the scene


Earlier this year, I was contacted by a client who was organizing a retreat for a group of women who were preparing to launch a new business. She wanted a variety of photos including headshots, group shots, candids, and picnic photos on the beach. She asked if I had any experience with this particular type of session and I had to be honest - I had not done something like this exactly before. I sent her what I could that showed my work and the range of photos I had taken. After some back and forth, she decided to move forward with a 2 hour session. I promptly began trying to get everything organized to optimize our time together. We had a great session that really challenged me in many ways!


I am going to go over the different shots I did as well as the manual settings I used to achieve each photo. The camera I used was a Nikon D850 and the lens was a 50mm f/1.8. 




Basics of camera settings



  1. Shutter speed - the amount of time your sensor is exposed to light (i.e. how long your shutter is open). Remember, the lower the shutter speed, the less you will need the client to move. So if you are having your client do a walking shot or trying to get a child dancing on the beach - you do not want your shutter speed to be open for too long because it will cause the shot to be blurry. So the adjustment for the light will need to be made more with the f-stop.


  1. F-stop - how much light is allowed to enter in to the lens -the higher the f-stop the smaller the opening and less light comes in (a darker shot). The lower the f-stop the larger the opening and the more light comes in (a brighter shot). You can quickly blow out a shot if your f-stop is set too low, and that is quite difficult to change in post production. So for me, I aim for underexposing over overexposing. The f-stop will also affect how much is in your depth of field. So if you are doing a really big group photo you will need a greater depth of field and thus your f-stop will need to be higher in general. 


  1. ISO - how sensitive the sensor is to the light that comes in. For me, I generally try to keep my ISO as low as possible. ISO has one of the biggest impacts on how grainy your photo comes out. As you will notice, my ISO is pretty regularly on ISO 400 except in 1 situation. The lower the ISO - the less grain - this is what gets you a “crisper” photo. 


As you go through the different scenes you will see my different settings. Again, my ISO is pretty consistent across the 2 hour session. My f-stop and shutter speed are mostly changed based on the needs of the shot determined by lighting, number of people, and movement. 

headshots


When I got to the gorgeous beach house they rented, my first task was to scope out the place. I looked around the premises and decided on two things - 


1. If I was to ever rent a beach house this would be it. Direct beach access, gorgeous pool, and incredible interior.

Check out the house on - https://www.360blue.com/property-detail-page?name=seacrest-beach-white-sands-8580-e-county-hwy-30a-5719


2. We had a big variety of options around the house to do group and headshots.


 The biggest challenge was that I always shoot on manual. So constantly switching setting as we went in and out based on what and where the 11 women wanted their headshots/group shots kept me on my toes. One of the biggest benefits of shooting manual is control. Having consistent raw images increases efficiency in post-production. 



Outside in shade 2 hours before sunset - 1/500 sec f / 4.0 ISO 400



*We switched between the front and back patio but we stayed in the full shade for all of these. 

Woman in olive green athletic wear and sneakers sits smiling on white stairs in bright outdoor setting.
Someone wearing a white sweater and black shorts sits comfortably on a light colored couch while smiling at the camera.
Person wearing a cream half-zip sweater and sage green pleated mini skirt poses against white shutters.
Casually dressed person sitting cross-legged on a floor in front of a wooden door with a light-colored outfit on.
Woman in emerald green athletic wear sitting on white steps next to a wooden door.
Casual model sitting in comfortable lounge furniture wearing white and beige outfit with sneakers.



Outside no shade (sun behind them) - 1/2000 sec f / 6.3, ISO 400


*The sun was behind/to the side them for these shots and it was very bright. Plus the reflection of the water. This required my shutter speed to be higher (i.e. my sensor was exposed to the light for a much briefer period of time) and requiring my f-stop to be higher (I needed less light coming in so that my shot would not be over exposed).

Person sitting by a pool wearing a white jacket and blue dress while holding a turquoise drink.
Woman in white sweater and leggings relaxes poolside with orange drink during sunset.
Person in swimwear relaxes at poolside during golden hour with scenic mountain view in background.
Expectant figure in white sweater poses by coastline with ocean view and coral-colored wildflowers at sunset.
A person in a cream sweater and patterned skirt sits poolside on a bright sunny day.
Woman relaxing by pool with phone and orange juice on sunny afternoon.


Outside in shade 45 min. Before sunset - 1/2500 sec f / 2.8 ISO 400


Casual outdoor portrait against white wall featuring flowing blonde hair, white sweater and beige pants.
A woman in a white blazer and jeans smiles while standing in front of an elegant entryway with a chandelier.
A person in an orange cardigan and white dress poses casually against a white wall while holding a tan hat.
Two women in casual summer outfits sitting on a white ledge by a pool with mulch landscaping in the foreground.
Woman in cream blazer and jeans sits casually outdoors by pool during golden hour sunset.
Casual outdoor portrait of person sitting on white ledge wearing light blue and white lace-trimmed dress.

Group brand shots


The ladies were all part of launching a new brand called Make Wellness. They are a nutrition and wellness brand that focuses on more than just supplements. Their goal is to empower their customers to "to make health a priority, to make an impact, and to make a difference." All of these women were and are integral part in launching this business and helping it become a long-term success.

Check our their website here: https://meet.makewellness.com/?referral=64C85D859F2

You can find all of these gorgeous ladies on Instagram (tagged in my post) if you would like to learn more or work with them.


This presented a fun branding photo opportunity - they needed candid moments and big group shots for various marketing they would need.



Inside - no direct light - 1/30 sec f / 6.3 ISO 400

Business colleagues in casual attire gather around laptops at a table while enjoying colorful beverages during a meeting.
Two women sitting together on a couch looking at a mobile phone while smiling in a bright living room setting.
Two friends in casual attire smile warmly while sitting together in a cozy home interior.
Two blonde women smiling while working together on a MacBook laptop at wooden table with orange juice nearby.
Three friends in casual loungewear share cozy moments on a white couch while looking at a phone together.

Inside - direct light - 1/40 sec f / 8.0 ISO 800

*We had a big window and the front door open that let light pour in during these shots

A group of friends laughing together while looking at a mobile phone on cushioned stairs in a bright interior setting.
A group of friends sitting and chatting together on woven furniture around a rustic wooden coffee table in a modern home.
A group of people relaxing on woven rattan furniture near a white staircase while enjoying drinks and conversation.
Group of people gathered around a unique rustic wooden coffee table with natural wood grain details and woven rattan stools.
A group of women in casual attire posing together on woven ottomans by a staircase in a bright interior setting.

on the beach


With about 30 minutes left until sunset - we headed down to the beach for a surprise picnic!

The gorgeous set up was done by Eventfully Yours. A company on 30A that specializes in picnic and beach set ups for various occasions. They come to your location and have it fully ready for the time that you need. No detail was left unattended and the ladies were so surprised.

Check out their work here: https://www.eventfullyyoursec.com/


The catering was done by Blue Magnolia - a luxury catering company here on 30A. It was both beautiful and delicious! They are perfect for both big and small events!

Check out their work here: https://www.bluemagnoliacatering.com/



On the beach - detail shots - 1/3200 sec f / 2.8 ISO 400

*I took these right as I got down to the beach about 30 minutes before sunset. 

Romantic beach picnic setup with white cushions, wooden table, floral decor and umbrella on sand during sunset.
Elegant table setting with crystal goblet, pink roses, eucalyptus leaves and lace doilies on wooden surface.
Elegant beach dining setup with wooden table, plush floor cushions, and delicate pink floral centerpieces at sunset.
A romantic table setting with pink and white floral centerpiece and decorative woven placemats on a wooden surface.
Elegant boho table setting with pink roses, pampas grass, and macrame placemats for a romantic outdoor dinner.
A romantic beach picnic setup with tufted floor cushions, wooden table, parasol and floral arrangements on white sand.
Group stands on wooden beach staircase at sunset with pillows and lounge setup visible on white sand below.
Group wearing white dresses walking along sandy beach at sunset with wooden stairs in background.
Group of friends in white dresses and casual wear laughing together on a sunny beach at sunset.


