Some sessions feel extra personal. This one was mine.
I packed the camera, the dresses, and two of my favorite little humans Georgia, who just turned two, and Lola, who just turned four – and headed to Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont. They were photographed separately so each girl could have her own birthday gallery: her own light, her own twirls, her own little personality in front of the lens.
If you’re looking for a Central Florida photographer who will meet you in a real park, let the kids be kids, and still come home with images you’ll actually print – this is the kind of session I love most.
Why Lake Louisa works so well for little-girl portraits
Lake Louisa is one of those Central Florida spots that never gets old. Rolling hills (yes, actual hills), oaks draped in Spanish moss, open fields that glow at golden hour, and that tea-colored lake in the background. It’s about 30–40 minutes from Orlando, $5 a car, and it photographs like a dream without feeling like a theme-park production.
As a Central Florida photographer, I use Lake Louisa a lot for families, seniors, and milestone sessions because one location gives you variety:
- Open fields for twirling and running
- Tree-lined paths and moss for softer, shaded portraits
- Perfect sunsets without needing a second drive (weather permitting!)
For toddlers and preschoolers, that mix matters. You can stay in one general area, change the backdrop by walking a few minutes, and keep the session short enough that nobody melts down. Golden hour here is especially kind to skin tones and pale dresses.
If you’re local to Clermont, Winter Garden, Windermere, or anywhere in the greater Orlando area – or you’re visiting and want nature photos instead of park crowds – this is one of my go-to spots.
The complimentary client closet (dresses for girls and ladies)
Both girls wore dresses from my complimentary client closet.
That’s something I offer for girls and ladies on session: you don’t have to buy a brand-new outfit that photographs well for twenty minutes and then never gets worn again. I bring pieces that move in the breeze, hold color in Florida light, and work on little bodies and grown ones.
For birthday sessions especially, the closet takes the pressure off. You show up. We pick what feels right that day. I handle the rest. (The closet also includes options for moms and older sisters – same idea, no extra fee.)
If you’ve been putting off photos because “we don’t have anything to wear,” that’s exactly why the closet exists.
What these sessions actually felt like
Photographing your own children is equal parts magic and logistics. I already know Georgia’s stubborn streak and Lola’s “I have a plan” energy. That helps. I also know when to stop directing and just let them play in the grass.
You’ll see that in the gallery as it finishes uploading: not every frame is a perfect smile. Some of the keepers are the ones where a two-year-old is inspecting a leaf, or a four-year-old is mid-spin and the dress is doing all the work.
That’s the work I want to do as a Central Florida photographer – real age, real light, real kids. The birthday is the reason we showed up. The photos are what you’ll still look at when they’re ten.
Ready for your own Clermont or Central Florida session?
I photograph families, birthday milestones, seniors, and vacation sessions across Central Florida – Clermont, Winter Garden, Orlando, and beyond. Sessions start at $299, include guidance on location and outfits, and include access to the client closet for girls and ladies.
Lake Louisa is always an option. So is your backyard, a favorite park, or a quieter corner of town if that’s more your speed.
If you want birthday photos, yearly family photos, or just one evening that feels like them – reach out and we’ll plan it.
Bring the kids. I’ll bring the dresses and the camera.
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