It’s all about the location and unless your wedding is at an all inclusive venue, you will most likely ask where to schedule your wedding photography session.  We love collaborating with our couples to help them choose a locale which is perfect for them and depending on the locations of your ceremony and reception this is usually a pretty easy task.
Our approach to weddings is mostly photojournalistic but  incorporating a fun creative session for the bride and groom and their bridal party can be blast.  It’s important to choose a setting that will suit your style.  Are you interested in an urban landscape, maybe a nature setting, or how about both?  Whatever your taste is,  we can definitely work with it and come up with the perfect location or two.  Oh…….and this is an important point:  Have an indoor backup location incase of inclement weather.
I’ve compiled a list of locations through various sources on the web, indoor and outdoor with phone numbers and some notes for your convenience.

The Allen Memorial Art Museum

Location: Oberlin College, 87 N. Main St., Oberlin, OH 44074-1161
Phone: (440) 775-8670
Contact: Leslie Miller (Assistant to the Director)
Reservations: Needed at least one week in advance.
Cost: None
Receptions: Not allowed
Notes: Photos may be taken only outdoors on stairway.

The Arcade

Location : 401 Euclid Ave Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 696-1408
Website: www.theclevelandarcade.com

Brooker Insurance Agency

Location: 10749 Pearl Rd. Strongsville, Ohio 44136
Phone: (440) 238-5454
Contact: Brooker Insurance Agency
Reservations: Reservations and a signed contract are necessary.
Cost: $75 an hour
Notes: Winding staircase, fountain and deck are popular.

The Chagrin Falls Triangle Park

Location: Main Street, Chagrin Falls
Phone: (440) 247-5050
Contact: Mayor: 21 W. Washington St., Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022
Reservations: Needed at least one month in advance
Cost: None
Receptions: Not allowed
Notes: Must write a letter or call the mayor for permission to take photos. Some days are restricted.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo/Rainforest

Location: 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, Ohio 44109
Phone: (216) 661-6500, ext. 3389
Contact: Group Sales Dept
Reservations: Needed at least two weeks in advance
Cost: $60 an hour for a photo in front of the waterfall.
Notes: Although wedding parties have unlimited time to take pictures in the zoo, photos in The RainForest are restricted to one hour and may only be taken in front of waterfall at the entrance.

Cleveland Museum of Art

Location: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Phone: (216) 707-2197
Reservations: Not available
Cost: Free.
Notes: Wedding photos can only be taken outside the museum. Due to the fact that this is a public area, reservations are not available. The Cleveland Museum of Art suggests having a backup plan in the event of rain, as the wedding party will not be allowed to take photos anywhere inside the museum.

The Crawford Auto and Aviation Museum

Location: 10825 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106
Phone: (216) 721-5722, ext. 320
Contact: Allison Raymond
Reservations: Needed at least one week in advance.
Cost: Museum admission charged for each person admitted.
Notes: Outdoor garden pictures may be taken in Spring and Summer. Museum admission charged for outdoor use as well.

Crocker Park

Location: 189 Crocker Park Blvd, Westlake, OH‎
Phone: (440) 871-6880‎
Reservations: Must receive written permission from Management Office for photography
Cost: none
Website: www.crockerpark.com

Cuyahoga National Recreations Area

Location: 15610 Vaughn Road, Brecksville, Ohio 44141
Phone: (440) 526-5256
Reservations: Needed at least two weeks in advance.
Cost: $50 for a half hour
Receptions: Not allowed
Notes: Permit required to take photos. None given in October. Shoots permitted from 8 a.m. to dusk, Monday-Friday; 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays.
Website: www.cnpna.org

Hale Farm and Village

Location: 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath, OH 44210
Phone: (800) 589-9703, ext. 225
Contact: Lynn Huber
Reservations: Needed at least one month in advance.
Cost: Admission fee charged.

Halle Building

Location: 1228 Euclid Ave., Suite 151, Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 696-7701
Fax: (216) 696-7715
Contact: Janice DeBenedictis
Reservations: Needed at least a month in advance. Must send or fax a letter so security and maintenance are notified of your plans. Letter should include bride’s and groom’s names, photographer’s name, number of people, approximate arrival time and length of stay.
Cost: $50

Holdem Arboretum

Location: 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, Ohio 44094
Phone: (440) 946-4400
Contact: Matt Tarajcak
Reservations: Needed two months in advance.
Cost: Fee charged.
Receptions: Not allowed.

