If there’s one thing Northeast Ohio has like crazy, it’s parks! This is perfect for all of the outdoorsy photographers around (where my homies at!?), but, honestly, it can get a little overwhelming when the time comes to choose the perfect park for a particular session. Especially when you’ve only just cannonballed off the high dive and into the world of photography, it can be a bit much.

So, let me give you a hand and share four of my absolute favorite parks in Northeast Ohio for photoshoots and what makes them so amazing!

• Petros Park, Canton

This 127-acre park, filled with glowing, golden meadows and a sparkling lake, is one of my all time favs! The spring wildflowers and brilliant fall colors make for a great location no matter the season. This park is all about the wide, open spaces, so if you’re looking to catch a cotton candy sunset, this is your spot!

• Boettler Park, Green and Uniontown

This may be the smallest park of my four favorites, but its personality is anything but small! With a canopy of towering trees that shine with brilliant greens in the spring and summer and  oranges and reds in the fall, this park has more of a woodsy vibe than the others. But it never lets me down when it comes to my signature sunlit fields! The sun sets perfectly over the meadow, giving everything a magical golden glow.

• Quail Hollow, Hartville

This massive park that stretches over 700 acres is easily my favorite spot to go exploring. The endless hidden paths filled with flowers late in the summer have an enchanted forest feel that I rarely find anywhere else. But this park also has a unique twist! The former H.B. Stewart family home on the property is filled, inside and out, with some of the best vintage home photo spots I’ve been able to find!

• Firestone Metro Park – Tuscarawas Meadows, Akron

Talk about the perfect spot for fall portraits! The winding paths, bridges and fields are stunners, but, boy, does this park turn out when the temperatures start to drop. This park is hands down my favorite spot to catch those yellow and orange leaves! But when the leaves are green, the park still kills it, especially when I’m with clients willing to brave the climb up the sledding hill to catch the view!

No matter which park you choose – whether it’s one on my list or one you’ve found on your location scouting adventures – what matters most is that it serves as a beautiful background for your subjects! I can’t wait to see some of the images you take in my favorite spots, and I look forward to hearing from you about your favorite local parks for photos, too!

Elisabeth Anne Photography is a photographer in the North Canton, Akron Cleveland areas specializing in High School Senior Portraiture. To contact Elisabeth click here.