Sessions on Siesta Key
Family photography on Siesta Key
Quartz sand, late light, and the family you actually have
Siesta Key, FL
Sessions on Siesta Key
Quartz sand, late light, and the family you actually have
Siesta Key, FL
No. 01 — In Alle's words
Siesta Key is the most family-friendly beach I shoot on, and I'm pretty sure it's the sand. That bright quartz stays cool to the touch even in August, which means kids can run barefoot the whole time without anyone needing to be carried back to the car halfway through.
I time every Siesta session to the sunset. We meet about 75 minutes before — that gives us room to settle the kids, let them dig for a minute, get the structured photos out of the way while the light is still high and pretty, and then drift into the loose, golden, running-in-the-shallows stretch as the sun drops.
Parking is the one thing that trips people up. The main Siesta Beach lot fills early — like, 4pm-in-season early. I usually meet families at Access 5 (Beach Road) or one of the residential accesses depending on where the light is best that week. I'll send you a pin two days before with exactly where to park and where I'll be standing.
Wardrobe for Siesta is sandy whites, creams, soft pastels, and very light blue. Anything that reads as sand and sky. Avoid black — it photographs harsh against the quartz and reads as much heavier than it does in person. If you're nervous about coordinating five people, I'll send you a short Pinterest board with three palettes you can pull from.
What I love most: there's always that two-minute window right after the sun touches the horizon where the whole beach goes rose-gold, the kids stop performing because the wind picks up, and you get this honest, slightly tired, slightly windblown family standing on a pink beach. Those are the photos I send first.
No. 02 — Recent frames
No. 03 — Worth knowing
Arrive 60–75 minutes before sunset
We need a beat to settle in, get warm shots while there's still elevation in the light, and then drift through golden hour without rushing.
Parking strategy
Main Siesta lot fills early. I meet most families at Access 5 or a residential access. I'll send you a parking pin and a meeting pin two days out.
Wardrobe for a beach backdrop
Sandy whites, creams, soft sage, dusty rose, very light blue. Skip black and bright primaries — both fight the sand. Linen and flowy fabrics photograph beautifully in beach wind.
When a toddler melts down
It's fine — it happens at almost every session. I keep shooting the candid stuff while you handle them, and we usually end up with the photos you'll love most from exactly those minutes.
No. 04 — A few questions
No. 05 — When you're ready
Tell me a little about your people and the shape of the day you're picturing. I read every inquiry myself and write back within 24 hours.