If you’re planning to book a photoshoot in Miami, you’re probably wondering where are the best places to take pictures? You’re going through the effort to spend this money, possibly wrangle children, and you want it to turn out amazing! Well, you’ve landed in the right place because as a Miami native and photographer for nearly two decades, I am here to share with you my favorite photo shoot locations for portraits in Miami. Let’s jump in!

South Beach, Miami

The most obvious location for a photoshoot in Miami is South Beach! It’s our top tourist destination and for good reason. South Beach is beautiful, lively, and active, and it also has amazing backdrops for photography. My favorite place to shoot on South Beach is South Pointe Pier. This is at the southernmost point of South Beach where there is a beautiful park, pier with a boardwalk, rock pilings, and the water clarity is absolutely gorgeous here. It’s one of the best views in Miami (and that’s coming from a local!)

Best Day and Time to Shoot: I recommend shooting on South Beach at sunrise on a weekend. One of the downfalls to South Beach is there is a lot of traffic since it’s such a popular destination. But one thing about Miami is most people don’t wake up early (besides the fitness junkies who you’ll see out running or biking at 6am). So it’s the best time to beat the traffic and have very few people on the beach. Because the less people in the background of your photos, the better!

See more photos from this session here: Photos in South Beach

Key Biscayne

Possibly my favorite place for photos in Miami is Key Biscayne. Key Biscayne is a little island near South Beach, and it’s like its more laid-back sister. It is still very popular, but it’s not nearly as developed as South Beach, and it is more nature-focused. There are a few different locations to choose from in Key Biscayne, my favorites being Virginia Key and Crandon Park.

Matheson Hammock

The location that is my #1 go-to in Miami for photography is Matheson Hammock. Located in Coral Gables, this beach park offers beautiful backdrops with palm trees and a manmade lagoon right on Biscayne Bay. For those that live in the suburbs, this is a closer destination than Miami Beach or Key Biscayne. I recommend booking a sunrise shoot here because the sun rises over the bay and it will be less crowded.

See more photos from this session

Coral Gables

For those that want more of an urban feel, I highly recommend shooting around Coral Gables. It’s one of Miami’s historic neighborhoods that is filled with Spanish-style architecture and streets lined with live oak trees. It’s also a great area ato grab a bite after 🙂

Kendall Indian Hammocks

This is a lesser-known spot tucked away in the suburbs but it is no less beautiful! I love to shoot here when my clients are not big into beach photos and want something with more greenery. It’s a serious of trails filled with live oaks covered in vines and feels very secluded even though it’s in the middle of Kendall.

Miami Design District

For those looking for a city vibe, I highly recommend the Design District! This area of the city is filled with amazing art installations and unique walls to use as backdrops for artistic shots. This area can get very crowded so I recommend shooting here at sunrise to avoid people in the background.

I hope you guys found this blog helpful! Miami is known for its amazing beaches which is where I love to shoot most, but there is really something for everyone. If you’re looking for a photographer in Miami for engagement photos, family photos, maternity photos, or newborn photos, I’d love to chat with you and hear your ideas! Just send me an email through my contact form.