5 of My Favorite Portrait Locations in Little Rock, Arkansas
Moving my business to a new state after 6 years understandably came with quite the list of challenges. One of the most glaring that hit me after booking my first session was that I no longer had my go-to portrait locations. I didn’t even know how to get to the nearest grocery store without my GPS but somehow I was supposed to recommend beautiful, picturesque locations to brand new clients! (I suppose I could have just plugged in the coordinates to that grocery store and had the session in aisle 5) Over time, I’ve explored “The Natural State” of Arkansas with my amazing couples + families and have found stunning locations that have me returning again and again.
Being able to suggest locations for your clients builds their level of trust and confidence in you. It helps make one of their biggest decisions about their session more manageable so they can focus on alllll the other moving pieces like choosing their outfits, booking hair + makeup, or coordinating everyone’s schedules.
To be honest, not having recommendations for my first few clients was a pretty crummy feeling so I want to share a few of my favorites I’ve found over the years!
1.Rocky Valley Trail
I was GIDDY when I first stumbled upon this beautiful location. I’ve always dreamed of photographing the beautiful blue waters in Banff National Park but this was a close second for me. If you are hoping for that ethereal, glowy light I recommend making a trip in the days leading up to your session to see what time the light slips below the rock-face above the water and plan accordingly!
2. The Old Mill
I’m not sure how it took me over a year of living in Arkansas to stumble upon this gem but it has quickly become a favorite choice for many of my couples! This location was featured in the opening credits of “Gone with the Wind” and there are a LOT of unique shooting locations all contained within a relatively small area. The Old Mill can get a bit crowded (last time I was there I counted SEVEN other photoshoots going on) so don’t panic if you show up and it’s swarming with tourists and other creatives! Take your time, prioritize the locations you are hoping to shoot in, and assure your couple everything is under control.
3. The Capitol
The Arkansas State Capitol presents quite a few opportunities with its stunning bronze doors, grand columns, granite steps, and lush green lawns. You would be hard-pressed to find an angle here that doesn’t look stunning!
4. The Clinton Center
This location was actually the very first that I simply set out and discovered “on my own.” I only say that in the sense of I had nothing to go off of except I knew my couple wanted to have their portraits taken downtown and I could not have been more of an Arkansas newbie. I arrived an hour early to walk around and scout specific locations so I would not, at any point, accidentally say “Um, maybe we can try over here?” Considering I had sweat through my clothes in the July summer heat by the time my sweet couple arrived, my confidence in directing to them to the specific locations I had already chosen allowed me to cling to a shred of professionalism and dignity.
5. Two Rivers Park
If you live anywhere near Little Rock, you’re probably thinking “well, duh!” because honestly this is THE place for your session if your client is wanting their photos with an assortment of natural, outdoor settings. Tall pines? Check. Gorgeous river views? Got ‘em. Grassy fields for romantic frolicking? Yep. (Honorable mention: the occasional deer enjoying dinner and watching the previously mentioned romantic frolicking with confusion + judgement)
I could easily double the length of this post but for now, I hope this helps you when it comes to your upcoming portrait sessions! Nowhere near Little Rock, Arkansas? I’ll be sharing how to find portrait locations in your own area soon!