The One Thing That Makes Or Breaks Your Beach Photo Shoot

shoreshooters on July 23, 2025

We get it! You’ve gone back and forth in your mind over and over deciding whether or not you should take the leap and actually book a professional photographer for your family vacation this year. It’s a good chunk of change and you are tempted to just hand your niece the camera. I mean, she is in college and she is always on Instagram posting the cutest photos of her friends and their iced lattes. Heck, you could hand your brother your phone if you tell him exactly where to stand and exactly how to capture the most flattering angle. It should be a quick 10 minute lesson for him and you may get three good photos.

The thing is, professional photographers are professionals for a reason. Not only are they getting the lighting right (not everyone can do that), but they are also offering direction, posing suggestions, all while capturing moments in between. This is the biggest difference between having a family member hop in and actually paying someone to create images that your family will cherish forever. I mean forever!

What’s The One Thing That Makes Or Breaks Your Beach Photo Shoot?

So do you want to know what will actually make or break your session? because honestly, even after you’ve made the commitment to use a professional, you can still end up with a session that doesn’t yield the perfect family beach photo session.

And…. I know you don’t want to hear it…but the ball is in your court. You are the one who can make or break your family beach photo session. Your photographer has done this a million times. TRUST them!!!!

You cannot stress out because your kids will pick up on this stress. You have to believe that you are in good hands.

The more fun you are having, the more fun your kids are having. This is going to come through in your photos.

If you feel nervous or anxious, that’s totally normal too. There are so many reasons you may feel this way. you may be thinking you look silly or you don’t know what to do with your hands.

Tip: if you feel this, express this to your photographer in some way. Maybe say, “Ok i’m a little nervous and i may need some extra direction or feedback’. they get this! I’m sure your photographer will be happy to accommodate!

So just book that beach photography session! Don’t micromanage, and be surprised at how many beautiful photos you get back!

Ready to book? Click this link and choose the beach you’ll be visiting.

Colors To Avoid Wearing For Your Beach Pictures

shoreshooters on June 9, 2025

Most color pallets generally work well on the beach. The white sand, the oat colored sea dunes, and the beautiful blue water offer a neutral backdrop so as long as you are choosing a soft color pallet, it almost always works.

We even suggest patterns occasionally to switch it up. A good rule of thumb is to coordinate even when you can’t match.

Most often people choose linens colored in white or tan to keep it simple and to allow their features to pop in the photos. It’s the most traditional and it never gets old.

With all that being said there are some colors to avoid:

Bright pink or fuchsia. That can sometimes apply to coral, Orange and other colors within that family. They usually do not do well with skin tones (especially when tourists are on vacation and they get a tad bit sunburn) they are also hard to edit. Manipulation of this color usually doesn’t turn out well.
Loud colors! Neon anything, bold patterns that have neon green, highlighter yellow or anything of that nature do not work well
Avoid athletic logos. We don’t think you want to look back at that sort of thing for years to come. Athletic clothes in general are usually not recommended.

Morgan Wallen’s “Sand In My Boots” Festival replacing Hangout Fest

shoreshooters on October 22, 2024

What do you think about Morgan Wallen’s “Sand In My Boots” Festival replacing Hangout Fest?

If you’re on the fence about going to the festival, let’s talk about the pros and cons 👇🏼

First of all, I think we can all agree that Country music is definitely having its moment! We kind of think you might as well embrace it and let’s face it, this lineup is actually good. Plus, it’s more than just Country! The lineup features plenty of “non-Country” artists.

If you’re not a Country music fan and you are thinking about sitting this one out, maybe we can help sway you.

Here’s what we would do if we were coming in town for this festival.

Gulf Shores is a small beach town on an island along the Gulf Coast of Alabama just a few minutes west of the Florida state line. Some people don’t even know about it! We think that’s part of it’s charm 😉

Above photos from Foam Coffee’s Instagram

1. Start your morning at foam coffee! It’s hands down the best coffee on the island. The shop has the cutest vibes. They are usually located inside the festival as well but you don’t want to miss their super instagramable shop!

2. Grab a breakfast biscuit or donuts at Parlor Doughnuts. This place may be a chain but it’s worth the hype!

3. This may sound crazy, but try and squeeze in a Sunrise walk on the beach. It’s totally worth it!

Most importantly, if you are planning to attend the Sand In My Boots Festival in May, we hope you’ll book a beach photo session with us while you’re here, and we hope you enjoy your time on the beautiful beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama!

