July 23, 2011
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Camera tips for the beach
Naturally, everyone loves to have some memories of summertime at the beach. Grab the beach chairs, the blanket, the umbrella, cooler, towels, sunscreen, drinks, lunch, fill up the car, hat, bathing suit….. Yikes, I’m exhausted already from packing! Oh yea, at the last minute you throw in the camera. Shoved between a towel and a magazine, your most expensive trip possession is just waiting to get used or dropped in the sand.
Here are a couple pointers to assist you in getting some terrific beach pix and taking care of that camera!
1. If you have a second camera that is not your “good” camera, I would take that one. If it all possible, leave the really good camera home. More cameras fail from sand in them. But if you have to, proceed with caution.
2. Try to take your pictures as soon as you get there and not in the middle of the day when everyone is squinting!
3. If you walk to the water’s edge to take a photo, try to get the subject in an area where there is no one else standing, sitting or even bending over. Nothing like having a great photo of junior when there is a huge lady bending over right next to Johnny.
4. Your batteries and sensor will fry in beach heat. So, don’t bring your huge black camera bag, but rather maybe a hard bound cooler with a lighter color. I carry my mini camera in a really tiny lunch cooler that has a zip lock on the top for one of those ice-ee things. Therefore, the camera never gets wet and stays cool!
5. Watch were the sun is. Don’t shoot directly into the sun. Your camera sensor will over expose the image.
6. Don’t ever feel weird about asking someone else to take a photo of YOU and your family. Do it a few times during the day with different people. I found that as the photographer in the family, you are most likely never to be in any photos!
7. Don’t ever think for a moment that people are not watching where you put your camera. Don’t leave it unattended.
8. Try different angles…. For example… sit down and shoot from ground level. Come in very close to a face.9. Don’t try to be a photojournalist and drag your camera in the water up to your waist. Most of the time, you will get your camera wet… and bye bye camera.
10. Remember that you are not a photographer, but a person with a camera. Be respectful of other people and their space.
And lastly, as a professional photographer, I love to take families down to the Jersey beach for the evening under the sunset. There are snap shots and there are portraits. Just like the saying… “Great leaders inspire.” Well, I believe “Great photos tell a story.”.
Enjoy!
