Beach Photoshoot Ideas
Beaches are reliably compelling backdrops for photo sessions, and there are a number of practical and empowering photo ideas, beach photography techniques, and specific beach photoshoot ideas to capture the best possible image by the sea. They’ll come in handy whether you’re after stunning selfies, a maternity photo, a beach engagement session, senior pictures, or fun, family vacation pics. 🏖️
These tips and tricks work for beach sessions from Maui to Miami, Los Angeles to Lisbon, Cabo San Lucas to Cape Town, which just happens to be among the many places our handpicked, local Flytographers are often found with their feet in the sand and their eyes on capturing prized beach pictures. Here at Flytographer, we easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photo shoots and have captured over four million memories worldwide. Today, we asked our local photographers to share all the best tips for a beach photoshoot. Let’s dive in! 🌊
TLDR
- Choose comfy clothes: Choose an outfit that allows for movement. The last thing you want to have on is something that feels restrictive and makes you look, well, uncomfortable!
- Plan to take photos at golden hour: The start and end of a day — “golden hours” — allow for soft light and avoid the harsh shadows of midday.
- Try going barefoot: Being comfortable means looking relaxed, and showing your compatibility with the setting.
- Add a pop of colour: Bright colours will help you “pop” in your photos against the natural background!
- Bring some playful props: Don’t be afraid to be playful! A colourful blanket or a beach ball can be perfect prop to warm up the family for a fun photoshoot.
- Get creative with prompts: Movement can make for a captivating portrait, and/or departures from cliché engagement pictures or high school senior portraits.
- Avoid these fashion blunders: Busy patterns, big logos or T-shirts, and sweatshirts with images and/or text distracts from the subject of the photo, which is counterproductive.
Photo: Rachel in Kauai for Flytographer. Christine and partner celebrate their anniversary with a couple photoshoot on the beach in Kauai.
1. Choose comfy clothes
Comfort is key! Choose an outfit that allows for movement. The last thing you want to have on is something that feels restrictive and makes you look, well, uncomfortable!
“Look fabulous but remember to wear something that lets you move, in case you want to run, jump or have fun at the beach,” says Flytographer Fernanda in Cabo San Lucas. “Especially with kids, leave the formals for dinner.” Wrinkle-resistant fabrics and those that don’t show sweat blooms are also wise in hot tropical locations — as are breathable fabrics that help curb sweat before it starts. 😅 If you are looking for more tips about what what to wear, check our style guide with even more helpful information!
Photo: Fernanda in Cabo San Lucas for Flytographer. Brad and Garrett capture memories on the beach in Cabo with a couple photoshoot.
Photo: Mariana in Tamarindo for Flytographer. Katelyn and partner celebrate their trip with a couple photoshoot on the beach in Costa Rica.
2. Plan to take photos at golden hour
As with many photos, the start and end of a day — golden hour, or the hour after the sun rises and before the sun sets — allows for soft light and avoid the harsh shadows of midday.
“I always explain that it is not a good idea to shoot everything directly into the sun,” Flytographer Chema in Tenerife says. “The light is beautiful but it’s better over the skin.” ☀️
Sometimes, beaches are overcrowded in the evenings on the weekends in some locations. Shooting at sunrise gives you more space to move and feel comfortable, which usually translates to better photos.
Flytographer Allie in Mystic leans towards going later and even likes to go a tick past golden. “Blue hour — the moments just after the sun has gone down — can be really dreamy and romantic! I’ve always called it twilight. It’s my favourite!” If there is no sun and it’s an overcast day, the clouds will create a diffusion effect and the end results will be amazing.
Photo: Chema in Tenerife for Flytographer. Fendrik and their family celebrate their trip with a family photoshoot on the beach in Tenerife.
Photo: Allie in Mystic for Flytographer. Alina and family celebrate their trip with a family photoshoot on the beach in Mystic.
3. Try going barefoot
The joy of wriggling toes in the sand of beach capitals like San Diego would seem to be enough, but there’s real value in a) being comfortable because it means looking relaxed, and b) showing your compatibility with the setting.
“Leave the high heels in the hotel, bring comfortable shoes, and then for the photos take them off,” says Flytographer Fernanda in Cabo San Lucas. “You will enjoy the experience if you go barefoot.”
