The best places to take pictures in Tallahassee are its gardens, canopy-road oaks and spring-fed waters: Maclay Gardens, Goodwood Museum & Gardens, Lichgate on High Road, Dorothy B. Oven Park, Millers Landing, Tom Brown Park and the Alford Greenway, Rose Hill, plus day trips to Pebble Hill Plantation and the Wacissa River. Which one is right for you depends on your shoot type, the season and the look you want.
Craft Creek Photography is a photography company that has a studio in Tallahassee, and these are the spots we keep coming back to. This guide is here to help you choose, not to rush you. For photos and details on every spot, see our favorite Tallahassee photo locations.
Maclay Gardens State Park
Best for: engagement, family, graduation and maternity.
Maclay is Tallahassee’s classic garden setting, with brick walkways, a reflecting pool, camellias and azaleas around Lake Hall. The gardens bloom from January through April and peak in late February, so spring sessions book up early. Plan on golden hour, because the gardens close at sunset. Like any state park, it may have entry fees set by the park.
Goodwood Museum & Gardens
Best for: family, engagement, heirloom-style portraits and seniors.
Goodwood is a historic plantation home just north of downtown, with live oaks, garden beds and open lawns. Walking the grounds is free. Photography inside the main house needs the museum’s permission. Morning and late-afternoon light filter softly through the oaks.
Lichgate on High Road
Best for: family, engagement, maternity and storybook-style portraits.
Lichgate is a small hidden garden with winding paths and a storybook cottage, built around one enormous, sprawling live oak. That oak is the reason to come here: its limbs make a natural frame for couples and kids. Shade lasts most of the day, so it works even in Florida summer. Lichgate is privately managed and can be reserved for events, so we check availability ahead of time.
Dorothy B. Oven Park
Best for: family, graduation, maternity and lifestyle.
This City of Tallahassee park on Thomasville Road has about six acres of former camellia nursery gardens around a 1930s manor house, with azaleas, camellias and palms. Its blooms peak in winter and early spring. It’s quieter than Maclay, which suits nervous kids and anyone camera-shy. The house is sometimes rented for events, so we schedule around those.
Millers Landing
Best for: families, maternity, engagements, couples and sunset portraits.
Millers Landing Road passes the woods and trails of Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park, runs under a canopy of mossy live oaks and ends at the Lake Jackson shoreline. That’s plenty of different scenery in one spot: start in the shade of the oaks, then finish at the water for warm backlight and silhouettes. Come about an hour before sunset.
Tom Brown Park / Alford Greenway
Best for: family, seniors, active kids and dog-friendly sessions.
These are neighboring green spaces on Tallahassee’s east side. Tom Brown has lakes and open fields, and the Alford Greenway has rolling meadows, trails and big skies. There’s room for kids to run, and golden-hour grass glows from fall through spring. The City says ordinary still photography doesn’t need a film permit.
Rose Hill
Best for: seniors, engagement, family and polished, classic portraits.
Rose Hill is a neighborhood off Meridian Road. Its grand entrance, white picket fence and symmetrical row of trees make clean, timeless backdrops. The tree-lined lines draw the eye straight to you, and the soft shade of morning or late afternoon keeps the light even. Please be respectful of residents when we shoot there.
Pebble Hill Plantation (additional costs)
Best for: engagement, bridal, formal family and heirloom portraits.
Pebble Hill is just over the state line near Thomasville, Georgia. The drive passes through a live-oak canopy, and the grounds have brick paths, magnolias, camellias and elegant historic architecture. Additional costs apply: travel time, plus photography fees that may be set by the venue. We’ll walk you through it before you book.
Wacissa River (additional costs)
Best for: adventurous couples, engagement and nature-lover sessions, plus a natural pairing with our underwater work.
The Wacissa starts at spring-fed headwaters in Jefferson County. The water is crystal clear, with cypress trees, eelgrass and plenty of wildlife. Weekdays and winter are quieter, because weekends get crowded near the springs. Additional costs apply: travel time, plus kayak or canoe rentals, which may have fees set by the outfitter.
How to choose your spot
- Engagement: Maclay, Lichgate, Millers Landing or Pebble Hill
- Family and heirloom-style: Goodwood, Dorothy B. Oven, Tom Brown/Alford Greenway
- College graduation: campus favorites are Westcott Fountain and the Langford Greenway near the stadium at FSU, and the FAMU Way entrance sign and Rattler statue at FAMU. See our graduation photo packages.
- High school seniors: Dorothy B. Oven, Goodwood, Maclay or your school
- Something different: the Wacissa River
Still not sure? Browse the best photo spots in Tallahassee with photos of each, or ask us. Every location here is within easy reach of our studio at 3110 Shamrock Street North (visits by appointment only). Travel is free within 10 miles of the studio and $2.50 a mile round-trip beyond that.
FAQs
Do I need a permit for a photoshoot in Tallahassee parks?
For most portrait sessions, no. The City of Tallahassee says still photography doesn’t need a film permit unless a shoot uses tents, blocks the street or impacts property. Some venues, including state parks and private gardens, may have entry or photography fees and rules set by the venue. We check current policies and handle them with you.
When is the best time of year for photos in Tallahassee?
Late winter through spring is peak, when camellias and azaleas bloom and Maclay Gardens peaks in late February. Fall brings softer light and cooler evenings. Summer works best at shady spots like Lichgate or in the hour before sunset. For any season, golden hour gives the most flattering light.
What are the best Tallahassee photo spots for engagement pictures?
Popular choices are Maclay Gardens for classic blooms, Lichgate’s giant oak for a storybook feel, Millers Landing for oak-canopy and lakeside sunset photos and Pebble Hill for formal elegance. If you love the outdoors, the clear water of the Wacissa River makes a striking backdrop. Pick the place that feels most like the two of you.
Do some photo locations cost extra?
Yes, two of them. Pebble Hill Plantation adds travel time and may have photography fees set by the venue. The Wacissa River adds travel time plus kayak or canoe rental. Elsewhere, travel is free within 10 miles of our studio and $2.50 a mile round-trip beyond. We confirm extra costs before you book.
Where should I take graduation photos in Tallahassee?
At FSU, graduates love Westcott Fountain and the Langford Greenway near the stadium. At FAMU, the FAMU Way entrance sign and the Rattler statue are favorites. High school seniors often choose their school, Dorothy B. Oven Park, Goodwood or Maclay Gardens. Our graduation package covers two to three nearby locations in one hour.
Where should we shoot?
Need help choosing a spot? See our favorite Tallahassee photo locations.
Explore Photo LocationsOr reach us by email, phone or text at 850.544.3336.
