Beach Engagement Photos
The Complete Guide | Best Locations, What To Wear & More
With the sound of the ocean, the warmth of the sun on your skin and the sand beneath your feet- there’s truly nowhere more romantic for your engagement session than the beach. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know to plan your beach engagement photos. Discover the best beaches for your photoshoot, how to plan your outfits, activity ideas to make your photos stunning and more!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Where To Take Your Beach Engagement Photos
One of the most exciting aspects of planning your photo shoot is choosing the location! Many couples choose to make a mini-vacation out of their session by exploring somewhere new that’s on their bucket list. Another idea is to choose a location that’s sentimental to you both.
El Matador Beach, California
El Matador Beachย is one of our absolute favorite spots for engagement photos. It features stunning views of the California coast, coves, and large rock formations that make for epic pictures. It’s a very popular spot among photographers, so don’t be surprised if there’s many photoshoots happening even on weekdays.
Laguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach is a popular destination in Orange County, California. There’s a few different spots within Laguna Beach that are perfect location for your beach engagement photos including Crescent Bay Beach, Victoria Beach, Shaw’s Cove, Aliso Beach and Picnic Beach.
Big Sur, California
Big Sur is one of the most scenic places for your beach engagement photos in the US! It has stunning beach and mountain views all throughout the coast. Hire a photographer familiar with the area to take you to hidden gem locations.
Baker Beach, California
With one of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge in all of San Fransisco, Baker Beach is an iconic location for your engagement photos. We recommend coming here at sunrise to avoid crowds- but bring warm clothing as it can be cold here! There is a steep hike to reach this location, but it doesn’t take very long.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach, located on the Oregon Coast, is another cold yet gorgeous beach. The sunsets at Cannon Beach are unmatched. The way the mist of the ocean catches the sunset during golden hour is picturesque!
Alpine Lakes In Colorado
Although Colorado doesn’t have any real beaches, it does have stunning alpine lakes with epic mountain views! Perfect for the adventurous couple who is looking for lake engagement photos in the mountains.
Driftwood Beach, Georgia
Driftwood Beach in Georgia offers a picturesque backdrop of weathered trees and serene coastline, perfect for capturing the essence of love and commitment in engagement photos.
Beach Engagement Photo Outfits
While planning what to wear for your beach engagement photos we recommend thinking of what you’d normally wear to the beach. A lot of couples choose to start with a casual look, such as a long summer dress or chinos, and then change into bathing suits to end the session in the water!
Long, flowing dresses look great at the beach as they allow a lot of movement with the wind. Sticking with neutral colors is typically best. However, you’ll want to avoid blues so that you don’t blend into the ocean in the photos. For footwear, we suggest either going barefoot or wearing sandals/flip-flops. Anything too dressy such as heels or dress shoes usually look out of place on the beach.
When To Take Your Beach Engagement Photos
If you want gorgeous golden hour photos, the best times of day for your session are sunrise or sunset. If you’re shooting at a popular location like most of the places listed above, you may want to consider a sunrise session to avoid crowds and an audience. However, sunset typically offers warmer temperatures which are beneficial incase you want to splash around in the water! Another thing while planning sunrise or sunset is to consider is if you’re on the West Coast or East Coast.
What To Bring To Your Beach Photoshoot
- Towels
- Drinks
- Bathing suit
- Change of clothes
- Picnic blanket or something to sit/lay on
- Sparkling water or champagne
What To Do During Your Beach Engagement Shoot
- Get in the water
- Play in the sand
- Have a picnic
- Surf/ paddle board
Beach Engagement Photo Packages
Our Beach Engagement Photo Packages offer everything you need to create stunning memories. You’ll receive expert posing guidance for natural and authentic shots, along with access to exclusive locations that showcase the beauty of the coastline. Our curated gallery ensures you’ll have professionally edited images delivered promptly via an online gallery, complete with access to a print shop. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive guide on what to wear, ensuring you look your best for your special day. Capture your love story against the backdrop of sun, sand, and sea with our tailored beach engagement photo packages.
