There is something about being at the beach with your favourite person that makes a pretty bloody good setting for photos.
Bare feet. Wind in your hair. Your favourite person beside you. Maybe a sunset. Maybe a little bit of sand in places you definitely didn't plan for 😂
Beach engagement sessions are relaxed, romantic and a little bit wild - and you don't need to know how to pose or somehow become professional models for the afternoon.
You just need to show up, be yourselves and let me do the rest.
What should we wear for beach engagement photos?
The biggest thing I want you to think about is comfort.
You don't want to spend your entire session worrying about whether your dress is blowing up, whether your shoes are filling with sand or whether you can actually walk in what you've chosen.
Think about clothes that move.
Flowy dresses, relaxed shirts, linen, soft fabrics, denim, relaxed trousers and bare feet can all look amazing at the beach.
What time should we do our beach session?
Light makes a huge difference at the beach.
I usually love working around golden hour, when the sun is lower and the light becomes softer and warmer.
This is when we can get those gorgeous glowy portraits, backlit images and the slightly magical beach photos that make you want to print everything.
The exact time will depend on the date and location, so I'll help you work out the best time rather than expecting you to become an amateur astronomer.
What if the weather is terrible?
We keep an eye on it.
Newcastle weather can do whatever the hell it wants, so we don't need to panic because there's a cloud in the sky.
Cloudy skies can actually give us beautiful soft light, and a little bit of wind can add movement to your photos.
If the weather genuinely isn't going to play nice, we'll work together to decide whether it's worth going ahead or rescheduling.
You don't need to stress about making that call on your own.
How long does a beach engagement session take?
Most engagement sessions take around an hour.
That gives us enough time to explore, move between a few spots and get a good variety of photographs without making the whole thing feel like a marathon.
And because we're moving around rather than standing in one location, the time generally flies by.
You'll probably finish the session thinking:
"Oh... was that it?"
Which is exactly what I want.
Can we bring our dog?
Absolutely.
If your dog is basically your first child, they are welcome to come along.
We'll just choose a location that works for them and make sure we get some photos with your furry third wheel before giving them a little break.
Because let's be honest, they're probably going to steal the show anyway.
What happens during the session?
This is probably the bit couples worry about most.
"Okay... so what do we actually DO?"
You don't need to know.
I'll guide you through it.
We'll walk, talk, cuddle, hold hands, sit together, play around and probably make fun of each other a little bit.
I'll give you prompts rather than asking you to stand there and smile at me for an hour.
Things like:
"Walk towards me holding hands."
"Whisper something ridiculous in their ear."
"Give them a kiss."
"Run away from each other and then come back."
Okay, maybe not that last one.
But you get the idea.
The goal is to create moments that feel natural rather than photographs that look like you've been told exactly where to put your hands.
Ready to book your session? Get in touch here!
Are you stuck with what to wear, or where you want to have your session? Check out my guides below
What to Wear for your Engagement Session
Hunter Valley Engagement Sessions
