EEEEEEK! 13 years of photography and still capturing the heart & soul of dogs in Minnesota!
This past spring, during a disc golf jaunt to Millstream Park in St. Joe, I started musing on other St. Cloud area session locations I hadn’t visited in a while.
Were they still the beautiful backdrops I remembered – each brimming with golden light, grasses, trees and assorted blood hungry mosquitos? Had they been updated drastically? Did I ever really explore them? Were they still EPIC locations for sessions?
(Spoiler alert: They’re still epic, and your dog would look amazing at any of them!)
Quarry Park, St. Cloud
Quick Snapshot:
- Backdrop: Woods, grass, quarries & rock piles
- Best Time to Visit: Year round!
- Accessibility: Hard packed aggregate trails, easy to walk, LONG walks (to Quarry 9 is 20+ mins)
- Map: Summer Quarry Park Map
What’s New:
Updates to swimming Quarry 2 (fall 2025). Some fallen trees and small trees that have grown up. I still haven’t made it through the entire park! Otherwise the park feels similar to how it was the last time I was there, possibly a bit scrubbier from new plant growth.
Photography Highlights:
Quarry 13. We can access both sides to capture some cool images with rocks + trees and reflections in the water. Quarry 18 is really cool too (the first Quarry off the main path).
The floating boardwalk. Framed by swamp grasses and small willows. Open light even as the sun begins to set (which means no hard light on faces!). Sunset will throw loads of golden light over the edge. If your dog likes to swim or explore water, you’ll want them leashed so they don’t jump over the edge and take a dip!
Things to Keep in Mind:
Summer will be busy as the quarries are a favorite swimming spot – evenings & weekends will be busiest! (Quarry 11 & 2 are the swimming quarries). Fall means more photographers, please be mindful of them. You may also encounter other dogs walking the paths – luckily the paths are all wide and allow for ample passing room.
This park is QUITE LARGE which means there will be ample walking to loop its entirety. I still haven’t made the complete loop! Remember in the woods it will get darker faster than if you’re in an open grassy area.
There is an SNA that is equally as big as Quarry Park – NO DOGS ALLOWED!
Would I Recommend It for Your Session?
⭐ HECK YES!
Downtown St. Cloud
Quick Snapshot:
- Backdrop: Brick, alleys, murals, architecture, loads of texture everywhere!
- Best Time to Visit: Any season, morning to evening (though not for sunset!)
- Accessibility: Paved sidewalks, possibly some stairs, short strolls from spot to spot.
- Free after 5 pm parking map!
What’s New:
A GIANT condo, River’s Edge parking ramp, an empty lot where some buildings burned down. Strung lights across the streets! Different businesses and full time parking meters (there are some free after 5 pm parking lots though!). A new St. Cloud mural!
Photography Highlights:
The courthouse with its brickwork and columns out front (after 5pm it is pretty quiet for traffic).
The butterfly wing mural is in a NARROW alley – you’ll want to us a lens that is 24mm or wider. The new St. Cloud mural is nearby and faces the street (later in the day will mean less cars parking front of it).
A short walk brings you to the stunning St. Mary’s cathedral with arches, brick and awesome doors.
Things to Keep in Mind:
Sometimes there will be people strolling on the sidewalks (though after 5pm downtown is typically quiet until the bars kick up). Sometimes there will be assorted debris on the ground or blown into corners. Parking meters are enforced full time, every day of the week. (Note the map above to see the free parking areas).
During the summer there will be more photographers traipsing the area doing senior portraits.
Would I Recommend It for Your Session?
⭐ For sure! Especially if your dog is spunky, unique & urban. A great option after the leaves have fallen from the trees and the landscape looks a bit blah!
Millstream Park, St. Joe
Quick Snapshot:
- Backdrop: Woodsy, a pond & creek, wide open grassy area, bridges!
- Best Time to Visit: Year round!
- Accessibility: Aggregate and gravel trails, a fair amount of walking as it is a big park
What’s New:
A dog park, updated buildings and a new pickleball court!
Photography Highlights:
The area around hole 16 and 15 on the disc golf course. Here the creek winds lazily and there is a quaint bridge that crosses it. You’ll find grasses, trees and and some fallen logs throughout this area.
The cutest bridge is by the pond, the other bridge you’ll cross on the way to holes 16 & 15 (right by the teebox for hole 18).
Things to Keep in Mind:
Hole 11’s tee box is at the top of a hill and is a blind throw over the walking path – stay alert. If you’ve noticed lots of cars and few pickleball players it means the disc golf course is busy. Be mindful of the people playing. Wait until you hear the chains rattle before you move into the area to pose your dog. If the park is busy don’t putter around or you’ll hold up the game for the disc golfers.
The park will be busiest during the weekends for disc golfers and people using the park. If your dog prefers a quieter environment weekdays and mornings will be the best time to visit Millstream Park.
Would I Recommend It for Your Session?
I would! (Though I may need to get some waders…)
Mississippi River County Park, Rice
- Backdrop: Woods, prairie, glimpses of water
- Best Time to Visit: Spring, summer, fall and winter too!
- Accessibility: Mowed & maintained dirt trails that intermix with the maintained disc golf course – TONS OF WALKING!
What’s New:
Until recently I didn’t realize how MASSIVE Mississippi River County Park is! A disc golf outing revealed tons of different areas of trees, the row planted pines and way more area of the park I hadn’t seen!
Photography Highlights:
Where do I start? The row planted pines! You can find them on the disc golf course at hole 7 & 9 (there is a parking lot nearby!). There is a big prairie in the middle of the park and tons of different clutches of woods.
Things to Keep in Mind:
We will need to be aware and mindful of the disc golf players if we are in the area of any of the holes on the disc golf course.
This park is MASSIVE! To get from the various points in the park we will have to hop in our vehicles to different parking areas then walk.
Would I Recommend It for Your Session?
⭐ Totally! Mississippi is magical for playful, curious, or nature-loving pups.
So there you have it—old haunts, new favorites, and a whole lot of tail-wagging charm. If any of these spots made your ears perk up (or your dog’s tail wag!), let’s plan your pup’s session where the light is dreamy and the memories are ready to be made. I’ve got the treats. You bring the dog. Let’s go! Book your session today!
