Locations: Cleveland & Akron

So many decisions to make! The location of your portrait session has a big impact on what your final images will look like, and beyond that, it's a reflection of who you are and what your style is. Maybe you love nature and would love to stroll through beautiful gardens to show it. Maybe you love Cleveland and want to showcase its downtown architecture. Maybe you love llamas and want to do a shoot at a local alpaca farm! (It's happened.) There are lots of great options for your portrait session around Cleveland, and I'd like to provide some information on a few of my favorites below! 

West

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Miller Nature Preserve (Avon): This garden has lots of options, including flowers, woods, and an extra indoor nature conservatory.

Veterans Memorial Park (Avon Lake): This public beach features a boardwalk and is perfect for a sunset portrait session. 

Huntington Beach Park (Bay Village): The entire Cleveland skyline is visible from Huntington Beach on a clear day. The park also features a rock jetty, stone staircases, a wooded picnic area, and a delicious ice cream shop. View an engagement session at Huntington Beach here.

Coe Lake (Berea): Coe View has a little bit of everything, and is a beautiful spot for portrait sessions! This large park features lots of walking trails, woods, lakeside views, and several bridges. View a family session at Coe Lake here.

Mill Stream Run Reservation (Berea): This park has lots to offer, including forests, trails, bridges, and a large picnic area.

Baldwin Wallace College (Berea): This beautifully landscaped college campus features historic buildings and several different areas to explore.

Lakeview Park (Lorain): This Lake Erie park has lots to offer, including a gazebo, beach, rose gardens, and more.

Engle Road Sledding Hill (Middleburg Heights): Located in Big Creek Reservation, the area near this sledding hill features woods, tall grass, and picturesque bridges to explore. 

Rocky River Reservation (Rocky River): Rocky River Reservation is a beautiful area of the Cleveland Metroparks. It contains wooded trails, a tall staircase, a lake, marshes, and so much more. 

Rocky River Park (Rocky River): This lakefront park features beautiful views of Lake Erie as well as lots of green space. There is also a playground for the kids to use following your session.

Central

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Abbey Road/Superior Viaduct (Downtown): This stop provides an expansive view of Cleveland's skyline and features a Cleveland script sign overlooking the city. View a wedding in which we stopped there here.

Cleveland Botanical Gardens* (Downtown): The Cleveland Botanical Gardens have a plethora of colorful flowers, trails, steps, and reflecting pools to explore both inside and outside.

Cultural Gardens (Downtown): The Cultural Gardens near the Cleveland Museum of Art are a natural oasis inside the city. They are lush, green, and have several distinct areas in honor of different countries and ethnicities. Note that in order to ensure safety, certain precautions (like remaining in groups and parking in specific areas) are required. View a portrait session partially done in the cultural gardens here.

Rockefeller Park Greenhouse* (Downtown): This location is perfect as an indoor escape from rain and snow, and it is free to use for portrait sessions. (Weddings and large groups incur a fee). The greenhouse is reminiscent of a small botanical garden and features a variety of plants as well as a fountain. View an engagement session at Rockefeller Greenhouse here.

Little Italy (Downtown): This historic neighborhood of Cleveland has lots to offer, including small shops, walkable streets, a small city Park, murals, and more. View a portrait session in Little Italy here.

Cleveland Museum of Art (Downtown): The Cleveland Museum of Art is bright, beautiful, and a fantastic backup in case of rain for your portrait session. While photography is not allowed in the art galleries themselves, it is permitted in the atrium and outside. View a family session at the Cleveland Museum of Art here.

Voinovich Bicentennial Park & Cleveland Sign (Downtown): For the quintessential Cleveland skyline view, head to Voinovich Park. This urban park faces the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame and downtown Cleveland, and is home to the iconic "Cleveland" sign that everyone loves. View a wedding in which we did some portraits at Voinovich Park here.

The Old Courthouse* (Downtown): This gorgeous building features high ceilings, impressive columns, and a sweeping staircase.

MOCA* (Downtown): The Museum of Contemporary Art is a fresh modern building that is interesting both inside and out. Its contemporary exterior can produce unique reflections for portraits. 

The Union Club* (Downtown): The Union Club is a gorgeous building in the heart of downtown Cleveland, just down the street from Playhouse Square. The interior is filled with classic and luxurious furniture, and its marble staircase is amazing for dramatic portraits. View an engagement session at The Union Club here.

Playhouse Square (Downtown): Explore one of Cleveland's most iconic areas and do portraits under the theaters' marquis and Playhouse Square's chandelier over Euclid Avenue. View an engagement session done partially at Playhouse Square here.

Cleveland Public Library (Downtown): The Cleveland Public Library a great backup location in case of rain and provides interesting architecture with a literary twist.

Hyatt Regency at the Arcade* (Downtown): The old Arcade, now the Hyatt Regency Cleveland, is a stunning historic building in the heart of downtown Cleveland. Its large gilded atrium provides soft light any time of day that is perfect for portrait sessions. View a senior session at The Arcade here.