Inventure Place

Location: 221 S. Broadway, Akron, OH 44308-1505
Phone: (330) 849-6872
Contact: David Pauers (Special Events)
Reservations: Not necessary.
Cost: None
Notes: Photos may be taken outdoors in garden area. Call ahead for museum’s hours of operation.

Progressive Field

Location: Corner of Ontario and East Ninth streets, Downtown Cleveland
Phone: (216) 420-4200
Reservations: None required to take pictures, however, it is recommended to call a month in advance to check if an event is scheduled for the same date.
Cost: None
Notes: Locations suggested for photos are by Bob Feller’s statue at Gate C on Ninth St. or on Plaza at Gate A between The Q and Progressive Field. Pictures are not allowed on the field.

Mapleside Farms

Location: 262 Pearl Rd. Brunswick Ohio 44212
Phone: (330) 225-5576
Contact: Ann Jacobs
Reservations: Needed six to eight months in advance.
Cost: $100
Notes: Photos may be taken only if no other wedding party is on site.

Mentor Marsh Nature Center

Location: 5185 Corduroy Road, Mentor, OH 44060
Phone: (440) 257-0777
Contact: Mentor Marsh Nature Center
Reservations: Call ahead one month in advance.
Cost: None
Receptions: Not allowed
Notes: Photos may be taken only during hours of operation or by reservation. The Nature Center is open Saturdays and Sundays, April through October, from 12 to 5 p.m. No reservations are required to take photos in the outdoors facility, open to the public dawn to dusk year-round.

The NASA Glenn Visitor Center

Location: 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44134
Phone: (216) 433-3156
Contact: Brenda Morgan
Reservations: Needed at least six to eight weeks in advance.
Cost: None
Receptions: Not allowed
Notes: Photos may be taken only during regular hours of operation.

The Nature Center and Shaker Lakes

Location: 2600 S. Park Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44120
Phone: (216) 321-5935
Reservations: Recommended three months in advance.
Cost: $25
Notes: Formerly known as Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center.

Nautica Queen

Location: 1153 Main Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone: (216) 696-5511 or (216) 696-8888
Contact: Group Sales Department
Reservations: Recommended at least one year in advance.
Cost: None
Notes: Pictures may be taken only if site is booked for the reception

North Coast Harbor – Port Authority

(Behind Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and Great Lakes Science Center)
Location: 101 Erieside Ave., Cleveland Ohio 44114-1095
Phone: (216) 241-8004, ext. 29
Contact: Elizabeth Bohinc
Reservations: Call one month in advance to make sure no special events are booked on the same date.
Cost: None
Receptions: Not allowed

Playhouse Square Foundation-Palace Theater

Location: 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 771-4444
Contact: Carol Lee Vella
Reservations: Accepted only one month prior to date requested.
Cost: Call for availability and price

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Location: 2121 George Halas Drive N.W., Canton, OH 44708
Phone: (330) 456-8207, ext. 154
Contact: Tricia Dever
Reservations: Required at least one month in advance.
Cost: Regular admission charged for each person admitted. Group rates may apply for 12 or more people.
Notes: There is no fee nor are reservations required to take photos outside the building.

Public Square

Location: Downtown Cleveland
Phone: (216) 664-2484
Contact: Department of Parks, Recreation and Properties – Special Events
Reservations: Needed one month in advance.
Cost: Permit fee is $10.
Notes: Permit required to take photos on Public Square.

Rockefeller Park Greenhouse and Botanical Garden

Location: 750 E. 88th St., Cleveland, OH 44108 (City of Cleveland Greenhouse)
Phone: (216) 664-3103 (Rockefeller Park)
Contact: Rajanta Shrestha
Reservations: Recommended at least one month in advance.
Cost: Call for current pricing.
Ceremonies: Capacity is 50 for greenhouse, 75 for outdoors. Receptions not allowed.
Notes: Entrance to Greenhouse is currently under construction. Permit required to take photos in Rockefeller Park. Wedding ceremonies require a permit. No ceremonies allowed in April or December.

Rocky River Park

Location: 20200 Beach Cliff Blvd.
Cost: None
Notes: Busy Busy Busy with bridal parties in the sumer time months.  But offers up some fantastic photo opportunities!

Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens

Location: 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, OH 44303
Phone: (330) 836-5533
Contact: Administration Office
Reservations: Needed two weeks to six months in advance.
Cost: $400 for 2-15 people, additional guests are $10 each. Does not include $40 membership fee.
Notes: Photos may be taken outside only.

