Probably the Number One subject on a beach is people. People at rest. People at play. People swimming. People sunning. People sleeping.

The beach is a wonderful backdrop, filled with activity and distraction. To avoid distracting from your subject or subjects, keep your subject large and up front in your frame.

When you're photographing people on the beach, the biggest danger is squinting. Set up with the bright sun streaming into the face of your subject from over your shoulder.  Forgetting for the moment the problem this creates with dark shadows (which you open up with your fill flash), the biggest problem in direct sunlight is that your subject has to squint.  And most people don't look their best when squinting, and sun glasses hide their expression. 

How can you avoid this? Try moving your subject into the shade - for example, the shade of an umbrella. Perhaps, wait till a cloud obscures the direct sun.  Or turn your subject so that the sun is behind him or her, and use fill flash to light the face.  In other words, watch out for squinting and take steps to avoid it!  You can also try having them close their eyes, count to five and open them, you snap the shot on four.

Beach photography can be fun, but remember on a windy day take your camera out of the bag shoot your images and pack it away again, you want to avoid any sand that may blow on or in your camera.  Have fun this summer - Doug Burdick - Stan C. Reade Photo