Beach Senior Pictures | Everything You Need To Know
As a SoCal senior photographer, beach senior pictures are my bread and butter. After wrapping hundreds of portrait sessions on the beach, it’s safe to say that I am an unequivocal beach-session specialist — and I have the sand in my house and car to prove it! There are a few things you want to keep in mind when preparing for your beach senior photoshoot, and we’re going to cover it all in this post.
When is the best time to schedule your beach senior pictures session?
Both sunrise and sunset are great times to shoot on the beach in Southern California. Sunrise is best for no crowds, crisp light, and for people who love mornings and want their professional hair and makeup to last all day. Sunset is better for those who need to sleep in in the mornings, want golden hour sunsets, and don’t mind sharing the beach with a few picnic-goers. Exact times for these vary depending on season. For example, in October, sessions often take place in the early afternoon (4PM or so), since the sun sets around 6PM. In the summertime, though, we often don't even start sessions until 6PM because the sun sets so much later in our area during that time of year.
As for what time of year, SoCal has some flexibility. All 12 months provide great conditions for photography. With that being said, I always say October and November boast some of the best beach sessions. These months have minimal crowds as summer tourism has faded, the late-onset summer weather typical of Southern California, and there is a lower chance of marine layer and fog at the beach that is more common in the late spring and early summer.
What are some beach senior photo outfit ideas?
My recommendations for senior photo outfits on the beach are a little more specific than my general outfit tip— check them out!
No shoes needed! Barefoot is best, but you might want to bring sandals to walk on or around pavement or rocky surfaces.
Consider a hat. This can help with hair control due to any sort of wind, which is extremely common at the beach given its wide-open position.
Movement, movement, movement! Why? The drama fits well on the dramatic beach landscapes and water is an element that moves constantly in its essence. The movement of fabric matches this natural occurrence beautifully.
Can’t go wrong with denim and a casual white top to let your natural features shine and let the background speak for itself.
Cap and gown photos, uniform shots, and letterman jackets are popular beach shots. For many of my clients, the beach is an integral part of their childhood, and taking graduation photos on the sand is an ode to their upbringing, made especially symbolic by shots like walking into the sunset (and metaphorically into the next chapter after high school).
Bonus guy senior photo outfit idea: the beach is a classic spot for a short-sleeve button up and khaki style pants or blue denim. No shoes required, no flip flops allowed (jk… but actually) and note that we'll probably have you roll up the pants once or twice for a more relaxed 'local' look.
What should you bring to your beach senior pictures session?
For beach photos, we’re usually a long way from the parked car at that point in the session. So it’s helpful to have a container (whether that’s a tote bag, clear plastic bin, or even a wagon) with all of the essentials.
The essentials include:
Flyaway gel (Not hairspray! Check out this post on when you should use hairspray and flyaway gel.)
Scissors for tags
Small towel for after the water
Change of comfy clothes to wear once we wrap (optional)
Birkenstocks or sandals for climbing over jagged, rocky landscape
Makeup touchup kit
Up for anything attitude! The beach has so many factors that make every single session unique — weather, people, tides, you name it — trust your photographer for best results.
What are some things to keep in mind when it comes to shooting on the beach?
When it comes to the beach, it's usually more wind and sand than rainbows and butterflies. With that being said, as long as you’re prepared for these things, they won’t get in the way of a memorable beach senior photoshoot!
Permits are usually required. I take the time to research each beach and notify clients of permit fees and arrange permits for my clients whenever I can — not many photographers do this and run the risk of being kicked off the beach or fined, most photographers require the client to arrange the permit. Keep this in mind and be prepared!
There are usually people (and therefore, onlookers) at the beach. Booking your session off-season helps mitigate this, but either way it's important to ignore the eyeballs and just have fun with it!
Definitely expect to get a bit of sand and salt water on your outfits! Comes right off with dry cleaning.
The weather… weathers. There's almost always a bit of wind at the beach due to how open it is and how variable the elements are. You also have to be mindful of tides. Laguna beaches, for example, are small in size and often become inaccessible if the tide is too high. Keep an open mind if a last-minute change of scenery is necessary for your own safety!
Pro tip: if you want beach photos but really want to minimize the number of people around, definitely consider a sunrise session option!
There are some amazing pros to taking senior photos on the beach.
The vastness and openness of the landscape, the crashing of the waves, and the combination of rock and water unique to Southern California beaches are all obvious reasons to opt for the beach as one of your senior photo locations. The sand in our toes and the beach being my office?? It’s an obvious favorite of mine!
Between the dolphins, rows of palm trees, and waves splashing, the beach just has things to elevate your photos that other locations don’t.
Are you looking for someone to help you get the beach senior pictures of your dreams? Apply now to work with me!
