It’s that time of year when high school seniors all over the Cincinnati tri-state area begin scouring social media for the best Cincinnati senior picture locations  in town.  As a professional portrait photographer that specializes in high school and college seniors, I’ve got the inside scoop on all of the best places – both popular and some of the more “secret” locations too.  So read on for my top 4, plus a bonus entry!  Here are my top / best Cincinnati Locations for Senior Pictures – and epic senior portraits ideas.

#4 – Best Cincinnati Senior Picture Locations – Cincinnati Nature Center

Honestly I don’t know why this location is at number four, because the place is just awesome and it has everything.  There’s trees, fields of wildflowers, water, boardwalks, miles of hiking trails, a rustic cabin, stone steps, lots of bridges, creeks, and not one, but TWO super cool stone lodges.  If you have never been to the CNC, it’s time to check it out.  Yearly memberships are really affordable, especially if you live on the east side of town and have the opportunity to visit frequently.  Otherwise, there’s a small daily fee per person to enjoy all the Nature Center has to offer.  Check out some of my Cincinnati Nature Center Senior Portraits!

 

#3 – Best Cincinnati Senior Picture Locations – Ault, Alms, and Eden Parks

I know there’s three different parks here, and they all offer something a little different from one another, but I kind of think of them as a group since they are located so close together.  Eden has the beautiful river overlook and the Twin Lakes area with the Central Park-esque bridge between them.  Ault Park is THE place in spring for the cherry blossom extravaganza, and Alms is the quieter combination of them both – with a few cherry trees, great architecture with classical arches, and a river view all it’s own.  To be honest, they are so close together, you could even make a day of it and visit all three parks for one extensive shoot!  Here’s a few of my favorite images from the group.

 

#2 – Best Cincinnati Senior Picture Locations – Washington Park / OTR

If you want an urban feel with classic Cincinnati architecture, brick alleys, iconic trolley tracks, and some scenic park greenery and flowers, head to OTR’s Washington Park.  Since it’s renovation in 2012, it’s super convenient to get there and park in the garage under the park.  Then you are free to explore all of the areas and streets around the park which includes Music Hall, Memorial Hall, the School for the Performing Arts, and tons of restaurants and cafes.

 

#1 – Best Cincinnati Senior Picture Locations – Smale Riverfront Park / The Roebling Suspension Bridge

You can’t get much more iconic in Cincinnati than the Suspension Bridge, so head on down to the riverfront and park in one of the many lots or garages between the stadiums.  (I like to park under Moerlein Lager House and just walk across the street to the park for “under-the-bridge” pictures, or head up the stairs to the bridge for pictures on the bridge.  One thing to note about this area is that you DEFINITELY want your photographer to triple check event schedules for downtown because the last thing you want is to show up for your portrait session just as a Bengal’s or Red’s game is about to start (ask me how I know, lol.)

 

You may have realized that all 4 of the locations above are pretty well-known and classic.  You’ll see lots of seniors having portrait sessions in these locations during the prime portrait season (April-November, although I’ve done some spectacular sessions in February and December too!).  But if you’re looking for something more off the beaten path, unique, and a place you might have all to yourself, I have a ton of those places in my repertoire too.  Of course, I’m not going to give those away here, but I can tell you there are some  hidden parks around town that are quaint and beautiful.  There’s some cool urban downtown streets and places with rooftop access for more edgy looks, and there’s even some real graffiti walls (not art murals) that few people know about.  I’ve even been known to explore some abandoned sites a time or two.  Don’t even get me started on the possibilities of a Destination Portrait Session.  Ask me about the guy who wanted his senior portraits to be on a boat, on a lake, and he pictured himself in dress pants, and a shirt and tie doing a flip off a cliff into the lake!  I got the shots and it was epic! 

The bottom line is: You deserve senior portraits that completely speak to who YOU ARE.  They should be authentic and completely your own style.  Let’s talk about how I make that happen, how everything from location, props, wardrobe, hair and makeup, lighting, and even adding pets, family members, BFFs, and vehicles (airplanes!!) can create epic, one of a kind images to help you capture and celebrate this wonderful milestone in your life! Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!

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Check out another great article: How to Plan Gallery Walls to Coordinate with Your Home’s Interior

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