St. Petersburg Photo Spots

St. Petersburg, Florida, offers a treasure trove of picturesque locations for avid photographers and casual shutterbugs alike.📸 From the sun-kissed beaches and stunning natural landscapes to vibrant murals and historic buildings, every corner of this coastal city has a potential frame-worthy moment waiting to be captured. Whether you aim to capture the architectural beauty or the allure of the natural surroundings, the challenge lies in deciding where to commence your Instagram-worthy journey.🏙️ Here at Flytographer, we connect people with trusted photographers for fun photo shoots and have captured over three million memories worldwide. The magic of Flytographer is in both the experience and the photos. Explore the city with a fun, talented photographer and get wall-worthy photos to relive your trip, forever. Today, we asked our local photographers to share the best places to take photos in St. Petersburg. So let’s dive right in!

TLDR

1. St. Pete Beach: The best island for capturing stunning Instagrammable sunsets and sunrises.🌇
2. Pass-A-Grille Beach: Capture some great photos outside the “Pink Palace” of the Don CeSar Hotel.🏨
3. Downtown St. Petersburg: It’s the best place to surround yourself with the true spirit of St. Petersburg, Florida.
4. Downtown Murals: The stunning street art will provide a standout backdrop for your portraits.🖼️
5. Fort De Soto: The largest state park in Pinella County that offers a huge variety of shareable photo ops.🌲

Photo: Tami in St. Petersburg for Flytographer. Elizabeth and family capture memories in St. Petersburg with a family photoshoot at Clearwater Beach.

1. St. Pete Beach

St. Pete Beach boasts of pristine white sands and crystal-clear turquoise water, creating an idyllic setting for beach lovers and photographers alike.🏝️ Voted Tripadvisor’s number 1 beach in the U.S., St. Pete Beach is a must-see when looking for the best places to take photos in St. Petersburg or Central West Florida. This beach is known for being a great spot for watersports,🏄so why not take advantage of the gentle waves and get out on a paddleboard with your local Flytographer, or partner up and capture some memories as you ride the waves? It’ll be a unique shot that will be worth posting on Instagram.

Sunsets and sunrises are particularly magical here, casting a warm glow over the landscape, 🌇making it the ideal place to capture the essence of the golden hour. We also suggest heading to one of St. Pete’s hidden gems—Upham Beach Park. Located just a few blocks away from Corey Avenue, it’s one of the only stretches of beach that’s not located behind a hotel. This offers a bit of respite from the busy shores of St. Pete Beach, and with four boardwalks, you’ll get some nice natural photos too.🪻

Whether you capture the playful antics of seabirds or the gentle lapping of waves against the shore, St. Pete Beach is a great location to catch some dreamy beach shoots.

Photo: Tami in St. Petersburg for Flytographer. Alyssa and family capture memories in St. Petersburg with a family photoshoot at St. Pete Beach.

2. Pass-A-Grille Beach

For those seeking a more laid-back, serene atmosphere, Pass-a-Grille Beach is just the place. This hidden gem is perfect for capturing the essence of a tranquil seaside escape and for viewing some of St. Pete Beach’s incredible architecture. The historic Pass-a-Grille area, with its charming cottages 🏡and inviting boardwalks, provides unique backdrops for your photo shoot. Plus, the pastel hues in the sky as the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico create a calming and enchanting canvas for some candid photos. Look out for the Dolphins 🐬 as they leap out of the water, creating the ideal shot for some landscape photography.

Be sure to capture a family portrait in front of the towering Don CeSar Hotel. Dubbed the “Pink Palace,” this impressive hotel offers expansive views and ultimate sophistication that makes one of the perfect places to take photos in St. Petersburg. 🏰 Take some candid shots as you lounge by one of two beachfront pools or head to the rooftop to capture stunning cityscapes and the Gulf of Mexico.

Photo: Tami in St. Petersburg for Flytographer. Elizabeth and family capture memories in St. Petersburg with an anniversary photoshoot.

3. Downtown St. Petersburg

If you’re looking for the best places to take photos in St. Petersburg, and you have limited time, downtown is a location every photographer, traveler, and local has on their list. Why? Because it’s a vibrant hub of culture, art, and history. It offers a diverse range of photographic opportunities that will look amazing on your Instagram feed. 📸

There are plenty of things to do in downtown St. Petersburg, including taking a stroll through Vinoy Park, where you can capture its expansive greenery and cool blue waters. If you love parks, we suggest visiting the Sunken Gardens. This botanical garden serves as a living museum with plenty of tropical plants to photograph as you meander along the paths.🪷 But it’s not just the flowers that will make a gorgeous backdrop for photos; the waterfalls and butterfly encounters will take your pictures over the top.

If you want to extend your time in downtown St. Petersburg, just a short walk away you’ll find the Salvador Dali Museum, which is an architectural wonder. Step inside to view beautiful sculptures and other works of art, or step out into the Avant-garden to take a photo in front of the larger-than-life Dali moustache. 📸

Photo: Tami in St. Petersburg for Flytographer. Tyler and partner capture memories in St. Petersburg with a proposal photoshoot downtown St. Pete.

4. Downtown Murals

Street art has always been a favourite among professional and amateur photographers, and the downtown murals are no exception. These colourful and thought-provoking artworks transform the urban landscape into an open-air art gallery.🖼️ Visit during the Saturday Morning Market, and the street art almost comes to life as it creates dynamic and striking compositions for snapping some street photography. From attention-grabbing portraits to abstract designs, each mural tells its own unique story.🎨

After you’ve walked the streets and viewed the murals, head to Station House, where you’ll find an array of businesses, from restaurants to event spaces, all housed inside an old fire and train station.🏢 The building itself is a site to behold. If you’re visiting in the evening, why not also take a walk to St. Pete Pier? The lights make it extra magical for your evening photoshoot.

5. Fort De Soto

Fort De Soto Park is a great location when you’re searching for a blend of history and natural beauty. This sprawling park encompasses pristine white sand beaches⛱️, mangrove forests, and the renowned fort. This state park is the largest in Pinella County and offers a variety of backdrops. From sand dunes peppered with yellow sunflowers 🌻to natural trails and unique flora, it’s one of the most Instagrammable places to take photos in St. Petersburg.

Wildlife photographers will appreciate the opportunity to capture seabirds and maybe even a dolphin or two.🐬 Landscape photographers will love snapping the historic fort against a backdrop of the Gulf of Mexico. Portrait photographers will love capturing memories in a natural beauty hotspot🏙️. Fort De Soto Park provides endless possibilities for stunning photographs, so if there is only one place you get to see on your trip to Central West Florida, make sure it’s here.

Photo: Tami in St. Petersburg for Flytographer. Danielle and family capture memories in St. Petersburg with a family photoshoot.

Capturing Memories in Florida

St. Petersburg, Florida, is a photographer’s paradise, offering a rich tapestry of scenes that range from tranquil beaches to vibrant urban spaces. Whether you’re a professional photographer or simply enjoy capturing memories with your smartphone, St. Pete’s diverse and picturesque locations are sure to leave you with a memory card full of unforgettable moments.

Looking for more places to take photos in St. Pete’s and surrounding areas? Take a trip to Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve, where you’ll find plenty of green spaces to explore. Head to downtown Tampa and capture stunning headshots and environmental portraits in front of the historic Tampa Courthouse, Tampa Riverwalk, and the lavish Tampa Theatre.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your camera, friends, and family and explore the beauty that awaits in this charming coastal city.📸