Madison, WI is full of beautiful places for outdoor portraits. In my last blog I discussed the most popular locations that I shoot at, but in this post I’m going to be discussing 5 places that are either more unique or that I would consider a hidden gem. These are locations that I feel all have unique features about them that make them perfect for your senior or family portraits, but for some reason clients tend to overlook them for more popular spots in the Madison area. I don’t have them listed in any particular order, so let’s just get into it!
Hoyt Park
This is a hidden park on the west side of Madison, perfect for lovers of the outdoors. Not only does it have open fields and plenty of trees to use as a backdrop for your photos, but there’s several unique structures that I think make this an excellent photoshoot location. You can head over to Sunset Point for beautiful panoramic views of the city, and then step down a stone staircase to create some variety in your gallery. I love that this park has features such as staircases, benches, and shelters, that give my clients a little something extra to interact with. It’s especially helpful if you have somebody that’s not as comfortable posing in front of the camera.
Edgewood Campus & the Boardwalk
This is a historic college and high school campus located in the heart of Madison. With beautiful historic buildings, gorgeous landscaping, and large trees that look beautiful in the fall, this makes a wonderful location for photoshoots. My favorite part, however, is the hidden Edgewood Boardwalk located behind campus with beautiful views of Lake Wingra. It can create such a unique vibe for your portraits, with tall overgrown grasses surrounding your subject. Plus, I always love the way paths create leading lines to make your photo more interesting to the viewer. The boardwalk is such a hidden gem in Madison, that I didn’t know about it until living in this city for seven years.
Dream Parks
Many clients might not consider a playground for their photoshoot, but I think they’re missing out if they don’t consider one of the five dream parks in the Madison area. There is one located in Cottage Grove, Deerfield, Monona, Fitchburg, and Sun Prairie. All of them feature giant wooden structures that resemble castles and spark the imagination of the kids that visit them. If you are looking for a fun and whimsical backdrop for your portraits, I think one of these parks is the way to go. It’s perfect for the senior who’s looking for something more unique to add to their session, or I think it would be perfect for a family looking for fun lifestyle photos of them playing at the park together.
Door Creek Orchard
If you are looking for a beautiful outdoor location with rustic charm, Door Creek Orchard in Cottage Grove is perfect. You can roam through the aisles of apple trees, sit underneath a beautiful willow tree, or even pose by a classic red barn. There is a $50-75 permit fee that you need to pay, but it’s worth it to use this beautiful and unique location. The staff here was so friendly and helpful, and if you are shooting outside of apple picking season, then you will really have the place to yourself, which is perfect for clients that might be a little shy in front of the camera.
Tenney Park
This is a quintessential Madison, WI park, but what makes it so unique is all the different bridges throughout the park. There’s stone bridges, as well as a tall iron one that can create a unique backdrop for your portraits. This park is beautiful year round, but especially in the fall as all the leaves change color. Additionally, you can cross the street and walk by the water and the Tenney Park lighthouse. Clients can pose on the rocks and have Lake Mendota create a simple, yet beautiful backdrop for their photos. I am always looking for locations that can provide a lot of variety to a final gallery, which is why Tenney Park is one of my favorites.
While all these locations might not necessarily be unknown to Madison residents, I think people tend to overlook them when it comes to planning their photoshoot. All of these spots provide variety as to what clients can pose with, which is what makes them some of my favorite places. So, if you’re looking for a unique place for your next photoshoot in Madison, WI, I hope this list has helped you find the right place for you or given you inspiration.
