5 best photoshoot locations in Northeast Florida that are NOT at the beach | Jacksonville and St.Augustine senior & family photographer
Probably the number one question I get asked from (potential) family session clients and high school seniors & their parents is WHAT LOCATION to take the pictures at? And that is no doubt a very important one since everyone wants their images to look the best and having an epic background/location is a no-brainer!
In this blog post I will bring out 5 of my (and my clients) favorite locations in and around Jacksonville, FL area that are NOT at the beach. I will also explain why these locations are my favorite (in no particular order) and will share a few helpful tips along the way.
1. Washington Oaks Gardens
This stunning location is located just about 1h drive south from Jacksonville (or 30min south from St.Augustine) near Palm Coast. If you haven’t been there before then you sure have missed out! It’s a perfect spot to spend your Sunday afternoon walking around admiring nature with the entire family or in my case - having a gorgeous spot for a family or senior photoshoot! There’s so much to discover over there - moss trees that are hundreds of years old, blooming azaleas in late winter (like hundreds of shrubs) or perfectly polished rose garden. I could literally walk around in here for hours and take photos in different corners of the garden.
2. Cummer Museum
This location is near Downton Jacksonville in the Riverside area. As the name reveals it’s actually a museum in there as well. Cummer Museum has perfectly polished garden surrounded by red brick walls and a beautiful Spanish style fountain and greenery-arches overlooking St.Johns river. It’s so pretty all around. Only thing to keep in mind when deciding what location to go with is that it has specific opening hours as well as some restrictions regarding what you can bring in there with you (for example no additional clothing is allowed). Other than that - I highly recommend it!
3. Downtown St.Augustine
The oldest city of America is so charming in every corner the eye takes you! There is no way to go wrong with having a session in downtown St.Augustine! Besides a lot of cute little streets and corners I really love Lightner Museum and the fountain in front of Casa Monica Hotel. Other side is also the Flagler College that is so pretty! During Night of Lights (starts mid-Nov until end of January) you will also get a stunning background with millions of lights glowing all around the city!
4. Nocatee Crosswater Hall
I feel like this one is a little hidden gem that no-one thinks about. Nocatee Crosswater Hall is not a very big area but the surroundings and the background is always beautiful mo matter what time of the year it is! Palm trees, lots of greenery and springtime blooms make it a perfect little spot for your next family photoshoot or even a quick headshot session!
5. Hanna Park
Most people know I take my clients to Hanna Park because of the pretty beach but this location has so much more to offer! Hanna Park is huge and has lots of greenery and trails all around that offer a stunning background for any photoshoot from high school seniors to families! Big moss trees and stunning lighting make it so magical! Plus it’s usually pretty quiet - I love it!
Which ine is your favorite location and why? Or maybe there is another location that you absolutely love and I didn’t mention it here - feel free to let me know!