Bright Light v/s Soft Light


The best light to shoot portraits in is soft light, particularly on the beach. Avoiding the mid-day sun prevents squinting, harsh and/or black shadows and, of course, the heat which causes sweating and irritability. Since there is no shade on a beach, the entire beach is in direct sunlight and due to the light colored sand, the harsh light bounces up as well as down. The light must be soft or people, especially toddlers, will squint and get cranky quickly. Shooting at a park, with trees in the background and overhead, is a totally different situation. I know a variety of spots close to each beach, from Jacksonville NC to Myrtle beach SC, that make wonderful alternatives for parents who would rather not alter their children's sleep schedules for the sunset beach portrait session times. Whatever the start time, it is very important parents do not let their children run around in the hot sun all day before the session. If children become overly tired and or overly stimulated, it becomes difficult for them to stay still, cooperative and alert, which is frustrating for their parents also. I will give you my best when I am behind the camera in all circumstances. I ask you to please help me make our time together special by coming well rested and ready to have FUN!!!


The image below shows a portrait taken on a summer day with scattered cloud cover. Rain was expected in the evening so we did the shoot early. As the clouds passed over, letting the sunlight through, I snapped this image to use as an example of how bright light and heat can have a negative impact on image quality as well as the subject's experience.

 

Sleeping Schedules and Session Times:

On a beach “soft light” means the first or last hour of day light (6am or 7pm) on a clear day. Soft light can also be any time on a cloudy day, as long as the sun isn't straight up (mid day). Clouds are a very good thing with portraiture. Some parents understandably respond to this with "but my child's sleep schedule isn't going to work with the time you shoot portraits". Photography is like cooking, the more you put into it the more you get out. There is a very specific recipe for photographing children on the beach if a beautiful portrait is the goal. Your child being well rested is one of the key ingredients. Slowly changing a child's sleep pattern, starting around 1-2 weeks before the portrait session, can render a wonderful beach portrait experience that lasts a lifetime. Trying to shoot in bright light on a hot day can render the exact opposite regardless of the subject's age. To add to the experience, I bring a child wrangler/entertainer with me to every portrait session with children under the age of 6. This person uses puppets, horns and other toys to invoke giggles and grins. Although I do have to remind the parents to focus on the camera instead of their children laughing, it works quite well.



Make It Fun!!!!

There is no way to prevent parents from looking at their children while we're shooting; it is simply a matter of habit and trust. Knowing me and my assistant for an hour or two at most, which is while we're shooting, makes it difficult to develop a level of trust. If the parents can put aside their roles for just a short period of time and consider the photographer's experience and best intentions, the entire experience will be more enjoyable. It is not a secret that people get nervous when being photographed. As a photographer it is important to notice when a parent is nervous and will not stop fixing the child's clothes or moving them around barking orders. This might be a way for a parent to disguise their discomfort. When you, as a family member, friend or photographer see this, remember the giggles and grins are what's important and we have to focus on the desired results. Take a break; let the child play for a few minutes while I shoot lifestyle shots of them running around. When the parent sees the child having fun this will help everybody relax. Remember, you're at the beach! The beach is a place to be chill and leave any worries to us :)

 

Must have beach in mid day sun:

If you want to shoot at beach and have to have your photos in mid afternoon sun, I have methods that can make it happen. However, in many cases parents unwilling make efforts to change their children's sleep schedules are often not looking for something special and timeless, but would prefer quick, simple and convenient. I put my heart into my work every time I pick up a camera. If you want something really beautiful and special, I would like to help you achieve this goal. I only charge for the expenses upfront, which means if I do not produce outstanding photographs my business would not succeed. After ten plus years of being a full time beach photographer, I can say with confidence that my system works. It allows me to create gorgeous photos for all my subjects, even the ones that book me and only expect one or two prints at a purchase. The quality I produce when you follow my system will cause you to want all the images I present to you. If, knowing this, you still want to shoot in bright sun and the session does not start at the time I recommend for best light on the day of your session, the session fee is non refundable and the methods have additional fees (see below for shooting options). At the time of booking I describe my system for producing quality beach portraits. Please tell me as soon as possible if you cannot go by my recommend session times or if you think your children will not make it through the sunset session. The methods below require additional equipment, labor and experience rendering fewer images to choose from. The attention needed to balance the harsh light using expensive lighting equipment that is not salt water or sand friendly before each shot takes away from your precious time with me.

 

Shooting in mid afternoon sun option #1: Session fee = $200

To alter the sunlight, I can tie a giant diffusion fabric to the pylons under a pier to act as a big light bank. This will reduce the risk of squinting but will not eliminate it in mid afternoon sun. The down side to this is that the background will be consistent in all the photos and the subjects will need to stay in the space designated for photos under the pier.

Shooting in mid afternoon sun option #2: Session fee = $300

I have a high end lighting system by Sunbounce I use when doing editorial work for magazines in direct sunlight. Magazines generally give me a budget of $1000 to work with upfront to help pay for assistance/labor and styling. For family portraits on the beach using a Sunswatter or Gobo panel to diffuse or block the light from above, I can fill the shadows on the people with studio strobes to balance the subjects with the sun light on the beach in the background. This requires 3 helpers, a lot of equipment to haul onto the beach and an overall image count of around 30 to 40 to choose from making the session fee $300. Children will still be in the sun when not in front of the camera so please be prepared. If the beach allows for a canopy I would highly recommend having one.

Shooting at sunrise option #3: Session fee = $200

Sunrise is like sunset light only the sun is coming up over the ocean in most places which means we will need to shoot with you facing the ocean. In some locations I know this can be very beautiful. On many beaches here though, the backdrop will be houses behind a line of dunes and their walkways to the beach. I have done many beautiful portraits at sunrise. The risks associated with sunrise can cause ill feelings towards me when weather doesn't work out and the family has to get up to be on the beach at 5:45am (15 minutes before the sun starts to rise). Even if the weather on weather.com or an alternate system of checking calls for a beautiful morning, clouds can cover the horizon extending the suns ability to put light on our location. When this happens we wait to get very little light to work with, about 15 minutes of beautiful light as the sun is starting to clear the clouds, then BOOM, the sun is beaming on us full force causing instant squinting and the temperature to shoot up quickly. I've also had the weather man call for clear skies but when everyone is standing on the beach waiting for the light, it starts raining and doesn't stop. With my sunset sessions methods, all these risks are eliminated resulting in my reputation being among the very best in this area. If, knowing the risks, you still want to shoot at sunrise I will be happy to accommodate you.