You're holding onto news. Maybe a few people know or maybe it's still just the two of you and an ultrasound hanging on the fridge. When you’re ready to share your next blessing, I’m here to help.
Philippe Park in Safety Harbor is a quiet, shaded, and unhurried location, which is exactly how a moment like this should feel.
Why Philippe Park
Philippe Park is the oldest park in Pinellas County. Live oaks arch over the main road and spread wide across the lawns, so the light comes through in soft, broken pieces. Then the trees open up and there's the bay, wide and calm, catching the evening sky. This also gives us flexibility on lighting and time of day if golden hour sunset shoots aren’t in your schedule.
This park also holds a lot of history. The park is home to the Tocobaga Temple Mound, the largest remaining mound in the Tampa Bay region and a National Historic Landmark.
Ideas for your announcement
A slow walk under the oaks with your family and ultrasound
Without the ultrasound to capture your family as it is right now
Big brother or big sister holding the ultrasound
The siblings hugging onto Mom
A quiet portrait of the two of you
A portrait of the two of you with the ultrasound
When to go
The park is open from 7 a.m. to sunset, so evening sessions wrap up as the sun goes down. I usually start about an hour before sunset, when the light is low and golden through the trees, but the shade of this location gives us flexibility. Fall through spring is the sweet spot here: cooler air, softer light, and fewer afternoon storms. Mornings are another lovely option if you'd like the park nearly to yourselves.
What to wear
Think about the colors already in the park. Cream, sage, rust, and soft blue sit right at home among the oaks and the bay. Fabrics that move a little in the breeze off the water add life to the photos. Choose shoes you can walk in, since the paths can have roots and uneven ground.
Ready to share your news?
Announcement sessions are short and sweet. You don't need to plan the poses or pick the spots. I'll guide you through all of it, and you'll get to simply walk, talk, and enjoy a quiet evening together before the whole world knows.
And if you'd like to keep the story going, these photos pair beautifully with a maternity session and an at-home newborn session later on, so the whole season lives in one place.
If you're holding onto good news, I'd love to hear it. Tell me a little about your family and when you're hoping to share, and we'll find an evening at Philippe Park.
