The Best Outdoor Shoot Locations in Palm Beach County for Kids and Families
By the FAM | Florida Family & Kids Casting Experts
One of the things that makes Palm Beach County such a special place to raise a family is also what makes it such an incredible place to photograph one. The light here is genuinely different. The settings range from wild and natural to polished and architectural. And on any given morning, you can be standing in a location that looks like it belongs in a national campaign, because it does.
This post is for families who want to build their lifestyle portfolio, for parents who are thinking about hiring a photographer to capture their family in a real, beautiful setting, and for anyone who is just curious about what makes this county such a strong market for lifestyle photography and family content.
We have broken it down by location type, with a specific example of each, along with the best time to go, what the light is like, and why it works so well for family and kids lifestyle photography. And if you get to the end and decide you want help connecting with a photographer who knows how to shoot for portfolio and casting purposes specifically, reach out to us. We have resources.
The Beach: Blowing Rocks Preserve | Jupiter Island
If you have only ever thought of Florida beaches as flat, sandy, and interchangeable, Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island will completely change your perspective. In a region with miles of sandy beaches, Blowing Rocks is unique: its craggy limestone shore looks like it belongs in Maine or Hawaii. The ancient Anastasia limestone formations create a dramatic, textured shoreline that serves as one of the most visually striking backdrops in all of South Florida.
For photography, this location offers something most Florida beaches simply cannot: variety and depth. The rock formations create natural framing, interesting foreground texture, and a sense of scale that makes images feel cinematic rather than flat. The wide open beach on either side gives you clean, classic space when you want it, and the rocks give you something completely different when you want that.
Best time to shoot: Early morning, ideally within the first hour after sunrise. The light is soft and golden, the beach is quiet, and you avoid the midday heat that makes younger children uncomfortable. Note that all trails and parking lots close daily at 4:30pm, so morning is also the most practical window for a longer session.
What it is good for: Lifestyle content, natural family portraits, editorial style images, and portfolio building for kids who want a non-traditional beach look. The location reads as premium and unique, which makes images shot here stand out immediately.
Practical note: Parking is limited so arrive early. Wear shoes or sandals on the beach as the limestone can be sharp. No food or beverages are permitted on the preserve so plan accordingly.
The Garden: Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens | Delray Beach
There is genuinely nowhere else in Palm Beach County that looks like Morikami. The campus spans nearly 200 acres and features winding garden paths, arched bridges, koi ponds, stone lanterns, and lush landscaping that shifts beautifully with the seasons. It is serene, layered, and endlessly photogenic, and it produces images that look completely unlike anything else shot in South Florida.
For family photography, Morikami offers something invaluable: a backdrop that stops people in their tracks. The greenery is dense and intentional. The pathways create natural leading lines. The bridges and water features give families something to interact with organically, which means images capture real moments rather than posed ones.
Best time to shoot: Weekday mornings when the gardens are quietest. The dappled light filtering through the tree canopy creates a soft, diffused quality that is especially flattering for children and families. Avoid midday when overhead sun creates harsh shadows.
What it is good for: Lifestyle portfolio images, family portraits with a distinctive editorial feel, and content for families who want images that look nothing like a standard Florida beach shoot. Brands in wellness, organic, and lifestyle categories love this type of setting.
Photography policy: Personal photography with a small handheld camera is permitted during regular operating hours, and it photographs beautifully even on a phone. Additional equipment, props, and wardrobe changes are not permitted during general admission. If you want to bring a professional photographer with equipment for a portfolio session, that needs to be booked in advance through the Facility Rental Department as a private session. It is absolutely doable and worth looking into for the right shoot. Contact Morikami directly for availability and details.
If a garden setting appeals to you but you want more flexibility for a professional shoot, Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach is another excellent option and one of the most beautiful and accessible garden locations in the county. Royal Palm Way on Palm Beach island is also worth exploring for its iconic palm-lined promenade and manicured grounds, which have a completely different, more elevated aesthetic. The county has no shortage of green, lush settings that work beautifully for family and kids photography.
The Upscale Lifestyle Setting: Mizner Park | Boca Raton
Mizner Park is the kind of location that works for almost every type of family photography because it offers multiple distinct environments within a single walkable area. The open-air design features elegant fountains, palm-lined walkways, and shaded courtyards alongside the warm pink Mediterranean Revival architecture that Boca Raton is known for. It is polished, it is vibrant, and it photographs beautifully.
