Sea Island Beach Family Session

One of the biggest perks about living in Athens, Georgia, is how many great places we have nearby for photoshoots! I am an easy drive away from both Tybee Island, Sea Island, Savannah, and everywhere in between. I just love shooting this sweet family for their Sea Island Family Session! The parents wanted to be able to really capture the kids being, well, kids. You can see an earlier session, with this awesome family, here!

Often times, clients think that family sessions have to feel “stuffy” and be indoors. But that is definitely not the case. I think that when you get your pictures taken, it should be focused on feeling relaxed, and playful. Especially when it comes to young kids! This is one of the reasons I just love Sea Island for family sessions. And you don’t have to just stick to the beach. Downtown St. Simons is a short drive away and has gorgeous historic buildings and great portrait spots.

Beach Family Session Tips for Small Kids

When capturing smaller kids at a family session, I have a few tips for parents!

Have them wear outfits that can get a little dirty. The beach is not really the place for formal wear – so put them in outfits that you are okay might get wet, and sandy! To coordinate, this mom put all three kids in white and soft blue, and they all matched, but they were still comfortable.

Schedule their session based on their routine. Make sure to plan the session at a time that works best with the kid’s schedule. If the kiddos are super well behaved after a nap, schedule a nap before the session. I know that kids can get tired quickly, so I make sure the shoots don’t take all day! All we need is 30 minutes to get some cute pictures.

Let the children play – and have fun! The best pictures happen hen the kids can just be themselves and have fun exploring. For some kids, this might mean just sitting and hanging out, and for others, it might mean digging in the sand and building sandcastles.

The Play Collection

I recently added a new portrait package, called The Play Collection! This specialized session is aimed at documenting children in the most genuine way possible – at play! This laid back session is focused on just letting your kids be kids, in their element. All the worry about behavior and clothing are left at the door – and instead, we embrace the rough and tumble, the laughter and play. We let our imaginations go wild! If you are interested in a family shoot that is focused on fun – reach out! I would love to capture these images that you are going to cherish in your home for generations to come.