Hi, Im Kelly
I'm Kelly, the photographer behind Together & Unscripted. Based in Gainesville, Florida, I believe your wedding should feel like a wedding—not a photoshoot. My approach blends candid storytelling with thoughtful guidance, creating images that are both meaningful and beautiful. Here you'll find real weddings, planning resources, venue guides, and stories from behind the lens.
Washington Garden Oaks State Park is hands down the most beautiful and effortless place to take engagement photos at. A hidden gem, golden light, and the kind of photos that'll make your grandkids cry the best kind of tears.
📍 Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, Palm Coast, FL — just south of Jacksonville
THE GOOD STUFF
Okay, let's talk about the secret spot I've been recommending to every single engaged couple who tells me they want "something different." Not the same bridge. Not the same downtown wall. Something that actually looks like Florida but make it dreamy.
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in Palm Coast is about an hour south of Jacksonville, and I genuinely believe it is one of the most underrated engagement session locations on the entire East Coast. I'm not being dramatic. The coquina rock formations on the beach? Iconic. The formal gardens with rose trellises and Spanish moss hanging off ancient oaks? Absolutely cinematic. The golden light that pools through those trees in the hour before sunset? I want to live there.
If you're an engaged couple in the Jacksonville area trying to figure out where to do your session, keep reading — because I'm about to make your decision really, really easy.
The Location That Does All the Heavy Lifting
I've photographed couples in parking lots and made them cry happy tears over the results — because what I'm capturing is you, not the scenery. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a favorite place to work. Washington Oaks just gives me everything: the light, the texture, the variety. It's where my vision and a gorgeous location meet in the middle.
Washington Oaks has three totally distinct looks in one park:
THREE LOOKS, ONE LOCATION
→ The Beach + Coquina Rocks — Nowhere else in Florida looks like this. Dramatic, textural, moody, and stunning at golden hour.
→ The Formal Gardens — Rose gardens, fountain, Spanish moss, winding paths. Pure romance, all year round.
→ The Oak Canopy Trails — Dappled shade, lush greenery, that soft filtered light that makes everyone look glowing.
In a two-hour session, we can move through two or even all three of these settings. You basically get a portfolio's worth of variety without ever getting back in the car. I love that for us.
The Light at This Park is Chef's Kiss
I know every photographer talks about golden hour like it's a religion. But I need you to understand that golden hour at Washington Oaks specifically hits different. The way the light filters through those 100-year-old oaks and hits the coquina rock on the beach — it's warm and soft and it makes everyone's skin glow like they're in a movie.
This is why I always recommend booking your session for 90 minutes before sunset. We usually start in the shadier garden area while the light is still a little harsh, work through the oak trails, and then time our arrival at the beach just as that golden warmth really kicks in. By the time we're at the rocks, the sky is doing the most — pinks, purples, a little orange — and you're getting images that look genuinely unreal.
The light, you can. not. fake that light!
What to Wear (And What to Leave at Home)
Since you're coming to a park with multiple textures — organic rock, lush green, sandy paths — there are some outfit choices that will absolutely sing and some that'll compete with everything around you. I've seen it all, so let me just save you the guesswork.
OUTFIT DO'S FOR WASHINGTON OAKS
→ Earthy tones — terracotta, sage, dusty rose, cream, camel. They complement the coquina rock and the gardens perfectly.
→ Flowy fabrics. Linen, chiffon, anything with movement. The breeze off the ocean will catch it and it looks incredible.
→ One of you in a solid, one in a soft print. Gives variety without clashing.
→ Comfortable shoes you can walk in — it's a real park with real trails. Bring the heels if you want but pack sandals too.
→ A second outfit! If you want garden looks and beach looks, a quick change gives you maximum variety.
What to skip
→ Bright white — it blows out in the direct sun and reads stiff. Ivory or cream, yes. Stark white, save it for the wedding.
→ Busy patterns or matching outfits — you're not twins, you're soulmates. Coordinate, don't match.
→ Uncomfortable shoes you'll hate after 10 minutes. We're walking. A lot. Happy feet = genuine smiles.
What Your Session Actually Looks Like
I know some of you are reading this like "okay but I'm not a model, I'm just a person who is very in love and slightly nervous about being in front of a camera." Honestly? Same energy. That's exactly who this is for.
I don't pose you stiffly and yell "look at each other and smile!" (I mean, sometimes I do, but that's not the main event.) What I actually do is give you something to do — walk toward me, tell them the weirdest thing you love about them, spin around, run, tell me the show you're binging right now. The real stuff happens in between the "official poses" and that's where your favorite photos come from. The candid laugh. The forehead touch. The moment you forget I'm there entirely or it feels like just a friend with a camera.
Washington Oaks is perfect for this because it gives us natural excuses to keep moving — walking the garden paths, climbing down to the rocks, sitting together watching the sunset. It never feels staged because we're genuinely just… exploring a beautiful place together.
The Practical Stuff You Actually Need to Know
Let's get into the logistics, because I want you to show up ready and stress-free. Washington Oaks is a state park, which means there's a small entrance fee (currently $5 per vehicle — total bargain). It does get busier on weekends, so we'll plan our timing intentionally to avoid the crowds.
Quick Session Planning guide
→ Best time: 90 minutes before sunset, year-round. Spring and fall give you the nicest temperatures.
→ Where to park: The main garden entrance and the beach parking lot are separate — we'll talk through which to use based on where we start.
→ How long: I recommend 2 hours for this location so we can fully utilize both the garden and the beach.
→ Bring: Bug spray (it's Florida), water, and any props you want (blankets, florals, a bottle of champagne — I love a champagne pop moment).
→ Distance from Jacksonville: About 1 hour south on I-95 to Palm Coast. Worth every minute of that drive.
Ready to book your Washington Oaks Session?
If you've made it this far, I think you already know the answer. This park is genuinely something special, and I never get tired of photographing there. Every session looks completely different — different light, different outfits, different energy — and every single one comes back with photos that blow people away.
I have a limited number of engagement sessions available each season, and Washington Oaks dates book up especially fast in spring and fall. If you're engaged (or just want to celebrate your relationship in an incredibly beautiful place — no engagement required), I would love to hear from you.
About Together & Unscripted
Together & Unscripted is a Gainesville, Florida wedding photography team inspired by the belief that the best memories are made when we're fully present with the people we love. Through a documentary approach and intentional guidance, I help couples preserve their wedding day as it felt, not just as it looked. Serving Gainesville, Florida, and wherever your story takes you.
