Because some places...

...just suck. Or you don't vibe with them. Or the sun never hits the right angle. Or the weather is always ridiculous. Or a million other reasons that I'm using as an excuse to trash-talk some iconic Cleveland locations.


I guess what I'm trying to say is less that these are factually "the worst" and more that they're not my ideal locations for the reasons below. I've done many shoots at each one and some of those photos are my favorites to this day. But with years of experience at these locations, I think I can safely say that they're not my first pick. Here's why...


Disclaimer: The title is clickbaity. Art is subjective. Opinions are like blogs. Everyone has one.


Second Disclaimer: I didn't use pictures of my clients in this article because that would be mean and they already had to deal with these places once. I can't bear putting them through it again.

#1. Playhouse Square's Chandelier

Alright, alright, so this is an iconic Cleveland location and I love going here for the shows but I have my beef with it as a shoot location. For one thing, there is a ton of ongoing construction that clutters up the scene. Second, it's a bit of a one-trick pony. The chandelier is beautiful and worth seeing but there's only so much to work with. And last, it's heavily trafficked. Between the cars and people, you'll spend more time waiting for things to pass than you will shooting.


That said, I have seen some incredible portraits with off-camera flash under the chandelier at night and I'm wildly jealous. However, in my opinion, the effort is not worth the payoff when there are plenty of other stunning locations with significantly more flattering angles.

#2. Downtown Chagrin Falls

"Bring the pitchforks and torches! Burn the non-believer!"


Ok, hear me out. I LOVE Chagrin Falls and it is gorgeous year-round. It's rightfully a popular place for portraits! But if I had to pick a location, would I go there? Ehhhh....here's why.


First of all, it's busy during ideal portrait times. There are always people walking around, convertibles driving through slowly, and fleets of motorcycles parked outside of Jenni's. It's a dynamic location but you'll be editing out background elements for weeks.


And seecond, the layout isn't all that conducive to shooting the highlight features. It's a small area and with the traffic, it can feel even smaller. Harsh midday light limits your angles while the valley at the bottom of the falls blocks the sun long before sunet.


But of course, the foilage is top notch and you can end the shoot with easy ice cream, coffee, and cocktail access. So it's not all that bad.

#3. Chagrin River Park

Controversial. Especially considering I have shot here. A lot. But if we're looking for a hot take, this is one.


First of all, this park is actually really nice. It has a stellar bridge, nice open fields, lots of cute nooks, and a river. It's everything a portrait location would need, right? Right.


However, the lighting is always rough on the bridge where everyone loves to shoot at golden hour. A person is usually lit off the side by the setting sun and the bridge can make some harsh shadows. It's brilliant on a cloudy day but on a sunny one, less so. Not to mention, the bridge is a major route for most people walking and you're likely to either cause a traffic jam or deal with a lot of post-processing.


That being said, there are many other locations in the park that are very photogenic so I don't want to slander the place too bad.

#4. Little Italy

Another hot take? Let's do it.


I have fond memories of going to Presti's Bakery for my entire childhood and chowing down on giant chocolate chip cookies or begging my mom for a slice of pepperoni pizza. My high school friends worked at Corbo's. I still go there for date night with my wife. It's a great place!


I have significantly less fond memories of shooting here. Why? Well, I'm starting to see a trend on this list but it's extremely busy and congested. Normally an area like this would be a goldmine for lifestyle photography shoots thanks to the shops and bakeries! While they are super cute, the smaller spaces and heavy foot traffic make for a pretty difficult location to have much freedom. Your shots are limited by visual clutter, people, and space.


Does that mean it's impossible? Absolutely not. Some of my favorite portraits were taken here and the limitations breed creativity. But if I had to choose a place myself...it might not be my first pick.

#5. Lakewood Park / Solstice Steps

I've trash-talked the East Side enough but I've got beef with the West Side too, and few locations grind my gears more than Lakewood Park. In particular, the Solstice Steps.


On paper, the Solstice Steps are a photographer's dream. Large stone structures, plenty of leading lines and symmetry, a lake-side overlook and the city skyline in the background. But alas, the Sun for which these steps are named had other plans.


Long story short, in the evening, the sun reflects off the lake like a harsh mistress. Without flash, you're asking for poorly exposed photos. With flash, you're facing a battle with your settings to compensate for the sun's backlighting that isn't impossible but isn't ideal either. The easiest solution would be to change your angle but at that point, you lose the whole point of the steps and you're left with a baseball field or some houses as a backdrop. It's just not ideal.


This isn't even addressing the strong wind coming off the lake or the multitude of other people & photographers hanging out on nice evenings.


All of that being said...one of my all-time favorite wedding photos was taken here so what do I know. Even I don't listen to my own advice!

In Conclusion...

Every location has its challenges and you shouldn't really listen to any one specific person's opinions, but thank you for reading mine <3