Best Photo Shoot Locations for Winter in Metro Detroit
November through March Sessions
You've booked a winter photo shoot with Becks Photography, great choice! The next step is to pick the perfect location for your photo shoot. You want to pick a location that matches your vibe and style and one that's really beautiful in the winter months. I've been all over metro Detroit searching for the best photo shoot locations for winter and compiled this list for you! Whether you're a family updating your family photos, a senior celebrating with a senior session, pregnant and excited to capture breathtaking maternity photos or a couple excited to have a fun photo shoot, I've got the location for you!
These locations are listed in order with my favorites at the top!
Addison Oaks Christmas Tree Farm
My FAVORITE winter location because it is so magical, christmas season or not! We all know that winter can be sad looking outside but it's impossible to be sad at the christmas tree farm! Addison Oaks Christmas tree farm charges a $35 fee per session BUT if you have a session here, the owned offers $10 off a Christmas tree. Dogs are allowed. Boots are highly recommended. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
Firefighters Park
Firefighters Park in Troy is breathtaking when it snows. There are pine trees, a tree line, a beautiful bridge and a creek. Its also pretty when it doesn't snow, but this is my favorite location for snow. The parking lot is very close to where we take photos so it's a great location for a cold day. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
The tree line at Stoney Creek
The tree line at Stoney Creek Metropark is best in the winter, in my opinion. The pines are beautiful and the lighting is always perfect. The location is great for a morning or evening session. This spot is a little walk from the parking lot, maybe 300 yards. Occasionally there are other people here waiting to take photos so we may have to wait a little! Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
Cranberry Lake Park
Think 1800 farmhouse with a few acres of land. I LOVE Cranberry Lake Park. It's located 15 minutes north of downtown Rochester. It's a unique and beautiful location for families, seniors, maternity and couples. This park has 2 barns(a red barn and a white barn), and an old farmhouse. If booking a winter photoshoot at Cranberry Lake Park the barns will be your main background. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
Downtown Detroit
Using the unique buildings in Detroit as a backdrop for your photoshoot is a great option! We can spend our time walking around the streets of downtown and taking photos as we go. There is a $50 travel fee for a session in downtown Detroit. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
*If you'd like to go to this location I suggest checking if there are any events downtown on the date that you have scheduled*
Douglas Evans Nature Preserve
Douglas Evans Nature preserve is very pretty in the winter. There is a large field with tall tan grasses, a few evergreen trees and white barn. It located in Beverly Hills, Michigan and is also a great option for clients on the west side of Metro Detroit. I am located in Rochester Hills and this is my furthest west location so it's a great "meet in the middle" spot. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
Rochester Museum at Van Hoosen Farm
Rochester Museum at Van Hoosen Farm is great in the winter as the historic estate and farm are unchanging in the winter months. Rochester Museum at Van Hoosen Farm requires a permit for photographers. I cover the cost of this but your session must be booked a few days in advance as they are first come, first serve. If there is a wedding or event, we cannot use this location.
Troy Farm Park
Troy Farm Park is one of my favorite locations in the winter. The grasses here are beautiful and there is a great barn here we can use the outside of as well. It's located in Troy on South Boulevard near Adams. It can get very busy in the summer and fall but is normally empty in the winter. The parking lot is decently close to where we take photos as well. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
The beach at Stoney Creek
The beach at Stoney Creek Metropark is beautiful in the winter. There is an area with sand and an area with grass. The beach is a little walk from the parking lot, maybe 200 yards. It can get windy here making it impossible for photos, in that case we will go to another beautiful location at Stoney Creek Metropark. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
*2024 UPDATE-The lake has frozen over this year*
River Bends Park
River Bends park is beautiful in the winter. It's located in Macomb County at 22 mile and Ryan. There are tan grasses, a creek, and a beautiful maroon bridge. You will have to walk down about 30 stairs to get to the park from the parking lot. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
Innovation Hills
Located in Rochester Hills, this location is a wooden walkway surrounded by tall tan grasses. This location is best for senior/individual portrait sessions as it is a walkway used by other park guests. This location is great for a mini or full session. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
This is not a suitable location for family sessions
Riverside Park
Riverside Park is location in downtown Auburn Hills. It's a great location if you'd like a creek background for your photos. The parking lot is very close and the park is small so a session here would require minimal walking. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
This location is best for photoshoots with 1-2 people.
