Tips for Your Sunset Family Photo Session at the Beach

Making the Most of Your Family Beach Photo Session in New Jersey

There’s something magical about a family photo session at the beach—the golden glow of the sun, the gentle waves, and the endless space for kids to run and play. Beach sessions create dreamy, timeless images, but they also come with their own unique challenges—think wind, sand, and crowds! With a little planning, though, you can make the most of your session and walk away with beautiful, joy-filled memories. In this post, I’ll share my best tips to help you prepare so your family can feel relaxed, have fun, and get the most stunning beach photos possible!

Choose the Right Beach and Time

Location and timing are important when planning a beach session. New Jersey has so many beautiful beach options, but some are better for photos than others. Consider quieter spots like Cape May, Long Beach Island, or Spring Lake, where you can avoid large crowds. If you prefer a livelier setting, spots like Ocean City or Asbury Park can add a fun boardwalk vibe. Like many professional photographers, I schedule outdoor sessions during the “Golden Hour”, approximately one hour before sunset to take advantage of dreamy glowing light. Since there are no trees to filter strong sunlight on the beach, I aim to begin sessions a little later or use a location that provides plenty of dune grass that I can use to filter intense light. Bonus: consider a fall photoshoot at the beach. Not only are beaches less crowded, but earlier sunset times can make scheduling your session easier to manage if you have young children.

Dress for the Beach

Go for light, neutral, or pastel colors that complement the natural tones of the sand and water. Flowy dresses, linen shirts, and barefoot looks work beautifully. Start with one or two neutral shades like cream, ivory, tan or light gray and then add two to three colors that coordinate but don’t match exactly. Think aqua, turquoise, navy, seafoam green or sea glass. Pink, peach or lilac also look gorgeous against a beach summer sunset sky.

Avoid bold patterns, neon colors, and clothing with logos, which can be distracting in photos. Choose clothing that you, your kids and partner feel comfortable in because your images will reflect how you feel. I love longer flowing cotton dresses for women and girls. Not only do dresses have a timeless fell, but they also look beautiful blowing in the ocean breeze. Avoid tight fitting or very short dresses that will hike up when you sit. Dress dads and boys in simple classic clothing like khakis, or cargo shorts and polos or a button down with the sleeves rolled up.

Skip the sunglasses and smartwatches so they don’t take away from the timeless feel of your portraits.

Be Mindful of Wind & Weather

New Jersey beaches can be breezy! Opt for hairstyles that won’t easily blow into faces, like soft waves, braids, or a relaxed updo. Bring a light sweater in case it gets chilly, especially in early spring or fall.

Plan for Barefoot or Sand-Friendly Footwear

Most families go barefoot for beach sessions, but if you prefer shoes, choose sand-friendly options like sandals or espadrilles. Avoid sneakers or anything that sinks into the sand

Keep Kids Happy & Engaged

Let your kids play in the sand and enjoy the experience—candid moments often make for the most heartfelt photos! Be sure to bring sacks, a towel and change of clothes just in case!

Relax and Have Fun

In all my family photo sessions, I encourage families to approach their session like a fun family outing. I know it can be stressful planning and getting ready for a photo session. But once you arrive, your job is done! It’s time to laugh, play, snuggle your family and let me handle everything else.

As moms, we often worry how our kids will behave. It’s easy to lose sight of the reason why we chose to book a family photo session—to capture memories of our love and laughter!

Whether your kids are quiet or wild, I’ll capture images that show your honest emotions and reflect your uniqueness.

Arrive Early

Sunset sessions are scheduled 45 minutes before sunset so it’s critical that we begin on time. I recommend planning extra travel time if you are driving any distance to allow for New Jersey traffic and anything unexpected.

What to bring to your sunset family photo session

1. A favorite quilt or blanket that coordinates with your clothing (avoid anything too bright).
2. A change of clothes. Beach sessions are always a blast at the very end of your session, chances are we will all be having a little fun with our feet or more in the water!
3. Water, small snack (or picnic to enjoy after your session).
4. A light cardigan and extra layers that coordinate with your outfits.
5. An activity, like a kite or something else that you and your family enjoy doing together.

Want some more tips on what to where for your beach family photo session? Sign Up for my Free Wardrobe Inspire Guide.

I can’t wait to capture your family!

Get in touch to book your Session!