Who else loves a good day at the beach?
Washington and Oregon beaches are truly one of a kind, and the perfect setting for beach family photos. The rocky coastlines have pockets of sandy beaches and rocky shores to climb and explore. You can collect your share of sand dollars if you time it right, and there are many spots with tide pools to explore native sea creatures.
Even on stormy days, watching the rain clouds roll in and the giant waves crashing on the beach from your hotel or vacation rental window with a warm fire going sounds like heaven.
There’s not a bad day at the beach, if you ask me 🙂
We call Puget Sound home, but Seaside has quickly become a yearly tradition for my family to take a long weekend getaway. My kids were fans the minute we set foot on the beach a couple years ago and played in the waves – and it was COLD that first time!
Last summer I had the pleasure of photographing a sweet family on the iconic coastline while they were on their vacation, too. We had so much fun together while the kids played in the sand, got a taste of the waves, and loved on mom and dad in the process. Their session is one of my favorites to date.
Family photos to document your vacation together? How fun is that?!
From Gearhart to Arch Cape, we are sure to find the perfect spot for family photos on the beach.
Seaside is undeniably a coastal town, and with it comes crowds and busy beaches in the summer months. The same goes for Canon Beach; it’s iconic massive boulders in the surf draw many local beachgoers and tourists alike.
As long as you’re up for a little trek and exploring the lesser-known spots, we’re sure to land on a spot that’s perfect for your photos.
And yes, the popular spots are an option, too
What should you wear for beach family photos?
We can go two different directions here.
You’re likely on vacation if I’m meeting you here, so why not spend some time documenting your family playing and enjoying each other?
Building sand castles, flying kites, checking out some tide pools, or splashing in the waves – all of those are so fun to capture and moments that would be amazing to have to look back on later.
I’d suggest very casual outfits that you don’t mind getting down in the sand with for more of a documentary-style session. The focus isn’t going to be on what you’re wearing, but rather the joy of the moment and the memories you’re making together.
Not interested in playing in the sand? We can do that, too.
Wearing casual or a step up from that works well for these. Now, we’re still going to be having fun and running around in the sand some, just not sitting down and digging in it necessarily.
Keeping that in mind, you’ll want to choose things that are comfortable and along the lines of lighter and/or flowy fabrics.
They should be easy to move around in without having to make constant wardrobe adjustments.
I highly recommend coming prepared with layers and a beach blanket to use during our time together if needed.
Weather considerations for Oregon’s Northern Coast
In the summer, the coast tends to be cooler than it is inland. Because of this, there is a chance that fog lines the coast through a significant part of the day. It’s not a deal breaker for photos, though! You’ll just get a little more drama in the background if this happens
It’s also a good idea to bring a big blanket in case we need it to have you huddle together under or just spread out to hang out on.
Given the special nature of these beach sessions, we won’t have a lot of wiggle room for adjusting our plans because of weather-related things that are out of our control. However, with focusing on your family’s connections and interactions, we’ll get beautiful photos of you all regardless of the weather.
Other types of sessions that would be great on the beach:
- Maternity
- High school seniors
- Extended family sessions – grab grandma + grandpa, the kids and the grandkids for a day of family goodness
Do beach family photos sound like something you’d love to plan this year?
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Do you have other family travel plans this summer you’d love to have documented?
I’m available for travel! Shoot me a message with the details of your trip to get started
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