A less known but vast recreation area perfect for pictures: the dog park!
Engagement Session With Dog Photos At Minnehaha Park And Mississippi River
Today, let’s come back to a special session, taking place near the Minnehaha falls (not to be confused with Anthony falls that welcome engagement sessions), and near Raspberry Island, at Harriet Park in St Paul for the second part.
It took place during a warm afternoon in May, when the trees finally bloomed and leaves covered the trees. This photo session is special because they invited their best friend, their dog!
You will discover how this one helped them to get in touch, and what to consider if you want to bring your dog for your pre-wedding shoots.
Table of Contents
Presentation of those lovely lovebirds
First contact
Steph and Nath live in Minneapolis, and were looking for a professional wedding photographer to cover their wedding in Red Wing, Minnesota, and their engagement photos. As often happens, they found me through the internet, referred by a colleague who was no longer available, despite the fact that I luckily still had their date open.
Fun Fact: Discover How They Met
True and funny fact: they met thanks to the groom’s dog who was peeing on the cabin of the bride’s family. The groom, being very polite, apologized several times.
The family, who liked him (despite his pup’s behavior), invited him for a drink and that’s how he first saw the one who would later become his wife! Moral of the story: you can let your dog pee everywhere, but most of all, apologize! That may result in a great meeting!
We had a lot of fun there. Then we left uptown for the second part of the photo session in Saint Paul.
Photos!
Shooting pictures with dogs is always a different challenge, depending on their behavior. It can turn into an exhausting session if the dog is too young, or too wild. Their dog was well-behaved and gave us just enough surprises to have fun.
While the second part of this session was in Saint Paul, I was looking forward to covering their big wedding day at a stunning barn. Indeed, they got married at the Bullard Creek Farm, a red barn nestled in the Red Wing hills.
Dare incorporate your dog in your pre-wedding session!
A lot of people love their dog but are afraid to include them in their pre-wedding session, fearing the dog will not cooperate, especially in public spaces. Then choose a dog park where your “best friend” can be off leash and, of course, without a muzzle which hides half of his face! So if your dog doesn’t want to pose for your photo session, he can still play around and make connections with new friends.
It Can Produce Hilarious Photo Sessions
I appreciate dogs and I believe they can bring a lot of fun to the pictures! They are usually the first kid of the family, and seeing the future married couple taking care of them is always delightful, because it’s all about interactions and you don’t have to pose!
Your pets can create some hilarious moments that are a real gift for me to capture.
My recommendation for a photo session with your dog
These are a few tips to help you consider your animal in your session.
- Split your photo session into two parts: one with your pet, one without.
- If it’s a big animal and you are afraid it jumps on you, then it is better to start without him and finish with him.
- Have some plastic bags ready in case you need to preserve nature.
- Have a nice leash ready in case something does not go as expected. By nice I mean in leather or a color that won’t catch the attention. If you don’t have a leash, buy one the next time you go shopping. Avoid leashes that are too long; he/she must stay close to you. Coordinate your outfit colors with your leash (or their outfit if they have one!).
- Have some food or treats ready to attract and reward him/her.
- Have their favorite toy available to attract them if we need it.
- Ask a friend, family member, or a professional dog keeper to take them for a walk after we are done with your pet.
- Have a second outfit if he/she soils your clothes.
- Avoid muddy areas (especially if he/she is a puppy; you don’t want him/her to be covered in mud).
- Do you have a female? Pay attention that she is not in heat.
- If you have a pup, make sure he is over 4 months old.
- Pay attention to the weather. Wet animals are not a great option.
- Watch the forecast for snow; your canine might not be a big fan of cold temperatures.
Should you choose Dog Park for your photo session
Off-leash location
The first and most obvious reason to choose this park is probably because they allow you to unleash your animal as long as you can control it.
Ideally Located in the South of Hiawatha neighborhood
The park is located a few miles in the south-east of downtown, surrounded by the army base and the Mississippi River. The 6.6-acre dog park is actually part of the 170-acre renowned Regional Park.
The entrance is a little bit hidden, close to the highway on a byway. Given it’s not as famous as the adjacent waterfalls, the result is that there are fewer Minnesotan visitors. And that’s great! We don’t want people hiking or biking in the background of your pictures. That said, we won’t be alone in the park; a lot of residents come to walk their dogs in this playground.
A beach that accesses the river
Located on the hill, you have to hike on a trail down between 350 and 400 feet. The trail is easy, but sloping, so it can be slippery after rain or in winter.
At the end of this trail, you can find a small (artificial) sand beach (probably 30 feet wide). That’s the place where your animal should enjoy jumping into the water. Located after the electric dam, the water has a mild current, allowing swimming.
Calm area
If your animal is sensitive to noise, and like Steph and Nath you have concerns with the adjacent army base, don’t worry, we don’t hear any noise!
Can you use other parks for more variety of pictures?
Minneapolis offers lots of lakes, such as Harriet, and parks, such as Lyndale Park Rose Garden.. Also, if you are tired of the Minnehaha dog park, you might want to consider going to another location. If you choose to do so, then you have to keep your dog on a leash, and take care of your dog’s stool.
The only city park that is not allowed for pets, for obvious reasons, is the Como Zoo.
Friendly and quiet locations
Whether it is in Minneapolis or in St Paul, MN, as an LGBT friendly photographer in Minnesota, I am used to capturing pictures of families that include dogs. Couples love their “kids” and it’s natural that they include them in their pictures. That said, dogs, like kids, are easily distracted. You don’t want to run after him/her all day, so prefer quiet locations. Another point to take into consideration is your pet’s safety. Make sure there is no broken glass or other things that could hurt them.
Have a 1-mile hike in 267,000 acres of nature offered in the region
Choose a short trail to hike with your animal among all the regional parks available in the North State.
Avoid high touristic places such as the Stone Arch Bridge
North of the Minnehaha Park, facing the Anthony Falls, stands the Stone Arch Bridge, iconic monument of Minneapolis, MN.
Despite the fact that it’s probably the most famous location for photos, proposals, and other kinds of portraits, I don’t recommend this bridge with an animal. Indeed, despite the difficulty of finding a window between two groups of tourists, residents, or families doing selfies, your dog would be continually distracted.
