Early bird gets the worm! This family met me at 7:30 am in June (when the sun is out the longest during the day) to get some beautiful morning light at this special beach spot in the Okanagan. They were such a sweet family and I had so much fun getting candids of them all enjoying the beach together (which we had to ourselves as no one else was there that early!). As a photographer, there is so much direction I can give at a beach to get candids for family photos with little kids. So much to doooo and explore.

Tips for Beach Photo Sessions:

Best Light:


If you want to take family photos at a beach spot, early morning or early evening is the time to do it for best light. The sun is just too intense during the afternoon in peak summer. But if you’re willing to get up a little earlier (or stay up a little earlier, you’ll capture the magic of family photos at the beach.

Best Beach Locations:

If you’re wanting the lake in the backdrop of your photos, you’re best choosing on a spot on the West side of Okanagan Lake for shoots around sunset. For early morning shoots, you’ll want to choose a location on the East side of the lake. This is so that the sun will be behind you, which will save your from harsh shadows and squinty eyes from the sun blasting you in the eyes to get the lake backdrop. It also creates softer, more beautiful light when the sun is low in the sky.

Best Time of Year for Beach Photos:

Spring and Fall are my personal favourites for doing beach shoots. The beaches are less crowded but it can has the look people are usually after for lakeside photos. You can still do beach shoots in the summer, but like this family, you’ll want to start really early to beat the crowds. We started at 7:30 am in late June on the east-side of the lake for this shoot.

Embrace the Candid Moments!

You’re going to get sandy, your kids might start to walk into the water in their shoes and get wet pant legs but it’s all a part of the fun of the real memories you’re creating! Embrace the mess and the fun of it all like this family did and you’ll get some magic photos out of it. 😀

Get in Touch With Me To Book a Shoot!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *