If you are wanting to capture images while at the beach then you need to read these beach photography tips. From protecting your gear to tackling the light, this tutorial has lots of information you can’t miss.

1. Protect your gear
It is so important to protect your gear when you are shooting at the beach.  The sand & water have the potential to really cause some damage.  One thing that I always do when I am headed to the beach is decide which lens I want to use that day.  Then I don’t switch out my lenses while I am at the beach. If we are just headed to the beach for a little bit like just to watch the sunset & I know there is a safe (far away from the sand) place to change lenses then sometimes I will take more than one lens. But, typically I just pick one and use it for that whole visit to the beach.  When we are headed to spend the afternoon at the beach then I pack my camera in a small camera bag that has a zipper.  Then I put that bag inside our large beach bag. When I take the DSLR, I always pack 2 beach bags. One for dry things, the camera bag, etc. then one for snacks, wet towels, etc. and one for wet things like the beach toys.  This helps me keep the bag with the camera as sand free & dry as possible. When I am finished shooting with the camera I put it back in the small bag and keep it zipped up (the small bag stays in the large tote this whole time). This is just one way I have found works for me for keeping it as clean as possible. When I get home I use a lens brush to get all the little bits of sand off. But, really, I just try to not worry about it. For me, it is important to capture these moments at the beach so I take the risk!

2. Get creative with gear
The beach is such a great place to get creative with your gear.  Think about pulling out the widest angle lens you have then getting low down to the ground for a fun perspective.  This is the perfect place to use a fisheye lens or a Lensbaby lens.  It is one of my favorite places to use my Lensbaby Spark (any one of the Lensbaby optics would work but it just happens that I only have the Spark!).  I love the colors that I get using the Spark even in the mid-day sun.  The images just pop & the blur created by the lens adds just the right amount of fun to the photos.  When it gets later in the day, using the Spark will give you that peaceful feel with water that looks calm.

I also like pulling out film at the beach.  Using film stock like Kodak Ektar or Fuji Superia bring out the bright fun colors of the beach.  Plus, it seems like shooting with film gives more room for capturing the range of lighting situations you might run into throughout the day at the beach.  Another bonus to shooting film at the beach is that you can shoot your roll of 24 or 36 frames then put away the camera & be present with your family.

Toy cameras like the Holga or the Diana F+ are really fun ways to capture the beach in a new way.  I have even shot black & white film at the beach with the Diana F+ for a different kind of beach image.  The possibilities for getting creative with gear at the beach are endless!

3. Use the light and shadows to your benefit
One of the challenges for shooting at the beach is handling all the light.  There is bright sun reflecting off both water & sand which can leave harsh shadows on your subjects.  But, there are a few ways to work with the light and shadows.  You can use things like hats & sunglasses to avoid that raccoon look of shadows under the eyes (use them by making sure your subjects are wearing them!).  You can use the shade created by things like those big beach umbrellas, tunnels to the beach, and lifeguard stands (by placing your subjects in the created shady areas to avoid the harsher light).  You can also embrace the shadows and include them in your images.  Get your subject & their shadow in the image.  Use the shadows of a line of people holding hands or jumping as the main part of your image.  You can also use the reflection in the water as part of your image.

Read more: Essential Landscape Photography Tips for Breathtaking Photos

4. Take the iPhone & leave the DSLR at home
Although I have come up with a pretty reliable system for taking my gear to the beach, some days I just want to leave it at home.  But, that doesn’t mean that I don’t want a few shots of our day.  This is where the iPhone comes in super handy.  I have learned over time that it is close to impossible for me to see the image & screen well enough to edit anything on my phone while I am sitting out in the sun.  The good thing about this drawback though is that I end up just shooting and putting the phone away, kind of like when I take the SLR and shoot film.  This allows me to be more in the moment and be more present with my family which is always a good thing.  I will shoot various parts of our time there then edit with either VSCO Cam or TapPicGo while hanging on the couch when we get home.  One benefit to shooting with my phone at the beach is easy sharing.  It is so much easier to share the phone images with my out of town family or on Instagram.

5. Think about storytelling
When you are shooting all day at the beach, be sure to capture the story of the day.  Grab images of the details like the sand, the toys, the water as well as the people (don’t forget about things like sandy feet, wet towels hanging up to dry, the surf boards, or the snacks).  It is easy to get caught up in the scenery when you are at a beautiful place, but be sure to get the details of the day too.  Then when you are home & pulling together your images you have the pullback shots of the whole place (like the landscape shot) as well as the smaller moments that made up your day.

Read more beach photography tips:
– Beach photography: 5 tips for better beach images