One of my favorite parts about summer is having the chance to book and plan beach sessions. I used to offer beach sessions as mini sessions in years past, but honestly, you need a full session to fully embrace the beach. When planning a beach session, there are a few things to think about:
Planning a Beach Session Tip #1: Drive
As a family photographer in central Connecticut, there isn’t a beach close by, unfortunately. If you decide you want to book a CT beach session, we will need to make a trek to the shoreline. This is totally fine, just be aware that travel fees may apply. If you have real little kiddos, you may want to think about the length of the drive as well. I always encourage clients to leave early, make stops along the way and get to the location early to explore, use the bathroom and enjoy a snack.
Planning a Beach Session Tip #2: Variety
My favorite beach is at Harkness State Park in Waterford, CT. The reason I love this location so much is the variety that it offers. There are gardens, open lawns, architecture and, of course, the beach. We can use all of the backdrops to add variety to your gallery without ever getting back in the car. This allows us to start your session in the gardens. Then, once everyone is feeling more comfortable, we can venture down to the beach at the time the light is best. If there is another beach that you have your heart set on, we can definitely chat to make sure that it’s the right fit for your session.
Planning a Beach Session Tip 3: Sunsets
Sunsets are hard to predict, so when you are planning a beach session, be aware that it’s not a guarantee. I have found that August and September tend to have the best sunsets that I have seen. The glowy light is perfect for golden hour photos. Similarly to an open field, we need to keep a close eye on the time to make sure that we don’t miss the sun slipping over the horizon line. We will work together to plan your session time so that this doesn’t happen and we maximize the time on the beach with our toes in the sand.
Final Notes
A couple of other things to note when planning a beach sessions:
*Dogs are typically not welcome on the beach, so plan accordingly
*Don’t worry too much about footwear, because once we’re on the beach we can kick off our shoes and rock the barefoot look
*If you’re feeling ambitious and want to bring a second outfit to change into, you are welcome to do that to add more variety to your gallery.
*Because the beach tends to be very crowded on the weekends, beach sessions are only held during the week for immediate family sessions (exceptions can be made for extended family sessions, please inquire). This applies from June 1st to August 30th.
If you are thinking about planning a beach session, I would love to help. You can see one of my favorite beach maternity sessions here.
My summer calendar fills quickly, so don’t wait too long to reach out!
