Find the perfect location to make timeless memories.
Central Florida is alive with art, and you might not even know it. Your family is beautiful enough to light up a full frame, but it doesn’t hurt to have the perfect backdrop, too. Families looking for everything from natural beauty to vibrantly colored street art to eclectic architecture will find no shortage in Orlando and its suburbs.
It’s never easy to settle on a great photographer, much less finding your ideal location. Let us take the guesswork out of at least one of those with the many options listed below. And be sure to call up your babysitter or nanny for an extra helping hand if you have lots of little ones to wrangle in. Your photographer will thank you!
Gardens
Locations:
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Mead Botanical Garden, 1300 S. Denning Drive, Winter Park, FL 32789 | P: 407-622-6323
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Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando, FL | P: 407-246-2620
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Kraft Azalea Garden, 1365 Alabama Drive, Winter Park, FL 32789 | P: 407-599-3334
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Bok Tower Gardens, 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales FL 33853 | P: 863-676-1408
Fees: Bok Tower Gardens & Leu Gardens require paid admission. Leu Gardens allows portrait photography only during specific times. All others listed are free.
We have the luxury of a subtropical climate, making Central Florida a prime location for gorgeous flora and foliage year-round. The gardens in our area are second to none when it comes to Mother Nature’s beauty-meets-exquisite architecture. Mead (pictured) and Kraft Azalea gardens are both free to the public and offer beautiful lakefront views, as well as natural and manicured foliage. Leu and Bok Tower gardens require admission fees, but they’re well worth it.
Spend time in Leu Gardens’ rose garden, with a rainbow of colorful roses through most of the year. There’s a sweeping meadow with a lake backdrop here that is perfect for wide shots. Bok Tower Gardens is a bit off the beaten path in Lake Wales, between Orlando and Tampa, but if you’ve never been there, it is something to behold. The unbelievable architecture side by side with ponds and palms and blooms — it’s breathtaking.
All of these locations regularly host weddings and other events, so be sure to check online calendars ahead of time, and always be respectful if shooting around a ceremony.
Tree-Covered Public Parks
Locations:
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Loch Haven Park, 777 E. Princeton St., Orlando, FL 32803 | P: 407-246-2283
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Dickson Azalea Park, 100 Rosearden Drive, Orlando, FL 32803 | P: 407-246-2283
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Cypress Grove Park, 290 Holden Ave,, Orlando, FL 32839 | P: 407-254-6770
Fees: All free
A massive live oak tree, draped with Spanish moss, makes Loch Haven Park (pictured here and in main photo) one of the most photographed locales in Orlando. The branches spread out in every direction, some coming to rest on the mossy ground — just perfect for shoots of all kinds. You’ll get great lakefront shots here, too, and it’s extra beautiful around sunset. In late winter and early spring, you’ll find gorgeous azalea blooms at Dickson Azalea Park, as well as shady places to get lovely shots with running water. Cypress Grove Park is a hidden gem off Holden Avenue with a large, white estate house that makes for a very pretty backdrop.
One of the best parts about a family photo shoot at a public park is being able to bring your furry friends. Bring the pups, but be sure to clean up after them!
State Parks
Locations:
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Wekiwa Springs State Park, 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, FL 32712 | P: 407-884-2009
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Lake Louisa State Park, 7305 U.S. Highway 27, Clermont, FL 34714 | P: 352-394-3969
Fees: Click here for Lake Louisa admission fees. | Click here for Wekiwa Springs admission fees.
Central Florida’s state parks are perfect locations for capturing natural beauty. Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont sits on the northernmost boundary of the Lake Wales Ridge. There, you’ll find plenty of flora, as well as fauna, like white tail deer and bald eagles. There’s plenty of great open expanses for wide shots, always most beautiful during sunset.
Wekiwa Springs is a local favorite, with crystal clear springs and a winding river in the middle of a huge pine forest. Find one of the wooden bridges for great shots over water with mossy backdrops. Or go off the beaten path a bit and find lovely fields with lightly colored brush (pictured) that glows in the late-afternoon hours.
Orlando Main Streets & Neighborhoods
Locations:
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Baldwin Park (Lake Baldwin), 2000 S. Lakemont Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789
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Park Avenue, Winter Park, 110 N. Park Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789
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Mills 50, North Mills Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803
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Ivanhoe Village, South Ivanhoe Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32804
Fees: Free, but be sure you’re not shooting on private property
There are currently nine districts listed as official Orlando Main Streets. They’re all worth checking out to keep the love local, but for the purposes of this article, you’ll definitely want to check out Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village. Ivanhoe is an “up-and-coming” district, with lots of very Bohemian storefronts and hidden nooks for great photos. There’s one area just past the bar The Hammered Lamb that just screams, “Take selfies here!” I’m here to tell you, with the right lighting, it’s just as great for family photos.
The Mills 50 District consists of the areas around North Mills Avenue and East Colonial Drive and the Colonialtown, Lake Eola Heights, and Park Lake Highland neighborhoods. There’s plenty of beautiful street art to be found in this area. This location is definitely a hipster’s dream.
