Photo poses at the beach, and how to shoot them

Which beach poses work best?

Look for a simple action. Posepass's beach situation has 16 poses, including Shoreline walk, Wind in the hair, Toes in the water, Sit in the sand, Hold the hat, Sunset silhouette and Beach jump. Searches around beach photo ideas often mention family, men, girls and boys, and all of them work with the same basic actions.

How do I keep the horizon straight?

Water makes tilt obvious. Use a level, and put the horizon on the lower or upper third line instead of through the middle. The Posepass level turns green within 2 degrees.

See the rule of thirds guide for how to place it.

What phone height should the photographer use?

Start at waist or chest height. A low phone with the 0.5x lens makes a wide, dramatic shot, but check that feet and waves are not stretched. For a flatter, more even look, step back and use 2x.

Directions in the app give a height and a lens for each pose.

How do I deal with bright sun?

Strong midday sun makes harsh shadows on faces. Face away from the sun for a rim of light and shoot a silhouette at sunset, or find shade for a face shot. Posepass's directions include backlight, silhouette and shade cues.

Wipe the lens first. Sand and sunscreen leave smears that wash out the picture.

What about wind and water?

Wind in the hair is a pose of its own, so let it happen. Keep the phone away from splashes and wet hands. A timer helps for solo shots, so set the phone on a stable surface and walk past it. The camera offers 3 and 10 second timers.

How do I plan a beach day shoot?

Use a shot list. Beach day has six poses that tick off as you keep shots. Charge the phone, pick the time near sunrise or sunset if you can and send the first pose to your photographer. See shot lists.

What should we wear and bring?

Light fabrics move well in the wind, and solid colors stand out against sand and sea. A hat, a scarf or sunglasses can double as props in poses like Hold the hat. Bring a microfiber cloth for the lens and a zip bag to keep the phone safe from sand.

Check the weather and the tide before you go. Wet sand reflects light and makes feet look clean, and an incoming tide changes your background quickly.

How do I shoot a sunset silhouette?

Place the person against the brightest part of the sky, then tap the sky to expose for it, so the figure goes dark. Keep the pose simple and readable as an outline: arms out, a jump, a walk. Use the 1x lens and a steady hold.

Silhouettes hide faces, so they suit people who dislike being photographed. The outline in the Posepass camera shows where the shape will land.

How do I get a good group photo on the beach?

Space is your friend. Walk back until everyone fits with a little sand at the bottom and sky above. Put people in two rows if there are more than four. Ask the group to look at the same point, then at the photographer on three. Posepass's Two rows and Walk toward the camera poses are made for this.

How do I keep the sand and water out of the phone?

Do not hold the phone near splashing waves. Use a hand strap or lanyard if you have one. Rinse sand off your hands before touching the screen, and keep the phone in a bag between shots. These small habits matter more than any pose.

How do I pose with the horizon?

Stand so the horizon falls on a third line, not through your waist or neck. A walk along the shoreline makes a natural diagonal that leads the eye through the frame. Sitting in the sand lowers you, so the photographer should kneel to get the camera down to your level and keep the line of the sea straight.

Keep an eye on what comes out of your head: a pole, a sign or an umbrella can ruin a good pose. Take a step to the side before you shoot.

What if the beach is crowded?

Shoot early or late, when fewer people are around, or choose a tighter frame. A close pose such as Hold the hat or Wind in the hair needs less background. Use portrait orientation to hide the side crowd. If strangers walk through, wait for a gap and shoot a burst. It is a good use of patience.

What does one beach pose look like in detail?

Take Shoreline walk. The setup card calls for a low phone, the 0.5x lens and a head-to-toe frame. The three directions tell the photographer to turn the phone upside down with the lens near the ground, put the horizon on the lower line and shoot when the back foot lifts. Your cues are to walk slowly in small steps and to look down, then up slowly.

A very low phone with the wide lens exaggerates whatever is closest to it, so keep your feet inside the frame and a little away from the lens. Check the first shot before you do ten more.

When is the best light at the beach?

Shortly after sunrise and before sunset. Photographers call this the golden hour, the stretch of day when the light is warmer and gentler than at midday. Faces get soft light, the sea picks up color and shadows stop being harsh.

Check the sunset time in your weather app the day before, arrive early and do the slower poses first. Save silhouettes for last, when the sky behind the person is at its brightest.

How do I take a beach photo of myself?

Lean the phone on a bag or a pile of towels at waist height, start the 10 second timer and walk into the frame. The Solo with timer situation in Posepass has poses made for this, including Walk past the phone and Hat and timer. Set the timer first, then check where the horizon sits before you step away.

A phone at arm's length gives a selfie. For a full-length frame, a steady phone a few paces away does better.

Which mistakes ruin beach photos?

Most of them are quick to fix.

• Letting the sea line cut through the neck or waist. Put it on a third line.
• Shooting at noon with the sun in the face, which makes everyone squint.
• Keeping the 0.5x lens near the ground with feet at the frame edge, which stretches them.
• Posing still for each frame. Walk, laugh and let the photographer shoot a burst.
• Forgetting to scan the edges for strangers, signs and poles.

Which poses should I send my photographer first?

Beach day, one of the shot lists, holds Shoreline walk, Wind in the hair, Sit in the sand, Sunset silhouette, Beach jump and Walk into the view. Send the first one with Send to my photographer. The message carries the pose name, the three directions and a link.

Should I shoot portrait or landscape at the beach?

Portrait suits a full-length person, because it gives you sky above and sand below. Landscape suits a wide shoreline with two or more people spread along it. The Posepass camera is portrait only, which fits most single-person and couple poses. For a long, wide group scene, switch to the regular Camera app.

A quick checklist

Level horizon, waist or chest height, burst, clean lens, light behind or beside you, and a pose that involves action. For more on posing, read how to pose for photos.