The 13 Best Places for a Photo Shoot in Florida

Whether you’re looking for the most Instagrammable backdrops or hunting down the perfect place for family pictures, you’ll want to check out our list of the 13 best places for a photo shoot in Florida. We’ve compiled the most aesthetic places in the Sunshine State, from funky graffiti tunnels to the classiest Italian Renaissance gardens. Keep reading to discover some perfect settings for your next photo shoot!

#1: Murals In The Central Arts District — St. Petersburg

The city of St. Petersburg has more than 600 murals, but the highest concentration of artwork is in the Central Arts District. From eclectic swirls to giant sharks, there are tons of murals to spot between the 300 and 700 blocks of Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg. 

Most of the murals are on the backs and sides of public buildings so you can visit the area at any time at no cost. If you’d like to learn more about the murals, they each have “smart plaques” that you can scan using an app. The options for photos here are endless, and it’s usually not busy or crowded. 

#2: Dry Tortugas National Park — Key West/Gulf of Mexico

By far the most remote location on our list, Dry Tortugas National Park is nearly 70 miles off the coast of Key West. The central feature of the park is Fort Jefferson, a masonry fort from the 1800s with some pretty unique architecture. The rest of the park — 99% of it — is underwater. It’s only accessible by boat or seaplane, and a trip out to it will run you around $200 or more. But this hidden gem holds miles of secluded beaches, many coral reefs, and crystal blue waters that make for some amazing photo shoots!

If all this isn’t enough to persuade you, the park is also one of the darkest places on the east coast. The night sky views are incredible and certainly photo-worthy. Spend a night camping at Dry Tortugas, and you’ll never want to leave!

#3: Florida Caverns State Park — Marianna

The only state park in Florida to offer guided tours of dry (air-filled) cave systems, Florida Caverns State Park is certainly one of a kind. With a photo shoot background of stalactites and stalagmites, it’ll feel like you left Florida and entered a whole new world! Along with the caves, there are also some picture-perfect spots on trails in the park, and at the popular Blue Hole swimming area.

Florida Caverns State Park is located at 3345 Caverns Road in Marianna. It costs $5 per vehicle to enter the park and $15 per person to tour the caves ($8 for ages 3-12).

#4: Bok Tower Gardens — Lake Wales

Bok Tower Gardens has had over 23 million visitors since first opening in 1929, and it’s easy to see why. The garden lies atop Iron Mountain, one of the highest points in peninsular Florida at 295 feet above sea level. From a few different viewing points, you can see for miles across Florida’s landscape, something that’s hard to find in the flattest state in the U.S. 

There are plenty of beautiful spots in the gardens for pictures, with flowers growing nearly year-round. Between the shady trails and small pathways, you’ll find a photo shoot at Bok Tower pretty secluded and enjoyable on most days. Bok Tower Gardens is located at 1151 Tower Boulevard in Lake Wales and admission is $20 per person ($10 for ages 6-17). 

#5: The Tampa Riverwalk — Tampa

The Tampa Riverwalk is a 2.6-mile walking path that runs along the Hillsborough River. Since it’s right on the water, it offers some great views of the river, especially at sunset. But it’s once the sun is gone that the Riverwalk really starts to shine. The walking trail glows with shiny, colorful lights each night. 

Whether it’s the lights reflecting on the water or the background of the bustling city, there’s something about the Riverwalk that easily makes it our top choice for a cityscape photo shoot. You can park in Downtown Tampa and reach the free attraction from there. Depending on which part of the walk you’d like to take, you can refer to the map for exact directions. 

#6: The Expression Tunnel — Frostproof

This might be one of Central Florida’s best-kept secrets, a hidden gem in Frostproof that’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen. The one-lane tunnel in the middle of nowhere goes by a few names: the expression tunnel, the graffiti tunnel, or simply ‘the tunnel’. It’s perfect for a moody photo shoot, and more than a few bikers have been known to snap pictures here. 

Surrounded by orange groves and woods, the artsy tunnel was originally built to support the train track that runs above it. Since it’s on a public road, the tunnel is a free place to visit and take pictures. You won’t usually see much traffic, either. Start in Frostproof and head north on Scenic Hwy 17, then take a right on S Lake Patrick Road. It’s about a mile down the road and extremely hard to miss!

