How to prepare For Your Engagement Session at a State Park | Minnesota State Park Wedding Photographer | MW Photography

How To Prepare For Your Engagement Session at a State Park

I love exploring my local State Parks in Minnesota and I think your love of the outdoors brought you here too! So much that you are now looking into having your engagement photos at you favorite state park! I have a couple of tips to help make your state park engagement photography a better experience as you plan! Some of these tips are for before hand and some tips for the session it helps!
Here we go.

Check the website to make sure the park is open.

Just imagine, after being excited to plan your adventure session in your beautiful local state park you get there to closed signs and ropes between you and your dream photos. This disappointment is the last thing you want! It can be simply avoided by checking the website or calling ahead for any trail closures. Speaking of checking the website……

Check the website to see if a photography permit is required.

As photography has blown up in a good way many locations even in the great outdoors are charging a permit fee to have your photos there. The rangers will ask and will give a big fine if you are caught without your permit. Check permit requirements as early as possible as most take up to 2 weeks or more to process your request or charge more for expedited requests. Don’t let this ruin your session on the day of. Get your permit. Another permit that will most likely be needed is a park pass sticker for your car while you are there. Most of the time they are $7 a day or $30-$ 35 for the year. Check your state park website for admission prices.

Wear the right shoes

Wear shoes that won’t have you cursing the day you were born. Many girls see Instagram models in their high-heels and think that is the way to go. This is a mistake for the great outdoors! Wearing the right shoes for the journey will make all the difference and save your feet from a world of hurt for the next couple of days. An easy alternative is pack the cute shoes in a hiking backpack to change once you get to your destination! Trust me, you’ll thank me later.

Plan your timeline with estimated hiking time.

Some trails in your State Parks are longer than others. If you have specific spots in mind it may take some time to get to those spots! Definitely plan on adding that time to your schedule so you have a realistic timeline while planning your state park adventure! A good resource to help with this is a website like alltrails.com that shows trail’s intensity and length.

Bring plenty of food and water.

Adventuring in your local State Park is SO much fun, but can take a lot out of you! Bringing water and snacks will keep your energy levels and spirits high so you can enjoy your experience to the fullest. Your photographer wants you to be happy! Food and hydration will help with that! Good trail snacks are nuts, packed fruits, and veggies. (And some celebratory bubbly wouldn’t hurt!)

Don’t forget to bring your spirit of adventure.

Have fun, enjoy the beauty around you!!! Bring a fun date idea that you and your fiance can enjoy along the way like a picnic or a favorite hobby you can do together. If you both are having a good time, your photos will reflect that!

I hope this helps bring you an amazing state park engagement session experience!

Happy Adventuring!

Looking for more inspiration for your future state park adventure?
Check out by clicking these outdoor engagement sessions to inspire your own adventure!!
Becca & Scott | Christian & Emily | Sara & Isaac | Bailey & Michaila

You can also check out Must See Spots along Minnesota’s North Shore HERE for future planning Up North!

Dear Minnesota,

Dear Minnesota,
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I love you and I always have. But my heart is broken and saddened for a family who lost a loved one 1 week from today.
I am grieving with the Floyd family as they try to make sense of a senseless situation.
It may not feel like it right now but I have been lifting my voice all week asking God for His wisdom, His grace, and His peace in your streets and throughout our Nation.
I am praying for safety of your black community, and the safety of your peaceful protesters.
I have been praying for justice of the small businesses whose life's work and blood was burned to the ground.
I have been praying justice rains down on those who are spreading chaos and harm and doing the devils work when the night falls.
I have been praying for wisdom in our leaders and officers who are trying to keep their citizens safe.

I am praying for Justice here.

sincerely yours,

Molly Sanchez

Camping at St. Croix State Park | Minnesota State Park Photography | Personal

Marcus and I joined my family for our newly establish Waits Camping trip! This is our second year packing up the truck camping with my family so it is officially an annual thing now! That is just how my family works.

That all being said, it was a time to unplug and just be present with my family. It is SO freeing to just have your phone out of juice not feeling the addictive urge to check it every second. All the photos you see on this blog were taken by my family members.

We did a two night camping stay at Minnesota's St. Croix State Park! It is only about an hour and forty minutes outside of the twin cities close to Hinckley. We made our way with all the weekly rush to you fantasy cabin people up north. This camping trip was the first time we took our dog Dunder with us! Spoiler but he did amazing!

The moment we stepped out of the truck I think I got bit by all the mosquitoes. So the entire weekend was all bug spray all the time.

My family is a very laid back family for the most part so we enjoyed the weather exploring that trails in the park. My Sister Jenny brought her Great Dane, Backup so Dunder would have someone to walk with! The woods around the campsite was so green and plush! The State Park Campsite also had events for everyone to join in on. My brother and dad won at Bird Bingo. Our second night there they had a painting demonstration where we all got to paint a bear in the woods! Jiwon (our honorary sister who was also able to join us on her FIRST camping trip ever) and I went a little off the grid and did night bears instead. All our art work was so beautiful but my Mom's was the favorite by far.

She just has a talent for anything she tries naturally.

That night we got some pizza locally, because it is not a complete camping trip with the Waits clan unless there is one night where we have a bonfire pizza! Over all the bonfires and laughs my nephew Ben and my dog Dunder's bond grew. Ben was bringing everything to Dunder for show and tell which any attention the dog just loves. It was a really cute love story to see unfold right before our eyes. Did you know Ben can say Dunder's name clear as a bell but Marcus and I are still Mar and Ma. How does that work?

Our last morning there all of us got to try archery for the first time for most of us! Not to toot my own horn but I got in the middle area and kicked Marcus's butt! I am really glad we got to try it!

We packed up and Marcus and I headed to the Fire Tower in the Park. It was SO tall. The fire tower is well above the tree line and can see both MN and WI. Both our legs were burning by the time we got back down from that height.

The last leg of our version of camping, we stopped at Tobies off 94. Now, if you don't know what Tobie's is it is a restaurant and the food is ok. BUT they are better known for their bakery which is AMAZING! If you ever drive by you need to Stop your car and get yourself one of their Caramel Rolls or donuts! It was Marcus's first time and he LOVED it!

Looking forward to next years Waits Annual Camping Trip!