Hi, I'm Raquel. Nice to meet you!
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WEDDING + LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER
I'm passionate about capturing each season of life
Engagements, weddings, motherhood, families, seniors, & branding photography
Sioux Falls Engagement Photo Locations
There are so many amazing photo options in Sioux Falls, SD!
Whether you’re looking for a more industrial city vibe or beautiful rock formations and fields, there are so many great and diverse options in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area that make for the perfect location to document your love story! I find myself constantly continuing to add to my favorites list and love exploring new spots to suggest to clients. Here are some of my top locations for getting a beautiful backdrop and the best engagement photos with yours truly. 😉
1. Downtown Sioux Falls, SD
Of course the city girl in me would pick downtown for the first spot. There are endless hidden gem spots around downtown including city overlooks, scenic rooftops, and along the riverwalk. You can’t go wrong in downtown Sioux Falls.
Rooftops, historic buildings, museums, CH Patisserie, coffeeshops, the Treasury bar, and more… here are more favorites from engagement sessions downtown!
2. The Hotel on Phillips
While we’re on the topic of downtown Sioux Falls, of course I have to drop my favorite hotel. Not only is it a very charming place to stay with a friendly staff, but it also serves for a perfect classic and unique photoshoot. There are many great backdrops to get some of those trendy flash shots around the lobby and Treasury bar in the hotel. The Hotel on Phillips is truly an iconic spot in Sioux Falls to visit and is a great spot for getting ready on your wedding day. Here are some of my favorite photos at the Hotel on Phillips!
3. The Outdoor Campus
Getting into more of our greenery and stunning nature locations. The Outdoor Campus is another spot with so many stunning backgrounds for photos any time of year that you visit — especially FALL. The colors are vibrant as ever in the autumn season. In the park there is a grass field that separates the trails around the park that make for some gorgeous tones. In the fall season the colors in the park pair perfectly with neutral colored outfits. With its convenient location in central Sioux Falls, I always highly recommend the Outdoor Campus with it being easy to get to from any part of the city.
4. McKennan Park
McKennan Park has really become such a favorite for sessions for me each time I visit. With the park located right in the middle of Sioux Falls, it has something for everyone and is in the middle of a charming historic district in the city. From the beautiful garden, theater, tennis courts, and intimate ceremony spot — you cannot go wrong at this location. I love to visit this park for a perfect picnic spot and some tennis too in my own time. I love this spot!
5. Lake Alvin
The perfect summer session spot! Lake Alvin is such a perfect place to get a beautiful evergreen landscape in the background — it almost feels like you jumped to the west side of the state near the Black Hills with all the trees. This spot is a bit of paradise and many people are quickly discovering it’s beauty as well since it can be pretty busy in the summer and fall.
When you enter the park, the road splits and I love taking the road on the right to get a bit of a field and hilly scenic along the road and at the loading dock. Also, there is a path that you can follow next to the dock that takes you to a gorgeous lake overlook as well. This overlook is a short hike that is probably about a 1/4 of a mile into the path — it is well worth the hike! I also recommend visiting the lower part of the part to the beach area for another beautiful scene.
6. Palisades State Park
The Palisades is just about a 30-minute drive outside of Sioux Falls but so worth going! This park is huge and can get pretty full during summer months with campers. Also, it is a very popular spot for fall photoshoots, can you blame us? Whether you are wanting the red rock backdrop, evergreen trees, or wildflower field in the summer months, the Palisades has a variety of scenery and overlooks.
7. Great Bear
Great Bear is just on the edge of Sioux Falls and is another beautiful spot full of rolling hills, greenery, trails, and more. This spot is great to also just explore on your own or go down some of the trails with your dog(s).
8. Blue Mounds State Park
Just located outside of Luverne, MN and a short drive from Sioux Falls, the Blue Mounds are another great outdoor location full of red rock and cliff side views and backdrops. However, this park requires a little bit of walking to encompass it all, but there are also great backdrops right as you enter the park off the road near the parking lot. I’ve always had such a perfect sunset at this spot too and the blue hour is incomparable.
