The Best Outdoor Summer Locations in Northeast Ohio for Family Photos
If you’ve been thinking about getting photos done this summer, you should! Summer is one of the most magical times of the year to document your family. The kids are home. Bedtimes are flexible. The sun sets late. And Northeast Ohio is full of incredible locations that go way beyond the usual field of tall grass.
Whether you’re dreaming of something classic or want to think a little more outside the box this year, here are some of my favorite ideas (and real session examples!) for your summer photos.
I hope that this list either gives you a fresh, new idea you never thought of OR is the reminder you need that it doesn’t have to all be perfect, it’s always worth it.
1. Classic Fields with Greenery + Wildflowers
Let’s start with the tried and true: parks, grassy fields, and wildflower patches are always a timeless choice. These sessions give you that soft golden glow at sunset and a clean, simple background that never goes out of style. It’s perfect for families who want updated portraits with room for the kids to run, play, and snuggle in between.
Best for: Traditional family portraits, milestone sessions, maternity sessions with a natural vibe
2. Lake Erie Beach Sessions (Even If You’re Not on Vacation)
No plane tickets needed—Lake Erie gives us the perfect beach look right here in Cleveland. These are my most-requested sessions every summer for good reason: barefoot kids, sunset light on the water, and a mix of candid and classic moments that feel like summer.
Best for: Families with young kids who love to explore, maternity sessions with beachy vibes, or anyone who wants that relaxed, coastal feel WITHOUT wasting a vacation day on photos!
Now let’s talk about sessions that feel like home—because sometimes, they literally are.
3. Backyard Magic: Turning the Everyday Into Art
Some of my most memorable summer sessions didn’t happen in a park or at the beach. They happened in driveways, on back decks, in gardens, or around the family pool.
Because what if your photo session was more about documenting the season of life you're in right now?
Here are a few real-life examples of summer sessions that captured everyday magic:
Basketball + Bikes in the Driveway: A session with older kids who shot hoops and laughed in front of the house they are growing up in. Simple. Honest. Real. As a Mom of a 14 year old, I know that sessions in a field of flowers may NOT be as appealing as when you had squishy toddlers. So let’s do something THEY enjoy during your photos.
Pool Days at Home: Two different families invited me to their backyard pools—and the joy on their kids’ faces while splashing around said it all. These sessions are filled with memories of what your children are going to remember about the best days of their childhood. Spending their summer days in the backyard, swimming, eating snacks and spending time with you.
Sprinklers + Swing Sets: Maybe your husband just finished building your kids a brand new playhouse and swing set and spend their summer days running through sprinklers and making lemonade. If that is you, then lets do it! Again, the memories are a little more meaningful when it’s something your children are doing that they truly and enjoy and its meaningful.
Porches + Projects: A family in the middle of restoring their old historic home used their session to capture this chapter of their life. We shot on their porch, in the garden, and with bare feet.
Farms, Goats + Chickens: Maybe you don’t live on a full blown farm (although if you do, please invite me over!) but you have a little hobby farm with goats and chickens. Swing on the tire swings and tend to the animals. Again, such a fun, great option for families who want to be able to remember how their children spent their time in their home growing up. And what great memories for your kids one day when they are all grown up and possibly having their own children to be able to show them about their childhood?
4. Lifestyle Locations Around Town
If you want a mix of documentary and playful, then between Cleveland, Akron, Cuyahoga Falls restored riverfront and even downtown Canal Fulton or Medina have SO MANY options!
Like the neighborhood ice cream shop (i’ve done this multiple times and kids LOVE IT!) your favorite downtown street, or even the top of a parking garage at sunset.
I’ve photographed families:
Walking hand-in-hand around Wade Oval near the Cleveland Art Museum
Exploring downtown Akron
Getting ice cream in Canal Fulton
Watching the sun go down from the rooftop deck with a little picnic
What These Sessions Have in Common…
They aren't about perfection.
They’re about connection.
They’re about the lemonade you make together on the patio in summer.
The basketball hoop they shoot at every night.
The patio where you sit barefoot while the baby toddles around.
The garden you’ve grown, the swing set you built, the porch you drink your coffee on every morning.
These are the places where your real life happens—and your real memories are made.
So whether this summer marks a big milestone or just another sweet, ordinary chapter...it’s worth remembering.
Let’s Make It Happen
Now booking June–August sessions for families, maternity, motherhood, and lifestyle storytelling in Northeast Ohio.
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Email me anytime at lauren@laurengrayson.com with your ideas or questions
Want help planning your session? I’ve got location ideas, styling tools, and prompts ready for you
Let’s document your right now.