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Family sessions · Sarasota
Weekday sunsets on the beach, or wherever your family is comfortable. Visiting families, a weekday early in your trip is usually the easiest time to get.
The hour
I’m Michael, a Sarasota family photographer who’d rather catch your kids being themselves than ask them to pose, so we’ll walk at the beach, in a park or near home until everyone relaxes. Whether you’re a local family or visiting Florida’s Gulf Coast, sessions are built around genuine connection and real moments as they unfold.
From quiet in-between moments to the laughter you didn’t expect, the goal is simple: create images that feel like your family, not something staged.
Trusted by hundreds of couples and families across weddings, engagements, and portrait sessions, known for creating a relaxed, comfortable experience from start to finish.
See full sessions in the portfolio on the current site.
A family outdoors in a green park.
The work
Some of my favorite frames are the ones where the kids are just having fun and ignoring me.
Swipe the photographs
Why here
Three places cover most of what families want here, and they're different enough that the choice actually matters. Siesta Key for the beach, South Lido for beach and trees in one place, and Phillippi Estate Park for families who'd rather not deal with sand at all.
The beach isn't always the right answer. If your kids do better with something to climb and somewhere to run, or if a grandparent is coming who can't manage soft sand, the estate is the easier day. For families who live here, a session at home usually ages better than a beach set, because the house behind you is the one the kids grew up in.
This is the access point I use. The lot holds fifteen to twenty cars and people come and go constantly, so there's usually something open, especially on a weekday. Come a few minutes early anyway so you're not hunting for a space while the light is going.
The sand is the reason to put up with the parking. It's close to pure quartz, which is why it stays cool enough to walk on barefoot at the end of a hot day.
Beach and greenery in the same place, which gives us more to work with than open sand does. My read is that it runs quieter than Siesta, mostly because Siesta is the one everybody has heard of.
Where I send families who'd rather skip the sand, and it's my first suggestion in two situations.
If you have little ones, there's a playground. When we need a few frames without the kids in them, they've got somewhere to go for a minute instead of standing still being told to wait.
And if a grandparent is coming, the estate sits just off the parking lot. Nobody has to cross soft sand or walk any real distance to reach where we're photographing.
One thing worth knowing: I'd avoid a weekend here. The estate gets closed off for weddings, so either ask ahead whether anything's booked that day, or pick a weekday and skip the question.
The longer walk-through of each spot is the guide to family photo locations in Sarasota.
Timing
The hour before sunset is when the light does the work for you. Everything earlier in the day is harsh, and on a Gulf Coast beach in summer it is also hot. In July that hour starts around half past seven and the sun is down by half past eight; by October it starts closer to six.
Weekdays are the easiest slots to get, and an evening is something you can build a day around.
Evenings go best when the session is not the end of a full day on the sand. If you are visiting, book a weekday early in your trip and keep that afternoon quiet.
For the early risers, morning sessions are available too. The sky is a completely different thing at that hour and the beach is empty.
Weekends book up first, so if a Saturday sunset is the only thing that works, tell me as early as you can.
The session
Family sessions are designed to feel easy from start to finish.
There’s no pressure to pose perfectly or keep everything “together.” I’ll guide you when needed, but most of the time is spent simply letting things unfold naturally: kids being themselves, parents being present, and real moments happening in between.
The result is a set of images that feel genuine, relaxed, and true to your family.
If you’re wondering what a session actually feels like from start to finish, I put together a quick guide that walks through the experience in a simple, honest way.
Clothes
The goal is simple: wear something that feels like you.
Neutral tones, soft colors, and lightweight fabrics tend to photograph beautifully, especially in Sarasota’s natural light. Coordinating without matching usually works best.
If you’re unsure what to choose, I’m always happy to help you plan outfits that feel natural and cohesive.
Your gallery is ready within 48 to 72 hours. Every image is fully edited and color corrected, and it arrives in a private gallery you can download from and order prints through. You own personal print rights on all of them.
If the weather turns, we move the session. You pick the next date that works for everyone, your deposit moves with it, and most families are back on the calendar within a month. If your timing needs something different, say so. I am not rigid about it.
Afternoon storms are normal here from June through September and they usually pass in under an hour. I would rather move a session than shoot one in bad light, so if the forecast turns we will talk the day before.
Family session pricing
Natural, relaxed family portraits designed to feel fun, effortless, and timeless. Whether you’re local or visiting Florida’s Gulf Coast, sessions are tailored to capture genuine connection, not stiff poses.
I take on a limited number of families each week to allow for weather flexibility. If you’re vacationing along the Gulf Coast, I recommend booking your session earlier in your stay so we have some wiggle room if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Select dates
$275
A quick 20 minutes. Perfect for quick updates or milestone moments.
A few evenings a year, one location per evening. Dates, times and booking are on the mini sessions page.
Most popular
$425
Relaxed, playful, and unhurried.
Extended family
$625
For more than the immediate family.
We'll do the whole group first while everyone's fresh, then break into smaller combinations, grandparents with the kids, each family on its own, so nobody's standing on the sand waiting their turn. More than ten is fine. It's $25 a head.
| Add-on | Price |
|---|---|
| Additional people | $25 per person |
| Extra time | $100 per 30 minutes |
| Each additional image | $20 |
| Heirloom albums & wall art | Available upon request |
Questions families ask
A mini session is $275 for a 20-minute session with 15 images. A Signature session is $425, one hour, 25 images. A Premium extended family session is $625, up to 90 minutes, up to 10 people, and 30+ images. Full pricing is above.
Yes. A few evenings a year I run mini sessions at spots like Siesta Key and South Lido Park. The next date is on the mini sessions page.
Rain usually passes within the hour. We can touch base the day before and reschedule; the deposit transfers.
Dress for the spot. On the beach, soft colors with a little depth, like oatmeal, sand, dusty blue or sage, work best, and white is fine in the evening or on an overcast day but not in bright midday sun. In the shade at a park, cream and white look their best. Skip heavy black and busy patterns, and choose something that moves in the breeze. The full guide goes location by location: What to Wear for Family Photos in Sarasota.
Love dogs, bring them all. Extended family, do the premium session so you can get ten people. For dogs, the Celery Fields and Myakka River State Park are both good picks on a leash. A good walk or some playtime before the session helps them settle in for photos.
Your gallery is ready within 48 to 72 hours.
Anywhere your family is comfortable, from Siesta Key and South Lido Park to Venice Beach, Selby Gardens or your own backyard. If you'd like something other than sand, the Celery Fields has boardwalks through the wetlands, and Phillippi Estate Park has big oaks and an open lawn in front of the Edson Keith Mansion. The guide to the best locations for family photos in Sarasota walks through each spot.
Booking
I take a limited number of families each week so there is room to move a session if the weather turns. Weekday evenings are the easiest to get. If you are visiting Sarasota, book early in your trip so we have a day or two of slack.
