Timing

• Late afternoon provides a warm glow for your beach photography.Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
  
  Take photos in the early morning or late afternoon. These two times of day provide excellent lighting opportunities. Later afternoon provides a warm glow. Besides the lighting, there will be less people on the beach at this time -- a crowded beach can pose its own set of challenges. You could also take pictures right before a storm. The striking contrast between a clear and stormy sky is most evident at the ocean. Sometimes you can even see the storm-front as it comes toward you. This can make for some very dramatic photo opportunities. Set a timer on your shutter and leave it open for a minute or so to capture lightning streaking across the sky.
  
  

Focal Points

• Footprints in the sand make an effective focal point.Davis McCardle/Digital Vision/Getty Images
  
  When shooting at a location that has such a wide open space, make sure you use focal points. Focal points will allow the viewer's eye to rest somewhere. You can focus on sandcastles, waves crashing on the sand, shells or people. Patterns in the sand or footprints make good focal points. If you are taking pictures of people, focus on their actions. For example, photograph a woman as she is putting on sunscreen on her arms, or a child as he is putting on his sunglasses.
  
  

Creative Effects

• Use a slow shutter to blur the waves as they hit the shore.Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
  
  The beach provides a great opportunity to work on your creative eye. In lower light settings, use a slower shutter speed to blur the waves hitting the shore. You can also capture the night sky against the ocean with a slow shutter. If the situation allows, set your camera on a tripod with an external shutter release and use your camera's "bulb" function to capture a storm coming onto the beach. In brighter light, use the fill flash to fill in the shadows of your subject. Use heavy shadows on the sand to catch the viewer's eye. Use the sun to your advantage and take silhouettes of your subject. If you use this technique along with your fill flash, you can create a beautiful background around your subject. Also consider applying a polarizing filter as a creative element. A polarizing filter eliminates certain light and will enhance colors. It can bring out the deep blues of the ocean and the sky.
  
  

Change Points of View

• Take a picture from higher ground to capture a dramatic beach photo.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  One of the best ways to take a beach photo is to always look at your scene through more than one angle. When you are shooting, avoid looking at things the way you normally do. Instead, look at what the low, high and side angles have to offer. You will be surprised that with just a few different angles you can completely change the dynamic of your picture. Look for higher or lower ground from which to take pictures -- such as above or below a rocky cliff.