As Florida wedding photographers my husband and I have traveled all over the state for weddings, engagements, anniversaries, you name it! In our time spent traveling we have compiled a list of our favorite South Florida photo shoot locations. We’ve also included the best times to shoot in each spot! Most of these locations can become crowded with people during the weekends, so the weekdays are usually best for shooting.
25 Best Locations for Engagement Photos in South Florida
1. Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, FL
One of my all time favorite locations to shoot is Worth Avenue! It has a very upscale, downtown vibe and there is a ton of variety! Walking through each side-street you can find something new and the alleyways remind me of something one might see in Italy! The best times to shoot here are usually in the morning or evening and no permit is required.
Bridal photo shoot on Worth Avenue.
Bridal photo shoot near Worth Avenue.
2. Riverbend Park in Jupiter, FL
Riverbend Park is one of my top favorite locations, and one of the BEST when it comes to woodsy locations in South Florida! If you want to be surrounded by big, beautiful trees with hanging Spanish moss, this is your place! Since there is so much tree coverage here the best times to start shooting are either 30-45 minutes after sunrise or about 2 hours before sunset. Also, don’t forget to get your photography permit prior to shooting. (If your photographer shoots here often they might already have an annual permit to the location!)
Engagement session at Riverbend Park in Jupiter.
Engagement session at Riverbend Park in Jupiter.
3. House of Refuge in Stuart, FL
The House of Refuge is a truly unique beach location on Hutchinson Island, not only because of the historical site but also the rocky shore! There aren’t any permits required on the beach, but something important to note is that the parking is extremely limited and it can get pretty crowded, so definitely stick to weekdays. I personally like this location best at sunrise, but the riverside area has a dock and is a beautiful spot for sunset!
Engagement photo shoot at sunrise at the House of Refuge.
4. Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, FL
If you’re looking for that perfect golden, grassy field that will give you warm, glowy engagement photos, this is the place! Jonathan Dickinson State Park is an incredibly unique spot in South Florida since it has hill-like dunes throughout the park. The largest of them is called “Hobe Mountain” and it is a whopping 86 feet above sea level, making it the highest point in South Florida! An entry fee of $6 per vehicle is required to access the park.
Engagement session in the grass at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound.
Engagement session at sunset at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
5. Dubois Park in Jupiter, FL
For most beaches on the East Coast of Florida I usually prefer sunrise sessions, but Dubois Park is an exception! Sunset is a beautiful time at Dubois Park and there is such a diversity of locations around the park for photos. Again, make sure to have a permit from Palm Beach County Parks prior to shooting here!
Engagement session at DuBois Park in Jupiter.
Engagement session at DuBois Park in Jupiter.
6. Palm Beach Clock Tower in Palm Beach, FL
You can find the clock tower right at the beginning of Worth Avenue! It’s such a pretty spot overlooking the ocean and sunrise here is absolutely stunning!
Engagement session at the clock tower.
Engagement photo shoot at the clock tower on Worth Avenue.
7. Jupiter Lighthouse in Jupiter, FL
The iconic Jupiter Lighthouse is a very unique location for photos. Not only can you capture views of the lighthouse in the background, but there are also beautiful banyan trees overlooking the inlet and a staircase that stretches up to where you can access the lighthouse! A permit is required in order to shoot here and only specific times in the morning and evening are allowed for photos.
Wedding at the Jupiter Lighthouse.
Wedding at the Jupiter Lighthouse in Jupiter, Florida.
8. Coral Cove in Jupiter, FL
There are a handful of beautiful beach spots with rocky shorelines and Coral Cove is one of them! This is the perfect location for a sunrise session on the beach. Plus, there are also some pretty pathways lined with seagrapes!
Engagement photo shoot at Coral Cove.
9. Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers, FL
This list of South Florida photo shoot locations wouldn’t be complete without Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers. Since it’s a state park there is an entrance fee from $2 to $8 depending on if you’re walking in or in a vehicle with multiple people. One of my favorite parts of the park is a section of the beach with several driftwood trees that give these beach photos a little something extra!
Elopement at Lovers Key State Park.
Sunset elopement at Lovers Key State Park.
10. Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West, FL
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park might be my number one favorite location to photograph in Florida. Not only is it super diverse, but the sunset here is absolutely GORGEOUS! Sailboats go back and forth across the water in the background as sunset approaches and it makes for the most stunning photos. No permit is needed for photos unless you’re having a wedding ceremony or bringing in props and a lot of gear that would require permitting through the park. Please note that there is a park entrance fee ranging from $2.50-6.50 depending on your vehicle.
Anniversary photo shoot at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.
Anniversary session on the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor.
11. Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pine Key, FL
An hour or so away from Fort Zachary Taylor you will find Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pine Key. This location is very unique in that it has an old railroad bridge that can be captured in many of your photos! The water and beaches here are also jaw-dropping!
Anniversary photo shoot at Bahia Honda State Park on the beach.
Anniversary session at Bahia Honda near the bridge.
12. Morikami Gardens in Delray Beach, FL
Morikami Museum & Japanese Garden also requires a permit is required and only certain times of the day are allowed for shooting here. However, once you are there the options are endless! One of my favorite spots in the gardens is a pathway through a tunnel of trees!
Wedding at Morikami Museum & Japanese Garden.
13. Pier 60 Clearwater Beach in Clearwater Beach, FL
If you are looking for a beach location with a little something extra then this might be the spot for you. Pier 60 stretches out across the water and can look beautiful in the background of photos. It can also provide shade if you’re shooting earlier in the day! Although the crowds here can be a bit much at sunset, this is still the best time to shoot here because of golden hour and being able to watch the sun sink down below the horizon.
