Nikki Schell
meet me at the beach
Fenwick Island, DE • Bethany Beach, DE • North Ocean City, MD
Editorial Styling for Your Beach Session
Your family has a personality. Your photos should too.
The best beach sessions are both beautiful and specific. They show off your family’s personality through editorial storytelling. Think about the movie of your life… what would it look like and how can we capture that in still-images?!
When you choose a look, a color story, a scene to show up inside, something shifts. The session stops being a photo obligation and starts being an experience. You’re not just standing in front of the ocean hoping for something great, you’re creating a world your family gets to live inside for an hour. The styling gives everyone something to interact with, something to feel, something to make it feel real.
This guide is about helping you find your family’s look… one that feels like you, that sounds fun when you describe it, that makes you a little excited to show up. The families whose photos feel the most alive are almost always the ones who came with a vision and then forgot to be self-conscious about it.
You don’t need a stylist or a production budget. You need a direction. The looks below are your starting point. Use this guide to gain inspiration, discover a few details you’d like to incorporate into your session, and feel free to ask me any questions!
A Few Tips Before
You Start Shopping
Dress Like You’re All Going to the Same Place
It sounds obvious, but it’s the most common styling misstep. If one person is in a flowy maxi dress and another is in a graphic tee and board shorts, the images feel disconnected.
Coordinate, Don’t Match
Identical outfits read as costumes. Work within a shared palette and let each person be themselves inside it.
Texture on Camera
Linen, gauze, chambray, waffle knit, eyelet – texture adds depth and dimension that photographs beautifully.
Start with An Anchor
Begin with one person’s outfit – often mom, or a bold child – and build the color story outward from there.
Bare Feet or Bust
If shoes are part of your look, bring them and remove them when we hit the sand. The beach looks best when it’s actually touched.
Inspiration Editorial Looks
Nine distinct looks, each with its own mood, color story, and scene. Think of these less as costume categories and more as mood board starting points — a creative direction you can interpret, loosen up, and make your own. Pick the one that sounds like the most fun. You can always dial it back. It’s much harder to dial it up once you’re standing on the beach.
01. Coastal Preppy
The Hamptons meets the Delaware coast: polished, nautical, and put-together. Think crisp linens and clean lines against an open sky.
Color Story
- Navy & white
- Classic red as an accent
- Khaki & camel
- Crisp white linen
- Pale sky blue
Palette
Wardrobe
- White button-down + khaki shorts (dads)
- Navy smocked dress or romper (girls)
- Seersucker or linen blazer
- Striped Breton tops
- Classic polo shirts
- Eyelet white tops (moms)
- Linen trousers, rolled at the ankle
Scene & Props
- Wooden sailboat toy
- Striped canvas tote
- Nautical accessories
- Woven sun hat
- Natural wicker basket
- Simple white flowers
Photographer’s note: This look is stunning at sunrise! The cool blue-hour light and navy clothing were made for each other. For a sunset shoot, lean into the warm whites and khakis and let the golden hour do the rest.
02. Coastal Cozy
Neutral, earthy, and effortless: the visual equivalent of a slow morning on a back porch with salt in the air. Quiet luxury without trying.
Color Story
- Warm whites & creams
- Caramel & honey
- Sage & dusty green
- Warm taupe & stone
- Terracotta as a pop
Palette
Wardrobe
- Flowy linen dresses in cream or sage
- Neutral waffle-knit sweaters
- Tan or white linen pants
- Gauze cover-ups and cardigans
- Embroidered or smocked tops
- One terracotta or rust accent piece
Scene & Props
- Rattan tray or basket
- Pampas grass bundle
- A worn linen blanket
- Mason jar of wildflowers
- Driftwood as a natural prop
Photographer’s note: The most timeless of all the looks — and the most forgiving to pull together. It photographs warmly at golden hour and never dates. A great starting point for families who want something classic, but with a real point of view behind it.
03. Americana
Think Fourth of July energy, elevated. Festive and specific.
Color Story
- Classic red (not neon)
- Crisp white
- Navy & denim blue
- Chambray as a soft blue
- Natural denim as a neutral
Palette
Wardrobe
- Red sundress or romper (girls)
- Chambray shirts (boys & dads)
- White linen top + denim shorts (moms)
- Navy shorts or pants
- Red gingham accent piece
- White eyelet dress
- Classic denim jacket as a layer
Scene & Props
- Small American flags
- Red-and-white striped towel
- Popsicles or watermelon slices
- Pinwheel for kids
- Sparklers (sunset, used safely)
- Red gingham picnic blanket
Photographer’s note: Perfect timing for summer holiday time (Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day) – the context makes these images feel incredibly anchored in a season. Think faded flag, not primary school: you want the palette rich and slightly sun-washed, not neon-bright.
04. Popsicle Summer
Bold, saturated, unapologetically joyful: watermelon, citrus, and ice cream energy. The look that produces the most playful energy.
