I don't know how many of you are like me.. but I literally hibernate in the winter. I don't feel like going outside - even to check the mail. But as soon as the glimpse of warmth starts to head my way, I get over eager to do something outdoors. Today is one of those days.. it is sunny and 65! I can not wait to fish, swim, kayak, snorkel, and ski!!!

Since the weather is starting to warm up we have started to receive calls regarding family beach portraits. The peak season is summer: late May to Labor Day. When is the best time to book? NOW!!! Most of the photographers who are easy to find online will be booked up before your vacation date. I would book as soon as possible in order to secure your date. Here are a few additional things to consider when booking:

Please don't be the clients who want to "be there a few days to get a tan first". Chances are, you'll end up bright red and miserable. Sunburn is very hard to hide naturally in photographs and most photographers will charge you extra for the editing. Please please please wear sunscreen. I promise you will be much happier and will end the week with a nice, healthy glow instead of being at an additional risk for skin cancer! 

In addition to the possibility of being sunburned the weather could decide not to cooperate. I ask all of my clients to choose the earlier date out of my available dates. That way, assuming I don't book up completely, we have some flexibility if the weather is bad. Having an extra day to fall back on is so valuable that sometimes I intentionally leave a day open to help out my clients. 

I basically offer my clients two options, sunrise or sunset. If you want the best lighting in your photos, it happens within an hour of sunrise or an hour of sunset. Not ideal timing most of the time but to get the best possible images, these are the best times. The beach lighting is especially difficult because there is nothing to block the sun - no trees etc.. take my advice and aim for that session about an hour before sunset. If you aren't having photographs on the beach, there is a little flexibility in those times. Parks are nice because they provide cover to the sun (trees, buildings, etc) and that creates nice light throughout the day. Also, if it is overcast some people think that produces boring images but with the right gear an overcast day is one of the best to shoot on! 

Most of the time I get really lucky and have clients who have strategically planned out their outfits for the photo shoot. Beiges and muted blues were really popular last summer. I would go ahead and start thinking of what your family can wear now! Look at other photographers sites to get ideas and plan it all the way down to the jewelry. Most of the time I ask my clients to stick to a color palette and NOT to wear neon colors or reds. White sand = reflects colors on to your face! If you have questions about what to wear, I am happy to help and I am sure other photographers are as well! We want you to look your best! 

If you are bringing little ones to a photo session, I would work extra hard to make sure they were at their happiest for the photographs. Plan the day so they get an ample nap - and are well rested for the pictures. Everyone will be in a better place if the children aren't miserable! 

I can't emphasize this enough. Please plan for wind. At least have a backup plan (bobby pin, braid, etc) if you decide to wear your hair down. The photographer will do his/her best to position you facing in to the wind.. but it's still going to be windy. Just know, its going to be windy... and plan for it.

 Thanks for reading. Be sure to book your family beach portraits as soon as possible in order to secure a date when you are going to be vacationing at the beach! I travel from Destin, Florida to Panama City Beach and schedule sessions most days of the week. Click the link to view my Family Beach Portrait Packages. To contact me regarding availability, call or text (850) 307-8402 or email me! 

Rosemary Beach is one of my favorite locations for lifestyle portrait sessions. We typically walk around the main street in Rosemary and stop at any and all photogenic locations. Everywhere you turn there is gorgeous architecture, landscaping, and shrubbery. We decided to go with the bo-ho theme for Sydney and Jeffrey's engagement portraits and I am so glad we did. She is so beautiful and these are some of my favorite engagement photos to date. I love shooting on the beach but I also love walking around finding hidden photography spots. Take a look and hopefully you love these as much as we do! 

Thanks for visiting! Click the link for more info on my Engagement portraits. To contact me directly, call or text (850) 307-8402 or email me! 

