I have been a professional photographer for the last 10 years living in Massachusetts. My inspiration for landscape and travel photography grew out of my love of travel. Being able to capture photos first on film and now digitally has been a passion of mine for the last 50 years. St Augustine is a city I have visited for the last eight years for a couple of months at a time.
This place continues to draw me back with the diversity of its photographic opportunities. From beach scenery to historic structures to abundant wildlife, St Augustine provides a great mix of styles of photography that I like to do. In the spring you are blessed with weather that changes quite a bit so you also get a nice variety of sky conditions that add to the mix.
I spend most of my time shooting in the historic downtown area of St Augustine, which has these beautiful structures from the late 1800’s. I love to capture sunrises and sunsets on the ocean and salt marsh too. The birds of Florida are amazing to photograph as well as they nest and have their chicks at the local alligator farm – The Alligator Farm Zoological Park.
Top 7 Photography Spots in St Augustine
With beautiful architecture, fantastic history, great beaches and rich wildlife – there is always something new to capture in this hidden gem of a city. From my travel experiences here over the last eight years, I would like to present you with the Top 7 Photography Spots in St Augustine. Even if you aren’t a professional photographer, and rely on tools such as a free image editor online, you will still be able to take lovely snaps at these spots.
- Capture the sunrise at the St Augustine fishing pier
- Photograph the moonrise and moonsets at St Augustine Lighthouse
- Shoot the morning light on the Bridge of Lions and boats in the harbor
- Snap photos of the streets with their live oaks and Spanish moss
- Take photos of the birds in flight at the St Augustine Alligator Farm
- Shoot historic sites like Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
- Practice your street photography in the historic section of the city.
Need to Know Before you Go
I think you need to spend a week here to experience everything that St Augustine has to offer. Any less time and you might miss out on some unique photographic opportunities. If you are looking for places to stay I can recommend Embassy Suites by Hilton down on the beach or intown at the Marker 8 Hotel & Marina which has the best view of downtown.
You should also look out for the following restaurants when traveling to St Augustine: Fish House & Oyster Bar, Catch 27, Cap’s On the Water, Llama Restaurant and Salt Water Cowboys. The cuisine of this coastal city revolves heavily around fresh seafood, BBQ meats and other Southern specialities.
No matter what time of the year you visit there is something going on. For great beach weather April and May is best. October and November is another cool time to visit as the weather is still nice but the city is not as busy. From mid-November to the end of January, St Augustine is decorated with millions of lights and makes for a great holiday destination.