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Best Beaches for Photo Sessions around Northeast Florida

Mar 30, 2025 | By: Catherine Whitney Photography

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park Beach

500 Wonderwood Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32233

Hanna Park Beach offers many different background options. It is the perfect location for Senior, Family, and Maternity Sessions.

The boardwalk and stairs are always a favorite. The dunes and hills are beautiful and add interest to the background. The beach is lovely, and the sunset always adds gorgeous colors to the sky. 

The park has a 5.00 fee to enter. Once inside, there are many options for family fun and beautiful places for portraits. 

The beach has wheelchair access. Two restrooms are close to the beach at either end of the beach access points, and portable ones at the main entrance parking lot, and the park area

Guana River Preserve North Beach

1255-1639 A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

Guana River Preserve North Beach is a beautiful location with soft sand, a beautiful beach, and incredible views. This is a favorite of mine and many clients. This beach is close to Nocatee and Ponte Vedra Beach.

You must pay 3.00 for parking, and the parking lot closes promptly at sunset. They have park rangers to close and lock the gate promptly at sunset. There is a portable restroom in the parking lot. 

To access the beach, you will need to cross A1A from the parking lot, and there are stairs. There is no wheelchair access. 

A pregnant woman in a long, elegant dress enjoys a serene moment during her maternity photography session on the beach, with the sun setting over the horizon, with Catherine Whitney Photography
A pregnant woman in a blue dress rests on the sand during her maternity photo session, capturing a peaceful moment by the ocean, with Catherine Whitney Photography
A woman in a flowing dress and her husband stand on the beach, gazing at the ocean during her maternity photo session with Catherine Whitney Photography
A woman in a flowing dress stands on the beach, gazing at the sky during her maternity photo session with Catherine Whitney Photography

River to Sea Preserve

9805 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Palm Coast, FL 32137

I absolutely love this location. The rocks on the beach add an extra layer of beauty to the images.

There is a public restroom in the parking lot. There is no closing time for the parking area and no parking fee. There is wheelchair access to the beach.

A maternity photoshoot at the beach, showcasing a glowing expectant mother and husband against a backdrop of sand and sea in St. Augustine Florida with Catherine Whitney Photography
A pregnant woman wearing a green dress is seated on a rock at the beach in St. Augustine during her maternity photo session, enjoying the serene outdoor setting with Catherine Whitney Photography
A pregnant woman in a vibrant purple dress stands on the sandy beach, during her maternity photography session with the sea and horizon visible in the background, with Catherine Whitney Photography
A pregnant woman in a flowing purple dress stands on a rock with her husband during a maternity photography session, overlooking the serene ocean landscape, with Catherine Whitney Photography
A pregnant woman wearing a green dress stands on rocky beach terrain during her maternity photo session, with waves gently crashing in the background with Catherine Whitney Photography
A pregnant woman in a flowing purple dress stands on a rock with her husband during a maternity photography session, overlooking the serene ocean landscape, with Catherine Whitney Photography
A pregnant woman wearing a purple dress relaxes on rocky shores during her maternity photography session, with the ocean waves gently lapping nearby, with Catherine Whitney Photography

Boneyard Beach

Jacksonville, FL 32226

Boneyard Beach is famous for the bleached oaks that lie along the beach. They add another beautiful dimension to your images. This is a popular place for photographers. 

(During certain times, there are tiny gnats that can be irritating close to the oaks.)

Something to keep in mind when choosing your location is that there is a 1/4 mile walk through the woods on a dirt trail to reach the beach from the parking lot. 

The park closes at dark and the parking lot is closed and locked. There is a portable restroom in the parking lot. 

(I always recommend bringing bug spray when visiting this beach!)

Blackrock Beach

Jacksonville, FL 32226

Blackrock Beach is very similar to Boneyard Beach. They are also right down the street from each other, but I do like Blackrock Beach better.

The sand at this beach is whiter and softer, in my opinion. The beach is also more expansive from the banks to the shoreline. 

There is also a 1/4 mile walk through the woods on a dirt trail to the beach from the parking lot. The parking area is very small compared to Boneyard Beach. 

St. Augustine Beach

1B 15th St, St. Augustine, FL. 32080

St. Augustine Beach is a fun place be. I recommend doing sessions here at sunrise. This allows you to have a little more time on the beach before it fills up with all the tourists. Also, checking on high and low tide is important for this location, as the beach here at the pier can be entirely under water at high tide. 

There is a parking lot and restrooms right at the beach. You really can't go wrong at this beautiful location. 

A high school senior wearing a dress stands on the sandy beach, silhouetted against a colorful sunrise sky at St. Augustine Beach during her senior photography session with Catherine Whitney Photography
A high school senior girl in a bikini joyfully running along the shoreline of St. Augustine beach during her senior photography session on a sunny day with Catherine Whitney Photography
A beautiful young high school senior relaxes in a lush field filled with blooming flowers, surrounded by nature's vibrant colors at St. Augustine Beach Florida during her senior photo session with Catherine Whitney Photography.
high school senior girl during her senior photography session in St. Augustine, Florida, wearing a floral dress, leaning against a wooden fence at St. Augustine Beach Pier
A high school senior woman with a radiant smile is seated on a staircase at St. Augustine Beach, exuding beauty and confidence in her pose during her photography session with Catherine Whitney Photography
A high school senior seated on the beach during her senior photo session, with her feet in the sand, looking out at the calm sea under a clear blue sky with Catherine Whitney Photography in St. Augustine, Florida, Beach
A high school senior wearing a bikini during her senior photo session in St. Augustine Beach stands in the ocean, enjoying the water as waves crash softly around her, with Catherine Whitney Photography
A blonde high school senior in a bikini during her senior photography session relaxes on the beach in St Augustine Beach Pier, enjoying the sun and the serene ocean view with Catherine Whitney Photography

Jax Beach

503 1st St. N, Jacksonville Beach FL 32250

Jax Beach at the pier is a fun place to do your photo session. You have the pier, you can use to add interest to your images. There is a public parking lot with easy access to the beach. 

Ponte Vedra Beach

A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

 

This is another beautiful place to do a sunrise or sunset photo session. The sand is soft and the beach is beautiful. 

Parking is next to an Exxon gas station across the street from the beach. There are no bathroom facilities at this beach. There is no closing time set for the parking area. 
A man and a pregnant woman walk together on the beach during their photography session on Ponte Vedra Beach, their footprints trailing in the sand beside the ocean with Catherine Whitney Photography
A man and pregnant woman walk together on the sandy beach during their maternity photo session, surrounded by the beauty of the ocean and a bright sky with Catherine Whitney Photography
A pregnant woman in a flowing white dress stands on the Ponte Vedra beach, gazing at the ocean waves under a clear blue sky during her maternity photo session with Catherine Whitney Photography

There are so many beautiful beaches in and around the Jacksonville area! These are just a few, but ones I use the most often.

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