One of the hardest things about being in a small town is that there aren’t as many obvious great places for photography sessions. It’s all about where to look! Today I’m going to share some of my favorite go-to locations in the Enterprise area. So, if you often find yourself asking, “Where should we go for our photo session,” you are in the right place!
The Rawls Restaurant
First up: the courtyard behind The Rawls Restaurant on Main Street downtown. While this is often thought of as just a place to have a nice dinner, a haunted hotel, or as a venue for wedding receptions or rehearsal dinners, this is actually great place to take pictures, with an almost Tuscan feel! I’ve shot everything from families to seniors to engagement pictures at the Rawls.
Johnny Henderson Park
Next up is Johnny Henderson Park, right off of 167 coming into Enterprise. While Johnny Henderson is a great place to run the track, take your kids to play in one of their playgrounds, or play church softball or tennis matches, it is also a great place to find a wooded nook for some family shots! I have hosted my mini sessions here for the past two years, and they always work out splendid. Just be aware that once a month the park allows people to come out and fish in the ponds, so it can get a little more crowded on those days!
Downtown Main Street
While you’re visiting the Rawls for a great steak or fried oysters (highly recommend!), you should also check out a few other great photo locations nearby. There are several gorgeous murals downtown that deeply rooted in the Wiregrass culture – peep the giant bowl weevil lurking over these shoulders! There is also the infamous Boll Weevil Monument smack in the middle of downtown (the world’s only monument to a bug!). Finally, there are a couple cool storefronts that are great for sessions, like the Estate Sale Store, Bryars-Warren Drug Co, and Milky Moo’s, which makes for some adorable sharing-an-ice-cream-cone shots for engagement pictures.
Enterprise High School
While you might not think it, Enterprise High School can also double as a cool backdrop for sessions. When I shot pageant portraits for these young ladies, we used the football practice fields for some visual interest – plus they doubled as fun monkey bars when picture time was over!
The Train Depot
The Train Depot behind the Rawls courtyard is a historic museum that doubles as a great backdrop for pictures. Check out some cool artifacts inside if it’s open after you’re done saying “cheese” for the camera – just please be aware that posing on the actual railroad tracks is not only extremely dangerous but also illegal.
Oak Ridge Farms
This is a property that is available exclusively to Katie Houk Photography clients only, because it is a private family farm. It gets a notable mention because there are many people in the Enterprise area who have or know people who have gorgeous outdoor farmland property, you just have to know who to ask! This property especially has been curated with a lot of love and care, from the beautiful pond to the Spanish moss growing in the towering oak trees. This is a great place to bring your favorite furry companions along for a session!
Ed Lisenby Lake
If you’re up for venturing across Highway 27 to Ozark, one spectacular location is the Ed Lisenby Lake. Not only is this a great fishing spot and running trail, but it is also a gorgeous backdrop for family pictures. Pull all the way down to the bottom parking lot and put on your comfy shoes, because around an eighth of a mile around to the right of the pond the trail opens up to some breathtaking Spanish-moss covered trees.
Fort Rucker
While a lot of Fort Rucker – the headquarters for U.S. Army Aviation – isn’t exactly constructed with aesthetic design in mind, if you are able to get a pass on base around the holidays you should definitely check out the annual Christmas tree. In early December there is a lighting ceremony, and for the rest of the season the tree is set up with big cardboard “presents,” making the perfect Christmas card photo op.
Other Miscellaneous Locations
Keep in mind that the Wiregrass area is still extremely rural, and if you keep your eyes peeled there are often great places waiting to be discovered just off the roadside. From wild wisteria in spring, to cotton fields in the late fall, all it takes is a quick eye and pulling your car off on the shoulder! Just make sure you aren’t trespassing before traipsing around on someone’s land.
What do y’all think about this list? One additional venue I’m hoping to add to this list soon is the Dothan Botanical Gardens – from the gardens to the greenhouse to the Grecian statues, it’s hard to beat. Do you have any other honorable mentions that didn’t make it here that I should feature next time? Let me know by dropping a comment!
xoxo
Jul 12, 2021