Why Dow Gardens Could Be the Perfect Location for Your Senior Portraits
Whether or not you should get your senior photos taken at Dow Gardens depends on your personal preferences and style. Nevertheless, Dow Gardens offers several benefits that make it an excellent location for senior photos. The natural beauty and diverse range of backdrops make Dow Gardens a popular spot for photography sessions. Here are a few reasons why you might want to contemplate taking your senior photos at Dow Gardens:
Beautiful scenery: Dow Gardens boasts breathtaking scenery, spanning over 100 acres of verdant gardens, water features, and wooded areas. The gardens are meticulously tended, offering a wide range of colorful settings for your photographs. You'll be surrounded by a diverse range of vibrant flowers, plants, and trees, creating a natural and stunning backdrop for your senior photos. Allow Dow Gardens to serve as your captivating backdrop, with its beautiful foliage and colorful blooms providing the perfect setting for your images.
Variety of locations: Dow Gardens boasts a variety of locations and backgrounds to choose from, ranging from picturesque bridges to tranquil ponds, verdant meadows, and serene forests. This means that you can capture a diverse range of images with different moods and styles, all in one convenient location.
Seasons: Different Seasons, Different Looks: Dow Gardens is an ideal location for photography sessions throughout the year, as various flowers and plants bloom at different times. This offers a diverse range of looks and feels for your photos, depending on the season. Whether you want to capture the bright colors of spring, the lush greens of summer, the warm tones of fall, or the serene beauty of winter, Dow Gardens has something to offer all year round.
Accessibility: Dow Gardens is easily accessible, with paved pathways and wheelchair ramps available throughout the gardens. This means that you can easily move around the gardens with your photographer to find the perfect photo locations.
Sheltered locations: In the event of bad weather, there are a number of sheltered locations within the gardens that can be used for photography sessions, such as the conservatory or the visitor center.
Privacy: For a more private and peaceful setting for your senior photos, Dow Gardens offers a secluded oasis in the midst of Midland. As a private garden, it's a great option if you want to avoid busy public spaces and have more control over your photo shoot.
Overall, Dow Gardens provides a beautiful and versatile location for photography sessions, making it a popular choice for photographers and their clients. Whether you are looking for a natural, rustic, or whimsical setting, Dow Gardens can provide a stunning backdrop for your photos.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Outfit for Your Dow Gardens Senior Portraits
If you decide to have your senior photo session at Dow Gardens it's important to consider the style and mood you want to convey in your photos, as well as the natural surroundings of the location. Here are some tips for choosing the right outfit:
Dress for the season: Consider the time of year and choose clothing that will keep you comfortable and appropriate for the weather. For example, in the summer, you may want to wear light, breathable fabrics, while in the fall, you may want to wear layers and warmer colors.
Choose colors that complement the surroundings: Since Dow Gardens has a lot of natural beauty, you may want to choose clothing colors that complement or contrast with the natural scenery. Earthy tones like creams, browns, and blues can be a great choice, or you can choose bold colors that pop against the natural background.
Keep it simple: Choose clothing that is simple and timeless, avoiding busy patterns or graphics that can be distracting in photos.
Bring multiple outfits: Consider bringing multiple outfits to your photo session, allowing you to change your look and style for different settings and moods.
Accessorize: Add accessories to complement your outfit and bring out your personality, such as jewelry, hats, scarves, or belts.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to choose clothing that you feel comfortable and confident in, that reflects your personal style, and that complements the natural surroundings of Dow Gardens.
The Top Locations for Senior Portraits at Dow Gardens
Dow Gardens offers a variety of beautiful locations for portraits, each with its own unique scenery and mood. Here are some of the top locations at Dow Gardens for portraits:
The Rose Garden: The Rose Garden is a popular location for portraits, with a wide variety of colorful roses, arches, and trellises that provide a beautiful and romantic backdrop.
The Canopy Walk: The Canopy Walk is a unique elevated walkway that takes you through the trees, offering stunning views of the gardens and surrounding landscape.
