Unique Photo Spots for Tulsa, Oklahoma

Creativity in set locations is a crucial part of any photographer's claim to originality, and while no photographer wants to simply shoot at all of the popular scenes in their town, they still realize that scenes are generally popular for good reasons. Typically these photo-worthy locations provide backdrops of scenes original to that city, but not original to that city's photography scene. For example, in my own city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, there are definitely a few favorite spots of most local photography companies; the Philbrook Museum's gardens, the woods of Turkey Mountain, and the railroad tracks towards downtown Tulsa are among some of these favorite photo locations, as well as many streets showcasing Tulsa's unique downtown architecture. In any scenario, shooting engagement, family, or senior portraits in Tulsa while trying to provide a unique background can be challenging. Here are three quality but less well-known photo locations for the aspiring Tulsa photographer.

1. Hunter Park's woods: Easier to access than Turkey Mountain, the woods of Hunter Park provide the perfect set for a fall themed outdoor photo shoot. Located right behind the playground, these woods are a great combination of skinny and thick tree trunks, with both paths and slightly more open spots in the woods for photo locations. Since these woods are fairly close to the restrooms located near the playground, outfit changes are also much easier to perform at this park than at Turkey Mountain.

2. Oak Tree Books: Located right along Cherry Street, Oak Tree Books is the perfect fairytale bookstore. With tall bookshelves rising to the ceiling and cozy little aisles, this bookstore is truly just a maze of wonderfulness all around. Since the owner only selects quality books to fill his shelves, the richness of the colors and print jobs are sure to provide the ideal background and props for any studious, book-loving client of yours. Additionally, the tight angles of this tiny little maze-like bookstore can provide an easy platform for photos from unique angles. This store is closed on Sundays, however, so you will need to plan your photography sessions accordingly.

3. Joz: Also located on Cherry Street (and in fact right next to Oak Tree Books), Joz is a unique vintage/second hand store. Filled with great furniture and props for a fun, vintage styled photo shoot, this store is a great place to find multiple photo sets in one location. The folks running Joz are friendly and welcome photographers to use their store, as long as all items are returned to their original location when the photo session is finished. Additionally, right behind Joz is the perfect alleyway for creative photos. On the shop's side of the street is a brightly colored graffiti covered wall and on the other side of the street is an older brick building with a charming chimney. Again, Joz is the perfect spot to shoot at if you're looking for a unique and all-in-one photo set.