Crescent Beach Photography Guide

About Crescent Beach

Crescent Beach sits on the south end of Anastasia Island, about three miles south of St. Augustine Beach, running roughly from State Road 206 down to the Matanzas Inlet. It's part of unincorporated St. Johns County, and the main public access is Crescent Beachfront Park at 6930 A1A South. Because it's a little further out than the busier in-town beaches, it stays noticeably quieter — which is exactly why we love it for family and beach sessions.

This is wide, open Atlantic beach: long stretches of clean sand, dune grass behind you, and gentle surf in front. The space and the calmer crowds make it easy to spread out, let kids run, and work a session without dodging beachgoers in every frame. For a relaxed coastal look — barefoot, golden, uncrowded — it's hard to beat.

Best Time to Shoot

Crescent Beach faces east, straight out at the Atlantic, so the sun rises over the water and sets behind you over the island. That makes sunrise the marquee window here: warm light coming up off the ocean, glassy color on the wet sand, and the beach almost entirely to yourselves. If you want the sun in the frame and a reflection on the sand, you shoot at dawn.

In the evening, the direct sunset is behind the dunes, but the soft, even afterglow and the cool blue tones over the water make for beautiful late-day portraits — and you get great backlight on the surf. Avoid harsh midday sun. Weekday mornings are the quietest; summer brings the most beachgoers, while the cooler months are wonderfully empty.

What to Expect at Crescent Beach

• Access & fee: St. Johns County charges a beach access toll March 1 through September 30. Day passes are sold at the access ramps (around $10 daily for residents and non-residents, reduced for handicapped and active military, free for 100% disabled veterans). Outside that season there's no toll.
• Photography permits: St. Johns County requires a commercial photography permit (a special-event permit, around $50) for commercial shoots on its beaches, applied for through the county's online reservation system. A wedding on the beach always requires a permit, regardless of how small the group is (minor-impact weddings under 200 people are around $100). For a regular small family or portrait session we make sure we're squared away with the county's requirements ahead of time and otherwise just keep it low-impact.
• Beach driving & turtle season: A separate vehicle pass is required to drive on the sand March 1–September 30. During sea-turtle nesting season (May 1–October 31) beach-driving hours run 8:00am–7:30pm, and nothing should be set up or left out that disturbs the dunes or nests.
• Parking & amenities: Crescent Beachfront Park (6930 A1A South) has a paved lot, restrooms, showers, and picnic pavilions, plus a newer ADA-accessible pedestrian beach ramp. The vehicular ramp at Cubbedge Road is 4WD-only.

Photo Tips & Angles

• Plan around the east-facing light. For sun-in-frame and warm color, book sunrise. For a softer, no-squint look, late afternoon and the post-sunset afterglow give you even light with the ocean as a clean backdrop.
• Shoot toward the water at golden hour for backlit hair and glowing surf, then turn around for the warm front light on faces. Crescent's width lets you work both directions in one session.
• Use the empty space. The quieter sand means you can pull subjects small in a wide frame for those big, airy coastal shots — dune grass low in front, open beach behind.
• Watch the wind and spray. Onshore breeze is great for movement in hair and dresses but tough on gear; keep a cloth handy and shield the lens from salt mist.
• Mind the tide. Lower tide opens up firm, reflective wet sand to work on; check the tide chart so you're not boxed against the dunes at high water.

What to Bring

• A beach pass or cash for the toll if you're shooting March–September, and any county permit you need squared away in advance.
• Soft, flowing wardrobe in light neutrals, creams, and soft blues that read well against sand and sky; skip bright whites that blow out in strong light.
• Sun and salt protection for gear — a lens cloth, a wide lens for open coastal frames and an 85mm for compressed portraits, and a towel for feet and equipment.

Nearby Alternatives

If you're already in this part of town, consider these other spots:

• St Augustine Beach
• Anastasia State Park