Quick Navigation
- How to Choose the Right Location for Your Family
- Winter Park & Old Florida Charm (Kraft Azalea, Mead Garden, Rollins, Baldwin Park)
- Downtown Orlando Classics (Leu Gardens, Lake Eola, Cypress Grove, Dickson Azalea)
- Disney Resort Backdrops (BoardWalk, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Riviera)
- Nature & Wide-Open Spaces (Lake Louisa, Wekiwa Springs, Lake Runnymede)
- Beach Sessions Within an Hour of Orlando
- Orlando Photography Permits: What You Actually Need
- Best Time of Day & Year to Shoot in Orlando
- What to Wear for Florida Family Photos
- FAQ
How to Choose the Right Location for Your Family Photos
Before we dive into the actual locations, a real talk moment from someone who has photographed all of these places dozens of times: the best Orlando family photo spot for you depends on your family — not on what looks prettiest on Instagram. When I'm helping a client choose, I ask four questions:- How old are the kids? A toddler isn't going to last 45 minutes at a manicured garden with "stay on the path" rules. A wide-open beach or a relaxed park where they can run is almost always a better call.
- What's the vibe? Lush and tropical (Leu Gardens, Mead), classic Florida (Winter Park, Baldwin), beach-and-breezy (Cocoa, New Smyrna), or magical (Disney resorts)?
- What time of year? Florida summer light is brutal until about 7 PM. Spring and fall are the most forgiving. More on this below.
- Permit, no permit, or paid entry? Some of the prettiest spots cost $20 to enter. Some require a $150+ photography permit. Some are completely free. Skip to the permit section.
Winter Park & Old Florida Charm
1. Kraft Azalea Garden
📍 1365 Alabama Drive, Winter Park, FL 32789 This tiny lakefront park punches absurdly above its weight. Towering cypress and oak trees create a cathedral-like canopy, and the white columns at the back of the park have shown up in roughly half of Central Florida's wedding portfolios. It's stunning in golden hour and unworkable on overcast days unless your photographer is using off-camera flash (I do).- Best time to shoot: 60–90 minutes before sunset.
- Permit required? Yes — Winter Park requires a photography permit for professional sessions. See the city's permit page here.
- Watch out for: Weekends in March and April when azaleas bloom — it's beautiful but packed.
2. Mead Botanical Garden
📍 1300 S. Denning Drive, Winter Park, FL 32789 Mead is the wild cousin of Leu Gardens — 47 acres of native Florida landscape, butterfly gardens, boardwalks over wetlands, and tropical foliage that genuinely doesn't look like Florida. It's free, it's almost never crowded on weekday mornings, and it gives you four or five completely different looks in one session.- Best time to shoot: Morning (8–10 AM) for the boardwalks, late afternoon for the open meadow.
- Permit required? Yes for commercial photography — check Mead Garden's site for current rates.
3. Rollins College
📍 1000 Holt Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789 Spanish-colonial architecture, lakefront views over Lake Virginia, manicured lawns, a rose garden, and one of the most photogenic college campuses in the Southeast. It feels Mediterranean, not Floridian — which is exactly why it works for families who want something dressier.- Best time to shoot: Sunday mornings (campus is quiet) or weekday late afternoons.
- Permit required? Technically yes for professional sessions — Rollins requests prior coordination through the college.
4. Baldwin Park
- Best time to shoot: 60 minutes before sunset.
- Permit required? No permit needed for the lakefront park itself.
Downtown Orlando Classics
5. Harry P. Leu Gardens
📍 1920 N. Forest Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803 Fifty acres of botanical gardens, a rose garden, the iconic Leu House, a gigantic banyan tree, and the famous pink azalea blooms in late winter. There's an admission fee plus a separate professional photography permit — but for a polished, dressed-up family session, almost nothing in Orlando beats it.- Best time to shoot: Opens 9 AM. First two hours are gorgeous.
- Permit required? Yes — see the official Leu Gardens permit policy.
6. Lake Eola Park
📍 512 E. Washington Street, Orlando, FL 32801 The downtown Orlando skyline, the swans, the iconic fountain, the giant flagpole — Lake Eola is the most "Orlando" location on this list. It works beautifully for families who want a recognizable, urban backdrop instead of garden lushness.- Best time to shoot: 30 minutes after sunrise (almost empty) or 30 minutes before sunset for skyline glow.
- Permit required? Yes for professional photography per the City of Orlando — official permit details here.
7. Cypress Grove Park
📍 290 Holden Avenue, Orlando, FL 32839 A canopy of moss-draped oaks lining the entrance road, a historic estate at the end, and a gorgeous lakefront with sunset views over Lake Jessamine. This is my pick for clients who want "old Florida" without the Winter Park price tag.- Best time to shoot: Late afternoon — that lakefront sunset is everything.
- Permit required? Yes through Orange County Parks for professional use.
8. Dickson Azalea Park
📍 100 Rosearden Drive, Orlando, FL 32803 Hidden, lush, and weirdly jungle-like for a city park. There's a stone bridge, a small ravine, tropical greenery, and just enough texture to make every shot feel cinematic. Smaller than the others but a great one-stop spot for a 20–30 minute Petite Session.- Best time to shoot: Morning or overcast days (the canopy creates beautiful diffused light).
