Hills Regional Park to showcase their engagements
Clients reaching me want natural memories. They are looking for a wedding photographer to capture authentic shots of their engagement session in the Twin Cities and, of course, their wedding day.
That is precisely why I bring my couples to nature parks. They are preserved locations offering not only a beautiful wild nature with woodlands and prairies, but also a quiet environment for people to reveal the intimacy of their relationships. Indeed, it’s not with hundreds of tourists around you that you would find it comfortable to showcase the deep bonds that you have developed with your partner! For that you need a special place! Luckily, this regional park is not crowded, and spread on so many acres to give you the private space you need.
What’s more, the park also offers some activities to do, and some of them could be photogenic.
What photogenic activity can you do at the Lebanon Hills?
One secret to avoid awkward posed photography is asking the model to perform an action. Despite the park board offering a bunch of sports to practice, you should concentrate on the photogenic ones.
Walk on the Trails
After kissing, walking is probably the most basic thing to ask a couple to do. There are miles of trails. You can walk alongside the Holland Lake or Jensen Lake that can work great.
Use a Recreational Bonfire
Wrapped into a blanket and lightened by the bonfire, you could roast marshmallows on a stick. I could play with the flames and create artistic pictures.
Use the Beach
Imagine yourself playing on Schulze Lake Beach, naked feet on the sand. He will chase you and kiss you. You could also put your foot into the water and spray each other with water from the lake (at the end of the session). And, if you are comfortable with this idea, why not end with swimming and hugging in the water. That could create intimate moments.
Ride a Horse
If you like horses and own one (or can have one), you might be delighted to learn that the park has some equestrian trails. Of course, you will not have pictures with you riding a galloping horse! But horses are super photogenic friends to include in some of your pics.
Canoe
Canoeing is one of the few activities to share with your partner that can be photogenic. It’s slow, doesn’t require intense physical activity and at the same time allows complicity between the participants.
Dog
Usually considered like man’s best friend, dogs can be part of your pictures. Nevertheless, they must be kept on-leash.
What you should consider
Season
Like always in the 10,000-lake state, you should pay attention to the season and the weather. You should also have a Plan B including a covered location, or be ready to postpone your session in case of rain.
- Winter: Pictures with snow and a frozen lake would give you good results.
- Spring: Which spring? The three weeks blooming season between April and June? You would prefer trees with big leaves. Wait until the end of May.
- Summer: Perfect
- Fall: Even better, the meadow area will be dry and yellow, allowing you to use it. If you are lucky and manage to catch the fall colors, that can give you gorgeous colors.
Mosquitos
That’s one of the bad sides of lakes. Mosquitos can be pretty aggressive in June and July. Be prepared!
Good Shoes
We will walk a lot. So take some beautiful but comfortable shoes.
Outfits
You can bring different outfits and change in the park amenities. I would suggest avoiding green, and prefer warm colors, such as red, orange, yellow.
Surprise Proposal
If you are looking for a good place to ask your fiancée to become your wife, you found it. Nevertheless, discuss with your photographer prior to your asking day, in order to decide on the best spot.
Forget a marriage Celebration in nature
Despite the park offering rental options at the park office, campground and the Sacajawea Retreat Center, it does not offer a rental service dedicated to weddings or wedding celebrations. Therefore, you might have to head to another park (such as the Arboretum in Chaska) if you want to have your perfect day celebrated surrounded by wild nature.
6 Alternatives or Complementary locations to this natural park
If you are looking for a complementary location and need more ideas for photoshoots, here is a list of varieties of options in Minnesota.
Rustic Building
Minnesota has plenty of beautiful historical constructions such as the Steeplechase Event Center, located in Mazeppa, MN, near Minneapolis. Standing on the top of a hill and surrounded by nature, this wedding venue offers a breathtaking view of the valley. Barns, farms, old churches, or one-century houses are your best friends and would give great results.
Modern Architecture
An example of futuristic design loved for engagement sessions in Minneapolis is the Guthrie Theatre.. It is facing the object of pride for Minnesota State: the Stone Arch Bridge. But there are other modern constructions, such as the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, the McNamara Alumni Center, Walker’s art center just to name a few.
Renovated Post-Industrial Buildings
The Renaissance Hotel (Minneapolis, MN) is an iconic remaining of the past industrial revolution, given that it was nothing less than the Milwaukee train station! If today it’s rehabilitated into a hotel, the red brick walls and the design of the building (steam beam) remind us of this legendary period for the city. Let’s think of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel: The Great Gatsby! Luckily, the adjacent warehouse district is full of similar venues!
Historical jewels
All beautiful historical buildings, such as the Saint Paul Conservatory, can be used as a background for portraits. Indeed, one-century-old buildings reflect a touch of the glorious past into your images. Such buildings unconsciously upgrade your social level to the top of the aristocrats existing at the time of their creation. To say it in other words, beautiful mansions, manors, castles, cute houses are a dream to photograph.
Urban Park with view on the city and the Mississippi River
Photographers love to include the city skyline in the background of your portraits. Both the Harriet Island Park (St Paul, MN, the Nicollet Island and the Boom Island, offer such a view. They are an open space of nature surrounded by the city. They are both located on the River. The city offers numerous other parks with lakes, such as the Nokomis, the Lake Harriet and its gorgeous Lyndal Rose Garden.
Rooftop
Photographers love rooftops for photo session! Luckily, there are plenty in the area. They symbolize not only the historical dream of man: being able to fly like a bird, but also a transgressive attitude. Indeed, standing on a spot where you can see (and thus dominate) the rest of the city is usually reserved for kings (at the top of their castle) or superheroes.