Fall Beach Photography In Gulf Shores

shoreshooters on October 25, 2023

Fall beach photography in Gulf Shores with the Guffey family. We were so happy to see this family for the second year in a row. When they visited us in October of 2022, Megan was pregnant with Daisy. This year, Daisy was a part of the family’s beach photos along with mom, dad, and her 5 siblings.

Extended Family Photography In Gulf Shores

shoreshooters on October 13, 2023

The Farley family spent their Fall Break vacationing on the Alabama Gulf Coast and scheduled us for extended family photography in Gulf Shores. Their group consisted of 11 people, including a couple of 2 year-old cousins.

If you are looking for a photographer for your extended family vacation, we would love to be your beach photographer! To book your session with one of our experienced, fun photograph

Fun Gulf Shores Engagement Photography

shoreshooters on October 11, 2023

This couple was a dream-come-true for photographer Brianna. They were very much in love, very relaxed, laid back, and down for anything! Brianna said it was one of the most fun Gulf Shores engagement photography session she has ever done!

Booking with a Company vs. an Independent Photographer

shoreshooters on May 24, 2022

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.

shoreshooters on February 25, 2022

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

shoreshooters on February 18, 2022

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!

Gulf Shores Sunrise Photography

shoreshooters on July 16, 2020

There aren’t many things that would get us to wake up before the dawn while on vacation. Gulf Shores sunrises are at the top of that (very short) list!

There’s just something about getting to the beach before the hustle and bustle of the day. Before the white sands are painted over by beach towels and striped umbrellas. There aren’t many times you get the beach all to yourself, and choosing a sunrise session is a way to experience just that.

The subtle pastel skies and golden Gulf Shores sun; it’s hard to beat a background like that!

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What To Wear For a Small Family Beach Photography Session

shoreshooters on July 15, 2020

Deciding what to wear for a small family beach photography session and getting coordinating outfits together doesn’t have to be as stressful as you may think. We at Shore Shooters Beach Photography believe “the simpler, the better”! If your colors and prints are too bright and bold, it can be distracting to the eye. Keeping your looks more towards the neutral side and the prints on the smaller side, makes you the center of attention– not your wardrobe!

Plus, it’s best not to try and compete with these Gulf Shores beaches, right?!

The Leppert family went about this perfectly! Mom and dad sporting muted tones, while baby boy brought the whole look together with his subtly printed overalls.

We hope this helps you out and we can’t wait to see what looks you put together for your family beach photography session!

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Hylie’s 2021 Gulf Shores Senior Portraits

shoreshooters on July 8, 2020

Senior portrait sessions are a favorite of ours to shoot! Not to mention one with a perfect Gulf Shores sunrise. Luckily, Hylie and her family shared that same exact thought when they scheduled with us for Hylie’s 2021 Gulf Shores Senior Portraits

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They were met by one of our incredible photographers, Jaylee, and set out for some golden sun soaked photos.

Hylie is actually a 2021 senior, and we think getting those portraits done during your family beach vacation is the perfect idea. Especially somewhere that’s sentimental, which in this case for Hylie was the beautiful Gulf Shores. We loved that she showed her school pride and even brought her cheerleading uniform!

Senior portraits are meant to showcase your personal style and personality, and we think the beautiful beach of Gulf Shores is the perfect place to do just that!

Visit this page to schedule your appointment with one of our Gulf Shores photographers.

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What To Wear? – Beach Photos In Gulf Shores

shoreshooters on June 2, 2020

Do you have to get “dressed up” for beach photos? NO! This family chose to wear their swimsuits and we loved the way their pictures turned out!

There’s really no dress code for beach pictures. What to wear is up to you! If you want to dress up, that’s fine with us. But if you choose the more casual route, that’s fine too!

Check out more of their photos below. If you’re ready to book your beach photos in Gulf Shores, please visit this page to see pricing and to get on our calendar. Visiting a different beach? Check out our home page to see if we have photographers in the area you’ll be visiting.

