Beach Poses

Here at Flytographer, we easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photo shoots and have captured over three million memories worldwide. 🌎 The magic of Flytographer is both the experience and the photos. 📸 Explore the city with a fun, talented photographer and get wall-worthy photos 🖼 to relive your trip forever! Today, we asked our local photographers to share the best beach poses for your vacation photo shoot, and we can’t wait to share these photo ideas with you (note: swimsuits are optional 😜)!

TLDR

1. Follow the shoreline: work with the sea breeze as it blows through your hair, and follow the path where the water meets the sand for this natural, effortless beach photo shoot recommendation.
2. Run from the water: it’s n a t u r a l—run back and forth, towards and away from the surf, showing off your happiest smiles and letting loose in front of the camera!
3. Make a splash: this is a great photo pose idea for the end of your shoot—a celebration, if you will!
4. Dance in the sand: some of the best picture ideas inspire laughter, smiles, and silly moods, and dancing is almost always a surefire way to capture authentic, beautiful photos.
5. Sit down and stay awhile: this pose idea is a favourite because it allows you to reset both physically and emotionally.
6. Rest on a rocky patch: resting on a rock or rocky patch is a great resource to lean on or into and can be a good way to play with light and texture on the beach. 
7. Snuggle up: lean your backs against each other, wrap your arms around each other, link arms, give hugs, or snuggle up in your favourite way to show affection for your photo shoot companion(s). 
8. Admire the sunrise or sunset: use the sunrise or sunset as inspo, and look lovingly at the natural beauty around you.
9. Laugh lots: we all know laughter is the best medicine, and photos that incorporate laughter are infused with feelings!
10. Celebrate: coordinate with your loved ones, lose the shoes, and enjoy the sand and stunning scenery as you celebrate with your crew.

Photo: Taena in Maui for Flytographer. Lara and family capture memories in Maui with a family photoshoot on Po’olenalena Beach.

1. Follow the shoreline

One of our favourite ways to capture beautiful beach poses is also one of the easiest ways: follow the shoreline! 🌊 This pose idea is easy and fun, particularly if you’re feeling stiff or awkward because all you have to do is walk! Work with the sea breeze as it blows through your hair, and follow the path where the water meets the sand. If you’re with someone you love, hold hands and stroll together; take turns looking at one another, then back at the camera, and change your pace from slow to a little beach jog if you’re feeling free and fancy! Beach vibes can’t be beat when you follow the shoreline. Oftentimes, these are the best of the bunch if you’re hoping for pretty beach portraits with a professional photographer because your pro has the equipment, eye, and know-how to capture the whole scene just right! 🫶 Put those iPhones aside 📲 and save the selfies 🤳 for later—now is the time to nail your dream beach pics.

Photo: Lauren in Los Angeles for Flytographer. Brooke and partner capture memories in Los Angeles with a honeymoon photoshoot on El Matador Beach.

2. Run from the water

One of the most instinctual moves when you’re at the beach is to play with the water—running from the water is the ideal beach pose for adults and, of course, kids too! If you’re wearing a long dress, use it to your advantage by lifting and frolicking, and if you’re wearing pants, this is a perfect time to roll them up to ensure they stay dry if ankles get wet! Play chicken ▶️ by going back and forth, towards and away from the surf, showing off your happiest smiles and letting loose in front of the camera. 😄 

Photo: Karen in Aruba for Flytographer. Tamarah and family capture memories in Aruba with a family photoshoot on the beach.

3. Make a splash

You know what’s next, right? Make a splash! 💦 This is a great beach pose idea for the end of your shoot—a celebration, if you will! 👏 If you happen to get wet before the end of your shoot, embrace the waves and just say “YES!” to making a splash! Run, jump, kick, and splash around. Swimwear 🩱 is optional for this part and may be a great idea to have handy for after your shoot because every beach photo shoot should include enjoying the water at some point! 

Photo: Rojeena in Maui for Flytographer. Marie and family capture memories in Maui with a family photoshoot on White Rock Beach.

4. Dance in the sand

Beaches can be soooo romantic! 😚 What better way to enjoy the romance than to do a little dance in the sand? Lots of us can feel self-conscious when it comes to dancing (Hi! Two left feet over here! 🙋‍♀️), but when it comes to photos of dance moves, you need absolutely no skill because these are photos, not video! 🕺 Some of the best picture ideas inspire laughter, smiles, and silly moods, and dancing is almost always a surefire way to capture authentic, beautiful photos.

