Looking to do some outdoor photography in Northeast Ohio? (Bonus points if you want to include your pets!) Read below for my inspiration and for spots at the top of my list to explore this summer.

The Inspiration for Outdoor Photography

I recently came back from a week-long dog photography workshop in Scotland (more on that to come; and thanks to Woofventures Retreats for the hospitality) and one of the key takeaways I got from it is that beauty is everywhere. When I first began doing photography, I almost exclusively took images outdoors. During the last three years that I’ve had a studio and I’ve almost completely transitioned to a studio photographer. It’s been easy to do because I don’t have to rely on unpredictable Ohio weather forecasts. Additionally, reactive dogs and shelter dogs are able to relax in my space. But during the retreat, we spent a good portion of our photographing time outdoors in the beautiful landscapes of Scotland. Doing so gave me a newfound confidence and desire to photograph more outdoors.

The Beautiful Outdoors of Northeast Ohio

One of the key things I realized as I was photographing dogs in the middle of amazing landscapes in Scotland is that a lot of what I photographed there could be done similarly in Northeast Ohio. Yes, we don’t have giant mountains and moss-filled hills, but we do have amazing parks, forests, streams, and lakes. Since I’ve been back, I’ve found myself exploring more. During those explorations, I’ve dreamt about photographing dogs in the beautiful landscapes of Northeast Ohio. See below for some of my favorite spots for outdoor photography in Northeast Ohio:

Cleveland Metroparks: Edgewater Beach at sunrise

If you’ve not explored Edgewater Beach lately, you’re truly missing out. Last year I took adoptable Wooderson there for a sunrise session and it did not disappoint! We got there a little later than planned, which meant the light was a bit harsher than I would have liked. If I do these sessions again, I’d definitely plan it a bit closer to the actual sunrise. For those with a dog-reactive dog, we only saw one other dog on the beach that day. If you go mid-day or evening, the beach does tend to get a bit full, so just keep that in mind.

Cleveland Metroparks: Bedford Reservation — Bridal Veil Falls

I did a few sessions at Bridal Veil Falls last year as well and it’s definitely on my list to return. I know it can get pretty busy there on the weekends, but I’ve gone during the week several times and have basically had the place to myself. If your dog likes hikes and/or water, it’s a great place to check out. It also makes for some great creek and wooded backdrops.

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens have so many different areas to explore. As a bonus, I’ve generally found it to not be particularly busy during the week. There’s definitely more going on during the weekends, but thankfully it’s so large that you can still find quiet spots. As an additional perk, a good portion of it is shaded. And for those who like to get their steps in, you can definitely do that here.

Other spots on my “I’d love to photograph there” list:

As mentioned earlier, I’ve been hiking quite a bit of the area lately and I’d also love to do some photography at the Ledges area of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Holden Arboretum, Squires Castle, and the Hinkley Reservation, just to name a few.

Are there other spots you’d recommend I’d check out? Leave a comment below if you have a “can’t miss it” spot!

And if you want to take a hike with me while we get great images of you and your pet(s), let me know! You can schedule an inquiry call with me on my website. You can also join my email list, which is where I’ll be posting about specials for this summer.