Are you headed to the beach with your kids? Learn how to take Pictures of Your Kids on the Beach that are creative and fun.
With summer coming to a close, kids heading back to school and trips to the beach happening every weekend until the cold weather comes to us, I thought it was time for a few quick tips on how to photograph your own kids on the beach!
Pictures of Your Kids on the Beach
- GEAR– any gear you have will work. honestly! Don’t be afraid to bring it out in the air, on the sand and close to water, just hang on tight! I like wider angle lenses for beach photography, especially of my own children. The wider angle lets you really capture the entire scene and multiple children running around and playing. A fisheye lens is super fun, or my go-to’s, my 24 1.4L or 35 1.4
If your gear gets sandy or splashed a bit, just wipe off any sand and water droplets with a lens cleaning cloth and brush. Or better yet, get one of these awesome camera dry-bags like this one!
- TIMING– You really can shoot on the beach at any time of the day, but it’s best to be early or late. As a portrait photographer, I choose to photograph my clients in the best light of the day, an hour or so before the sunset, aka the golden hour. The light is softer, creamier and the colors here in Panama City Beach are some of the best I’ve ever seen.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t shoot with my kids in full open sun at noon, either! You’re on vacation, try new things and have fun with what you capture.
- COMPOSITION– Composition truly is an important part of photography, even when it’s just your own kiddos. There are lots of “rules” in the photography world (rule of 1/3’s, horizons, leading lines, don’t cut off limbs, etc) and although I tend to follow most of them, sometimes the best photos break the rules. It’s best to be mindful of them but don’t let them keep you in a box! Test your limits, break some rules and see what you come up with.
- DETAILS– These little fleeting moments are just that, gone in a flash. Think sandy toes, salty hair blowing in the breeze, your baby’s footprints in the sand… just look around and you’ll be sure to find loads of little details. As momtastic says – let them play! Don’t be afraid to step back and just let them “be”. You’ll find those will be some of your favorite detail and action shots!
- FUN– Don’t forget that the main point of all of this is to just have FUN! Your kiddos are splashing around, sand everywhere, watermelon dripping from their red, juicy lips…. drink it all in! Your kids won’t always be this age, this small, this excited, this clingy, this happy and full of pure joy and excitement. Take it all in, enjoy every second and don’t forget to put the camera down and join in on the fun <3
Are you planning on trying to get some unique beach family photos? Family beach pictures are always a favorite of mine and we always make the time to take an evening at sunset for family pictures. Coordinating what to wear is sometimes the trickiest part so here are 25 Tips on What to Wear for Beach Pictures. Hopefully it will help you out!
Guest Blogger: Laura Jennings WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST
Laura Jennings Photography LLC, now in its 7th year, is a full time, full service natural light photography business. The artist, Laura Jennings, is a well-known destination wedding and portrait photographer and serves the Northwest Florida Panhandle as well as points unknown around the world! Laura specializes in beach weddings and family sunset photography and in her free time is a volunteer photographer for the Magic Hour Organization offering free photography services to terminal cancer patients and their families.
Laura was a 1st place winner in The 2016 Shoot & Share photography contest with over 225,000 entries from 120 countries and over 30 million votes. Locally, she is an extremely busy wedding and family photographer and was voted Best of Bay for 2016. Laura is periodically a guest blogger for The Perfect Pose and has been published in numerous newspapers and magazines such as Florida Today and The Circuit. She has even collaborated with a major television network on a new reality show concept! Laura is a member of PPA, APA, her local Chamber, and sits on the board of Magnitude Photography – A monthly fee based photographer referral service that matches quality photographers with clients nationwide.
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Kathleen says
I teared up when I read the info about free photography for terminal cancer patients. I’m here because I am planning a photo session (already have a wonderful photographer) on the beach with multi generations and four families, so wanted to have posing , props, colors, all ready when we head to the beach. But my husband is terminal and I wanted to say thank you for offering that wonderful service to families going through all you do with cancer. Really touched my heart.