Our Favorite Hamptons Beaches for your Family Photoshoot

Sophie and Michael have been photographing children, families and even high school seniors in the Hamptons for the past 17 years. In that time, they’ve scouted practically every beach, farm and town park you can think of. From hidden gems like the Town Rd pier in Montauk, to classics like East Hampton Main Beach. This list compiles the very best locations for your Family Photoshoots in the Hamptons. Ones that really capture the colonial charm of East End, coupled with its getaway vibe.

Light is the key to fabulous family photos

For portrait photographers – light is everything. Soft, uniform light renders facial features with a gentle touch, and avoids harsh shadows that exaggerate every blemish (and yes—in some cases—wrinkles too). As natural light photographers, Michael & Sophie find this light in the shade of buildings and trees. Due to the coastal climate, sandy soil, and salty air, most trees in the Hamptons are pines and cedars. Because these types of trees generally don’t grow very tall, shade is often minimal. As such, timing your photoshoot is often a critical factor. Family photo sessions are scheduled 1-hour prior to sunset for this very reason. If you’re looking to have your photos taken at the height of summer (June-August), sunset times fall around 8pm. This may be an issue if your children are young, and 8pm is past their bedtime. As an alternative, we recommend having your photoshoot later in the summer (September), when sunset times fall earlier in the day.

Beach Tips: Wind, Hair and Salty Air

Whatever location you ultimately choose, it should reflect your family’s story, personality, and vibe. Michael & Sophie Kormos have had clients who got married at the Wölffer Estate Vineyard, and wanted to capture their growing family at the very same place. Other clients prefer their Hamptons property. These shoots are themed in a more lifestyle fashion, and can incorporate the interior as well as the exterior of your home. Beaches are an all-time favorite for family portraits, but a few factors need to be mentioned. Beaches can be windy, and the wind is generally moist and carries a lot of salt with it. For those Moms and daughters who are having their hair done, please bring some styling products to keep the frizz at ease. Bobby pins are also good to keep handy for any flyaways. Sand: You would be surprised how many young children find the texture of sand uncomfortable! We usually bring along a blanket for them to sit on, but make sure your kiddos are find and dandy in the sand before you settle on a beach location. Surf: The surf can be rough (and loud), and makes our job quite challenging when wrangling your children. We prefer to start your shoot away from the surf, and slowly make our way towards the water. This process ensures that we capture plenty of family, sibling, and solo photos before anyone gets wet! For more photoshoot tips & tricks at the beach, read our article >>

Now, without further ado, let us move on to our all-time favorite Hamptons locations!

East Hampton Main Beach

Easily one of the most popular local beaches in the East Hampton NY area. Dune grasses help us add an aesthetic foreground element and depth to your photos. Gentle dunes add texture to an otherwise flat terrain, which paints your family portraits with that magical, painterly touch. Parking at the East Hampton Main Beach is easy during the golden hour, and permits are not required after 6pm. Here are some photos from a recent family photoshoot we’ve done at this beach:

Dune Beach in Southampton, NY

Sophie and Michael LOVE shooting here! Located just over two miles southwest of the popular Cooper’s and Halsey Beach sits Dune Beach & Boardwalk. The long boardwalk is a great motif to include in your family photoshoot. Unlike a plain beach, where a subject is only able to sit or stand, boardwalk opens up many more posing opportunities (leaning, sitting on top of it, etc.). It’s also a very fitting element, as the aged cedar wood naturally leads to the beach itself, allowing us to capture a wider variety of family photos. The tonalities match perfectly, and our clients love the way their photos look. Here’s a peek at a recent session taken at the Dune Beach and Boardwalk in Southampton, NY.

Two images of a family at the beach in East Hampton. Left: A couple stands on wooden stairs with two young children. The woman wears a blue dress, and the man wears a white shirt and light blue shorts. Right: The man carries a smiling young girl on his back on the sandy beach.

A woman in a blue dress kneels on a sandy beach next to a young boy in a white shirt and blue shorts. They are both smiling and facing the camera, perfectly capturing the joy of the moment with the ocean and clear blue sky as a stunning backdrop. This photography highlights their happiness amidst nature's beauty.

Two side-by-side photos. Left: A family of four holding hands and walking on a beach with the ocean in the background. Right: Two children, a girl in a blue dress and a boy in a white shirt and blue shorts, sitting together in the sand amidst beach grass.

Two photos, captured by a talented photographer, show a cheerful family at the beach. In the first, a man holds a young girl. In the second, a woman in a blue dress and the same man swing a young boy by his arms as the girl walks beside them, all smiling and enjoying the sandy shore.

A split image features two children outdoors in a Hamptons setting. On the left, a smiling girl with blonde hair wearing a blue dress leans on a wooden railing. On the right, a smiling boy with spiky blonde hair wearing a white shirt stands against a wooden post, both basking in soft sunlight.

A family of four smiles and stands on a sandy beach. The mother, wearing a blue dress, and the father, in a white shirt and light blue shorts, embrace their young daughter and son, who both wear blue outfits. The sky is clear and the grass dunes are visible in the background.

A family of four stands on a wooden deck with a lush green landscape and sunset in the background. A man holds a young boy in his arms; next to them, a woman holds a young girl. Both women wear light blue dresses and the men are dressed casually.

