When searching online for a Fort Lauderdale family photographer you’re probably flooded with images of families at the beach at sunset, am I right? And don’t get me wrong, family beach photoshoots are beautiful, for sure. Especially here in South Florida.

But with the family, we’ve been there, done that. With the kids getting older and Mom being a very proud Fort Lauderdale native (which is rare around here!), I said why not use the urban city vibe of downtown as the backdrop for their family photos? Mom loved it.

So, here’s how we tried something new for their family photoshoot this year, trading the beach for the city.

Family Photos in Fort Lauderdale: Las Olas Boulevard

Right in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale, we found our perfect urban family photoshoot location on Las Olas Boulevard! 

If you don’t already know, Las Olas Boulevard is a fun area in downtown Fort Lauderdale that is just a total vibe. It is full of amazing colors and textures to photograph. As a Fort Lauderdale family photographer, I just knew it would be perfect.

Fort Lauderdale Family Photo Spots on Las Olas Blvd

I arrived about 45 minutes before our session was scheduled and took a little walk to see what jumped out at me as interesting spots to shoot. Here’s what I found:

Textured Tile Wall: Big Sister Portraits

I was looking for spots that could work for solo photos of the kids like the dramatic green tile wall I found for images of Olivia.

Stone Ledge: Little Brother Photos

I saw a stone wall and column in front of an office building that had a really cool shaped skyscraper, towering behind it and could totally picture it as the perfect backdrop for Ben. (We actually started with this as our very first shot of the session!)

Hotel Holiday Wreaths: Holiday Family Photos

I even found a great spot in front of the Riverside hotel decorated for the holidays. There were these huge, beautiful wreaths filled with silver and gold ornament balls and a giant red bow- gave us a perfect holiday touch for this family of 4.

Quiet Alley: Connected Outdoor Family Portraits

I also looked for little hidden alleyways that had different textures and different light. A perfect little moment and change of pace to capture mom and her sweet kids.

Colorful Acrylic Wave Wall: Playful Sibling Portraits

I love when you come across a happy surprise for something interesting to photograph. This is actually the side of a building in downtown Fort Lauderdale. I never even saw the detail until we were standing up on top of the rooftop. I thought that the waves and the color were fun to have the kids mess around and play in front of.

Rooftop Garage: Urban Family Pictures With City Skyline Backdrop 

My favorite spot ended up being the rooftop of a parking garage where we ended the shoot. It was a Fort Lauderdale family photographer dream!

Tons of open space- the kids loved it and they got to run and play. It had that beautiful city skyline as a backdrop that towered over us even though we were about 10 stories up ourselves. It was the perfect way to end our photoshoot! Everyone was laughing, giddy and just loving the city vibe up there.

I am so in love with this urban family session, but if you are more into natural, outdoor locations then you will love this session where I photographed a beautiful family with their older son off a sandy trail surrounded by South Florida grasses and trees.

My Favorite Family Portrait Poses for 4 as a Fort Lauderdale Family Photographer

I photograph so many families of four that I have my posing nailed down. I have a workflow that I stick to for each session. Here are my go to poses for family of four:

Standing Together Looking at Camera

I always capture a shot of the entire family standing close together, looking at the camera. Do I love candid photos the most? Yes. Do I also always make sure to get this classic shot? Also, yes.

Together Interacting with Each Other

This was shot right after the kids pulled in the parents as hard as they could. Capturing a family just having fun and laughing with each other is a must for me. This is a great idea for family of four poses for pictures.

Mom with Each Child Individually

As a Fort Lauderdale family photographer, even when shooting a family of four, its always so important to for me to take time for just mom and her kiddos. For moms, all she wants is beautiful portraits with her sweet kids!

Dad with Each Kid Individually

And same goes for Dads, too! These kids will be grown before you know it. Having special shots with each of his kids is always important for Dad.

Pose for Sibling Pictures: Together

Moms always love shots of their kiddos together, so we always keep this as a go to shot. I’ve known these kids for 8 years now, and its easy to see how close they are.

Big Sister Pose by Herself

Capturing each kiddo by themself is always super important to me. Makes it easy for mom to complete her gallery wall of family portraits.

Little Brother Pose by Himself During Fort Lauderdale Family Portrait Session

When I’m planning for family of 4 poses, I always make sure each kiddo has their own individual shot.

Fun Family Pose: The “Greenwood Smash” Tradition from a Fort Lauderdale Portrait Photographer

This family has a tradition Mom named “The Greenwood Smash”. I have no idea how it even started, but it did and we just went with it. It must have been at our first photoshoot. 

I tell everyone to hold hands and spread apart and then on the count of three everyone smoosh together- this prompt works every single time.

And now we do it every single year and it’s always Mom’s absolute favorite shot. This time was no different- during the gallery reveal, they all cracked up when we got to that shot- again! Some things never get old!

Family Photo Outfits: What to Wear for Your Urban Fort Lauderdale Photography Session:

Since we were shooting downtown in a more urban area, mom wanted to go with a more modern, sleek look. They chose mostly black and white without being matchy-matchy (which I love). 

Here’s a recap of what they wore WITH links to similar styles on Amazon to help you plan your own family photos in Fort Lauderdale – urban style!

