Many people love to go on holiday to the seaside, where there are vast oceans, crashing waves, uniquely shaped rocks, and visitors in brightly colored swimsuits. On the blue waters and sandy shores, people sit, lie down, challenge the waves in the sea, or run and play on the sand. These all make excellent subjects for photography.

   Beach portrait photography mainly involves taking photos of people in swimsuits. In such shots, the person is the main subject, while the surrounding scenery and water serve as supporting elements. A good swimsuit portrait not only showcases the curves of the human body but also highlights the texture of skin tones—such as the graceful curves of a woman’s figure or the strong, handsome build of a man. Swimsuit photos often feature half-body or full-body shots. When shooting, avoid stiff poses; instead, capture sitting, standing, twisting, lying on one’s side, or lying on one’s back. Also pay attention to the beach environment—like umbrellas, groups of swimmers, drifting clouds, and shimmering water. But always keep the person as the focal point, with everything else serving as a backdrop.

   If you want to photograph children playing in the water, it’s best to take a series of shots. For example, children playing with sand at the beach. First, shoot from a distance the seawater, sand, and kids before they start building. Then get close-up shots of them playing in the sand and splashing water. Finally, take mid-range shots of the completed sandcastle and the children’s satisfied expressions. Such a series of images carries even more sentimental value. When photographing seascapes, aim to highlight the distinctive features of the beach. Rocks can introduce curves to the composition, while rising mist, splashing waves, and flying seagulls make the image more vivid and engaging. Lighting is also crucial. Backlighting can capture dynamic waves and light flares, while side lighting better showcases the layers of the water. Shutter speed matters too—a speed of 1/125 second can freeze splashing waves, whereas 1/30 second will create a blurred but motion-filled effect.

   For beach photography, exposure is another key consideration. The beach area is expansive, the sunlight is intense, and the water reflects a great deal of light. To photograph the beach effectively, you should reduce the exposure slightly—generally by 1–2 stops compared to shooting in open fields. For example, if normal photography uses an aperture of F11 and a shutter speed of 1/125 second, then at the beach, you can use an aperture of F16 and a shutter speed of 1/125 second. Overexposure will turn the water in your photos into a featureless white expanse, making it impossible to distinguish different layers of the water.