As a family photographer in Cleveland Ohio I get asked about locations ALL the time – and honestly Cleveland has so many beautiful options. However your own backyard might just be the most perfect one you have never considered. I am serious about this one. Let me tell you why!

by Alison Nicole Photography | Cleveland Lifestyle Photographer

Family Photographer Cleveland Ohio – Why the Backyard Works So Well

I talk a lot about in-home sessions and how much I love them – and the backyard is really just an extension of that. It is YOUR space. Your family’s space. The place where so many of your everyday moments and memories already happen. And that is exactly what makes it so special to photograph. Furthermore it is one of the most underrated session locations out there and I am honestly on a mission to change that!

Here are my top reasons why your backyard might be the best decision you make for your family session this summer…

The Practical Stuff – and It Matters More Than You Think!

1. Bathrooms are right there. Gone are the days of rushing across a park with a toddler who suddenly has to go. Your bathroom is steps away and that alone is a game changer!

2. Snacks are also right there. Hungry kids are grumpy kids. Hungry adults are also grumpy adults – let’s be honest. Because your whole kitchen is available mid-session everyone stays happy and the photos show it!

3. Everyone is more comfortable there. Kids especially are just MORE themselves at home. Less shy, less stiff, more willing to play and laugh and just be. As a result that comfort shows up directly in the photographs every single time.

4. Need an outfit change? Easy! Want to start in one look and switch it up? No problem at all – the whole closet is right there! In other words this is something you simply cannot do at a park or a field.

The Really Good Stuff – Things to Do Together

5. There is SO much to do! This is where it gets really fun. Your backyard is full of possibilities for genuine, real, memorable moments. For example think about everything you could incorporate…

• Playground or swingset
• Trampoline
• Bubbles
• Chalk
• Water table
• Pool or sprinkler
• Ice cream
• Playing with your dog
• S’mores
• Running around in the grass

After all these are not props or poses. They are real things your family actually does together. And THAT is what makes the photos extraordinary. For even more backyard activity ideas check out this great resource on outdoor activities for kids – so many fun ideas to incorporate into your session!

The Most Important Reason of All

6. This is where your family memories already live.

This is the big one. Think about where most of your favorite family moments take place. I am willing to bet a lot of them happen right in your own backyard. Those summer evenings on the patio. Golden hour on the trampoline. The dog running through the sprinkler. S’mores around the fire pit.

As a family photographer in Cleveland Ohio my whole goal is to freeze the moments that are already happening in your life – not create artificial ones in a field somewhere. Your backyard gives us the most real, the most meaningful, and the most YOU version of your family. Those are the photos you are going to look back on and feel something.

In fact these photos will mean more because they will be more genuine and more true. I truly believe that.

Ready to Book Your Backyard Session?

Summer is filling up fast and I would absolutely love to come hang out in your backyard! Overall I serve families throughout Cleveland and surrounding areas including Westlake, Bay Village, Rocky River, Lakewood, Avon, Avon Lake, Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, and more. To see more backyard sessions on the blog click here: Backyard Sessions. To see more in-home sessions on the blog click here: In-Home Sessions. To get started fill out my contact form here: Contact Form. Let’s make something really special together!