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Five Must-Have Shots to Take on Your Next Beach Trip

July 6, 2010 by melissa

Beach bound this summer? Well, forgive me if you’ve already taken your beach trip for the year. I’m a little late. But for all us crazies who like to sweat it out in July and August, this post is for you!

Even the rare picture taker lets the camera make an appearance during a beach vacation. Blue water, sandy beaches, kids having a blast… it’s photography magic! We all get the basic beach vacation shots – a picture of the ocean, kids making sandcastles, kids burying Daddy in the sand, kids eating sand (ha), a seagull or other wildlife, maybe some seashells. Round out your beach photos with these five must-have shots…

1. Where you stayed

I’m not gonna lie. This picture is NOT one that you will blow up to 22 x 28 and frame above your fireplace. But it IS one you’ll enjoy looking back on over the years. Whether it’s a hotel, beach house or tent, make sure to snap a picture to remember it by (bonus points if you get actual PEOPLE in the shot like I neglected to do).

beach house

2. Sandy feet

Nothing says carefree beach time more than sandy little feet. Last year, I captured the whole family’s sandy toes, not just the little guy. Do this- even if you have flat Fred Flinstone feet like me (see right set of feet). I can’t wait to get the boys’ feet together this year. It’s gonna be total cuteness.

sandy toes

3. Shadows on the sand

Whoa whoa- now we’re getting all artsy-fartsy aren’t we? But sun and sand epitomize the beach so why not capture them both like this? Sure beats taking a picture staring into the sun!

shadows in sand

4. Eating those yummy beach snacks

Or in this case, squirting juice onto the sand. I really dig capturing the “everydayness” of our beach trips and eating, well, it’s just one of those things we need to do, right? When your kids take a break from playing around, snap some shots of those sandy, unsanitary little hands reaching into the Goldfish bag and stuffing their faces full of cheese and sand bits. Or of them downing the contents of their juice box.

5. Get down low.

So often, we take our pictures looking down on our kids. Change the perspective and get down in the sand with them. I often get on my belly to take beach shots. It’s a new little world down in their space. Also, notice how I shot the picture below facing the water. It weeds out a lot of the other people around and you capture what you came there for– the ocean!

get to their level

So, what are your favorite shots to take at the beach?

By the way, this post is part of a sorta-series of Must Have Photography Shots. I say “sorta-series” but I’ve only done like two of them but maybe I’ll do more. Or maybe I’ll be too lazy. How’s THAT for dedication?Regardless, here are the others: Five Must Have Shots to Take on Your Next Family Hike and Seven Great Moments to Capture This Easter.

Filed Under: Kids and the Outdoors, Photography Tips Tagged With: beach, beach photos, photography

Comments

  1. Andrea says

    July 6, 2010 at 8:51 am

    I LOVE this post! Great pics and I hope to see more from this sorta-series 😉 . Also, Too funny that you call your feet Fred Flinstone feet. That’s what I say about Oscar.

    • melissa says

      July 7, 2010 at 11:17 pm

      Haha! Yeah, when I actually point out how flat my feet are to people, they are like WOW. I’m like- Gee- thanks!

  2. Melisa says

    July 6, 2010 at 9:43 am

    My favorite pictures to take at the beach are the feet one. I try to always take one and we actually have one blown up and hanging in our living room. Something about sand between the toes and the difference in size that is total cuteness!

    Great idea about the home/hotel picture, wish it was something I had done when I was a kid vacationing with my family!

  3. Hannah says

    July 6, 2010 at 11:44 am

    I love the shots you took, we just took a beach trip this summer, I posted my shots on my blog. I love the sandy feet picture, next time we go to the beach I am going to try get one of those shots.

  4. Julie says

    July 6, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    We’re heading to the beach on Saturday, so this is perfect timing. 🙂 I love getting pictures of the kids looking out at the ocean waves.

  5. LindsayDianne says

    July 6, 2010 at 2:50 pm

    That juicebox photo made me crack right up. What a great capture.
    The ones I just loved getting this passed family trip were some of one of my very good friends’ sons. He’s only just turned 2 and he was having a BLAST chucking sand. Some amazing action shots. (telephoto required!)

