SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FAMILY BEACH SHOOT

The beach is one of my most requested photoshoots and I’m here to give you some great tips for your family beach session. There is definitely a few things to keep in mind before scheduling your photoshoot.

1. What time of day would be best? Most outdoor sessions have the best lighting an hour before the sun sets to get that golden hour. You know, that glowing halo that I capture in most of my outdoor shots, that is my signature look. Timing can vary during the year. In the summer, sessions can start as late as 7:30 PM while in the winter we can be shooting at 4:30 PM. Sometimes, being at the beach we can have an unexpected overcast roll in. Which can actually create even lighting and soften the shadows to give you amazing pictures as well. Be prepared to reschedule if unexpected weather comes in and discuss perhaps having a second shoot date in mind if the first one does not work out.
2. What should we wear? One of the hardest decisions about a beach shoot is what wardrobe you should choose. There are certain colors I recommend because they go best with my style of editing. Earthtones, neutrals and pastels always work best and give that light and airy feeling most clients look to achieve. White works fine, however cream colors will look much softer. Avoid putting the whole family in blue which can clash against the water and sky. Mix and match, everyone should not be wearing the same color. Also, try to avoid large patterns or logos on outfits as they are distracting and can take away from the overall image.
3. Why doesn’t weekends or holidays work? The beach is already a popular spot, but that is especially true on weekends and holidays. This can make the session more difficult to shoot and take away from your time to capture your images. Living in Southern California, you also take into consideration how bad traffic might get during those times. Plan accordingly and arrive early to allow for parking and walking down to your session spot.

Hopefully you got some useful tips for your next family beach shoot and I will be capturing those moments! I serve most of the Southern California beaches in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas.

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