Vacation Photography
Siesta Key
Vacation Photographer
You came a long way for this beach. Take home more than a phone full of squinting selfies.
One hour on the beach, and the trip is preserved
Most families I photograph are here for a week. Somewhere in that week is one perfect evening: the light goes gold, the kids are worn out in the best way, and everyone is actually relaxed. That is the session.
No stiff posing and no two-hour shot list. We walk, the kids run, I keep up. You get real photographs of your family on the beach you flew here to see, rather than the one blurry group shot a stranger took by the water.
Who These Sessions Are For
Every Kind of Trip
Family Vacations
The classic. Everyone is in one place for once, tanned and happy. Grandparents, cousins, and all. Extended family groups are welcome and easy to shoot on an open beach.
Couples & Anniversaries
Sunset couples photos on the Gulf. Popular for anniversary trips, babymoons, and honeymoons that ended up on Siesta Key instead of overseas.
Girls' Trips & Reunions
Friend groups, milestone birthdays, and family reunions. If you got everyone to the same beach in the same year, it is worth documenting properly.
Simple Pricing
Vacation Session Packages
All-inclusive. Every session includes professional editing and an online gallery with full download and print rights.
Mini
Beach Session
1 Hour
$250
Great for one family
- 1 hour on the beach
- 20–30 edited images
- One location
- Online gallery, full downloads
- Print rights included
Extended
Beach Session
2 Hours
$400
Best for larger groups
- 2 hours of photography
- 40–60 edited images
- Two locations if you like
- Outfit changes welcome
- Extended family groups
Rush delivery available if you want favorites before you fly home. Travel outside Sarasota County may add a small fee.
Plan Your Session
The Best Time for Beach Photos
Siesta Key faces west, so the sun sets straight out over the Gulf. That is the whole reason the light here is so good.
Golden hour, always
The hour before sunset is the best light of the day, every day. It is soft, warm, and low enough that nobody squints. This is when I schedule most sessions.
Sunset shifts a lot here
From about 5:37pm at the end of November to 8:30pm in late June. See the month-by-month sunset table, or tell me your dates and I will give you the exact window.
Sunrise is the quiet option
The beach is nearly empty and the light is beautiful. Worth it if you have early risers anyway, or if your evenings are already booked with dinners.
Midday is the one to avoid
Overhead sun means harsh shadows and squinting. If midday is genuinely your only option we will find shade, but evening will always look better.
What to wear
Soft neutrals, whites, and warm earth tones photograph beautifully against the white sand. Avoid bold logos and neon. Bare feet always look right.
Book early in your trip
Schedule for the first half of your stay. That leaves room to move the session if a storm rolls through, which in summer it occasionally will.
Where We Will Shoot
Beaches on and Around the Key
Not sure which one? Tell me where you are staying and I will pick the closest beach with the best light that evening.
Siesta Key Beach
The famous one. That powder-white quartz sand stays cool underfoot and bounces light beautifully. Wide open, so it handles big family groups well.
Crescent Beach
Just south of the main beach and noticeably quieter. Same spectacular sand, a fraction of the crowd. My most frequent recommendation.
Turtle Beach
South end of the Key. Darker, shell-strewn sand and a completely different, moodier look. Good if you want something less postcard.
Point of Rocks
Rock formations and tide pools at the south end of Crescent. Wonderful texture and a natural place for couples photos.
Lido Key & Longboat
A short drive north. Handy if you are staying closer to St. Armands Circle or downtown Sarasota.
Anna Maria Island
The old Florida pastel cottages and the pier make a lovely change of scenery from open sand.
Simple Process
How It Works
Tell Me Your Dates
Send your travel dates and group size. I reply within 24 hours, usually much sooner
Pick the Evening
We choose a beach and a time based on sunset and where you are staying
Meet on the Sand
An easy hour. Walk, play, ignore me a bit. That is when the good frames happen
Gallery Arrives
Edited images in about two weeks, or sooner if you need a rush set
For Rental Managers & Resorts
Photography for Your Guests
If you manage vacation rentals, condos, or a resort on Siesta Key, I work with a handful of local properties to offer guests beach sessions during their stay. It is a genuinely good amenity: guests remember the trip, and you get something to offer that the property down the road does not.
I can provide a simple booking link, printed cards for welcome packets, and preferred rates for your guests. I am also happy to shoot property and lifestyle images for your own listings.
Talk About a PartnershipGood to Know
Vacation Session Questions
Yes, and plenty of people do. Same-week sessions are often available, especially on weekdays. Call or text (941) 312-6865 and I will tell you what is open in the next few days.
The hour before sunset. Siesta Key faces west, so the sun sets directly over the Gulf and the light goes soft and golden. Sunset ranges from about 5:37pm at the end of November to 8:30pm in late June — the full month-by-month table is here. Sunrise is a close second and the beach is far quieter.
Edited galleries arrive in about two weeks. If you want a few favorites before you fly home, ask about rush delivery and I will send a preview set within a couple of days.
Florida showers usually pass in twenty minutes, and the light right after a storm can be spectacular. If the weather genuinely will not cooperate we move to another evening in your trip at no extra cost. If nothing works before you leave, your deposit is refunded in full.
Mini sessions suit one family comfortably. For extended family groups, reunions, or anything over about eight people, book the two hour extended session so there is time for group shots plus smaller combinations.
Public beach access is free, though the main Siesta Key Beach lot fills up fast in season. I will suggest a beach access point with easier parking near where you are staying, and we will meet right there.