The beach is a great location for capturing family portraits. It offers a relaxed atmosphere and scenic setting.
When planning a family vacation or a summer photoshoot, you might think of taking your family to a beach to let the kids enjoy themselves while also enjoying quality time with your spouse. During this, you might want to get some memorable shots of your family along with yourself, which you can save as a memory or make a photo album.
But to have perfect clicks, you should be looking good in order to have a quality photoshoot with family. This is why you must know how to look awesome in family beach photos. A simple thought is that you should choose light, neutral, comfy clothing with a coastal vibe for your family’s beach photo shoot.
However, you should know that the secret to getting great beach family portraits lies not in the weather or photographer but in your family’s preparation for the photo shoot.
Therefore, to ensure that you get the best results, we have compiled a list of the top 11 tips and ideas for the best beach family photos to help you prepare and make the most of your family beach portrait session.
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What shoes to wear for beach family photos?
Comfortable sandals, flip-flops, or espadrilles are ideal for beach family photos. Pairing these shoes with our recommended beach outfits will make for gorgeous family pictures at the beach.
11 Tips for family beach portraits by best photographers
As a professional photographer and somebody whose photo studio is situated very close to a beach, my team and I have had the opportunity to capture and produce several flattering family portraits in such a great outdoor setting.
Below are our top tips for family beach portraits:
1. Plan ahead
Always, always have a plan, says Rick Riodarn, an American writer. Your family beach photo shoot session is a great deal, and it should be well-planned. It is very necessary to plan ahead if you want the best shots.
You might be wondering: How do I prepare for my family beach portraits session?
- Consider scouting for a location.
- Decide on a theme for your family beach photo.
- Consider booking your photographer early.
- Practice different group portrait poses with your family.
With a little planning and effort, you can take beautiful family beach portraits that you will cherish for years to come.
2. Schedule the photoshoot for the golden hour
The golden hour, which is the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset, is the best time for beach family portraits.
The soft, golden sunlight during the golden hours can cast a warm and gentle glow on you and your family members, resulting in images that radiate love, peace, and harmony.
You might want to ask: What time is the golden hour? The exact timing will depend on your geographical location and the time of the year. You can find out the specific timing for your location here.
3. Incorporate fun and sports activities
You can make the most of your beach setting by incorporating fun and sports activities, like flying kites, building sandcastles, or playing a game of beach volleyball or soccer (football) into your portraits.
These activities can help create natural interactions and genuine smiles, which can result in stunning pictures.
4. Wear beach-appropriate matching outfits
Fortunately, there are several outfit ideas you can try when it comes to deciding what to wear for your family beach session. However, we recommend choosing breathable and lightweight fabrics, like Hawaiian shirts.
Wearing comfortable, matching outfits for your family beach portrait session will make the pictures appear cohesive and visually pleasing. Thus, stay away from dresses with intricate designs or too many accessories.
You should also keep in mind that the weather at the beach can change quickly, so consider bringing different dresses if you intend to stay on the beach longer.
Related article: 21 Tips about Styling, Outfits, and Makeup to Click Amazing Family Pictures
5. Bring props
Props can add personality and fun to your family beach portraits. So, consider bringing a beach ball, a bucket, and shovel, or some seashells to incorporate into your photos.
6. Hire a professional portrait photographer
Yes, you can use your smartphone for your family beach portraits. But it’s best to hire a professional photographer experienced in beach portraits.
A professional photographer can provide guidance, capture high-quality images with standard equipment, and ensure you get the best possible results.
7. Choose the right beach for your family portrait
I recommend selecting a beach that holds sentimental value and cherished memories for your family as the location for the photoshoot.
But if there’s none, you can look for any beach with a variety of interesting natural elements like rocks, driftwood, dunes, or vegetation. You can consult your photographer if you need help selecting a beach for your family portrait.
Nonetheless, you can find a list of all the beaches in the USA here.
8. Get creative
Being creative is one of the easiest ways to get the best beach family portraits. And according to Erich Fromm, a German social psychologist, and psychoanalyst, “Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.”
Therefore, encourage your family members to let go of self-doubt and experiment with different poses and angles. Try getting down on the wet sand or have your family run into the waves for candid shots.
