The senior portrait guide for Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg.

Senior year goes faster than anyone expects.

One day you're scheduling the first-day-of-school photo on the front steps. The next you're scrambling to fit portraits in between AP exams and practices and everything else that makes senior year feel infinite and short at the same time.

This guide is for you. Or for the parent reading this while the senior is asleep. Here's everything I want you to know before we shoot, so the session feels easy and the photos still feel like you at 35.

When to book.

Tampa Bay has two windows that work best for senior portraits.

Fall. October and November. The light drops lower. The humidity eases. Florida genuinely looks its best. Golden hour in October is longer and warmer than summer. This is the most popular window, and for good reason.

Late winter. February and March. Wildflowers start. The temperature is perfect. You beat the spring rush.

Both windows fill fast. Aim to book your date 2 to 3 months out, especially if you have a specific location or a particular golden hour in mind.

Summer sessions are still possible. Florida doesn't really turn off. Plan for a later start, 7pm or later, and expect a shorter light window. The heat can also be a factor in formal clothes. Fall is just better.

Best locations in the Tampa Bay area.

The right location changes the whole feeling of the gallery. Some I keep coming back to.

• Vinoy Park, Downtown St. Pete. Bay views, mature trees, that luminous waterfront light. So good at golden hour. Endlessly versatile.
• Pass-a-Grille Beach. Old-Florida charm, direct western exposure, Gulf sunsets that don't need any help. The quieter alternative to the resort beaches.
• Fort De Soto Park. Beach, bay, mangrove, and history all in one location. More variety per session than anywhere else I've worked in Tampa Bay.
• Sunken Gardens. For seniors who want lush, botanical, and distinctly different from everyone else's outdoor session.
• The downtown murals district. Central Avenue and the EDGE District for seniors who want urban, creative, and specific to St. Pete.
• Your home or a meaningful place. The backyard you grew up in. The park you spent every weekend at. A place that already belongs to you. The most personal sessions almost always happen somewhere with a history.

For more on each spot, see my full location guide.

What to wear.

Bring two to three outfits. One casual. One a little dressed up. One that's purely you. Each look should feel like a different side of the same person, because that's exactly what it is.

In Florida light, soft and earthy tones photograph so beautifully. Sage. Cream. Blush. Warm rust. Dusty blue. Skip neon and busy patterns. Beyond that, wear what makes you feel like you. Florida heat is real, so go with breathable fabrics and looser fits for outdoor sessions.

If you're not sure, pull five options and I'll help you narrow it down. I've seen what works at every location in every season. We'll land on the combination that photographs best and keeps you comfortable.

For the longer outfit conversation, see my full guide on what to wear.

Props, pets, and personal details.

This is where senior portraits get interesting. You've spent four years becoming who you are. Don't leave that out of the photos.

• A guitar or instrument you actually play
• Varsity jacket or sports gear (worn the way you'd actually wear it, not styled)
• A book you actually love
• Your dog. Always a yes at outdoor locations.
• A car that means something to you

The thing to know. Props that belong to your real life make the photos feel real. Props that look like a set piece from someone else's senior portrait session make them feel generic.

On the day of the session.

Show up rested. Eat first. Build in buffer time so you're not racing the clock. Nothing kills a session's energy faster than arriving late and stressed.

If it's warm, bring water and give yourself a few minutes to settle in before we start.

I'll guide you through posing and movement, but I'm not going to make you hold a smile for 45 minutes. The best photos happen when you're moving, laughing, looking away, reacting. Not frozen in place.

The whole thing is going to be easier than you're picturing it. I promise.