Senior Portraits at The Beach

So many of my clients love doing their Senior portraits at the beach, and I wanted to share a few things to keep in mind If you are thinking about a beach location for your senior photos. The photos here are from my session with beautiful Tess, at Wingaersheek beach in Gloucester.

1. Choosing the Right Beach Location

Yes, most beaches are beautiful, and you might have a favorite, but some are better suited for a photo session than others. I have several beach locations that I love because of the direction of the light, and the availability of elements like rocks, beach grass, and flowers, in addition to sand and water! Should you decide to book, I’ll share information and samples for these locations and we can talk through the options. I’m absolutely open to hearing your suggestions as well, if you have a favorite spot!

2. Choose the right day

Avoid Weekends and Peak Summer days

June, before school gets out is a great time for your session because beaches aren’t too crowded yet and Massachusetts’ dreaded greenheads haven’t invaded. For summer sessions, it’s very important to avoid weekends and holidays, as it is just too crowded until late in the day. The beach can still be busy on weekdays, but certainly not like a weekend, and you don’t want to miss out on the best spots because there are people everywhere. In the end though, I am used to working around other beachgoers, and I do have some photoshop tricks up my sleeve to make them disappear. 🙂

It’s also important to remember that Sunset is earlier in late Summer and Fall, and it gets trickier for Seniors to get to a beach location (often an hour away) after school. Therefore, I really recommend doing your session in the Summer so that we have wiggle room to reschedule if we run into bad weather on your original date. 2023 was a (REALLY) tough year for weather and I had a few seniors who had to abandon their idea of a beach session because they simply couldn’t find the time after school when we needed to reschedule.

3. Choose the Right Time of Day

Because there is very little (if any) shade at beach locations, and because the reflection of the sand and water keeps things very bright, it’s important to schedule the session as close to sunrise or sunset as possible. I normally don’t start a beach session much more than an hour before sunset, unless it’s a very cloudy day. And don’t worry if it is cloudy — I kind of love the soft light of a cloudy day a the beach!

4. Come Prepared for the Beach

I always recommend bringing a brush to your session, but it’s especially important at the beach, as it’s often windy. In addition to that, bring along a bag with bug spray (I usually have some too!), and maybe a little towel to brush off the sand. Also, it’s really best to be barefoot at the beach, so choose shoes that are easy to kick off and a bag to carry them in (I can carry it, or if you bring a parent or a friend, then they can!).

I love that so many Seniors want to do beach sessions. We always have a great time, and there is something about being at the beach that makes everyone relaxed. I already have a few beach sessions scheduled for later this Spring and Early Summer so it’s best to get on the calendar now if you are thinking about it!

Cristen Farrell is a Boston Senior Portrait Photographer and offers a variety of Senior Session packages. Cristen will capture you in a natural and authentic style, and you will have fun along the way! If you are looking for Boston Area or North Shore Senior photos, or Senior Portraits at the Beach, Cristen can be reached by clicking on the contact form on this page.  Don’t forget to follow Cristen Farrell Photography on Instagram, too!