Navarre, Florida | how to photograph a beach vacation

My kids have spent a week in Navarre every year of their lives.  It’s become a fixture in their memories, especially Kate’s, and they adore  every part of beach life.   The visibility was so great this year that the kids spent hours swimming and snorkeling around searching for shells, crabs and jellies.  The beach can be a dangerous place to take a camera, and yet beautiful photo opportunities abound.  Over the years, I’ve found the best solution for me.  I choose one afternoon or morning in the middle of the week to brave the elements.  I know this means I’m missing moments on the other days, but it allows me to enjoy the vacation as a participant rather than an observer. I focus for 30-45 minutes on just taking photos, and then I put the camera safely away.  I always come away with more than enough images to tell the story of our beach days.  Then we try to spend a few minutes one evening doing family beach portraits.  This year that included 13 of us – my parents, my three siblings and their spouses.  It’s a crazy, fun bunch.

Don’t let the location or the task of capturing a family vacation overwhelm you.  You don’t have to freeze every moment to remember the beautiful ones.