9. Landscape Garden Center Greenhouse
Sticking with the greenery, the Landscape Garden Center is THE spot for green backdrops. If you’re a plant lover like myself, this greenhouse is a must if you’re open to trying something a little less Pinterest looking. This location is huge and has so many great backgrounds for photos — and the owners now have the greenhouse as an option for hosting your wedding.
10. Sioux Falls Studio Rental Space
Lastly, choose to have your engagement session at one of the studios in Sioux Falls. There are many great studios with hourly rentals including White Space Studio, West Sioux Studio, Rhys Studio, Phillips Avenue Studio, and more. These studios spaces literally create a blank canvas for us to create anything we want. I encourage bringing props such as champagne and wine glasses, bright-colored outfits to go with a blank backdrop, bubbles/confetti, cake and donuts, extra outfits, the options are endless. For a studio photoshoot I will create a mood board for us too to do something either trendy and fun, or modern and chic.
That’s a wrap!
Overall, all these locations around Sioux Falls offer something unique that can be catered towards many different couples! My suggestion is to analyze your relationship and love story and find a location that feels like it would represent it well, or sounds like a fun idea to you. You can literally go anywhere or even at home for your engagement session. I’m all for any ideas and can’t wait to connect with you and just get stuck in your love story! Additionally, if you want any help with picking a location, outfits, or wedding planning help, I’m here ready to help and offer any expertise.
More Information on Top 10 Locations:
- Downtown Sioux Falls
- The Hotel on Phillips
- The Outdoor Campus
- McKennan Park
- Lake Alvin
- Palisades State Park
- Great Bear
- Blue Mounds State Park
- Landscape Garden Center
- White Space Studio, West Sioux Studio
Looking for a photographer for your engagement session?
I would be happy to capture the beautiful and sentimental moments that make up your engagement session. Fill out my contact form linked here to get in touch.
There are so many amazing photo options in Sioux Falls, SD!
Whether you’re looking for a more industrial city vibe or beautiful rock formations and fields, there are so many great and diverse options in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area that make for the perfect location to document your love story! I find myself constantly continuing to add to my favorites list and love exploring new spots to suggest to clients. Here are some of my top locations for getting a beautiful backdrop and the best engagement photos with yours truly. 😉
1. Downtown Sioux Falls, SD
Of course the city girl in me would pick downtown for the first spot. There are endless hidden gem spots around downtown including city overlooks, scenic rooftops, and along the riverwalk. You can’t go wrong in downtown Sioux Falls.
Rooftops, historic buildings, museums, CH Patisserie, coffeeshops, the Treasury bar, and more… here are more favorites from engagement sessions downtown!
2. The Hotel on Phillips
While we’re on the topic of downtown Sioux Falls, of course I have to drop my favorite hotel. Not only is it a very charming place to stay with a friendly staff, but it also serves for a perfect classic and unique photoshoot. There are many great backdrops to get some of those trendy flash shots around the lobby and Treasury bar in the hotel. The Hotel on Phillips is truly an iconic spot in Sioux Falls to visit and is a great spot for getting ready on your wedding day. Here are some of my favorite photos at the Hotel on Phillips!
3. The Outdoor Campus
Getting into more of our greenery and stunning nature locations. The Outdoor Campus is another spot with so many stunning backgrounds for photos any time of year that you visit — especially FALL. The colors are vibrant as ever in the autumn season. In the park there is a grass field that separates the trails around the park that make for some gorgeous tones. In the fall season the colors in the park pair perfectly with neutral colored outfits. With its convenient location in central Sioux Falls, I always highly recommend the Outdoor Campus with it being easy to get to from any part of the city.
