For all of you beach lovers out there, who have yet to visit Avalon, you NEED to come to the ICONA in Avalon! It is absolutely, my favorite beach of 2020! Having ICONA Avalon Beach Portraits in 2020 will gives you a few things… 1. The peace and quiet of having portraits on a beach with barely any people, 2. A clean beach, and 3. Fresh, beautiful air without a ton of tourists on the beach! I know what you’re thinking, but if we’re visiting, we ARE tourists… yes, yes, of course, and we here at the Jersey Shore LOVE and ADORE tourists, but when it’s the evening time, we want you to go eat and relax, and see what the town has to offer and let us photographers soak up the beach with our families! haha. In Avalon, everyone does just that. It’s so amazing, and I just love it. Everyone does their own thing and is just so considerate here. Not to mention that the dunes, and the paths are just made for beautiful photos ops!

Basically, if you are coming here with your family, or doing a simple day trip, book your ICONA Avalon Beach Portraits! You won’t be disappointed, and you will have gorgeous images to hang on your walls, to use for Christmas cards, or even print and give as beautiful gifts. It’s totally worth it, and you will be so happy you invested the time and energy into it!

We all know this season has been pretty wild, but that doesn’t stop us from getting out there and getting the fresh air and family time that we so desperately need. The beach is the best way to get out and just let lose. The sea air cleans your lungs and lets you breath again. My grandma always told me, the ocean breath and salt water will cure the soul! I believe that, and live by it. I am so glad I am able to live so close to the ocean and i can visit often. Don’t forget to take time out for yourselves, even if it isn’t a photo session.

With all of that said, take a look at this beautiful family enjoying the beach for their ICONA Avalon Beach Portraits and if you want to book yours, click the link to get started: https://bokehlovephoto.pixifi.com/pricing/portraits/

Bokeh Love Photography is *Not affiliated with the hotel* (But we DO highly recommend staying there)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Top 10 Tuesday and today I am spilling all of my secrets on my Favorite NJ Portrait Locations, where they are and how I find them! A lot of people ask me where they should go for portraits sessions, and I actually have a huge list of places to go with permit information as well. Can we shoot there without a permit? Do we need a permit? Are there opening/closing hours? If the sun good there? Will we see a sunset? All of those questions will be answered right here; so keep reading!

I try to find locations that do not require a permit or a fee to use the space for photography. Some locations do require a permit, which my clients are responsible for paying. The list below are my go to spots, the most cost effective locations and some of my absolute favorites! I find myself going to the same spots over and over again, but I do welcome new locations to keep my creativity flowing!

How to I find my locations? Sometimes it’s difficult. I used to drive around for hours looking for spots, I still do sometimes! I have an app where I am able to snap a quick photo, and save the coordinates of the location that I took the photo. This way, I can quickly go in my phone, and send my clients pictures of spots, and coordinates of where to find me! It’s super easy and very effective! Other times, I use google earth! Which is an amazing resource that allows me to see the arial view of the surrounding beaches.

I look for spots that have other aspects besides just the beach! 

A boardwalk is always great, rocks/jetty, a fishing pier is always a win! I try to keep my mind open and always see the beauty in something that, someone who isn’t a photographer may not be able to see.

 

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So here it is! My Top 10 Favorite NJ Portrait Locations!

1. The Historic Smithville Village – Galloway, NJ
615 E Moss Mill Rd, Smithville, NJ
The Smithville Village is basically in my back yard! I love it, and I visit here all the time. Okay, it’s not right in my backyard, but it is a 5 minute ride! I photograph many families here and have also photographed many weddings here. It’s is my number 1 because I could go back here a million times and always be inspired.

2. The Ventnor Fishing Pier – Ventnor, NJ
S Cambridge Ave & Boardwalk, Ventnor City, NJ 
The Ventnor Fishing Pier is my favorite, because you get the best of the beach, under the pier, the boardwalk and the ocean! It’s so versatile and makes for really amazing images.
Permit Required? The beach is free after 5pm
Does it cost anything? The beach is free after 5pm

3. Historic Batsto Village – Hammonton, NJ
31 Batsto Rd, Hammonton, NJ
Historic Batsto Village is one of my favorite portrait locations. There are so many areas to get creative within the village. Whether you are looking to have the buildings in your images or just tall grass. It’s very versatile and the images are always stunning here!
Permit Required? Uncertain at this time
Does it cost anything? Uncertain at this time

4. Stockton University – Galloway, NJ
101 Vera King Farris Dr, Galloway, NJ
Stockton University, formally known as Stockton State College is a beautiful campus with vines growing up walls, beautiful rose bushes, lush lawns and stone steps. What makes this location even better for a portrait option is if you’ve graduated here yourself!
Permit Required? No
Does it cost anything? Only if you’re planning on attending school! (Or visiting the cafeteria for Chicfil-A!)

