Beach Family Photography Sessions - What to Expect
Beach Family Photography - Jacksonville FL
If you are thinking about having your next family photography session at the beach, but have a few questions about what it will be like, I am here to help! I am a St. Augustine family photographer if regularly have sessions at the beach. Beach family photography sessions are the best, I just love them so much! I’m not gonna lie - I am one of those cliche people that love long walks at the beach. I can’t help it! The beautiful scenery, calming sound of the waves, it’s all just so perfect! But, with the beach comes a few more variables than your traditional park location for family pictures. Sand, wind, water - oh my! Here are my favorite tips for beach family photography sessions. Let me know if you have any more questions, I am happy to help!
It might be windy - Wind and the beach go together like peanut butter and jelly. Even the calmest of days usually has some sort of breeze at the beach. IF the wind is really bad and we have time to reschedule your session, we will. However, for normal wind we will brave the beach and make it work for us. That’s the thing about wind - it can either work for you or against you. If it is really windy I will do my best to position and pose your family in a way that the wind works FOR you. It adds movement to your photographs and can really make impactful images, if you know how to use it. If the wind ends up getting too strong we may have to move closer to the dunes or onto the boardwalks. While they aren’t right on the beach, both make for beautiful locations and more tame hair.
Your kids will get sandy - Think about it, the beach is normally a play place for your children. It’s only natural that when they get to the beach for your photography session, they will want to play in the sand and pick up shells. I will make sure to hold them off as long as I can, so we can get all of the formal portraits done and over with, but after that I say enjoy the sand! It is a great way to capture some candid photos of you as a family, and the kids will be having fun. Happy kids = great photos!
There will be a beautiful sunset - whether we have clear blue skies or moody clouds, there’s no such thing has a bad sunset when you’re at the beach. I’ve had everything from dark rainclouds to literal rainbow sunsets, and they all look gorgeous in their own way! The sand and the sky make such a beautiful backdrop, you can’t go wrong!
You might get wet, and that’s ok! - I often encourage my families to go barefoot during our sessions at the beach. I even encourage them to play a bit in the water! It’s just plain fun, and who doesn’t want more fun in their images? Like the sand, we will save these for the end of the session. As long as you aren’t wearing any clothing that can get ruined by salt water (which I would never suggest wearing to a beach session anyway), a little water play can add some great variety to your images.
You’re going to have FUN - For many people, the beach is their happy place. I am one of those people too. It’s so beautiful and calming, I am instantly at ease when I’m at the beach. For children, it is a fun place to swim, dig, collect shells and maybe even see some sea life. When you are relaxed and having fun at the beach it shows in your photographs. Resist the urge to constantly fix your children hair, brush off sand and bark instructions at them. I’ve got this, and I’ve got you. I will make sure that you guy shave a fun and relaxing experience at the beach, and you’ll get some amazing photographs as a result.
To book your family photography session at the beach, please use the CONTACT form on the main menu or email me at tracylphotography@gmail.com