Color Story
- Watermelon pink & green
- Coral & tangerine
- Lemon yellow
- Aqua & turquoise
- White or cream as a break
Palette
Wardrobe
- Each person in a different bright hue
- Watermelon-print swimsuit (kids)
- Coral or coral-stripe cover-up
- Lemon yellow linen shorts
- Turquoise sundress
- Printed camp shirt (dad)
- White as a palette reset piece
Scene & Props
- Real watermelon slices
- Popsicles or ice cream cones
- Colorful beach buckets & shovels
- Bright striped beach towels
- Citrus fruit as a prop
- Colorful inflatable beach ball
- A bright kite
Photographer’s note: The props do a lot of the work here – kids gravitate toward the popsicles and chaos naturally, and the candid moments are incredible. Keep all the colors in the same saturation family so nothing clashes; think vintage fruit stand, not birthday party supply store.
05. Beach Picnic
Relaxed and lived-in: a real afternoon made beautiful. The scene practically directs itself: blankets, food, golden light, everyone exactly where they want to be.
Color Story
- Warm cream & biscuit
- Dusty blue & slate
- Sage & olive green
- Terracotta & rust
- Natural wicker tones
Palette
Wardrobe
- Relaxed linen sets (top + pants)
- Sundresses in warm earth tones
- Kids in rompers or shorts sets
- Rolled-up chinos (dads)
- Casual cotton button-downs, untucked
- A cardigan or light layer
Scene & Props
- Wicker picnic basket
- Layered blankets & throw pillows
- Charcuterie or fruit (real food)
- Lemonade in a glass jug
- Books, cards, or a board game
- Small wildflower arrangement
- Candles in glass votives
Photographer’s note: The picnic setup becomes a natural anchor for the shoot. Kids go to the food, adults settle into the blankets, and the candid moments direct themselves. One of my favorite setups for multigenerational families.
06. Sally Sells Sea Shells
Soft, organic, and quietly romantic: sun-bleached shells, sea glass, and the still beauty of low tide. Like a spread from a coastal lifestyle magazine.
Color Story
- Shell pink & blush
- Sea glass aqua & green
- Warm ivory & bone
- Dusty lavender
- Sandy beige
Palette
Wardrobe
- Blush or pale pink flowy dress
- Ivory crochet cover-up or top
- Soft lavender linen shorts
- Natural cotton smocked dress (girls)
- Bone or ecru linen (dads)
- Delicate floral prints in muted tones
- Shell or pearl jewelry accents
Scene & Props
- Collected shells in a woven basket
- Sea glass in a mason jar
- Dried pampas or sea oats
- Soft gauze blanket
- White wildflowers
- Shell wind chime
Photographer’s note: Especially beautiful during the golden minutes before sunset — the soft palette picks up warm peach and pink light in a way that feels almost cinematic. Ideal for couples and multigenerational sessions with grandparents.
07. True Beach Day
Swimsuits, sandy toes, buckets and shovels: pure childhood summer, documented with care. The most candid shoot of all, and often the most emotional to look back on.
Color Story
- Build from your swimsuit tones
- Complementary cover-up colors
- Neutral accessories throughout
- One bold accent if you want it
Palette
Wardrobe
- One-piece swimsuit (more comfy on camera)
- Coordinating swim trunks (dads & boys)
- Linen pants and chambray cover up
- Rash guard sets (little ones)
- Sun hats – beautiful in every frame
- Skip busy licensed character swimwear
Scene & Props
- Sand toys: buckets, shovels, molds
- Surf or boogie boards
- Sandcastle in progress
- Beach balls
- Beach wagon as a gathering point
Photographer’s note: These shoots run on candid energy – kids digging, running the water’s edge, parents watching with real smiles. Your only job is to play. Sunrise works especially well: the beach is empty, the light is impossibly soft, and it feels like the shore belongs only to you.
08. 90s Summer Camp
Friendship bracelets, card games, braids, and that specific kind of summer freedom that only exists when you’re a kid with nowhere to be. Think Chessie from The Parent Trap – effortless, nostalgic, alive.
Color Story
- Faded denim & chambray
- Camp green & forest
- Warm white & natural cotton
- Faded red & brick
- Dusty yellow & straw
Palette
Wardrobe
- Cutoff denim shorts
- Oversized vintage tees (tucked or knotted)
- Braids, scrunchies, and bandanas
- Canvas sneakers or bare feet
- Faded plaid or flannel shirt tied at the waist
- Simple cotton sundress (moms)
- Friendship bracelets stacked on everyone
Scene & Props
- A deck of cards mid-game
- Friendship bracelet supplies
- Disposable camera (as a prop)
- Retro cooler with drinks
- Polaroid camera
- Knotted friendship bracelets as gifts
- A worn paperback or comic book
Photographer’s note: This look thrives on activity and interaction — deal the cards, make the bracelets, let the kids actually play. The styling creates a permission structure for everyone to be a little silly and unselfconscious, which is exactly when the best images happen.
09. Vintage Summer
Polka dots, hair scarves, cherry red lips, and the particular glamour of a 1950s beach day. Retro but never costumey – think Slim Aarons meets the Jersey Shore.
