I’ll be the first to admit that when a client requests downtown Cleveland for their photo session location, I immediately feel a sense of excitement and anxiety. Excitement because I always come home elated with the photos that I am able to capture in Cleveland. Anxious because regardless of how many times I’ve driven there, it still overwhelms me. Although I’ve lived in Northeast Ohio for over two decades, the small town girl in me still freaks out a bit when it comes to driving into and meeting people in the city. What route will I take? Will I run into traffic? Are there any major events happening? Will I be able to find parking? Do I need to bring an assistant, so I’m using the buddy system at all times? While heading to the city is daunting for this extroverted introvert who deals with social anxiety, it is ALWAYS worth it to overcome those anxious feelings because Cleveland never disappoints…for photography anyway.

Hailey’s senior photo session in downtown Cleveland was no exception. My goal for every client is for them to walk into their session comfortable and confident. Prior to her session date, Hailey filled out a questionnaire. Having my senior clients complete a questionnaire allows me to get to know them a bit and plan a custom session to highlight their unique style and interests. I spoke with Hailey’s mom about location details and wardrobe choices and what to expect leading up to the session, on the day of the session, as well as after the session. In addition to an extensive client guide that prepares a senior for their session, they receive helpful emails leading up to their session, so they know what to expect and how to best prepare. Hailey chose to have professional hair and makeup done for her session (an amenity that is included with all of my modern senior sessions). My hair and makeup artist and I communicate with each other as well as with my clients, so we are all on the same page and can coordinate the timing for your session day as well as ensure that you get the look that you’ve envisioned for your photos.

On the day of Hailey’s session, we managed to capture fantastic photos at three unique locations in downtown Cleveland that delivered some gorgeous backdrops within a short walking and driving distance. This required advanced planning and calling locations to get permission to photograph in their facilities. First up was the Cleveland Public Library main campus. As if the Renaissance-style Italian marble entryway isn’t jaw-dropping enough, we planned Hailey’s session around the time when The Archive, an immersive floral art installation by Rebecca Louise Law, was on display in all its glory. Being surrounded by over 500,000 dried flowers that were meticulously strung and installed was truly breathtaking. I called the library in advance to get special permission and secure a time slot when we were welcome to take photos in the area. A minimum donation of $50 is expected and courteous when photographing in this spectacular space. While the lighting in The Archive was not ideal for portraits, the display offered ornate surroundings that were incredible to experience in person. Flash photography is prohibited in this area, but I was granted special permission to use on camera flash for this portion of the photo session. This proved quite beneficial and allowed us to achieve beautiful photos while keeping the space open for others to freely take in the views. Hailey’s selection of a tiered ivory lace dress, paired with gold wedge sandals and gold jewelry, proved to be the perfect ensemble that worked harmoniously with the delicate floral surroundings.

Next up was The Arcade. If you’ve never been there, the name is deceiving. Hailey admitted that she envisioned a location filled with neon lights and arcade games and thought it was odd that she was wearing a light blue floral dress followed by a strapless lace dress for photos at this venue. We had a good laugh when she saw The Arcade in person and quickly observed that neon lights and arcade games are non-existent there. Instead, as you enter this magnificent marvel, your eyes are drawn to beautiful, quality, golden architecture and historical design. The Arcade originally served as the first indoor shopping center in America in 1890 and remains open to the public to enjoy today.

Advanced notice and permission is recommended when photographing at The Arcade. It ofttimes serves as a wedding venue and location of choice for other special events and is home to the Hyatt Regency Hotel and other retail shops and restaurants. Thankfully there were no events going on at this location on the day of Hailey’s session, so I was able to get permission to photograph there with the expectation that we would be respectful of others who may be enjoying The Arcade at the time that we were taking photos. We were pleasantly surprised to have the entire space practically to ourselves.

The natural filtered light that pours in from above, compliments of the glass roof over the entire Arcade, lends to fantastic photos. Hailey opted for two dresses here. The first was a puff-sleeved light blue, floral, tiered maxi dress followed by a strapless pale blue lace midi dress. She paired her dresses with gold accessories and strappy, neutral colored heels. The pop-up changing pod that I bring to every photo session allowed for quick and easy outfit changes, so we could maximize our time and focus on capturing gorgeous images.

I love the variety of poses and looks you can achieve at The Arcade. One end of has a stairway with rows of circular lights that line the kick plates and give off a more “flashy,” glamorous vibe, while the other end has mosaic tile stone stairs without lights that offer a more subtle backdrop. We took full advantage of the flights of stairs at both ends of The Arcade. To truly capture Hailey’s stunning blue-green eyes and porcelain skin, I had her lean back on the stairs, maximizing use of the natural light pouring in.

Our final stop was the Long Live Rock sign at the front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Hailey has a passion for music. She plays the electric guitar and sings. When Hailey filled out her questionnaire, she requested that we incorporate her electric guitar into some of her photos. What better location than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to make this request a reality? We planned to visit this location once the Rock Hall was closed for the day to limit the number of people and distractions in the background, and the timing was impeccable. We managed to get wide angle shots, closeups, and a variety of angles with minimal disruptions. The sun was still intense at that time, so we used our Profoto flash to “overpower” the sun and give Hailey a kiss of light while producing vibrant photos.

Hailey chose black leather pants, a black top, black heeled boots, and a light colored, tailored jacket as fitting attire to feature her electric guitar and a rockin’ backdrop. She switched from gold jewelry to silver jewelry for her third look. Hailey’s light colored jacket and the red “Long Live Rock” sign provided colorful contrast to her black clothing and guitar.

Variety is the spice of life. Hailey’s session went from florals to historical architecture to rock in less than two hours. I guided Hailey with posing direction throughout her entire session to put her at ease. We managed to capture photos and provide an experience that both she and her parents were over the moon about. When I shared sneak peeks from Hailey’s session, she said, “I love everything I’ve seen and loved getting to meet you and work with you!” When Hailey’s mom shared the photos with family, they said, “These are all so beautiful! I can’t pick. It’s too hard.” That’s a good problem. Hailey and her parents were truly a dream to work with. It was a delight to serve them and deliver a memorable experience.

My services don’t stop at the end of your photo session. I am a firm believer in not allowing photos to collect digital dust. Some of my favorite memories involve sitting around a photo album with family and hearing stories of times gone by. That is why I offer a variety of professional portrait collections. Hailey’s parents chose a portrait collection that included a digital gallery as well as a modern metal framed print and an acrylic and leather covered signature 10×10 photo album. Wall art and photo albums are an excellent way to take your photos from digital form to tangible, heirloom quality products that will be enjoyed and cherished for years to come.

If you’re looking to book a custom session that showcases your unique style and interests, you can read about and select your session type and date here or email me at katie@katrinawinterphotography.com for further questions and details. I look forward to serving you and providing you with an amazing experience of your own.

XO, Katie