Natural Light Photography at the Beach: 6 Simple Tips

Beach photography can be a lot of fun, especially when you know how to make the most of natural light. The good news? You don’t need tons of fancy gear to capture great shots. These tips have worked for me, and I hope they’ll work for you too.

1. Choose the Right Time of Day

Shooting in the middle of the day can be tough. The sun is too high and the light too harsh, leading to strong shadows and overexposed areas. That’s why I prefer shooting in the late afternoon. The light is softer and more flattering, which makes your photos look more natural.

But if you really want to level up, aim for golden hour—that beautiful time just after sunrise or before sunset when the light is warm and soft. On a recent shoot, we only had two minutes of sunlight before clouds rolled in, but those two minutes were enough to create some amazing shots because the light was just right.

If you’re looking for great locations to capture these moments, check out my guide to Instagram-worthy locations in Da Nang. There’s no better places to experiment with golden hour lighting!

2. Embrace Cloudy Days

Don’t worry if the weather isn’t perfect. Cloudy skies can actually work in your favor. When the sky is overcast, the clouds act like a giant softbox, softening the light and reducing harsh shadows. This creates a beautifully even light that’s perfect for portraits. Plus, it can add a dramatic mood to your shots that you wouldn’t get on a sunny day.

3. Light Your Subject from the Front or Side

Backlighting, where the sun is behind your subject, can create a glowing, cinematic effect, but it doesn’t always work. I’ve found that front or side lighting is a better option for beach photography. It helps your subject blend into the scene more naturally and produces a softer, more balanced look overall. This kind of lighting is also much easier on the eyes and avoids overpowering the subject.

4. Underexpose to Save Your Highlights

One trick I always use is to slightly underexpose my shots. This helps keep the bright areas, like the sky or the water, from being completely blown out. Underexposing gives you more detail in the highlights and makes editing easier later on. You can always brighten your photo in post-production, but it’s hard to recover lost details in overexposed areas.

5. Keep the Horizon Straight

It sounds simple, but keeping your horizon level is key. A crooked horizon can distract from an otherwise great photo, so always take a moment to line it up. Whether you place the horizon at the top or bottom third of your frame, it adds balance and professionalism to your composition.

6. Choose the Right Lens

While any camera can work at the beach, your lens choice really matters. I’m a big fan of the 35mm 1.4 lens for beach portraits. It’s wide enough to capture both the subject and the scenery, without distorting the image. It’s my go-to lens for beach shoots because it offers the perfect balance between the model and the background.


I hope these tips help you improve your beach photography! Give them a try, and let me know what works for you.

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