Photo: Fernanda in Cabo San Lucas for Flytographer. Janette and partner celebrate their trip with a couple photoshoot on the beach in Cabo.
4. Add a pop of colour
There’s a natural tendency to go neutral. Don’t do it!
“Consider not wearing white or khaki. I know it’s popular but it can wash you out,” says Flytographer Dawn in Galveston. “Consider bright colours like yellow, fuchsia, red, or cobalt blue to help you pop in your photos!” 🌺
Flytographer Chema in Tenerife gets more specific still: “Red dress and black sand is always a good match.”
Looking for more colour tips? Be sure to read our Photo Style Tips on the best colours for family pictures outside!
Caption: Dawn in Galveston for Flytographer. Cynthia and family capture memories with a family photoshoot on the beach in Galveston.
Photo: Elizabeth in Kauai for Flytographer. Crystal and partner capture memories on the beach in Kauai with a couple photoshoot.
5. Bring some playful props
Don’t be afraid to be playful. As photographers — and especially family photographers — will tell you, if everybody’s happy and having fun … guess what? They’re going to look like they’re happy and having fun. 😃
Flytographer Dawn in Galveston has a hack for that. “Props are under-appreciated,” she says. “Nothing warms up a family and keeps the kids happy, and therefore smiling, like beach balls! I think sometimes people think if they bring toys, they won’t get that group photo they have their heart set on, but they will and they’ll probably get more of those because they have a way to give smaller family members a break.”
Other props to consider: Beautiful blankets or towels that aren’t too busy; items of significance to, say, the graduating senior or the marrying couple; great beach chairs. 🐚
Photo: Taena in Maui for Flytographer. Eunie and partner capture memories in Maui with a couples photoshoot on the beach.
6. Get creative with prompts
Movement can make for a captivating portrait, and/or departures from cliché engagement pictures or high school senior portraits. Possibilities include a strolling shot or even some amphibious action, albeit not completely immersed.
“Get in the water!” says Natalie in Honolulu. “I don’t mean diving in completely … but getting deeper than just toes can make for some really fun shots at the end to finish up the shoot. Splashing is encouraged!” 🌊
Embracing nature in other ways works well too. There’s nothing like a good driftwood log to bring depth, texture, and oceanic context to a photo.
Photo: Natalie in Honolulu for Flytographer. Alex and partner celebrate their engagement with a surprise proposal photoshoot on the beach in Honolulu.
7. Avoid these fashion blunders
- Busy patterns, big logos or T-shirts, and sweatshirts with images and/or text distracts from the subject of the photo, which is counterproductive. 😝
- Another thing to avoid: black or white clothing items, as they can be difficult to photograph without losing detail in shadows or highlights.
- One more no-no: Overly matching outfits. Complementing your children’s or your partner’s outfit is just fine, but being so coordinated can appear cheesy. The era of coordinated family photos has floated out to sea.
Photo: Chelsea in Tofino for Flytographer. Lacey and friends celebrate their trip with a birthday photoshoot in Tofino.
Capture memories at the beach
When it comes to photoshoots on the beach, our professional photographers have got you covered! They are experts in making you feel relaxed, looking great, and having FUN in front of their camera. With their help, your photo session will reflect, and even magnify, the magic of the moment. And with so many great beaches — and golden hour beach photoshoots awaiting — around the world, where will you go next? Cancun, San Juan, Tofino, Sydney? Wherever you find your toes in the sand, we are there to help capture your gorgeous beach memories. 😎 Book a Flytographer quickly and easily for your next beach vacation.
“Jenn was responsive, flexible, fun, and overall amazing to work with. I would highly recommend Jenn for a shoot in Puerto Vallarta. She made the shoot easy and were able to help us with posing and having fun with it. We absolutely loved the pictures as well! Can’t wait to share with families and friends!!”
Anh
“It was such a pleasure working with Barbara! We met at the beach in Positano for a quick 30 min shoot on our honeymoon. She took us to a few different areas to capture photos with all of the beautiful scenery. Now we have special photos of our honeymoon that we’ll cherish forever! Thank you so much, Barbara!”
Carson
Barbara and Claudio on the Amalfi Coast
