How to: Pro Tips For Photographing the Beach at Sunset

Sunsets are one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring things we can witness on a regular basis, and it really doesn’t get any better than seeing the gorgeous shades of violet, blue, red, orange, and yellow as the sun goes down with your toes in the sand on the beach. Many of us will want to grab our cameras and capture the stunning beauty of the scene, and you want your shots to do the moment justice.

Check out these beach sunset photography tips to perfectly capture the beauty of the moment.

TIP 1: Use manual exposure

While direct light can be a challenge, it can also produce so very dramatic images. When shooting a sunset, you’ll want to use manual exposure to counteract the sun’s brightness and avoid ending up with a shot that’s way too dark. We recommend overexposing your image from what the meter on your camera might say to ensure you can actually see the sun and all those vibrant colors in the sky.

Birds on rock by water at sunset

TIP 2: Timing is everything

For something so beautiful, sunsets unfortunately only last for a few minutes. To ensure you make the most of the opportunity and catch the moment, try and be at the location and have everything set up at least half an hour before the sun is supposed to set.

TIP 3: Incorporate a subject

While the main focus of your beach sunset shot should be, well, the sunset, don’t shy away from including other subjects in your shot. The addition of a subject can provide a sense of scale and give the viewer an additional point of focus.

Person walks on beach at sunset with gloomy skies

TIP 4: Stick around after the sun sets

In addition to arriving at your shooting location before the sun sets, you should also stick around after the sun has disappeared behind the horizon because the light will be more even, and colors can get even more intense.

Wave crashing onto beach at sunset.

Learn about Tamron Lenses at an authorized Tamron dealer in your area or visit the TAMRON Store today.

More Photo Tips | Watch Videos | Learn More About Tamron Lenses | Photo Gallery

Shopping Cart
Scroll to Top

New Product

18-300mm F3.5-6.3

for Nikon Z and CANON RF

Fan Favorite

18-300mm F3.5-6.3

for Sony E and FUJIFILM X-mount

Available soon for Nikon Z and Canon RF