Family traditions are something I hold close to my heart, especially the kind that pull a family back to the same place year after year. For the James family, Northern Michigan has always been their happy place.

Each summer, they pack their bags and head north, and this year, Mackinac Island was their destination of choice. I was so excited when Jessica reached out to see if I was available during their trip and luckily, our schedules aligned perfectly for the couple days they were there.

And in full honesty, this trip quickly became one of my favorite sessions of the entire year. Not just because of the dreamy location, but because my own family got to come along for the adventure on Mackinac Island too!

Our Trip to Mackinac Island

My family and I decided to make a little trip out of the session ourselves and drove up the night before. We stayed at the brand-new Hampton Inn in St. Ignace, and it is so beautiful! It’s clean, modern, and has the best views of Lake Huron.

It was also going to be my son’s first time on Mackinac Island so my husband and I were buzzing with excitement. Even Louie, our pup, came for the trip because what’s a family adventure without your four-legged bff!

Arriving at Mackinac Island

In the morning, we hopped on the ferry and made our way across the water.  If you’ve every taken that ride, you know the feeling – wide open water and sky, the Mackinac Bridge stretching cross the horizon, and the faint outline of the island slowly coming into view… it never gets old!

As soon as we docked, we grabbed lunch at Great Turtle Brewery before walking around the south side of the island and checking out the iconic gardens and architecture of The Grand Hotel. Before the session we snagged some coffee at Lucky Bean Coffeehouse, yum!

My son loved watching all the horses clip-clopping by and Louie was also having the time of his life!

The Photoshoot on Mackinac Island

Once it was time for the James family’s session, I met up with Jessica and the crew by Mission Point Resort. Even though it was windy, the sun was absolutely perfect and the water was shimmering, impossibly blue, that kind of beauty that Northern Michigan is known for.

After the beach, we chased some geese, walked toward downtown, and captured some candid shots before ending the evening in the best way – with ice cream from Ryba’s, of course!

It was such a great evening! The family got their relaxed, adventurous, memory-filled session, and I left feeling so grateful to experience the island with my own family and to photograph another family enjoying their time together presently.

Why Mackinac Island is the Perfect Family Session Location

If you’ve ever considered doing a family photo session on Mackinac Island, here’s why I’ll always encourge it:

• The scenery is unmatched. Beaches, forests, Victorian architecture, horse-drawn carriages, and lake views galore!
• There’s a sense of nostalgia. No cars, just bikes, horses, and time slowed down.
• Kids always have fun. There’s never a dull moment where they’re bored or forced into stiff poses!

And the best part? You get to make a memory out of the entire day.

To the James family, thank you for sharing part of your yearly getaway with me. Thank you for the laughter, the wind-whipped hair, the ice cream smiles, and the joy you brought to the session!