Visit Miami's Vizcaya Museum and Gardens for an Iconic LGBTQ-Friendly Photoshoot Location

For those looking for a magazine-worthy backdrop for a photoshoot in the Miami area that is LGBTQ-friendly, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is the best location. My wife and I did a wedding photoshoot at Vizcaya while we were visiting Miami a few months after we got married, and the gardens were an absolutely stunning backdrop.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is the estate built by James Deering in the early 1900s, which features a beautiful home in the European Renaissance style as well as several acres of gardens and various outdoor structures, including an oceanside tea house, fountains, pools, and a pavilion with a frescoed ceiling.

Even if you don't plan to do a photoshoot, I would highly recommend visiting Vizcaya as it is a beautiful location to explore.

What Should You Expect When Planning a Photoshoot at Vizcaya?

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a functioning cultural attraction and there are some rules you should be aware of when planning a photoshoot.

• Entrance Fee: Vizcaya charges a standard museum admission fee, which you will need to pay in order to visit the grounds for any purpose. We paid this fee for both us and our photographer for our photoshoot.
• Photo Permit: Vizcaya is a popular location for photoshoots of all kinds, and we saw several other people there (we visited on a Saturday) doing quinceañera photoshoots. The museum charges a photo permit fee for anyone doing a photoshoot on the property. We purchased the permit which restricts access to the outdoor grounds and structures only, however, they do offer a permit for indoor photography as well. Permits can be purchased on Vizcaya's website, and you should plan to book ahead of your visit.

• Changing Areas: There is a private bathroom/changing area with a large vanity and lots of counter space that we used to get ready for our photoshoot. We did our photoshoot in August, which is the heat of the summer in Miami, so it was nice to have a place to freshen up and fix our makeup and hair right before taking photos.
• Tour the Grounds Beforehand: Touring the full grounds before our photoshoot is something that I regret not doing. Some of the most beautiful spots on the grounds are further out from the house and could easily be missed if you didn't have your locations mapped out because of how large the gardens are.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a beautiful location in South Miami and one you should visit regardless of purpose. We had a great experience there as an LGBTQ couple and the process of booking a photo permit was easy. Vizcaya also does venue rentals if you are interested in hosting more than just a photoshoot.