5. Smithville Mansion – Eastampton Township, NJ
803 Smithville Road, Eastampton, New Jersey
Not to be confused with the Historic Smithville Village in Galloway, The Smithville Mansion is a historic location full of beautiful flowers, arbors, arched wooden barn doors, court yards and more. You feel as though you’ve stepped back in time here.
Permit Required? No
Does it cost anything? No, not unless you are visiting for a private event that charges a ticket price.

6. Brigantine Beach – Brigantine, NJ
16th Street
I have photographed all over the island, so I won’t name every street. I will say that all of Brigantine is gorgeous and I am so happy I live so close to the beach to be able to photograph there often.
Permit Required? Beach tags til 5, free after 5. But no one photographers before sunset!
Does it cost anything? Nope, not unless you are on the beach before 5.

7. Cape May Park North – Cape May Court House, NJ
1099 South Route 9, Cape May Court House, NJ
Cape May Park North is such a gem! The park closes at dusk, but once outside of the gates there is a front lawn that catches the glow of the sunset perfectly! No need to chase light, it finds us right here!
Permit Required? No, just be respectful. There are a lot of animals, admire & never touch an animal!
Does it cost anything? No, but if you see trash, pick it up and help keep this park beautiful and remember whatever you bring in, make sure it leaves with you. As with any park, or any location for that matter, leave no traces that you were ever there.

8. Estell Manor Park – Mays Landing, NJ
109 NJ-50, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Estell Manor Park is home to many Vetrans, including my own Grandfather. When I go there, I feel at peace. Not only that, but when the sun sets, it lights up the leaves in the early fall like nothing else you’ve ever seen. Well, maybe you’ve seen that before, but I still find the magic in it.
Permit Required? No, just be respectful.
Does it cost anything? No, but if you see trash, pick it up and help keep this park beautiful and remember whatever you bring in, make sure it leaves with you. As with any park, or any location for that matter, leave no traces that you were ever there.

9. Harold E. Taylor Observatory aka “The Stockton Observatory”– Galloway, NJ
36 Pomona Road, Route 575, Galloway, NJ
The Observatory is actually a very cool place for a class trip, but I go there for the field and the woods. I love how the sun just kisses the grass here. It’s really very beautiful. There is a telephone number if you would like to call and schedule a tour of the dome: (609) 652-4520
Permit Required? No
Does it cost anything? To walk in the field, no. I am unsure if there is any price required to enter the telescope dome. I have never done that. As with any park, or any location for that matter, leave no traces that you were ever there.

10. Good Old Days Sunflower Farm – Woodbine, NJ
119 S. Old Tuckahoe Rd. Woodbine, NJ Cape May County
Donald is the owner of the Good Old Days Sunflower Farm. He plants his seeds in Mid April to bloom in the end of June. Throughout the summer he plants more seeds to keep the sunflowers blooming until late April/early September. You can reach Donald at: 609-536-4080.
Permit Required? No
Does it cost anything? He sells fresh cut sunflowers from an antique flower cart. Payment is based on the honor system. He keeps an old metal lockbox on the cart for you to pay for the flowers you take. If you go here, be sure to buy some flowers! I always leave a little extra! 

I hope you enjoyed this week’s Top Ten Tuesday – ‘Favorite NJ Portrait Locations’. Subscribe to our mailing list and be sure to come back every Tuesday for more amazing Top Ten’s!

*Some of the links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

 

Each year I plan my family session on Brigantine Beach. It’s something that I can look back on and say we all did together over summer break. Summer is a time where our kids are exploring and really coming into their own person and growing right in front of our eyes. Brigantine, NJ has always been a special place for me growing up. I guess that is why I love having sessions there.

This family session on Brigantine Beach was adorable! This little man was all smiles and loved hanging out with his Mommy and Daddy! I loved their aqua, cream and blue colors, I thought they looked so good on the beach! The best thing ever, is when clients show up camera ready!

If you are thinking about having a family session on Brigantine Beach, reach out to me and we can chat about it! The golden hour is my absolute favorite time to take photos because that is one hour before the sun starts to set. I have an app on my phone that tells me exactly what time the sun will start to set and when the last light will be.

On the Jersey Shore, we have amazing sunrises over the ocean (in the East) and our sunsets are in the West (behind the dunes). At 7:00pm in August it is the perfect time for beach portraits! The sun is setting. There is a gorgeous golden glow from where the sun starts to touch the tippy top of the dunes. And the backlighting from the sun, is like we are catching a glimpse of Heaven. How lucky we are to experience the beauty of the Jersey Shore.

It is absolutely phenomenal!

You can’t visit the Jersey Shore without bringing some of this sunshine home with you, now can you?

To book your family session on Brigantine Beach, email lauren@bokehlovephotography.net

I can’t wait to hear from you!

