Behind the Scenes of a Beach Portrait Session with the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 Lens
- austenhunter
- May 19
- 3 min read
Bright sun. Relentless wind. Shifting sand. For most photographers, a windy beach is a nightmare—but for me, it’s the perfect stage. I’m Austen Hunter, a professional portrait photographer with years of experience turning unpredictable conditions into unforgettable images.
In this behind-the-scenes look, I’m taking you along on a creative beach portrait session captured with the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 lens. You’ll see how I used the right gear, precise lighting techniques, and clear direction to transform a challenging setting into a collection of stunning portraits. Keep reading to see how I did it.
A Behind-the-Scenes Look: Watch the Full Video
For those who prefer a front-row seat, here’s a complete video walkthrough of this session. In it, I cover everything from camera settings and lighting adjustments to directing the model in tough conditions.
Choosing the Right Gear for Beach Portraits
My approach to beach photography starts with having the right tools. For this session, I worked with the following gear:
Camera | |
Lens | |
Flash Unit | |
Light Modifier | |
ND Filter (If I had brought one) |
In hindsight, I wish I would have brought a Neutral Density filter to help reduce the amount of light at the beach, which will be brighter than other environments, due to the sunlight reflecting off the ocean and sand.
Lighting Techniques: Balancing Natural and Artificial Light
Beach photography is a battle against brightness. The sun reflects off the water and sand, creating harsh highlights that can quickly blow out your images. For this session, I used a mix of off-camera flash and natural light to maintain control.
Starting with Flash
I began with the Godox AD400, a portable, powerful flash that allowed me to maintain crisp, directional lighting on the model, even in full sun.
Settings: ISO 100, f/2.5 for a soft, blurred background.
Lighting Position: Placed at a 45-degree angle for clean, flattering light.
Flash Power: Adjusted to cut through the bright ambient light without overexposing the highlights.
Switching to Natural Light
As the light changed, I transitioned to natural light, leveraging shaded areas for a softer, more balanced look. This gave the images a more organic feel without the need for artificial lighting.
Missed Opportunity: Why an ND Filter Would Have Helped
Looking back, a Neutral Density filter would have been a game-changer. It would have allowed me to maintain a wide aperture without overexposing highlights, especially with the sun reflecting off the sand and water. This is a tool I won’t leave behind for my next beach shoot.
"If I could go back, I’d bring an ND filter. Controlling exposure is critical when the sun is reflecting off sand and water." - Austen Hunter
Mastering Silhouettes
For variety, I captured silhouette shots—placing the model between the camera and the bright horizon. With a fast shutter speed (1/4000s), I created clean, dramatic shadow profiles without the need for flash.
Gear Review: Canon 28-70mm f/2 – My New Favorite Portrait Lens
The Canon 28-70mm f/2 was a perfect choice for this beach portrait session. With the wind kicking up sand and the sun constantly shifting, I needed flexibility—and this lens delivered. I could capture tight, dramatic close-ups and wide, scenic shots without changing lenses or repositioning. The fast f/2 aperture gave me beautiful background blur, even in bright conditions, and kept my subject sharp. It performed like a prime lens, but with the added advantage of instant composition control. On a dynamic beach shoot like this, it was a game-changer.
Gallery Highlights
Here are some of my favorite images from the session:
Frequently Asked Questions: Beach Portrait Photography
Q: What’s the biggest challenge when shooting portraits on a beach?
A: Controlling light. The bright sun, reflective sand, and unpredictable wind can make it tough to maintain balanced exposure. I managed this session using off-camera flash and natural light, but next time, I’d bring an ND filter.
Q: Did you use any special techniques for the silhouette shots?
Q: Why didn’t you use a Neutral Density (ND) filter?
Q: How do you maintain consistent lighting in changing conditions?
Final Thoughts
Beach portrait photography is all about balancing light, adapting to conditions, and directing your subject. Despite the challenges, this session led to stunning results.
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