I’ve lived in New Port Richey for years and I shoot at Sims Park more than anywhere else in Pasco County. That’s not a sales pitch, it’s just the truth. The place has everything a family session needs without the drive, the parking nightmare, or the “we look like every other family photo” feeling you get from shooting at the beach for the hundredth time.
Why Sims Park works
The park sits along the Pithlachascotee River in downtown New Port Richey. Morning light gives you calm reflections. Evening light turns the whole thing gold.
The live oaks with Spanish moss are the real draw. That filtered, dappled shade is soft on faces, photographs cleanly, and gives the images a timeless quality that doesn’t look like it was shot at 2pm in a parking lot. These trees are old and they’ve got weight to them. That shows in photos.
The Hacienda Hotel is worth knowing about, a 1920s Mediterranean Revival building right in the park, white stucco and red tile roof. It’s a visual contrast you won’t find anywhere else in the area. Clients always ask about it after they see their gallery.
In a single session you can move from open lawn to tree-lined river path to waterfront to that old hotel without getting back in the car. That matters when you’ve got young kids who need to keep moving.
When to shoot
Golden hour is the obvious answer and it’s obvious for a reason. For reference:
- Summer (June–August): 7:00–8:00 PM
- Fall (September–November): 5:30–6:30 PM
- Winter (December–February): 5:00–6:00 PM
- Spring (March–May): 6:30–7:30 PM
Early mornings work well too, especially with toddlers. The park is quiet, the light is gentle, and kids tend to be in better shape before the day wears them out.
Don’t cancel because of clouds. Overcast skies are soft, even light with no harsh shadows and no one squinting. Some of the best sessions I’ve shot at Sims Park happened on grey days.
One practical note: the city holds events in the park including a street market on the first Saturday of each month. A weekday evening or any morning outside market days gives you more space.
Parking and logistics
Park at the Sims Lane entrance. It’s a decent-sized lot but fills up on weekends, get there 10-15 minutes early. The paths are paved throughout, which makes it easy for strollers and grandparents.
It’s a public park and you’ll see people. It almost never gets in the way. A little life in the background sometimes makes a moment feel more real anyway.
Spots I use
The big oak near the gazebo is where I start most sessions. Clean, shaded, grounded works for every family.
The open lawn is for movement: running, spinning, picking up the little ones. Those shots tend to be the ones families print.
The riverwalk is where I take parents for a couple of portraits while someone else watches the kids for a few minutes. You deserve photos too.
For extended family sessions, the gazebo steps work well for larger groups, everyone stays visible and it doesn’t look staged.
Outfits
Earth tones and soft colors work well here like cream, tan, soft blue, sage. Jewel tones like navy, burgundy, or deep green look sharp against the park’s greens and browns. Skip neons and busy patterns. They pull the eye away from faces, which is where attention belongs.
Shoes on the kids. The grass at Sims Park can be rough and uneven. Sandals or closed shoes make the afternoon easier for everyone.
On kids
I’m a grandfather of five. I know what kids are like and I stopped expecting perfect behavior a long time ago. The best family photos aren’t the ones where everyone is standing still and smiling on command.
Tell your kids you’re going to the park to play and take some photos. That’s true. Bring a snack for after. Let them move. The camera catches what it catches, and usually what it catches is good.
Other locations nearby
Sims Park is my first recommendation for families in New Port Richey, but it’s not the only option. Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park works if you want a wilder, more natural look. Brasher Park gives you waterfront with a different feel. Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park is good for active families or larger groups that need open space.
Happy to talk through what fits what you’re imagining before we book anything.