
Ashley’s family contacted me about the possibility of doing winter senior photos while they were up touring Michigan Tech. Ashley loves the snow and wanted her senior portraits in the winter. There hasn’t been much snow this year downstate, so they decided to do her portraits up here.
Despite having an unusually warm February, there was still plenty of snow for wintry senior photos. When she inquired, Ashley’s mom said, “We have never been [to Houghton] before and will have to rely on you for a place to shoot.” I love when families trust me to find the perfect location for their session.
Senior Photos on Michigan Tech Campus
Ashley is a finalist for Michigan Tech’s Leading Scholar Award and was invited to attend the in-person competition on campus. Because of this, I suggested we start her senior session at the university. I have a few favorite spots to photograph at Tech that give cool industrial-downtown vibes. Ashley plans to attend Michigan Tech for their construction management program, so these locations felt fitting for her senior session!



Ashley’s trip coincided with Winter Carnival, so I prepared her family to expect a LOT of people. Thankfully, the high traffic days are Thursday through Saturday. By Sunday afternoon the crowds had mostly dispersed, which meant we were able to get our pictures quickly and efficiently without waiting for people to pass by too often. (Especially with these reflective glass doors!)

Winter Senior Photos in Houghton
Have I mentioned how ABNORMAL winter 2022-2023 has been? It was 43 degrees for Ashley’s winter senior photos! Even better, we had blue skies and SUN for the afternoon. While there are benefits to cloudy day sessions, I love the bright, dynamic light provided by a blue sky day. After Michigan Tech, we headed over to a hidden trail on the other side of Houghton for some true snowy, winter senior portraits.





Ashley has the most stunning blue eyes – probably the most vibrant blue I’ve ever seen.

Outfit Planning for February Senior Portraits
I really appreciated how Ashley and her mom planned out her senior picture outfits and coordinated her looks. All of her outfits had a base of this black long-sleeved shirt with leggings. Not only did this base outfit keep her warm on a still-chilly day, but it enabled her to quickly switch up her look. From her hoodie to her textured sweater to this fun magenta jumper dress, she kept a similar color palette but was able to wear three completely different looks for her winter senior photos!

In summary –
Ashley – thank you so much for choosing Enjoy the VU Photography for your senior pictures! I had such a fun afternoon getting to know you and learning about your future plans. I can’t wait to hear how you succeed in the years ahead!
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