Bethany Beach Family Photographer

Five Tips from a Bethany Beach Photographer for your family photo session at the Delaware shore.

If you’re taking a family vacation to the Delaware shore and you’re having family photos taken on the beach, I want to share with you five tips for a successful family portrait session from your Bethany Beach Family Photographer.

Session Timing and Styling are everything!

Start as close to sunset as possible.

I know sunset is late during the summer and your kids are little. But I promise that the golden light is worth it to capture the most flattering images of your family, and the excitement of being at the beach in the evening will almost always quell any bedtime crankies.
Plan on being barefoot.

Don’t bother stressing over cute sandals or heels. Those shoes are coming off in the sand.
Ladies, choose a flowy dress. And just plan on wind-blown hair.

You or your daughters might just want to wear jeans or shorts, or even a romper. However I promise you that the movement captured by a flowy dress adds to the whimsical feeling of my photos, and even increases your feeling of playfulness with the kids on the beach. Windy hair is just a part of beach sessions, so don’t stress out about it and know that it’s just part of the experience!
Bring a kite!

I don’t often ask families to bring anything to their session, but a family showing up with a kite to a beach session makes me really happy. The kids will run, move, and giggle, and parents get in on the fun. Anything that builds organic family connection and leads to movement will be a wonderful visual to our session.
Plan on the kids getting messy, and bring a change of clothes for the kids.

You could bring baby powder to shake off the sandy feet, and a change of clothes for the ride home for the kids.

Don’t forget to stop for ice cream after the beach session!

The kids are going to have so much fun, I promise. They won’t even know they were having family pictures taken. It will feel like a fun night out with the family and a friend. My goal is to always wrap it up before anyone has a meltdown, so kids always associate picture-day with a great experience! You can learn more about my family photo session experience here!