St. Augustine, Florida: A Photographer’s Guide To The Oldest City In America
If you’re considering going on a little local vacation this summer, we recommend you try out the oldest city in America, St. Augustine.
This is a quirky Floridian town with gorgeous white sand beaches, ample dining experiences and a historic charm that sets it apart from any other American city. It’s also a perfect spot for the avid Instagrammer. Known for its Spanish colonial architecture, stepping foot in St. Augustine is like stepping across the Atlantic Ocean into Spain itself.
There are 17th-century buildings, bustling city markets, Spanish themed restaurants, and the locals do their best to recreate Spanish chivalry by welcoming tourists with open arms.
All of this and more can lead to some beautiful Instagram photos – so much so you’ll almost definitely want to turn them into a photo book in 2 clicks! But before you can do that, you need to visit first.
Here’s everything you can do and photograph in St. Augustine during your mini summer vacation.
Take Some Architecture Photography At Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
We mentioned that the architecture here is beautiful, and the best example of this is definitely the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.
Built by the Spanish people in 1672, this is the oldest masonry fort in the US, beginning construction just 107 years after the city’s founding – when Florida was still part of the Spanish Empire. While here, there will be ample opportunity to take some gorgeous architectural photos, with amazing panoramic views of the ocean at the top of the building.
Try Out Some Docu Photography At The Farmers Market
Docu photography is a big trend in the photography world right now, mainly because it’s the best way to capture the truth behind a scene and tell the story of the people.
There are several places to try this out in St. Augustine, but one of the best is the Farmers Market, which takes place every Saturday morning at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. While there, you can also try out some of the freshest food available in the region and grab a quick drink too! Hey, when in Spain…
Become A Wildlife Photographer At The Alligator Farm
But of course, you’re not in Spain, and a good way to remember that is by going to the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine’s zoological park.
There are tons of reasons to visit St. Augustine, but this park is certainly one of them. Here, you can photograph several local Floridian animals, including exotic birds, Lemurs, and even some albino alligators! If you need a proper reminder that you’re in Florida, not Spain, this is it!
Experiment With Beach Photography
You can’t beat a bit of beach photography. In St. Augustine, there are several sandy beaches where you can test your skills and take even better photographs to upload to our photo book maker.
We recommend visiting one of these beaches during sundown, which should give you a good opportunity for some stunning silhouette shots, with the backdrop of St. Augustine glistening behind you.
Experience The Night Of Lights
Of course, you may have already booked a summer vacation this year, so St. Augustine might be off the table. If this is the case, however, we suggest bypassing the summer and visiting this city between November and January.
This is when you can see the award-winning holiday lights that are strung across the town, all of which make the city feel even more magical than it already is. It's also great for those struggling to work out how to take good pictures at night – just go to St. Augustine during this time of year, and all of your problems will be solved!
Get Your Vintage Hat On At St Augustine Lighthouse
Although all the traveller’s guides often overlook this location, we think it’s a great spot to put your vintage hat on and take some beautiful vintage photography.
The St. Augustine Lighthouse was built between 1871 and 1874, but the spiralling paintwork along the core makes it look more like it was built in the 1950s. If you want to evoke the 1950s along with it, just apply a few vintage filters to your photographs, and you’ll be sure to capture something truly special.
Relent To Foodie Photography At The Spanish Bakery
We’ve all seen people take pictures of their food and thought: who really cares about what you’re eating? But if you venture down to the Spanish Bakery and Cafe, which has been nestled under St. Augustine’s famous Cedar tree for 37 years, you’ll finally understand why they do it. Buy one of the empanadas from this place, and you’ll realise it would be a crime not to take a picture of it.
Whether you put that picture on Instagram, a photo book, or for your own safekeeping – to look back on when you’re back to Friday night meat loaves – is up to you. But we recommend taking it in the first place. Trust us, from experience, you'll want a way to remember that empanada when it's gone. Cry face…
