We are Charleston family photographers who often photograph families on Isle of Palms.
There are lots of reasons to love doing family photos on Isle of Palms. For one, it’s a big, wide beach that gives you plenty of room to roam, even at high tide. Another reason is the ease of parking. It’s easy to park at our clients’ vacation rentals (which tend to be close to the beach) or in one of the many public spots that span the length of the beach.
The one drawback of Isle of Palms as a photo location is that the sun sets behind the houses, not over the ocean. So to get that pretty, golden back-light, we’ll have to pose you in front of houses rather than in front of the ocean. However, as you can see in the photos below, that’s definitely not a deal-breaker! Besides, some of the most beautiful family photos we’ve ever made were made at Isle of Palms.
Sunrise Family Sessions on Isle of Palms
However, you can always opt for a sunrise session, which you can see in some of the photos below. We are early risers, so we love greeting the day with you on the beach. Furthermore, you’ll have the beach nearly all to yourselves. Most people don’t make it out till around 9 a.m. at the earliest. We’ll be starting sunrise photos with you around 6 a.m. in the summer, and 7 a.m. in the fall and winter. The sun will rise over the ocean, giving you all the pretty colors and the warm golden light behind you.
Afternoon Family Sessions on Isle of Palms
Afternoon and evening family sessions are just as beautiful on Isle of Palms. The majority of our family sessions here are in the early evening. We love the crisp golden light about an hour before sunset. Furthermore, when the tide’s going out, you can often get creative reflections on the wet sand.
What to Expect for your Isle of Palms Family Photos
If you’re staying in a house or condo close to the beach, or at Wild Dunes, we might ask to meet you there so we can do a few photos at the house before heading to the beach. If it’s a windy day, you’ll appreciate getting a batch of photos completed while everyone’s hair is still staying put. Plus, it’s nice to have photos with your house in the background, as the rental house itself will become a big part of your vacation memories. In addition, having photos with backlit trees in the background will give variety to your “beach photos” so they don’t all have the same look.
The best part of your family photos on Isle of Palms is getting to spend uninterrupted time with your family. That’s the whole reason you went on this vacation, right? These photos will focus on your love for one another, and show how much you love being with each other. Our family photo sessions are fun, energetic, and easy. And we can’t necessarily guarantee that someone won’t end up in the ocean at the end. In addition to post-photo popsicles, that’s one of the best rewards you can promise the kids!
Looking for other ideas for your Charleston family photos? Check out our other favorite Charleston family photo locations!