You should keep in mind that the more creative the pose, the more fun and interesting your photos will be. So, I suggest working with your photographer to find flattering poses and angles that will showcase the love and connection between your family members.
9. Stay safe
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), both small and high waves can be equally unpredictable and dangerous.
Therefore, try to stay safe and only take photos in areas designated as safe by the lifeguards. If you have kids, ensure you keep an eye on them throughout your time on the beach.
10. Relax and have fun
The best beach portraits are the ones that show the family members relaxed and enjoying themselves. So with safety measures in place, let loose, play, and enjoy the moment.
11. Keep everything simple and natural
Finally, ensure you keep everything simple and natural by avoiding colorful props and dresses that can make the picture appear disorganized. Similarly, avoid areas congested with people as they may accidentally photobomb your family portrait.
5 Ideas for family beach portraits by best photographers
Here are our top 5 fun ideas for the best beach family portraits you can try:
1. Picking up trash
Picking up trash at the beach might sound like an unconventional fun idea for your family beach portrait, but it is one of the most remarkable ideas you can try.
This idea shows that you and your family care about saving marine life and our planet. Your kids will look at the picture after several years and will be proud they contributed to saving the planet.
2. Splashing in the waves
Consider holding hands and jumping over incoming waves to make a splash. Be cautious of strong currents, and keep an eye on your kids.
3. Strolling along the shoreline
Strolling along the shoreline with the waves gently washing over your feet is another beautiful and fun family beach photo idea you can try. This pose showcases unity and love.
4. Group hug on a wooden pier
Gather your family members together on a wooden pier and wrap your arms behind each other’s back while standing or sitting. Encourage everyone to smile and look at the camera for a great family beach portrait.
5. Playing with water with your kids
Some kids are fond of playing with water. If you have such children, you can find a wooden pier or a high ground where you can sit comfortably and splash the water with your legs. This is a great idea that can make your beach family portrait appear fun and interesting.
More Ideas To Look Awesome In Family Beach Photos
Choose Differently But Coordinate
By dressing one child in a striking design and then choosing colors for the other garments based on those colors, some families are able to capture beautiful beach images. The finest colors for beach photo sessions are soft pastels like mist blue, sage green, and light pink, as well as neutral tones like ivory, cream, beige, or tan.
Another fantastic idea is for everyone to wear simple blue jeans or bottoms that can make a combination with white tops. Neutrals and pastels contrast beautifully with the sand, ocean, and colors of the sky, whether your beach photos are taken in a tropical or coastal setting.
Pro Tip: Lay out all the garments collectively on a bed or carpet and take pictures of them if you want a preview to aid in your decision. You’ll get a decent concept of how the patterns and colors will interact with one another from it.
Wear Only White
All-white attire is a great choice if you manage to get your family prepared in a decent outfit. You won’t be disappointed as the possibilities are endless when it comes to summer attire. Although all-white attire for family beach photos may appear quite formal, pure white actually looks elegant and sophisticated.
Consider loose-fitting cotton dresses, white polo shirts for men, white denim, or white linen pants. To achieve a distinctive style, add several materials to your family’s beach attire.
Be Spiky And Audacious
Don’t be afraid to choose striking shades of colors. Choosing more vibrant and striking color schemes will make everyone stand out more in contrast to the beach’s variety of pastel hues. You probably don’t want to dress up your kids in softer colors if you have anything like a wonderful, long, regal dress in flaming red.
Being At Ease
It is best to arrange long hair away from the face or pull it back for anyone with long hair. Keep in mind that since your beach images were taken outside, you want to reduce the possibility of hair flying in your face. Choose a suitable outfit that is comfortable to wear on family beach photography day. Make sure the children are also not wearing any uncomfortable dress.
Note: If you give your kids garments that pull, bind, or scratch them, it’s likely that they’ll be more preoccupied with repairing their clothing than they would be with being present to smile for the camera.
White, Tan, And Blush Are Preferred
Your family beach shots might seem distinctive if you added pink to the classic combination of white and tan. It is a lovely and elegant color that would go nicely with your summer tan. Choose neutral or pastel color tones in largely solid fabrics with tiny accents of design to create a unified aesthetic for the entire family.
Your attire shouldn’t detract from the stunning surroundings or your lovely family. Once more, think about layering your clothing and including different textures to give your images additional aesthetic appeal and interest.
