Beach photography is an exciting form of capturing the beauty of nature. The atmosphere and temperature offer a perfect scene for creative photoshoots. The beach is not only a place for fun, relaxation, and entertainment; it is also an excellent location for photography because of the natural beauty of the ocean and sand. As a photographer or photo fanatic, you can capture epic daylight, sunrise, and sunset pictures on the beach. It could be landscape, seascape, and portrait beach photography.
Whatsoever form of beach photography you want to capture, optimizing your camera for the scene is vital. This article will discuss the best camera settings to shoot photographs in daylight, sunrise, and sunset on the beach.
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What equipment do I need for beach photography?
Our top gear recommendations for professional beach photography include a camera with weather-sealing to protect against sand and moisture, a versatile lens for wide-angle and close-up shots, lens filters, a lens hood, and a lens cleaning kit.
Quick Best Camera Settings For Daylight, Sunrise, And Sunset Beach Photography
You can capture fascinating photos at sunrise, sunset, and daylight on the beach with these quick camera settings.
- ISO – 100 to 200
- Aperture – f/14 to f/22
- Shutter Speed – 1/100th to 1/125th of a second
- White Balance – Daylight
- Focus – manual
- File Format – Raw
Start your beach photoshoots with the quick settings and adjust after taking a few test shots.
Different Forms Of Beach Photography And Settings For Them
Before discussing the best camera settings in detail, it is vital to note the different kinds of beach photography. There are majorly three kinds of beach photography – landscape, seascape, and portrait. And each requires distinct camera settings. We will look out at the different forms and outline their necessary quick camera settings.
Landscape Beach Photography
Landscape beach photography captures the beauty of nature in its raw form. It shows what it looks like when you stand back from all the details and look at the beach as a whole, including the sands, towers, and bars.
To capture complete and detailed landscape photographs of the beach, start with an ISO of around 100 to 400, turn on your aperture priority mode, and begin with f/16. When aperture priority mode is turned on, your camera will automatically select the most suitable shutter speed to match the exposure based on the lighting conditions. In addition, use a lens with a focal length between 28mm to 35mm. And shoot in manual mode.
ISO – 80, F/4.0, 1/5s
Seascape Beach Photography
Seascape beach photography captures a vast expanse of water with nothing in sight but ocean waves crashing onto rocks below them or seagulls soaring overhead. In this form of beach photography, you will be capturing ocean waves, so it is vital to use a fast shutter speed. However, professional photographers shoot seascape images with aperture priority mode. So, start with an ISO of around 200 (depending on the daytime) and a wide aperture of around f/4 to f/6.
ISO – 125, F/5.6, 1/65s
Portrait Beach Photography
Portraits beach photography captures individual persons against a backdrop of the ocean or beach properties or elements.
ISO – 100, F,2.2, 1/1000s
Expert Camera Settings For Beach Photography
This section of the article will discuss the best and expert camera settings for daylight, sunrise, and sunset beach photography.
Note: In this section, the focus will be on the ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and white balance.
Quick Settings For Daylight Beach Photographs
Here is a quick setting for daylight, also known as natural light or harsh sunlight beach photography.
- ISO – 100
- Aperture – f/16
- Shutter speed – 1/100th to 1/120th of a second
- White balance – Daylight
Note: Lens flare effect or glare is one of the challenges associated with daylight photography. Lens flare can beautify images when correctly done. But, if wrongly done, flare effects can cause terrible effects on your photographs. So, learn How To Get Lens Flare Effect? And How To Avoid It?.
Quick Settings For Sunrise Beach Photography
Here is a perfect starting camera setting for shooting great beach photos at sunrise.
- ISO – around 200-600
- Aperture – f/6 to f/14
- Shutter Speed – 1/25th of a second
- White Balance – shaded or cloudy
Quick Settings For Sunset Beach Photography
Use this camera setting for your sunset beach photographs.
- ISO – 100
- Aperture – f/16
- Shutter Speed – 1/30th to 1/60th of a second
- White Balance – Daylight
Note: Sunrise and sunset are two different types of photography. The first one takes place at the beginning of the day, while the second one is at twilight. Professional photographers usually do sunrise photography without artificial light because it’s easier to get a good shot. After all, there are no other elements to compete with the sun. But sunset photography can be tricky because it requires understanding how to use light. You’ll have to find a way to balance natural and artificial light sources to get that perfect shot. That is why we have provided different quick settings for the two forms of photography.
Beach Photography Settings: 9 Expert Tips You Can Use
Many photographers often complain of running out of tips and tricks for beach photographs. Therefore, we have listed great and new expert ideas you can adopt for your beach shooting moment.
