Beach and Family Portrait Sessions
Family Beach Portraits with Earl Campbell Photography capture a memory that will last a lifetime. With several amazing scenic backdrop locations on the Eastern Shore, we can certainly find a location that will suit your family's agenda. Ocean City, Assateague Island National Seashore, Pemberton Historical Park....the list is endless!
My favorite location to capture family memories is in Ocean City, Maryland. I worked many years in the Town of Ocean City and have picked out the ideal location to mix a little bit of dunes backdrop and the ideal spot for Ocean photos, hopefully without too many people interrupting our session. The first thing you will need to do is book your session!
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book my session?
My summers book up very fast! From the middle of May until the end of September, I am very busy on the weekends, with most people wanting to do their family photos on the weekend. I always tell people to try to book their photoshoot as far in advance as possible.
If you know you are going to want to get summer beach photos, simply send me an email and find out about availability. Once we find out that your date is available, a simple $50.00 non-refundable deposit will be required to lock in your date.
The deposit is non-refundable but can be used to secure another day if you need to cancel your appointment.
How long will my session last?
Earl Campbell Photography is unlike most other photographers when it comes to the time for each photo session. Many other photographers limit your time for your photo session to 20-30 minutes per session. I don't really like to put a time frame on the sessions because I don't want my clients to feel rushed and I never want to say, "We didn't have enough time to get that shot". I want each session to be relaxed and enjoyable.
That being said, I usually try to keep all sessions right around 1 hour, especially if we have little children involved. Many little ones get bored easily and don't want to sit there for more than an hour so we try to keep the time frame short.
How many people can be included in the photos?
I do not put limits on who you can have in your photos. These are YOUR family photos so bring who you want. There is no per person fee and it is totally up to you who you include in the photos.
Can I request specific poses to be taken (e.g. grandchildren/grandparents, solo of kids.)
Of course! I want you to be happy and totally satisfied with your photos so pick the poses that you and your family like. Some people like funny poses, some like formals, some enjoy serious photos and some people just want to wing it and decide when we get on location. Pinterest is a great resource for viewing various poses. Take a look and screenshot some special poses that you might like and we will combine them with my normal family poses.
How many poses are we allowed with our photography session?
With many other photographers, you are charged a certain fee and that pertains to a certain amount of poses. I do things a little differently. I encourage my clients to look through Pinterest and come up with as many poses as they want, that will make them happy. I want you to be happy, satisfied and always retain me as your photographer. Therefore, I do not charge for a certain amount of poses. Pick 10 or pick 100, we will find the best ones and capture some great memories in the process.
Can our pets be a part of our photos?
From my standpoint, Absolutely! From the Town of Ocean City's standpoint, it depends! Pets are part of your family so of course, they are welcome to join in the fun! If we are going to utilize the beautiful beaches of Ocean City for beach photos, we must plan your shoot between October 1 through April 1. We do have other places available where we can bring the pets during the peak season. The best part is there is no additional fees or charges to have your pets join in the photos.
What time of day is best for a portrait session?
The best time to capture photos is late in the evening, about an hour before the sunsets. This is because when you are taking photos, you don't want the sun to create large shadows and most importantly, I don't want you squinting. Therefore, we always schedule our sessions 1-2 hours before it gets dark. There are also some prime times in the morning that we can use to capture those images but you will need to arrive very early in the morning, which most people don't want to do when they are on vacation :)
How will we know how to pose?
About 90% of the family photo sessions that I do, my wife comes with me. She will help put you in position and show you how to pose to get the best photos. She will help me with making sure your hair is where it needs to be and serve as a second set of eyes for making sure we get the best images for your family.
Will you be taking our photos or will one of your assistants be taking our photos?
I will always be the photographer taking your photos. There are times when I use an assistant for weddings, who just so happens to be my wife, but I never use someone else to take your family photos. This is a more personable experience and I will always be the one taking your pictures.
How many outfit changes can we have?
You may change as often as you want. We do not limit the time and we never tell people that they can't change into various outfits. I only reserve one family session per night so we are never in a rush and we have plenty of ample time.
How long will it take for my photos to be on the website to be viewed or received?
For most normal photo sessions, your photos will be completed within 72 hours. I make it a priority to get your photos back to you as soon as possible so you can enjoy your photos and share them with your friends and family. With that being said, sometimes in the summer, I can shoot 10-14 families in a week, 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening, on the beach, and finding time to edit can be tough. At busy times, I tell people to expect a few days turnaround.
What should I/we wear?
This is the most common question I get as a photographer. I always tell people the same thing each and every time I shoot their family photos. It is not necessary for everyone to wear the same exact thing! This is a misconception that has been passed around over the years. I suggest families pick a color scheme and try to stay in the scheme but don't match exactly. What doesn't look good is when a family has 10 different colors and 5 different styles. Try to stay consistent. If you visit our Pinterest page, you can see examples of color schemes that I like the family's to wear.
Can I order more prints/products later?
Your photos will remain online and available for purchase on my password-protected website for 6-months from the date of the session. If for some reason, you need to purchase an image after 6-months, send me an email and I can make it available to you.
Why is your logo on all the photos? Will the logo be on the prints?
Being in the photography industry, my best form of advertising is people seeing my logo on the images that you share on social media. These images are specifically meant to be shared on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other various forms of social media. When you receive your printed images, there is no watermark/logo on the images.
What type of payments do you accept?
Cash, Checks, Money Orders, PayPal and Venmo. We can accept credit cards but only through PayPal invoices.