The beach is truly the perfect place for carefree, fun family photos. And if the subjects have endless energy, then it’s all the better! This family really fit the bill — this sweet little two-year-old had boundless energy and a need for lots of movement. We did this family photo session in Ocean City, NJ at sunset in the summer. The sky was clear, the colors were soft, and the weather was lovely.
I originally met this family when their little guy was nearly a year old. We got some beautiful fall portraits of the trio then. And these beach photos are a great addition to their family memories.
GETTING THE RIGHT POSES
With this spirited toddler, it took all the fancy tricks I had to get him in the shots with mom and dad. Luckily, the parents were great sports and showed up ready for action. They followed their little guy around, letting him explore. And when the moments were right, they joined in with great big smiles for some amazing photos.
Toddler poses are all about motion and movement. Most young ones are happiest when they are on the go, so that’s usually when you get the best smiles. This one loved running up and down the beach. We also got some great images of him being tossed in the air by dad and swinging from his parents’ arms. I love the personality captured in these lively images. And mom and dad laughed right along, even in the midst of the craziness. That’s toddler parenting at its best!
PHOTOGRAPHY IN OCEAN CITY NJ
A family photo session in Ocean City, NJ is always exciting. There’s plenty to do and see, which means there is plenty to photograph! We did this session near the pier that runs along the boardwalk. It’s a great addition to any photoshoot in Ocean City. The areas underneath the fishing pier are especially awesome for little ones who like a good game of peek-a-boo.
We also featured the bright aqua lifeguard towers (which really popped as a backdrop for dad and son’s simple matching outfits). And of course, we took advantage of the wet sand, building castles and knocking them down for maximum fun.
DISPLAYING FAMILY PHOTOS WITH STYLE
This adventurous family loved their photos and created a wall display of their beautiful framed prints. They used a 16×20 alongside 2 11×14 images to tell the story of their gorgeous beach day. Using photos together on a wall, as a series, is a great way to display your new heirlooms and remind yourselves daily of happy memories.
Heather Thomas is an award-winning family and newborn photographer serving Philadelphia and Ocean City, NJ. She holds a Master Photographer Certification from NAPCP in newborn, children and family photography. Known for her organic and simple style, Heather’s work has been featured in magazines and online publications around the country.