Mom: A Chic Outfit for Family Photography in Fort Lauderdale

I absolutely loved that Mom went with sleek black pants and of course, a perfect pair of pumps. She was a trooper walking around the city in them! She didn’t have one issue- I was so impressed!

• Cute black short sleeved knit sweater
• Slim fit black sailor pants with gold buttons
• Black strappy heels

Dad: Classic Outfit of Polo and Jeans

• Black two button polo shirt
• Dark rise regular fit jeans
• White leather casual sneakers

Big Sister: Tweed Dress for her Outdoor Family Photos in Fort Lauderdale

Olivia looked adorable in her chic Chanel-inspired dress and Ben and Dad looked super dapper. 

• Girls Chanel inspired dress
• Black platform espadrille sandals

Little Brother: Classic Outfit Similar to Dad

• Boys black two button polo shirt (matching Dad)
• Boys Khaki pants
• Boys white leather casual sneakers

Favorite Tool to Plan Family Photo Outfits

Once a client is confirmed, and on the calendar, the very first thing I do is send them a link to my favorite tool, Style & Select. I have been using it for four years now. It helps families put together everyone’s outfits to make sure they’re coordinated but not overly matching. 

I always joke with my clients: “If you all show up in jeans and white shirts, I’m gonna send you home!”

You create a storyboard for each family member and then the software populates all of the wardrobe options available for each person. It takes out all the guesswork for you and everything coordinates perfectly. 

What’s really great about the software is I can create the looks for all of you or you do it yourself. All of the outfits that it puts together are shoppable right from the app just with a click to order right there in the software. It’s really amazing. It can also be used to see what kind of looks it creates for you and then you can shop your own closet to find something similar.

So, yes, my photography services include outfit planning for everyone, location scouting, etc- all included in my pricing for my full-service experience!

Gallery Reveal + Wall Art Product Order

So after this awesome family session, I could not wait to come back home and cull and edit them down. We got so many gorgeous shots.

About two weeks later, they came back to my photography studio for their “gallery reveal”- my favorite part!

They ooh’d and aaah’d over their gorgeous family portraits. They ended up ordering a wall collage of one(1) 20×30 and four (4) 16×16’s, a 12×12 custom heirloom album, plus the add-on of the digital images of the full gallery.

I actually have this page where you can find more information on all my wall art and photo products that I offer!

Benefits of Shooting Downtown for Urban Family Photos with a Fort Lauderdale Family Photographer

Even though everyone thinks of beach or nature locations for family photos, here are some of the perks I get when I photograph families in the city or downtown:

1. Flexible Scheduling Option
   • One of the perks of shooting downtown vs in a park or beach setting is you have a little bit more flexibility with timing and scheduling. Which is amazing for families like my clients who are on tight schedules. Since the city has tons of skyscrapers and reflective buildings the light actually works differently. The light can even hide behind buildings making it not as harsh. This gives us more time to shoot during a time when the light would be too harsh. During Florida’s summer months, this is especially helpful because we can work around the harsh midday sun easier in downtown Fort Lauderdale than at the beach.
2. Consistent Light 
   • The architecture will naturally diffuse and reflect the light which makes for beautiful shots- I just love it. The morning light can be super crisp and then late afternoon of course brings the warm glow. 
3. Less Families Being Photographed
   • Just for the reason that not as many families tend to choose urban locations, we usually dont have to battle with other family photoshoots going on at the same time!

As a trusted photographer in the Fort Lauderdale area, these are just some of the things that I keep in mind a when we are booking my clients an urban family session.

Where to Take Family Photos from an Experienced Fort Lauderdale Family Photographer

As a Lauderdale photographer, I have found SO many incredible locations for my family sessions!

Yes, this session focuses on Las Olas Boulevard, and it is my favorite Fort Lauderdale location for family photos- but here are some more of my favorite locations in Laudy: 

Birch State Park

• Great for families with kids of all ages.
• Has all the textures and nature there- beach, sandy trails, canals, bridges, banyan trees and palm trees.
• Fort Lauderdale’s version of “Central Park”!

Riverwalk

• Great for families with small kids.
• Tons of space to run around
• Parks, Plazas and Gazebos to use for family photos.

Fort Lauderdale Beach

• Perfect for families looking for those traditional beach family photos!
• Wide sandy beaches and busy promenade!

FATVillage Arts District

• Even though its under construction right now, its set to reopen by the end of 2025.
• This location is very artsy with lots of murals.
• Good for families with older kids.
• I know some photographers like Flagler village, but I prefer FATVillage!

For more outdoor family photoshoot inspiration, check out the recent family photos I did for a gorgeous family at Okeeheelee Park. Here on a family vacation? Let’s squeeze in a photoshoot!

Ready to Book Your Fort Lauderdale Family Portraits?

After eight years of photographing the Lawson family, I can tell you that kids grow up fast. Those little ones who used to need snacks and stroller breaks are now exploring downtown Fort Lauderdale like teenagers, I swear.

If you’re thinking about family photos in Fort Lauderdale, let’s chat about what would work best for your crew and your lifestyle. Maybe you want that classic beach look, or maybe you’re ready to try something totally different- something urban or “downtown” in feeling- like we did with this family.

If you’re curious about all of my sessions, you can visit my Fort Lauderdale family, maternity and newborn photography page, too!