Michael Broughton wrote:
will the sun be setting behind those cliffs?

http://goo.gl/maps/gULwY

looks like most of the little bays will have the sun setting near but not behind the cliffs, depending on the time of year. in the winter, the sun is more southerly, so it might be occluded on the westernmost "bay". The others seem to have good westward-facing beaches, so the sun shouldn't be hidden unless you're right up near the cliffs.

R Michael Walker wrote:
Get a permit. Laguna can be VERY snooty about photography on the beach. Other than that, speedlight of camera, remote trigger and an assistant to hold it. Make it 1 stop brighter than the back ground (Or more to suit your taste) to catch the golden sunset (Assuming you shoot into the sun). If the sun is over your shoulder, longest lens you have with a mono pod to steady it and shoot available light to catch the warm colors on the body. Makes everyone look tan. And don't WB on auto or it's gone. Use direct sun or cloudy if you want to enhance the warmth.

I should have said 'near' Laguna. This is outside the city limits, in a state park.

I will not have an assistant, that's the catch.

LA StarShooter wrote:
An assistant with a reflector is just awesome. I use WB on auto and in the twilight hours go to the auto balance that captures the warmer tones. Shooting raw with basic gives a lot of options for processing later. I think of outdoor shooting is a great test of the command of light and shadows. Beware the subjects turning into the shadows. Good luck.

I have no one to hold a reflector. I am worried about the dark shadows.

Mark wrote:
bring a nice warm blanket in case it gets chilly- shivering people are hard to shoot. maybe a mono pod or just a long rod to push into the sand to use as camera support for low shutter speed shots and  makes for smooth waves.  If no reflector bring a 2-3 foot sq piece of white card board as a bounce- you could always recruit a passerby as a temporary assistant to hold it.

also if you have a stool or small bench it might be fun to have them sit on it for the shot

youtube has some good clips on shoots like this from camera companies
good luck

Good idea for the monopod in the sand. I will be bringing one.

Sensual Magic  wrote:

I have no one to hold a reflector. I am worried about the dark shadows.

you cant ask on MM for some one to hold a reflector in exchange for you holding one for them some other time? or in exchange for learning how to do beach shots (or how not to do them, depending on how your shoot goes)?

seems there are always people looking for experience.

Sensual Magic  wrote:
I've got a gig Tuesday evening: an engaged couple's shoot, at this location in Laguna Beach, CA, at sunset:



Got any advice for shooting people on the beach at sunset? I will not have a reflector, but I will bring a speedlight.

Modifiers.  Directl light works, but isn't as flattering as if it is bounced from an umbrella.  Umbrellas outside because of wind (even very little wind) can be problematic if you can't properly secure the stand (assistants are great!!).  I like beauty dishes because it seems wind kind of flows through it.  Softboxes are similar to umbrellas in that they catch wind and will need be secured.

Expose for the background!!  Do this FIRST.  Once you have the camera settings you are happy with for that, THEN arrange and set the power of your lighting to properly illuminate your subject.





Single on camera Speedlight.  Maybe had a diffuser, don't remember.




Single OFF-camera speed light.  No mod except maybe a diffuser.




Single on camera Speedlight and a 2nd off-camera speedlight.




Single off-camera speedlight bounced from small umbrella



Alien Bee AB800 with beautydish.

Aaron Lewis Photography wrote:
Funny thing cause I'm gearing up to do a collaborative shoot in Aruba with a couple of MM models.

My approach, having shot tons of beach and sunsets without models will be to use the natural light as the key or kicker depending on the situation then fill with a reflector and use a speed light to throw some highlights or even as a primary fill or front light.

I think you're going to want a reflector out there. Do you have one? You obviously know how to use light, just treat the sun as a small unfiltered light source. Use it for what it's worth.

I'll tell you this, have your shit together, your time frame is very short and you'll loose light fast, be aware of the constantly diminishing light.

i think it'll be unlikely to expose the background and use a reflector during a sunset.  I could be wrong.  But I think he's going to need artificial lighting.  But it depends.

I made the assumption that the photos would have the sun in the background with my above samples.

Sensual Magic  wrote:

I should have said 'near' Laguna. This is outside the city limits, in a state park.

I will not have an assistant, that's the catch.

State beaches?  they have rangers.  They have little better to do than check for permits.  Be careful.

My preference are for beaches that are patrolled by local PD or sheriff.  They never bother me.

Christopher Hartman wrote:

i think it'll be unlikely to expose the background and use a reflector during a sunset.  I could be wrong.  But I think he's going to need artificial lighting.  But it depends.

I made the assumption that the photos would have the sun in the background with my above samples.

since this is the west coast I'm making the assumption that the OP would have to be hip deep in surf to have the sun behind him.

