Fort Walton Beach photographer | Windy beach family day

Fort Walton Beach is a beautiful beach town located on the Emerald Coast in Northwest Florida and I’m the lucky girl to call myself a Fort Walton Beach photographer. It is a great place for families to vacation and photograph their memories together. This sweet family visited me from Tennessee on a super windy day. Despite the weather, they had a great time playing in the sand and taking photos together.

Tips for capturing great family photos on a windy beach day!

1. Tame the hair for your Fort Walton beach photography session

As a Fort Walton beach photographer I recommend for mom and little girls to keep their hair out of their faces, whether it is windy or not. You can do that by putting the front hair in a beautiful braid. A hair stylist can help you with that and I’ll make recommendations for a few options during our session planning.

2. Family photographer Fort Walton Beach recommends: Take a break in a big blanket!

On windy days I always bring a neutral colored blanket to our session. This can help small children to take a break from stronger winds and puts them in a better mood. It also helps with their little motor skills and allows for some great photos of mom and kids together.

3. Dress Appropriately for the Weather with the help of your Fort Walton photographer

Shorts on toddlers are usually fine — the issue is specifically windy days, when blowing sand can hit sensitive skin and get uncomfortable fast. This family’s toddler wore shorts, and the wind picked up right after we arrived, which is a great example of why I generally lean toward long pants and long-sleeve shirts that can be rolled up for a relaxed, cool-guy look on calm days, then rolled back down if the wind picks up. It’s a small styling choice that gives us flexibility no matter what the weather decides to do. All sessions receive a consultation where we speak outfits for the whole family, and as a Fort Walton photographer I pride myself in offering the most gorgeous client’s closet with 100+ dresses for mom, toddlers and a few Dad shirts.

For more outfit inspiration before your session, check out my summer family photo outfit guide.

Ready to book your own Fort Walton Beach session? Reserve your spot here — sessions fill up fast, especially during peak vacation weeks.

4. Try to reschedule

When booking a session with me I try to schedule your session for the beginning of your vacation. For one we can avoid sun burns in your pictures when booking your session within the first few days of your vacation. This gives us enough time to reschedule your session to a less windy day if we have to. I usually reschedule at wind speeds of 12+mph.

5. Choosing the Best Time and Location for Your Fort Walton Beach Session

Location: My favorite public spot for sessions is Beasley Park — it has great, free parking and beautiful beach access without the hassle of paid lots. If your family is staying somewhere with private beach access, that’s a wonderful option too, since it usually means fewer crowds and more flexibility with timing.

Best time of day: Lighting makes all the difference in beach photography, and Fort Walton Beach is no exception. I recommend booking sessions either the hour after sunrise or the hour before sunset — both give that soft, golden light that makes skin tones glow and keeps everyone comfortable in cooler temperatures rather than fighting midday heat and harsh overhead sun.

6. Have Fun!

If there is no time for a reschedule of the session and we have to move forward on a windier than usual day just stay positiv. As your Fort Walton Beach photographer I promise you that you’ll still have a ton of fun during your session. If mom optioned for a very flowy dress (I have a few client’s favorites in the client closet) you’ll receive the most gorgeous family pictures with a lot of movement in your dress. The beautiful mom in this session chose a Filly Boo dress from the AKP client’s closet.

Conclusion

These are my tips as your experienced family photographer in Fort Walton Beach, and I promise you to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Since you are looking for a Fort Walton Beach photographer, I’d love to chat about your family photography needs! Take a look at my work as a Destin family photographer, and let’s start the conversation!

If you’re looking for other Fort Walton Beach resources, check out the links below!

• PLAYFUL FAMILY SESSION | BEACH PHOTOGRAPHERS DESTIN FL
• GULFARIUM DESTIN FLORIDA – WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
• TOP 5 BENEFITS OF HIRING A PROFESSIONAL HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTIST IN DESTIN, FL FOR FAMILY PHOTOS
• FORT WALTON BEACH OBGYN – THE OBGYN GUIDE YOU NEED
• ANGELFISH BABYSITTING – WHAT MAKES THEM SO AMAZING?
• Heirloom Photography: The Art of Preserving Childhood Memories