Every week I get the same request: “We saw these gorgeous photos at Alys Beach (or Rosemary Beach) online — can we take our family pictures there?”

I get it. Those white, Mediterranean-style buildings against the Gulf are stunning, and they photograph beautifully. But here’s the truth most people don’t realize until they’re standing at a locked gate: Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach are private communities. Beach access in these towns requires a resident or guest access card, and unless you’re staying on property there, you simply can’t get through the gates — let alone set up for a photo session on that beach. In Alys you literally have to gain permission for photos around their town. They verify your name and address of rental/owned home. Rosemary they also require you to be staying there to have photos taken there.

I’ve had clients who want to book sessions assuming they could just show up to these towns because they look so accessible online. As your photographer, my job is to help you avoid that disappointment before it happens, and to find something that works just as well — or better — for your family.

The Easiest Solution: Let’s Meet Where You’re Staying

Here’s my honest, go-to advice after years of shooting up and down 30A: the simplest and best option is almost always to meet you at the beach access point closest to where you’re staying.

If your rental has private beach access, that’s actually a huge win. Private access means:

• No crowds
• No competing for parking
• A relaxed, unhurried session
• More flexibility with timing

Public beach accesses with parking along 30A are limited, and many of them host nightly bonfires in season, which take up parking spots and bring a lot of foot traffic onto the beach right around golden hour — which is exactly when we want to shoot. So if you’ve got a private or semi-private access point where you’re staying, that’s usually our best bet, and I’m happy to come to you.

What If You Want That Upscale 30A Architecture Look?

If your heart is set on that iconic 30A architecture — the pastel cottages, the walkable town feel, the charm you’ve seen in photos — there is one town that delivers it with beach access: Seaside.

Why Seaside Works

Seaside has that classic 30A look: pastel beach houses, a central green park space, and a walkable town center that photographs beautifully whether we’re shooting near the buildings, in the park, or down by the water.

For beach access, Seaside’s Coleman Pavilion opens to the public at 4pm daily, which gives us a window to use their beach for photos.

What to Know Before You Book Seaside

I’ll always be upfront with my clients about this one. Seaside is busy — especially in the summer. A few things to plan around:

• Parking is paid, and spots fill up fast
• The town gets crowded.
• You’ll want to arrive early to find parking and get settled before our session starts

If you’re set on the Seaside look, it’s absolutely doable — I’ve shot many beautiful sessions there — but go in knowing it takes a little more planning and patience than meeting at your own beach access.

My Backup Picks: Grayton Beach State Park and Deer Lake State Park

If you’re staying somewhere without walkable or private beach access, and Seaside’s crowds aren’t appealing, my first choices are Grayton Beach State Park and Deer Lake State Park.

Grayton Beach State Park

Grayton has a gorgeous beach trail that adds a really natural, scenic element to photos — dunes, coastal scrub, that wild Florida coastline feel before you even reach the water. The downside is that it’s consistently busy, so we’ll need to time our session and plan for some company on the beach.

Deer Lake State Park

Deer Lake is another favorite of mine for that same reason — beautiful dune landscapes leading to the beach. It tends to be a bit quieter than Grayton, which makes it a solid alternative if you want that natural 30A scenery without quite as much foot traffic. The boardwalk is a long walk, .25 mile…but it’s easy.

Windy Day Alternative: Cerulean Park at WaterColor

On windy days, I love suggesting Cerulean Park in WaterColor. It’s a beautiful spot with a different feel — more sheltered, lush, floral walkways, beautiful trees and great for photos that aren’t dependent on open beach and crashing waves.

One important note: we cannot access the actual beach at WaterColor without a resident or guest armband. So Cerulean Park works wonderfully as a park-and-greenery location, but it’s not a beach-access workaround.

My Best Advice Before You Book

If there’s one thing I want every client to walk away with, it’s this: tell me where you’re staying before you fall in love with a location online.

Here’s my simple rule of thumb:

• If you have beach access where you’re staying (private or semi-private), let’s just meet there. It’s almost always the best option — less crowded, less stressful, more time for great photos.
• If your accommodation isn’t walkable to the beach or doesn’t have its own access, my first recommendations are Grayton Beach State Park or Deer Lake State Park.
• If you’re craving that iconic pastel-and-architecture look, Seaside is your best public option — just plan for crowds and paid parking.
• If it’s a windy day and we need a backup, Cerulean Park at WaterColor is a beautiful choice (just not for beach access).

The towns you’ve seen all over Pinterest and Instagram — Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach — are stunning, but they’re private for a reason, and that’s okay. 30A has so many other beautiful, photo-worthy spots that don’t come with locked gates and access cards. The other factor for 30a/Walton County is that a Vendor permit is required for photographers. If a photographer does not get the permit they are at risk of being stopped and fined during a session at a public beach.

When you book your session, just let me know where you’re staying and what kind of look you’re hoping for. I’ll help you figure out the best location from there — that’s what I’m here for.