Family Photos at the Ancient Spanish Monastery in Miami

Aug 25

4 min read

When Victor contacted me about family portraits, there was a little more behind the session than simply updating the family photos.

Victor no longer lives in Miami, but his parents still do, which means his daughters don't get to spend as much time with their grandparents as they once might have. While the family was together, he wanted to create photographs of all three generations, both as a family and in smaller groupings.

Their original location didn't work out, so we started looking for alternatives nearby and landed on the Ancient Spanish Monastery in North Miami Beach. It turned out to be a beautiful setting for family photos, with historic architecture, covered walkways, and gardens all within a relatively compact space.

Family walking together through the cloister at the Ancient Spanish Monastery in Miami

A Family Photo Location With Plenty of Variety

The Ancient Spanish Monastery isn't particularly large, but photographically, it feels much bigger than it is. The cloisters, stone arches, columns, gardens, and covered walkways offer plenty of different backgrounds without requiring a lot of walking from one area to another.

That was especially helpful for this session because we wanted more than one traditional family portrait. We photographed Victor with his wife and daughters, the girls individually and together, the grandparents with their granddaughters, and everyone as one extended family.

Because everything is relatively close, we could create quite a bit of variety within an hour. For families with children or grandparents, that's something I appreciate. A beautiful location isn't quite as useful if everyone has to trek across it every time you want a different background.

Photographing Inside the Monastery

This was my first family session at the Ancient Spanish Monastery, and one of the things I noticed immediately was how much the architecture affects the light.

The covered cloisters provide beautiful natural light and protection from direct sun, which is particularly valuable in Miami. At the same time, the warm stone and terracotta floors reflect a lot of color back onto skin, and some areas can have a fairly dramatic difference between highlights and shadows. Finding the right angles and exposures makes a big difference.

I chose to work with natural light throughout this session because I wanted the photographs to retain the soft, natural quality of the space. It did mean being particularly careful with color afterward, but I love how the warmth of the Monastery became part of the final images.

Family of four posing together in the cloister at the Ancient Spanish Monastery

The gardens offer an entirely different look, with greenery and softer organic backgrounds just steps away from all that stone and architecture. We only scratched the surface of what was possible outside, though. This was July in Miami, and it was hot. Rather than keep everyone outside longer simply for the sake of using every corner of the property, we concentrated on a few areas and kept things moving.

Sometimes the best location isn't about photographing everything it offers. It's about knowing which parts will work best for the people you're photographing that day.

Three Generations in One Family Session

One of my favorite things about this session was how comfortable everyone was together.

Some families need a little more direction before the interactions begin to feel natural. With Victor's family, the connection was already there. Asking them to walk together, look at one another, or get a little closer didn't feel like manufacturing a moment for the camera. I was simply giving them something to do and letting their relationships take over.

Grandparents seated with their two granddaughters in front of tropical greenery at the Ancient Spanish Monastery

That was particularly meaningful when photographing the girls with their grandparents. Since they don't live in the same city, these aren't relationships that get photographed every year simply because everyone happens to be nearby.

Three generations of a family posing together in the courtyard at the Ancient Spanish Monastery

And, of course, I made sure we had the more traditional extended-family portrait too. The candid moments often become favorites, but when several generations are together, I always think it's worth creating at least one photograph where everyone is looking at the camera.

Extended family portrait surrounded by the historic architecture of the Ancient Spanish Monastery in Miami

Planning Family Photos at the Ancient Spanish Monastery

For families considering the Ancient Spanish Monastery for their own portraits, I think its biggest advantage is the amount of visual variety within a relatively compact space. You can have formal architectural portraits, softer photographs surrounded by greenery, close-ups, and more relaxed walking images without turning the session into an expedition.

The Monastery requires advance arrangements and a separate photography fee, so it's worth checking its current portrait-session policies before making plans.

And during Miami's warmer months, I would also take the heat seriously. There may be a dozen beautiful places we could photograph, but keeping everyone comfortable will almost always produce better photographs than trying to use every last corner.

Two sisters smiling together in the gardens at the Ancient Spanish Monastery

For Victor's family, what mattered most wasn't checking every possible photograph off a list. It was having everyone together, including two grandparents and two granddaughters who don't get to see each other nearly as often as they'd like.

And that made this one particularly worth photographing.

Considering family photos at the Ancient Spanish Monastery or another Miami location? You can explore my Miami family photography sessions or get in touch to start planning a session that works for your family.