Beach Sessions are some of my favorite to do. The light and wide open sky are like no other, and the sand and water allow for a lot of natural play and engagement with your family. Everything is just better at the beach, right?
However, taking photos on the beach can come with some challenges. Luckily, I have a few tips to make your beach session as breezy as the air itself!
Plan your session for when you'll be down the shore.
If you plan the date of your session for when you're already at the beach for vacation or a long weekend, most of the stress of a beach session will be alleviated for you! You won't need to worry about a long car ride, traffic, or getting home late with cranky little ones...your photos can just be part of the vacation fun. The location I use will definitely be closer to whatever shore point you may be staying, as compared to coming from home.
Pack your bags the night before.
It's funny (but not surprising) how many Mom's I had bring changes of clothes for everyone else in their family, except for themselves. We're always planning for and thinking about everyone else, which means Mom often got to enjoy the drive home from our beach session in a soaking wet and sandy dress. Pack your bag the night before, when you're calm and can think clearly through what you'll need. If you wait until the day of, you'll definitely forget something important amongst the photo prep madness. Oh...and don't forget towels!
You'll need towels because we'll definitely be getting wet!
Is it possible to go to the beach and not dip your toes in the water? I don't think so! I definitely wait until the very end before giving the green light to go in the water, but if I didn't, I'm sure your kids would! Get wet, get sandy, and have fun in the moment with your family...this is what it's all about, anyway.
Don't spend hours on your hair.
The beach is a windy location. This makes for beautiful and dramatic imagery, but isn't the best for maintaining meticulously done hair. Braids work well to help keep hair somewhat tame and out of your face, but otherwise, you should just embrace the "undone", wind blown look. If I see you fussing with your hair during our beach session, you'll most definitely hear me say, "Just let it go!". Let it go. It adds so much emotion to the art we're creating. I promise, if you start to look like you've been through a hurricane, I will fix it for you.
We'll always discuss session specific questions a week or two before we meet, but these are some basics that are always important to keep in mind. I hope these tips help and that I see you on the beach!
P.S.
Stay tuned for more of my favorite beach sessions from 2023!
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