Working With Water In A Session
Whether you or your clients live along the East, West, or Emerald Coast, there are so many opportunities to incorporate water in your photoshoots! Oceans and lakes can be a great backdrop and interactive piece for your clients to enjoy in their next session. Here are 4 ways for photographers to make the most of working with water in a photoshoot.
1. Know How Water Effects Light
Although some settings make it relatively easy to capture good photos, water can significantly influence your photoshoot because of how it interacts with light. Depending on your session's time, your photos could appear extremely overexposed due to sunlight if the sun shines directly overhead. Avoid scheduling photoshoots around noon or when the sun is at its peak in the sky.
An excellent time for sessions is during the golden hour: the last hour before sunset or the first hour after sunrise. The golden hour offers photographers beautiful natural light that is softer and warm-toned. If you're unable to schedule a session during the golden hour, you can achieve similar effects by editing your photos in Lightroom.
2. Consider The Weather
Even though bodies of water are often gorgeous backdrops year-round, temperatures and weather conditions may be unforgiving for photographers and families. When scheduling a session, consider what the weather might be like during that time of year. For example, beaches along the Emerald Coast can be hot and humid most of the day in the summer - sometimes too hot for beach sessions! Depending on your destination's weather, pick a time of day when the temperature will be comfortable for all involved. Another option is to choose an activity for the session that helps with the temperature. Hot days are an awesome opportunity to catch families playing in the water!
In terms of forecasts, don't let a chance of clouds scare you. Clouds serve as an excellent element that helps frame your photos and showcase different qualities of your editing style. If there's a real potential for rain, embrace or prepare for it! Families can still have a fun and beautiful session in light rain, but pick a location with a covered area nearby in case a light sprinkle becomes a downpour. Ensure you check the forecast at least a day before your shoot so your clients have the option to reschedule.
3. Come Prepared
Whether your session is 2 feet or 20 feet from the shore, make sure you and your clients are ready for the water! In planning for the session, work with your clients and decide if they want to go in the water as part of their photoshoot. If they do, ensure they know to dress for the occasion and bring towels or a change of clothes. Shoes are best left in a dry spot at the start of a session, especially at the beach. Swimsuits are better for sessions where clients end up fully submerged, while cute and curated outfits are suitable for the water as long as it's shallow.
Photographers should bring the right gear needed to keep cameras and other equipment dry and free from water damage. Additionally, you should consider what you wear to the session. If your clients want to get in the water, you'll likely be in it, too! Avoid wearing shoes or clothes you don't want to get wet. The last thing you'd want is to capture a family's moments from afar because you can't get in the water with them.
4. Have Fun!
This tip isn't just for clients - photographers should have fun with water in their sessions, too! Whether you encourage your clients to get comfortable in the sand or play in the water, setting up shots with movement and fun can give photoshoots a unique feel you can sometimes miss from traditional staged photos. Regardless of your session's aesthetic, water can be a beautiful backdrop for stunning shots. Approach each session as an opportunity to create joy for your clients while building your confidence and skill as a photographer. If you want more hands-on experience, I offer one-on-one mentorships and online courses. Get in touch!
