If you are a beach lover like me, there is nothing more beautiful then portraits on the beach! Whether you live in Charleston, SC or are taking a much needed vacation here - beach portraits are fun and gorgeous! There is however a LOT to consider! Creating portraits on the beach can be tricky for a large number of reasons. Some of the biggest things to consider are:
1. Timing and lighting are critical for landing great beach portraits: we stick to sunrise and sunset whenever possible! The famous "golden hour" (the hour after sunrise or before sunset) covers the beach in warm, diffused light. What do I prefer? As inconvenient as it can be to get up early to get ready, especially which young children, trust me when I tell you, it is worth it!
2. Sunrise portraits are in general easier to create. Why? There are very few people on the beach that early. The ocean is generally calmer and there is less wind. Reflections tend to be beautiful at that time!!!
3. The ages of your family members. If you have very young children, its often easier to stick to a studio environment and save the beach portraits for your next photographic experience. Why? The studio is a controlled environment, there is no wind, sun, sand, people - its calm and comfortable for young children.
4. Choose your location wisely. Think about what you want in your photos. Do you want the water and the sky? Beautiful dunes? Sea oats? One of my favorite beaches to work on in Charleston, SC is Kiawah Beach, It is great for sunset portraits only because they do not "open" until 9am. For sunrise portraits I highly recommend Folly Beach! Folly is fun and hip, a surfer beach. And.... if you do sunrise portraits here, you can then walk to beach and downtown folly when it is finished. There is an adorable coffee shop, Center Street Coffee that you will certainly enjoy! And many many little stores and restaurants too.
5. The heat! Charleston, SC is HOT!!! :) How do you make this easier on your family? Easy - go with sunrise!
Decide on the tone. Beach photos are usually more fun and carefree because the beach is a fun location. But you can definitely create something more traditional or more whimsical based on your vision!
Think about the color scheme. I know it’s really popular to dress your family in white tops and khaki shorts for beach photos. There’s nothing wrong with this approach, but I like to guide my clients to be a bit more creative. Blues, whites, and yellows look amazing on the beach. Flowy maxi dresses for women, sundresses for girls, and a color coordinated (not necessary matchy) polo for men and boys can be a great look. This is of course up to you but as long as you stay within the colors you "see" on a beach - you cannot go wrong!
Prepare for the elements. The beaches here around Charleston can be blazing hot, windy, and/or buggy. Bring sunscreen, bug spray, extra hair bands for girls, hairspray, and maybe a hat and sunglasses for between photos, too!
Last, but not least…
Remember to have fun! It would be a shame not to enjoy one of the most beautiful places in the world because you’re too worried about looking a certain way in a portrait. Making you look good is MY JOB and mission so do not worry! Trust me, the photographs will turn out much better if you’re having a good time, too! Its that fun memory with your family and loved ones that will make your look at these portraits for many years and . . . smile!
One of the best ways to relax and enjoy the whole process is to hire a us and know that we got this!
Below is samples of beach portraits.... most are photographs... but at Castelo Portrait Art we can create just about anything! Photographs are beautidul, our Vicenza portrait line is loved by all - and we create Whimsical Paintings and Oil Paintings too. It's all about what you want. Say hello and let us know what you would like to do! We are here to answer all your questions and help! We look forward to hearing from you!
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