Vacations have a way of flying by, and before you know it, you’re back home scrolling through a camera roll full of cocktails, blurry selfies, and that one random shot of your toes in the sand. The Sandals photo session is an easy way to make sure you come home with a few truly great shots — the kind you’ll actually want to frame, not just filter.
If you’re staying at any Sandals property, you can book a complimentary 20-minute photo session with one of their professional photographers. Yes, FREE. Zero obligation. No “we’ll just charge your card later” shenanigans. I always tell people — do it! You lose nothing, and you might end up with frame-worthy vacation shots.
If it’s your first Sandals getaway, you might also want to check out my Sandals Resort Tips and Vacation Checklist — it pairs perfectly with this photo guide and will make planning your trip even easier.
When you book your Sandals trip, you can arrange your free photo session online ahead of time. Or, if you’re like me and prefer to micromanage the perfect lighting, you can adjust the time once you arrive.
I always book the latest available time online before the trip.
Once I’m on property, I check the actual sunset time (thank you, Google) and reschedule my session to be as close to that golden-hour magic as possible.
Pro Tip — I do not recommend a daytime shoot unless it’s in the pool or by the ocean — otherwise, you’ll be glistening (and not in a “dewy glow” kind of way).
Even if you skip the formal shoot, Sandals photographers are constantly roaming the resort. They’ll snap shots while you’re splashing in the pool, lounging at the beach, or sipping a cocktail at dinner. I’ve ended up with some of my favorite candid photos from these moments.
This is why I wait until the day before checkout to go to the photo desk and look through all the shots from our stay. That way, I’m not missing any spontaneous gems that might happen on the last night.
Buy individually — Around $20 per photo — perfect if you just want one or two.
Photo packages — If you want several, the price per photo drops. (And yes, they will tempt you with gorgeous sunset shots until you cave.)
I’ve been known to say “just one or two” and leave with enough photos to fill a coffee-table book. Oops.
Look, I’m all for “come as you are” vacation vibes — but for your official session, I highly recommend coordinating outfits. Not full-on matching (unless you’re into that), but colors that complement the scenery.
I usually pack an outfit specifically for our Sandals photo session:
• Light, airy fabrics
• Colors that pop against the ocean or sunset
• Something comfortable enough to move in so we can do candid, playful shots
And don’t be shy! The photographers are used to going with the flow. If you’ve seen a cute pose on Pinterest or want to try something specific, just tell them — they’ll help make it happen.
Bottom line: the free 20-minute Sandals photo session is a no-brainer. Even if you think you won’t buy any pictures, you might be surprised at how much you love them once you see them all. Plus, with photographers snapping pics around the resort all week, you’ll have plenty to choose from when you’re ready to decide.
Do it for future you — the one who will thank you when you’re looking back at your trip and not relying on that one blurry selfie to remember how incredible it was.
And if you’re still deciding where to stay, you can’t go wrong with Sandals Antigua — stunning beaches, unbelievable sunsets, and some of the best resort photographers we’ve met.
Pack your bags: Bryson City is your next fall trip. Save this now. ✈️
Ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad through peak color, eat your way down Main Street, and end the day in a luxury yurt. Three days here and you won’t want to leave.
Haywood Smokehouse is the BBQ spot that ruins you for every other BBQ spot. Lean brisket so tender it doesn’t need the fat, fried pork ribs you won’t find anywhere else, and don’t sleep on the banana pudding for dessert.
Save this before your next Waynesville or Dillsboro trip 🍖🔥
Booked this Bryson City yurt for the ‘ber months and it’s already my top fall pick this year. 🍂
The Junaluska Yurt sleeps six but feels more like a stylish cabin than a yurt, two real queen bedrooms with actual doors, a full kitchen, and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. Check-in is just a door code texted to your phone, no lobby, no waiting.
The real win is outside: wraparound porch, private fire pit, free firewood, a gas grill, and Smoky Mountain sunsets that stop you mid-sentence, picture all of that with October color on the ridgeline. Heads up, the last stretch in is a gravel road, so skip the low-profile rental, and there’s no restaurant onsite, you’re minutes from Bryson City, Dillsboro, and Sylva for dinner.
Two to three nights is the sweet spot. (We actually stayed in the dead of winter and it was still stunning, fall just takes it up a notch.) Full review linked in bio.
Italian food felt like the last thing I expected to find in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains... until I sat down at Ilda in Sylva.🍝
They call it Italian-Appalachian, and that’s not just a tagline. Homemade pasta, craft cocktails, local ingredients pulled straight from the mountains around it, this is the kind of meal that makes you forget you’re two hours from the nearest city. It’s cozy, it’s a little upscale, and it is not a walk-in kind of place, call ahead, because tables go fast on weekends.
It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. But if you’re already making the trip out to Sylva, this is the one reservation worth planning your day around.
Full write-up, including what to order, link in bio.
Booked my fall cabin before September even started, and I’m not sorry about it. 🍂
These are the stays that make you actually want the cold to hurry up fireplaces, mountain views, the kind of porch you don’t leave. Not every one of these is going to fit every trip, but if a cozy fall getaway is on your radar, this is the roundup to start with.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