For families, Mizner Park is especially useful because it does not lock you into one look. You can shoot against the architecture for something more structured and lifestyle-forward, move to the fountains for something playful and bright, or use the palm-lined promenade for a clean, editorial feel. It is the kind of location where a family can walk through naturally and a photographer can capture the whole range in a single session.
Best time to shoot: Early morning on a weekday before the plaza fills up, or golden hour in the late afternoon when the warm light hits the pink buildings and creates a genuinely beautiful glow. Midday on weekends gets busy which makes it harder to shoot naturally.
What it is good for: Lifestyle content with an upscale urban feel, mommy-and-me sessions, fashion-forward family portraits, and portfolio content for families who want images with a polished city energy rather than a natural outdoor setting. This location reads very well for clothing brands, retail campaigns, and lifestyle content.
Practical note: Parking is available in the garage and is easiest mid-morning on weekdays. The plaza is public and free to visit.
The Nature Trail: Jonathan Dickinson State Park | Hobe Sound
For families who want something wild, green, and completely removed from the manicured aesthetic of South Florida's more polished locations, Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound is the answer. The park covers over eleven thousand acres of Florida scrub, mangrove forest, and river habitat, and it offers the kind of lush, untouched natural beauty that lifestyle brands in the outdoor, wellness, and family activity space actively seek out.
The cypress-lined Loxahatchee River runs through the park and offers a particularly beautiful backdrop for photography. Kayak and canoe launches, river views, dense overhanging tree canopies, and open scrub landscapes all exist within the same space, giving photographers a wide variety of natural settings to work with.
Best time to shoot: Early morning is the clear winner here. The light filters through the tree canopy in a way that is genuinely extraordinary in the first hour after sunrise, and the wildlife including birds, turtles, and manatees in season adds an organic, living quality to images that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
What it is good for: Outdoor lifestyle content, adventure-oriented family images, and portfolio shots for families who want something completely different from a beach or urban setting. This location is especially strong for brands in the outdoor, travel, and active lifestyle space.
Practical note: The park has an entry fee and it is worth planning your visit in advance. Early arrival on weekdays ensures the most peaceful and photogenic conditions.
The Downtown Neighborhood Feel: Pineapple Grove Arts District | Delray Beach
For families who want the energy of a real neighborhood, with street art, colorful storefronts, interesting textures, and an authentic community feel, Pineapple Grove in Delray Beach is one of the best-kept secrets in Palm Beach County for photography. The arts district sits just off Atlantic Avenue and features murals, independent shops, wide sidewalks, and a genuinely vibrant urban energy that reads completely differently from anything else on this list.
For lifestyle and editorial family photography, street-level shooting in Pineapple Grove produces images that feel real and current. Kids on a sidewalk in front of a mural, a family walking past a colorful storefront, parents with coffee in hand and a child between them on a sunny Delray morning — these are the kinds of images that brands in fashion, food, family lifestyle, and community-focused campaigns are actively looking for.
Best time to shoot: Morning on a weekend or late afternoon on a weekday when the light is warm and directional and the streets have life without being overcrowded. The murals face multiple directions so a photographer who knows the area will be able to work the light effectively throughout the day.
What it is good for: Lifestyle and editorial content, urban family portraits, mommy-and-me images with a street style feel, and portfolio content that shows range beyond the beach and garden settings.
A Note on Building Your Portfolio in These Locations
If you are using any of these locations to build your child's or family's modeling portfolio, a few things are worth keeping in mind regardless of where you shoot.
Morning light is almost always your best friend. The golden hour after sunrise gives you soft, warm, flattering light that is genuinely difficult to replicate at any other time of day. Plan around it whenever possible.
Keep wardrobe simple and location-appropriate. A clean, well-fitted outfit in a solid neutral or warm tone will photograph beautifully in every single location on this list. Busy patterns and logos compete with the environment rather than complementing it.
Let the kids lead when you can. The best lifestyle portfolio images of children are almost always the ones where the child forgot they were being photographed. Give them something to interact with, somewhere to explore, and a photographer who knows how to follow rather than pose, and the images will take care of themselves.
If you want to shoot for portfolio purposes and are looking for a photographer who understands exactly what types of lifestyle images casting companies and brands are looking for in submissions, reach out to us. We have resources and are happy to point you in the right direction.
Ready to Put Your Family in Front of the Right Camera?
Palm Beach County has everything a brand could want in a shoot location. And your family might be exactly what a brand is looking for. At The FAM Talent we connect real kids and families across Palm Beach County and South Florida with lifestyle shoots, fashion campaigns, e-commerce projects, and commercial productions that need genuine, relatable, beautiful family content.
