Summer is around
the corner. Many of you will be heading down the shore (as we say in New
Jersey) in a few months and will be capturing your time in the sun and on the
sand in photos. Today Isabella Foreman returns with some tips for taking beach pictures.
Although she writes from the perspective of a professional photographer at a
commercial shoot, many of her tips can be applied to any amateur photographer
wishing for the best possible results during a day down the shore with family
or friends.
Beach Photography
As a photographer, no matter whether you have a ton of
experience, or you just started exploring the world of professional photography,
you should be aware of the fact that each setting is different and that it
requires special preparations if you want your photo shoot session to be
successful.
When it comes to shooting outdoors, I’m sure you’re
familiar with the fact that it can be quite unpredictable. Although spontaneity
can have a very positive effect on a photographer’s work, it’s not what you’d
call a reliable partner. Sure, you should always leave some room for
improvisation, but it’s necessary to prepare yourself properly and avoid
possible delays.
Therefore, if you’re planning on doing a beach photo shoot
session in the future, there’s a list of things you should have in mind. Having
all of this covered will enable you to take quality photos and not waste any
time whatsoever.
Find the Right
Locations
When scheduling this kind of shooting, it’s quite
important that you plan in advance and give yourself enough time to get every
detail done before you begin the actual photo session. One of the items that
should be on top of your priority list is scouting.
For your shooting to go well, it’s important to have an
experienced model with you, but that’s not all – you should take a nice long
walk on that particular location you’ve chosen and do some sightseeing. If you
do determine the precise locations on which you want to take your photos and do
a test shooting by yourself, it will be a lot easier for you to be efficient
during the actual shot.
Create a
Checklist
If you have never done an outdoor shoot, you should
know that the biggest problem you could possibly have during one is forgetting
a piece of your equipment, and especially so if you’re traveling a long way in
order to reach your destination because there’s no turning back.
So – thorough packing is in order. My sincere suggestion
is to create a list of items you’ll need and also those
that might be handy at some points and start packing. Naturally, you should
start with your camera and make sure to bring all the lenses (100mm to 150mm)
you plan on using during the shooting. Also, the obvious thing that is often
forgotten – extra batteries; so, make sure they are fully charged and ready for
your session.
When shooting outdoors, having a tripod or monopod with
you can be quite useful – considering the constant changes that you can’t
really control, some stability will definitely come in handy.
Mind the Lighting
Speaking of unpredictable conditions – in order to be
satisfied with your session, it’s quite necessary that the weather conditions
work to your favor. Therefore, make sure to check the forecast and even consult
your local weather station directly so that there are no surprises.
As a photographer, you’re probably already aware of
this fact, but I’d like to mention it either way. There’s this period of time
during sunrises and sunsets when the lighting is magical and when you should
invest your effort into taking quality shots.
Create a Comfort
Zone
Other than your professional equipment, you should also
make sure that you pack your beach items. Every photographer who ever worked
with a model in a bikini knows that it’s quite necessary for her to feel
maximally comfortable, so having a couple of towels with you is a must.
Other than that, make sure that you and the whole team
working on your session are properly hydrated at all times, so make sure to
bring enough water and refreshing snacks. Naturally, applying a proper SPF goes
without saying – you wouldn’t want to deal with unpleasant sunburns while
you’re working.
Include
Accessories
Each look you have planned out for your model needs to
be put together to the very last detail before you start shooting. It’s always
smart to bring additional pieces with you and do some improvising, but the main
part needs to be planned out properly.
Other than changing bikinis, it’s quite important for
your model to accessorize properly, which is something that usually requires
some time, so don’t leave it for the last moment. Another thing to have in mind
is shoes – whether your model will wear them or not depends on your location
and the whole theme of your setting actually, but you should definitely
consider this idea.
Wrap It Up with
Editing
Your job isn’t finished when the photo session is over
– there’s still a lot of sorting out that needs to be done and you already know
that it takes time to clean out your shots and get rid of misfires. Other than
that, quality
photo editing is a completely
separate project – fashion photography is a very demanding branch and it’s
quite important that you develop a keen eye for detail so that you can
emphasize the right accents on your images.
This is a solid base you can work
with. As you might have noticed, it’s all a matter of good preparation – if you
surround yourself with everything you could possibly need, you can deal with
any kind of problem that comes your way.
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