I’ll be honest, one of my favorite places when I am on vacation is on a pool lounger at the pool next to the beach. I can’t live without the ocean but I sure can live without the sand! That being said, beaches are a goldmine for genuine and eye-popping photos of your family, especially your kids. Here are some tips I’ve discovered through trial and error for great beach photography when you are on vacation.
First Things First
Most families visit the beach on a sunny day, so make note that a beach umbrella may be the key to achieving album worthy photos. The harsh glare of the sun will spoil even the cutest swimsuits on your little ones. So, say goodbye to the open sun rays and hello to the shade. If you don’t have an umbrella, find a shady spot under a palm tree or a nearby structure. I took the below photos with my Canon 5D Mark IV and an 85 mm lens, shooting at ISO 100 between f 1.8-4.0.
Capture the Whole Scene
Take in the surroundings. I love capturing a beach scene when the clouds are especially enthusiastic. This shot below captures my daughter in her surroundings with all of her beach toys. The chairs and umbrella do a nice job of framing her while she sits in the sand.
Get Up Close and Personal
Warning: kids often hate this. My girls are not huge fans of my camera in their “fun” space, but occasionally they will look up at me with honest eyes. I took the below photo with an 85 mm lens so I was a little bit farther away, but use what you have available!
Feel all the Feels
Sand is awful. Being cold is awful. But the emotions are real and raw and you should snap away. I think we all have this reaction to the sand sometimes (but its much cuter coming from a 4-year old)!
Join the Adventure
Kids have wild imaginations and if you are not paying attention, you could miss some great shots! Here my daughters are having a grand time playing out a scene with their Barbie doll.
Leverage the Elements
There is often a breeze on the shore, so see if you can capture some movement in your subject or their surroundings. Here, I love the wind blowing through my daughter’s hair. I also chose not to remove the subjects in the background to her right because they give some additional movement and energy into this photo.
Do you have any other beach photography tips? I would love to hear them or see your shots!