Outer Banks Family Photography
Another Outer Banks family photography session from photographer Jessi. This family rented a vacation home in the Four Seasons community of Duck, North Carolina.
If you're planning a family vacation to Duck, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, or any of the other beautiful towns along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, we'd love to be your beach photographer!
How to Spend the Perfect week in Gulf Shores Alabama
If you are looking into booking a stay on the beautiful island that is Gulf Shores, Alabama, we have lot's of tips for your week. Let's hop right into it, with some of our top picks!
Of course we'll start with some of the restaurants that should be on your list. There is so many to choose from, and this is just a few. For breakfast make a stop at Foam Coffee to fulfill your latte, and breakfast needs. Even equipped with a grab n go cooler, you can make a stop and then make your way to the water. When lunch time come around, there is a new spot right on the water, and we recommend the Mango Tuna Tacos, this will be found at "Coastal" a new restaurant concept that was brought to the Gulf Coast. Lastly for your late night dinner stop, you and the family should try out Cobalt, with menu choices for every age, and liking! (we recommend a reservation).
Now to kind of state the obvious here, in order to make a perfect week in Gulf Shores, you should definitely book a session with Shore Shooters. You and your crew are all together, so let's update those family photos for you guys. We can make it even easier by clicking right here to book!
A week in Gulf Shores wouldn't be made with out trying some of the local breweries and bars! Check out the Big Beach Brewing Company, or if you're looking for some hectic fun, head down to FloraBama, right on the Alabama, Pensacola Line. This will give the adults that fun, and break from the kiddos they are looking for, time permitting ;)
Lastly, of course - Just HAVE FUN!! There is so many hidden gems along the coast for you to explore. Spend lot's of time on the water, eat lot's of good food, and wear sunscreen. You and your family will have the greatest time here in Gulf Shores, and oh book your session with Shore Shooters here!
Booking with a Company vs. an Independent Photographer
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)
Lets's Start with the Assumptions!
1. A big company doesn't care
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...
2. They just hire and anyone and send them out there with no experience
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.
3. You don’t know what style of photography you are going to get with a larger photography company.
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.
Why You Should Hire a Professional Photographer.
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!
What to Wear for Beach Portraits
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 - St. Augustine Photography
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
Reasons To Book A Sunrise Session - Gulf Shores Photographer
If you've ever had pictures taken on the beach, you probably already know that they have to be scheduled during the first or last hour of sunlight. During our peak season, the sun comes up between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. in some of our locations. That means you'll have to get the family out of bed REALLY early! However, there are several advantages to scheduling your beach portrait session at sunrise!Read more
Family Reunion Photography - Hilton Head Island South Carolina
A family reunion photography session in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Location: Sea Pines Resort
To learn more about Sea Pines, see this article from our friends at Oceanfront Hilton Head Island. To schedule your beach portrait session in Hilton Head, go to this page for more information.
Family Photos in Orange Beach
A family photography session in Orange Beach Alabama. For information on scheduling your family photos in Orange Beach, head over to this page.Read more
St. Pete Beach Photography
A St. Pete Beach photography session with two of the cutest kids we've ever seen! Please visit this page for more information on scheduling your beach photography session in St. Pete Beach.Read more