White With A Pattern Pop
It is recommended to avoid having everyone wear loud or busy patterns when taking pictures. Choose basic neutrals and add a subtle pop of design. A person like a dad in the frame can stick to a soft tone or white color that will give a neutral feel, while the kid can have a striking pop with polka dots or any such designs on the outfit.
The idea of this style is to make the entire look unbroken, light, and beachy because nobody’s attire is competing with the others.
Choose Best Times To Take Pictures
If you want to take a family portrait on the beach, the sun is friendlier in the early morning or late afternoon which is why you must plan your family beach photo session before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. In addition, when people are not squinting in the direct sunlight, everyone appears better.
Try to schedule your beach photography sitting for a time when your children are typically awake and content if you’re doing family beach images with younger children. Avoid the moments when they are most irritable—not too close to meals or naps.
A Pop Of Pastel Pink
Your family beach pictures could benefit from a few light color splashes to enhance interest. A beach sunrise or sunset always looks stunning against pastel pink. We advise wearing a pastel pink dress or keeping it basic with a pastel button-down shirt. The pink adds a bit extra while maintaining the photo’s clarity and cleanliness when combined with white and other neutral tones.
The color scheme and attire in this picture are dressy enough for printouts while still exuding a carefree spirit.
Wearing Silk For Photos
Although you wouldn’t often wear a silk or satin slip dress to the beach, you will still feel comfy and make up some great shots with the shades during the evening at the beach. A person should still be dressed up even though your children might not be. You can layer with a comfortable knit cardigan after dressing up with a sophisticated and classy neutral slip.
Make sure the person is dressed comfortably and casually, perhaps in a cozy silk dress with a faded background. You and your spouse will look stunning in such pictures.
Choice Of Clothing Is Crucial
Think about the colors in the surroundings while choosing what to wear for your family’s beach shots. Nearly everyone looks excellent in blues, browns, and greens, and they contrast stunningly with seascape backgrounds. But that doesn’t imply you should stay away from vivid hues. You can match gray or magenta with white for a perfect matchup with the beachside view.
Colors like turquoise, fuchsia, orange, and dandelion yellow can add vibrant contrast to the ocean and white or gold sand of the beach. Use the bright colors sparingly and more as accents than as the primary color.
Outfit In Blue And White
Because it so closely resembles the surroundings of a beach, this vibrant color scheme is ideal for your family beach shots. You can find the blue color for your dress that will match the background of your family beach photos in the sky and sea colors. A simple white worn by a baby will make up a perfect contrast to look good in a family beach photo. It is one of our very favorite suggestions for family beach photos.
The combination of various blue hues looks fantastic, and the addition of white to the color scheme gives the ensemble a preppy, classy feel.
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Outfit Idea In White And Gray For Beach Photos
The color gray is classy, timeless, and stylish on its own. For your family beach photo shoot, it offers a stunning look when combined with classic white. For a relaxed, intriguing, and eye-catching style, pair your white dress with a gray knit style because gray and white are a fantastic color combination for family portraits on the beach.
Gray blends very well with warm skin tones but does not stick out, allowing the main subjects of your beach family images to shine out.
Shades Of Blue
Wearing a variety of blue hues, though, will make the family photo appear more lively to the eye. You will love how the outfit will look in a family beach photo while highlighting the water in the background. This is a wonderful method to cover a scenic shot while looking awesome in a perfect casually contrasted outfit.
Simple Fashion Tips For Your Beach Family Portrait Session
- Ladies: seek out supple, organic materials that flow and drape. These convey motion and make for lovely photos.
- If in doubt, choose one patterned garment for a single member of the family and then choose solid colors for everyone else to wear to complement by taking colors from that pattern.
- Pick hues that evoke the stunning hues of the ocean and sunset. Mild pinks, cream, muted blues, soft greens, and white are excellent examples of neutrals that photograph beautifully because they readily blend in with the surroundings rather than draw attention to themselves.
- Solid colors always photograph beautifully. There is no chance of losing sight of people, happy exchanges, or even the breathtaking scenery of the beach.
- Pack a cloth or something extra like a set of bottoms and a shirt. Inevitably, someone will get a little sandy and wet from the ocean sprays or unexpected dips in the water.