The Best Places in Burlington, Vermont for Senior Photos and College Graduation Pictures

From B Hauz Productions — Burlington Vermont graduation photographer specializing in college graduation portraits for women at UVM, Champlain College, Saint Michael's College, and beyond.

You did it.

Four years (or five, no judgment) of early morning classes, late night study sessions, dining hall dinners, and all the in-between moments that somehow turned into the best years of your life. You walked across that stage — or you're about to — and now your mom is texting you approximately seventeen times a day about graduation photos.

She's right. You need them. And Burlington, Vermont is honestly one of the most stunning cities on the East Coast to get them.

Whether you're a UVM graduate, a Champlain College grad, or finishing up at Saint Michael's College just up the road in Colchester — Burlington and the surrounding area has some of the most breathtaking, varied, and flat-out beautiful photography locations you will find anywhere in New England. Lake Champlain. The Adirondack Mountains. Cobblestone streets. Sun-drenched parks. Wildflower fields. Waterfront sunsets that look completely unreal.

I'm Barbee, a Burlington Vermont graduation photographer, and I have photographed college graduates all over this city and surrounding area. This is my full location guide — the spots I know, love, and return to again and again — specifically for college women who want graduation photos that are beautiful, personal, and completely worth framing.

Let's get into it.

Why Burlington is One of the Best Cities in New England for Graduation Photos

Burlington doesn't get enough credit as a photography destination — but as someone who shoots here constantly, let me tell you, it is extraordinary.

You have the lake on one side and the mountains on the other. You have a charming, walkable downtown full of character and architecture. You have parks and trails and beaches and farms all within fifteen minutes of each other. And the light here — especially in May and June when most college graduation photos happen — is absolutely golden.

For Burlington college graduation photographers from UVM, Champlain or even Saint Michael's, this city offers something that most places simply can't: the ability to shoot a moody, cobblestone downtown portrait and a wide-open lake-and-mountain landscape portrait in the same afternoon session. The variety is unmatched, and the results are stunning every single time.

The Best Burlington Vermont Locations for College Graduation Photos

1. Waterfront Park — The Burlington Graduation Photo Classic

If there is one location synonymous with Burlington, Vermont graduation photography, it's Waterfront Park. Sitting right on the shore of Lake Champlain in the heart of downtown Burlington, Waterfront Park gives you sweeping lake views, the iconic Adirondack Mountain backdrop, gorgeous sunset light, and that unmistakable feeling of Burlington that every graduate who spent years here will immediately recognize.

The boardwalk, the open lawn, the harbor, the docks — each section of Waterfront Park offers a completely different backdrop within the same location. We love arriving here in the late afternoon when the light turns golden and warm and the lake goes glassy and calm.

For UVM graduation photos, Champlain College graduation photos, and Saint Michael's graduation photos, Waterfront Park is the most iconic Burlington backdrop you can choose — and there's a reason every graduating class comes back to it year after year.

Best for: Lake and mountain views, golden hour, iconic Burlington backdrop, downtown location, all seasons

2. Church Street Marketplace — Bold, Beautiful, and Completely Burlington

Church Street is Burlington's beloved pedestrian marketplace and one of the most charming streets in all of New England — and for college graduation portraits with personality, energy, and that distinctly Burlington urban character, it is absolutely unbeatable.

Cobblestone streets, gorgeous historic architecture, colorful storefronts, the stunning Unitarian Church anchoring the far end of the street, and that warm, lively energy that makes Burlington feel like nowhere else. Church Street graduation photos have an editorial, magazine-quality look that is completely different from every other Vermont graduation portrait — and in the best possible way.

For the UVM or Champlain College graduate who spent four years grabbing coffee on Church Street, shopping at the farmers market, and walking these cobblestones in every season — shooting your graduation portraits here is also just deeply, personally meaningful. And that meaning comes through in every single image.

Urban editorial portraits, bold and vibrant energy, iconic Burlington street scenes, fall and summer sessions, graduates who want something with personality

3. Oakledge Park — Dramatic, Beautiful, and Full of Variety

Oakledge Park is one of Burlington's most beloved green spaces — and as a Burlington graduation photographer, it is one of my absolute favorite locations in the entire city. The variety within a single park is genuinely unmatched.

