As a photographer that has lived in Madison for a cumulative 7 years, these are my top 5 most popular locations that clients choose to take their photos. They are all popular for good reason, so don’t let the fact that they are popular make you decide not to do your photoshoot there as well. I have these listed in order from least popular to most, so read til the end to make sure you learn about the number one location that my clients choose, as it’s a place that not every Wisconsinite is even aware of.


Downtown / State Street

madison wi cool spot for photos state street downtown orpheum sign guitar player high school senior pictures photographer nighttime lights

First on our list we have the general downtown Madison area, including State Street. People that are looking for more of an urban feel for their photos love having high rise buildings and blurry lights in the backdrop. I personally like to go to the top of parking garages, and there’s many to choose from. You can get some cool views of the skyline, plus there’s usually not many people up there so it’s a good way to start the photoshoot making my clients feel comfortable before walking around somewhere busier, such as State Street.

madison wi cool spot for photos state street downtown orpheum sign guitar player high school senior pictures photographer nighttime lights
madison wi monona terrace city building hise rise apartments parking garage portraits cool urban location for senior photos photographer
madison wi cool spot for photos state street downtown orpheum sign guitar player high school senior pictures photographer nighttime lights
madison wi monona terrace city building hise rise apartments parking garage portraits cool urban location for senior photos photographer

Wisconsin State Capitol Building

madison wi state capitol building lgbtq couple wedding elopement photographer capital square state street downtown photoshoot wisconsin

Next, we have a place that while technically is also downtown, I felt deserved its own spot on this list. I may be biased, but I believe that the Wisconsin State Capitol building is one of the prettiest capitol buildings in the country. The fact that buildings near the capitol are not allowed to be taller than it, means that you can see it from all over the city. When you’re downtown, it creates the perfect backdrop for portrait photos, and will automatically tell the viewer where this picture was taken. You can either take photos from far away to capture the whole building, or get right up close on the stairs to create an almost solid white background, making the person in the photo pop. What’s more, you can go inside to take some stunning indoor shots, perfect for an escape from a cold winter day in Wisconsin.

uw madison graduate photoshoot inside wisconsin capitol building rotunda beautiful architecture dome cap and gown indoor location photos
madison wi high school senior photoshoot wisconsin capitol building stairs white backdrop beautiful architecture urban setting photographer
madison wi state capitol building inside rotunda lgbtq wedding elopement photographer indoor photos downtown unique location wisconsin city
madison wi unique high school senior photoshoot downtown urban city vibes monona terrace water fountain capitol building cheerleader pose

Pheasant Branch Conservancy

madison wi high school senior photoshoot professional photographer natural outdoor location pheasant branch conservancy middleton open field

Moving on to a more natural location, is Pheasant Branch Conservancy located in Middleton, WI. This is a space comprising 160 acres of land filled with rivers, boardwalks, hiking trails, fields, and forest. Whenever my clients are looking for a beautiful natural landscape as the backdrop of their pictures, I know that Pheasant Branch is the place to go. There’s so much land to explore, and even though I’ve done many photoshoots here, I know there’s still more for me to discover. It looks beautiful year round, but especially when wildflowers are blooming in the summer, and the leaves change in the fall.

madison wi high school senior photoshoot professional photographer natural outdoor location pheasant branch conservancy middleton forest
madison wi high school senior photoshoot photographer natural outdoor location pheasant branch conservancy middleton fall leaves grass field
madison wi high school senior photoshoot professional photographer natural outdoor location pheasant branch conservancy middleton open field
madison wi high school senior photoshoot photographer natural outdoor location pheasant branch conservancy middleton fall leaves grass field

University of Wisconsin Madison Campus

uw madison wi campus humanities building unique urban photoshoot location high school senior photos cool architecture artsy leading lines

Going back downtown, we have the University of Wisconsin Madison campus. Founded in 1848, the university holds so many beautiful historic buildings and iconic places that provide the perfect backdrop for portraits. I like to do a small loop around campus that involves starting by the lake and Memorial Union Terrace, then heading toward Bascom Hill and taking pictures by whichever buildings resonate most with my client. Some favorites include Science Hall for it’s red bricks and white window frames, Bascom Hall for its iconic UW related banners, and Memorial Union for its gorgeous staircase.

university of wisconsin madison campus bascom hall hill graduate photos cap and gown winter graduation sitting on abe's lap photographer
uw madison wi campus memorial union library steps beautiful photoshoot location high school senior photos professional photographer downtown
uw madison wi campus memorial union terrace lake mendota beautiful photoshoot location high school senior photographer sailing hoofers
uw madison wi campus science hall red brick building photoshoot location high school senior photos professional photographer downtown bascom

Epic Systems

madison wi high school senior photographer unique photoshoot locations epic systems campus verona cool buildings waterfall cafeteria photos

The number one most popular place for my photography sessions is Epic Systems in Verona, WI. This is only a short drive from the west side of Madison, and is not only my clients’ favorite but also my favorite place for photoshoots. No matter how many times I have been to Epic, I see something new each time. It has so much to offer, from natural landscapes, rural barns, unique bridges, willow trees, red rocks, and even a castle. I feel truly blessed that I live so close to such an amazing location for photographers. It can cover almost anything that my clients are looking for, especially when they want multiple types of backdrops for their photos. If you’ve never been to Epic and live in the area, I suggest paying it a visit sometime even if you’re not planning a photoshoot. You can ride bikes around the campus, and touring the inside is sure to be a fun and unique experience because they have different themes inside each building, including Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, the Wizard of Oz, and more.

madison wi high school senior photographer unique photoshoot locations epic systems campus verona bridges golden hour light professional pic
madison wi high school senior photographer unique photoshoot locations epic systems campus verona golden hour light red rocks wisconsin pics
madison wi high school senior photographer unique photoshoot locations epic systems campus verona cool buildings castle in wisconsin picture
madison wi high school senior photographer unique photoshoot locations epic systems campus verona long bridge walkway blue farm building

That’s my list of the most popular locations for photoshoots in the Madison, WI area. Again, while these are the most popular, that does not mean that you should look elsewhere to do your photos. They are popular because they have proven to be the most beautiful and versatile locations in the Madison area. I will never get tired of photographing in these locations, and I look forward to serving future clients in these areas as well. There are many factors that go into each photography session, including time of year, time of day, weather, outfits, the photographer, and the client themselves. So even if 1000 seniors have chosen to do their senior photos in the same spot, they will all come out different and unique.


If you still have your heart set on going to a unique Madison location for your photoshoot, make sure to follow along as I plan to release another list soon of the top five hidden gems that I’ve photographed at.