Best Outdoor Portrait Locations in the Omaha Area

One of the first questions you might ask when planning for your outdoor portrait session is where will we go? It’s important that you choose a location that speaks to you and is meaningful to you. Omaha and its surrounding communities offer a variety of gorgeous backdrops for any type of outdoor portraiture, whether you want to be fully immersed in nature, in a more manicured setting, or even in an urban environment. Below is a list of locations for you to choose from but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make a suggestion for a location that is special to you. These locations would be great for all types of portraits including family, maternity, couples/engagement and senior sessions.

Parks and Nature

1. Schramm Park (Gretna, NE) - A hidden gem nestled among the rolling hills of the Platte River valley.

2. Mahoney State Park - a very large, 700-acre state park including small Baright Lake and marina. There are several woodsy trails along the river with beautiful views and interesting plants. The Sass Memorial Iris Garden is located inside the park and bloom time generally begins in mid-May

3. Elmwood Park Grotto - Perennial plantings and a natural spring flow from the rocks, making the grotto an intimate setting for portraits

4. Memorial Park - An endless green space, the park features a lovely rose garden with a variety of floral displays

5. Lewis and Clark Landing (currently closed, re-opening 2023) - Part of Omaha’s RiverFront Revitalization Project. A contiguous trail system for riverside strolls will remain – with the redesign adding numerous trees and pockets of green space throughout. Additional new features will include a destination children’s playground, an urban beach, and a renovated marina.

6. Heartland of America Park (currently closed, re-opening 2023) - Heartland of America Park is the largest of The RiverFront’s three components and directly neighbors the Missouri River. There will be elements, such as, a lake and fountain, skate Ribbon, lakeside amphitheater, bocce courts, an extensive event lawn and picturesque pier that extends out to the Missouri River.

7. Hitchcock Nature Center - Nestled on the rugged western edge of Iowa's Loess Hills, Hitchcock Nature Center (HNC) currently consists of 1,268 acres, and is about a 20 minute drive from downtown Omaha. The Loess Hills harbor some of the largest remaining prairie remnants in Iowa.. With its expansive rolling hills, HNC provides one of the best natural portrait backdrops in the Omaha area.

8. Chalco Hills - Consists of 1,186 acres of which 246 acres is covered by Wehrspann Lake, an artificial reservoir

9. Hummel Park - Situated on 200+ acres about 6 miles northeast of downtown Omaha with scenic and picturesque backdrops for great outdoor portraits.

10. Fontenelle Forest - a 1400-acre forest in Bellevue, NE. If you're looking for a woodsy portrait background, Fontenelle Forest should be at the top of your list. The forest includes hardwood deciduous forest, extensive floodplain, loess hills and marshlands.

Gardens and Arboretums

1. Lauritzen Gardens (fee required) - A stunning 100-acre garden and 4-acre arboretum is located in South Omaha; this urban oasis is a popular location for portrait sessions and weddings.

2. OPPD Arboretum - The scenery is a hidden gem for area photographers looking for that perfect backdrop for senior, maternity, couples, and family portraits. The area is vibrant and colorful, particularly in spring and fall. There are two acres of native grasses and wildflowers and 16 acres of formal planting/turf area.

By the Water

1. Lake Zorinsky - The lake has a surface area of 255 acres; Zorinsky Lake Park is home to one of the few native tall grass prairies remaining in eastern Nebraska. There are wooded areas, as well, all providing beautiful backdrops for golden hour and sunset portraits.

2. Wehrspann Lake - Located at Chalco Hills Recreation Area, Wehrspann Lake is a 250-acre lake surrounded by 940 acres of trees and grasses.

Mansions

1. Joslyn Castle Gardens (by appointment) - Located at the heart of Midtown Omaha, the mansion is surrounded by 5.57 acres of landscaped grounds and ornamental gardens, this is a popular location for both photography sessions and weddings. Surrounded by a stone and wrought iron fence, the formal gardens are filled with spectacular views that include flower beds, perennial plants, and bushes

2. General Crook House Museum - beautiful Heirloom Garden contains more than 100 different varieties of native heirloom plants. On the north side of the house is the luscious Sass Iris bed, which blooms in late spring. On the south side of the museum is where our annual carpet beds grow, strategically planted in a new design every year to create the illusion of an oriental rug. Encircling the annual carpet beds are the perennial heirloom plants, which bloom all spring and summer long.

Urban 

1. Downtown Omaha - offers many diverse looks from downtown city, high rise buildings, colorful classic and modern architecture, and green space (in non-winter months).

2. The Old Market - An old warehouse district reclaimed as modern retail, restaurants, and urban living – it is hip and very cool.

3. Blackstone Area - This area of midtown Omaha stretches from 36th to 41st streets between Leavenworth and Farnam, offering a rich legacy of vibrant Americana in its historic buildings and businesses. With remarkable and unique backdrops, brick walls, storefronts, and more, we can create your own story with a trendy vibe.

4. Dundee District - The "heart" of Dundee is located at 50th and Underwood Avenue in Omaha.

5. Gene Leahy Mall - Part of Omaha’s River Front Revitalization Project; the most urban of the three parks, and serves as a central gathering place for the Omaha community.

6. Benson Neighborhood - the stretch on either side of Maple Street between 60th and 65th streets; it’s a popular neighborhood, having a fun vibe without much pretension.