Jaci is the reason I even wanted to get into the senior area, let alone be a 30A senior photographer. If you haven’t visited 30A Florida before, this will be the first of many blogs I post about amazing photo spots, restaurants, and places you can’t miss. But, as a photographer in 30A Florida, I feel obligated to share some of the best photo spots first!

The photo spots below are from Jaci’s senior session. She got the deluxe package with two separate sessions, one in the fall and one in spring. Our last photoshoot was in a field of wildflowers. I’m not sure how I could ever top it. I knew we needed to go BIG. I told her I’d love to do Eden Gardens State park and then just walk around Seaside in 30A and stop by anything that caught her eye. She was game and so, here we are!

Pro Tip- TOP SECRET

Just kidding, it’s not really a secret. The weather can be spotty and the crowds can be immense during peak season. The sun was shining, and don’t tell our secret.. But if you’re a photographer and would like to photograph outside of the crowds during peak season, head to 30A around 4 PM during Spring Break. The beach crowds have gone home to shower and rest up for the day, and the happy hour/dinner crowds have not yet surfaced. You’re almost guarantied to find some sort of parking spot within walking distance and it will save hours of your life removing people from your backgrounds in Photoshop.

Parking in Seaside 30A Florida

The best way to get around Seaside is by walking or bike, but if you’ve chosen to stay in a different town along 30A and need to drive there, I can almost always find parking around the Seaside Neighborhood School. Which, by the way is a great spot for photos and close to the Seaside Chapel. There is a small parking fee and you’ll need an app to downloaded to your phone. You can also take advantage of many of the shuttles along 30A.

So now, the moment you’ve been waiting for! If you’re going to 30A and want to take your senior photos, it’s a blast! Here are my absolute favorite spots to photograph. And, shameless plug- I’d love to be your photographer. You can fill out the contact form here.

#1 Seaside Pavilion

This area is right outside Bud and Alley’s which is an amazing restaurant as well as Pickles which is an adorable walk up bar and restaurant with super fun cocktails (for the parents)! I included a few photos of the sunset from Bud and Alley’s so you can see how gorgeous it is any time of day. They have the cutest green umbrellas set up along the sidewalk and it’s got radiant light that comes through in the early afternoon. The open plaza has a gorgeous white, open space which bounces beautifully on the skin. And the tall palm trees give it the tropical look and feel so many want to go for in 30A Florida!

#2 Seaside Neighborhood School

As I mentioned before, this is a great spot to start your shoot because I can almost always find parking here and pay a small fee. This beats the alternative of walking miles in the heat, trying to parallel park on 30A.. no thank you! If you need help finding this on Google Maps, just type in Lyceum Lawn.

This is the most gorgeous school I have ever seen. All white walls and shiplap surrounding the area with palm trees and green grass. All of this is right in the heart of Seaside, Florida.

#3 Central Square in Seaside, 30A Florida

This is THE spot most people think of when they think of Seaside, Florida. The cutest shops, restaurants and either white walls or pops of color surround you. The adorable Seaside Post Office can be found here. It is really tough to avoid people in this area. If you’d like to have the place without crowds, my suggestions would be to come at sunrise. But, if you can’t make that happen- just embrace the crowds and have fun. Tons of people are taking photos so there’s no reason to be ashamed of it!

#4 Seaside Heavenly Shortcakes and Ice Cream

Nothing says “fun in the sun” like ice cream! Having an ice cream cone will not only help you stay cool but will give you a fun prop for your photos, this is where most of my senior sessions end before heading to the beach! There’s no better spot in Seaside than Heavenly Shortcakes and Ice Cream. Grab an ice cream cone, sit at the cute tables and have fun with it! If you continue walking backward, there is a really cute, yellow stair case and a little alleyway with lots of shade. Both are great for a quick photo!

# 5 Eden Gardens State Park 30A Florida

This one isn’t technically Seaside.. But it’s really close! Eden Gardens State Park is truly a hidden gem most people don’t take the time to visit while in town. I haven’t figured out why! But, it truly looks like it’s right out of a Southern Living Magazine. It’s 163 acres of land but you’ll be able to find countless photos spots within about 3 acres. You’ll have to travel over to the north side of 30A about 10 minutes away from Seaside. It costs $4.00 to park and the gate usually isn’t manned so it’s based on an honor system.

You’ll find endless amount of Spanish Moss, cobblestone sidewalks, huge oak trees, and beautiful blooming flowers-especially if you go in the Spring.

Looking for a 30A Florida senior photographer? Feel free to reach out so we can brainstorm your session!

Did I miss anything? Let me know what I should put in Part 2 in the comments!

Check out more trendy senior sessions here.