Photo: Steve in Moorea for Flytographer. Alonna and partner capture memories in Moorea with a vacation photoshoot at Opunohu Valley.

5. Sit down and stay awhile

We love sitting beach poses for a handful of reasons—sometimes taking a moment of calm and rest is just what you need after what may have been a hectic adventure to get this far. 😅 This pose idea is a favourite because it allows you to reset physically and emotionally. If you have little ones, taking a minute to relax on a path or hill can be a good break, or allow for kids to do their thing in the sand while grown-ups take a rest! Sitting allows you to show off dresses, accessories, and, of course, you relaxing in front of a stunning backdrop. 😍 

Photo: Claudia in Cancun for Flytographer. Hannah and partner capture memories in Cancun with a surprise proposal photoshoot at Playa Delfines & Del Ray.

6. Rest on a rocky patch

Beach poses are oftentimes dependent on your surroundings, but most of the time beaches are surrounded by rocks 🪨 or rocky patches of some sort, so utilize them! Like #5, resting on a rock or rocky patch is a great resource to lean on or into and can be a good way to play with light and texture. An important and helpful tip? Be sure to verify approval and safety 👀 before climbing on any rocks near beaches—sometimes there are rules or restrictions for wildlife/plants (be careful not to injure natural-born elements!) or safety (those rocks can be so slippery! ⚠️)—no one wants a spill during a beach photo shoot.  

Photo: Cheryl in Boca Raton for Flytographer. Sophie captures memories in Boca Raton with a graduation photoshoot on South Inlet Beach.

7. Snuggle up

It wouldn’t be a photo shoot without some good snuggle time! 🤗 Snuggling up is perfect for any duo or family, even friends! Lean your backs against each other, wrap your arms around each other, link arms, give hugs, or any other way you love to show affection for your photo shoot companions. ❤️

Photo: Natalie in Honolulu for Flytographer. Clhavinzky and family capture memories in Honolulu with a family photoshoot on Kualoa Beach.

8. Admire the sunrise or sunset

Use the sunrise or sunset as inspo, and look lovingly at the natural beauty around you. 🤩 Discover once again the miracles of nature that become so apparent anytime you watch the sun rise or set over the horizon. 🌅 The light, the colours, the reflections, the way the scenery changes so quickly; it’s all admirable and inspiring, and magically photo-worthy. 🌈 

Photo: Ella in San Diego for Flytographer. Grace and family capture memories in San Diego with a family photoshoot on Sunset Cliffs.

9. Laugh lots!

We all know laughter is the best medicine, and photos that incorporate laughter are infused with feelings! 🤭 Laugh lots—make it a goal for your photo shoot. Even if you feel uncomfortable, lean into uncomfortability! Tell jokes, silly stories, embarrassing moments; poke, tickle, or whisper silly words to each other since those are the things that cause a reaction. We all know kids tend to lean into forced smiles (“Say cheese!” > 🤓 > not natural and not always the smile we’re going for as parents)—but that’s ok! You have a professional with you for a reason, and they’ll help coax out genuine smiles and real emotion. The more you let go and laugh, the easier those natural smiles will look. 

Photo: Mariana in Tamarindo for Flytographer. Jen and family capture memories in Tamarindo with a family photoshoot on Tamarindo Beach.

10. Celebrate

Group photos are incredibly popular at the beach—and for good reason! 👍 Beaches are gorgeous meeting places for families and friends, in both small and large groups. Celebrate your gathering—whether it’s a reunion, birthday, anniversary, or other celebration—with a Flytographer photo shoot! 🎉 Take advantage of opportunities for multi-generational images, wall photos, photo books, travel souvenirs, and more. Coordinate with your loved ones, lose the shoes, and enjoy the sand and stunning scenery as you celebrate with your crew. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Hot tip! Planning a family gathering and photo shoot? Be sure to read our Best Travel Photo Shoot Tips with Outfit Ideas & Poses post.

Photo: Marie in Maui for Flytographer. Sabrina and family capture memories in Maui with a birthday photoshoot on Keawakapu Beach.

Beach pose success!

Beach photography is truly special and transports you to a special time, in a special place, whether you’re on a beach vacation or just lucky enough to live within proximity to a beach. ❣️ We hope these beach poses help inspire and encourage you to make the most of your next beach photo shoot and can’t wait to help capture your time near the shoreline. 📸 

For more beach photo shoot tips, we highly recommend this read—7 Tips to Have the Best Beach Photo Shoot. Want more info on posing? 👩‍💻 This post includes our top 15 Natural Vacation Photo Shoot Poses. 

See you soon! 👋