The Cleveland Cultural Gardens might just be one of the most stunning and underrated senior session locations in the city. After this session with Hadley I am fully convinced of that! As a senior photographer Cleveland Ohio has so many beautiful spots to offer but this one… it really is something special. Hadley was an absolute dream to work with and I am so excited to finally share this one!

by Alison Nicole Photography | Cleveland Lifestyle Photographer

Senior Photographer Cleveland Ohio – Why I Love This Location

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens sit in the parkland between University Circle and I-90 along the Lake Erie shoreline, along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and East Boulevard. There are 38 developed gardens, each designed and cultivated by a distinct cultural or nationality group. So much variety and beauty packed into one location! We explored the Italian, Greek, Lithuanian, German, Hungarian, and Croatian Cultural Gardens as well as the Centennial Peace Plaza. Every single garden has its own feel, its own architecture, its own details. It never felt like we were in the same spot twice! If you are a Cleveland senior looking for something a little different from the typical park session, add this place to your list immediately.

Think About What Matters to You

One of the first things I talk about with seniors when planning their session is location. What matters to you? Is there a place that has real meaning? Does it reflect your personality? Those are the sessions that feel the most authentic and the most YOU. I also always recommend thinking about timing. Doing senior portraits the summer before senior year means one less thing on your plate when things get really busy and stressful. Sessions can be done year round though and I am happy to work with whatever timeline makes sense for you!

Meet Hadley

Hadley is funny, kind, caring, creative, and balanced – she described herself that way and honestly it could not be more accurate. The kind of person who makes everyone around her laugh without even trying! Nursing is where she is headed and it just fits her perfectly. Her warm, easy energy made the whole two hours feel effortless. Her session turned out exactly the way she wanted – natural, relaxed, and fun!

A Mom Moment

We kicked things off with a few sweet photos of Hadley and her mom together – something I always love to do when a parent is along for the session. Senior year is just as big a deal for the parents as it is for the senior and those images together are always so treasured! I will share one of my favorites from their time together in front of the lens at the end of this post.

Two Outfits, So Many Looks

Hadley’s first outfit was a gorgeous pink dress and I am a sucker for pink and green together – the way it popped against all those lush green trees was everything. And yes it was absolutely a twirling dress, so we made the most of that! Her second outfit was a white flowy top with jeans – casual, cute, and totally her everyday self. I always encourage seniors to bring something more dressed up AND something that feels like a regular Tuesday. Both are worth documenting!

Getting Creative as a Senior Photographer – Cleveland Ohio Style

With two hours together there is plenty of time to play and get creative! I try to bring a little of that into every senior session regardless of length. I got a real variety throughout – wide shots, close ups, sitting, standing, walking, and of course twirling. Shooting through flowers and trees added some beautiful layers and depth to the images too.

I brought out my Lensbaby lenses for some dreamy, creative portraits and we did double exposures too – layered, one-of-a-kind images that nobody else will have. At the end of the session I grabbed a few shots on my film camera, the Olympus Pen-FV. It is a half frame camera which means it splits each 35mm frame into two images. You will notice a dark line down the middle of some of the film images – that is actually the film itself, not an editing choice. It just adds to the charm! I am sharing mostly color images from this session because the color here was just so good. I threw a few black and white images in too though. The pink dress alone… as I’m sure you see!

Senior Photographer Cleveland Ohio – Serving the West Side and Beyond

I would love to capture you during this exciting time in your life! If you are interested in more information about senior sessions click here: Cleveland Senior Sessions. Want to see other blog posts about senior sessions? Click here: Senior Session Blog Posts. Lastly, to get my Senior Session Guide with all the information, fill out my contact form here: Contact Form. I am currently serving areas in and around Cleveland including Lakewood, Rocky River, Bay Village, Avon Lake, Westlake, Avon, Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, and more!

Thank You!

Hadley, you were such a dream to photograph – seriously one of the easiest and most fun sessions. Your personality just shines and I cannot wait to see all the incredible things you do in nursing school and beyond. Thank you for letting me document this time for you and your family!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read through and check out the images from this senior session! Please know that I also offer family, newborn, branding, and couples photography sessions. Check out these links: Cleveland Family Photography, Cleveland Newborn Photographer, Cleveland Branding and Headshot Photographer, Cleveland Couples Photography. I would love to work with you!