1. Plan the shooting and location
It is crucial to preplan your beach photo moment ahead of time. Find out what kind of beach photography you’d like to try before getting on the beach for the big moment. Will you be taking landscape, seascape, or portrait beach photographs? What time will you like to shoot – daylight, sunrise, or sunset?. Planning helps you determine the suitable location, time, props, light sources, and gear to use.
Note: Choose your location wisely. It is important to have a good view of the horizon and have natural light from the sun or other sources such as beach towers and bars. However, Suppose you are using artificial lighting. In that case, it is vital to be aware of how much light you need to illuminate your subject and not let it cast any shadows on your subject.
2. Get the right gear
You will need a waterproof tripod to prevent camera shakes. It is also vital to be conservative when setting up your tripod, as you don’t want sand or water getting into the tripod’s joints or screws.
You will also need a waterproof camera case. Camera cases are essential items to carry with you. Camera cases help protect your camera against bad weather conditions and any sudden event that could affect your camera. In addition, you will need a waterproof camera lens, a reflector, extra memory cards, charged batteries, filters, and a remote shutter release. These gear are essential for good beach photographs.
3. Optimize your camera settings
Beach photography throws up all sorts of camera settings problems, especially exposure settings. If you are shooting in bright daylight, keep your ISO low, somewhere between 100 to 200, in combination with a narrow aperture, somewhere between f/16 to f/22, and a slightly fast shutter speed. If you want a little depth of field, for example, a portrait, you will need to use a moderately wide aperture with a faster shutter speed.
Your shutter speed will solely depend on what you intend to capture. You will need a fast shutter speed if you want to freeze actions like the crashing waves against the sand or rocks, water splashing, or fast surfers. Suppose you intend to record the beach movements. You will need to go for a more prolonged exposure or shutter speed, somewhere between 5 to 10 seconds.
After each camera optimization or setting, take test shots from more than two angles and adjust the settings to your preference quality.
4. Use Filters
There are three kinds of filters you can use for beach photos – ND, UV, and Polarizing filters.
ND Filters will lessen the amount of light entering your camera’s sensor.; a UV filter will help you avoid lens flare or sun flare effects; a polarizing filter will reduce light reflections. Depending on the location, time, and how creative you want the beach photographs to appear after production, you can use any filter of your choice.
5. Dress comfortably
A beach is a place mainly for relaxation and fun. So wear something relaxing or cushy. Something that will not restrict you from running on the sand or stepping into the crashing waves with your gear.
6. Wait for the golden or magic hours
The best time for any beach photograph is at sunrise or sunset when the sunlight is warm and soft on the body. People often fill up the beaches early (sunrise) or late (sunset) when the weather is comfortable or cozy; however, if you intend to have some quiet time with little to no human distractions, it’s best to go at noontime when the sun is hot and harsh on the body.
7. Do not be limited
Do not restrict yourself to just one or two forms of beach photography. Do not stop at capturing only your model. Try different shots and styles from various angles and positions. Shoot from different angles: high angle, low angle, ground level.
8. Play with your white balance
Take pictures with different white balance: overcast, sunny, cloudy.
9. Be mindful of your lens and other equipment
Watch out for sand in your lens by using a lens brush or blowing air into it. Ensure to keep all your gear safe from water and sand.
7 Best Beach Photography Ideas
1. Capture wildlife
Beaches are good places for animals too. Seagulls, sandpipers, and horses are usually found in these places. Use a fast shutter speed and aperture to capture creative beach animal images.
2. Capture the surfers
Including a surfer in your images can add extra depth and creativity to your beach album. Use a fast shutter speed of around 1/250th of a second combined with a fast aperture opening of about f/2.8 to f/5 to freeze the action and keep everything but the surfer in emphasis.
3. Shoot in black and white
Black and white photographs are magical. They reveal timelessness and great depth.
Black and white images also bring focus on the hidden beauty of the scene, allowing people to see the location from a different perspective.
4. Capture jovial moments
Capture jovial or unusual moments of people on the beach. You can find them in the beach bar, on the sand, and even in the crashing waves.
A quick tip: Ensure to take permission.
5. Capture the tower and bars
Most photographers often overlook capturing the towers and bars in their photographs. But you shouldn’t, because they add stuff to the whole moment.
6. Capture the kids
Kids are fun wherever you find them and at the beach is not an exemption.
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7. Try backlighting
Backlighting will add dramatic and magical effects to your photographs. You can learn more about backlighting in our article What Is Backlight Compensation Photography? Shooting Against The Light.
Final Word
With the end of summer coming up, it’s time to take a break and enjoy the last few weeks of sunshine. If you’re planning on going on vacation or taking a day trip to the beach, ensure to use the settings, tips, and ideas provided. And do not forget to share the images with us through the comments box.