It should be simple to take great pictures at the beach. The sun is shining, everyone is happy, you take a picture. You captured a great memory and smile every time you look at it.
For many people, that’s enough. But if you’re looking at taking your photo skills up a notch, there are several things you can do to improve your pictures.
As a professional photographer, I am at the beach every week taking pictures of families and weddings and want to share some tips for taking better pictures of the people you love.
1. Watch The Horizon. This means a couple of things. First, try to keep it straight. It’s common that we accidentally tilt the camera when we take a picture, but since we all know the horizon is straight, it doesn’t look right when the horizon line isn’t straight. Second, it can be more interesting if the horizon is NOT in the exact middle of the picture. If there are interesting clouds in the sky, show a little more sky than water. If there aren’t any clouds, show a little more water.
2. Add elements of interest. When you take a picture of just the sand and water, it could be any beach any place in the world. Since you’re taking the picture to remember the moment, add a person or point of reference to the photo.
3. Use Morning or Evening Light. Photographers love golden hour light which is the time shortly after sunrise and just before sunset. Since we live on the Florida’s west coast people often photograph at sunset but taking photos of people in the morning has its advantages. Not only do you get a beautiful golden glow for portraits, the sun lights up the Gulf.
4. Use Open Shade. The middle of the day can be the hardest time to take great pictures of people. Unfortunately when the sun is overhead, it can create unflattering shadows on people’s faces. Open shade is anywhere that is shaded from the direct sun but still has plenty of ambient light. By standing your subject in the shade, you can eliminate the uneven light. Examples of open shade on Venice Beach would be shadows created by the pier, life guard stands or even a beach umbrella.
5. Take a Silhouette. When the light source is behind your subject and there’s no light in front, you get a silhouette. This is fun to do at the beach just before the sun sets. Have your subject strike a pose and take a picture. If you’re photographing more than one person, allow a little space between your subjects so they really stand out.
6. Use A Flash. In order to light your subject against the setting sun, you have to use a flash. Unfortunately the flash on your phone may not be strong enough to overpower the sun. A good camera should have a pop up flash and professionals generally use off camera lights to make sure we get enough light on the subject.
I hope these tips help you take better beach pictures. If you’d like to discuss having professional photos taken, please contact Stephanie Snow Photography at stephaniesnowphoto@yahoo.com.