Westside Market & Ohio City (Downtown): Westside Market is a lively and cultural market that can make for a fun backdrop to a portrait session, although it can get very crowded. Just outside, Ohio City is brimming with small shops, interesting alleys, and a lively square to explore. View a wedding in which we did portraits in Ohio City here.

Wendy Park at Whiskey Island (Downtown): Wendy Park offers unique views of the Cleveland skyline and Lake Erie and is home to the old Coast Guard Building.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo* (Cleveland): If you love animals, this is the place to do your portraits! Both the animal exhibits and the Rainforest provide beautiful and unique backdrops for portrait sessions. 

Brookside Reservation (Cleveland): Close to the zoo, this park features several rows of Japanese Cherry trees that are typically in full bloom from mid to late April. View a family session at Brookside Reservation here.

East

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Chagrin Valley Athletic Club* (Bainbridge): The Chagrin Valley Athletic Club hosts many weddings throughout the year for good reason. Its tranquil gardens make for a beautiful setting for a portrait session.

Frohring Meadows (Bainbridge): Frohring Meadows is an open park with tall grasses and a marsh. It is perfect for romantic and picturesque sunset shoots. View a family session at Frohring Meadows here. 

Breezewood Gardens and Gifts (Bainbridge): Breezewood is a nursery with a large greenhouse atrium that makes for a perfect rain/cold weather backup. During the holidays, it is filled with Christmas trees, poinsettias, and other decorations. View a family session at Breezewood here.

Viaduct Park (Bedford): Viaduct Park is a hidden gem for portrait sessions, and offers one of the best waterfalls in the area for getting up close. Additionally, this wooded park on the edge of the Bedford Reservation features beautiful wooded trails, wildflowers, and more within a relatively small area. View an engagement session at Viaduct Park here.

Sulphur Springs Picnic Area (Bentleyville): Sulphur Springs is a quiet, wooded area with a small waterfall and beautiful road through the woods. View a senior session that was partially done at Sulphur Springs here).

Boardman Park (Boardman): This gorgeous park has a little bit of everything: woods, gardens, bridges, antique architecture, and more. Better yet, everything is easily walkable! View an engagement session at Boardman Park here.

Mosquito Lake State Park (Cortland): Mosquito Lake State Park contains a quiet lake with a drivable beach, woods, and pier. It's a bit of a drive from Cleveland, but well worth it! View a senior session at Mosquito Lake here.

Hiram College Campus (Hiram): This small college has a beautiful campus full of historic buildings and carefully manicured gardens. It is very quiet in the summer, making it perfect for an evening portrait session. Go here to see a wedding with portraits done on Hiram's campus.

Nelson Kennedy Ledges State Park (Nelson Township): This forested park features hiking trails, interesting rock formations, and a waterfall, and is perfect for those looking for some adventure.  

Wiegand's Lake Park (Novelty): Wiegand's Lake Park is a large park surrounding its namesake lake. A dock and picnic area make for great spots to explore here for portrait sessions. View a wedding at Wiegand's Lake Park here.

Pepper Pike Park (Pepper Pike): This small park has lots of variety packed into a small area, and it is full of fall color in the autumn! The space features lots of trees, a brick pathway, as well as a small bridge. View a family session at Pepper Pike Park here.

Shadow Lake (Solon): Shadow Lake is a quiet fishing lake in the Cleveland Metroparks. A wooded trail leads around the lake, complete with bridges and several small piers.

Northeast

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Chardon Square (Chardon): This colorful town square is perfect for portrait sessions. It is filled with trees and flowers, has a beautiful white gazebo at its center, and is surrounded by historic architecture. View an engagement session at Chardon Square here.

Burton Wetlands & Nature Preserve (Chardon): Burton Wetlands contains a boardwalk around a beautiful marshland, as well as several wooded areas. It's a large area and has many options for portraits. View an engagement session at Burton Wetlands here.

Kenneth J. Sims Park (Euclid): Sims Park is a small beach in Euclid, and it has so much to offer! This part of the lakeshore features a small sandy beach, a rocky jetty, a walkable pier, shady trees, and lots of high grass. View an engagement session done partially at Sims Park here.

Holden Arboretum* (Kirtland): Holden Arboretum, part of the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, is an expansive garden and forest with a plethora of options. It is filled with tranquil ponds, lush green forests, and carefully manicured flower gardens. Holden's Canopy Walk and Emergent Tower add architectural interest to this picturesque location.

Luvin Lavender Farm (Madison): Roam through fields of gorgeous lavender blossoms at this unique portrait location perfect for the summertime. Flowers are typically in bloom in the end of June and early July. Extra fee required.* Go here to view mini sessions done at this farm.

