Below are the ideas nominated as 2026 Group Shoots for our voting, which is now closed. They are shown in order from most-to-least votes [number of votes in brackets], and are followed by other ideas we've had in the past.
[11] Detroit Polo Club, 700 Saddle Club Ln, Howell. Most Sundays in June and July. Free Admission and very photographer friendly.
[6] Ohio State Reformatory at 100 Reformatory Rd, Mansfield OH (the Prison featured in the movie The Shawshank Redemption), a 3-hour 5-minute drive, JoAnn Turk has done some research on this. If we go on a public tour, at the time she checked (2023?), the entrance fee is $25 ($23 for seniors). You can stay until closing. No tripods. They are open Thursday-Sunday. The building is unheated. Bathrooms are available.)
[6] Dow Gardens, May through September, 1809 Eastman Avenue, Midland, MI, They have a canopy walk. (might extend with ideas in #6)
[6] Michigan West Coast Lighthouses, February, can be a one day: St. Joseph & South Haven (395 miles, 6 1/2 hours round trip driving-only time), a long one day, or a two day, including Grand Haven & Holland (450 miles, 7 1/2 hours round trip driving-only time). I (Chet) do it as a two day, to get both sunrise & sunset. This could be a collaboration with Motor City, They go every year.
[5] Detroit Zoo, Sat-Sun 9-5, $27, Seniors $24, Parking $8, 8450 W 10 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI
[5] Motor City ComicCon: They have two events a year, one in May and one in November. There tons of amazing cosplay to photograph, a very exciting atmosphere, and it's inside and air conditioned.
[4] Japanese Cultural Center in Saginaw. Traditional gardens. Should plan for April, this is when Cherry blossoms bloom. Also second Saturday of the month has a traditional tea service.
[4] Curwood Castle, Owosso. Tuesday to Sunday 1-5pm $5 per Adult. Closed the month of January along with a photo walk of downtown Owosso.
[3] The Macomb Cultural & Economic Partnership MCEP Mount Clemens Sculpture Walk. Currently the 7th annual walk is in progress, with 35 sculptures on display in Mount Clemens. In October 2025 a change over of sculptures will take place, and the 8th Annual walk will begin. The sculptures will remain in place until September 2026. MCEP publishes a map with a self guided tour of Mount Clemens and Clinton Township. Other objects of interest include the many older homes and buildings in Mount Clemens. Parking at MCEP’s fenced parking lot 92 Northbound Gratiot. Lunch/dinner at O’Halloran’s or Gumbos.
[3] Group shoot in a historic Cemetery, like Elmwood, Clinton Grove, White Chapel, or Glenwood Flint.
[3] Shiawassee Wildlife Refuge, near Saginaw: Ferguson Bayou Trail with side trip to Saginaw Silo Murals. You drive the trail in the summer time, great place for seeing lots of nature.
[3] Gilmore Car Museum ($20 admission, free parking, Sat-Sun 9-6, 3 hour drive, 2 restaurants on site)
[3] Hidden Lake Gardens, 6214 W Monroe Road (Hwy M-50), Tipton, MI (about 2 hours drive), Tue-Sun 9-5, photography encouraged, but no tripods or reflectors etc. Sky Canopy Walk, Hiking Trails, Conservatory, Bonasi Collection, Hosta Hillside, Gazebo Garden, Harper Collection of Dwarf and Rare Conifers, Visitor Center
[3] Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary and Zoological Gardens, 1698 M-66, Athens, MI (south of Battle Creek), 2.5 hour drive, daily 11-4, $14 admission with guided tours included, Not a large place, but with approximately 200 creatures there's a lot to see: alligators of all sizes and stages of life, a greenhouse with plants and animals, tortoises that 'roam the plains of the sanctuary', a gazebo and upper level observation deck. See their facebook site.
[2] Night time shoot, Star trails or just a starry night. We would need to find a location with a good background like a Bridge, Lighthouse, Barn, Moon. Very weather permitting.
[2] The 2026 dates for the Oakland County Air Show are not yet available. The show is held annually at Oakland County International Airport in Waterford, Michigan, but the specific dates for 2026 have not been announced. This year https://www.oakgov.com/community/airports/open-house-air-show
[2] A Belle Isle exploration outing, like we've enjoyed in the past here and here and here.
