While vacationing in Orlando, this family made a trip over to the Gulf Coast for family photos at sunset on the beach. However, there was one detail that daughter Rachel didn’t know…her boyfriend Juan was planning to propose during their beach photography session!
After the family photos were done, just as the sun was setting, Juan dropped to one knee and popped the question!
We know, or at least we hear, there is a stigma when it comes to booking a company for your photography needs as opposed to booking an independent photographer. We wanted to bust those myths in the blog today as well as point out some of the benefits to booking a photography company (in this case us, Shore Shooters)
A lot of people think that a big company means we don’t care, when in all actuality, we probably care the most. We have a year round staff that is here to please our clients and our photographers. When you call or email, they will always answer quickly. They are dedicated to helping you do things like download images, place print orders, book your appointment, plan your shoot, etc…
Our entire team has gone through an application process and multiple training sessions before going out on their own. All of our photographers are also required to meet certain equipment standards. This is really just a small part of what goes into our onboarding process.
Every one of our photographers are shooting how they are trained to shoot by our team. No matter how photographers shoot on their own time, when they are shooting for Shore Shooters, they are shooting “on brand”. On top of that, all editing is done in house. We have staff editors also trained to create the “Shore Shooters look”.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about the pros to booking with our company. The main thing is that we have a staff that works for us full time and their job is customer service. Not to throw any other photographers under the bus, but we are constantly receiving calls and emails in our office from people saying that the photographer they booked didn’t: show up, return calls, send their photos, canceled last minute, etc…
With Shore Shooters, none of those things would be a concern. Our company is a well oiled machine with six staff members who care greatly about our photographers and our clients. In the case of emergencies, because we are a team, we can generally re-schedule as well. Something to consider if you are hesitating about booking with our company vs seeking out an individual.
Today on our podcast our owners discuss this very subject. Hear more on this topic here.
With iPhone camera quality advancing the way it is, we want to talk about why you should hire a professional photographer.
This is the perfect session to use as an example of all you can get out of a beach portrait session.
These beach portraits are generations celebrating a milestone together. Sometimes there’s no milestone to celebrate but just BEING TOGETHER.
We understand that sometimes getting the whole family together can be difficult, so why not document that? It is worth celebrating.
That’s what it’s all about to us! We go out to the beach night after night to capture beach portraits for families from all over the country, and we LOVE it.
If you think you can skip out on hiring a professional, we challenge you to consider the following: quality, memories, and a good experience.
If you are taking the picture, you don’t get to be a part of the memory.
Setting up a timer and running back to jump in the photo, no way! Using an iPhone? Your photos will eventually be outdated. Thinking about paying low prices for someone with less experience? You get what you pay for. 😬
With the help of a professional photographer, you won’t have to worry about things like awkward posing and lighting. A photographer can also help capture candid moments that you should be a part of.
If we could sum it all up, we would say, HECK YES hire a professional photographer for your next beach trip!
When it comes to family portraits, what you wear is HUGE! It determines the mood of your photos and even the overall coloring. We are here to tell you not to overthink it.
What we mean by that is, put effort into coordinating your outfits, but don’t overdress. Beach portraits are meant to be laid back, so you don’t want to overdo it. Think, sundresses for the ladies and t-shirts and shorts for the kids.
Now let’s talk about colors; neutral colors like white, tan, and beige will always work at the beach. It works for a reason! It almost always compliments skin well, and it photographs well.
Avoid loud colors like coral, red, bright orange, yellow, or even some shades of blue. This is a big challenge for photographers and editors, as it does not compliment the skin and tends to leave people looking orange or sunburnt.
With that being said, we want your family to have a good experience, so dress how you feel comfortable and have fun!
The Kling Family
When I visited St. Augustine last March, I knew it was special. There was so much about the city I was surprised by. It felt at times like I was in Europe! But then driving over the Bridge of Lions I was in for an even bigger surprise!
The small beach town of St. Augustine has all the vibes I enjoy. Laid-back surf culture, tacos (plenty of tacos), a few breweries, and incredible beaches. The high-rise condos and chain restaurants are nonexistent. The mom-and-pop surf shops are alive and well. It’s not overwhelming, it’s relaxing in the best way.
So naturally, I go to Instagram to find things to do (basically the best coffee shops) and I come across Gabe and Megan Kling who are realtors in the area. They do an incredible job of showing what makes the town and the lifestyle of St. Augustine so magical. I even joked with Megan that we should move to the area (jokes on us, here we are, going on our 7th month living here).
