Penn State Arboretum
I admit when I first started photography, I was so eager to explore new locations that there was always a bit of disappointment when clients after clients requested photos at the Arboretum at Penn State. But now I have come to fully appreciate the many varieties our arboretum gives us. There are always new blooms. One session is never the same as the next. I like to scout the arboretum in advance not only to assess lighting and bloom conditions, but also what sceneries would best fit the vision my clients have. Our arboretum is truly a treasure in town!
Boasting a massive area of land that amounts to 370 acres, the arboretum houses so many gardens and work are still underway to make this landmark a critical attraction to State College. The relatively recent addition of the Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden in 2014 offers so many attractions in and of itself. A mystical cave with its own sand box. A botanical garden. Interesting kaleidoscopes. A playground with unique musical instruments. And a little free library. There are so many charms in this childhood garden!
Even more exciting are the constructions taking place right now to create a Pollinator and Bird Garden, 10,000 square foot conservatory, fountain garden, art museum, and planetarium. I am so excited with these visions and plans. If you’re already a big fan of the arboretum (like me), these additions will sure to impress and cement Penn State Arboretum as the gem of our college town.
Many events are hosted at the arboretum year-round as well. Family friendly events include their fall festival, pumpkin carving contest, winter celebration, and music in the gardens (my favorite!). The arboretum also hosts weddings and it can be the perfect setting for an intimate ceremony, especially if your love story is strongly tied to Penn State. 🙂
Photos at the Arboretum
Featured Blog Posts
Nhi made our photoshoot fun and enjoyable
Nhi is fantastic - I highly recommend her if you are looking for an amazing and talented photographer! She made our photoshoot fun and enjoyable, and the photos are unique and beautiful. I wish I could give her more than five stars! Thank you, Nhi!
My experience was nothing short of perfect
Nhi is beyond talented in what she does. She made me feel very comfortable and was such a pleasure to work with. My photos turned out beautifully and I'm beyond happy! My experience with her was nothing short of perfect.
Nhi is by far the best we have worked with
We asked Nhi to shoot headshots for a group of 70 and simply could not be happier with the results. She was professional, flexible, and above all, produced incredible photos. Our team has worked with 8 different photographers over the last year for headshots in different states and Nhi is by far the best we have worked with.
We are lucky to have Nhi in town
My kids are pretty energetic and unpredictable, but Nhi managed to capture the best of them in a short time. We are lucky to have Nhi in town. Thanks, Nhi - for your generosity and helping us make a beautiful memory.
Nhi is so much fun to work with
Nhi is one of the nicest people I've ever met hands down! She is so much fun to work with and made me feel super comfortable. Nhi is an incredibly talented photographer and I would recommend her for all your picture needs. 😊
Nhi helped us draw out all the right emotions
Nhi was not only good at capturing beauty with her camera, but also showed great communication skills: she made us feel at ease, and helped us draw out all the right emotions for the desired results. I highly recommend Nhi Thai Photography!
Nhi exceeded all expectations
Nhi was so kind and understanding. She exceeded all expectations. The photos are BEAUTIFUL and our family had a blast during the session. We can't put into words how grateful we are for these photos. Thank you Nhi!!
She helped pose us and made us so comfortable
Nhi took beautiful pictures, pictures that we never thought we would be able to take! She helped pose us and made us so comfortable in front of the camera. I would recommend Nhi Thai to everyone.
I would recommend Nhi in a heartbeat!
I would recommend Nhi in a heartbeat! Not only did I feel so comfortable during my session (when I'm usually a bit self-conscious in front of a camera) but I also had so much fun!! Her photos are amazing, I couldn't even pick favorites from my session because I loved all of them equally.
Nhi just makes you feel so at ease
We have had multiple sessions with Nhi and loved every single one of them. Not only is she an amazing photographer- she is super kind and just makes you feel so at ease (even when your baby is crying the whole time and your toddler is wild). Highly recommend Nhi!!
Nhi made sure were were ready and comfortable before we showed up
Nhi was awesome to work with! Nhi made sure we were ready and comfortable before we showed up for our shoot, and she kept in touch diligently after it ended. I can't thank her enough for our photos that we'll be able to treasure for a lifetime.
Nhi was so patient and calm
Nhi made the experience very enjoyable for my family. My kids were not necessarily on their best behavior, yet she was so patient and calm. We have amazing shots to remember this time in our family!
Such a talented and kind person
Nhi was wonderful. So sweet, thoughtful, and personable. The photos came out wonderful and I was really comfortable with Nhi. Such a talented and kind person! Would recommend for any occasion.
We were able to leave all the details to Nhi
With Nhi's direction and suggestions on the day of the shoot, we were able to concentrate just on one another and were able to leave all the details to her.
Nhi kept it all calm, cool, and fun!
Nhi was great to work with! Despite the craziness of our large family (half of which were young children), Nhi kept it all calm, cool, and fun! I would definitely request Nhi to do another shoot!
Nhi took the time to get to know us
I loved that Nhi took the time to get to know us before hand and it really showed in our photos. Our graduation pictures were everything we could have wanted and would recommend hiring her for any occasion!
Nhi knows exactly how to make us laugh and helps us pose
We are extremely happy that we chose Nhi. Nhi is so professional. She knows how to make the most out of the surroundings to take gorgeous photos. She also knows exactly how to make us laugh and helps us pose.
Nhi knew exactly what to do to make my photos look amazing
Nhi is incredibly talented and knew exactly what to do to make my photos look amazing. She's extremely generous and I now have beautiful photos to remember my time at Penn State. I highly recommend her for your photography needs!
Nhi gave me all the tips on how to pose
Working with Nhi exceeded all my expectations, her energy is amazing. She gave me all the tips on how to pose, and the pictures all came out amazing. I really cannot thank you enough for the experience and for capturing this moment. Thank you so much Nhi.
State College Magazine!
Nhi is a portrait photographer serving State College, PA and surrounding communities. Nhi captures photographs that let you re-live your joy, love, and light with intentional artistry. Her creative work has been published in State College Magazine and featured at Bellefonte Art Museum. Also a professor at Penn State, Nhi is committed to creating a positive impact in Happy Valley – be that through beautiful photographs or investing in future students through her scholarship.
Central PA
