When you live in an area as beautiful as Ontonagon, Michigan it can be hard to decide just WHERE to take senior pictures – there are so many beautiful spots! I love everywhere in the Keweenaw Peninsula, but doing Ontonagon senior pictures is a highlight of my fall each year.
Keep reading to see my top three senior picture locations in Ontonagon, Michigan!
Ontonagon Senior Pictures: Top Three Locations
Porcupine Mountains State Park
At the top of every Ontonagon senior’s list for senior portraits is the iconic Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The number one location they ask for is Lake of the Clouds! After parking and taking a short hike on the boardwalk the trees open up, and I always feel like I’m standing on top of the world! Most people will follow the trail to the right for the lower view of the lake, but I love to head left (there’s a trail, don’t worry!) and bring seniors a little closer to the lake.
The Porcupine Mountains are beautiful in the summer with lush, green trees contrasting the vivid blue sky, and it only gets better in the fall. This is when the trees burst into a variety of yellows and oranges. Nothing says autumn like a hike in the Porcupines!
While this is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, we find all visitors are incredibly respectful and are willing to step back and allow us to get the captures we need before we move along. This is just one of the many reasons I love UP culture!
Bonanza Falls
Bonanza Falls is located just outside of the Porcupine Mountains State Park in White Pine, MI. While it’s not widely known to tourists, it’s a favorite place for all the locals to cool off, swimming in the natural pools above the falls. I have done several senior sessions at Bonanza Falls, so I pick a different section to explore each time!
Bonanza is a hidden gem, so I love doing portraits here because we generally have the location all to ourselves!
Even if you plan to wear cute shoes for your senior pictures, pack a sturdy pair of sneakers to walk the trail to the falls as it has a few steep sections.
Lake Superior Shoreline
Finally, Ontonagon sits all along the coast of Lake Superior with miles of rocky beaches, boat launches, and campgrounds. Because Ontonagon faces Lake Superior to the west, you can expect incredible sunsets nearly every night!
If you have “golden hour photos” on your wish list (a.k.a. the most beautiful time of day about an hour before sunset when everything glows) Lake Superior is a must for your Ontonagon senior pictures!
On My Wishlist
I grew up in West Branch, Michigan and I’m a farm girl at heart, through and through. Whenever Rob and I travel to Ontonagon we pass some amazing farms and barns. I’m really hoping to shoot 2022 senior pictures at one of these epic barn/field locations! Will it be yours?
Ontonagon Senior Pictures: Keep in Mind
While there is no one specific month to have your senior pictures done, I encourage you to consider late summer into fall (August – October). If you plan your senior pictures for high summer (June-July) be sure to pack the bug spray – they can be vicious! No matter when you plan your portraits, opt for comfortable, closed-toe footwear for walking.
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