Beach Photoshoot Outfits for Los Angeles Lifestyle Branding Photos

Because of the perpetually sunny weather in Los Angeles, the different beaches here can make a great backdrop location for lifestyle branding photos throughout the year.

For lifestyle beach photography, one of the essential factors to consider is the wardrobe that you or the model brings to the location.

In this blog post, I’ll be providing examples of beach photoshoot outfits from lifestyle shoots I have produced here in Los Angeles with other models.

Vibrant Colors vs. Muted Colors

Vibrant colors like red are more likely to stand out in a beach location where you might commonly see blue and a soft orange/grey color (the ocean and the sand respectively). These colors for beach photoshoot outfits really make the model stand out from the scene and separate them from their surroundings.

Below are some photos taken with vibrant outfits during Los Angeles fashion model Erla’s lifestyle photoshoot session at Santa Monica Beach at sunrise.

When it comes to more muted colors like white, grey and certain blues, they are more likely to blend in with your surroundings (especially if you’re taking lifestyle branding photos during overcast weather). I find that the more muted colors stand out most when shooting during blue hour (before sunrise or after sunset).

Below are photos taken during different times of the day with more muted color clothing options.

For me, there’s not a right or wrong answer as far as which color works for a beach photoshoot. I gravitate towards more neutral and muted colors when I try to shoot during sunset and blue hour, and vibrant colors if I know it’s going to be overcast. But it definitely helps to bring both vibrant and muted beach photoshoot outfits just in case.

Avoid Distracting Patterns on Clothes

For lifestyle branding photos, I usually advise clients to not bring clothes that have distracting logos or patterns on them. The text or picture on a shirt, for example, can end up looking more prominent in the photo than the location or the model’s face (of course instances like a photoshoot for a clothing brand where the logo or patterns are the main selling point are valid exceptions).

Simple patterns like stripes or even floral designs can work well in a beach photoshoot outfit. Ultimately, the clothes should help enhance the aesthetic of an image, not take away from it.

Swimwear

Swimwear is a common wardrobe option to bring to a beach photoshoot and would make sense to wear at any time of the day.

In the last photo, the model is wearing a bikini top with a white jacket and jeans as part of an additional wardrobe. Layering clothes this way is another option to consider when finding the right beach photoshoot outfit for a lifestyle shoot.

Bring Accessories

Adding accessories to your wardrobe can be a great way to elevate the lifestyle photos as long as they’re not too distracting. Jewelry pieces like earrings, watches, and rings will work with a lot of different outfits. Below are just a list of some accessories that you can include with our wardrobe for lifestyle branding photos:

• Watches: Watches are easily my favorite accessory to photograph in any location. There are so many different styles of watches that you can find a watch to go with almost any outfit.

• Earrings: Gold or silver earrings are usually not that distracting in a photo and you can even have earring designs like seashells that fit the theme of the beach.

• Sunglasses: Sunglasses are another common accessory that you can bring to the beach, and can also be a functional item if your eyes are sensitive to the sunlight.

Just make sure that these accessories are properly cleaned before starting the photoshoot.

There is no right or wrong answer since it’s your creative vision. But it is important to think about how you want to use these photos for future marketing campaigns. Do you want the final branding photos to be used for summer campaigns only, or do you want them to be featured year-round.

One of the biggest benefits working as an outdoor photographer in Los Angeles is that there are a variety of locations to access that are all close to each other.

Beach Outfits for Commercial Product Photography

I work with brands to produce commercial photography for their products and designs. When thinking about beach photoshoot outfits, I try to keep the previous points in mind and have the outfits not distract from the product being advertised.

One of the most useful tools I use for commercial lifestyle clients is a mood board. In each mood board, I like to add lifestyle photos that feature models wearing wardrobe ideas that could work for the shoot.

Tips to Keep in Mind for Beach Lifestyle Photos

For beach photoshoots specifically, there is a chance that the clothes might get sandy or wet since the model might pose sitting on the sand or walking towards the ocean.

You’ll want to wear clothes that are easy to move around in. 

Sometimes the weather in the LA beaches can get very windy so it helps to bring a secure bag where you can keep your spare clothes safe so they don’t blow away in the wind.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a lot of different beach photoshoot outfits you can bring to the set, so you don’t need to feel like only one type of look will work for a beach photoshoot. Instead, I think it’s important to understand the mood you’re going for in advance and what time you want to shoot and then the photographer can help guide you on what clothes might work best. Other factors like lighting and props work together to bring out a specific vibe of the photoshoot.

I will usually ask the model (or subject of the photoshoot) to bring their own clothes. For me, the most important thing is that the model feels comfortable with what they’re wearing. If I do bring any props/accessories, I’ll ask the model if they’re okay posing with it.

I always encourage models to bring a variety of wardrobe options to the beach photoshoot so that we can be prepared for any kind of weather and get a variety of different looks.

Commercial Photography with Los Angeles Photographer Brian Brown

Whether you’re a startup business or a well-known brand looking for new lifestyle photos for your marketing and advertising, feel free to reach out for your next commercial photography campaign needs.

With years of experience in lifestyle photography and working with professional models, my goal is to create a diverse catalog of images that tell a brand narrative that aligns with your aesthetic.

While I am based in Los Angeles, I am available to work with brands worldwide. You can learn more about the process of my work with commercial photography clients here.

Thanks for reading and until next time.

You can see examples of my portfolio for clients in the categories below:

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BRANDS

Browse behind-the-scenes lifestyle beach photoshoots here in Los Angeles:

Sunrise Lifestyle Photoshoot in Santa Monica Beach with Erla Garcia

Sunset Lifestyle Photoshoot in Venice Beach with Alex Cojocaru

Sunset Lifestyle Photoshoot in Santa Monica Beach with Austin Lee

Sunset Lifestyle Photoshoot in Venice Beach with Jacob Hunt