For more sophisticated and less hipster neighborhood shoots, try Baldwin Park or Park Avenue in Winter Park. Both offer upscale, manicured landscaping and beautiful brick wall backdrops. Park Avenue also has some really lovely fountains and a great park that works well for family portraits. You’ll find a hidden gem in Baldwin Park if you know where to look — a field with wispy, willowy brush for that “amber waves of grain” look (pictured) that goes great with a sepia filter.
Walls
Locations:
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Various spots around Walt Disney World
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The Soda Fountain, 2525 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL 32804
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Lil Indies patio, 1036 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, FL 32803
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Hunger Street Tacos, 2103 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789
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#DeLandWings, Pill Alley, DeLand, FL 32720
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Orlando Postcard Wall, 703 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32801
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Pulse “49 Doves” & “LOVE” murals, at Mills Avenue and East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32803 & Einstein Bros. Bagels (1901 Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32806)
Fees: All but Disney offer free entry, but be aware of traffic in busy areas
This is the ultimate in photography trends at the moment. If you can’t find natural beauty — make your own! Street artists from Central Florida have made the city their canvas. This is most notable on the graffiti walls in the Mills 50 area of North Mills Avenue and East Colonial Drive, where you’ll find places like Lil Indies, a hipster bar with a great jungle-esque patio. Also around downtown, you’ll get great shots standing in front of the Ice Cream wall at the Soda Fountain in College Park. And there’s a really awesome flamingo painted on the wall across the street! Hunger Street Tacos has a gorgeous mural on its exterior, and the Orlando Postcard Wall offers a huge “Welcome” message to all.
Of course, Walt Disney World is a no-brainer when it comes to family photos. Recently, there’s been an explosion of #purplewall photos (pictured) taken in Tommorrowland at Magic Kingdom. There’s really an endless amount of photo ops at Disney, but you’ll have to pay for entry if you’re going to any of the parks. Still, Disney Springs and the Boardwalk are free!
Other free locations with great walls to photograph include the DeLand Wings, with the popular #DeLandWings, and the Pulse memorial murals “49 Doves” and “LOVE.” Both were painted in remembrance of the tragedy at Pulse and make for beautiful photo backdrops to express just how much your family loves love!
Rollins College
Address: 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789
Fees: Free, but be sure you’re not disrupting a class
Rollins is a private liberal arts college that was founded in 1885 and has some truly gorgeous architecture. If you’re lucky enough to catch it on a quiet day, your family and its photographer will have access to plenty of beautiful areas. There’s brick pathways and Spanish architecture, as well as mossy trees and shaded nooks for more private photos.
There’s opportunity for waterfront photos if you know where to look, as well as photos framed by wrought-iron gates, ivy walls, and scholarly hallways. Just make sure you’re not interrupting anyone’s studies!
Maitland Art Center
Address: 231 W. Packwood Ave., Maitland, FL 32751
Fees: Grounds are free & open daily, except major holidays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Maitland Art Center grounds are simply stunning, and you’ll only need to purchase admission if you’re entering the museum. The center calls its architecture “Mayan Revival,” or fantasy architecture. The grounds resemble Mayan ruins, with lots of hanging vines and a courtyard perfect for any party, including the many weddings hosted here year-round.
Look out for the possibility of beautiful shots next to lily pads and ferns, as well as plenty of natural Florida foliage. Be sure to call ahead if you hope to have a photo shoot here, as they regularly have weddings and other exhibits that may interfere with photographers.
Downtown Sanford
Address: Main Street, Sanford, FL 32771
Fees: Free, but be aware of traffic on busy streets
Walking around downtown Sanford, you’ll find many different locales for great photos. The Main Street area offers plenty of industrial-type storefronts and walls, perfect for a more rugged shoot. There’s also a beautiful ivy wall, and even more beautiful waterfront areas with docks and gazebos.
The Main Street area has a very “old-timey” feel, almost to that of Main Street U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom. If you catch it on a less busy day, you’ll find quaint brick roads with shady trees that are great for the perfect family shot.
Downtown Winter Garden
Address: 300 W. Plant St., Winter Garden, FL 34787 (City Hall)
Fees: Free, but be aware of traffic on busy streets
Downtown Winter Garden has been “up and coming” for a while now. Like downtown Sanford, it’s very quaint and a nice getaway from the bustle of downtown Orlando. Families taking pics in the downtown area will love perusing shops like Adjectives local maker market or exploring the Railroad Museum. Brick roads, quiet side streets, and a small-town feel all make Winter Garden stand out among the rest of Orlando’s suburbs.
If you’re lucky enough to visit on a Saturday, check out the Winter Garden Farmers Market. There’s live music and lots of local sellers. That type of festive atmosphere always makes for great photos!
Mount Dora
Address: 230 W. Fourth Ave., Mt. Dora, FL 32757 (Sunset Park)
Fees: Free, but be aware of traffic on busy streets
Mount Dora is my favorite hidden gem around Central Florida. There’s no shortage of city streets, parks, and waterfronts to frame the perfect family shot. Boating is huge in Mount Dora, and a walk on the seagull-lined docks or a trip down the canal will produce some beautiful photos.
The area of the Lake Dora lighthouse is also a particular favorite of photographers. Check out the nearby Palm Island Boardwalk for more pristine view of natural Florida beauty.
Did we list all the best places to take outdoor family photos around Central Florida? Let us know in the comments below!
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