AVD AlphaDuctions wrote:

since this is the west coast I'm making the assumption that the OP would have to be hip deep in surf to have the sun behind him.

Um, the sun sets in the west last time I checked...

AVD AlphaDuctions wrote:
since this is the west coast I'm making the assumption that the OP would have to be hip deep in surf to have the sun behind him.

If all our beaches faces perfectly west...perhaps.

The beach I am usually at runs a little east/west so during the summer, the sun sets along coast rather than over the sea.

Plus...even a side light shot from the sun can work too.





but with both of these examples, a reflector could help a bit...I do not recall if either of these had one though.

EA Photographics wrote:

Um, the sun sets in the west last time I checked...

ummmm exactly. so the have the couple on the beach and the sun not behind them ...the photographer would have to be in the water.

GCobb Photography wrote:
I don't know if anyone covered this and it may or may not be the case for everyone.  But when I did some sunset pics, the sun would sink fast so you really had to have things close to being ready.

How right you are! In the sample pic above I only had about 15 seconds to get that sun right on the horizon before it set.

Christopher Hartman wrote:
State beaches?  they have rangers.  They have little better to do than check for permits.  Be careful.

My preference are for beaches that are patrolled by local PD or sheriff.  They never bother me.

It was off-season on a weekday. I pulled it off without attracting the attention of the authorities.

Christopher Hartman wrote:
Modifiers.  Directl light works, but isn't as flattering as if it is bounced from an umbrella.  Umbrellas outside because of wind (even very little wind) can be problematic if you can't properly secure the stand (assistants are great!!).  I like beauty dishes because it seems wind kind of flows through it.  Softboxes are similar to umbrellas in that they catch wind and will need be secured.

Expose for the background!!  Do this FIRST.  Once you have the camera settings you are happy with for that, THEN arrange and set the power of your lighting to properly illuminate your subject.





Single on camera Speedlight.  Maybe had a diffuser, don't remember.




Single OFF-camera speed light.  No mod except maybe a diffuser.




Single on camera Speedlight and a 2nd off-camera speedlight.




Single off-camera speedlight bounced from small umbrella



Alien Bee AB800 with beautydish.

Simply awesome, Christopher! My favorite is where you used two speedlights. Someday I will try these techniques. Thanks.

Sensual Magic  wrote:

I have no one to hold a reflector. I am worried about the dark shadows.

Skip the reflector and speedlight.....use the setting sun properly, you'll have no problem.

Small Fruit Pits wrote:

Skip the reflector and speedlight.....use the setting sun properly, you'll have no problem.

Nice, but a bit heavy on the orange for my taste. I was trying to avoid that. Here's one shot a f2.8 with a high speed fill-flash, as the sun was setting:

EA Photographics wrote:

Um, the sun sets in the west last time I checked...

You can have your back to the setting sun and still face the ocean at many places along the US West Coast.  Yeah, they places that are often just points of land, but certainly places a photographer may want to seek out.
id est:  Westside Road, Bodega Bay, CA
The coast line goes North and South, East and West, Northeast and Southwest, Northwest and Southeast.   Unless you are somewhere between the Tropic of Cancer an Capricorn (23.5 degrees latitude), the sun doesn't set in the West or rise in the East, the sun is always Southerly of due West or East in the Northern hemisphere, North of 23.5 degrees latitude.

Sensual Magic  wrote:

Nice, but a bit heavy on the orange for my taste. I was trying to avoid that. Here's one shot a f2.8 with a high speed fill-flash, as the sun was setting:

I like the tonality you achieved at f2.8. What I try and achieve when I shot at beaches is to show the glorious landscape. I would like to a few shorts in my portfolio to show you what I mean but. . . is this is so Hollywood I must leave to go to a premiere for a movie for a friend of mine. I hope your weekend is great.

afplcc wrote:
Four thoughts:

1.  Use a fill flash.

2.  Shoot the couple (properly exposed).  Then shoot or expose for the sunset.  And do some serious photoshop/HDR work.

3.  Bring a tripod and shoot at dusk after the sun has gone down.  The colors are even better then.

4.  Don't give up on the reflector.  You'll need a helper.  See if the couple can provide one.  Wear a white shirt (so for head shots and close-in YOU become the reflector).  Look for things like buildings, life guard stations, etc. that may be painted white that can serve as natural reflectors.  A banked sand dune can even provide some reflection.

Ed

I hope the shoot went well.  For this tip, #4 here, I look for these all the time.  You'll be surprised how many light-colored buildings you can find on beaches, if you look for them ahead of time.  Sunrise/sunset light changes so quickly, you have to have the place scouted really well ahead of time, and prepare your shots in your head so you don't waste time thinking about what to do next.