Tips To A Picture Perfect Beach Engagement Shoot
Photos by: Jennifer Trinidad Photography
If you’re newly engaged, you’re probably starting to book your vendors for the big day; but have you also considered getting some engagement photos? We’ve discussed the importance of engagement photos and our advice on how to have a smooth session before. However, when it comes to a beach engagement shoot, it’s a different ball game. After seeing these beautiful photos from my clients Niki + Amir, I was inspired to share tips to perfecting a sandy photo shoot.
Choose Your Time Wisely
Lean on your photographer for their advice as well but typically, you want to choose either “golden hour” (just before sunset), or I even suggest going early in the morning, just before sunrise! Yes, you may need coffee but if your photographer is up for it, this also provides incredibly beautiful light. Additionally, you may be able to get more privacy early on since the area might be populated by beach goers later in the day.
Scout Your Perfect Beach
Not all beaches are the same. If you want a session with just you and your partner, don’t go to a hyper touristy beach. You’ll just be fighting crowds and looky-loo’s the entire time. If you want bustling pier energy in the backdrop, then Santa Monica might be your jam (like this couple!) There’s no “wrong beach”, but think about how you want your engagement photos to feel and go from there. Ask your photographer about their favorite places. You may need to travel to find it, but I promise you, there’s a beach spot for everyone!
Bring Beach Essentials
If you plan to have a beach engagement shoot, you’ll need to pack accordingly. First off, please pack SPF. Secondly, bring a change of clothes, in case your first outfit gets too wet. A few towels are also helpful for multiple reasons. The most obvious to dry off, or to sit on the sand, but you can also use it as a cushion while sitting on a rocky point. Your photographer can help you hide it so you’re comfortable taking multiple photos in the position. Lastly, I would suggest bringing baby powder. It might sound strange but it’s one of the quickest ways to get sand off your legs and feet.
Have Fun!
The beach can be a little unpredictable. Maybe a big wave catches you by surprise or there’s more wind than you thought (or a crab wants to crash your session). My best advice is just to relax and have fun! Your true emotions will come out in the photos so go with the flow and have a blast!
I hope this helps you plan your engagement photos no matter where you plan to take them! If you’re ready to start tackling the planning process, contact me on my homepage here + let’s chat! Thanks to Jennifer Trinidad for these beautiful photos and stay tuned next week for the blog post with Niki + Amir’s full wedding. You won’t want to miss it.
