Natural settings

LITTLE ROCK — There are certain milestones for every family - the first day of kindergarten, the first loose tooth and, of course, family portraits. They are non-negotiable. Just try forgoing the semiannual update of Grandma’s stairwell gallery, and see what happens.

Luckily the experience needn’t be traumatic, especially if you take it outdoors. Photographers and families are increasingly venturing out to parks, botanical gardens and historic sites to capture some of Arkansas’ natural beauty in their family portraits.

Here are a few spots recommended by professional photographers and others in the know.

THE OLD MILL, NORTH LITTLE ROCK

“You can’t live in Little Rock and not have your family photographed at the Old Mill,” says central Arkansas photographer Amy Kelton. “It’s certainly a rite of passage.”

North Little Rock’s Old Mill is not exactly what it seems. While it may look like a 19th-century grist mill, it is actually a replica commissioned in the 1930s by Justin Matthews, developer of the Lakewood neighborhood. The mill perfectly complements the landscape and looks much as a 19th-century mill would have in the 1930s after years of wear and tear. Mexican artist and sculptor Dionicio Rodriguez’s concrete sculptures, made to look like twisted branches, iron or stone, surround the mill and provide footbridges and seating. The mill, shown in the opening credits of Gone With the Wind, is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Officially named T.R. Pugh Memorial Park, the 3-acre park is at the corner of Fairway Avenue and Lakeshore Drive.

WILSON PARK, FAYETTEVILLE

“My favorite place to shoot family portraits here in Northwest Arkansas so far has been Wilson Park,” says Fayetteville photographer Sarah Tomlin. “It has a diverse number of shooting options in one location.”

How many city parks have their own castle? Fayetteville’s Wilson Park, 675 Park Ave., definitely makes the short list. Built in 1981, the castle was the work of sculptor Frank Williams, who entered a city contest to replace an unsightly spring house that sat over the park’s only spring. The concrete-and-rock structure offers an almost enchanted backdrop for families - not to mention a fun place for the kids to play between shots. The castle accounts for thousands of visitors to the park annually and, along with the park’s 21.5 acres of green space, has become a hot spot for families in Northwest Arkansas looking to have unique portraits made.

FORT CHAFFEE AND CHAFFEE CROSSING

“A lot of our customers love going out to Fort Chaffee,” says Fort Smith photographer Jon Beaty. “They love the fields, and it’s a different location and experience from where everyone else goes in the River Valley.”

A property with deep military roots, Fort Chaffee, near Fort Smith, may not seem like an ideal place for family photos, but its photogenic open fields and historic buildings have fans.

Chaffee Crossing, a nearby mixed-use development, also appeals with its a garden and horticulture training center tended by the River Valley Master Gardeners. The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center is also on land that was formerly part of the military reservation. The 170-acre nature reserve has four miles of trails, abundant natural scenery and Wells Lake, a man-made lake built in the 1940s to supply water to Fort Chaffee.

THE BIG DAM BRIDGE, LITTLE ROCK, NORTH LITTLE ROCK

“The beauty of the Big Dam Bridge as a portrait location can be summed up in one word: sunset. Weather permitting, you’re guaranteed one of the best sunsets in the area, with a gleaming river behind you and Pinnacle Mountain on the horizon,”says John Sykes Jr., Arkansas Democrat-Gazette chief photographer.

The Big Dam Bridge, which crosses the Arkansas River between Little Rock’s Murray Park and North Little Rock’s Campbell Lake Park, is picturesque and, well, big. The 4,226-foot span is one of the longest bridges ever built for pedestrian and bicycle use. Its entryway plazas have also become a popular backdrop for weddings and all sorts of photo opportunities. The bridge offers a variety of viewpoints - from panoramic vistas of the Arkansas River to the huge 6- to 8-ton monoliths cut from the dam (to provide footings for the bridge) that stand guard at the entrance plazas.

GARVAN WOODLAND GARDENS, HOT SPRINGS

“People come to Garvan Gardens for family photos, engagement photos and wedding photos because of the beautiful ... natural setting that can’t be beat. The backdrop changes four times a year and changes from year to year,” says Marla Crider, Garvan Gardens’ director of marketing.

A 120-acre preserve situated on a wooded peninsula on Lake Hamilton, Garvan Woodland Gardens is the largest botanical garden in the state. Verna Cook Garvan spent 40 years planting and nurturing thousands of trees and plants. Garvan donated the garden to the University of Arkansas School of Architecture in 1985 and continued to develop the land until her death in 1993. The garden, in its totality, is filled with beautiful vistas and landscapes. The Garvan Pavilion was designed by noted Arkansas architect E. Fay Jones and his partner Maurice Jennings. The pavilion, rock bridges, the garden’s woodlands, flower plots, meadows and the shores of Lake Hamilton all make ideal spots for family photos.

DOWNTOWN FORT SMITH

“The historic buildings at Judge Parker’s court and on Garrison Avenue make wonderful backdrops and are a major part of Fort Smith’s history,” says photographer Kim Christopher.

Fort Smith’s historic downtown is filled with red brick buildings, views of the Arkansas River and lots of places to snap family photos.The Fort Smith National Historic Site has free admission to park grounds, while most of the buildings along Garrison Avenue provide rustic backdrops, also for free. There are also many museums with historic facades - The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, the Fort Smith Museum of History and the Fort Smith Trolley Museum. “I like to take family photos outside the Trolley Museum in downtown Fort Smith,” says photographer Carol Hutchings. “There are lots of old trains there, and they make a very good backdrop for photos.”

BLOWING SPRINGS PARK, BELLA VISTA

“We wanted a location that was natural and had earthy tones. The kids loved running around and exploring, and catching that emotion in pictures is priceless,” says Heather Tally, who hired Deborah Billingsley of Bentonville to photograph her children at Blowing Springs Park.

Most Arkansans outside of Benton County have probably never heard of Blowing Springs Park, but the tiny Bella Vista park provides some ideal backdrops for family photos. Rock formations, a gently flowing stream and caves adorn this municipal park. It’s a favorite of Billingsley’s. “I’ve had several families who were leaving the state and they wanted some shots of their children that just said ‘Arkansas’ before they moved back to the city,” she says.

PETIT JEAN STATE PARK, MORRILTON

“It’s an Arkansas family tradition to take photos at Petit Jean State Park. I would have a hard time deciding which backdrop to use [at Petit Jean State Park] - overlooks, waterfalls, streams, forests, unique rock formations, wildflower-filled meadows,” says Kelly Farrell, an Arkansas State Parks interpreter.

Natural beauty is something Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton has in abundance. Arkansas’ first state park is known for its scenic views, Cedar Creek Canyon, Natural Bridge, the Seven Hollows Trail, Bear Cave and Cedar Falls. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps began building rustic structures to complement the area’s natural bluffs and falls. Davies Bridge on Cedar Creek, one of only eight masonry arch bridges left in the state, was built then and offers a lovely setting for family photos.

NATURAL DAM, CRAWFORD COUNTY

“The [Natural Dam] waterfall is my favorite place to get great shots,” says photographer Kelsie Ray. “I even did a maternity shoot there once.”

One of the most accessible waterfalls in the state, the waterfall at Natural Dam looks man-made with its symmetrical rock wall. It is, however, a natural feature spanning nearly 200 feet across Mountain Fork Creek. The adjoining park has a picnic area and beautiful vistas ideal for photographic backgrounds.

Photographers and families without access to one of these spots needn’t fret. Many photographers are venturing out of the studio more - to family farms and backwoods barns, to residential backyards and local parks. Regardless of where you live in the state, there are plenty of alternatives to studio portraits.