On the left, two children, a girl and a boy, sit on a stone path petting a golden dog. On the right, captured by a family photographer, is a portrait featuring the same man, woman, children, and dog all smiling and standing together in a beautiful garden.

Left: A man wearing a white shirt and shorts holds a young boy in matching white and blue attire. Right: A woman in a light blue dress kneels and embraces a young girl in a blue dress. Both scenes are outdoors with greenery in the background.

A close-up of a light brown dog with a white face and floppy ears, looking at the camera with its mouth open and tongue out. The dog wears a green collar and has a happy expression. The background is blurred.

Two Mile Hollow Beach

The perfect beach for anyone residing in the Amagansett, NY part of the Hamptons. This beach offers absolutely sweeping views of the sky with gentle dunes, beach grasses, and multiple branching pathways from the parking lot. Quieter and more secluded than the main Hamptons beaches, this is the ideal beach setting if you’re looking to be away from the crowds. To get there, simply drive south on Two Mile Hollow Road. A generously-sized parking lot sits at the end. Take a look at a recent family photoshoot from Two Mile Hollow Beach below!

Sammys Beach, East Hampton, NY

Tucked away on the northern shore of the East End, facing the beautiful Gardiners Bay lies Sammys Beach. Our little hidden gem! Aside from its beach setting, Sammys Beach Road turns into a sandy path lined with farm fences and flowers galore. This adds an authentic Hamptons touch to your family photos. The best part is the complete lack of crowds! This place is known only to locals of Northwest Harbor and no one else. If you’re looking for a truly private photoshoot without any distractions, this is one of our favorites. As for the beach itself, it’s just a a few hundred feet away. The gentle surf of Gardiners Bay makes it a more attractive choice for families with little children. There’s none of the mist or noise that comes with the heavy surf on the Atlantic side, and Sammys Beach is very rich in seashells! Here are some photos from our recent session there:

A toddler wearing a white shirt and blue shorts sits on a wicker basket on a sandy path, with a large, fluffy dog lying next to him. Capturing this serene moment, the Hamptons photographer ensures the background includes lush greenery and a beautifully cloudy sky.

Two images: On the left, a family with a young child and a dog sit by a wooden fence in a grassy area. On the right, the same family poses on a sandy beach in the Hamptons with their dog. In both images, the family appears happy and relaxed.

The image shows two photos side-by-side. On the left, a father smiles with his young son on his shoulders outdoors, likely in a park or beach setting in the Hamptons. On the right, a close-up of the son, who has light hair and is wearing a white shirt, standing and looking ahead.

A Hamptons photographer captures a family walking down a dirt path lined with wooden fences and greenery. The parents, dressed in light-colored outfits, hold hands with their young child in the middle. They have an orange-brown dog on a blue leash walking beside them under the clear, blue sky.

A family enjoys time at the beach in the Hamptons. The collage shows a mother and her son walking along the shore, the mother holding him, and a family of three posing with their dog by a fence. All wear light-colored clothes, with sand, water, and greenery completing the serene scenery.

Egypt Beach, East Hampton, NY

Located just east of East Hampton Main Beach, Egypt Beach sits right adjacent to the Maidstone Country Club. While the club itself is private, it is surrounded by weathered farm fences and grass fields. These are such a fun element to include, as the natural leading lines add depth to your family portraits. These fences also serve as natural posing blocks, allowing you to lean or sit on them. As for Egypt Beach itself, it offers a gentle surf with a number of shallow tide pools. These are great for reflection photos as well as your toddlers playing splish-splash.

Havens Beach/Foster Memorial Beach in Sag Harbor, NY

A beautiful set of quaint beaches, favored by residents of Sag Harbor. Both of them face the calm waters of Noyack and Sag Harbor Bays. Parking here is easy, and crowds never grow too large. These beaches are littered with seashells and complimented by a gentle surf. Highly recommended for anyone staying in or around Sag Harbor! Check out these stunning family photos we’ve taken there recently:

Beach Alternatives

Many of our Hamptons clients choose other locations in the East End. Locations that are just as characteristic of the Hamptons colonial charm, but envelop the scene with more flora and textures. Here are our top three candidates for off-the-beach settings:

Mulford Farm Museum in East Hampton, NY

An absolute gem of a place. A colonial farm from 1680, rich in cedar wood textures, a weathered mill, a curated garden and barns aplenty. Easy parking on James Ln and abundant shade make this one of our most favorite settings in East Hampton. Our families love the colonial-era motifs and genuine character of this preserved farm. Picket fences, brick paths, and well-maintained flower beds offer a wide variety of settings for your family photos. Just take a look at this recent photo session from Mulford Farm Museum:

Town Road Pier in Montauk, NY

Why we love it: A raw, cluttered, working pier with trawlers. This place holds true to its fishing origins in Montauk. The pier is lined with working trawlers, lobster traps, ropes and rusty old barrels. It is the opposite of posh, seamless beaches,. It bring with it unique character that’s hard to find in the East End. Sunset Beach lies just a few hundred feet to the north, so if you’re looking to blend beach vibes with maritime motifs, this is a setting unlike any other. Take a peek at a recent family photo shoot from Montauk NY below: