Tips For A Successful Family Beach Portrait.
Planning family beach portraits on the Outer Banks? A few simple tips can make the difference between a stressful experience and a relaxed, joy-filled session.
After photographing families on the Outer Banks for nearly 20 years, I’ve seen trends come and go when it comes to beach portraits. Styles change, colors change, and even posing trends shift over time. But there are a few tried-and-true tips that have remained consistent year after year when it comes to creating a relaxed, successful family session.
Whether it’s your first time scheduling beach portraits or a tradition your family does every summer, these simple tips will help make the experience enjoyable for everyone – and help us capture the beautiful memories you’re hoping for.
helpful tip #1
Prepare Ahead of Time
A little planning goes a long way toward a smooth portrait session.
Start by choosing a color palette and building your family’s wardrobe around it. I always recommend that mom choose her outfit first, and then coordinate everyone else’s clothing around that piece.
These colors reflect the natural beauty of the beach and keep the focus on your family rather than busy patterns or overly bold tones. My editing style is light & airy, and lends itself best to choosing colors that area also light and soft. Think lighter shades of blues, creams, tans, greens, and pale pinks.
I also strongly recommend having a backup outfit for each person, especially for little ones. Spills, sand, and unexpected mishaps happen more often than you’d think!
Finally, pay attention to seasonal temperatures. The Outer Banks can vary more than people expect.
- Sweaters in July will have everyone melting.
- A sleeveless sundress in October might leave you with goosebumps.
Choosing weather-appropriate clothing helps everyone stay comfortable and relaxed.
Helpful tip #2
Plan Your Day-Of Prep
The day of your session should feel easy—not rushed.
Make sure everyone’s clothing is laid out, steamed or ironed, and ready to go well before it’s time to leave for photos. Doing this the night before (or first thing in the morning) can save you a lot of stress later in the day.
If your family has a full beach day planned, try to build in a little downtime during the late afternoon before your session. The sun, swimming, and sand can wear everyone out—especially younger kids.
For children who still nap, try to keep their nap or rest time on schedule if possible. Well-rested kids are much happier in photos.
And since summer sessions often begin in the evening to take advantage of the best light, it’s always a good idea to feed little ones dinner—or at least a very filling snack—before the session.
Because as every parent knows… hangry kids are angry kids.
helpful tip #3
Relax & Have Fun!
This may be the most important tip of all.
Your session should be fun, not stressful.
Kids will wiggle.
They’ll get sandy.
Someone may decide they’re done cooperating halfway through.
And that’s completely okay.
After years of photographing families on the Outer Banks, I’ve learned a few tricks to keep kids engaged and smiling. While we always make sure to capture that classic photo of everyone looking and smiling at the camera, many of the best images happen in the in-between moments—the laughter, the snuggles, and the spontaneous interactions.
The more relaxed everyone feels, the more natural the photos will be. My goal is always to make your kids feel comfortable and engaged so they become willing participants rather than reluctant ones.
Those authentic moments are often the ones families treasure the most.
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Drop Us A Line!
Planning your upcoming Outer Banks Family Vacation and ready to get those gorgeous beach portraits you’ve been dreaming of? Now is the time! Inquire below for more info on how to book your session!
