5 Tips for Better Beach Photos This Memorial Day

As Memorial Day weekend draws closer, I bet some of you, along with your families are looking forward to a fun day at the beach! The kids are growing and you would like to capture some of those great carefree moments. Have you ever experienced less than stellar results with your vacation photos? Here are a few tips to remember to help you capture the fun.

1. Try to Avoid Full Sun – Those dark circled “raccoon” eyes result from sun overhead at noon. The bright sand reflects back up into the eyes and usually results in a lot of squinting. Do you have an umbrella the kids are playing under? Your photos will result in a much more relaxed face, more pleasing smile, no squinting and open eyes if you can take the direct sun off your subject’s face with an umbrella or a towel to offer some shade. You may just want to wait for late afternoon light which is warm and  flattering.
2. Late Afternoon Light is Best - Try to photograph when the sun is low in the sky. We are fortunate enough to live in California where the sun sets in the west. Photographs taken when the sun is low in the sky, results in warm tones and more soft, more flattering shadows.
3. Use Flash – flash will fill in the shadows. Even though you are in bright sun, position your subject with the sun behind the subject – shoot toward the sun with a flash on. If your camera allows you to pick your focus point, focus on the face (skin). Try to avoid flaring your lens with sun if possible by holding your hand up to block any stray reflections. This technique will offer  beautiful backlit  hair and the flash will remove circles from the eyes.
4. Horizon Line – Try to compose your photograph so that your subjects head is not cut in half with the horizon line. Ideally composition is best in thirds – either 1/3 sky or 1/3 beach and position your subject so their head is well into one of these two areas for a more balanced composition. If you are shooting straight into the horizon, be careful to keep the horizon line parallel to the bottom of your frame. Slightly crooked horizon lines will be a nuisance and may need to be cleaned up later in your computer.
5. Color as a Focal Point – Use color as a focal point on the beach. Often times with white sand and blue water a bright color will enhance the photo – perhaps a red towel, or orange hat to draw attention to the subject.

Try some of these tips and enjoy your holiday! Please let me know how some of these techniques helped you enjoy your family photos this holiday weekend – and post comments with your own tips!

------------------------------------------------------

Karen Vaisman

Professional Photographic Portrait Artist specializing in the Art of Retouching

Agoura Hills - Photography & Adobe Photoshop Trainer

Agoura Hills, California

http://www.karenvaismanphotography.com

Join me on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/KarenVaismanPhotography

http://www.facebook.com/KarenVaisman

Join me on Twitter @KVaismanPhoto

memories@portraitsbykaren.net

If you are enjoying this blog I encourage to you to click "follow" for regular updates!