Ten Locations Near Clinton, Iowa that are Perfect for Photo Sessions!
Picking a location for your photo shoot isn’t always easy! While I’m always a fan of sentimental spots personal to you, sometimes you just want a trusty, beautiful location that has been proven to WOW. When you aren’t sure where to go, here is a great guide to some personal favorites in my local area (Eastern Iowa and Northwestern Illinois) to spark ideas! I made note of any fees charged by the location or myself as well as seasonal availability so you know exactly what to expect when choosing a portrait spot with Artsmith Photography!
Here are my top 10 in no specific order…
Eagle Point Park - Clinton, Iowa
If you’re from Clinton or anywhere close, you have probably been to Eagle Point a thousand times! While it may seem overused to locals, it’s honestly one of the best portrait spots around! We forget how lucky we are to have this beautiful park in our backyards. While the bridge and castle are gorgeous, there are so many little areas with beautiful trees and a river view that wouldn’t even give away your location.
It is a seasonal option, available from May-October. Free to use!
Soaring Eagles Nature Center - Clinton, Iowa
Near Eagle Point but a smaller and more secluded area with a barn and grassy field. While there are occasional events going on here, it’s usually available in the evenings and on weekends.
It’s also free to use, but available year-round!
Bickelhaupt Arboretum - Clinton, Iowa
I love this location! It’s pretty year-round in different areas of the Arboretum. There’s an evergreen section that is gorgeous to use all Winter. The Spring is incredible here especially in May-June, with peonies, cherry blossoms, and tons of beautiful florals blooming. I also can find some of the best orange and red trees when the leaves start changing in Fall. You can’t go wrong with this place!
Open year-round and free to use!
Miss Effie’s Country Flowers - Donahue, Iowa
Speaking of beautiful flowers, Miss Effie’s can’t be beat for gorgeous blooms! Not only is it a fun place to visit during the day, but she allows photographers to rent time for portrait sessions after business hours. There is so much here, from the pretty flowers to standing structures and benches to an adorable swing and corn fields out front, it is well worth her rental fee!
Open seasonally from Spring to Fall, available by appointment only. Rental and travel fee: $35.00
Vander Veer Botanical Park - Davenport, Iowa
And here we go again - another pretty spot! The thing I love about this location is the variety of looks you can get in one park. There’s a huge water fountain, pretty white pillars, a pathway, small stone bridge and more! Another plus is that there is an indoor greenhouse you can use in case of rain.
Open year-round! Travel fee: $15.00
Riverfront & Downtown- Clinton, Iowa
I love walking along the dike and downtown Clinton to find cool spots for portraits! There are areas like Luebber’s Fountain, lighthouses, the Showboat and of course a river view all along the way. From one end to the other, there is no shortage of possibilities! It’s also fun to get a more grungy look by walking a bit further and finding an alleyway downtown.
Great anytime of the year and obviously free to use!
Rockwood State Park - Morrison, Illinois
This place is amazing! I love the lake and the docks, the covered bridge close by, tall grass and wild flower fields, and some of the best trees ever in the Fall! I could shoot here every day for a week and have totally different images for each client. There is so much usable space at this location!
Available year-round. No entrance fee for Illinois State Parks. Travel fee: $10.00
Riverside - Fulton, Illinois
While of course Heritage Canyon is adorable and unique and great for portraits too, I actually REALLY love the little area by their parking lot right across the street! It’s right by the river, complete with bench swings! Anytime I have done Heritage Canyon I’ve used this spot too and they almost always end up being favorites.
Open year-round but not recommended in Winter/early Spring (super muddy). Free to use!
Freight House Farmer’s Market & The Village of East Davenport
This may seem a bit different than the other spots, but oh how I adore the downtown atmosphere for a unique set of portraits! This little area is perfect for the city girl in you who wants something different than farmhouses and pretty parks. I love Freight House for a quick session or second location as well. But you could easily stretch it out and use the surrounding city blocks for a full shoot. Another similar location a little closer to Clinton, IA is to use the main strip in LeClaire, Iowa (Cody Road)!
We can make this work all year long! Travel fee: $15.00
Ericksen Community Center - Clinton, Iowa
Often thought of more for sports and event rooms, but forgotten about for the beautiful little fishing pond and pretty surrounding trees, this is a great spot that doesn’t seem to be used much by other local photographers! I really love it though, especially for quicker shoots or as a second location!
Available year-round and free to use!
There you have it…ten amazing locations! But I do have one more suggestion to consider…
Your place!
I know I already mentioned choosing somewhere sentimental, but what is more personal than your own home?! It doesn’t have to be huge or perfect or even spotless. Inside, outside, doesn’t matter. I love capturing memories in the place you spend most of your time together. You can’t get much more authentic than that! For more on in-home sessions, check out my blog 7 Reasons You Will Want to Plan an In-Home Session For Your Family
Not local to Clinton, Iowa? No problem! Within 30 miles round trip is free, further than that…just Contact Me for a travel quote!