Capturing stunning beach fashion portraits isn’t just about snapping photos; it’s about adapting to changing light, working with dynamic environments, and connecting with your subjects under tight time constraints. In this post, portrait photographer Austen Hunter shares his experience from a recent beach portrait session at North Hollywood Beach Park, just north of Miami. From juggling two models to managing overcast lighting and using portable off-camera flash gear, Austen provides valuable insights that will help hobbyists and semi-professional photographers alike enhance their own beach portrait photography sessions.
Key Takeaways:
|
Choosing the Right Location for Beach Fashion Portrait Photography
For this beach fashion portrait photography shoot, we selected North Hollywood Beach Park, a gem north of Miami that offers photographers a variety of scenery—all within walking distance. One of the best features of this location is that no photo permits are required, which can save a lot of time and hassle. The area includes beautiful wooden fences with leading lines, lush park trails, a bike path, and, of course, the beach itself. The added bonus? It’s less crowded than some of the other nearby beaches, making it easier to focus on the shoot without distractions.
"When it comes to beach portrait photography, finding a location that offers variety and flexibility is key. North Hollywood Beach Park gave us a range of backgrounds—from greenery to sandy shores—all within a short walk." - Austen Hunter
Portable Off-Camera Flash for Beach Fashion Portrait Photography
To keep things light and portable, especially since we were traveling from Pensacola to Miami, we used the Godox AD200 flash paired with the Glow EZ-Lock 20" Deep Parabolic Softbox. This setup is ideal for beach portrait photography when you need to travel light but still want the benefits of off-camera flash. The modifier was small but powerful enough to shape the light just right, and having that control made all the difference on an overcast day when the natural light wasn’t ideal.
However, one thing to be cautious about with the Godox AD200 is that it does not have an internal fan. This means that if the flash overheats—which can easily happen in hot beach environments—it will stop working until it cools down. This can be a significant disruption during a shoot. In the future, I'll likely upgrade to the Godox AD300 for my portable setup. Although it's slightly heavier, the built-in fan helps mitigate overheating, making it more reliable in challenging conditions.
Camera Settings for Beach Fashion Portrait Photography
Throughout most of the session, I used an aperture range between f/2.0 and f/2.8. This choice allowed me to keep not only the model’s face in focus but also the clothing, which was essential for creating sharp and detailed images across the board. Since I didn’t have a neutral density filter with me, I couldn’t open the aperture too wide without risking overexposure in the bright beach environment. Additionally, using flash limited my shutter speed to match the flash sync speed, so adjusting the aperture was key to getting the exposure right without blowing out the highlights.
Posing and Styling in Beach Fashion Portrait Photography
Our model, Jessie, is an Instagram User Generated Content (UGC) model, and this was our first time working together. I always prioritize creating a good environment and building rapport, especially when working with someone new. Jessie brought three outfits, including a beach outfit, and I gave her the freedom to choose what would work best for her content. Her posing was natural and commercial, which worked perfectly for the beach portrait photography look we were going for. Each outfit brought something different to the shoot—whether it was the elegant contrast of a dark red/purple floral dress against the beach or the playful vibe of a crochet pink bikini.
"When working with new models, I believe in building rapport first. Giving them the freedom to express themselves results in a more authentic and natural set of images." - Austen Hunter
Challenges and Adjustments in Beach Portrait Photography
The day of the shoot was overcast, which eliminated the possibility of using the sun as a natural hair light—something I typically enjoy incorporating in outdoor portrait sessions. With the cloud cover diffusing the light, I relied heavily on the off-camera flash to shape and control the lighting. As the light falloff toward sunset accelerated, I had to constantly adjust both the camera settings and flash power to keep the exposure balanced and maintain consistency across the shots.
"Overcast lighting can be a blessing in disguise for beach portrait photography. It softens the shadows and creates a more even light. The trick is to stay flexible and adjust your flash and camera settings on the go." - Austen Hunter
In addition to the lighting challenges, we were juggling two models and six outfits within a tight 1.75-hour window. Managing outfit changes and ensuring variety in the images required a lot of coordination, but by staying flexible and prepared, we were able to efficiently capture a diverse range of beach portrait photography looks. The key was maintaining clear communication with the models and being adaptable as the session progressed.
Lighting Condition | Challenges | Solution |
Bright Sunlight | Harsh shadows, strong highlights | Use softbox as a key light; position sun as a rim light |
Overcast Day | Flat, diffused light with no natural hair light | Rely on flash for shaping light, reduce flash power |
Golden Hour | Rapidly changing light levels | Adjust ISO and flash power to maintain balance |
After Sunset | Low light, loss of background detail | Increase ISO, reduce shutter speed, boost flash power |
Post-Processing for Natural Beach Portrait Photography
For this beach portrait photography session, I kept the post-processing minimal. I prefer to keep fashion images looking as natural as possible, especially in a beach setting. The main focus in editing was light retouching to achieve a clean, commercial look, while preserving the natural beauty of the models and the scenery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why choose North Hollywood Beach Park for a beach portrait photography session?
A: It offers diverse scenery, no photo permit requirements, and fewer crowds compared to other Miami beaches.
Q: What lighting equipment did you use for beach portrait photography?
Q: How did you handle the overcast lighting during the beach portrait photography session?
Q: How do you build rapport with a new model during a beach portrait photography shoot?
Final Thoughts
This beach portrait photography session at North Hollywood Beach Park was a rewarding experience that highlighted the importance of flexibility, preparation, and building a good rapport with models. From selecting the right location to overcoming lighting challenges, every aspect of this shoot required adaptability and quick thinking. Whether you're planning your next beach portrait photography session or just starting out with outdoor portraits, I hope these insights help guide your creative process.
If you're looking for more resources to help you grow your photography business, be sure to check out the AHP Learn Store. You'll find valuable tools and guides that can help take your photography to the next level.
Comments