Why have a family photo on the beach?
Whether you’re a small family or a large reunion, capturing those precious moments will give you memories that you’ll cherish for years to come.
How To Capture The Best Family Photos Ever On The Beach In Corolla, North Carolina
The perfect family beach vacation has to include family photographs taken on the beach. Corolla is a beautiful oceanfront town in North Carolina, where the beaches are wide and there’s no shortage of things to do.
Learn how to capture the best family photos ever with these tips from my many years of photographing families on the beach. From choosing your location to creating a memorable moment, these simple steps will make sure that you walk away with memories for a lifetime.
Choosing the perfect location for your family photos
One of the key elements in capturing the perfect family photo is choosing the right location. It needs to be scenic, but it also needs to provide a backdrop for your photos. Ideally, you’ll want an unobstructed view of the horizon so that everyone in your pictures can see what’s behind them. Luckily, Corolla is one of those magical beach communities that is filled with dozens of these kinds of spots. This small-town beach community combines all the best elements of a five-star resort vacation, while still encompassing that laid-back Outer Banks style that embraces the beach life.
The timing of your photo session.
When time of day is best for family beach photos?
The best time to take beach photos is early morning or the early evening. The sun will be at its best point and won’t cast any harsh shadows on your face. And if you’re lucky enough to have an overcast day, then you’ll get even better lighting for your family portraits!
Selecting the proper clothing
What should I wear for my beach portrait?
This is certainly the most frequently asked question I receive. And it is a great question because it can have a large impact on your portraits and how comfortable you are having them taken.
In general, you should dress in casual clothing that is both comfortable and cool. Shorts, slacks, sundresses, and lightweight tops all work well. Select white or pastel colors for tops. These can be mixed or matched among family members for a variety of looks. However, it is best to use colors that coordinate well together. Pairing colors with khakis or jeans results in great-looking photos.
Keep it simple. We want all the attention on the personalities and relationships – not on the clothing. Make sure everything fits well. Clothes that are too small or too big will be obvious in the portrait.
Many families choose to wear the same color top with slacks or shorts. This makes for a very attractive beach portrait. Other options include having the men in one color and the women in another color or the women in white sundresses.
White and khaki is a very popular color combination and is great when used in the early morning or late evening sessions. This color style is the palette of the beach and makes for an excellent portrait.
With multiple families or large groups, not everyone has to be wearing the same color although it would be perfectly acceptable to do so. A very popular theme is to have each family unit dress in the same color combination and coordinate the colors of the different family units in the group photo.
Here are a few recommendations for what not to wear. Usually, mixing different prints, stripes and patterns result in a less pleasing photograph.
You can use matching patterns with good results but typically solids are a better choice. Many of the poses used in the photo session involve sitting on the sand. Short skirts can be difficult for the ladies to sit on the sand in so choose something that you can be comfortable wearing.
Bare feet are the norm for a beach photograph but be sure to bring some type of flip-flop or sandal for walking to the beach, which may be hot. Many of our beach paths have sand spurs along with them and getting one of them in your foot can be painful.
Keep in mind that the beach is usually a little windy and it is prudent to be prepared for the wind. Bring with you items such as hair spray, comb, brush, hair bands, or any other item that will help to keep your hair in place. Fine hair is not likely to stay in place without some help. For those that can wear a ponytail, this would be a great answer to controlling hair. Whatever method you use, prepare in advance for this issue and it will result in better photographs.
A couple other points of caution. Be careful not to get sunburned prior to your photo session. This is especially important when tan lines show. The contrast between the areas that are sunburned and not, do not photograph well. Tans look great in the photos but sunburns do not. Also, less jewelry is better, and beware of using lotions that are oily. The sand will stick to your skin and can be difficult to brush off. And for the men, eliminating the five-o’clock shadow prior to the portrait session is a good idea.
Some final words on family beach portraits
If you are looking for family photos on the beach, Corolla is a great place to go.
Prepare for your beach photo session and you will be rewarded with portraits that will be treasured forever.
I hope that these tips will help make your beach experience unforgettable.
Feel free to call me any time at 800.646.5812 or email me at blorenz@blorenz.com if you have any questions.