Location Suggestions for Outdoor Environmental Headshots in the Orlando Area - Orlando Headshot Photographer

Written By Dawn Aiello

Typically my first instinct is to recommend an indoor setting for headshots. We won’t have to worry about anyone sweating or the wind blowing hair out of control or those. pesky mosquitos that don’t even seem to go away in the winter here in Orlando. I have a headshot studio space we can use, or depending on the size of the group we can rent other studio space and I can even bring a mobile studio to your home or office! But I do understand that an indoor studio setting doesn’t fit with every personality and every profession, so I wanted to recommend some outdoor locations in the Orlando area that make for nice backdrops.

Greenery & Trees

If you are looking for a lush green background, there are so many spots to choose from! Cypress Grove Park in Orlando is a hidden gem with oak trees and spanish moss and palms. Plus it is a huge park so it’s always easy to find plenty of room to work, even if there’s a lot going on at the park.

Headshot of a woman in a black and pink floral dress in front of a background of blurred out trees taken by Dawn Aiello Photography at Cypress Grove Park in Orlando, FL

Cypress Grove Park

Headshot of a woman in a purple sweater in front of a background of blurred out trees taken by Dawn Aiello Photography at Cypress Grove Park in Orlando, FL

Cypress Grove Park

Some architecture but still some nature

If you like a bit of nature but you want some architectural elements, I would recommend Baldwin Park, Central Park in Winter Park and Lake Lily Park in Maitland. Each area still has plenty of trees, but there are also a few structures nearby that can either serve as part of the backdrop or even act as a prop within your photo.

Environmental portrait of a woman wearing a purple sweater and glasses leaning over the back railing of a bench taken in Baldwin Park, FL taken by Dawn Aiello Photography

Baldwin Park

Central Park in Winter Park

An environmental portrait of a woman in a blazer leaning on a boardwalk's railing with a lake and trees in the background. Taken by Dawn Aiello Photography at Lake Lily Park in Maitland, FL

Lake Lily Park in Maitland, FL

Small Town Feel

I think a lot of people consider Park Ave in Winter Park for a cute small town downtown feel in photos, and if you’re based in Winter Park, that’s probably the best option for you. But if you’re open to other areas, I’d recommend downtown Sanford or downtown Winter Garden. Both have some really adorable areas with a variety of textures/backgrounds/scenery. Downtown Sanford has a cute area with a fountain, plant boxes and even a mural. Downtown Winter Garden has brick walls, funky garage doors and the tree-lined sidewalk in the center of Plant Street that gives a great variety for backdrops.

Downtown Sanford

A headshot image of a woman in front of a brick wall and red-brown garage door wearing a floral dress in Downtown Winter Garden taken by Dawn Aiello Photography

Downtown Winter Garden

Wherever you decide on for your outdoor environmental portrait or headshot, be sure to consider the time of day. The lighting is most cooperative in the hour just after sunrise and the hour just before sunset. Mid-day photo sessions can be difficult due to a lack of directional sunlight. If these were family portraits or even fun wedding party photos, we could throw on some sunglasses and work around the sunlight, but I’d hate to have anyone squinting during a close-up headshot!

So what are you thinking? Let’s chat about where you want to book your next headshot session!

Dawn Aiello
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