I work only on location, so it helps to have a wide variety of location options, and I’m always looking for new locations. The reason I like location shooting so much is that it keeps things fresh,  and I have to work harder for great images. In a studio your lighting is mostly static, you’re limited to a few background choices and only a few angles. Outside, there are so many different views.

I put this together to give a feel for what kind of images are possible at some of the locations I visit most often. Although your pictures at any location might look completely different from these based on time of day, weather, what kind of additional lighting I use, or things I might see differently on any given day.  This is just a small list for now, but it will be constantly updated!

Iowa Side

Downtown Davenport

There are a ton of different options in downtown Davenport. Colorful buildings, brick buildings, the Skybridge, various parking garages, train tracks, small patches of plant life and  river parks. It’s a great place for many different types of portrait sessions.

You never know when you’ll find something different, this seniors mom pointed out an open semi-truck that we used for this image.

Skybridge

Great for senior portraits or couples & really close to downtown Davenport and the Mississippi River, this place can make for some very cool images.

Parking Garages

They might not sound like the most beautiful place to take pictures, but there are a few that I think work pretty well.

Credit Island & Concord

Great spot for nature and waterfront pictures. Greenery and beaches make these spots wonderful for romantic images.

Vandeveer Park

Gorgeous park in Davenport filled with flower gardens, trees, a pond, two really nice fountains, some beautiful columns and an indoor plant conservatory.  The park also numerous weddings. At night, the main fountain is lighted for a beautiful light show.

Village of East Davenport

The Village has a beautiful park overlooking the river, train tracks and tons of adorable shops & urban locations.

Scott County Park & Pioneer Village

This place is a bit out of town, but well worth the drive. Scott County park has tons of natural landscapes, ponds, nearby corn fields, and forests. The Pioneer Village has a great old fashioned feel to it, and has trains, old west style stores, gazebos & a church.

Other places in Iowa

There are several other parks in Iowa, including Duck Creek park in Bettendorf and the Bettendorf Riverfront.

Illinois Side

Sylvan Slough Natural Area

This is probably my all time favorite place to shoot, mostly because it’s so versatile. This place has beautiful fields that light up like gold at sunset, pillars, urban brick walls, cool stairs, weird pink tetris blocks (yeah, that’s right), and some riverfront.  Love it.

Downtown Rock Island

Lots of different options in downtown Rock Island, it’s close to the river, and has lots of colorful buildings and urban style.

Quad-City Botanical Gardens

The Quad-City Botanical Gardens is great for portraits and weddings. They have beautiful year round trees, plants and flowers. They do charge admission,  check qcgardens.com for updated prices.

Black Hawk Park

Great park in Illinois, they have a pond & a playground,  lots of wooded trails and the Hauberg center has some interesting architecture.

Prospect Park

Another great park, Prospect park some gorgeous gazebos, a pond and lots of great trees & plant life.

Moline Riverfront

There are several little parks along the Moline riverfront, all with great views of the river, and a few with playgrounds, docks and other great features.