Sort by Subject:

stories • galleries • resources • portfolio • STORIES • GALLERIES • RESOURCES • PORTFOLIO • STORIES • GALLERIES • RESOURCES • PORTFOLIO •

Blog

bridal portraits

weddings

elopements

couples

seniors

Beach Senior Photos To Love

Adventure, Senior Session

If you’ve been thinking about getting beach senior photos done, this is your sign to go for it!

Lady standing in shallow water at the beach during sunset for beach senior photos

Beach Senior Photos on the West Coast

Having grown up in California and currently living in Oregon, I’ve explored much of the west coast’s beautiful beaches. If you’ve been thinking about an adventure session, beach senior photos are a wonderful way to tell your story! They bring a sense of adventure and wanderlust to your photos which is something that an everyday location just can’t provide!

Beach Senior Photos I Love

I currently live about 2 hours away from the Oregon Coast, and love this option for my seniors’ photos! A lot of my seniors go for a natural, low-makeup look and the Oregon Coast pairs perfectly with this. When I’m in California, I’ll also sometimes have beach senior photo sessions there – including in San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.

Here are some recent highlights from beach senior photos. If you want to pick a cute outfit, run barefoot in the sand, and let your hair down, I might just be your photographer!

Here are some of the best beach senior photos locations on the west coast:

San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo is a great spot if you’re already in central California as it’s about halfway between both areas. It’s also great if you’re planning a trip down here! There’s a mix of grassy spots, cliff views, and the beach in this area, which make it a great spot if you’re looking for a variety of photos. The mix of rocks and sand make it a fun senior album.

This beach senior photos session was with a past senior, Hailey!

Woman in a white dress sits on a rocky ledge by the ocean at sunset for her Senior beach photo
Woman wearing a light, flowing dress, hands clasped behind her back, with long, wavy hair stands on a rocky shore, facing the ocean as the sun sets
Woman in a flowing white dress crouches on a rocky cliff by the ocean, bathed in warm, golden light during sunset
Coastal scene at sunset, featuring waves crashing against cliffs, birds are perched on the cliff edge
Lady wearing a white dress leans against a wooden railing on a sunlit boardwalk surrounded by tall grass and foliage
Woman stands on a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean for her senior beach photo
Woman in a light dress stands on a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean
Two people standing on a wooden bridge amidst dry, brown grasses
Woman in a flowing white dress walks barefoot along the beach, smiling and looking back towards the camera for a beautiful senior beach photo
Woman in a white dress walks along a deserted, rocky beach
Woman in a white dress stands barefoot against a rugged rock formation

Morro Bay

Morro Bay, California is so much fun! There are some woodsy areas, sea grass, and stunning beaches that create a really magical background. Melissa and I has a senior session here and got a stellar sunset in her photos!

Lady in a white dress with a pink ribbon in their hair stands with arms outstretched in a field of tall grass at sunset
Woman wearing a white dress with brown shoes that are partially covered with sand walks on a sandy path through tall grass
Lady in a white dress with a pink ribbon in their hair walking in a field of tall grass at sunset
Lady in a white dress walking in a field of tall grass at sunset
Black and white photo of a woman in a white dress standing in tall grass on a sandy beach, looking back over her shoulder
A woman in a white dress walks along a serene beach at sunset for her senior beach photo
Woman wearing a pink tank top and blue jeans standing on a sandy beach, smiling and looking to the side
A woman in a white dress walks along a serene beach at sunset for her senior beach photo
Woman wearing a pink tank top and blue jeans standing on a sandy beach, smiling and looking to the side
Woman walking along a sun-dappled dirt path surrounded by trees with intertwining branches
Woman sitting on sandy dunes smiling, wearing a pink tank top and ripped blue jeans
woman with long hair, wearing a white sweater and blue jeans leaning against a tree with one arm while looking at the camera and smiling
Woman wearing a pink tank top and blue jeans standing on a sandy beach, smiling and looking to the side
Woman in a white sweater and blue jeans sits on the ground in a forest, smiling and looking off to the side
Woman with long hair walking across a sandy beach towards a large, rocky hill in the background
Green and red succulent plants grow scattered across sandy terrain, casting long shadows in the sunlight
A large, rocky mountain stands in the distance with a hazy, muted sky above it and the foreground features sandy dunes

Cannon Beach

If you’ve seen videos of the Oregon Coast, you’ve likely seen Cannon Beach at some point. It’s best known for Haystack Rock and has become a really popular place in Oregon. I know a few good spots in this area that I only share with seniors who book a session with me, so we can get unique photos away from some of the crowds. 

These photos with Olivia in flowers at the Oregon Coast were so pretty! This is a great area if you’re looking for a mix of senior beach photos and some greenery or other nature photos.

