21 Family Summer Beach Picture Ideas
Summer beach vacations are an ancient tradition for many families, a time to kick back, enjoy life and make memories.
Family beach photos: The sun, sand, and surf make an ideal photo backdrop to capture this special time together.
However, shooting with the usual point-and-shoot doesn’t always capture the beauty or the fun of your family beach adventures.
That’s why creative photography ideas are so useful.
This guide is filled with creative and memorable suggestions for family beach photos, whether you’re a professional photographer, or someone who simply loves snapping pics.
This article covers 21 family summer beach picture ideas to inspire you, which will help you capture the essence of your experience at the beach in beautiful detail.
An abundance of ideas from fun family portraits to epic action shots and quiet moments there, so make this your happy place.
So put that phone/camera into use, collect your family, and be prepared to create a visual diary of your summer beach vacation that you will treasure for years to come.
1. Classic Family Portrait
The classic family portrait on the beach never goes out of style.
Get everyone lined up or all together so the waves are visible behind them.
For a more dynamic shot, try position family members at different levels, such as sitting on the sand or standing on a dune.
It is best to take this photo during the golden hour, in the early morning or at the end of the afternoon, so that there are no harsh shadows and you can get a nice soft warm glow.
Inspire everybody to wear coordinated however not matching outfits to have an adept look yet not an over the top look.
Examples: Line your family up so that the light falls evenly on their faces. Use different focal lengths, so there will be wide shot that reflects the scenery and also close up shots that catch the expression.
2. Building Sandcastles
Any family beach photo album must capture the bliss of building sandcastles.
Note how they work collaboratively, as a family, to create their sandy masterpiece.
Physically get down on their level for an immersive experience and capture candid shots of hands in action, determined expressions, and the finished product.
Enrich your story With things like colorful buckets, shovels and molds, creating a riot of color in your images.
Examples: Do a time-lapse of a row of photos from the first shovel of sand to the finished product. This creates a narrative that mirrors the work and play involved.
3. Jumping for Joy
Mid-air jumping shot — capture the pure joy and excitement of your family.
Find your own gorgeous backdrop — such as a shore with crashing waves or a patch of pristine sand.
Have everyone jump at the same time and take a bunch of photos to get the right one!
To get this high-energy shot, you need to time it well and have a fast shutter speed to freeze the action and catch all those people mid-air.
Examples: Ask your loved ones to jump in creative poses, like spreading their arms wide or making silly faces. For a summer beach vacation — an explosion of color, distortion, and smaller faces does wonders to transform a photo into an evocation of joy and feeling.
4. Beach Picnic
Not only is a beach picnic a fun way to eat a meal, but they also make for great photo ops!
Spread out a colorful blanket, pack a picnic basket, and spend time eating various delicious treats and enjoying each others’ company.
Take spontaneous photos of your family eating, in laughter, relaxing together.
Wide-angle shots that show you with the scenic surrounding and close-up focused shots of food make a wholesome food photo series.
Examples: Prop your camera up at various angles to give viewers a look from above gazing down on the spread, or at eye level of guests filling their plates, and similar.
5. Sunset Silhouettes
A beach sunset’s rich colors are perfect for silhouette shots.
Place your family between the camera and the setting sun, and have them assume various poses — holding hands, jumping, lifting up children.
Silhouetted against the sky, dark forms against an orange light.
To create this type of shot you will want to adjust your camera settings, underexposing the image to create more of a silhouette effect.
6. Walking Along the Shore
Family walk along the beach All while capturing the peaceful beauty of the moment.
Shoot your family from different perspectives — front, side and back — as they walk along the shore, hand in hand.
The shimmering waves, the footprints on the sand, and reflections in the wet sand will add a special touch to the photos.
For this kind of shot, early morning or late afternoon light is ideal, providing soft, flattering illumination.
For example, use a wide-angle lens to take in the entire beach and ocean, and change to a telephoto lens to get closer for shots of the family at play with their friends.
7. Splashing in the Waves
Freeze those playful moments of your family splashing and jumping in the waves.
Capture the water droplets in mid-air and the joyful expressions on your family members using a fast shutter speed.
This adventurous pic is best taken on a bright day when the water sparkles, injecting joy and dynamic energy into your beach photo series.
Examples: Shot from near the scenario for intimate captures, and shot wider to capture the place and atmosphere. Wear sandals for the best angles and be prepared to get wet!
8. Writing in the Sand
To celebrate your time on the beach, have your family write a special message in the sand or draw pictures with a stick.
Include the process as well as the end result — with the ocean waves softly lapping behind it.
This concept is ideal for recording special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, or just the date of your trip.
Show samples: Detail shots of the writing and hands doing it, then step back and get the family posing with their creation.