Color Story
- Cherry red & cream
- Navy & white polka dot
- Butter yellow & warm white
- Mint green & blush pink
- Black as a sharp accent
Palette
Wardrobe
- High-waisted swimsuit or retro bikini (moms)
- Polka dot sundress or wrap skirt
- Silk or satin hair scarf tied at the neck or head
- Linen trousers + open white shirt (dads)
- Smocked or ruffled swimsuit (girls)
- Cat-eye sunglasses
- Woven platform sandals or bare feet
Scene & Props
- Vintage-style cooler or picnic basket
- Retro beach umbrella in stripes
- Classic red lips (the best prop of all)
- Glass bottles of lemonade or soda
- Cherries or strawberries as a prop
- Vintage-style beach towel
- A small bouquet of red poppies or daisies
Photographer’s note: The key to keeping this feel elevated rather than costume-y is restraint. One or two strong vintage pieces per person, not head-to-toe retro. A hair scarf and a polka dot suit is enough. The details do the storytelling.
Beyond the Beach
Life happens off the beach, too.
You don’t have to be on the oceanfront to have an editorial storytelling session. Some of the most personal and relaxed family shoots happen right at home – on the dock, around the grill, in the backyard with an inflatable (or real) pool and popsicles melting in the heat. If your family spends summers on the bay, on the canal, or gathered at a beach house, that is your story. Let’s tell it there.
At the Beach House
Beach house sessions are less about a location and more about a feeling – the particular ease of a house that everyone knows by heart, where the kids run in and out without asking and the adults know where the good wine glasses are. These sessions work beautifully because the setting already has personality. Your job is just to show up and be yourselves.
Focus on the spaces that feel most like your family: the porch where everyone has their coffee, the kitchen where someone’s always cooking, the outdoor swing the kids fight over, the yard where dinner somehow always ends up.
A note on location scouting:
If you’re planning a beach house or bay session, send me the address ahead of time. I’ll scope out the best spots, light angles, and timing before we shoot – the difference between knowing a location and arriving cold is significant, and I want to make the most of every minute we have together.
The Crab Feast
There’s nothing more specific to this corner of the coast than a proper crab feast – the mess, the laughter, the competition over who gets the biggest one. Set it up the way you actually do it: newspaper or brown paper on the table, a pile of steamed crabs, cold drinks, and the whole family elbows-deep.
- Wooden mallets and crab knives
- Old Bay — prominently featured
- Cold drinks in cans or bottles
- Casual summer clothes you don’t mind getting messy
- Everyone actually eating (not posing)
Grilling Out
The grill scene is one of the most naturally candid setups there is — kids underfoot, someone sneaking a taste, someone else doing absolutely nothing helpful. Wear what you’d actually wear to a cookout: easy linen, a fun apron, summer dresses. Bring the real food. Let it be real.
- Casual linen or cotton — cookout-ready
- A real apron (the more worn-in, the better)
- Actual food on the grill
- Kids with corn on the cob
- Everyone gathered around with drinks
Bay & Canal Life
Bay and canal sessions have a completely different energy from ocean sessions – more enclosed, more personal, more about the rituals your family actually has on the water. The dock, the boat, the rope swing. These images feel specific in a way that generic beach shots rarely do.
- Jumping into the canal (action shots)
- Fishing or crabbing off the dock
- On the boat — coming in or going out
- Sitting on the dock with feet in the water
- Kayaks, paddleboards, or inner tubes
Backyard Pool Day
This is pure childhood summer, set in your own backyard. Inflatable pools, water guns, sprinklers — the chaos is the point. Style it the same way you would a True Beach Day session: coordinating swimwear, tonal cover-ups, and sun hats. Let the kids absolutely lose their minds.
- Coordinating swimwear (see True Beach Day)
- Inflatable pool, sprinkler, or slip-n-slide
- Towels draped everywhere
- Popsicles, watermelon, cold drinks
- Adults trying to stay dry (and failing)
Bikes & the Boardwalk
If your family bikes to the beach, bikes to the bakery, or bikes anywhere — this is a scene worth capturing. It’s one of those quintessentially shore-town moments that feels timeless. Style it casually: easy summer clothes, sun hats, a basket on the front. Sunrise timing is ideal.
- Easy summer clothes — no activewear
- Wicker baskets on the bikes
- Sun hats and sunglasses
- A destination: the beach, a bakery, nowhere in particular
- Kids on their own bikes or in a trail-a-bike
The Lemonade Stand
Kids running a lemonade stand — or a seashell stand, or a painted rock stand — is one of the most joyful and specific things you can build a session around. Set it up properly: a real table, a handmade sign, actual lemonade in a glass pitcher. The images are incredibly sweet and feel nothing like a standard portrait session.
- Parents as customers
- A small table with a handmade sign
- Glass pitcher of real lemonade
- Kids dressed in their “business best”
- A jar of shells or a basket of painted rocks to sell
What to Avoid
A quick checklist of things that tend to work against beautiful images.
Not sure where to start?
Send me some screenshots of outfits you’re considering. I’m always happy to help you build your look before we shoot. Getting the styling right is one of the most impactful decisions you can make for these images. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
Pick the theme that makes you a little excited. Not the safe one because you know everyone has something blue they can wear. Pick an editorial concept that feels fun or real-to-you!