Clearwater Beach is the obvious choice and usually the wrong one for family sessions. It’s crowded, the parking is a project, and your photos will look like everyone else’s from the same location. Within 30 minutes of Clearwater there are five spots that are less crowded, just as beautiful, and in some cases better for actual family sessions.
Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin
Twenty minutes north of Clearwater. This is wild Florida – old growth slash pines, sea oats, a Gulf beach that doesn’t look or feel like the commercial strip. The north end is quiet in a way that’s genuinely hard to find on the Gulf Coast.
Two completely different looks in the same park. The Gulf-facing beach gives you open sky and warm sunset light. The interior pine trails give you shade, dappled light, and natural texture that looks nothing like a beach backdrop. The osprey nests and occasional dolphins offshore keep kids genuinely engaged, which relaxes everyone and produces better expressions than any prompt I could give.
There’s a state park entrance fee. Worth it.
Photographer’s note: Arrive 120 minutes before sunset. Start on the interior trails while the light is still bright, then move to the beach for golden hour. Two different sessions in one.
Best for: Families who want wild natural Florida without the tourist beach atmosphere.
Hammock Park, Dunedin
A 97-acre preserve in the heart of Dunedin with a mature oak canopy, winding trails, a butterfly garden, and a creek running through the middle. No crowds, no parking stress. The light under those oaks is soft and filtered almost any time of day, which makes this work even if your schedule doesn’t allow for a sunset session.
Kids who get overwhelmed in busy environments do noticeably better here. The creek crossings and trail intersections give them things to naturally investigate. Those spontaneous moments produce better candid shots than posed setups.
Photographer’s note: Morning sessions work best here. The light comes through at a lower angle and on clear mornings you can get sunbeams through the canopy that are hard to replicate anywhere else.
Best for: Families with toddlers or kids who do better in calm, low-stimulation settings.
Safety Harbor Waterfront Park
On the eastern shore of Tampa Bay. Long water views, a fishing pier, open lawn, mature trees. A local park, not a tourist destination, so you almost always have space to move freely.
The bay faces west from here, which means direct sunset light over the water at golden hour. The pier at the end of the session is the standout shot. The combination of waterfront, green space, and tree cover gives enough variety to keep a session moving without relocating.
Photographer’s note: The pier at golden hour is the reason to come here. Plan the session to end there.
Best for: Families who want a calm, classic waterfront look. Multi-generational sessions work well here.
A.L. Anderson Park, Tarpon Springs
On Lake Tarpon just south of Tarpon Springs. Long fishing pier, covered pavilions, mature oaks, shaded trails. Kids engage with this place naturally. The pier draws them in immediately and they want to lean over the edge, look for fish, point at things. Those instinctive moments produce better candid expressions than anything scripted.
The light over Lake Tarpon at golden hour is the quieter version of a beach sunset – same warm tones and reflective water, without the crowds or the parking problem.
Photographer’s note: Build the session around the pier. Position your family so the lake is behind them as the sun drops. The reflected light creates a natural warm backdrop without any effort.
Best for: Families with young kids who need room to explore.
Caladesi Island State Park
Only accessible by ferry from Honeymoon Island or by private boat. That’s exactly what makes it special. Consistently rated one of the best beaches in the country, and because getting there requires a little planning, the crowds are a fraction of anything you’d find on the mainland Gulf Coast.
The beach is wide, white, and quiet. Families who make the trip consistently say it was the right call. The photos look different from anything you’d get on a beach you can drive to.
Photographer’s note: Check the ferry schedule before you do anything else. Plan to be on the beach 90 minutes before sunset, and don’t time your departure during the best light of the day.
Best for: Families willing to plan a little more for something genuinely spectacular.
Honeymoon Island if you want wild beach without the crowds. Hammock Park for toddlers or kids who do better in calm environments. Safety Harbor for classic waterfront with a small-town feel. A.L. Anderson if you want lakeside and kids who need room to move. Caladesi if you want something different and are willing to plan for it.
Not sure which fits your family? Reach out. Location scouting is part of what I do.
Price & Collections | Clearwater Sessions | Check Availability
Also serving families in New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Trinity, Odessa, and Wesley Chapel.