Beach Photoshoot Ideas for Lifestyle Photography
The beach is an amazing location where you can capture stunning lifestyle photography with models. Los Angeles is home to some of the most beautiful beaches that can act as the perfect backdrop for your beach photoshoot.
As a Los Angeles photographer, I enjoy producing beach photoshoots in locations like Venice Beach and El Matador State Beach in natural light with both new and professional models.
In this blog post, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite lifestyle images I have taken at some of the different beaches here in Los Angeles.
Sunrise vs. Sunset Photoshoot
One of the most important factors to consider for any photoshoot is lighting. It’s essential to understand how different light setups will affect the mood of your image. I would encourage you to experiment with taking/finding photos taken during different times of the day to see which fits your aesthetic. While sunrise and sunset can both produce beautiful golden hour images, the final results will vary depending on your location.
Sunrise: In Los Angeles, the sun rises on the opposite side of the ocean. If the model is standing in front of the ocean, then the model will be front-lit.
Sunset: In Los Angeles, the sun sets over the ocean horizon. In this case, the model will be backlit if standing in front of the ocean.
Of course, you can experiment with other lighting techniques like side-light during golden hour by trying different compositions and positions.
Lie Down on the Sand
If you’re able to find a dry spot on the beach, you can capture some photos of the model sitting down or lying on the sand. Rather than sticking to a basic headshot or portrait, switching up the composition and trying new poses can help create a more natural lifestyle photo.
If the model is comfortable, sometimes I like to have them interact with the sand by picking it up and slowly letting it fall.
Use Silhouettes
You can create dramatic and beautiful beach images by using the model as a silhouette, showcasing the beach landscape. In my opinion, this looks best during a dramatic sunset with clouds in the sky. Just be sure that the model’s pose isn’t too scrunched up so it doesn’t look like a solid black line in the middle of a photo.
Use Props During The Photoshoot
If you know you’re going to be shooting at a beach where there isn’t a lot in the environment to play with, you can bring your own props to make your beach photoshoot stand out. You can bring a stool for the model to sit on or an accessory like a handbag that the model can interact with or hold.
In a location like Santa Monica Beach, you might only have lifeguard towers on the beachfront, so bringing accessories and props can be a great way to diversify your images for the photoshoot.
Crashing Waves as a Background
If you’re in a location like Venice Beach where the tides are crashing on the rocks, then you can incorporate that into your lifestyle photography with a model. In my experience, this usually happens near sunset or during blue hour. It can be a bit of a toss up, but it can help make the beach photoshoot look more cinematic.
Blue Hour Beach Photography
The beach photoshoot doesn’t have to end once the sun sets. You can get some amazing images during blue hour after the sun has set. The lighting is going to be a lot more even and there is still enough light to have the model’s face be properly exposed without having to pull out a flash or artificial light source.
Candid Movements
If you have a lot of open space at the beach, then you can have the model walk around along the sand and move freely. Depending on the mood that you’re going for, you can include shots of laughing or walking into the ocean about to play in the water.
I like to incorporate movement into all of my lifestyle photography in order to get the most natural images for a beach photoshoot.
Wide Vs. Close-Up Angles
For any photoshoot I produce, I love to do a mix of close-up and wide angle shots of the model so that I get a variety of compositions. When it comes to the beach, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and decide how much of the background you want to incorporate in the final photo.
Close-Up Shots: These photos are more focused on the model/subject you’re photographing. The background isn’t as noticeable and so the model’s facial expression will direct the mood of the shoot.
Wide Angle Photos: These images are useful when you want to show off more of the location and produce a more environmental photo where the model is interacting with the set a bit more.