Plan a family beach session in Avalon, NJ with Bokeh Love Photography today and have memories that will last a lifetime! The beach is a place for fun, it’s a place to gather, and it’s a place where memories are made. There is never a bad day at the beach. When families reach out to me and tell me they would like me to photograph them on the beach, I am always excited. Every day the beach is different, the sand isn’t always in the same spot. The waves can be calm or they can be wild. There can be seashells or jelly fish, seaweed or clams. It can be a bright sunny day, or moody with overcast. It’s always a place to be expectation free, to go with the flow and see what happens. It’s natural and wonderful, and unique as each family session. This particular session was an Extended Family Beach Session in Avalon, NJ.

Avalon, NJ is one of my favorites places to photograph. The beaches are beautiful and the beach paths are out of this world! I am so lucky to be able to live in a place that most people call their vacation! To say I am blessed is an understatement! I have so many locations that I have up my sleeve but this one, this one is one of my favorites!

As the summer is coming to a close, that doesn’t mean beach sessions are over! I love beach sessions in September and even in October! Also, I have something up my sleeve that may include a peacock chair and some GORGEOUS flowers for late August/early September. If you’d like to be on the radar for that session, add yourself to the email list and be notified of upcoming themed sessions!

Sign up for the newsletter today: Bokeh Love Photography Newsletter

If you would like to book your Family Beach Session in Avalon, NJ or any location along the Jersey Shore, please reach out to me for availability.

Time to start booking your Jersey Shore Beach Portraits!

Visiting the Jersey Shore is probably the best family vacation you can go on. There are so many fun family friendly things to do. Booking your session right before sunset, allows you to enjoy the beach during the day, get showered and cleaned up for your portrait session and then spend the rest of the night enjoying the boardwalk, going out to dinner or playing on a pier with games and rides! There are so many different beaches to capture your summer memories, I would love to chat with you to find out exactly what you are looking for! Whether it is a warm evening on the boardwalk, playing games and going on the rides with your family at Gillians Wonderland Pier , Playland’s Castaway Cove, or Morey’s Piers, Catching a sunrise with your special someone, or my absolute favorite – The Golden Hour! The golden hour is 1 hour before the sun starts to set, when the sun just about touches the horizon, and casts a beautiful glow of gold across the sand, the water, and your sun kissed skin! It’s the most beautiful time of all! Jersey Shore Beach Portraits are the best way to bring home your lasting memories and be able to share those memories with your family and friends time and time again.

My FAVORITE beaches:
The VERY best Jersey Shore Beach Portraits are taken on our beautiful East Coast! Brigantine, Avalon, Ventnor, Margate, Longport, Ocean City, Sea Isle, Cape May and Wildwood! And of course all of the little beaches in between! From shady beach paths to mountainous dunes, lighthouses and jetty’s, there are so many options to choose from and no two beaches are the same!

What to wear to your session?
It can be so frustrating to try and find the perfect outfit! I know, I get it, I totally understand. It doesn’t have to be difficult, it’s actually quite simple! Start with yourself, what would YOU like to wear on the beach? It is SO easy to dress our kids, our partner, grandparents, etc. But, when we get to ourselves, we tend to have more of a difficult time. That’s why I say, dress yourself first. Find the outfit that you just adore! Whether it’s that beautiful patterned, shoulder showing, summer dress that you’ve always dreamed of wearing, or the super cute white Capri jegging’s and the adorable navy blue top, you are going to be the center of your families color scheme. Then, you dress the kids. Don’t match them to you, but decide what colors you would like to have in your images. Would you like bright or light, dark or dramatic? Pick two colors you love, and add a neutral. For example, if your neutral will be white, you can add orange and blue to the mix. Orange and blue are complimentary colors, which means, simply they compliment each other! There is a reason why Christmas colors are red and green, and Easter is Yellow and Purple! Complimentary colors are everywhere, and they look fantastic! Need some samples? I knew you would ask! Check them out below!

If you would like to purchase any of the clothing you see above for your session, please follow these links:
H&M
J.Crew
Janie & Jack

Take a look at some of the beautiful images that I have created for past clients in previous years blow! Whats so nice about these images and the collections that I offer is that you get to select only your absolute favorite images from an online proofing gallery. The ordering process is so easy, and you are free to share your online proofing gallery with friends and family all over the world! Should you want anything custom, like a museum framed print with a beautiful crisp white mat surrounding your images, I can certainly custom order that for you as well! Here is an example below of what the museum framed print will look like on your wall!

*If you are interested in these frames, please mention them when reaching out! 

I can’t wait to speak with you about your upcoming vacation, and how I can document the very best portraits for your family this summer!

Lauren Adams
Bokeh Love Photography
www.bokehlovephotography.com
lauren@bokehlovephotography.net