Family Beach Photos

Beach portrait sessions are ideal for families, children, seniors, and engagement photos. Extended families, such as grandparents, parents, and children are welcome to share a session within the same family tree. However, sessions are reserved for individual families and are not designed to be shared between unrelated families or large groups of friends.

I don’t sell photography by the number of images. My focus is on capturing meaningful moments, not just taking endless shots. Typically, you'll receive 50+ edited images from a one-hour beach session, though the exact number may vary based on your group’s size.

Once your images are ready, they’ll be uploaded to an online gallery for easy proofing and sharing with family and friends. You’ll receive high-resolution images via a zip download and have full rights to print them. For convenience, you may also order prints directly through the gallery.

While my camera captures great images, each one is personally reviewed and adjusted for exposure, white balance, and more. I take my time with this process to ensure the best final product. Your edited images will typically be ready for delivery in about 7 days.

At the beach, evenings approximately an hour prior to sunset work best. Mostly because it’s cooler, and that is when the light becomes is harsh.

For mid-day portraits the light on the beach is too harsh. I do have alternate locations for that time of day. Please call me to discuss this option.

The location we will use for your session depends on the size of your group, ages of the subjects, mobility issues, time of year, and the time of day we’re scheduled for. I really like having compositional items in my images (rock jetty, pilings, pier, sailboats, etc.), but I also choose session locations where I am able to control the light, and with minimal background distractions, like people and buildings. I have locations in Naples and Marco Island that work really well, and I’ll direct you to the most appropriate one when we speak on the phone the day before your session.

I’ll do my very best to accommodate you, but yes, sometimes the weather doesn’t completely cooperate. We may be able to use an alternate location, or if not, then we’ll reschedule. I always leave open times each day in my weekly schedule to allow for those instances. A refund of your retainer will be made if we’re not able to come up with a solution.

he short version? Skip the black... it's not the best choice for beach portraits.

You’re welcome to wear whatever reflects your personal style and vision, but I recommend keeping things simple and light. Neutral tones, soft pastels, or a relaxed palette like whites, creams, and light blues tend to photograph beautifully against the beach backdrop. Classic pairings like white shirts and jeans (barefoot encouraged!) are always a timeless look. These tones complement the natural colors of the sand, sea, and sunset rather than compete with them.

Try to avoid bold prints, neon colors, and dark shades like black, which can appear harsh in evening light. Since you may be sitting in the sand, consider how clothing like short skirts or rompers will look and feel in that setting. Also, try to coordinate, not match, and avoid clashing colors within your group.

A quick note on glasses: If you wear photochromic (Transition) lenses, or glasses with highly reflective coatings, be aware that they may darken or reflect light in ways that can obscure your eyes in photos. This effect isn't fixable in editing, so you may want to bring a backup pair or go without them, depending on your comfort.

To ensure the highest quality, all images are captured in a professional RAW format, which allows for detailed adjustments during post-production. Each image is carefully reviewed and edited for white balance, exposure, contrast, color tone, and overall sharpness. While the session itself may be quick and fun, the editing process is meticulous—typically taking several hours for every hour spent shooting.

If you plan to order a large wall print or canvas, I’m happy to provide additional detailed retouching on that image—such as removing background distractions—as a complimentary courtesy within 14 days of delivery. While I do my best to avoid distractions during the session, some things may go unnoticed in the moment, especially in group settings.

Please note that standard editing does not include cosmetic alterations such as hair fixes, teeth or eye whitening, sunburn correction, skin retouching, removing or adding people, altering clothing, or adjusting makeup. If additional edits are requested, they can be handled by a professional retoucher at a rate of $25 per image.

For clarity: body reshaping or head swapping is not offered under any circumstances.

No, and here’s why: not every image captured during a session is meant to be part of the final collection. Throughout the process, I take multiple shots to ensure I get the best possible result... whether it's making sure everyone’s eyes are open, capturing a genuine expression, or achieving the right composition. Some images are discarded due to unflattering expressions, motion blur, or simply because they don’t meet the artistic or technical standards I hold for your gallery.

Only the best images are carefully selected, professionally edited, and delivered to you as part of your final gallery. For that reason, I do not provide unedited images, unused shots, or RAW files, as they are not considered part of the finished product or the service I offer.