Hi, we love you. We really do.
We want you to come experience the beautiful beaches of St. Pete Beach, Clearwater Beach, and everything in between. Enjoy the sunsets, support local businesses, and make amazing memories here.
But we also want to give you the honest version of what it’s like to visit during August and September.
You’ll probably see beautiful beach photos shared in local Facebook groups during this time. And yes — our beaches really are beautiful. But there’s a reason businesses work harder during these months and share those sunny beach images to encourage visitors to come.
This is our slow season.
What you don’t always see are the cloudy skies, rainy afternoons, and days where weather changes plans.
Many businesses offer discounts, run specials, or get creative because summer is challenging for tourism. Once kids go back to school, family vacations slow down, and August and September bring Florida’s rainy season. The snow birds are gone.
The forecast may show rain almost every day, but that doesn’t mean it rains all day. We often get afternoon storms, along with heat, humidity, wind, and unpredictable conditions that can make beach plans more complicated.
What does this mean for beach photography?
For photography, we prepare our clients for this all summer long.
We explain backup plans, weather policies, and why flexibility matters. We require a deposit that is only refunded if we cancel due to weather because we are reserving that time specifically for you.
During rainy season, flexibility is everything.
Having an extra day available, being open to adjusting your time, or considering another location gives you a much better chance of getting the beach photos you’re envisoining.
It’s not because we don’t want to photograph you — we absolutely do. It’s because Florida weather sometimes requires patience, backup plans, and a little bit of luck.
If you’re visiting Pinellas County beaches in August or September:
• Build flexibility into your schedule
• Don’t plan your entire vacation around one beach day
• Expect rain chances and be open to changing plans
• Remember a rainy forecast doesn’t always mean a ruined vacation
The upside of visiting during rainy season
There are actually some perks.
I was at Paradise Grill in Pass-a-Grille recently on a cloudy evening. The crowds were smaller, parking was easy, the food line was quick, and I didn’t even need sunscreen.
Compare that to Memorial Day weekend with traffic, crowds, long lines, and limited parking.
August and September may have unpredictable weather, but they can also mean quieter beaches and a more relaxed experience.
The beaches are still gorgeous.
The memories can still be amazing.
Just come prepared for Florida’s rainy season — not only the postcard version of Florida you see online.
🌦️ Weather Tip
Download The Weather Channel app and keep an eye on the radar throughout the day. It can help you decide whether it’s a good time to head to the beach or take a break while a storm passes. This is what we use to decide if photography has to be rescheduled.
No weather app is perfectly accurate—especially during Florida’s rainy season. Forecasts are most reliable the day of your plans, and even then they can change quickly. But checking the radar is one of the best tools for planning a beach day in late summer.
What does a cloudy beach photo session look like?
This family session was photographed on Indian Rocks Beach on a cloudy day with rain in the forecast.
It started raining right as I was getting into my car to leave.
Creating beautiful images in weather like this takes experience. You have to understand the light, adjust quickly, and know how to make the conditions work.
A brief moment of sun helped add some extra magic, but the goal is to create beautiful memories no matter what Florida gives us.
This was also one of our new 30-minute beach sessions, which we started offering this summer.
Sometimes Florida gives you a perfect sunset.
Sometimes it gives you clouds.
A skilled photographer knows how to create beautiful images either way.
