5 tips for taking memorable photos at the beach
Hi everyone! I’m a newborn, maternity and family photographer located in Ashburn, VA, and if you’re like me, you love getting away to the beach every summer and sharing your photos with friends and family. So here are a few little nuggets to help you get better photos while you’re at the beach!
Tip 1: Prevent dark, underexposed photos.
This is the only technical part of the blog post, I promise! When you are on the beach, the sun is reflected by the water and the sand, making everything around you very, very bright. However, your camera thinks that every photo you take should be equal parts black and white (ie. gray). That means when you take a photo on a sunny day in a very bright location, your photos will come out dull because your camera is trying to adjust all of that brightness to a more acceptable gray. We don’t want, gray, though, we want bright!
If you’re intimidated by your camera and want to keep it in auto mode, one small thing you could do is switch it to the P setting (my definition of P = Partially auto).
You’ll notice that a little hatch mark line appears in the display with numbers from -3 to 3 (some models have -2 to 2).
By turning your camera’s dial (this will vary by camera, but by rolling a few dials on your camera, you should be able to figure out which one), you can literally dial up the exposure. On a bright beach, with a lot of sand and water in your photo, you’re safe to dial up at least two hatch marks to the 2/3rds marker.
I’ve replicated the difference here using post processing to show the difference between a photo taken at baseline zero and taken 2/3rds of a stop brighter.
Tip 2: Limit squinting.
Wow, the sun is out, you’re having a blast, but in your photos, everyone is showing expressions of pain! There are lots of ways to avoid squinty eyes, though!
a. Turn your subject so that the sun is behind them (and bump up your exposure).
b. Seek out the shade of the dunes, a tent, or the underside of a pier.
c. Wait for a cloud to cover the sun or take your photos closer to sunrise or sunset when the light is more even and flattering. As a photographer, I’m one of the few people who loves cloudy days at the beach!
Tip 3: Stay inside.
Most beach houses these days have lots of windows and are super bright inside! Capture those afternoon snuggles, naps, and indoor activities while everyone regroups from their time out in the sun.
Tip 4: Plan a family photo session… but avoid the wind.
We plan one family photo session at the beach every year, but it’s totally annoying to get all prettied up only to have the wind take control. Sandy beach wind is terrible for both your camera and your coiffeur. Check the forecast before you head out for photos and plan your family’s photo session for a day with only a light breeze. My camera and tripod both toppled to the sand a few years back when I didn’t weigh it down properly. Terrifying!
Tip 5: Get in the photos, too! Yes, you! I’m talking to you!
The pictures that are taken on your trip will be how your family will remember the trip. If you’re not in any of the photos, you are erasing yourself from the trip and their memories. Need more incentive? Just think of how much you would like to have photos of your own parents playing with you at the beach when you were little!
For me, I just hand my camera over and make them take dozens of shots, hoping that one or two will be in focus with both kids smiling and me not looking too awkward. My hubby took this one for me!
I hope you found this helpful! If so, please “like” my Facebook page or contact me to schedule a session! I’m currently booking for December 2014 and beyond.