Dramatic red rocks right at the water's edge of Lake Champlain. Massive weeping willows. Open green lawns. Wooded trails. The famous treehouse. And throughout it all, those incredible lake and mountain views that make every image feel cinematic.

Morning light at Oakledge is particularly special — soft, golden, and coming through the trees in a way that makes portraits look extraordinary. But honestly, Oakledge delivers at any time of day and in any season. For Burlington college graduation photos that feel adventurous, natural, and full of life, Oakledge Park is always a yes.

Best for: Dramatic lakeside portraits, natural and adventurous energy, variety within one location, morning light sessions, graduates who love being outside

4. Battery Park — Elevated Views and Mountain Backdrops

Battery Park sits just north of Waterfront Park, slightly elevated above the lake, and offers some of the most expansive and breathtaking views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains anywhere in Burlington. The elevation gives you a perspective on the lake that is wider, more dramatic, and more quietly stunning than you can get from the waterfront itself.

For Burlington college graduation portraits, Battery Park is a beautifully underused location. Massive old trees, open green space, and that jaw-dropping mountain and lake backdrop combine to create images that feel genuinely majestic. It's also typically less crowded than Waterfront Park, which means more space and more freedom during your session.

Best for: Elevated lake and Adirondack views, dramatic landscape backdrops, quieter alternative to Waterfront Park, graduates who want a more expansive and serene feel

5. North Beach Park — Sandy, Bright, and Pure Vermont Summer

North Beach is Burlington's gorgeous sandy beach on Lake Champlain, and for summer college graduation photos — especially May and June sessions right after commencement — it is absolutely perfect. Sandy shores, sparkling water, open blue sky, and that breezy, joyful, Vermont-summer energy that is completely impossible to fake.

For the UVM graduate, the Champlain College grad, or the Saint Michael's alumna who spent summers swimming here and wants graduation photos that feel like a pure, joyful celebration of this chapter of her life — North Beach is it. Late afternoon light here is especially stunning, when everything goes warm and golden and the water turns to diamonds.

Best for: Summer graduation sessions, sandy beach backdrop, open sky and sparkling water, relaxed and celebratory energy, golden hour over the lake

6. Wheeler Homestead — Gardens, Mountains, and Pure Vermont Magic

Located in South Burlington just minutes from downtown, Wheeler Homestead is one of the most stunning photography locations in the greater Burlington area — and one that is still a bit of a hidden gem outside of the local photography community.

Elaborate perennial gardens, wide open fields, spectacular Green Mountain views, and a variety of natural backdrops that change beautifully with every season. In late spring and early summer — right when most college graduation photo sessions happen — the gardens at Wheeler are in full bloom and absolutely extraordinary. Lush, colorful, romantic, and deeply Vermont.

For UVM, Champlain College, and Saint Michael's graduation portraits that feel lush and feminine and completely different from a lakeside session, Wheeler Homestead is one of the most special locations I shoot at all year.

Best for:Garden and floral backdrops, Green Mountain views, spring and early summer sessions, romantic and feminine portraits, graduates who love flowers and natural beauty

7. Shelburne Farms — Unforgettable and Completely Worth It

Shelburne Farms is located about fifteen minutes south of Burlington in Shelburne — and it is so extraordinary that it absolutely belongs on this list. This is one of the most iconic photography locations in all of Vermont, and the images you can get here are genuinely unlike anything else in the area.

Rolling pastoral fields. Direct views of Lake Champlain. The Adirondack Mountains in the distance. Gorgeous historic barns. Stone walls. Sheep grazing in wildflower meadows. Shelburne Farms is the kind of location that makes every single image look like it belongs on the cover of a Vermont Life magazine — and for college graduation portraits that you will treasure for decades, it is an absolute dream.

Late afternoon golden hour at Shelburne Farms in May or June is one of the most beautiful things I have ever photographed. If you want graduation photos that are truly, completely unforgettable — this is where we're going.

Best for: Iconic Vermont scenery, lake and mountain views, pastoral farm and field aesthetics, golden hour sessions, truly once-in-a-lifetime graduation portraits

8. Island Line Rail Trail Causeway — The Most Unique Shot in Burlington

Here is a location that most Burlington graduation photographers don't talk about enough: the Island Line Rail Trail causeway. This trail extends directly out over Lake Champlain — you are surrounded by open water on both sides with the Adirondack Mountains stretching across the horizon — and the images you can create here are completely, utterly unlike anything else.

