What are the best places to get photos taken around Jacksonville and St Augustine?
After outfit choices, the next most difficult decision most clients have is where to get their photos done. My personal bias is to find outdoor locations with good natural light, I think in part because of how I started photography with landscapes and nature, and in part because my mentor in true fashion also works with outdoor natural light. But, just as with outfit decisions, the location is really all about how the client wants to be seen.
Think of locations that are meaningful to you personally - these might be places you go often, or places you would like to go. The location should be somewhere you would feel comfortable and happy. Having said that, sometimes people need a little guidance and inspiration, so I figured I would put together this little guide of my thoughts and experiences around here. I'll be adding to this guide with more images and locations, so let me know your suggestions too!
Being placed near Jacksonville, Florida, we're blessed with weather that means photoshoots can pretty much be done outdoors year-round, and at the same time we have a lot of photogenic locations that work really well for portrait sessions.
A beach session is a popular choice in North Florida!
The first obvious one is the beach - but of course there are many beaches around here to consider! An important point is that beaches in St Johns County (which includes St Augustine) technically require a permit for photography. A lot of places seem to get used for non-commercial purposes (i.e. for a personal use like family portraits and not for a business) but it's worth checking ahead of time, especially if your photographer contract states that you are responsible for securing any necessary permits!
Fashion photoshoot on Black Rock Beach.
One of my favorite locations is actually a little outside of my usual driving range, but it's absolutely worth it - and that's Black Rock Beach on Big Talbot Island. This location has a mix of sand, rocks, massive driftwood trees, and even some trails and greenery to work with. Watch out for the flies near dusk though! Parking is limited, and this is a very popular spot for photographers.
A single small park can provide a variety of settings for a photoshoot.
I've done several photoshoots in small urban parks, like Stinson Park in Jacksonville or Bird Island Park in Ponte Vedra. Parks with a variety of settings are the best, such as flat grass, shrubs, trees, walkways or water features. Having many scenes to use gives you a wide variety of looks and poses that can really add to the portfolio of images. They also usually have some shade, which can be very welcome in the heat of summer! Most parks do not require any kind of permitting so long as you're not obstructing the paths for anyone else. One of the larger parks that is well worth a visit is Washington Oaks State Park. As a State Park, no permit is required for most photography, and the location is truly superb with trails, trees, gardens, and even a beach nearby! About 30 minutes south of St Augustine, it is another location that is normally outside of my range but an excellent location.
An urban setting works really well for my fashion-oriented portraiture style.
One of the locations I'm most familiar with is actually downtown Jacksonville. I love working there on weekends as it's quiet, the parking is free and readily available, and the urban vibe really lends itself well to my style of portraiture. Aside from the general street photography vibe, there are some specific areas and buildings that are good to work with, and it's very walkable. There are some nice indoor locations (more on them later!) and a couple of urban parks like James Weldon, Riverside, Cancer Survivor's Park, Friendship Fountain and others. Unless you're planning a large-scale videography project no permit is needed, but there are some places that are publicly accessible but privately owned, so be mindful about going down every little alley for a quiet location!
Portrait session outside Shrine of Our Lady of la Leche, at the Nombre de Dios Mission in St Augustine
Saint Augustine is a whole vibe - the oldest city in the United States, we are extremely lucky to have it right in our backyard. Although there are some areas that require special permits (or under specific situations), much of the city is simply a photographer's paradise. Even the Castillo de San Marcos can be used as a location, so long as it's a small session in a public area. The central historic district, which include St George's Street, has some restrictions for street vendor and artists, but the main disadvantage of that is probably just that it's so busy. Thankfully there are plenty of side streets and architectural features to take advantage of, and if you're staying at one of the many beautiful Bed and Breakfasts in the city, then a photoshoot might be possible right where you're visiting!
Branding photoshoot set in the Cummer Museum Gardens
The Cummer Museum Gardens are simply superb, and have a variety of architectural and floral features that will enhance any kind of portrait or fashion photography. Photography requires a permit, a 2 week notice, and is limited to 90-minutes on site - but this option is included at no extra charge for my Premium Portraiture sessions.
A backsplash of color contrasting with a black-and-white outfit for this portrait session in the Arts District
Another fun urban location is the Phoenix Arts District - it's famous among local photographers for it's urban warehouse settings and colorful graffiti. It can make for a fantastic backdrop for when a splash of color is wanted, or for something of a "grunge" look that's distinct from the clean architectural lines of downtown skyscrapers.
Making use of the gorgeous large windows in the Jacksonville Library.
Indoor photo sessions have the benefit of avoiding the weather (whether it's too hot or too rainy!), as well as more controlled lighting. There are a couple of easy options in Jacksonville itself which I've used, namely Chamblin's Uptown bookstore, who will happily allow photoshoots with a signed "permission slip" from the front desk, and interestingly enough the Jacksonville city library! Permission is required for anything out-of-hours, but there's no apparent problem with going in during normal operating times, so long as you're not disturbing anyone obviously. Although I don't have a dedicated studio of my own, there are studios available to rent in the area, and 2 hours of rental time is included at no extra charge for Premium Photography sessions.
An at-home session is a comfortable and convenient option for a lot of people.
These are just some of the locations I've photographed at - and there's also the option of at-home sessions too. They have the advantage of not requiring any additional travel time, easy access to outfit changes, and of course a controlled climate! Whatever your vision or theme is, I can help find a location to make it work. Click here to learn more about my photography sessions and to schedule a call!