[2] Midland: 230 miles, 4 hours round trip driving-only time. A day trip to Dahlia Hill, the Tridge, Chippewa Nature Center. The dahlia's are most impressive, late August, September. (might be an add-on to a #5 trip)
[2] National Museum of the Great Lakes, in Toledo . They have a 2 ships that can be toured. 1903 Tug and 1911 lake freighter. Would need to find out photo policy if we want to to this.
[2] Toledo, Ohio: 140 miles, 2 1/2 hours round trip driving-only time. Toledo Zoo, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral, Vistula Historic District, Woodlawn Cemetery, Anthony Wayne Bridge, BP Oil Refinery. As a possible add on: The Butterfly House, in Whitehouse, about 20 miles s/o Toledo. Although not set in stone, I (Chet) normally go in September or October, for fall color, on a Wednesday Senior Day. Staying for the bridge and the refinery, at sunset and/or nightime makes for a long day. Just the zoo, the cathedral, and the historic district make the outing worth it.
[2] UP200 Sled Dog Races. This one might be a stretch for a lot of people. It's up in the Marquette area and would likely require an overnight stay. Plus there's the cold and walking through deep snow. But it's a really fun experience. Northern Michigan University puts together a group of volunteer photographers and offered them access to some areas off limits to the general public. I volunteered with them this winter and it's a lot of fun and a good way to get your pictures posted through the university. Plus you get to hang out with dogs all day.
[2] Michigan Thumb Lighthouses: 300 miles, 6 hours round trip driving-only time. Starting at the Blue Water Bridge, Fort Gratiot, Port Sanilac, Harbor Beach, Pointe Aux Barques, Port Austin. Although not a dramatic as the west coast lighthouses in winter, it makes for an interesting day trip up the coast. Winter, spring, summer or fall.
[1] Legasea Aquarium and Reptarium, 45550 Van Dyke Ave, Utica, MI, daily 11-7, Admission $25, Reptiles, amphibians, some mammals (capybara, two-toes sloth, binturong), several daily "shows", multiple huge aquariums with both fresh and saltwater inhabitants: sharks, stingrays, lion fish, fresh-water predator fish, lobsters, puffer fish, etc.
[1] Richmond Area Heritage Festival, was the last weekend in June during 2025. Featured, Antique Tractor Show, Anqique Car Show, Saw Mill, Antique buildings and other demonstrations.
[1] Model / dancer shoot on Wayne State Campus. I (Tim Griffin) have a photographer friend who can help set us up with 1 or 2 model/dancers for this. A couple of things to understand. The ladies are highly trained dancers. Typically, each photographer would pay around $20-$40 that goes to the dancers. This depends on 1 or 2 dancers. Would shoot for 2 hours. If the group is large enough, we would split into groups and have an opportunity to photograph each. This would be a late spring or summer event. This is an event that the Motor City Camera club has done in the past.
[1] Toledo Zoo: April to October - photograph orangutan, snow leopard, elephant, cheetah, hippo, and Tasmanian devil. $32, plus $11-13 parking. Sat-Sun 10-5.
[1] In Toledo area. Sidecut Metro park has 3 canal locks from old canal off the Maumee river. I think this looks best in the winter so there is Ice and snow with the water flow. From there we could go to Lakeside Marblehead lighthouse. About 1 hour drive between locations.
[0] Detroit Fireworks Show, Late June
[0] A film-themed group shoot.
Sweetest Heart of Mary Catholic Church, an ornate catholic church near I-75 and Warren Ave.
Mussel Farms sunflower field, at 6850 Mason Rd, Fowlerville, peaked Aug 15 2023, Aug 6 2024
Canadian Raptor Concervancy, take photos of birds in flight and perched. About a 3-hour drive. Requires passport or enhanced driver's licence to get into Canada. Approx $50 each, depending on how many people go.
Kurt suggested Monroe MI. There is a lot of Michigan history down there with the 1789 Navarre Anderson Trading Post (oldest building in Michigan outside Mackinaw Island), the River Raisin Battlefield site War of 1812, and one time home of Civil War General George Custer. Also by the DTE plant near the River Raisin is a supposedly big time eagle nesting area and hot spot!
Cranbrook House and Gardens, 380 Lone Pine Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI. Mon-Sun 7AM - 7PM, perhaps July best for blooms
Detroit River Walk - Ren Cen - Campus Martius (parking is at Rivard Plaza Parking 1422 Atwater St. Detroit, and also close to the Ren Cen at Miller Parking Garage 414 Renaissance St. Detroit)