This was such a fun photo session. We were terrified because the weather is moody this time of year and we already had to reschedule once. We decided to brave it and I am glad we did. They were staying in a private residence near Seaside, Florida in a VRBO home and it was gorgeous! Private beach access.... pool... too many amenities to list! There were the grands and three additional families represented for a total of 14 people. They booked my multi family package and were able to split the costs! Hope you enjoy these! Special thanks to Sydney Bodden, my assistant for singing "Let it Go" about 88 times during the hour and a half session! ;)

To learn more about my photography career, visit the about me page. To book a session or for more information regarding my packages, click here... or text me anytime at (850) 307-8402.

Chase and Jennifer were staying at Sandpiper Cove in Destin. They opted for a sunrise session and boy were we lucky. It rained on me on the way - and for the first 15 minutes of the session. We waited it out and it turned out to be an absolutely gorgeous morning with no one on the beach! They booked my hour long couples portrait session. 

For more info on my family beach portraits, click here. To contact me, Rachel Lauen (aka Photographer) call or text me at (850) 307-8402.

Thanks for looking! 

​-Rachel

By: Rachel Lauen, Owner Ultimate Production Company

Every photographer has those angels singing "ahhhh" moments when the light is perfect. This was one of those days. The Ray family booked my multi-family package. We drove to the house they rented in Laguna Beach (just outside of PCB) and walked to the beach access. I couldn't have asked for better light or a more photogenic family. The children were so well behaved! Chris came as a second shooter so the session didn't last quite as long and I enjoyed having him with me. He's the one who taught me everything I know anyway! 

I loved that there was some cloud cover (we thought it was going to rain). Also, this was my second photo session with my new Sigma ART lens and I am in LOVE. For those of you who love sharp images, this is your lens!! 

Chris is exceptional with candid shots like the one below.. He can just patiently watch until it is the perfect moment for a fun photo! 

The Multi-Family package is good up to 12 people but if you have a large group, give us a call and we will work out a custom quote for you! 

 I typically shoot in the Destin, 30A, or Panama City Beach area. To book a session now, call or text me at (850) 307-8402.

As a photographer in Panama City Beach I have spent many years learning these lessons. I love shooting family beach portraits but it also has its challenges. Hopefully these 11 tips will help you as they have helped me. Enjoy! 

1. Bring some bribery.

            If you photograph families often, you know that entertaining the kiddos is one of the hardest parts of our jobs. I always have a few things handy in my camera bag ready for my assistant to grab at a seconds notice:

            A. Seashells – These are a great souvenir from their beach trip and provide you with some leverage for the children. They also aren’t an eye sore for photos if you can’t convince the child to put it down.

            B. Dollar Bills – I know it sounds ridiculous. To me, in order to make a child happy, I will offer up a dollar…and sometimes it’s just what we needed.

            C. Noisemakers – Whether it be a horn, shaker, or dog squeaky toy, a noisemaker is essential to grab the attention of the little ones.

5. Schedule sessions within two hours of sunrise or sunset. 

            Every professional photographer knows how important lighting is for a photo session. I try to schedule my hour sessions from an hour to an hour and a half before sunset. This gives me the best light of the day and ends with (hopefully) a nice colored, romantic sunset. Keep in mind, if sunset is at 7:34 pm today then it will not be black outside until nearly 8:00 pm. The importance of a camera that can handle low light and a fast lens comes into play as it gets darker outside.  A great option for a full frame camera that is affordable and does great in low light is the Canon 6D. It sells for $1399 and has features such as wifi and GPS which I will discuss in point 9.

6. Create a demand for your style. 

            Something I have struggled with is being booked because I am being found and not necessarily because I have something unique to offer. I thrive in creative environments and strive to give every customer a dose (even if its small) of my style. I love taking lifestyle photographs in the midst of Rosemary Beach and then hitting the beach right at the end of the session. Be unique and capitalize on “you”. Some photographers use a specific filter or edit a certain way so they are known for that look. In order to be a successful photographer you have to create a brand. Once you know who you want to be, it will be much easier to become that person.