The 5 Best Places for Photos in Portland, Michigan
So often, I get asked where to take photos and there are so many options! Not just in Portland, Michigan but all over the place! But, for today, I am just going to focus on my hometown of Portland because it truly has so much to offer. Portland is only a short drive away from most places such as Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Ionia making it the perfect central point to get your photos taken.
The Flats
The Bogue Flats (“The Flats” for us Portlanders!) is an excellent choice for photos. There is so much area to cover and it has so many opportunities to get unique photos! The Flats is located off Water Street in Portland and offers beautiful backdrops of fields, trees, tall grasses, the river, and a pond! Best of all, the Portland Riverwalk surrounds The Flats which means there is plenty of little areas around the entire thing to find a spot perfect for anyone! The Flats is a large area with easy walking so the location is suitable for any type of session.
2. Downtown Portland
Downtown Portland, Michigan is one of my favorites. The downtown area is so well kept and perfect for photos. Here, you will find a gorgeous backdrop of buildings, walls, colorful textures, lights and even Veterans Memorial Bridge. Downtown Portland has the Grand River running right through the heart of it giving you a perfect opportunity to get photos of water as well. Portland is a great community for walking which means that these areas are all very accessible and can be reached very easily.
3. The Red Mill
The Red Mill in Portland, Michigan is such an beautiful place. It is so well taken care of by a group of locals, The Friends of the Red Mill, who work so hard to keep the building in great shape and to keep this beautiful structure a part of Portland history. This building serves as a perfect backdrop for those wanting a picture with a barn as a background or a more country feel. As a matter of fact, the Red Mill is one of my most common requests for photos of the locals!
4. The Boat Launch
The Portland Boat Launch (near Thompson Field) is only a short drive away from Portland’s Downtown area. This sweet spot offers tall grasses, trees, the river trail and a lovely spot to dip your toes directly into the river for water photos. In this location you also have the option of a short jog to get to one of Portlands walking bridges that mimics Veterans Memorial Bridge too!
5. The Portland Dam
The Portland Dam is just a short drive outside of Portland, Michigan, off Lyons Road and is another great spot for photos. This spot is usually bustling with fishermen relaxing while trying to catch their latest fish. The location boasts a small wooden footbridge that crosses a stream, views of the river, trees and tall grasses. This is truly the perfect quaint little spot if you are looking for photos with a lot of nature.
If you are visiting Portland from out of town, I often get asked where to eat! This information is right up my alley because I love a good meal. There are many places to stop to grab a bite to eat and enjoy the Portland Community. Here are a few of my personal favorites!
-You haven’t had good pizza until you’ve gotten it from the Portland Party Store
-The atmosphere at Fabianos Riverhouse Grill on their porch is amazing
-Oliveras is a great option for dining in with delicious food
There are many other options that are filled with the kindest Portland People and the best business owners, you truly cannot go wrong with any of them!
*This is not an inclusive list of Portland photo locations. I recommend speaking with your photographer directly to help determine which option might be the best for your next photo session!