On the beach - Group Shots - 1/1600 sec f/ 5.6 ISO 400

*We kept these simple and I ran back and forth to get the different angles and distances since I did not have time to be changing lenses.  

Group in white dresses and outfits standing together on beach at sunset with ocean waves in background.
A group wearing coordinated white and light blue outfits poses together on a sandy beach at sunset.
Group of friends in light colored dresses and outfits laughing together on a beach at sunset with golden sunlight.
Friends in white and neutral dresses gather on a beach at sunset with umbrellas and decorative setup.
A group of friends laugh together while wearing light colored dresses during golden hour.
A group in white dresses stands together laughing and smiling on a beach at sunset.
Beachside dinner party with friends toasting at sunset on a decorated wooden table with flowers and pillows on the sand.
Group stands together on white sand beach at sunset wearing coordinated light colored dresses and outfits.
A beachside gathering with people in white attire enjoying food and drinks at a decorated low wooden table at sunset.



On the beach - individual shots - 1/1600 sec f/ 3.5 ISO 400

*We were quickly running out of time for these. So I had all of the ladies get in to a line. They had 10 seconds each to strike a pose and me get the shot. We got about 5 good photos per person from this rapid fire situation. We were trying to get them to the picnic so they could enjoy it for as long as possible. 

A beachgoer in a flowing white sundress smiles while standing on sandy shores at sunset.
A person wearing a white lace maxi dress poses on a sandy beach at sunset with waves in the background.
Woman in flowy white dress smiles while standing on beach at sunset with pink sky and ocean waves behind her.
Person in a white summer dress and floppy hat poses playfully on a beach at sunset with pink sky and ocean waves.
Woman in striped summer dress poses on sandy beach at sunset with ocean waves in background.
A person in an all-white outfit poses on a sandy beach at sunset with a pink and orange sky.
Woman in crochet maxi dress smiles while standing barefoot on sandy beach at sunset.
A woman in a flowing white dress stands barefoot on a sandy beach at sunset with gentle waves in the background.
Person in a knitted crop top and white dress poses on a sandy beach at sunset with ocean waves in the background.
Woman in flowing white dress walks barefoot on beach at sunset with pink sky and ocean waves in background.
A person in a cream blazer and light jeans stands on a beach at sunset with pink sky and ocean waves in the background.


On the beach - almost blue light shots - 1/100 sec f / 6.3 ISO 400

*The last group of shots and the sun had mostly set at this point but they wanted to get some shots with the founders of the company who were present at the business retreat. We were transitioning from golden hour to blue hour - as you can see by how low my shutter speed went for the light and how much higher my f /stop went for the really large group. 

Group in coordinated white and neutral outfits posing together on a beach at sunset with a pastel pink sky.
A group in coordinated white and neutral outfits poses together on a beach at sunset with ocean waves in the background.
A group dressed in white and neutral colors poses together on a beach at sunset with ocean waves in the background.
A group of friends in coordinating beige and white dresses pose together on a beach at sunset with pink skies.

final thoughts


These are my personal settings and what is working for me right now. Every camera is different and reacts differently to various settings, lighting scenarios, and client needs. The best thing to do is to get to learn your camera. But I hope this gives you a better idea of what to be on the lookout for if you are shooting in various settings using only natural light. I hope you enjoyed this blog, and I appreciate you taking the time to read it.



Photographer: Whitney White Photography

Camera Brand: Nikon

Location: Rosemary Beach, FL on 30A

Brand: Make Wellness

Home Rental: 360 Blue

Picnic Set-Up: Eventfully Yours

Catering: Blue Magnolia Catering