4. McKennan Park
McKennan Park has really become such a favorite for sessions for me each time I visit. With the park located right in the middle of Sioux Falls, it has something for everyone and is in the middle of a charming historic district in the city. From the beautiful garden, theater, tennis courts, and intimate ceremony spot — you cannot go wrong at this location. I love to visit this park for a perfect picnic spot and some tennis too in my own time. I love this spot!
5. Lake Alvin
The perfect summer session spot! Lake Alvin is such a perfect place to get a beautiful evergreen landscape in the background — it almost feels like you jumped to the west side of the state near the Black Hills with all the trees. This spot is a bit of paradise and many people are quickly discovering it’s beauty as well since it can be pretty busy in the summer and fall.
When you enter the park, the road splits and I love taking the road on the right to get a bit of a field and hilly scenic along the road and at the loading dock. Also, there is a path that you can follow next to the dock that takes you to a gorgeous lake overlook as well. This overlook is a short hike that is probably about a 1/4 of a mile into the path — it is well worth the hike! I also recommend visiting the lower part of the part to the beach area for another beautiful scene.
6. Palisades State Park
The Palisades is just about a 30-minute drive outside of Sioux Falls but so worth going! This park is huge and can get pretty full during summer months with campers. Also, it is a very popular spot for fall photoshoots, can you blame us? Whether you are wanting the red rock backdrop, evergreen trees, or wildflower field in the summer months, the Palisades has a variety of scenery and overlooks.
7. Great Bear
Great Bear is just on the edge of Sioux Falls and is another beautiful spot full of rolling hills, greenery, trails, and more. This spot is great to also just explore on your own or go down some of the trails with your dog(s).
8. Blue Mounds State Park
Just located outside of Luverne, MN and a short drive from Sioux Falls, the Blue Mounds are another great outdoor location full of red rock and cliff side views and backdrops. However, this park requires a little bit of walking to encompass it all, but there are also great backdrops right as you enter the park off the road near the parking lot. I’ve always had such a perfect sunset at this spot too and the blue hour is incomparable.
9. Landscape Garden Center Greenhouse
Sticking with the greenery, the Landscape Garden Center is THE spot for green backdrops. If you’re a plant lover like myself, this greenhouse is a must if you’re open to trying something a little less Pinterest looking. This location is huge and has so many great backgrounds for photos — and the owners now have the greenhouse as an option for hosting your wedding.
10. Sioux Falls Studio Rental Space
Lastly, choose to have your engagement session at one of the studios in Sioux Falls. There are many great studios with hourly rentals including White Space Studio, West Sioux Studio, Rhys Studio, Phillips Avenue Studio, and more. These studios spaces literally create a blank canvas for us to create anything we want. I encourage bringing props such as champagne and wine glasses, bright-colored outfits to go with a blank backdrop, bubbles/confetti, cake and donuts, extra outfits, the options are endless. For a studio photoshoot I will create a mood board for us too to do something either trendy and fun, or modern and chic.
That’s a wrap!
Overall, all these locations around Sioux Falls offer something unique that can be catered towards many different couples! My suggestion is to analyze your relationship and love story and find a location that feels like it would represent it well, or sounds like a fun idea to you. You can literally go anywhere or even at home for your engagement session. I’m all for any ideas and can’t wait to connect with you and just get stuck in your love story! Additionally, if you want any help with picking a location, outfits, or wedding planning help, I’m here ready to help and offer any expertise.
More Information on Top 10 Locations:
- Downtown Sioux Falls
- The Hotel on Phillips
- The Outdoor Campus
- McKennan Park
- Lake Alvin
- Palisades State Park
- Great Bear
- Blue Mounds State Park
- Landscape Garden Center
- White Space Studio, West Sioux Studio
Looking for a photographer for your engagement session?
I would be happy to capture the beautiful and sentimental moments that make up your engagement session. Fill out my contact form linked here to get in touch.
Shania & Pierre / Sioux Falls / 2022
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