    • melissa says

      July 7, 2010 at 11:19 pm

      Oh yes, chucking sand always makes for a good shot… and eating it.

  6. Debi says

    July 6, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    Love this post — I just might steal the idea for a post of must-have shots of kids in Yosemite. As for the beach, I also love shots of the kids staring out at the water, especially if I can get it from behind. I love looking back on how small they were & how huge the ocean is.

    • melissa says

      July 7, 2010 at 11:20 pm

      Oh you totally should! I’d love to see must have shots for Yosemite. My hubby’s parents went there last year and it’s on our bucket list!

  7. Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation says

    July 6, 2010 at 11:44 pm

    Wow!! Great beach pics! My favorite is the squirting juice box! I was just at my parents house for 3 weeks, going to the beach and I didn’t get any of those shots. Bummer. Thanks for the tips for next time!

  8. Melissa (Confessions of a Dr.Mom) says

    July 7, 2010 at 1:07 am

    Great photos! I love the shadows and sandy feet. I love the shots when you get down on their level and kind of close up with the ocean in the background…always beautiful!

  9. Amy says

    July 7, 2010 at 12:51 pm

    Love this. Please do more. Such great ideas. I love getting pictures of the kids jumping in the water. And of babies eating sand!

    • melissa says

      July 8, 2010 at 10:40 pm

      Thanks for the motivation! Oh yes, those are great pics too. I wonder what’s so fascinating about eating sand!?

  10. Kristi {at} Live and Love...Out Loud says

    July 8, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    These are awesome suggestions Melissa. I love the photo of your son squirting juice from his juicebox. It’s total cuteness! One type of photo I love taking is of my baby’s naked beach bum. I personally think it’s one of the most adorable things ever. 🙂

    Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
    @TweetingMama

    • melissa says

      July 8, 2010 at 10:42 pm

      Thanks girl! Would you believe I haven’t done the baby butt yet? Shame on me! Thanks for the reminder of that one– we’re heading to the beach in August so I’ll have to do it with the little guy.

  11. Fadra says

    July 8, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    Wow. I am in awe. Please give me photography lessons. PLEASE!!!! I will pay you in juice boxes and macaroni and cheese. Great pictures and I loved this post. P.S. I, too, have Fred Flintstone feet. It’s why I paint my toenails. Makes them look a little better.

    • Melissa says

      July 8, 2010 at 10:49 pm

      blush*
      You had me at Mac & cheese. Seriously though– the key is taking TONS of pictures and then weeding through them later to sift out the best ones.

      And now we have Flintstone feet in common too? Mine need a fresh coat of paint.

  12. Ramblings of a Woman says

    July 28, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    We have a great shot from YEARS ago, where we set the camera on tripod with the sun going down over the ocean in the background. We lined up, tallest to shortest, side profile silhouettes. Can’t believe we got that one to work back in the days of film. I don’t remember how many we actually took and ended up with 2 great ones!
    We just returned from a beach vacation and I took several shots of the sun setting. It looks as if it is melting into the water. Pretty sweet!

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention Five Must-Have Shots to Take on Your Next Beach Trip — A little about motherhood. A little about kids and the outdoors. All adventure. Adventuroo -- Topsy.com says:
    July 6, 2010 at 3:09 pm

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by mel_culbertson. mel_culbertson said: Heading to the beach this summer? Be sure to take these five pictures: http://ht.ly/27IrF […]

  2. 7 Pictures to Capture at the Children’s Museum says:
    March 21, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    […] Or maybe I’ll be too lazy. How’s THAT for dedication? Regardless, here are the others: Five Must Have Shots to Take on Your Next Beach Trip, Five Must Have Shots to Take on Your Next Family Hike and Seven Great Moments to Capture This […]

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About Melissa

I’m Melissa. Most people call me Mel. I’m a mama to two boys and a lover of all things outdoors. I'm a marketer who hearts good grammar. I also love Twitter, my Mac and all things techy.

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