Engagement session in the water on Clearwater Beach.
Engagement session at Pier 60.
14. Lido Key Beach in Sarasota, FL
This is another one of my favorites on the West Coast of Florida! You will have the most unbelievable golden hour here (and at any beach along the west coast for that matter!) and there are a variety of spots to shoot. For example, grassy dunes, open sandy beach, and the ocean itself!
Proposal and engagement photo shoot at Lido Key Beach in Sarasota.
15. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami, FL
Vizcaya is one of the most BEAUTIFUL places I’ve ever been! The grandeur of this place, from the staircases, statues, and architecture, is simply breathtaking. A permit is required in order to have your photo session here and rates start at $250 plus tax. A full breakdown of costs can be found on the Vizcaya website.
Bridal session at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens.
16. Miami Design District in Miami, FL
The Miami Design District is a great spot for photos if you’re looking for a setting with a lot of unique architecture! Because this spot can get extremely crowded as the day goes on, I highly recommend shooting here first thing in the morning!
Engagement photo shoot in the Miami Design District.
17. Frederick Douglas Beach in Fort Pierce, FL
If you want to have an incredible experience during your session (and get some AMAZING photos as a result!) then I highly recommend booking a private horse-back riding tour with Tours on Horseback at Frederick Douglas beach! Riding the horses along the beach and walking them in the water is such a fun experience and makes for some truly memorable photos!
Proposal and engagement session with Tours on Horseback at Frederick Douglas Beach.
18. Parking Garages + Rooftops in Big Cities
For more of an urban setting you can find rooftop areas and parking garages with views of the cityscape. Places like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa are great for this! Either sunrise or sunset are the best times for this type of location.
Anniversary photo shoot on the rooftop of a parking garage in Fort Lauderdale.
19. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, FL
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is an absolutely gorgeous location for photos! A highlight of this park is the lighthouse on the beach, which is extremely picturesque! Both sunrise and sunset are great for this location, but during parts of the year sunrise may require a permit if it falls outside of the regular park hours.
Sunrise engagement session at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
20. Kai Kai Farm in Indiantown, FL
Another one of my favorite South Florida photo shoot locations is Kai Kai Farm in Indiantown! They have a fee of $75 per session which gives you access to use the farm for an hour. This is one of the few places I know of that has a whole huge field of flowers (yellow sunnhemp flowers) and a road with eucalyptus trees towering on either side.
Family photo shoot in the sunnhemp field at Kai Kai Farm.
Engagement session at Kai Kai Farm.
21. Fort Pierce Inlet State Park in Fort Pierce, FL
Fort Pierce Inlet State Park is a gorgeous spot for sunset portraits. It’s also one of the few beaches on the east coast of Florida where you’re able to get photos of the sun setting over the water in the background since it’s on an inlet!
Engagement session at Fort Pierce Inlet State Park.
Couples session at Fort Pierce Inlet State Park.
22. Twisted Oak Farm, Vero Beach, FL
Twisted Oak Farm is a privately owned family farm in Vero Beach that has a beautiful tree swing, horses, goats, and barn! Since it’s privately owned, a reservation is required to have your photo session there, along with a $50 fee. Twisted Oak Farm is perfect for shoots in the morning or evening and has lots of shade so even sessions closer to midday can still be good!
Wedding at Twisted Oak Farm in Vero Beach.
23. White City Park in Fort Pierce, FL
While this spot can get really overcrowded at times, it still deserves a position on this list of South Florida photo shoot locations! There are big, beautiful trees with hanging Spanish moss all around and a lake as well! Since there is a good amount of shade here, a little bit after sunrise or before sunset is a great time to shoot here.
Couples session at White City Park.
24. Downtown Fort Myers in Fort Myers, FL
Ahhh this is one of my favorites! Downtown locations have a lot to offer for photos, and in if you’re up for finding this hidden little speakeasy in Fort Myers you will be so happy you did! Of course, there are many other cute spots for photos in this downtown area as well! If you’re going to shoot in the speakeasy, I recommend going right at opening so that the space is as empty as possible for your photos.
Engagement session in a speakeasy in downtown Fort Myers.
Engagement session in downtown Fort Myers.
25. Bonus! In Home Photo Shoots
If you’re looking for photos in a location more personal to you, then an in home session could be an option! It’s usually best if you have an area in your home with plenty of natural light, which is super important! The best time for indoor sessions like this is typically around midday or late morning/early afternoon.
Cozy, in-home engagement session.
In home engagement session in the city.
“Client Only” Locations
But that’s not all… I also have a list of photo locations that I save just for my clients! 😉
Here’s an engagement session at one of my favorite “client only” locations!
Photo Package Pricing
If you’d like to learn more about booking a photo session you can view my photo packages! If you’re also looking for a wedding photographer then request to see my wedding photography brochure that includes wedding packages and engagement session bundles.
What to Wear to your Photo Session
All of my clients receive a detailed styling guide on what to wear for their engagement session, but here are a few quick tips! Keep in mind, some of these tips are specific to my editing style so if you are using another photographer it’s a good idea to ask them what they recommend!
- Neutrals, denims and earthy tones
- One dress/skirt outfit, one casual pants/shorts outfit (this allows for different types of poses and activities during your session!)
- Cute hats are always a good idea!
- Choose shoes that make sense with the setting (no shoes for the beach!)
I interested with my wife
That’s great! Feel free to reach out to me by sending me a message through my contact page — I would love to hear from you! 🙂