Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Do we have to come to Sea Isle City for our Beach Portrait?
No. Although we are located in Sea Isle City , New Jersey , we will come to whichever Jersey Shore beach you prefer to have your beach portrait taken. We serve the Jersey shore from Brigantine to Cape May including Ocean City , Stone Harbor , Avalon, Wildwood, Sea Isle City etc .

How far in advance to we need to book our beach portrait?
Since we have limited availability, we recommend booking your beach portrait as soon as possible so that you are assured of a time that is suitable for you. If, however, you decide last minute to have a beach portrait taken, please call us. We may be able to accommodate you with very little advanced notice - possibly even the same day!

When is the best time of day to have our beach portrait taken?
The lighting is best either early morning or early evening. The exact time varies depending on the time of year. We will be able to give you an exact time when you book your beach portrait.

What should we wear?
Coordinating outfits are strongly recommended.  Stick with solid colors and avoid busy prints and patterns.  Avoid wearing sleeveless shirts unless your arms are very thin since upper arms usually do not photograph well.  Unless you are very thin, avoid tight clothing that may draw attention to bulges around the waist.  Most importantly, wear something comfortable as you will be standing, sitting and possibly lying down in the sand!

What if it’s an overcast day?
Great!  Overcast conditions actually provide excellent lighting for portraits.  Think about it … you won’t have to squint from the bright sun and there won’t be any harsh shadows on faces or elsewhere.  Clouds act as a natural diffuser to give us nice soft lighting.  So . . . DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE CLOUDS!

What if it rains?
If it looks like rain, we will wait until the last possible minute to see what happens.  Many times the rain misses us and we are able to continue with a great shoot.  If it does actually rain, we will contact you by phone to reschedule your shoot.  If we are unable to reschedule, we will return your sitting fee in full.

How long will our beach portrait session take?
Most beach portrait sessions will last in the neighborhood of about an hour. Perhaps a little longer or shorter depending on the total number of people in the shoot and the number of children in the shoot.

How many pictures do you take?
As many as it takes! It doesn't cost you any more whether we take 50 shots or 150. Our goal is to provide you with as many quality proofs as possible. If that means you want 30 different shots of the same child, just let us know and we will be happy to accommodate you. Remember, this beach portrait is for YOU. We want to give you what you want!

Do you take just “family” shots?
Absolutely not. We usually start with a few “family” poses. However, when we are done with those shots we will break down your family as many ways as possible. For instance, we will take pictures of just the kids together; the kids individually; the boys with dad; the boys with mom; the girls with mom; the girls with dad; mom and dad, etc., etc., etc. You get the point. Remember, it doesn't cost you any more for us to take all of these pictures. We want your family beach portrait to reflect every aspect of your family.

Is there a minimum purchase requirement?
Not at all. You purchase what you want . Period. We don't assume to know what your needs are and do not force you to buy more than you want. We are very flexible and we want your beach portrait to be as positive and as memorable as possible.

How do we view our proofs ?
You will be able to view your proofs on our website approximately one week after your shoot. (This timeframe may vary in certain situations - your photographer will tell you at the end of your shoot when you can expect to view your proofs) . Simply go to the bottom of our home page and enter the password your photographer gave you.  Keep in mind, proofs are not retouched and have not yet been corrected for color and density as your final prints will be.

What if I need my proofs retouched or altered?
Your final portraits will be corrected for color and density and will be cropped to fit the format of the size you order.  We offer a wide range of digital “fixes” such as the removal of unwanted objects or people, the removal of eyeglass glare and head swaps.  Because these can only be fixed through corrective artwork which is done on a per pose basis, the costs usually range from $10 to $60.  You will need to consult with our staff for a quote.

How do I place my order?
Orders may be placed online, via phone or email.  Please note, some options, such as packages and different media selections (fine art paper, metallic paper etc.) may not be available online in which case you would need to email us or phone in your order.  Payment is due when you place your order.

How do I know what size wall portraits to order?
Typically, the more people there are in a photo, the larger the wall portrait should be. As a rule of thumb, the faces in a group wall portrait should be 2 to 5 inches in height to be visible from across the room. If your group portrait consists of 6 or more people, we recommend at least a 20x24" or 24x30".

Do you offer Christmas/Holiday cards ?
Absolutely! Click here to view samples.

Do you take credit cards ?
Yes we do. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

Where can we view more of Sea Isle Photography 's beach portraits?
At Gunslingers Old Time Photos (our old time photo studio) located on the promenade at 43rd Street in Sea Isle City .


Don't see your specific question?
Email us at info@SeaIslePhotography.com and we will answer any question you may have.