As a Minnesota wedding photographer with 8 years of experience and a St. Paul resident for the past 5, I’ve had plenty of time to scout the best spots for engagement sessions. And, let me tell you, I have opinions. As I sipped my morning hot cocoa (yes, I’m 31 and still a no-go—deal with it), I found myself reflecting on my favorites. What do they all have in common? Variety, baby. No matter how many times I shoot in these spots, there’s always something new to discover! Talk about endless opportunities for scroll-stopping engagement photos.

If you get the chance to know me as a photographer, it won’t take long to understand that joyfully playful images are my jam. I am constantly giving my clients prompts that will encourage interaction and lots of laughter. And while I can create this in any space, there are a couple of sure fire ways to generate natural reactions between the two of you. You’ll never guess it…

Let me tell you somethin’ about Jen and Sam. These two know how to play and love on one another. This session was so much fun for me. They were so down for whatever I threw their way and completely trusted me throughout the process, so I was able to really lean in. To try new things, get creative, and just have a good time with it. We ran around on this little beach on the Mississippi River, popped champagne, explored one of their favorite bluff areas, cheers’d to the boats below, felt seriously concerned for a drunk man standing too close to an edge, and even let a stranger’s dog photobomb a few of their photos.