The R Family on St Pete Beach
When the entire family is together for the first time in ages, you book a photo shoot! Half of this group came all the way from L.A, and then the poor baby got super sick. She clearly isn’t feeling well here, but she was a little trooper about it. She went straight back to the room for some rest after this. Her older cousins managed to have a ball though <3
The U Family at Philippe Park
A handful of favorites from our Petite Session with the U Family. I met these guys when I photographed their oldest as a newborn! And now they’re a gorgeous family of five!! One of the best parts of my job is watching beautiful families grow and change over the years. It never gets old <3
The A Family at Philippe Park
Dad gifted Mom a family photo session for Christmas, you guys. How sweet is that? They were the absolute cutest…with a 3 month old and a 3 year old. Here are some of my favorites from our afternoon together at Philippe Park :)
My FIVE Favorite Outdoor Locations for Family Photos!
The Tampa area has sooooo many great backdrops for your family photography session. I’ve been shooting families in this area for close to ten years now, and have shot in too many places to count. But I’ve narrowed down my five FAVORITES for you here, and I’ve included a few examples for each. Hopefully it will inspire you when it’s time to update those family photos!
#5
St Pete Beach (behind the Don Cesar)
You just can’t go wrong with a classic Gulf Beach photo shoot. I mean, we live where people vacation! But the Don Cesar is also pretty iconic and I like having the option to shoot in both directions. We can get those classic beach shots, with the sunset behind you in all it’s glory, but also some with the “Pink Palace” as a backdrop (which changes the lighting and feel of your photograph altogether). All of our Gulf Beaches are lovely, but this one is my favorite for family photos. Full disclosure though, parking is a nightmare unless you pay the $22 parking fee at the Don.
#4
Downtown St Pete
Downtown St Pete is cool because you get the downtown/urban vibe, but it’s VERY Florida. There are boats and marinas everywhere, old trees, street murals…the possibilities are endless. Parking is pretty reliable too, unless there is an event or market planned, so I always check ahead for sessions here. Vinnoy Park and Straub Park are my go-to meet up spots!
#3
Philippe Park in Safety Harbor
So many pros to this location and very few cons. It’s beautiful in a romantic, boho sort of way. Lot’s of old mossy oak trees, a stone staircase, and an open field area. It’s also well shaded, so it’s a great spot if we need to shoot earlier in the day due to baby’s schedule. In the Fall season it can get a little overcrowded with photographers, but that’s just a testament to it’s beauty I think :)
#2
Fort Desoto Park in St Pete
I LOVE this spot because it’s not your traditional “beach.” There are concrete slabs along the shoreline that we can climb and incorporate into the frame, which helps with a more candid, carefree look. We had our own family photos done here a few years ago and they’re still some of my favorites! There is a bit of a walk to access this spot (maybe a quarter of a mile?), but it’s flat and easy. Park entry it about $4 per car I believe.
#1
Curtis Hixon Park in Downtown Tampa
This is my number one favorite place to photograph. The parking is easy, there are lots of neutrals with all of the concrete buildings around (it’s a very urban vibe), and Kiley Gardens and the Riverwalk are right there as well. At dusk, the city lights pop on which is really pretty if we time it just right. The only downside is that there are events in this park quite often, so I always try to book around that. Most of the spots I prefer to use are not affected by events, but the crowds in the general area can be annoying.
And there you have it, friends. My top five favorite spots for family photos in and around Tampa, FL. I hope it helps! I love photographing families around town, so if you want to get on the calendar for a session at one of these places, hit me up!
The H Family at Philippe Park - Tampa Family Photography
I love this family oh so much, and they get cuter every single year it seems! You know how some people are just effortlessly cool and put together? Yeah..I present to you, the H Family <3 <3 Picture Perfect!
Christmas Pajama Photos in the Studio with the G Family!
Having a studio this year meant I could offer these cute Christmas themed sessions! Nothing over the top as I like a clean, minimalist look, but with just a wreath and some throw pillows…and some ADORABLE Christmas jammies…we made some magic. I love how these came out!
An Extended Family Session in Tampa, FL
Fun Fact: I photograph a LOT of extended families! Usually over summer break or during the holidays, when everyone tends to be together at one time. I love these sessions so much! Everyone is typically in a great mood and personalities are more forthcoming because clients feel comfortable surrounded by the people who know them best. I always get a variety of shots and we ALWAYS have a good time. We photograph everyone together of course, but then we break it down and focus on smaller groupings and intimate portraits. This way, everyone walks away with some special memories.
Sometimes these sessions are gifts for loved ones, and sometimes it’s everyone going in together just because they want updated family photos Either way, each adult can download the high resolution digital files from the session and print them for their walls at home. They make for an AMAZING collage wall with all the different groups of people! There’s not a MiMi on earth who doesn’t want a beautiful collage wall with photographs of her family…
This beautiful family gets together every two years for Thanksgiving, and they always commemorate it with a family session. We shoot right in the backyard so it’s super easy. This year I got to see all of the framed photos from years past, and it was incredibly special for me. Seeing my work in a client’s living room just reiterates that my job is important. There’s great value in a photograph; sentimental value. I sure do love what I do :)
The B Family In Downtown St Pete
I adore this family. I’ve been photographing them every year since the twins were in mama’s belly, and I love love love watching them grow. One of the best parts of the job if you ask me!! <3
The G Family 2022 - St Pete Beach
I do photos on the beach for this family every year, and I love it so much. We’ve been working together since big brother was a newborn (though that wasn’t at the beach)! This was technically a mini session, but I couldn’t cull it down to 10-15 images, so I decided to share some here.
Christmas Photos with the S Family - Tampa Photography Studio
I’m pretty sure there is nothing more fun than having your bestie come to the studio for Christmas Pajama content! I mean, how cute are they??
We played around with the setup a bit, and I think it’s officially good to go for our Christmas Photo Event on 11/12! There are limited spots available. Click below to book yours now!
