Chasing Light Along the Maine Coast


If you've ever wondered why photographers talk so much about "golden hour," the answer is simple: light changes everything.

As much as I love my newborn studio, the beach is where my photographer heart feels most at home. There is something magical about standing barefoot in the sand, watching the sun slowly sink toward the horizon, and creating images that simply wouldn't be possible at any other time of day.


What Is Golden Hour?

Golden hour is the period shortly before sunset when the light becomes softer, warmer, and more flattering.

Many people imagine the entire session looking like a glowing sunset, but the truth is that the light changes constantly throughout the session.

At the beginning, the sun is often still bright and higher in the sky. This creates beautiful contrast, vibrant colors, and opportunities to play with light in different ways.

As the sun gets lower, the light softens and becomes more forgiving. Shadows become gentler, skin tones become warmer, and the entire beach seems to glow.



WHY I LOVE BACKLIGHTING

One of my favorite techniques during a beach session is backlighting.

This means placing the sun behind my subjects rather than directly in front of them.

The result is that beautiful glow around hair, soft highlights, dreamy skies, and images that feel filled with warmth and emotion.

Some of my favorite photographs happen during those last few minutes before the sun disappears below the horizon.



EVERY STAGE OF THE LIGHT IS BEAUTIFUL

One thing I think people are often surprised by is that I don't just love the final sunset colors.

I love all of it.

The brighter light at the beginning.

The golden glow in the middle.

The soft pastel skies near the end.

Even the cooler blue tones that appear after sunset.

Each stage creates a different mood and allows me to create variety throughout your gallery.



WHY THE BEACH FEELS LIKE HOME

Living in Maine means we're surrounded by incredible coastline.

From Pine Point Beach to Ferry Beach, Higgins Beach, Old Orchard Beach, and Fort Williams, we have some of the most beautiful locations in New England right in our backyard.

For me, beach photography is about more than pretty scenery.

It's about movement.

Connection.

Kids running through the sand.

Parents laughing together.

The wind in your hair.

The feeling of being present.

Those are the moments I love capturing most.



PLANNING YOUR GOLDEN HOUR SESSION

Golden hour sessions typically begin before sunset so we can take advantage of all the changing light throughout the evening.

While we can't control the weather, some of my favorite skies have happened on evenings that looked less than perfect earlier in the day.

Clouds often create some of the most dramatic sunsets Maine has to offer.


SERVING FAMILIES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN MAINE

I photograph families throughout:

  • Scarborough
  • Cape Elizabeth
  • South Portland
  • Portland
  • Saco
  • Kennebunkport
  • Freeport


If you've been thinking about family photos and love the beach as much as I do, I'd love to help create something beautiful together.


Text Megan 561-315-5100