8 Sweet Spots for Photos Around Bloomington, Indiana
There are tons of perfectly photogenic spots all around Bloomington and southern, Indiana. These are just a few of my favorites for portraits. For the most part I feel like I always fall to “simple is best” or “personal is best” when it comes to portraits. Simple: open space with beautiful light, or walking around your neighborhood. Personal: I love a spot that has significance, a place someone enjoys being, or their home.
My entire portrait style centers around comfort. I think that when someone feels good, and comfortable that comes through effortlessly in the photos. And we all need different things to feel comfortable in front of a camera, but I find one that often helps is being in a place that feels good to be in. When you’re considering where you’d like your photo made, just consider: where do I feel good?
Anyway, here are some photos and a little chitter chat about some spots I personally enjoy around town. Feel welcome to get in touch if you’d like to talk about photos!
leonard springs nature park
There are so many nice nature preserves here in southern Indiana, but Leonard Springs really asks for special consideration right off the top. There are wetlands, waterfalls, caves and springs. Year round it’s a gorgeous spot with so much to offer. In the spring there are flowers and in the summer the moss around the water is unbelievably lush. It is a little hike and there is a long staircase, so it is not ideal for everyone.
the lake
We have so many beautiful options here in southern, Indiana! Lake Monroe, Lake Griffy, Lake Lemon. The cutout at Lake Monroe really comes to mind. I love the wide open space with the cliffs. Or there’s Paynetown SRA, I really love the little retaining wall on the beach and this spot up by the picnic tables that has a lovely view of the lake, pictured up top here. Or there’s the undeniably photogenic Flat Rock swimming spot at Lake Monroe. Lake Lemon has all these beautiful hibiscuses flowers around the water during the summer… And Griffy is so close to town, I’ve been taking photos there for years. So many sweet little spots you could make portraits at any of these lakes!
mccormick’s creek state park
Figured it couldn’t hurt to include one spot just a little outside of Bloomington… McCormick’s Creek State Park is just 14 miles west of us here, just next to Spencer, Indiana. This spot has a lot to offer. Cliffs dropping down into a canyon with a waterfall, a cave, and plentiful springtime flowers. There are a few places to access the creek, but you can take stairs right down to where the waterfall is and dip your feet in sitting on huge beautiful slabs of rocks.
the greenhouse at IU
There are a lot of beautiful spots for photos on the IU campus: Indiana Memorial Union, Dunn Woods, Beck Chapel, and Rose Well House to list off a few, but my favorite is without a doubt the Biology Building Greenhouse. I love making photos in this cramped little greenhouse! It feels so lush and grand. Personally I am a big house plant person. I love the color and life they bring into my home, and this little greenhouse is just a way more intense version of that!!
edit: seems like nowadays that the greenhouse prefers people do not take professional photos here anymore. Seems fair enough to me! This feels like a pretty iconic spot in town to me, so maybe you should still drop by and check it out and take a nice selfie :)
rose hill in the springtime, bryan park, & butler park
Okay, sure, the graveyard in springtime probably isn’t for everyone, but it’s probably good for someone!! I just always think of this as a spring time staple in Bloomington: The peonies blooming in Rose Hill. They’re so short-lived, but just so so lovely and the colors are perfect. I made photos here for Brick’s engagement at his request, that was in the late fall, but still a nice choice. There are some huge trees which make a beautiful back drop and some other spots where no one would know that you’re… in a graveyard. Haha - To be honest I use the graveyard in my neighborhood all the time for photos! There’s a large open greenspace and it gets beautiful light in the evening since the trees are cleared.
Bryan Park + Butler Park
So maybe I would not actually suggest Rose Hill for, uh, most people, haha, but I would certainly suggest several of our city parks!! Bryan Park and Rev Ernest D Butler Park are two of my favorites. They both offer large open greenspaces that get beautiful light in the evening.
I like the simplicity of open space and golden light, because sometimes, that’s all you need!
Both above photos were made in White Oak Cemetery.
cedar bluffs nature preserve
If you head south on Old Indiana 37 then turn off onto South Ketcham Road you’ll come up on Cedar Bluffs Nature Preserve. I think it’s one of the nicest spots around! Just a very short walk off the road you can hang out on a rocky beach and wade into Clear Creek. Or, if you’re feeling like it you could take the short hike up to the top of the bluffs for the main show. Both are just so nice! Another exceptional nature spot here in southern Indiana.
your home
One of my favorite go-to spots for portraits of all kinds is always your porch, backyard, or inside your home. I think this is a location that can be overlooked for people because they want to make sure their photos are special, which I totally get! But is there anywhere actually more special than your home? It’s probably one of the places you feel most at ease and that always shows through in your photos. All of these portraits were made with folks inside or outside their home and I really feel like it gives them context. I love making portraits at all the places I’ve listed on this little post, but outside and inside people’s homes will always be my first go-to and favorite.
in the studio
Can’t help but to go ahead and include studio photos! I regularly set up in the back room of Office Clothier. They have a really lovely space with great light, HIGHLY suggest checking out their shop!! Studio can sound intimidating, and I get it, generally having your photo made can be intimidating, so the big umbrella doesn’t help. But I think everyone looks so beautiful under a studio light! And once the flash goes off a couple times and you see how sweet your face looks all lit up, I think you’ll start feeling GOOD! :)
I love all these spots and having people in my studio setup! If you’re looking for a portrait session or a couples session and want to talk about going to one of these places together, send me an e-mail or fill out my contact form! Talk to you soon! :)
