An Evening of Lifestyle Photography Part 2 | Santa Monica Beach
This summer, I worked with model Payton Sauve for a lifestyle beach portrait session at Santa Monica. For this photoshoot, I wanted to achieve a fitness look and a more casual dress look for the beach. During the summer, the beach in Santa Monica gets incredibly busy with people vacationing. We had to spend some time walking to a more isolated spot away from the distractions.
As a photographer who shoots in natural light without any additional lighting equipment, one of the most challenging things about photographing portraits at the beach is that the model is going to be backlit since the sun sets over the ocean. While the beaches can sometimes get cloudier compared to Central Los Angeles, our shoot was a clear blue sky. Great weather to be in, but not necessarily the best conditions for a portrait shoot in my opinion.
We ended up shooting from a variety of different angles and spots: in front of the ocean, facing the ocean, walking along the coast to get a more dramatic side light, and even behind a lifeguard tower to get even lighting.
While the photoshoot didn’t go into blue hour, I was still happy with the results I achieved from the shoot.
For anyone who plans on taking portraits on the beach in Santa Monica, you might have an easier time photographing on a weekday during an off-season to avoid crowds. For the most part, you’ll only find even lighting in the shade behind the lifeguard tower.
All photographs were edited in Adobe Lightroom.
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/320 sec. | f/4.0 | ISO 100
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/640 sec. | f/5.0 | ISO 100
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/640 sec. | f/2.8 | ISO 100
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/640 sec. | f/2.8 | ISO 100
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/500 sec. | f/4.5 | ISO 100
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/500 sec. | f/4.5 | ISO 100
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/320 sec. | f/3.5 | ISO 100
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/320 sec. | f/2.8 | ISO 125
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/500 sec. | f/2.5 | ISO 125
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/500 sec. | f/1.8 | ISO 120
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/400 sec. | f/4.5 | ISO 125
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/400 sec. | f/2.8 | ISO 125
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/400 sec. | f/3.2 | ISO 125
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/400 sec. | f/2.8 | ISO 125
Sony A7R III | Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART | 1/400 sec. | f/4.5 | ISO 125