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Location Guide

Welcome to the Scruff Life Photography Location Guide! This is your personal resource for finding the perfect backdrop for your pet photo session. Each location listed here has been carefully selected, offering unique features that enhance the charm and personality of your session. When you click on any of the listings, you’ll find a description of the location, special highlights, whether a permit is required (with any associated costs), and a gallery of sample images from past sessions, including some featuring my own dogs.

While these locations are ones I can personally vouch for, I’m always open to new ideas! If you have a specific location in mind, feel free to share it—I’ll happily evaluate the spot and let you know if it would be a good fit. Some of the wonderful locations in this guide have come from client suggestions, so let’s work together to create the ideal setting for your pet’s photo experience.

Bald Eagle - Otter Lake Regional Park

White Bear Township, MN

This is the park I grew up going to with my childhood dogs, so it’s a special spot for me. I’d love to show you my favorite spots in each season. Lupines in the summer. Snowy lake moments in the winter. People tend to bring their dogs off-leash here, so be warned.

Blaine Wetland Sanctuary

Blaine, MN

Newly added to the location guide in November 2024!

The Blaine Wetland Sanctuary has proven to be a great spot for pet photos with a gorgeous boardwalk over a lush wetland, beautiful trees, and stunning sky views (perfect for that sunset photo). Plus, you won't get dirty on the boardwalk.

Boom Island Park

Minneapolis, MN

Hello, Minneapolis city views, nature, and a gorgeous bridge! This is such a fun session spot. It can get busy and I’ve seen dogs running off-leash here, so keep that in mind. Otherwise, it is a totally awesome spot! We have to plan ahead and get a permit to shoot here though, so let me know if you love this one!

A photography permit ($47) is required to use this location.

Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area

Columbus, MN

WMAs are the perfect off-leash location! If your dog can be off-leash, this might be the location for you. Carlos Avery is gigantic and has a ton of diverse landscapes to choose from.

Como Regional Park

St. Paul, MN

Como Park is a great photo session option right in the heart of the cities. It features Lake Como with a paved walking/biking path around it. Como Park shines in the spring with the cherry blossoms!

Future Irish Avenue Park

Hugo, MN

Newly added to the location guide in November 2024!

This is an expansive off-leash park in the northeast metro that features some beautiful landscapes. If your dog is good off-leash and doesn't mind meeting other off-leash pups, this might be the spot for you! Not recommended for dogs without a strong recall or with any reactivity towards dogs/people.

Interstate State Park

Saint Croix Falls, WI

If you’re looking for a photo session location that’s a little different from the rest, this might be the one for you! It’s absolutely stunning for a golden hour adventure session. It’s gorgeous all year round, but can be a bit risky for pets that wander... leashes are a must here.

A photography permit ($50) is required to use this location.

Irving & John Anderson County Park

North Branch, MN

This is my favorite and most used photo location throughout all four seasons. It is usually not busy, so it’s perfect for reactive dogs needing a bit more space. We can walk a lot or very little depending on the session.

Lake Elmo Park Reserve

Lake Elmo, MN

This park is such a gem. It is fairly popular, so it may not be ideal for dogs with stranger danger depending on the season, day of the week, or time of day. If you like this location, we can craft a game plan to make it work. It’s a perfect dog sports area, especially with the groomed snow trails in the winter for ski sports!

Lyndale Park Rose & Peace Gardens

Minneapolis, MN

Do you love flowers, gardens, and colorful photos? This is the spring/summer photo spot for you! It’s not the best for reactive dogs due to the busy and popular nature of Lyndale, but it’s a gorgeous spot and it’s awesome for photos!

A photography permit ($47) is required to use this location.

Pine Point Regional Park

Stillwater, MN

Pine Point is a lesser visited gem of a park near Stillwater, MN. It's the perfect backdrop for a woodsy, nature-focused photo session. Many of the trails are multi-use use (bikes, horses, skiing). Dogs are required to remain on-leash here.

Rice Creek North Regional Trail

Shoreview, MN

This is a popular photo session location. I would not recommend it for dogs with issues with strangers (people or other dogs). The busy part is generally the pine tree area, which is close to the parking lot. It’s worth it, in the right situation, but it’s not a location I can bring my reactive dog to without planning appropriately.

William O'Brien State Park

Marine on St. Croix, MN

The Riverside Trail is closed in 2024 due to construction, which impacts the majority of my favorite spots here, sadly. I’ll be excited to get back here in 2025!

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Scruff Life Photography is a pet photographer for the wild and adventurous. Capturing the bond between people and their pets in Minnesota and beyond. Serving Forest Lake and the surrounding areas.

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