It had been awhile since I had a sunset family beach portrait session on Madeira Beach, so it was good to meet Paula and family there recently, although once facing the Gulf of Mexico, pretty much every beach on the Pinellas peninsula looks the same! The family-in-a-row was a new style photograph for me. I am always looking for new ways to photograph families on the beach and adding as much variety to a family's set of shots as possible. I like this in-a-row composition and will definitely be adding it to my already existing set of shots.
All three sisters stacked themselves up and were bookended by their parents. I encourage families to physically interact as much as possible to add a natural and fun look to shots. The more you come into physical contact, the better the results is typically how it goes. Just standing stiffly side-by-side is something I try to avoid at all costs.
I wonder if in 20 years these sisters will remember what they were laughing about in this moment. I hope they can. That is the potential power of a still photograph.
For me personally (and as a photographer), I prefer there to be some clouds along the horizon and in the sky in general for sunset portraits.
I think these three sisters jumped the highest I have ever seen for a jumping photograph of this nature. Madeira Beach and mother nature provided a very nice backdrop for this family beach sunset portrait session.