Best Times of Year & Places for Outdoor Photos in the Ozarks

Find The Best Places In Springfield For Seasonal Photos With Our Helpful Guide!

The Ozarks are known for their breathtaking beauty year-round, making them an ideal location for outdoor photography. However, each season offers something unique. Here’s a guide to help you choose the best time for your photo session.

a mother and daughter sit in a field of purple, pink, and orange flowers as they look at the camera and smile — Enjoy blooming flowers for springtime shoots!

a high school graduate poses for senior photos in her stole, holding a blue grad cap above her head, in front of a waterfall in Jasper, Arkansas, photographed by Gambles Photography — Enjoy blooming flowers for springtime shoots!

Spring: Blooming Gardens and Fresh Beginnings

Spring in the Ozarks is marked by blooming flowers and lush greenery. Locations like the Nathanael Green Park, Japanese Stroll Gardens, and Dogwood Canyon Nature Park offer vibrant gardens and fresh scenery, perfect for family or engagement sessions. If you’re willing to travel, the spring also brings waterfall season! One of our all time favorite places (and trust me, we’ve traveled a lot!) is less than 2 hours from Springfield; Jasper and Ponca, Arkansas, has amazing hikes to wild and lush waterfalls and cliffs that will take your breath away!

A woman poses confidently in a blue and red floral two-piece outfit in front of a brightly lit carnival carousel. The colorful lights and vibrant setting add a fun, dynamic atmosphere to the photo. — Summer means local fairs! Great for cool, modern images.

A young woman in a light blue lace dress smiles brightly as she stands in the middle of Pa's Posey's Garden at sunset. The golden light creates a warm, soft glow around her, complementing the vibrant yellow sunflowers in Cassville, MO. — Summer means local fairs! Great for cool, modern images.

Summer: Golden Hour at Its Best

When I say long hot days, most people aren’t jumping for joy to get their pictures taken, but those long hot days bring a lot of opportunity for fun! Summer sessions is when we focus on water, and even get in it! Summer is also a great time for flower fields – Lake Springfield now has a native wildflower field through June and July, or Pa’s Posey Patch in Cassville has sunflowers, blue bonnets, and azaleas throughout the entire season. Lastly, summer means the fair is in town!

A couple sits facing each other, their legs wrapped around one another's waists, as the wife holds a white cowboy hat on to her head. The couple looks into each other's eyes and smiles. — Get perfect hues during fall at Fellows Lake.

A lesbian couple kisses in Jasper, Arkansas, on top of a cliff with the red-orange sunset behind them. — Get perfect hues during fall at Fellows Lake.

Fall: Rich Colors and Crisp Air

Fall is one of the most popular times for photos in the Ozarks, as it should be. (It’s also the hardest to get scheduled, so make sure you reach out early!) There are so many parks and private land we have access to that has incredible fall foliage. Some of our favorites are: Living Memorial Park, Fellows Lake, Lost Hill Park, Dogwood Canyon, and fall is also waterfall season in Jasper again!

Siblings hold hands, smiling and laughing as they run down the concrete streets of Historic Commercial Street in Springfield, MO. — Capture the wonder of winter with C-Street photoshoots.

Capture the wonder of winter with C-Street photoshoots.

Winter: Clean, Minimalistic Aesthetic

Winter may not be everyone’s first choice, but the snowy landscapes and frosty trees can offer a clean, elegant look. Plus, if you wanted snow and the weather doesn’t cooperate, we can always bust out the snow machine! For less winter foliage, we can always walk around downtown Springfield’s during the Festival of Lights or on Historic C-Street. If you’re worried about cold weather we can always book a studio session for that timeless look!

Plan Your Seasonal Shoot With Gambles

Ready to schedule a session? Contact Gambles Photography to book your seasonal shoot in Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Republic, or the surrounding areas. We also offer Holiday Mini sessions that are perfectly themed for the jolliest time of the year!