Shooting on a Beach - Advice Needed

[angiem357]

Okay. I'm a little freaked out. I'm such a wuss!

I have been hired *snorts* to shoot a blended family in Rockport tomorrow or Tuesday morning. This is kind of a big deal, because 2 of the little'uns live with the other parent in Central America and this is the first time Dad's seen them in over a year - and probably the last time for quite awhile.

So, basically, I only have two batteries worth of time to get this right.

Can anybody tell I've never done this before?!

So. I've scoured the old posts but, with over 500 threads to look at, I'm sure I missed it. Anybody have some general advice? I'm shooting with basically a camera and reflectors. They're not expecting professional quality, but they want nice pics. I know i can do it, I would just love some pointers on maybe what I can do to make my life easier.

Someone said something in another thread about acclimating the camera, too. Putting it in a Ziploc for about 20 minutes?

(i'm beginning to feel completely incompetent for this assignment...)

I appreciate anything y'all have to throw my way. Since the BabyMama keeps changing the flight time for the little kids, it's possible I won't even get the chance to do this, but I'd like to be prepared.

Thank you,
Angie

[ChristopherCoy]

look up the 'sunny 16' rule....

[swanny338]

Sunscreen.... Now that that is out of the way.


Do you have the option of picking what time of day you guys go shoot? Kind of sounds like you don't. Sunset and sunrise you can get two very different looks... One look would be with them with their backs to the sun. This gives them a rim light from the sun and a washed out over exposed background, just make sure you expose for their faces. You can also experiment with the reflectors to fill in some light.

You can then turn them around and face the sun. In my opinion, this works best when the sun is very close to setting and then just after it sets. Gives you that warm, beach look.



If you have to go out when the sun is up in the sky, you can still get good results. These were shot between 10:15 and 11 with their back to sun as much as possible and exposed for the shadows.



Facing them towards the sun this late in the day doesn't work very well. Gives you those nice "raccoon eyes."

[angiem357]

Chris: Thanks. I thought I was going to lost when I saw the word "reciprocal," but I figured it out. Math is not my friend. Very useful information! Thank you!

Bryant: Also very good advice. I'd like to try to catch them early in the morning, but it really depends on when they have time, between the one day of vacation BabyMama is allowing them and the ride back to the airport.

Thanks guys!

Anyone else got two cents to spare?

[Brains]

Just go with your gut when you're there. I wasn't at the beach, but I shot outdoors all afternoon at my niece's birthday party this weekend and got a ton of great shots. In the pool, on top of the inflatable water slide, you name it -- I went there :) Just set the camera in aperture priority mode, picked my aperture and focal length for the shot I wanted, and just had fun with it. It was a lot easier to keep the camera more or less "set" while moving around trying to keep up with the little ones.

The biggest thing you'll be up against is likely going to be the sun, so if you have a lens hood definitely put it on. If you have some cloud cover, try to shoot when the sun is behind 'em, giving you softer light. If you need to, get your subjects into the shade so everyone isn't squinting. Talk with them a LOT, get them comfortable with the camera by being comfortable with you. Keep talking while you're shooting, and shoot a lot so they get used to the clicking shutter. Don't dwell so much on getting the "perfect" shot, as more often the best family/group shots come when people are a touch more candid and not waiting for the "say cheese" moment. If you can, take a practice trip outside in similar conditions to what you expect the shoot to be in.

[angiem357]

Thank you, Brian. I have no idea if this is even going to happen now. The dad's being whiny. I guess that's his right, considering BabyMama is really messing up his summer with the boys.

Oh well. Since I guess I'm out of luck on this trip, perhaps I can use those tips sometime soon with the dogs at Quintana!

[rwwright]

if you can you should take a friend and someone to hold the reflector and take a few practice shots before they arrive. this will make you feel better when doing the actual shoot