DSLRUsers.com

Have any of you had any experience (or difficulty) photographing portraits at a beach?

I got to shoot somewhere along Brighton Le Sands and La Perouse over this weekend. It seems like many many people will head over the beach this weekend. I'm afraid that there will be some issue with bringing equipments like a 70-200, reflectors and flahes / softboxes to the beach. Don't want the paranoid people chasing me or securities after my arse...

Any pointers or tips appreciated.

Yi-P
Be sure to wear a long dark raincoat and wrap-around dark glasses. This will distinguish you as a serious photographer.

believe it or not, I've actually been stoned by a group of fools while shooting portraits on the beach! the best advise I can say is have a person to assist by watching your back and gear.

Matt. K wrote:Yi-P
Be sure to wear a long dark raincoat and wrap-around dark glasses. This will distinguish you as a serious photographer.

I will have to get someone with 000 pre-dialled in their phone. As it will be over 30C over the weekend.

Possibly too late for you, but print off and carry a copy of the document referred to in this website:

http://www.4020.net/words/photorights.php

Just came back from it. Sunburn and heat is not my favourite.

The people were friendly and didnt get into our way. As long as we did tell them we gonna be taking a little corner of the beach for our shoot purpose and they were friendly to assist us.

Just finished cleaning all the sands and wiping off the gears to clear the salt residues.

Only thing is, one of the SB800 sucked some sand into the head and the swivel is 'sanding' the SB800 and making scratches to the flash's neck.
Lesson learned, never get sand into anything that moves and cannot open clean it.

I've never had issues shooting at the beach. Although I can relate to the problems with sand nearly getting in everywhere. Hence I always have someone hold my gear and if not place it in my shoulder bag. Even then when I get home there is still sand.

A rocket blower becomes a good ally

I've never been stoned at the beach but seen plenty of stoned people. I've been lucky with no issues but here's my top 10 tips for beach shoots that we have learn't over many years of shooting at the beach.

1.0 Take sun screen, hats, towels and appropiate dress.
2.0 Take lots of drinking water and some food if it's a long shoot.
3.0 Take a friend / assistant be it to hold a reflector or watch your equipment.
4.0 If any nudity do it either at a nude beach or out of site of familes and the public.
5.0 Shoot either early morning or late afternoon.
6.0 When approached by the public spend the time to discuss with them what your doing. Even if your spinning them a line that your shooting for Playboy or Ralph. Take the time to engage them. We have had old ladies to drunken kids. If your defensive then they'll become less co-operative and accepting of you.
7.0 Take plastic bags that you can fill with sand to use as stand weight bags.
8.0 Take a small foldup chair. Great for general sitting, getting low and taking photographs or for the model to sit on when getting makeup put on.
9.0 Study, Research, Pre Shoot. Know the location before you get there. Know the tides, the layout, where the run rises and sets, where the crowds gather, how long it will take to get from the car park to your location ect. Also now the local rules and regs for any photography on the beach.
10.0 Have plenty of change for car park meter.

Here's a couple of our beach shoots from 2008. The most important thing is to enjoy the shoot and get some hopefully awesome images.

Mark

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=wgnb1bEXU8I

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=epd6G80dcSw