Senior Session on Brockway Mountain
Each year we have the privilege to meet and photograph seniors who travel to the Keweenaw for destination senior portraits while they’re on vacation. These sessions are a little extra special to me because I always leave appreciating the Copper Country even more; I’m reminded of just how awesome it is to be able to live here full-time.
Ava’s family came up to visit relatives who live locally and reached out about having her session while they were in the area. Their one location request was Brockway Mountain, which I was happy to accommodate! Since they would only be up for a long weekend, I advised an early morning session to ensure we had both optimal light and no audience. 😉 Even meeting up at 7 a.m., there were a few cars at the lookout, but we had the area mostly to ourselves.
Brockway Mountain is a special place to Ava. Her grandparents live in Eagle River, and they always make it a point to drive to the lookout when Ava’s family comes up to visit. Something I really appreciate about Brockway is the variety of backdrops we have when we utilize the variety of trails that run down the mountain.
Ava’s red dress was truly stunning – and the perfect pick against the Brockway backdrop of green and blue. Because it was a matte cotton material (instead of a poly blend or silk), it didn’t reflect any color casts back up on her face which made editing her session easy, too! I always encourage seniors to bring at least two outfits – one more dressy and the other more casual – so we can get a variety of looks. Her dress was the perfect length, as well – fun to swish and twirl in while staying modest in an often windy location.
High School Senior Pictures in Copper Harbor, Michigan
Brockway Mountain Fun Facts
Did you know? Brockway Mountain Drive receives approximately 200 drivers each day on average (source). I feel like this number is probably even higher since 2020!
Brockway offers you 9-1/2 mile drive that has breathtaking views of Lake Superior and thousands of acres of the Keweenaw. It is also the highest above sea-level drive between the Rockies and the Alleghenies.
Enjoy Brockway Mountain Scenic Drive from spring until early winter, but this seasonal road is accessible only by snowmobile once the snow gets deep.
The mountain drive traces the spine of an ancient fault line. If you have time during your trip, we recommend touring the Quincy Mine in Hancock, Michigan for an in-depth explanation on the history of mining in the area!
If you’re looking to catch a glimpse of the northern lights (a.k.a. aurora borealis), Brockway Mountain is a prime place to spend a spring or fall evening. While it’s possible to view the northern lights even in the summer, you’ll have to stay up much later!
Copper Harbor Senior Session
While I could have done Ava’s entire portrait session at Brockway, next we headed down to Hunter’s Point Park for a location and outfit change. Ava had requested two things by Lake Superior – playing in the water and doing a handstand!
Ava is an avid volleyball player and says her best memory from high school so far is making it to state quarterfinals with her best friends last volleyball season. She spent her summer working at a thrift shop and playing lots of volleyball, too! Ava plans to study kinesiology after she graduates, but in the meantime she is also really excited for her school’s senior mission trip to Ensenada, Mexico.
I asked Ava how she felt during her senior portrait session at Brockway and Hunter’s Point. She answered, “I was very nervous at first and I was very happy within 15 minutes of shooting! You were great at getting me to loosen up and I felt like I was genuinely smiling! Once we were done I couldn’t wait to see them!”
A few last words –
Ava and family – thank you for planning time for senior portraits during your vacation! I love exploring the Keweenaw with people who love the UP as much as Rob and I do. I can’t wait to hear how your senior year goes, and look forward to seeing your successes in the future!
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