Anyone have any good ideas to take family pictures on the beach?

Question:It may seem odd, but wait for a cloudy day.

Full sunshine ruins pictures by creating harsh, unflattering shadows and causing blown-out highlights.

Cloudy-bright weather will give you "pro" lighting.

V

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: It may seem odd, but wait for a cloudy day.

Full sunshine ruins pictures by creating harsh, unflattering shadows and causing blown-out highlights.

Cloudy-bright weather will give you "pro" lighting.

V

Always have your back to the sun.

The old tale that the subjects of the photograph must be looking at the sun is just not true. Look at any picture where the subjects are looking into the sun. They are all squinting and looking really sour. The best photos can be candid shots.
Just make sure that the photographer is in the photos also.

Try an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset - called the "Golden Hour".

A slightly overcast day is also good.

I always get a good laugh when someone suggests "Have the sun at your back." That was the suggestion by Kodak back in the early days of photography when film and lenses were abysmally slow.