There are very few things in this world that are as precious as time well spent with family. With the current state of things, you might find opportunities for creating more memories and taking your loved ones to awesome places have become extremely rare, if not impossible.
I’m a portrait photographer based in Maui, I shoot mostly family photos, couples, etc. on the beach. But this post applies to any beach in the world.
So if you’re planning a short getaway to an enchanting beach destination, you better make it count — try and get as many lovely family photos as you can! The shoreline, calming sound of waves and a delightful sunset are some of nature’s best photo backdrops, so make the most out of your stay and plan the perfect family beach photos.
Whether you’re a professional photographer venturing into family portraits (you should start with these 10 portrait photography tips I wish I knew), or a hobbyist looking to capture better vacation photos, or perhaps you’re going on vacation with the fam and you need a few ideas, we’re sharing 12 beach family photoshoot ideas that’ll get you the kind of images you’ll cherish for the rest of your lives.
As for gear, a 24-70mm f2.8, or something like the new Canon RF 28-70mm f2.0 would be the most versatile, either that or a fast 50mm, such as the Sony GM 50mm f1.2, I also love a fast 85mm lens.
Don’t Miss the Sunset
My first tip is actually a few tips rolled into one. Most family photographers know that the best time to shoot is around golden hour, ie. the hour before sunset.
Ending your beach vacation without a proper family portrait with the sun setting in the background is illegal in some parts of the world. Kidding aside, you should seriously consider getting a nice set of photos with you and the family under the sunset’s warm glow.
There are a lot of ways you can go about this, but a nice silhouette of your loved ones against the sun’s red and orange is a popular look. Or, you can go the traditional route and use a bit of external lighting so you can get everyone properly lit and with the sun providing a little backlighting.
As long as the weather’s cooperating, the sunset silhouette is such a great photo op, and won’t that I don’t miss with clients, here’s a few of mine in Maui:
The Action Shot
I love starting sessions with an action shot, it helps get everyone a little loose – and when people are comfortable, great shots naturally tend to come out! Instruct the parents to swing their child on the count of 3, set your camera to burst mode and you can catch something like this:
You Can’t Go Wrong with a White Outfit!
Now here’s a quick answer to the classic conundrum many families run into when planning a family beach photoshoot: “what do we all wear?” Well, if you’re not really feeling anything you have in your wardrobe, you can never go wrong with a simple white get up for you and the kids. In Maui, Hawaii, a lot of people love to purchase Aloha shirts or dresses, and that’s okay, but to me the beach already says Hawaii enough, I prefer to keep it simple.
Lovely, flowy white dresses and polo shirts paired with shorts in muted greys or blues for guys are some staple summer looks, and they never fail to achieve that loose, airy vibe in your photos. Plus, white clothing won’t take too much attention away from the ocean’s refreshing blue — keeps everybody cool and comfy, too!
Capture Reflections
There’s this really nice area in the coastline where the waves leave enough still water in the sand, allowing for beautiful reflections. So get the gang right around that spot and have them pose for a nice picture with everybody’s sparkly reflections adding a spectacular visual effect to your beach photos.
Embrace Summer Cliches
Goofing around with sunglasses, posing with surfboards, hanging around palm trees and parasols, throwing the ol’ frisbee; nothing says “we’re having a lovely time at the beach” quite like these. Don’t worry too much about these elements being played out or cliched – it’s summer. Have fun with everything that’s meant to represent this amazing time off with your family.
Bring Sparklers!
Here’s a fun one. Get everyone to pose with sparklers on a nice evening out on the beach! Seriously, think about how nice the warm light from the sparklers would wrap around the family, contrasting the night’s quiet beachside spot with the lovely waves in the background — now that’s how you make awesome beach photos!
Obviously, always employ common sense and adult supervision when letting your kids play with sparklers, but here’s another fun thing you can do with them: long exposure shots. With a little caution and a bit of patience and creativity, a professional photographer can easily pull off a shot like this.
Jump Shot!
Don’t let anyone tell you the jump shot at the beach is a cheesy shot. On the contrary, it’s one of those nice, lively images that’ll put a smile on your face every time you see it many years down the road. Come on, it’s impossible not to look too happy when you’re in midair!
Having everyone’s energetic expressions captured while airborne against a beautiful background can easily be one of your “trophy” travel shots whenever you go. It’ll take a bit of trial and error, but when executed perfectly, a jump shot is an image that’ll look really good in everybody’s instagram accounts.
Get Candid Shots
A good portrait photographer knows how to capture beautiful, sweet and spontaneous moments. Happy families on a gorgeous beach will have plenty of those, so make sure to be ready for them. If you’re not the one taking the photos yourself, make sure to ask your portrait photographer to be on the lookout for these.
Unguarded, unposed shots are some of the most adorable images you can bring home after a lovely vacation. Whether it’s your youngest and his siblings building sand castles, a toddler running along the coast with her floaty — real, fun times with your family at the beach are images that you’ll treasure forever.
Focus on the Details
Continuing from our last point, while you’re out there capturing candid shots, try to get in a little closer and focus on the details. Your family beach photos shouldn’t only look pretty, they’ll have more impact if they can tell a story, too.
Maybe your kids managed to scoop up a lovely starfish and they’re engrossed in this beautifully weird creature, or it’s your baby’s first time on the beach and they’re having too much fun in the sand. Shoot a little tighter and get close ups of these cute moments and include them in the set!
Enjoy a Nice Stroll around the Beach
One of the best ways to make your family beach photos feel more dynamic and alive is by adding movement in your images. Go for a casual stroll at the shoreline with your family and let the images roll in! This is a great time to capture cute candid shots especially with hyperactive and overjoyed children taking in the wonderful scenery.
Do a Mini Couple’s Session
Now here’s an easy way to make your family photo shoot at the beach extra special: include a mini couple’s session! Often, the kids take the majority of the focus when you’re doing family photo sessions, so make sure to give mom and dad a few lovely couple’s portraits. You can treat it as a mini engagement session and mix up a variety of traditional posed shots with candid shots.
Don’t Forget to Play!
You’re at the beach, after all, so let the kids have as much fun as they want! Help them build sandcastles or join them splashing their siblings around in the shallows — enjoy your time out under the sun and get some really nice shots!
Here’s a pro tip: it’s probably best to leave the most fun stuff near the end of the shoot. If you let your children have a go at the water or get muddy building their sandy creations, getting them to stop won’t be too much fun and can make the photo session a little harder for everyone.
Write in the Sand
A nice way to tie all of your family beach photos together is by taking a snapshot of your family’s writing in the sand! Try drawing stick figures with everyone’s name or try writing, “The (Surname) Family” + date of your visit for something a lot simpler. Bonus points if you can catch the wave as it’s coming in or if you can include cute little visual elements such sea shells, a starfish, or your children’s beach toys!