Sessions on Lido Key

No. 01 — In Alle's words

Lido is the one I send couples to when they want privacy. It's a 15-minute drive from downtown Sarasota across the John Ringling Causeway — close enough that we never feel like we're traveling, far enough that the beach feels noticeably emptier than Siesta. Even in season.

South Lido Park, at the south end of the key, is where I shoot most of my couples and maternity sessions on this beach. There's a mangrove trail that winds through the park and opens onto a wide, undeveloped stretch of sand with the dunes behind you — it photographs like a private beach. I've never had a session here interrupted by a stranger asking what we're doing.

The north end of Lido (Lido Beach Park) has a small pavilion and easier parking — better for families with little ones who need a bathroom run mid-session. The middle stretch is best avoided; the condos behind it make for a less editorial backdrop.

Lido catches Gulf sunsets head-on. The water glows orange-pink for the last 20 minutes of light and there's almost always a quiet breeze that keeps everyone comfortable. I time sessions here exactly the way I time Siesta — 75 minutes before sunset, ending about 10 minutes after.

If you're choosing between Lido and Siesta, the rule of thumb I give clients: Siesta is the right call for big multi-generational family sessions because of the sand and the wide beach. Lido is the right call for couples, maternity sessions, or smaller families who want something quieter and a little wilder.