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The Fields Family – Gulf Shores Photography

shoreshooters on May 25, 2020

The Fields family just had their fifth Gulf Shores photography session with us! So this year, they wanted to change things up and do something a little different. Co-Owner / photographer April took them to one of her “top secret” locations with more trees and grass than you would normally find along the beach in Gulf Shores. Looking at these pictures sort of gives us some Outer Banks, North Carolina vibes (which happens to be one of our new locations for this summer…more details coming soon!)

We always love seeing our regular clients and greatly appreciate them coming back year after year! If you’d like to start a family tradition of having beach pictures every summer, just visit the main page of our website, then choose your vacation destination.

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Multi-Family Beach Photography – Gulf Shores Photographer

shoreshooters on March 17, 2020

Here’s a question we get asked a lot: “If I schedule a multi-family beach photography session, will each family get their own pictures?”. The answer is YES!

We’ll take pictures of each individual family, the whole group together, couples, kids, and anything else you want! Our photographers are experts at maximizing the time they spend with you so you get lots of variety!

Ready to schedule your appointment with a Gulf Shores photographer? Visit this page for pricing and information. If you’re headed to one of our other beach towns, visit our home page and choose your vacation destination.

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What To Wear For Beach Photos

shoreshooters on March 16, 2020

When it comes to what to wear for beach photos, there really are no rules! We loved how this family chose to dress for their Gulf Shores photography session!

We worked with the Gray family a couple of years ago. The first time, they went with the more typical “dressed up” look. This time, they chose a more simple look by just having fun as a family playing on the beach!

At Shore Shooters, there is no dress code for our beach photos. Wear whatever best shows your family’s personality! If you need suggestions or ideas, feel free to contact us any time. You can also get ideas by visiting our Pinterest page. For information on scheduling a session with us, please visit our home page, then choose your vacation destination. We look forward to meeting you and seeing how you choose to dress for your beach pictures!

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Engagement Photography In Gulf Shores

shoreshooters on February 5, 2020

From a proposal in the mountains to engagement photography in Gulf Shores! We first met this couple through our sister company, Mountain Escape Photography. Do you prefer the beach or the mountains? We’ve got you covered in either place!

Gulf Shores Family Reunion Photography

shoreshooters on January 20, 2020

Several generations of this family gathered together to spend the holidays at a beach house in Gulf Shores, Alabama. While they were all together, they contacted us for their Gulf Shores family reunion photography.

Gulf Shores Locals – Photographers In Gulf Shores AL

shoreshooters on December 5, 2019

No matter what time of the year you visit Gulf Shores is always a great place to relax, so our photographers in Gulf Shores AL are available any time!

Family Photography At The Beach Club Gulf Shores

shoreshooters on October 30, 2019

We love to see the same families year after year! The Wredling family scheduled their first beach photography session with us in 2017. Here’s a link to their 2017 session from our blog archives. This fall, they returned to the Alabama Gulf Coast and booked with us again for their second year of family photography at The Beach Club Gulf Shores.

If you’ve worked with us before, we’d love to see you again! We even offer a repeat client discount, so please contact our office before you schedule so we can tell you how to get the discounted price!

Here are some of the pictures from the Wredling family’s second Gulf Shores beach photography session with us…

Family Photography At The Beach Club Gulf Shores

Here are a few other photography sessions at The Beach Club, Gulf Shores:

Senior Portraits

Sunrise

Engagement Photography In Gulf Shores Alabama

shoreshooters on May 13, 2019

We always love to hear comments and feedback from our clients after they’ve looked through the pictures from their beach photography session. We especially love comments like this one we received from Natalie after she scheduled us for her engagement photography in Gulf Shores Alabama…

“AMAZING!!! Colette was so great! Unfortunately the weather made us reschedule but Colette was super flexible. The photos are gorgeous…like they are so good, I can’t pick a single favorite. I cannot say enough good things about Shore Shooters, especially Colette!!! She was so fun to work with, made posing easy, and captured some of the most beautiful pictures I’ve ever seen! I cannot stop looking at them. We got our pictures super fast as well! Shore Shooters is the best, hands down!!!”

If you are planning a vacation to Gulf Shores, we’d love to work with you! Please visit this page for pricing information and to schedule your beach photography appointment with one of our talented beach photographers in Gulf Shores Alabama! If you’re coming to a different area, please head over to our home page and choose your vacation destination.

Here are a few of Natalie’s engagement pictures: