Island Lake State Park // See The Location

Island Lake State Park has some beautiful scenery for photo sessions. There are birch trees, beaches, fields, and paths. You can have a variety of backgrounds and some are more unknown than others, which is good because it means we wouldn't have to worry about people as much.

A quick note before we dive in. I took these photos in the middle of the afternoon in harsh light. Depending on the time of day and the weather, certain locations may not work for your session or it could have a slightly different look than these photos. Cloudy days look different than sunny days and evening light looks different than mid-day light. I just want you to know why your final gallery may look just a tad bit different than these photos.

My friend came with me on to model some of the locations. I thought it could be nice to see what some of these spots might look like with a person there. I also enjoyed the challenge of taking photos in harsh midday light. We had fun for sure!

I'd love to know which spot is your favorite! Where would you want to get your photos taken?

Kent Lake
Widely known and used in the summer, it's beauty is well worth dealing with all the people. There is a lot of access to the water, great trees, and, down by the dam is a cute little spot that is not as crowded.

Recommended for: Family Sessions & Senior Sessions

The photo to the right and below are down a hill and downstream of the dam. The concrete goes right to the water and it's still and shallow so you can take photos in the water easily! It can be a little buggy down there, so keep that in mind.

"Up The Road"
One thing about Island Lake is that things aren't as well marked. If you drive past Kent Lake, you eventually come upon a small pavilion and bathroom building. Parking there allows you to walk to some stairs that lead down to this deck. In the evening the sun will be setting behind you over the lake and it will be gorgeous!!

Recommended for: Senior Sessions

Almost right across the parking lot is this open field that is absolutely beautiful. There was a mowed path for easier access and I can just imagine how stunning this would look during golden hour!

Recommended for: Family Sessions & Senior Sessions

Huron River Fishing Inlet
When you go back to the entrance and go right towards Spring Mill Pond, you will first come upon this location. It's a small, out of the way spot that by itself would not allow a huge variety for photos, but it could be less busy than Kent Lake or Spring Mill Pond if you wanted those water shots. If you paired this with another location (like the ones right above), you would have a wide variety in your gallery.

A note - the road to get there is only wide enough for one car and makes you wonder if you should really be driving on it, but it is indeed the way to get there. I'm honestly not sure what one would do if you met another car on the road, but I can't imagine there are that many cars back there.

Recommended for: Family Sessions & Senior Sessions

Riverbend Shelter (Tuesdays & Thursdays only)
Continuing down the road from the Huron River Inlet, you would come to the Riverbend Picnic Shelter. This is another spot that seems like a hidden gem. With a cute path and the winding river, you have several options in one spot. On the weekends the pavilion gets rented out so this location is only available for people who book a Tuesday or Thursday evening session.

Recommended for: Family Sessions & Senior Sessions

Spring Mill Pond
Way back in the park is Spring Mill Pond. A spring-fed lake, this is a really cute location and has some good variety for backgrounds. I love taking photos by getting my clients into the water and Spring Mill Pond has great access to the water. It could be pretty busy during the summer, but there is a lot of space and water access.

Recommended for: Family Sessions & Senior Sessions