#7: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens — Miami

If you want to feel like you’ve been transported to Tuscan Italy, you should visit the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. The Italian Renaissance formal gardens span ten acres of the property, making up some of the best spots for a photo shoot. Another great place for pictures is the Main House, with many large stairways and antique architecture. The entire estate sits directly on the water, so you can also get some amazing shots from the waterfront terraces. 

It’s important to note that you will need a photo permit to do a photo shoot on the premises. Permits start at $250 for taking photos in the gardens on a normal day, but you can also purchase packages for semi-private early access to both the gardens and the Main House. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is located at 3251 South Miami Avenue and admission is $25 per person ($10 for ages 6-12).

#8: Blowing Rocks Preserve — Hobe Sound

The 73-acre Blowing Rocks Preserve is a beautiful sanctuary for Florida’s endangered animals and plants. The waterfront preserve features the largest Anastasia limestone shoreline on the Atlantic coast — also known as the “blowing rocks”. It’s home to a few rare species of sea turtles including green, leatherback, and loggerhead.  

While the trails and scenery are amazing, the real magic happens on the shore at high tide. The crashing waves break against the rocks, sending sprays of saltwater up to 50 feet in the air. Blowing Rocks is open every day aside from major holidays and offers free on-site parking ($2 optional donation per person). 

#9: Oxford Exchange — Tampa

Our favorite indoor shoot, Oxford Exchange certainly boasts some of the most aesthetic decor and backgrounds. Modeled after the libraries, clubs, and shops of London, the unique meeting place contains a few different businesses. 

While visitors are welcome to take photos, professional photographers are asked to do photo shoots after the business is closed for the day. To book a photo shoot at Oxford Exchange, you’ll need to schedule an appointment and pay an after-hours rental fee. Oxford Exchange is open every day at 420 West Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa. 

#10: Little Talbot Island State Park — Jacksonville

Little Talbot Island State Park is a hidden gem situated about 17 miles northeast of Jacksonville. The best thing about this park is that it’s extremely secluded and doesn’t see too much traffic, making photo shoots a breeze. Get there at opening time, or camp overnight, and you’ll often find that you have the whole beach to yourself. 

While the beach is great for photos, don’t overlook the boardwalk — it makes for a magical setting nearly any time of day. The park is open every day from 8 a.m. until sunset and it costs $5 per vehicle to enter.

#11: Disney World — Bay Lake

It’s impossible to cover the best photo spots in Florida without mentioning Disney. Each park has some unique, stand-out features — like the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom and Sunset Boulevard at Hollywood Studios. But Disney World contains the most iconic photo shoot location and one of the most photographed places in the world — Cinderella’s Castle. 

Out of the other locations on our list, Disney World sure isn’t the cheapest choice. But I think after a trip to “The Most Magical Place on Earth” you’ll agree that it’s well worth it. Tickets to the park range roughly around $100 per person per day and it’s open 365 days a year.

#12: Weeki Wachee Springs — Weeki Wachee

About an hour north of Downtown Tampa in the town of Weeki Wachee lies one of Florida’s best swimming holes and a gorgeous setting for photo shoots. The state park has daily mermaid shows with lots of family fun going on, so keep in mind that it can get pretty busy during the summer.

If you can get to the park on a day that it’s less busy, especially in winter, it’s a great place for adventure-style photo shoots. Snap some pictures while kayaking down the crystal blue river, or wade in the 72-degree swimming hole for a perfect portrait. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and entry is $13 per person ($8 for ages 6-12). 

#13: Wynwood Walls — Miami

Wynwood Walls is a street art museum and event space located just north of Downtown Miami. It started as a collection of old, windowless warehouses that were transformed into an open-air art gallery by Tony Goldman. The gallery first opened during Miami Beach’s Art Basel in 2009, and is now open daily, garnering millions of visitors each year. 

There’s no better photo shoot spot in Miami than Wynwood Walls. With over 35 hand-sprayed murals, you’ll have plenty of unique designs and backgrounds to choose from. Tickets are $12 per person and children are free to enter. Splurge an extra $13, and you’ll get early access to the walls for crowd-free pictures before the museum officially opens!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © A-Z-Animals.com/Jaydee Williams