ANNA MARIA ISLAND - LONGBOAT KEY - BRADENTON
Family Beach Portraits on Anna Maria Island
Timeless, vivid, and painterly portraits of the people you love made in the golden light of Florida's Gulf Coast
941) 231-6191 - Sessions from $1,290
OVER 500 FAMIILES PHOTOGRAPHED - 14 YEARS EXPERIENCE - ★★★★★ ON GOOGLE
THE DIFFERENCE
Why Families Choose Ben
A Timeless Look
Beautifully balanced portraits with painterly color and real emotion — the kind that still stop you in the hallway years from now, long after the trip is over.
We Win Them Over
The unsure dad, the full-of-energy toddler, the too-cool teenager — almost all of them walk off the sand saying, "okay, that was actually fun."
When It Counts Most
The milestone reunion. The first vacation with everyone together. The moment you only get once. When it truly matters you can rely on us.
Built Around You
We come to you for every appointment — consultation, session, and reveal. And we always hold a backup day for weather, so your session is protected no matter what.
Our Promise
Your experience is guided from the first hello to the final print: every moment comfortable, every picture confident, your family always looking its best. Guaranteed.
WHERE MEMORIES ARE MADE ON AMI AND LONGBOAT KEY
Your Anna Maria Island Photographer
Anna Maria Island is really three small cities all on one beautiful island. Each has its own personality. Anna Maria, at the north end, is quiet and historic, home to Bean Point and the pier. Holmes Beach sits right in the middle of the island, close to everything with Manatee Beach running along the Gulf. Bradenton Beach, to the south, has a livelier feel, more connected to Bradenton and Longboat Key and it's where Coquina and Cortez are. Every one of them is beautiful in their own right, and will make the perfect place for your Anna Maria Island family portraits.
The classic beaches on AMI. When people picture Anna Maria, they're usually picturing Cortez Beach, Bradenton Beach, and especially Coquina Beach. Cortez Beach and Bradenton Beach are often a short walk from vacation rentals, simple and easy for those staying nearby. Coquina Beach, just down the road, with ample parking, gives you more room, natural dunes, and shade under the Australian pines and gumbo limbos. When the Gulf gets breezy, its southern end offers a little shelter.
Anna Maria Island Bayfront Park - A quieter spot when the wind's up. Some evenings the wind comes straight off the Gulf and the open beach stops being comfortable. When that happens, we've got a small bayfront park on the northeast side of the island, tucked out of the wind, with greenery, a calm little beach, and shallow, still water that's ideal for young ones. The light lingers there after sunset, and hardly anyone knows it's there, so most nights it's just your family and us.
Bean Point is a classic and beautiful AMI location. If you are staying close - it's a perfect location for your portraits! That being said, it has limited parking, a long walk, and heavy crowds in season. It can be more trouble than it's worth, especially with young children, or family members who may not be super sturdy on their feet! For your family portraits we want everyone to look, feel, and be their absolute best! We'll help make your dreams come true, by finding the right beach, access, or location possible.
Your Longboat Key Photographer
Quiet Spots for Longboat Key Family Portraits
Just south of AMI, Longboat Key is full of beaches that are public but feel private, like Whitney Beach and Beer Can Island. Families step out of the car and can't believe how open the beaches are. While every beach is beautiful, there is a specific access that we love: sea grass, low dunes, driftwood, and a line of rocks looking back toward Coquina. There's space for kids to explore and climb while the adults settle in, an easy drop-off for anyone who'd rather skip the walk, and a couple of short concrete piers where grandparents can rest while we photograph the smaller groups. Beautiful and easy, especially when several generations are together.
There are other public accesses tucked away up and down Longboat Key. Like AMI, there is the Longboat Key Bayfront Park which offers bay access, easy parking, and a quick walk to the beach on the other side of the road. Every access and location is like a private beach, a local secret, and perfect for your family to make memories together.
Longboat Key is also full of wonderful beach resorts to stay at! Benjamin Horvat Photography will always come to meet you where you're staying. Whether it's a few days at the Resort at the Longboat Key Club, an extended stay at the Diplomat Resort, a seasonal rental, or simply your home, we can create beautiful images in almost any environment.
NOT STAYING ON THE BEACH?
Even if you're not staying on the beach, or don't need beach portraits, we are happy to help. Sometimes it can be too hot, too windy, or just too much work. Benjamin Horvat Photography will work with you to plan every aspect, work with the locations available, and make the best portraits you've ever had.
THE PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE
FROM HELLO TO YOUR HOME
From the first hello to hanging your portraits on the wall, you're guided every step of the way.
01. CONSULTATION
We Plan It Together
Together we'll plan your dream photography session. Details like location, timing, clothing, and what to bring all covered beforehand so at your session you can relax, have fun, and create memories to last a lifetime.
02. PHOTOGRAPHY
Your Session on the Sand
An hour or more of effortless and fun photography filled with easy guided poses and lifestyle prompts. Big group first, every family a chance to get their portraits, and individual portraits couples and children. We'll wrap up with our feet in the water and the sun setting on the horizon.
03. THE REVEAL
See It All Come Together
The day after your session, we'll meet for your reveal. Together we'll review your images, pick favorites, discuss light touch ups needed, and find the perfect ways to enjoy and display your portraits in the home.
HANDCRAFTED PORTRAITS
The Art You'll Live With
Your best photographs shouldn't live on a phone. They belong on your wall — printed bold and beautifully, enjoyed every single day.
