My Tips for the Best Family Beach Photos

The most important skill a beach photographer can have is not their camera. It’s experience. I’ve been photographing families at the beach for 12 years. I think of myself like the Farmers Insurance guy: “I know a lot because I’ve seen a lot”. There are many moving parts to successful beach sessions so I have made a list to better prepare you for what to expect.

• TIME OF DAY: The beach sun is very bright and the light bounces off the sand like a reflector until one hour before sunset. That’s why you can sometimes get sunburned even sitting under an umbrella—more on that later! Our session will be scheduled late in the day as the sun is setting for the beautiful golden hour light and hopefully the sunset drama the beach can bring. That is typically sometime between 7pm and 8pm. Parents of young children always wince here because it is disruptive to feeding and bedtimes. Unfortunately, unless we have a completely overcast day, the time is not an option. No one, adults or young children can avoid squinting when the light is bright. Most children will always turn their faces away to avoid the brightness. Their frustration will become yours and that doesn’t make for pretty pictures. Shadows are harsh and the heat will cause you to sweat through your clothes. Trust my experience. Try to make small schedule adjustments as our session approaches so the kids will be better prepared for the time of our session. When we start in that beautiful early evening light, your photos will exceed your expectations. Very early mornings for early risers is also an option but that means a 6:30am session and that is typically far less of an option for your vacationing family.