6 Tips for your Central Florida Beach Engagement

You’ve got the ring and now it’s time to hit the beach to take those amazing beach engagement photographs that you have been dreaming about.

It doesn’t matter if you are already a Central Floridian or visiting from out of town there are several things to consider when planning for a beach engagement session. The Beach automatically creates a relaxed, playful vibe for the perfect engagement session. I love celebrating with you at the beach! And don’t worry! We will discuss all these items prior to your shoot!

TIDES

I always make sure to check the tides at our location ahead of time, especially if our session is on one of the narrower Central Florida beaches. Low tide is ideal. It opens up the beach and gives us room to move and shallow water to splash in! If you hear me yelling that means run! A wave is coming! The tides are particularly important if you are planning on having a beach wedding ceremony. A high tide, coupled with a full moon and some wind could possibly push you and your guests into the dunes!

Wind and Weather

I think at times when people think of the beach we think of gentle breezes and water lapping at the shore. However, let me tell you…our wind can kick it into high gear! I encourage my couples to embrace the wind and go with it! However, there can be times when it is just too much. A north wind blowing at 30 isn’t going to be fun for anyone. Remember there will always be a little wind. Your hair is not going to stay perfc

Sunrise or Sunset

Couples have two equally appealing options for your beach engagement session.  Here on the east coast of Florida we have amazing sunrises (except for the getting up early part), especially if we have a bit of cloud cover.  The beach tends to be less crowded and feels more intimate. It does get bright quickly so be prepared!  Most couples do choose sunset time for their session. It gives you more time to prepare and you get to sleep in. Even though the sunset is in the West our Central Florida skies often turn gorgeous shades of pink. As with any outdoor session we just can’t guarantee the weather. What we can do is make the best out of any condition.

Consider what you are going to wear

First and foremost you want to be comfortable. Don’t be matchy matchy and But also kick it up a notch. Remember that there will be some wind and water. I love to encourage my couples to wear color at the beach. It adds that extra pop that I adore. Long Flowy dresses…sigh. Love them!

Not all Beaches are considered Equal

All of our Central Florida Beaches are beautiful (I’m not biased at all!) but not all Beaches are Considered Equal (for photography). This is especially true of our beaches here on the Central East Coast of Florida. Melbourne Beach, while quiet and undeveloped is actually pretty narrow (especially at high tide). However, moving north toward Cocoa Beach and Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral you will find much wider beaches. Jetty Park is super wide but a little more crowded! Each has advantages. I love the wide beach at Jetty Park, especially at low tide.

If you are more of a private couple then you might want to consider heading down to south Melbourne Beach where it is less populated and a little more secluded. In addition, some beach locations offer lush dunes and some don’t have any (thank you Hurricane Irma-uh).

Be prepared to get Wet! Why? Because it’s fun!

If you hadn’t guessed already.. your sessions is going to be fun!  I encourage all forms of silliness and shenanigans!  I will absolutely ask you to meander close the water’s edge, secretly hoping that a wave crashes on you! Honestly…these are my most favorite images.

Consider bringing a change of clothes if you are planning a romantic dinner afterward.Check out more of this amazing engagement session here!