Veterans Park (Mentor): This wooded park in Mentor features forest, wildflowers, and a large lake with several small docks. Sunset over the water makes for gorgeous evening light. View a family session at Veterans Park here.

Steele Mansion* (Painesville): This mansion was renovated just a few years ago, and it is gorgeous! Its historic interior includes a large staircase, interesting furniture, colorful and unique rooms, and even carousel horses in the basement. View an engagement session at Steele Mansion here.

Chagrin River Park (Willoughby): Chagrin River Park is a wooded metropark with several bridges, trails, and fields. It has a lot of variety in a small space, making it perfect for portrait sessions. View a family session at Chagrin River Park here.

South

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University of Akron Campus (Akron): This college campus has a bit of everything, including gardens, interesting sculptures, and impressive arches. 

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens* (Akron): This gorgeous location has an incredible amount of scenery, including various tudor buildings, reflecting ponds, gardens, terraces, a greenhouse, and more. Photography is not permitted inside Stan Hywet Hall itself. 

Lake Anna Park (Barberton): Lake Anna is a beautiful city park featuring a lake, gardens, and a white gazebo. In October, it hosts the annual Mums Fest and is full of beautiful flowers. View a wedding at which we did portraits at Lake Anna here.

Hale Farm* (Bath): Hale Farm is a living museum dating back to the 19th century and it is a historic property of the Western Reserve Historical Society. Hale Farm is a great place for portraits, as it is usually not very crowded and has many quaint and rustic buildings to explore, along with wooded trails and gorgeous fields of tall grass.

Chippewa Creek (Brecksville): Less than a mile from Station Road Bridge lies Chippewa Creek. Chippewa Creek is a small stream running through the forest, and a small footbridge over it makes for a great setting for portraits. Some of the portraits from this wedding were taken at Chippewa Creek here.

Gervasi Vineyard (Canton): This beautiful vineyard features numerous restaurants and opportunities for wine tasting in addition to its gorgeous grounds, which include a lake, rows of grapevines, willow trees, and walking paths. Extra fee required.* View a proposal and engagement session at Gervasi Vineyard here.

Indigo Lake Park (Cuyahoga Falls): Indigo Lake Park is a beautiful area and has lots of variety for portrait sessions, including a train station for the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad, grassy green hills, and of course its namesake lake. View a family session at Indigo Lake here.

Twinsburg Square (Twinsburg): Twinsburg's historic center features a stage, monument, numerous trees, and several historic buildings nearby. 

Hudson Square (Hudson): Hudson's large central square is full of small paths and trees and it features a white gazebo and the town's iconic clock tower. Small boutique shops line the square, providing many options to explore during portrait sessions. View a headshot session in Hudson here.

Downtown Kent (Kent): The city of Kent has lots of great options for portrait sessions: wooded parks, interesting murals and brickwork, picturesque pedestrian alleys, and a train station next to the river. View a senior session in downtown Kent here.

Franklin Mills Riveredge Park (Kent): This park borders the Cuyahoga River in Kent and has lots to offer, from wooded trails, to bridges, to interesting brickwork. It is also just over the river from downtown Kent and its old train station. View a senior session done in Kent here.

Kent State University Campus (Kent): Kent State has a beautiful campus, filled with both classic and modern architecture as well as lots of natural green space. View a college graduation session done on campus here.

Medina Square (Medina): This gorgeous square features a large gazebo and lots of greenery, and it's surrounded by fun and unique shops and restaurants.

Carolyn Ludwig Mugrage Park (Medina): This small park is perfect for portraits! It features a small lake, dock, walking trails, and small bridges through the nearby forest.

Price Park (North Canton): This family-friendly community park has a lot to offer: it features cultivated gardens, walking paths, a wooded bridge, duck pond, and two gazebos close by, all in a small and easily walkable area. View an engagement session at Price Park here.

Brandywine Falls (Peninsula): Brandywine Falls is the most well-known landmark in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A short boardwalk leads through the woods to the impressive waterfall. Photography with large groups, such as wedding parties, is limited here. View a maternity/family session at Brandywine Falls here.

Peninsula Depot (Peninsula): This area features lots of interesting architecture, natural spaces on the edge of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, as well as the depot for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. View a senior session in Peninsula here.

Liberty Park* (Twinsburg): This large park is full of gorgeous fields of tall grass and wildflowers that just glow during the evening golden hour. Liberty Park features a small stone amphitheater, a flower garden, lush forest, and wooded footbridges and boardwalks. The park's namesake ledges are located a few minutes' hike away from the entrance. View a family session at Liberty Park here.

Green Leaf Park (Wadsworth): This small park in Wadsworth has lots of options for portrait sessions, including a picturesque pond, a log cabin, forest, and bleachers. View a senior session at Green Leaf Park here.

Wolf Creek Park (Wadsworth): This park features forested trails, bridges, and a lake, giving many options for portrait sessions.

*An extra fee may apply. This may range from a small entrance fee to several hundred dollars depending on location.