Miami Beach / South Beach
South Pointe Park is a great spot in South Beach. Get the best of both worlds with beautiful greenery and a stunning beach with rocks along the water. Check out this engagement session before sunset and this family session at sunrise. You can also see all the sessions on the blog that were taken there.
Miami Beach / South Beach
A small, yet beautiful and charming botanical gardens in the heart of South Beach. There are different sections such as a Japanese garden, native garden, edible garden and several ponds with turtles and koi. Check out some photo sessions from Miami Beach Botanical Gardens on the blog. There is a $150 fee to photograph here per hour. The garden is closed on Mondays, New Year's Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Miami Beach
If you want a view of the Miami skyline, this is a great spot. To get this modern view of the city, it's best to wake up early and catch the sunrise like we did at this family photo session.
Miami Beach / South Beach
In front of the Bass Museum is the small yet pretty Collins Park. There are some huge Baobab trees, pathways lined with palm trees and the front of the Bass Museum provides a nice urban touch as well. Collins Park is across the street from the beach, so we can start off photographing at the park and then go to the beach afterwards, like we did at this Collins Park couples session. We can also spend the entire session at the park itself, like at this family photo shoot.
Miami Beach
Pine Tree Park is a small park in Miami Beach with a lot of trees providing shade. Photo sessions here can be scheduled in the late morning or early afternoon because of the ample shade so we don’t have to deal with the harsh, mid-day sun. It is also a popular spot for dogs. Here is a family newborn session that was taken at Pine Tree Park.
Miami
Miami / design district
The Miami Design District is a fantastic urban spot to take photos. It has upscale stores, cafes, art galleries, colorful walkways, hammock like swings, and cool spots like the Eye Dome and continuously changing murals. It's such a fun and versatile spot for couples and families alike. I suggest a morning session to avoid crowds. Check out this family photo shoot at the Miami Design District.
Miami / Wynwood
Home to one of the largest open-air street installations in the world, Wynwood boasts colorful graffiti-covered walls and numerous art galleries. The highlight is the Wynwood Walls where you can buy tickets ahead of time. The murals often change. Check out all of the Wynwood photo sessions on the blog.
downtown miami
The Museum Park (now called the Maurice A. Ferré Park) is located next to the Perez Art Museum in downtown Miami and has several paved trails, numerous palm trees, beautiful greenery and a view of the water. Check out this surprise proposal session at Museum Park before sunset. You can also take a look at this family maternity session that took place in the morning near the museum. If you want to incorporate the Perez Museum into the photos, they require the advanced purchase of a $500 + tax location fee (this doesn't apply if you photograph in the adjacent public park.)
Coral Gables
One of my favorite spots in Miami, Matheson is a large park with gorgeous greenery on one end and a small beach on the other. Fall and winter is generally the best time of year for a session at Matheson. See a family session at Matheson on the blog and another here. Check out all of the photo sessions that were taken at Matheson Hammock.
Coral gables
A unique spot in Coral Gables located at 57th Avenue and 8th Street, the Prado Entrance has two beautiful walkways with blooming colorful flowers and elegant archways. See a photo session from the Coral Gables Prado Entrance on the blog and a short video on YouTube. Here are all the photo sessions that were taken at the Prado Entrance.
Coral gables
Fairchild is a beautiful oasis in the heart of Coral Gables. Its large gardens feature an array of tropical plants, trees, flowers and a butterfly conservatory. Any time of day can work for Fairchild due to an ample amount of shade. Fairchild is truly a nature lover’s paradise. Here is a family photo session at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Fairchild requires the purchase of a photography permit.
Palmetto bay
The Deering Estate is a historical preserve by Biscayne Bay, originally home to Charles Deering until 1927. Any time of day can work for Deering, the only area that gets very sunny is by the water, otherwise there is plenty of shade. There is a fee to obtain a photography permit. It’s one of my favorite spots to photograph at! Check out this family and senior photo session at the Deering Estate. The Estate is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Coconut Grove
Regatta Park is a small yet charming spot perfect for families and couples that want a greenery background with a tropical feel in the Grove. This family photo session at Regatta Park took place in the morning.
coconut grove
The Barnacle was built in 1891 on the shore of Biscayne Bay and is the oldest house in its original location in Miami-Dade County. The Barnacle is a wonderful retreat from the hustle and bustle of Miami. A walk into the park passes through a tropical hardwood hammock and leads you into a view of the historic structure and further down a view of the bay. Here is a photo session that was taken at The Barnacle. The Barnacle is open Sunday - Wednesday and closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Key biscayne
Crandon Park is a beautiful beach spot in Key Biscayne with lots of colorful palm trees on the beach. It is also home to Miami’s Old Zoo, no longer functioning but still a thriving park with friendly geese, peacocks and skittish iguanas that will flea at the sight of approaching humans. View all of the photo sessions at Crandon park in Key Biscayne.
key biscayne
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is home to the historic Cape Florida lighthouse, the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County. There are lots of areas to utilize for different backdrops: the lighthouse, beach, tropical greenery, and trails by the water. View all of the photo sessions at Bill Baggs State Park. Check out the hours and cost of admission to Bill Baggs as well as the lighthouse hours if you prefer to meet there. Bill Baggs State Park is open 8am-sundown 365 days a year.
North miami
The Ancient Spanish Monastery was originally constructed in Spain in 1141 AD. It was eventually dismantled and brought to the United States in the 20th century. It makes for a stunning backdrop for photographs. There is a portrait fee to photograph at the Monastery. Here is a family photo session at the Ancient Spanish Monastery.
north miami
Enchanted Forest has trails through huge oak hammocks and makes for a great scenic backdrop for photos. Check out a photo session at Enchanted Forest on my blog so you can get an idea of what it looks like.
Sessions at Home
In-home sessions are a great option for natural photos of families in a setting that children are very comfortable in. They’re particularly great for newborns and babies where they are out of the sun and in a place where you can comfortably feed and change them. My style is to capture natural and genuine photos of you interacting with the baby – cuddles and snuggles, reading to the baby, etc. Rooms with windows allowing in natural light are the best option for indoor photos. See my blog post of an in-home photo session that was taken when the baby was just a few weeks old.
Sunrise Beach Session
If you're staying at a beach anywhere along the east coast, wake up early for a quiet, peaceful setting with few people around.
Sunset Beach Session
Sunset colors are also beautiful anywhere along the coast. Keep in mind that the beach will be busier on weekend and holiday afternoons. However, there are quieter spots to be found as well.