Detroit Institute of Arts
The DIA is a great location for photos in the winter. The marble walls and beautiful steps are a very timeless background that remains the same in the changing seasons. However, I do not recommend a session here on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays as it gets busy! There is a $40 travel fee for a session at DIA. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
The grasses at Stoney Creek
The grasses at Stoney Creek Metropark are beautiful in the winter. They are also within a walkable distance from the tree line at Stoney Creek. The grasses are a little walk from the parking lot, probably a quarter of a mile. This is a great additional location if you are already at Stoney Creek. If you want to go to Stoney Creek for just the grasses, I recommend going to Troy Farm Park, Douglas Evans or Eugene S Nowicki instead. They look very similar but the walk from the car is much shorter. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
Birmingham City Hall
Birmingham city hall is located in the heart of downtown Birmingham. It's a timeless brick building and great location in the winter. It's easy to access and remains the same year round. Click on the image to view my full location guide and see more photos of this location.
This is not a suitable location for families.
Cranbrook, Ford House, Meadow Brook Hall & Packard Proving Grounds
If you'd like to have a session at Cranbrook House and Gardens, The Ford House, Meadow Brook Hall or Packard Proving Grounds you will need to pay a permit fee and book your session well in advance(typically at least 3 weeks in advance). Each one of the above locations require that you reserve a session time and pay a fee for using their property for professional photos. Cranbrook House and Gardens is $300 for a 2 hour time slot. The Ford House is $85 per hour. Meadow Brook Hall is $225 for the first hour and $150 for each additional hour after the first. Packard Proving Grounds is $100 an hour. Please reach out to me ASAP if you'd like to book one of these locations.
Walking Disabilities
If you or someone in your group has trouble walking please let me know. I have a few locations that are great for people who have trouble walking.
Searching for the best outdoor locations for a photoshoot in winter? Let's face it, it can be hard to find spots that look amazing in the winter months. I have put in the time to search for spots that are magical, even in the cold months of winter.
People always ask me, "how do you find all of these great locations?" To that I say, it's my job, and I take great joy in it! Location scouting is a huge part of being a successful photographer. As a professional photographer, it's important for me to spend time at a location during sunrise and sunset before having a paid session there. Lighting, background, distractions, and the direction of the sun all play a role when choosing the best outdoor location for your winter session. I want to deliver to you dreamy and professional photos that you can cherish forever and in order to do so, we will need to have your session at one of the locations on my winter location guide.
The things I search for when looking for outdoor winter locations are: great lighting, a beautiful background, little distractions and the direction of the sun. Evergreen trees are great in the winter because they have beautiful green leafs even in the coldest months. Fields of dreamy grasses are also perfect for a winter photoshoot because those green summer grasses turn a beautiful golden brown in the winter. Parks with water like lakes and streams are nice especially for a snowy photoshoot. Locations with buildings are a great choice for a winter session because they look the same throughout the changing seasons.
When booking a winter photoshoot it makes the most sense to choose shorter session times. I love longer summer sessions, capturing your family in a field for an hour or long senior photos that last 90 minutes but for winter, it's best to stick to my "mini" or "full" options. After years of being a photographer, I promise to you that we are perfectly capable of capture great photos in a shorter amount of time. Before our session together I will send you a guide explaining what to expect, how to come prepared and what you can do to help. Thoroughly reading though my guide will help us to capture your photos in a shorter amount of time.
Now, to share some tips for your winter session. The most important tip I can give you is to come with a great attitude. Arriving to your session with the right mindset is so important because it largely impacts your photos. Be patient, have an open mind, and arrive ready to have fun! Equally as important in the winter months: you should always wear a warm base layer under your cute outfit so that you can relax and not shiver.
If you don't love the idea of outdoor winter photos, you do have other options! I also offer in-home photoshoots. These are best for families with just 2 adults like : maternity sessions with/without children, couples sessions, and all families with young children. You can also book a studio session! I use a studio in downtown Rochester that is great for individual portraits, headshots, families, couples, newborns AND maternity sessions.
Don't let the cold and dreary months of winter stop you from creating magical photos!