Woman standing in a sunlit clearing surrounded by tall trees and pink flowers
Tall stalks of pink flowers amidst lush green foliage, with dense, dark green trees in the background
Woman holding her hair standing in a sunlit clearing surrounded by tall trees and pink flowers
Woman with long dark hair, wearing a light-colored button-up shirt over a black top and a subtle necklace, smiling softly
Woman with long dark hair standing outdoors against a clear blue sky and mountains
Woman standing in a garden surrounded by tall, blooming purple flowers
Woman standing in a sunlit field surrounded by greenery and tall purple flowers
Person's arm extends towards a tall stalk of vibrant pink flowers in a lush green forest, gently touching the petals
Scenic coastal landscape featuring a large rocky formation emerging from the sea
Woman with long dark hair stands in a sunlit forest clearing, gazes down with a gentle expression, surrounded by tall pink wildflowers and lush greenery
A woman sitting in a grassy field wearing a black long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans
Woman with long dark hair stands in a sunlit forest clearing, surrounded by tall pink wildflowers and lush greenery
Woman with long dark hair stands in a sunlit forest clearing, surrounded by tall pink wildflowers and lush greenery
A woman sitting in a grassy field
Person wearing a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt walks through a lush, green forest
Person wearing a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt walks through a lush, green forest
Woman with long dark hair lying on a grassy field smiling while holding a strand of her hair in one hand and resting her other hand behind her head
Woman standing on a grassy hill with a scenic coastal background
Woman with long hair walks barefoot along the shoreline
Rocky formations out of the ocean near a sandy shore, with waves lapping against the rocks and a clear, blue sky overhead
Woman with long hair standing by the water during sunset, dressed in a dark, sleeveless dress, smiling slightly
Woman with long dark hair smiles while sitting on the beach at sunset for her senior beach photo
Older woman with short hair and glasses, wearing a red cardigan, stands alongside a younger woman with long hair wearing a sleeveless brown dress, both smiling with a serene beach in the background
Woman in a long, brown dress sits on rocky terrain at the beach during sunset for her senior beach photo

Manzanita

Manzanita isn’t too far from Cannon Beach, Oregon, and is also a great area for senior beach photos! There are forests and creeks nearby off the beach which create such a magical atmosphere for senior beach photos. 

This session with Nataline was EVERYTHING. I loved the mix of beach magic and forest backdrops.

Woman with long braided hair, wearing a white ruffled top and a necklace, standing in a forest setting with lush greenery
Scenic coastal view at sunset showing a rock arch formation in the sea near a rugged cliff
Woman with long braided hair, wearing a white ruffled top and a necklace, standing in a forest setting with lush greenery
Woman with long braided hair, wearing a flowing white dress, standing on a rocky riverbank
Woman with long braided hair, wearing a flowing white dress, standing on a rocky riverbank
Woman standing in a shallow stream within a forest, with sunlight streaming through the trees
Woman with long braided hair sitting on a rocky riverbank, wearing a white dress surrounded by trees and greenery, with sunlight filtering through the leaves
Woman in a flowing white dress standing on a tranquil beach, gazing towards the horizon
Woman in a long white dress sitting on a large fallen tree trunk amidst a dense, sunlit forest
Woman wearing a white dress running along a sandy beach towards the ocean as the sun sets
Woman running along a serene beach at sunset, with the waves gently brushing the shore for her senior beach photo shoot
Serene beach scene during sunset, with the sun casting a golden glow over the water and sand
Woman standing barefoot on a sandy beach wearing a white top and blue jeans, and smiling slightly
Woman standing on a beach, facing the ocean with arms outstretched, as the sun sets behind a cliff covered in trees
Woman standing barefoot on a sandy beach wearing a white top and blue jeans, and smiling slightly
Woman with long hair sits barefoot on a large rock near a flowing waterfall
Woman walking barefoot along the shoreline with waves gently lapping at their feet
Woman walking along the shore of a beach, facing the ocean with arms outstretched for her senior beach photo shoot
Woman with long braided hair standing on a sandy beach, wearing a light-colored dress and has her hands clasped behind her back
Woman wearing a light-colored sleeveless dress, smiling and standing on a beach with gentle waves in the background
Woman dances joyfully on a beach as the sun sets

Florence, Oregon

Florence, Oregon is basically the nearest Oregon Coast town to Eugene, Oregon, so it’s a good pick for seniors living in Central Oregon or the Willamette Valley – think Salem, Eugene, etc. This area can get a lot of fog sometimes but we got a beautiful sunny day for Athena’s session. 

Athena brought some thoughtful details into her session like a book and a white dress that paired so well with the coastal grass!