Benjamin Horvat Photography specializes in helping you design the perfect artworks for the home. We sit with you and guide you through image selection, sizing, arrangement, framing, and installation. For local clients we will even help arrange installation or come help ourselves! We want to make sure you love your portraits for years to come.
Handcrafted in Italy · Retouched by Hand · Shipped to Your Door
Every piece is handcrafted by artisans in Italy — vibrant mounted metals, wax-finished canvases, and rustic framed prints — all retouched by hand and shipped internationally — ready to display, directly to your door.
DESIGN SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL
Beyond the Wall
Portraits to hold, share, and pass around — not just hang.
Storybooks
Hand-bound in leather, your portraits printed on thick, deckled-edge Amalfi paper made in the same Italian mill for centuries. More than a book, it's the story of your session — the one that lives on the coffee table, gets passed hand to hand at gatherings, and becomes a true family heirloom. Made to be held, not stored away.
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Folios
A tabletop frame and keepsake box in one — your favorite portrait on display, with many more memories stored safely inside. Rotate the displayed print whenever you like, or pass the prints to your children. An intimate little gallery, made of your favorite moments and meant to be opened and shared.
OUR FAMILIES
Moments from the Gulf Coast
Real families, real moments, on the beaches of Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, and Bradenton.
WHAT FAMILIES SAY
In Their Own Words
I found Ben on the internet and made my choice based on his portfolio and testimonials — and I assure you it was the right decision. He checks all the boxes: professionalism, organized procedures before, during, and after the shoot, and being genuinely fun to be with. We were a group of ten — our children, adult grandchildren, and my husband and I — gathered to celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary. He captured our joy and made the experience fun for all of us. The portraits have arrived and they are fabulous. Thank you, Ben — everyone in the family recommends you highly.
Marty · Longboat Key · ★★★★★
★★★★★
We had such a great experience with Ben! After finding him it was a pleasure working with him as he helped guide us before, during, and after our session. This is an elevated experience top to bottom, a genuine investment for a family heirloom we’d been seeking for a while but just never seemed to achieve. Highly recommend him and his team for his professional eye, demeanor and quality of work.
Maribeth · Bradenton
★★★★★
We loved our family photo experience with Ben! Being out of state, we looked for photographers with an amazing portfolio and reviews and Ben blew us out of the water. He has his practice down to a science from the pre-planning, to the phone call consultations, his island experience, the actual photo shoot, reviewing our photos, and ordering. He was understanding and extremely educated during every event of the process. We cannot wait to book with Ben again in the future. We are so grateful for our beautiful photos! If you are thinking getting family pictures done on the beach, Ben is definitely your photo guy!
Delaney · Longboat Key
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
MEET BEN
Ben is a classically trained artist and educator who spent years working with children in their most formative years — so the wiggly toddler, the shy nine-year-old, and the too-cool teen are all familiar territory. More than anything, he cares about what these portraits come to mean to the families who live with them.
He treats every session like the whole world revolves around it — because to your family, it does.
FAMILY BEACH PORTRAITS BY APPOINTMENT
Let's Plan Your Anna Maria Island Portrait Session
Tell us about your family and what you're hoping for — and if you're visiting, the dates you're in town. Sessions are limited each season to keep the experience unhurried
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GOOD TO KNOW
Your Questions, Answered
Where on AMI and Longboat Key Do you Photograph?
Cortez, Coquina, and Bradenton Beach on the south end, Manatee Public Beach in the middle of the island, a quiet bayfront spot when the wind's up, and a few favorite hidden stretches on Longboat Key. We'll pick the right fit for the season, light, and most importantly, your family.
Do you photograph visiting families?
Yes — many of our families are visiting the Gulf Coast. We come to you, and we hold a backup day a few days apart just in case so you don't have to worry about bad weather, a sick little one, or travel delays.
What is The best time for beach portraits on AMI and Longboat?
The golden hour before sunset. In summer that's around 8 PM; in winter it can be as early as 5:30. The timing also shapes the look — summer brings dramatic light from the north end of the beaches and moody clouds; winter brings pure, warm tones with the sun setting over the Gulf. We'll plan around whichever suits your visit.
What if there's red tide or bad weather?
Your session fee is fully transferable. For local families, we simply reschedule with your credit applied. For visiting families, we plan a backup day in advance, so you always have a plan B.
What does a session cost?
Sessions start at $1,290. Some families stay with the base fee, but most invest more in Wall Art and Image Collections. We'll walk through everything including pricing and where your portraits will live at home during your Style & Concept consultation.
How far in advance should I book?
As early as you can — sessions are limited each season. Each season has its own busy times, spring break in March and April, Thanksgiving and Christmas in November and December, and Summer Break in June July and August. We only offer a few sessions a week to make sure every family gets the attention, quality, and time they deserve.
What's included in a session?
Your Style & Concept consultation to plan every detail, an hour-plus on-location session on the beach or location we choose together, and an in-person Viewing & Ordering appointment where the whole family sees the portraits for the first time, and image credit applied towards your order.
How long Do the Sessions Take?
Plan on about an hour+ at sunset for the session itself, and an hour or two the next day for your Viewing & Ordering appointment. The time flies on the beach, and is truly enjoyable reviewing your portraits and planning how they will be displayed in the home! We'll finalize all of the details so you don't have to worry about it later.