Fast forward to this shoot, with their family. We worked with them to purchase our home and absolutely loved them. Doing these photos for their family was special because they are such a great family! The boys are so much fun to be around!
We also have some other projects in the works with the Kling’s. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook so you don’t miss out!
-April Loyle
I’m so happy this local ( St.Augustine) artist reached out for a family session. They just had the sweetest little boy three months ago and she explains that she didn’t want a session that was stiff or forced looking.
She admitted that she knew that could be a challenge with a new baby that couldn’t run and play yet, but that she trusted my vision to make something great and we as photographers truly appreciate that.
When it comes to Shore Shooters, we work with so many different types of clients, and meeting their expectations is always our priority. A lot of times that requires traditional posing with candid moments. Since this is something we face daily, we are so excited to announce that we will be releasing a course on this very topic after the first of the year! So stick around for that, it’s going to be a good one.
Meanwhile, enjoy this beautiful family we had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with at sunset along to Matanzas River.
Brittney and her extended family recently traveled to the beach for a Florida family vacation. Their session with Perdido Key photographer Michelle also included some maternity photos.
Have you ever visited the sugar-white beaches of Perdido Key, Florida? If this beautiful beach is the location for your next family vacation, our photographers would love to meet you for a sunrise or sunset photography session. See this page for more information and to schedule with us in the Perdido Key area. If you’re visiting a different beach, check our home page to see if we have photographers in your vacation destination.
Navarre Beach, Florida refers to itself as “Florida’s Most Relaxing Place” and we would have to agree with that statement! Navarre Beach is an uncrowded, unspoiled, and unhurried little beach town located on Florida’s Emerald Coast between Pensacola and Destin.
The Whitener family chose this beautiful little town for their beach vacation this summer and we are so happy they chose us for their Navarre Beach family photos!
Here are a few of the photos captured by photographer Else during their sunset beach photo session.
Dani contacted us asking for fun beach photos during her vacation at Plantation Dunes in Fort Morgan. After looking through our blog, she decided that she really wanted something like this session from last year, including the duck blowup float! We love the way Dani, Travis, and Rowen dressed for their Fort Morgan photography session.
With us, there’s no dress code! Show up in your swimsuit or your Sunday best. Either option is fine with us! To book your beach photography session with us, start by choosing the beach you’ll be visiting by going to the “Locations” link in our main menu, then follow the steps on that page to get on our schedule. If you have any questions, our customer service team is always ready to help you. Just send them an email to info@shoreshooters.com.
The Perez family contacted us for family reunion photography in Treasure Island Florida. They were also celebrating a family member’s birthday during their trip to the beach!
Are you planning a trip to the Treasure Island or St. Pete Beach area? Click this link for pricing information and to book with us in this area, or visit our home page to see if we are in the beach town you’ll be visiting.
This family celebrated mom’s birthday at the beach. For their Fort Walton Beach photography session, the birthday girl asked for lots of pictures of her family as they celebrated her 60th birthday. It looks like they all had a great time on Florida’s Emerald Coast!
To schedule your beach photography session, choose your vacation destination from the “Locations” tab at the top of the page or go to our home page to see all of our locations. Once you choose the area you’ll be visiting, our website will walk you through the entire booking process. We look forward to seeing you at the beach!
The Richardsons recently spent their summer vacation in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and scheduled a sunset beach photography session with Wendy, our photographer in the Hilton Head area.
If you’re headed to the “Low Country” for your next family vacation, be sure to get in touch with us to schedule your fun family beach photos in Hilton Head Island. You can find all of the information and schedule your session here, or visit this page if you’re heading to a different beach town.
Summer vacation season is here and thousands of families are enjoying a week of sunshine at the beach! This family decided to spend their vacation at a beach house on Fort Morgan Road in Gulf Shores. To book your summer vacation photos in Gulf Shores, please go to this page for information and to book with us. We also have photographers available in many other beach communities. Go to this page to see a list of towns we serve.
Debbie, aka “Ama” to her grandchildren, booked this session for her son Ryan, his kids, and Ryan’s girlfriend Casey during their vacation to Florida’s Emerald Coast. But Casey had no idea that it was going to turn into a Panama City Beach proposal! We loved the special touch of having the kids hold the “Will you marry us?” signs.
