So We’re Heading to the Beach: How to Handle the Elements {south florida senior photographer}
The beach is easily the most requested location for senior portraits, for locals and for out of town clients, and for good reason—the light is unmatched and the vibe fits almost everyone. But it’s also the most challenging environment to shoot in. Between the wind, the sand, and the unpredictable light, a successful beach session requires a bit more strategy than a park or downtown shoot.
If we're heading to the beach for your session, here is the guide on how to make sure the photos actually look the way you’re imagining. And enjoy this beautiful senior from Ohio’s destination beach session on the beach at Boca Raton. And it was definitely crazy windy that afternoon but we made it work!
1. Timing is Key
We aren't shooting at 2:00 PM. High sun at the beach creates harsh, "raccoon-eye" shadows and makes everyone squint. I prefer shooting during the last hour or hour and a half of light—the Golden Hour. This gives us that soft, glowy skin tone and allows the ocean to look blue and dreamy instead of washed out and white.
2. Dress for the Beach
The beach is a "textures" location. Think linens, knits, and flowy fabrics.
The Wind Factor: If you wear a super short, loose sundress, you’re going to spend 45 minutes holding it down. Opt for longer maxi dresses, rompers, or jeans. Or a cute short dress like the one in this session that is shorter and has great texture!.
Color Palette: Avoid neon colors—they reflect onto your skin and make you look neon, too. Stick to neutrals, muted earth tones, or blues and whites that complement the water.
Barefoot!: No need to worry about shoes - put those toes in the sand!
Order of Outfits: For your first outfit, put on the one that is the most difficult to get into. For example, if you are bring a jeans outfit, wear it first. It’s much easier to slip on a dress at the beach than it is to change into jeans! Save your flowy dress for the last outfit of the day when we are down by the ocean - I love capturing the movement of the dress while you walk on the ocean’s edge or kick around in the water.
3. Embrace the "Beach Hair"
Let's talk about the wind. It’s almost never still at the beach Instead of fighting it, try lean into it.
Pro Tip: Start with your hair down for the first half, then have a clip or a hair tie ready to do a cute "effortless" updo or braid if the wind picks up.
Movement is Good: A bit of hair blowing across your face often looks more high-fashion and authentic than a stiff, perfect hairstyle.
4. Skin and Prep
Shine Control: The humidity and salt air can make skin look oily fast. Bring some blotting papers or a translucent powder in your bag.
Sunburns: This is the big one. Avoid a beach day or a pool day 48 hours before your shoot. Camera sensors pick up every bit of redness, and sunburns are incredibly difficult to edit out.
The "Sand Bag": Bring a dedicated bag for your phone, keys, and second outfit. Sand gets everywhere, and you don’t want it in your charging port.
EXTRA TIP: Bring a large towel to wrap around you (I can hold it) so that you can change outfits on the beach!
5. Be Ready to Get Wet
The best shots usually happen when you stop worrying about staying dry. Toward the end of the session, I’m probably going to ask you to walk into the surf or sit where the waves hit. If you’re willing to get a little messy, those are always the "wow" shots that end up on the graduation announcement.
The Bottom Line
Beach sessions are about lighting, movement, and energy. If you come prepared to handle the wind and get your feet sandy, you are going to get gorgeous senior and teen beach portraits on our beautiful South Florida beaches.
Ready to get your date on the calendar? Let’s talk about which stretch of beach fits your style best.
