When you think of Los Angeles, chances are you will think of Santa Monica beach and palm trees, (along with the Hollywood sign of course). So if you want a LA vibe to your Maternity photos, a beach location might be just what you need. Venice beach is a great location for Maternity Sessions. It has the local Los Angeles beach vibe, but is much less crowded than Santa Monica beach. Venice even has its own pier, so it looks very similar to Santa Monica, with the added benefit of the more chill vibe that comes with less crowds. It is one of my favorite local beaches to do motherhood sessions at!
What look you will get with a beach session
When you choose the beach as your photo location, especially Venice beach, you will get a minimalistic vibe with lots of sand and ocean views. At certain angles you will also get some views of the Venice pier and the boardwalk with houses and buildings in the back. The iconic lifeguard towers are also part of this location, and you will be sure to see some of them in your photos.
But most of all your photos will be filled with sundrenched beach vibes, full of the glowy sunset lighting that will make your maternity photos seem even more dreamy, creamy and romantic.
What to wear to a beach session
I always recommend neutrals light tones for beach sessions, as they make the tones in your photos come out more light and creamy. If you wear dark tones at the beach with its harsh lighting, your photos tend to come out more on the contrasty side.
I always always try to get my clients to be barefoot for their beach photos. Wearing shoes at the beach doesn’t really make sense, and in my opinion it looks more organic being barefoot. You will most likely be walking along the shore, so I would say ‘expect getting your toes wet’.
As a photographer I always guide my clients in how to style that session. I am always just an email or text away when you need feedback on an outfit, or ideas of what your partner should wear that goes with your dress etc.
Things to bring to your beach session
The beach will get more chilly than anywhere else in the city. The closer it gets to sunset, the colder it gets – even in the summer months, but especially during winter. I recommend bringing a warm jacket or cosy blanket to wrap yourself in between photos if you get cold.
It’s also a great idea to bring a hairbrush or any hair styling products that you might need, as the wind typically grabs your hair a lot at the beach. I love when the wind pick up the hair in photos, but it’s always good to have it if you want to control your hair (or try to, hehe).
Speaking of cold weather, bringing a cute coat or a knitted sweater to wear over your chosen outfit can definitely be great for especially cold days.
Since you might (most likely) be getting wet during the session, it’s a great idea to bring a towel, and perhaps a change of clothes to change into before getting into the car. If you want to be extra prepared, bring a bottle of water to clean the sand off of your feet.
Parking
The parking situation depends on what day and time you are going to Venice. If you are doing your photoshoot during the summer, on a weekend – you will have a harder time finding easy parking. If you have your session on a weekday in February, it will be a breeze finding easy parking close by. Definitely plan on arriving early to have time to find a parking spot. There’s way better ways to start a photo session than stressing out about not finding anywhere to park.
Where to stop and eat after your session
If you’re anything like me and you love your Italian foods, consider stopping at C&O on your way back home. They have THE best garlic rolls that are guaranteed to butter up your soul. If you know of a better way to end a night at the beach than garlic rolls, please let me know because then I’m clearly missing out!