Our PCB photographers are available for any occasion, whether it’s a proposal, graduation, or just a family vacation. For pricing, availability, and to schedule with us in Panama City Beach, please go to this page. If you’re visiting a different beach community, head over to our home page to see if we have photographers available in the town you’ll be visiting.
This couple came to the beach for their first vacation with the Grandkids! Brooke, Tyler, Abby, and Dustin, along with their grandparents, stayed in the quiet little community of Navarre Beach along Florida’s Emerald Coast. Navarre Beach photographer Else met them on the beach at sunset to capture these photos to remember this special family vacation.
If you’re planning a vacation to Navarre Beach, please see this page for pricing and to schedule your session with us. If you’re visiting a different beach community, just head over to our home page and choose the town where you’ll be spending your vacation.
Tara contacted us for family photography in Santa Rosa Beach Florida to capture a multi-generation vacation to the beach in January.
A common question we get asked is “will you take pictures of each family”. The answer is a big YES! We’ll photograph the whole group together, each individual family, grandparents with grandkids, couples, and any other shot you may want. We do not limit the number of photos you’ll receive. To see our pricing and schedule your Santa Rosa Beach photography session with us, please visit this page. If you’re visiting another beach community, please go to our home page to see all of our locations.
In our opinion, there’s never a bad time to visit the beach! This family chose to take a winter family vacation and met Miramar Beach photographer Laura for a sunset beach photography session.
No matter which season you choose to take your family vacation, our photographers are ready to meet you at sunrise or sunset. If you’re visiting Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, or 30A, you can find pricing information and more details here. If you’re visiting a different beach, please check our home page to see if we have photographers in your vacation destination.
In our opinion, fall is the best time to take a beach vacation! The temperatures are cooling down, but it’s still warm enough to get in the water. It’s also less crowded at the beaches and in the restaurants, which means you don’t have to wait to get a table at your favorite local seafood place. And of course, our photographers are still on the beach at sunrise and sunset!
Lauren and her family chose to take a fall vacation on 30A. Here are a few pictures from their Santa Rosa Beach photography session. To book your family photos in the 30A / Santa Rosa Beach area, please visit this page. If you’re visiting a different beach, check our home page to see if we have photographers in the area you’ll be visiting.
What better way to celebrate a new family member than with a trip to the Gulf Coast and a beach photography session with one of our 30A / Santa Rosa Beach Photographers!
Sweet new babies always tend to steal the show, and we don’t think anyone minds one bit.
Booking a session for your baby’s first beach trip with the whole family makes for the best memories!
Visit this page for info on scheduling your sunrise or sunset beach photography appointment with one of our Santa Rosa Beach photographers. If you’re traveling to a different beach town, check out our home page to see all of our other locations.
Thinking of ditching the collared shirts and sundresses, but not sure if you can fully commit?
Well, here’s a little Destin family photography inspiration for you! We love when our clients switch things up and get a bit more playful with their wardrobes.
Tossing on your suits and loading up your beach toys makes for a much more relaxed and joyful (and lets not forget, memorable) family photography session!
We were very excited to hear how much our client loved her “sandy + salty” Destin family photography session. Here’s the email she sent to us when she received her finished gallery:
“Holy goodness gracious!!!!!! I could not have been happier with the customer service from every single person I interacted with. From booking the session to immediate responses to every email answering all my questions and putting every tiny worry to rest, this was by far the easiest photo session I have ever booked.
And LAURA! LAURA! I mean my entire family was full on ANGRY about having to take family pictures during their beach vacation and I heard about how horrible I was including on the walk to the beach to have the pictures taken. I agreed they did not have to get ready, fix hair, wear matching outfits, nothing…..easy breezy beautiful! But from the moment we met Laura she really did make it all easy breezy and the pictures couldn’t be more beautiful. We all had so much fun, the kids didn’t even want it to end, I had to actually tell her she could leave anytime because they kept finding more stuff to do for her to take pictures of. She was full of ideas and fun. We all love the pictures and they are going to make the best Christmas presents.
Thank you so much for capturing the essence of us, the love and fun we have for each other and the beach.”
Thank you so much for the kind words, Tori! If you’re ready to book your Destin family photography session, please go to this page. If you’re headed to a different beach town, check out our home page to see all of the locations where we work.
What better way to capture your pregnancy than with a maternity photography session that includes the whole family!
With the white sand of Orange Beach surrounding and a golden sunset radiating around you, it’s the perfect combination to commemorate the newest addition to your family with the ones you love most.
We’re all about capturing your family at every stage!