Disney Resort Backdrops (For Families Visiting Orlando)
9. Disney's BoardWalk Resort
The Atlantic-City-meets-Disney aesthetic gives you colorful Victorian buildings, lakefront walkways, and string lights that come on right at golden hour. Easy parking via valet at the BoardWalk Inn, and almost every shot here looks intentional.10. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
The most photogenic resort on property, period. Crisp white Victorian architecture, manicured grounds, and lakefront monorail views. Best for families who want a dressier feel — this is not a barefoot-on-the-sand vibe.11. Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
Tropical, relaxed, and home to one of the few sandy beaches inside Walt Disney World. Iconic torch lighting, a beach with Magic Kingdom views, and a chill barefoot energy that works beautifully for casual families. (Yes — I've photographed many a Disney Vacation Club family at the Polynesian beach. It always works.)12. Disney's Riviera Resort
The newest of the bunch and easily the most underrated. European-inspired architecture, terracotta tiling, and views back across to EPCOT. Less crowded than BoardWalk, more architectural drama than Polynesian.Nature & Wide-Open Spaces
13. Lake Louisa State Park
📍 7305 U.S. Hwy 27, Clermont, FL 34714 About 45 minutes west of Orlando in Clermont, Lake Louisa is 4,500 acres of rolling fields, oak hammocks, beach access, and tall grass that turns golden at sunset. If you want photos that don't look like every other Orlando family session, this is where I'd send you.- Entry fee: $5 per vehicle (current as of 2026 — confirm with Florida State Parks).
- Permit required? Yes for commercial photography — apply through Florida DEP.
14. Wekiwa Springs State Park
📍 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, FL 32712 Crystal-clear springs, towering palms, and old Florida swamp vibes. About 25 minutes from downtown Orlando in Apopka. Park info on the official Florida State Parks site.15. Lake Runnymede Conservation Area
📍 St. Cloud, FL A favorite of Central Florida photographers — moss-draped cypress, tall grass, dramatic curving trees, and almost guaranteed solitude. Bring bug spray. Seriously. No restrooms, primitive access. But the photos? Worth it.Beach Sessions Within an Hour of Orlando
Real talk: if you're visiting Orlando and you can spare 60 minutes of driving, get to the coast. The light at Cocoa Beach or New Smyrna at sunrise is unmatched, and the photos feel completely different from anything you'll get inland. I wrote a full guide to the best Florida beaches for family photos here, but the short version:16. Cocoa Beach
One hour east of Orlando. My most-booked beach session location — and for good reason.17. New Smyrna Beach
Slightly further north, slightly less crowded, and the sand is whiter than Cocoa. Sunrise sessions here are pure magic.Orlando Photography Permits: What You Actually Need
Quick reality check, because this trips up almost every family that tries to DIY a session:- Free: Your own neighborhood, Lake Eola Park (for casual personal photos), Baldwin Park lakefront.
- Paid entry but no permit: Lake Louisa State Park ($5/vehicle).
- Permit required for "professional" photography: Winter Park parks (Kraft Azalea, Mead, Central Park), Leu Gardens, Cypress Grove Park, all Orange County Parks.
- Coordinated access: Rollins College, all Disney resorts.
Best Time of Day & Year to Shoot in Orlando
The single biggest factor in how your Orlando family photos turn out isn't the location — it's the light. After a decade of shooting here, this is my honest seasonal breakdown:| Month | Light Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Cool, clear, gorgeous golden hour. Peak season for a reason. |
| Mar–Apr | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Azaleas blooming. Best two months of the year. |
| May | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Heat ramps fast. Shoot early morning only. |
| Jun–Aug | ⭐⭐ | Brutal heat + 4 PM thunderstorms. Sunrise sessions only. |
| Sep–Oct | ⭐⭐⭐ | Hurricane season caveat — book flexible. |
| Nov–Dec | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Holiday card season. Books up fastest. Reserve early. |
What to Wear for Florida Family Photos
I send every client a full wardrobe guide before their session, but here's the short version:- Coordinate, don't match. Pick a 3–4 color palette (think: cream, sage, dusty blue, soft camel) and let everyone pull from it.
- Avoid pure white at the beach. It blows out in midday light.
- Avoid logos, big graphics, and neon. They date the photos within a year.
- Layers and texture beat patterns. A linen shirt, a knit cardigan, a flowy dress — they all read better than busy florals.
- Florida humidity is real. Skip the wool.
Ready to Book Your Orlando Family Session?
Here's what working with me looks like — short version:- Petite Session — $497. 20 minutes, one location, 20 finished images. Best for smaller immediate families.
- Essential Session — $649. 40 minutes, one location, 40 finished images. More room for movement and combinations.
- Signature Session — $849. 60 minutes, one location, 60 finished images. Recommended for extended families and groups needing more variety.
- Every session includes planning and location guidance, hand-edited high-resolution images, and a private gallery.