15 Surprisingly Easy Tricks for Taking Candid Beach Photos | Oceanfront Family Photography
Getting ready for a Oceanfront Virginia beach trip?
If you’re anything like me, you’re already thinking about all the memories you want to hang onto.
The little things.
The funny things.
The moments that feel like your family.
But you don’t have time for anything fancy. You’ve got kids to chase and snacks to pack!
That’s why I pulled together a few of my favorite beach photo ideas and tricks for getting great pictures with your phone.
These are fun and easy ways to get quality, pro looking photos from your trip!
First, let’s talk about phone photography tricks you’ll need to know to get the best photos.
You don’t need pro gear for gorgeous beach pics, you can make your phone work with these ideas:
1. Clean your phone’s lens. I know I say it a lot, but it’s that important! Your shirt will do the trick if you’re in a pinch.
2. Tap to focus and slide to expose. If your kid’s face looks shadowed or too bright, just drag your finger up or down to tweak the light—it makes your photos pop without filters.
3. Use burst mode for anything in motion—jumping waves, kite flying, or a game of tag down the shoreline. You’ll get a whole series and can pick your favorite!
4. Another trick: flip your phone upside down and shoot low to the ground. You'll capture their beach world from their level, which feels more immersive and cinematic.
These small tweaks add major heart to your beach memories!
Creative Beach Photo Ideas
We’ve all done the toes-in-the-sand shot (cute, but overdone). This summer, let’s switch it up with ideas that are fun, super simple, and actually feel special.
Try a reflection shot using tide pools or that stretch of wet sand right after a wave pulls back. Just crouch low, flip your phone, and snap their reflection like a beachy mirror.
Or get playful with a “holding the sun” photo. Have your kid pinch their fingers together or hold their hands open during golden hour—instant magic and they’ll love helping pose it.
Bury them to their neck in sand and shoot straight down
Snap a close-up of tiny hands full of shells or rocks, especially if they’re still dripping wet.
And don’t forget the run-and-jump shot! Stand back and catch them mid-air leaping waves, hair flying, pure joy (Use burst mode)
Getting the Real, Not Posed, Moments
Posed beach photos rarely go as planned (especially with the little ones) And honestly, most of the time, you’ll want to remember the unposed stuff anyway!
Focus on the in-between moments—like your toddler wrapped in a towel, shivering and snuggly after the waves. No smiles needed, just real!
Pro tip: vary your angles of the same shot. Go close, medium, then far. Shoot from above, eyelevel, then low to the ground.
Snap a quick shot while your kiddo is laughing with their head thrown back, or that moment where they get hit with a wave and look shocked and thrilled all at once.
Zoom in on sticky, sandy fingers clutching a juice box, or their face half-covered in a drippy popsicle—these are the kinds of moments that make you smile forever.
Try a few shots from behind—your partner holding your child’s hand, the kids walking toward the water, little footprints in the sand that end in giggles.
And every once in a while, hand off your phone and get in the photo too. You belong in these memories, mama.
One of my favorite hacks is to set up a phone tripod and record some video of you and the kids building a sandcastle or jumping into waves. Then screenshot your favorite moments from the video! The quality isn’t something you’re going to be able to print as a 20x30 canvas but it’ll be good enough for small prints and definitely good for your digital photo collection!
Now you’ve got everything you need to take beach photos that actually look like your family!
Remember the tricks to make your phone work well & have fun!
You don’t have to overthink it. Just look for the little things.
What matters most is that you capture the feeling of the day. That’s what makes your photos special!