For the Champlain College graduate, the UVM grad, or the Saint Michael's alumna who wants graduation photos that are bold, unexpected, and completely one-of-a-kind — the causeway delivers something no other location in Burlington can touch. It is genuinely breathtaking in person, and even more so in photographs.

Best for: Unique and unexpected locations, open water on all sides, dramatic mountain horizons, adventurous and bold graduates, truly one-of-a-kind portraits

9. UVM Campus — For the Graduate Who Wants to Remember Exactly Where It Happened

Let's not overlook the obvious: the University of Vermont campus itself is genuinely beautiful. The green, the historic buildings, Ira Allen Chapel, the pathways lined with trees that go absolutely fiery in the fall — for UVM graduation photos specifically, shooting on or near campus adds a layer of personal meaning that no other location can replicate.

For a UVM graduate who wants to remember exactly where she spent four years of her life — walking these paths, studying in these buildings, becoming exactly who she is — campus portraits are deeply, personally meaningful. And they photograph beautifully.

I recommend combining campus portraits with one of the off-campus locations above for a session that gives you both the personal meaning of place and the sweeping beauty of Burlington and Vermont.

Best for: UVM graduates specifically, personal and meaningful portraits, historic New England campus architecture, combining with off-campus locations for variety

10. Winooski Riverfront — Hidden Gem Right Next Door

The Winooski Riverfront, located in the charming little city of Winooski right next to Burlington, is one of the most underrated photography locations in the entire area. The river, the old mill buildings, the footbridge, the wooded banks — it has a moody, textural, quietly stunning quality that is completely different from Burlington's lake locations.

For college graduates who want something a little more intimate, a little more editorial, and a little more unexpected — Winooski delivers something genuinely special. The combination of the river, the architecture, and the surrounding trees makes for portraits that are rich, layered, and full of character.

Best for: Moody and editorial portraits, river and architectural backdrops, intimate and layered sessions, graduates who want something off the beaten Burlington path

When to Book Your Burlington College Graduation Photos

Graduation season in Burlington — late April into mid May — is the absolute busiest time of year for Burlington graduation photographers. UVM commencement, Champlain College graduation, and Saint Michael's College graduation all happen within weeks of each other, and sessions book out fast.

Here is my honest advice: **book your session before you even know your exact graduation date.** You can always adjust the specific day, but getting on the calendar early means you actually get the date, time, and location you want — especially if you're hoping for a golden hour session on a specific evening.

Spring sessions in Burlington are magical. But if your session ends up in the summer after graduation, fall, or even winter — Burlington will still deliver. Every season here is beautiful in its own way, and I have shot extraordinary graduation portraits in every single one of them.

Why Choose B Hauz Productions for Your Burlington College Graduation Photos

I specialize in photographing women — college graduates, female entrepreneurs, and women stepping into a new chapter who want images that actually capture who they are right now, in this moment.

I know Burlington deeply. I know the light, the seasons, the hidden corners of every park and trail and waterfront spot that most people walk right past. And I know how to make a woman feel completely at ease in front of a camera — even if she swears up and down that she's not a photo person.

Your college graduation portraits are not just pictures. They are a record of one of the most significant transitions of your life — the end of one chapter and the beginning of everything that comes next. They deserve to be extraordinary. They deserve to look exactly like you, in the place that shaped you, at the moment you became who you are.

Let's make that happen.

Ready to Book Your Burlington Vermont Graduation Session?

I'm currently booking college graduation photo sessions for women throughout Burlington, South Burlington, Shelburne, Winooski, Colchester, Williston, Essex, and all of Chittenden County and Vermont.

[Let's plan your session →]http://www.bhauzproductions.com/connect

*B Hauz Productions is a Burlington Vermont graduation photographer specializing in college graduation portraits for women at UVM, Champlain College, Saint Michael's College, and beyond. Serving Burlington, South Burlington, Shelburne, Winooski, Colchester, Stowe, Montpelier, and all of Vermont and New England.*