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Summer trips are creeping up fast and everyone wants that one perfect beach shot for the feed. The problem is most people show up, snap ten blurry photos and call it a day. That’s such a missed opportunity!
A good beach photo takes almost no extra effort once you know what to actually do with your hands and feet, lol! It’s mostly about angles, timing and picking a spot with decent light.
So I went through hundreds of pins looking for ideas that regular people can actually pull off. No fancy equipment, no professional photographer required! Just a phone, a friend to snap the shot and maybe a cute towel.
Below you’ll find 18 ideas split between solo shots, bestie moments and a few destination-specific ones for anyone headed somewhere scenic this year. Some need a friend. Some you can do completely alone.
Each one comes with quick tips so you know exactly what to bring and how to pose. Screenshot the ones you like before your next trip!
Ready to make your camera roll look amazing? Let’s get into it!
BEACH PHOTO IDEAS
Silhouette Walking Into Sunset
My favorite low-effort shot is still the classic sunset silhouette. It works on literally any beach and takes about thirty seconds to set up!
The colors behind you do all the heavy lifting here. A basic phone camera handles this one just fine.
Straw Hat Over Face
How cute is the straw hat over the face look? It hides nothing and everything at the same time, lol!
I tilt the hat down just enough to peek out from under the brim. This one photographs well even when the lighting isn’t perfect.
Feet Buried In Sand
Feet buried in sand is such a simple shot but it always looks relaxing.
Wiggle your toes in first so the sand settles naturally around them. Toss a drink nearby and it looks like a real vacation photo.
Sarong Flowing In Wind
I have wrecked so many sarongs trying to get this shot right. The fabric needs a little breeze to really do its thing.
Toss it up right as the shutter clicks so it billows mid-air. Not every shot lands, but the good ones are worth the ten tries it takes, haha!
Seashell Collection Flat Lay
My shell collection never makes it home because I photograph it right on the beach. Spread out whatever you gathered on a towel or a flat rock.
Sunglasses and a little bottle of sunscreen tucked in the corner finish the frame. It somehow always looks better than it took to arrange! A tiny starfish shell makes a great centerpiece.
Matching Swimsuits Side Hug
It still works! Coordinating colors always photograph better than an exact match. So do not stress over finding the identical suit.
Lean into each other and laugh at something silly right before the photo. The candid ones always turn out better than the posed ones anyway, in classic bestie photo ideas fashion. Who doesn’t love that?
Piggyback Ride On Shore
It also doubles as a great way to avoid stepping on anything sharp, lol!
We always time it with a wave rolling in behind us. The motion adds energy that a stiff standing pose just cannot match.
Colorful Mosaic Park Bench
I have gotten weird looks sitting sideways on these benches for a photo. I do not care! Park Guell has benches covered in broken tile that look incredible in any light, which is exactly where barcelona photo ideas start.
Sit sideways so the pattern shows behind you instead of getting cut off. Bring a bright outfit and let the tile do the rest.
Rooftop View Of Cathedral
My legs were shaking by the top step, but the view fixed everything! The Sagrada Familia from above hits differently than any street level shot.
I always go right around golden hour when the stone turns warm amber. Bring a light jacket because rooftops get breezy fast.
Golden Hour At Beachfront Promenade
My favorite trick is showing up when everyone else has already left the promenade. Barceloneta gets crowded midday, but early evening clears out just enough for a decent photo.
The long shadows do most of the work. Am I right that timing changes everything?
Jumping Shot Above Waves
Are you guys seeing this jumping shot right now? A jump above the waves is one of those photo ideas with bestie written all over it!
We time the jump with the water pulling back so the wave isn’t crashing into the shot. It usually takes a few tries. The laughing-so-hard-you-can’t-jump-right outtakes are honestly the best part, haha!
Linked Arms Walking Away
My group shots always start with this one because nobody has to make eye contact with the camera. It works for two friends or a whole group and looks great every time!
We match our steps loosely so the photo does not look too stiff. Bare feet in the sand finish it off nicely.
Overhead Shot On Striped Towel
My towel photos get more likes than anything else I post, somehow! Lay flat, arrange a book and some sunglasses nearby and have your friend shoot straight down.
The stripes give the photo structure without needing any editing. This one covers most of the insta photo ideas beach checklist in a single frame.
Matching Friendship Bracelets Closeup
It does not need a big production or perfect lighting.
Rest both wrists together on a towel or a rock. Catch some sun on the beads and it sparkles just enough. Same!
Back To Back Sitting Pose
My back always cramps for the first two seconds, then it just works! It is one of those best friend photo ideas that photographs way better than it feels while you are doing it.
We lean weight into each other slightly so neither of us tips backward, lol! Watching the sunset from this position makes it even better. How cute is that?
Beach Picnic With Fruit Platter
A beach picnic with a fruit platter checks every box on the these instagram list. Watermelon, grapes and a few strawberries arranged on a wooden board look incredible against sand! If you were hunting for these instagram, this one is a keeper!
Bring a cooler because fruit does not last long in direct sun. Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything, haha!
Twirling Sundress Solo Shot
A twirling sundress solo shot is my personal favorite from this entire list! It’s one of those beach poses by yourself photo ideas that somehow looks like a whole photoshoot happened.
Spin right as the shutter clicks so the fabric flares out. Loose, flowy dresses work way better here than anything fitted. Who doesn’t love that?
Sitting On Driftwood Log
My go-to solo pose needs zero planning since driftwood shows up on nearly every beach. I prop an elbow on my knee and look off toward the water instead of at the camera.
You do not need to hunt for the perfect log, any piece works! Simple, pretty and gone from your camera roll straight to your profile within minutes. Not in my book has a shot ever been easier!
