Helpful Tips for Your Hilton Head Beach Portrait Session

Booking a family portrait session on Hilton Head Island is an exciting part of your vacation experience. To help you get the most out of your session and ensure beautiful, stress-free photos, here are some expert tips to prepare you and your family for your beach portrait session.

1. Book Early in the Week

If you’re traveling with young children, consider scheduling your session early in the week. Kids often sleep in unfamiliar beds and fall out of their usual routines during vacations. By the end of the week, fatigue can set in, which may affect their mood and energy levels for your photos.

2. Make Sure Everyone Is Well-Rested and Fed

Try to encourage your children to rest quietly or take a nap in the afternoon before the session. Also, plan to give them a small snack about an hour before your shoot to keep their energy up and spirits high. A well-rested and nourished child will be more cooperative and joyful during the session.

3. Limit Pool Time Before the Session

If your children’s eyes tend to get irritated from pool chemicals, try to limit swimming time in the hours leading up to the photo shoot. Red or irritated eyes are especially noticeable in close-up portraits and can be difficult to retouch naturally.

4. Don’t Forget Sunscreen

Sunscreen is essential during your vacation — especially on the face and under the eyes. Sunburns can quickly turn a happy child cranky, and peeling skin won’t photograph well. Applying sunscreen ahead of time will keep everyone comfortable and glowing.

5. Watch for Tan Lines

While enjoying the sun, be mindful of tan lines caused by hair, clothing, or jewelry. These marks can be challenging to minimize in photos and might distract from the overall look of your portraits.

6. Avoid Lotion Before the Shoot

Although skin with a healthy sheen looks great, avoid applying lotion or sunscreen immediately before the session. Lotion can cause sand to stick to your skin. Clean, sand-free skin will always look best.

7. Prepare for Windy Conditions with Hair Accessories

Beach sessions often come with a breeze, and flying hair can be a common challenge. Bring headbands, barrettes, hair ties, or clips to help keep hair tidy and out of faces during your session.

8. Consider Dress and Skirt Lengths

Remember that your session will include a variety of poses including seated portraits. Wearing super short dresses or skirts can make it tricky to maintain modesty, so choose lengths that are comfortable and appropriate for sitting and movement.

9. Manage Ruffles on Windy Days

Ruffles and other loose fabric details can be difficult to keep in place on the beach due to wind. Bring two-sided tape, sticky straps, or safety pins to help keep your clothing neat and flattering throughout the shoot.

10. Men’s Shirt Choices Matter

If wearing a collared shirt, opt for button-down styles instead of polos. Button-down collars stay flat and tidy even on breezy days, whereas polo collars tend to curl or flutter in the wind.

11. Embrace Color and Patterns

Don’t shy away from vibrant colors and patterns! White isn’t always the most flattering color in photos. Consider a fun pattern for one family member, balanced with solid complementary colors for others, to create a visually appealing and timeless look.

12. No Gum Please

It might seem obvious, but please avoid chewing gum during your session. It often shows in photos despite your best efforts to hide it.

13. Leave Purses and Personal Items Behind

To keep your focus on your family and the moment, avoid bringing purses, sunglasses, or expensive personal items to the beach shoot. These items can be distracting, may get lost or damaged, and can pull attention away from the experience. If you bring a phone, ensure it fits securely in a back pocket.

Preparing ahead can make a significant difference in the quality of your portraits and the overall experience of your Hilton Head beach session. These tips will help your family stay comfortable, relaxed, and ready to enjoy the moment so we can capture authentic, beautiful memories that last a lifetime.