Outdoor Editorial Lifestyle Venice Beach Photoshoot with Alex Cojocaru
Back in February, I did a lifestyle/editorial photoshoot with actor and model Alex Cojocaru. While Venice Beach is definitely one of the more popular spots in Los Angeles, this was only the second time that I did a lifestyle portrait session in the area, and the first time doing it in the evening.
I’ve recently become more interested in taking a relaxed and slightly moody approach with my lifestyle photoshoots featuring models. Despite the hectic scene that you might commonly associate with Venice Beach, it was quiet Monday evening at the beach.
One of the biggest reasons why I aimed for Venice Beach rather than Santa Monica (where I commonly do portraits) is because of the small rock formations that are near the Pier. One of the biggest obstacles in this photoshoot was the weather. It was a clear day, which meant there weren’t going to be any clouds to diffuse the harsh sunlight on the model’s face.
Alex was professional in being able to work around the weather with different poses throughout the shoot so we could capture a variety of different images.
In the beginning of the photoshoot, we started under the Venice Beach Pier. Because the sunlight was still strong, I wanted to start off the photoshoot in an area where there would be enough shade to get even lighting on Alex’s face.
The beams underneath the Pier also helped to provide a few different posing options for Alex.
Whenever I plan for a photoshoot (that I estimate to be at least 2 hours), I always try to come much earlier before sunset. That way both the model and myself can have time to get into the flow of the shoot and be fully prepared for when golden hour (and sometimes blue hour) starts.
When it comes to editorial shoots, I try to stay away from overexaggerated poses and like to incorporate movement whenever I can. I had Alex do basic poses on the beams of the Pier and walking shots to get some movement.
I prefer to capture the in-between moments that look less staged and more like a still taken from a video.
As the sun set, we moved over to the rocks where I could get some images of Alex sitting down. This was definitely my favorite location to shoot in because the rocks add something a bit more interesting to the composition, rather than just the sand and water.
We walked around the beach for a little bit before returning back to the rocks for golden hour and for a bit of blue hour. The sun went down incredibly quickly, but I was still fortunate to get some nice shots of Alex during this time.
Looking for an outdoor editorial photographer based in Los Angeles? I’d love to learn more about your project and see if we’re a good fit! I enjoy capturing brands and models in beautiful locations around Los Angeles and creating authentic moments.
You can learn more about me here and I invite you to book a call with me where I can learn more about your project!