U.S.S. Cod Submarine

Location: Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 931-9392
Contact: Paul Farace
Reservations: Required at least two weeks in advance.
Cost: Donation suggested.
Notes: Pictures may be taken below deck and topside only during regular hours of operation, May through September.

Coming Soon!  ”Favorite Wedding Photography Location” Series

Contact us to discuss your wedding photography!

We are often asked “what is an engagement session?”  Considering the popularity of these sessions, it still surprises us when we hear this question, and I still get tripped up a bit when I start to answer.  The easiest way to answer this question is to just say “it’s the most fun time you’ll ever have in front of the camera!”…….but in reality the answer is so much more. So I’d love to lay out a few of our thoughts about engagement sessions and why they are important……..Oh!..and why they can be so much fun!

Engagement sessions have been around for a very long time and were often  formal studio portrait sessions. The couple likely chose one or two photos to be retouched for framing and as gifts for the parents.  The photo was also perfect for submitting to the local newspaper for your announcement to the world!  While the formal portrait sessions can yield beautiful results and should still be considered, the engagement session has really morphed into a lifestyle shoot that should capture the couples love for one another and the essence of their relationship.  This is a great time in a couples life, and documenting it in a way to show the couples love and excitement for each other can be a beautiful message to family and friends.  The photographs can also relay a powerful message and celebration of your love and union to future generations….yes, I mean your children! How sweet would it be for them to see their parents as a young and in love couple excited about each other.  If you ask me……this is a very healthy message for couples to convey to their children.

So…..now you know our goal as your photographer is to capture your love and the subtleties of your relationship in pictures……hmmmmm….How do we do that?  This is the fun part!

First up…..we love getting to know our couples and their style.  Where did he propose?  How did he propose?  Would you like to revisit that location for your engagement shoot or would you like to do something completely different and unique?  In the early stages of planning for your engagement shoot we love to learn about you as a couple and your style.  Are you nature lovers that love biking or walking through your local park? or do you love the architecture and the vast opportunities downtown can provide?  Maybe there’s a charming small town you just love to visit……..these questions can really help us determine a great location for your engagement session.

Once we collaborate with our couples to decide on a location,  we start thinking of the style…….which the location already gives us a good idea…….but this is a good time to start thinking about a theme for your shoot.  We encourage our couples to get creative and have fun planning for their shoot.  This article is intended to answer the what and the why for an engagement session so I’m not going to get into details here….check back soon for engagement session planning tips!

Ok…..so now we’ve planned for your stylized engagement session and the day has come…..now what?

The session itself is relaxed and fun and takes roughly 2 hours.  We love creating with our couples which results in gorgeous images that you will love to share with family and friends. We also love working with our couples during these sessions because it is a great introduction to our photography process which you’ll eventually witness on your wedding day.  Becoming accustomed to our style of photography and our creative process before your wedding can be a major benefit to you.  Each photographer has their own style when it comes to working with people……..ours is very relaxed and during our creatives sessions we more or less prompt rather than pose which is often less intimidating and intrusive….and we do our best to relax you on your wedding day…..ultimately though,  the pressure of your wedding day can be un-nerving…….knowing your photographer and enjoying their company on your wedding day can and does help yield extraordinary results.

Wow!  Our engagement session was a blast and we’ve got a ton of great photographs to choose from…..Now what?

This is another question we get….usually before a couple decides they want an engagement session, they often wonder what on earth would they do with a bunch of engagement photos……….well,  here are a few suggestions:

1. Announcements: We can design you a fun and cute postcard to announce your awesome news to friends and family.  Save the date cards are also a great option to showcase a couple of images from your engagement session!
2. On your wedding day: Some of our couples love to display their engagement photography on the day of their wedding.  From a custom designed guest sign-in book to arranging beautiful framed prints around the reception hall.  This is a great way for you to showcase your engagement images on your wedding day!
3. Wall Art: We pride ourselves on offering the finest prints available.  Beautifully printed images on fine art papers or on a canvas can be distinct wall art.  Canvas gallery wraps are also a great way to display a number of your images in a storyboard fashion.  This is the ultimate sofa sized way of showing off your pictures!
4. Books: This is our favorite way to showcase our photography….in custom designed heirloom quality books meant to be shared and passed down for generations to come.  Perfect compliment to your storybook wedding album as well! You’ll just love these books!

These are just a few of our favorite ways to show off your pictures!  We’d love to hear from you and can’t wait to start planning for your wickedly fun engagement session

Contact Us Today!