The Pines: The Pines is a peaceful and serene location, with tall pine trees and a wooden bridge over a small pond, providing a tranquil and natural setting for portraits.
The Herb Garden: The Herb Garden is a fragrant and colorful location, with a variety of herbs, flowers, and vegetables that provide a vibrant and natural backdrop for portraits.
The Whiting Forest: The Whiting Forest is a nearby forested area with beautiful trails, wooden bridges, and towering trees, providing a more rustic and natural setting for portraits.
Dow Gardens has several bridges throughout its grounds. The exact number of bridges may vary depending on how they are counted, but there are at least six bridges that are commonly recognized as major features of the gardens. These include:
The Bridge of Time: This iconic bridge is located at the entrance of the gardens and features large clock faces on either end.
The Eye of the Beholder Bridge: This unique bridge is shaped like an eye and provides stunning views of the gardens and surrounding landscape.
The Trellis Bridge: This arched wooden bridge spans over a small pond and provides a beautiful setting for photographs.
The Red Bridge: This small wooden bridge is painted bright red and provides a pop of color against the natural surroundings.
The Whiting Forest Bridge: This wooden bridge is located in the nearby Whiting Forest and provides access to the forest trails.
The Pines Bridge: This wooden bridge is located in the Pines area of the gardens and crosses over a small pond, providing a peaceful and natural setting for portraits.
Each of these bridges offers its own unique charm and character, and they are all popular locations for photography and sightseeing within Dow Gardens.
When to schedule my photo session at Dow Gardens?
The best time to schedule your photo session at Dow Gardens will depend on a few factors, including the season, the weather, and your personal preferences. Here are some general guidelines to consider:
Spring: The gardens come alive with blooming flowers and trees in April and May. If you're looking for vibrant colors and a lively atmosphere, this can be a great time for your photo session. Keep in mind that weather can be unpredictable in the spring, so be prepared for rain or cooler temperatures.
Summer: June through August is peak season at Dow Gardens, with long days and warm weather. If you're looking for a lush, green backdrop and plenty of sunshine, this can be a great time for your session. Keep in mind that the gardens can be busy during peak season, so plan accordingly.
Fall: September and October can be a beautiful time to take photos at Dow Gardens, with the changing leaves providing a stunning backdrop. Keep in mind that the weather can be unpredictable and the gardens may be crowded during peak fall foliage season.
Winter: If you're looking for a unique backdrop, consider scheduling your session in the winter. The gardens are open year-round and can provide a beautiful, snowy setting for your photos.
In general, it's a good idea to schedule your session well in advance to ensure that you can get the date and time that works best for you. Keep in mind that weekends tend to be busier, so consider scheduling your session on a weekday if possible.
Best time of day for your session?
The best time of day to have your photos taken at Dow Gardens depends on the look and feel you're going for in your photos, as well as the time of year. In general, the golden hours of sunrise and sunset are typically the most ideal times to take outdoor photos, as the lighting is softer and warmer, creating a more flattering and natural look.
At Dow Gardens, the gardens are open from 9am to 8pm during the summer months, which provides a wide range of options for scheduling your photo session. If you're looking for softer, more flattering light, consider scheduling your session early in the morning or in the late afternoon, around two hours before sunset.
Ultimately, the best location for your portraits will depend on your personal style and preferences, as well as the time of year and lighting conditions. Your photographer can help you choose the best location and settings to capture the essence of who you are.
Are you looking for a stunning location for your senior portraits? Look no further than Dow Gardens! With over 100 acres of beautiful gardens and natural surroundings, Dow Gardens offers a diverse range of locations for photography sessions throughout the year. Whether you're looking for a romantic rose garden or a serene forest, Dow Gardens has something to offer. Plus, with paved pathways, wheelchair ramps, and sheltered locations available, it's easily accessible and perfect for any weather conditions. Don't miss out on the opportunity to capture your senior year memories at Dow Gardens. Book your session now!
This blog is written by Jessica Butterworth, a senior and family photographer at Behind the Shutter LLC in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
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