9. Playing with Beach Toys
Capture the playfulness of having toys like frisbees, balls, or kites on the beach.
You might want to capture family candid, in actions, laughing and having fun.
Candid action shots and playful interactions result in lively and engaging photos that highlight the fun of a beach day.
How It Will Work: Use a fast shutter speed to freeze the motion and get perfectly crisp shots of the toys mid-air and the expressions on your family.
10. Surfing Together
For surfing families, get a shot of you all riding the waves together.
Snap photos of the day — from paddling out to catching waves, and even getting wiped out once in a while.
The words dynamic, alive, and adventurous describes these photos so well.
Examples: Bring a waterproof camera or housing to capture close shots of the action in the water, as well as shore shots that capture the larger scene.
11. Seashell Collecting
Record the tranquil pastime of gathering seashells by the water.
Look for close-up shots of the shells and the look of concentration on your kids’ faces as they search for the perfect find.
This meditative and contemplative activity creates stunning and soothing images.
Examples: Close-ups of the shells and hands, picking them up, as well as wide shots of your family spread out along the beach, each searching on its own.
12. Beach Bonfire
A beach bonfire makes for a cozy and photogenic setting if you’re staying late.
Capture shots of your family roasting marshmallows, storytelling, and enjoying the heat of the fire as the sky darkens behind them.
The flickering light of a fire can render a beautiful, cozy scene in your photos.
Utilize the firelight in your family’s faces and experiment with long exposures to catch the leaping flames and glowing embers.
13. Playing Beach Volleyball
Break out a game of beach volleyball and snap those moments of fun and competition.
Capture the action as your family leaps, spikes and dives for the ball.
The energy of this sport produces fast-paced and lively photos.
Examples: Using a fast shutter speed to freeze the action and get well-defined images of the players. Do take shots from different angles showing intensity and excitement of the game.
14. Beach Yoga
Show a serene, focused beach yoga session.
Take photos of your family doing yoga poses in front of the ocean.
The tranquil backdrop and gentle gestures make for serene, meditative images.
Examples: Get in close as you shoot to capture your poses from different points of view. Use the gentle light of morning or late afternoon to further emphasize the peaceful mood.
15. Flying a Kite
The beach is also a great place to fly a kite, and they make for a visually appealing activity.
Take a picture of the colorful kite as it flies in the sky and the smiles on your family’s face as they watch the kite dance in the wind.
Bold and colorful kites against blue sky and ocean make for striking and lively photos.
Examples: Do a wide shot including the kite, your family and scenery. Also, get some close-ups of their faces and interactions as they work with the kite.
16. Beach Treasure Hunt
Create a beach treasure hunt and film the anticipation and excitement as your family searches for a nature trail.
Document the process from the initial clues to the finding of the treasures.
It creates fun, adventurous photos as well.
Examples: Snap photos of the clues, the searching process and discovery moment. Document the moments of joy and success when your family discovers the hidden gems.
17. Beach Reading Time
Get your family reading by the beach, capturing peaceful and relaxing moments!
Snap them reclining on a beach chair or a beach blanket, lost in their pages.
The serene setting and emphasis on reading inspire calm and contemplative images.
Example: Close-up shots that capture the expressions of concentration and enjoyment. Just wider, include the beach atmospheric calm.
18. Family Sand Art
Be creative and do sand art with your family.
Be disciplined at drawing or designing elaborate sand designs or sand sculptures
The cooperative nature and eclectic style makes for some interesting, and memorable photos.
Examples: Document the process, from planning to execution. Photograph details with close-ups and take shots showing the design in its entirety.
19. Beach Sports
Be sure to capture the action and excitement of beach sports like soccer, frisbee, or paddleball.
Capture your family mid-game during the competitve and high-energy play.
Dynamic beach sports pictures full of fun and spirit.
Try to use high shutter speed so that the image gets frozen and the images comes out crisp. Use different angles to show the intensity and excitement of the games.
20. Collecting Driftwood
Log of gathering driftwood to line along the shore
Concentrate on the unique shapes and textures of the driftwood, and your family’s faces as they forage for interesting pieces.
This meditative and peaceful process results in stunning and comforting photos.
A few examples: get close on the driftwood and on the hands picking it up; get wider to show your family members scattered along the beach, each engaged in their own quest.
21. Family Sunset Stroll
Wrap up your beach day with a serene family walk at dust.
Photographic moments are beautiful, and you would want to capture these moments of your family taking a romantic walk on the shore at sunset.
Golden hour nears at sunset and makes pretty photos.
For example, wide-angles for the sunset and its surroundings and close-ups capturing the faces and dynamics of your family.