Woman in a white dress runs playfully through shallow surf on a beach in Florence, Oregon
Woman in a long, flowing white skirt standing barefoot on wet sand between dark rocks at the beach in Florence, Oregon
Woman in a white dress runs playfully through shallow surf on a beach in Florence, Oregon
Reflection of a person walking barefoot on a beach
Woman in a white dress walking along a beach with gentle waves touching the shore
Woman in a flowing white dress standing barefoot on wet sand at the beach, with their reflection visible in a shallow pool of water
Woman in a white dress walking along a beach with gentle waves touching the shore
Puddle of water on a sandy beach reflects the silhouette of a person
Woman in a white dress walking along a beach with gentle waves touching the shore
Woman in a white dress walking along a beach with gentle waves touching the shore
Woman in a long, white dress strolls barefoot on a beach, with rocks and greenery in the background
A couple holding hands and running towards the ocean on a sandy beach in Florence, Oregon
A woman in a flowing white dress walking along a rocky shoreline with gentle waves lapping at her feet
Woman wearing a flowing white dress stands barefoot on a sandy beach, with gentle waves lapping around their feet
Partial view of two people walking barefoot on the beach, reflecting on the wet sand
Person holding an open book titled "The Maze" in one hand while their other hand places small flowers on the pages
Woman with long dark hair dressed in a light-colored top is sitting amongst tall wildflowers on a grassy dune near the beach, reading a book
Woman in a white dress sits on grass in a lush garden, holding an open book
Woman in a flowing white dress standing in a field of wildflowers on a beach for her senior beach photo shoot
Person with long, dark hair, wearing a light-colored dress, sits on the grass while gently turning a page of an open book
Woman with long dark hair dressed in a light-colored top is sitting amongst tall wildflowers on a grassy dune near the beach, reading a book
Woman standing amidst dense greenery in a forest, looking upwards with a slight smile
A coastal scene featuring the ocean viewed through a cluster of dense, moss-covered trees
Woman walking amidst dense greenery in a forest, looking upwards with a slight smile
Woman standing amidst dense greenery in a forest, looking upwards with a slight smile
Woman with long dark hair and a white dress stands in a field of wildflowers on a beach
Woman with long hair sitting on a moss-covered tree branch in a forest
Woman walking along a sandy beach with gentle waves in the background in Florence, Oregon for her senior beach photo shoot
Person sitting on a bench overlooking a calm beach with gentle waves
Woman walking along a sandy beach with gentle waves in the background in Florence, Oregon for her senior beach photo shoot
Woman standing at the edge of a grassy area, looking out at the ocean waves
Woman standing alone in a forest filled with tall trees and greenery, wearing a sweater and jeans
senior portrait of Athena Swan in Florence, Oregon in a white dress taken by Emily Noelle Photo

“I had my senior photos done with Emily in May of 2024. I couldn’t be happier with the whole experience and outcome. She was super easy to communicate with through the whole process. We got to chat back and forth about outfit choices and locations and she had such good input and ideas. The second I met her I immediately felt at ease. We had so much fun doing the shoot and there was never a moment where I felt awkward or unsure about what to do. She gave a lot of direction which helped me feel confident. Throughout the whole process she held my ideas and added her own professional and creative insights. I was able to have my pictures back much faster then I had anticipated and when I saw them for the first time I swear my eyes turned into hearts!  Emily brought my dreams to life with these pictures and I am thrilled I booked my senior shoot with her.”

– Athena Swan

What a Beach Senior Photo Adventure Session might look like

First thing first: let’s dream up your theme. 

One of my favorite parts of the process is working with my seniors to help bring their theme to life. If you have a certain vibe in mind, let me know when you reach out. We’ll put together a mood board then plan out the logistics to make it happen.

If you want to adventure to another location, let me know!

I’m always exploring new locations for my seniors. If you don’t live close to any of these areas and want to chat about what might work best for your session, reach out to me on Instagram or here at my contact form.

What does an adventure session look like?

This can look so different depending on the exact location we choose, but in general it’s a 2.5 hour session and we’ll meet up somewhere within 2 hours of Newberg, Oregon. The Oregon Coast is included as a location as it’s only 1.5 hours away from where I live! I also do sessions in California when I’m down there for vacations or visiting family! 

If you want to get senior photos at the Oregon Coast, we’ll meet there and can go to a couple different locations to get a mix of photos. Be sure to plan out time for travel when you book this kind of session – ideally it’s best to set aside the whole day.

Wondering if beach senior photos are right for you? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

How far do you want to travel?

This is important since it adds to the financial budget and the amount of time your overall session day will take. Think about if you want to drive or even fly to the location you want senior photos in. Some of my seniors come from out of state for photos!

What is your budget?

Plan ahead and book your session early to ensure you get the photographer you want! My sessions currently start at $1,200, but for an adventure session it would be $2,000 (which is what you need to book if you’re looking for beach senior photos). 

Are you okay with walking a little more?

A lot of beach locations will require a decent amount of walking, even if there’s a nearby parking lot. Consider if you’re ok with spending some time out in nature, and make sure you prep with comfy shoes that you’ll eventually take off once we hit the sand! 

Are you okay with being in the elements during your session?

It might be cold on the coast or a hot sunny day! Think about if you’re ok with feeling chilly or warm during your photos. If you don’t like the idea of wind blowing through your hair, a session that’s more inland might be a better option for you.

Dresses and outfit ideas for beach senior photos

If you’re looking for an outfit to fit the beach setting of your senior photos, check out this blog I wrote on senior picture dress ideas! Some stores that have great outfit options for beach senior photos are Free People, Urban Outfitters, American Eagle, Hollister, and Altard State.

Woman in a white dress standing among tall grassy dunes at the beach during sunset

Have you been thinking about booking your senior session for a while now? Reach out now because dates book fast and I normally book 1-2 years in advance. This gives you time to make payments and plan out the vibe you really want. 

Contact me with any questions and when you’re ready to save your spot!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The EXPERIENCE

Let's Book it

Need more details?

Ready to plan your shoot?