Beach Portraits tips?

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scott26985

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Im doing my first ever model shoot at the beach tomorrow. The model is looking for some swimwear shots for her portfolio. We don't have too many nice beaches here for that type of shoot but I have selected one with some nice soft sand dunes with long grass.

Ive never done a beach shoot before (95% of my model shoots have been in studio) so any advice would be great. Im not very good with a Speed Light yet (only have a manual one) so Im hoping to use my reflectors if needed. Also thinking of using the white Translucent reflector as a softbox with the sunlight.
 
It'll be windy for sure. Need assistant/s to hold everything.
 
artyman said:
The biggest problem may be trying to avoid squinting in bright sunshine.
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Back to sun, fill-flash. That's the look to go for IMHO :thumbs:
 
Go careful with sand and your gear.
 
what time would you suguest shooting? Im thinking 6pm or later right now (in UK)
 
Maybe even later - close to sunset would give the model a lovely golden glow without the need for a spray tan! (If the weather cooperates and the sun actually shines at sunset...)

It's a bit gimmicky but you could try for the sun reflected in shades as well as flash lit against the sunset.

If you can do a [PLEASE DON'T TRY TO BYPASS THE SWEAR FILTER], you could arrange the tide to be falling so the model's on pristine sand. If the sea was warmer, you could ask her to go for the Arsula Undress emergence from the sea but at a guess, it'll be a bit nippy for that!
 
jimmy83 said:
Go careful with sand and your gear.
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:lol:

Yes, it gets everywhere!

I did some night time long exposures on IOW's Shanklin beach (over looking the shipping lane), calm night with no wind, at no point did I drop my equipment or get anything other than the tripod legs into the sand. Somehow I still got the odd grain of sand stuck in the ball head and under the QR plate.
 
Off cam manual flash is not that hard once you think on it. You only need worry on the flash power and positioning. Your shutter speeds are going to be below 1/250, your ISO is going to be low, your aperture is going to be f/8 - f/11, unless you're after background bokeh, then things change and you'll need high speed sync with the flash or use ND filters.

And as already mentioned, subject's back to the sun, and use the off cam flash to fill. a light stand and softbox are recommended.
 
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