Ventura County Beach Family Photos: 4 tips for planning your session

There’s a reason I’m asked regularly about Ventura County beach family photos. We live somewhere with beautiful weather and a coastline that adds exceptional beauty to all portrait sessions.

When planning your family session at the beach, there are some factors to keep in mind, especially if your photos will be when you’re on vacation in Ventura County and unfamiliar with the area. If you’re planning a family photo session at the beach, these tips will help you prepare for a smooth experience and beautiful images.

Planning Beach Family Photos in Ventura County

Below is a list of factors to keep in mind when you choose for your portrait session to take place at the beach. Most of the families I photograph live locally, but occasionally I take photos for vacationers, so if you fall into that category, this list will be especially helpful.

Ventura County Beaches experience “May Gray” and “June Gloom”

Although Southern California is known for its perpetual sun, there actually is a time of year when the skies become more gray thanks to a marine layer that rolls in. For families planning Ventura County beach family photos, it’s important to keep in mind how dramatically the weather can change near the coast during late spring and early summer (often called “May Gray” and “June Gloom”).

Even on warm inland days in places like Camarillo or Thousand Oaks, the beach may be:

• cloudy
• windy
• foggy
• 10-15 degrees cooler

That doesn’t mean you should avoid beach sessions during these months. Some of the dreamiest, softest light happens during overcast evenings, but it is something to consider if it’s not the look you’re wanting, and it does affect how you should plan your outfits. Layers are always a good idea, and bringing a blanket along can keep kids warm and cozy when needed.

Another perk of beach photos in late April and early to mid-May is that some beaches actually have wildflowers that grow on the beach. It’s absolutely beautiful and results in gorgeous photos.

Wind is usually part of the experience, so plan accordingly

Wind is one of the most overlooked parts of planning Ventura County beach family photos.

Some evenings are calm and magical. Others? Very windy. If you’re a family that is planning vacation photos with me and you want those photos to be on the beach, we always plan the day we want photos to be taken and a backup day when your family will still be here to give us options as the date approaches and we learn more about how windy it’ll be.

As long as the wind isn’t completely crazy (think: Santa Ana winds), the best approach is to just embrace it.

Wind can actually add movement and emotion to photos when families aren’t stressed about keeping everything “perfect.”

One of the reasons beach sessions photograph so beautifully is because they feel alive and unposed, and when we embrace the breeze, it adds to the candid and laid back nature of beach photos.

Not all beaches look the same

Another important thing to know before scheduling Ventura County beach family photos: beaches here vary a lot. Some beaches have wide, sandy shorelines, dunes, and more open walking areas, which are great for families with younger children.

Others are rockier and have pebbles, driftwood, and uneven shorelines. Oftentimes, the rocky beaches require photos to be taken during low tide. This is the tide chart I check to ensure we don’t show up to our session and realize there’s no beach to stand on.

I can help you choose the beach that best fits your family’s lifestyle and preferences.

Expect your session time to last past sunset

The dreamy glow people associate with beach family photos usually happens during the final 45 minutes before sunset and 15 minutes after. Beaches are wide open, so if we are shooting in full sun, the look will be very different if we try to take photos any earlier than that.

The glow of light that still surrounds the beach after the sun has dipped below the horizon is so gorgeous. I love that last 10-15 minutes of light because by that point, everyone has warmed up to having their photos taken and the sky is usually an amazing color.

This timing gives us softer skin tones, less harsh shadows, and flattering light.

Ready for some family beach photos?

If you’re considering a beach session, the best thing you can do is choose a photographer who understands the unique rhythms of the Ventura County coastline (that’s me). The changing weather patterns, lighting conditions, and beach accessibility are all factors that play into your family having a successful photo session on the beach.

With the right planning, Ventura County beaches create an incredibly beautiful backdrop for timeless family photographs that feel natural, emotional, and full of life.

Planning Your Ventura County Beach Family Photos

Erica Hurlburt is an award winning Ventura County Photographer who specializes in newborn, family and school photography. Her style tends toward cleaner, classic images, both in how they’re composed and edited. Her goal in every session is to keep things relaxed and fun and to create images that are both meaningful and unique.

Erica serves clients in Camarillo, Ventura County, Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, Westlake,
Malibu, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ojai and beyond.