10 Candid Beachside Poses for Lifestyle Photoshoots

As a lifestyle photographer based in Los Angeles, I have had the opportunity to work with models in different beach locations for portrait and lifestyle photography sessions. 

When it comes to lifestyle photography, using movement is a great way to bring out authentic poses in your images. Whether you’re taking lifestyle photos for a fashion brand, creative outdoor portraits, or just taking travel photos at the beach, finding different poses is important in getting a diverse amount of images to choose from.

In this blog, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite beachside poses that I like to incorporate in some of my sessions.

Walking On The Beach

A classic but effective pose that looks natural in pretty much any situation. If your photos look static, a basic movement like walking is a great way to start off your session. Find a pace that’s most comfortable and try it a few times. I like to try and capture a few different compositions, but if you’re looking to show off the location, opting for a wider angle will be helpful.

Sitting On The Sand

Another simple but helpful pose to use when for lifestyle photos at the beach. The model can be looking out at the ocean or past the camera, but this beachside pose usually ends up capturing a much more relaxed ambience. I would reserve this pose after standing shots since your wardrobe might get a bit sandy and you might want to brush it off before continuing.

Posing On The Rocks

If your beach location has rocks that the model can sit or lean on, you can use the rocks as a textured background or as a prop to get some more creative beachside poses rather than relying on standing poses or sitting on a flat surface. If it’s safe, finding a rock surrounded by water can make for interesting shots. You can also sand on top of the rocks and take photos from a higher angle.

Posing with Lifeguard Tower

You can do a variety of beachside poses around a lifeguard tower. Whether it’s leaning on the railing or just simply sitting, you can experiment with different poses for your beach photoshoot.

Posing Under The Pier

Leaning on the beams of a pier like the Santa Monica Pier at the beach is a nice way to diversify your images. The pier also can offer shade and provide even lighting at a time where the light can look harsh on your model’s face. You can have the model leaning with their back on the pier or have them use their elbow.

Using a Chair

If you’re able to bring a chair, then you can sit or even stand on the prop as long as it’s propped properly. Of course, be sure that the model is comfortable doing a pose like standing on the chair.

Dancing On The Beach

Have the model move around and play on the sand for a more fun and carefree style of photo. You can have the model start by simply walking, and then asking them to move their arms around to bring a lot of movement into the shot. As awkward as it might seem in real time, you can still get a great photo. The model doesn’t have to be a professional dancer to get a beautiful shot.

Standing On The Water

You can use the water as a background for your photo without fully diving in. You can have the model stand where the sand is wet and shoot a full body shot so you don’t get any dry sand in the photo. This is a great way to capture some photos of the waves as the model is posing.

Playing with the Sand

If you like your photos to be more interactive and less about specific poses, then you can have the model playing with the sand. I personally like to do a variety of focusing on the model’s face and on the model’s hands. This can be especially nice for jewelry photos where you’re showing off rings. My advice is to find dry sand so that the water won’t clump too much if you like to have the sand slowly fall from the model’s hands.

Holding Shoes On The Beach

LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY WITH LOS ANGELES PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN BROWN

The beach is one of my favorite locations to shoot lifestyle photos for model test shots and branding photos. 

I hope these 10 beachside poses will provide you with some great ideas for future lifestyle photoshoots.

If you’re a brand or business looking for lifestyle photography content, please don’t hesitate to reach out to see if I might be a good fit for your project.

Thanks for reading and until next time!

Please feel free to explore my website further with behind-the-scenes lifestyle photoshoots:

Santa Monica Sunrise Beach Photoshoot with Erla Garcia

Venice Beach Sunset Photoshoot with Jacob Hunt

Santa Monica Overcast Beach Photoshoot with Owen Rivers

Santa Monica Sunset Beach Photoshoot with Austin Lee

To see examples of my photography portfolios, check out any of the pages below.

Travel Photography

Lifestyle Photography for Brands