Photographers in Bournemouth

The beach faces broadly south, so the sun tracks along the sea through the day. From the sand you look west along the bay towards the Purbeck hills and Old Harry Rocks, which frame sunsets, particularly from autumn to spring when the sun sets further south. In winter the low sun gives long shadows and warm light even at midday.

The piers give strong lines: Bournemouth Pier seen from the beach at low sun, and Boscombe Pier with its cleaner, modern look. Brightly painted beach huts along the promenade, and further east at Mudeford Spit, make a cheerful repeating backdrop for families.

The chines — Alum Chine, Durley Chine and others — are wooded valleys down to the sea with dappled light, a welcome change from open sand at midday. Hengistbury Head, at the eastern end, has heathland, sandy cliffs and views across Christchurch Harbour, with a wilder feel than the town beaches.

Summer is lively and bright. Outside the school holidays the beaches are wide open, the light is softer, and sessions feel much more relaxed.

Bournemouth has direct trains from London Waterloo, and the station is a walk or short bus ride from the seafront. By road, the A338 brings you into town from the A31, and traffic can be slow on hot summer weekends when day-trippers arrive.

Seafront parking fills early in summer and charges vary by car park, so check with BCP Council before you travel. The promenade is flat and continuous for miles, which makes walking or cycling between the piers easy. The Sandbanks chain ferry connects Poole with Studland and the Purbeck coast; check its timetable and any maintenance closures before planning a trip to Old Harry Rocks.

July and August bring the crowds, and on hot weekends the central beaches fill from mid-morning. For open sand, book an early-morning session, or come in spring, early summer or September, when the light is softer. Winter sessions can be beautiful and nearly empty, but the wind off the sea is cold.

Check tide times: at high water the sand narrows between the groynes. Some beaches have seasonal dog restrictions, which matters for family shoots with a dog, so check BCP Council's current rules. If the beach is too windy, the chines and Lower Gardens give shelter. Your photographer will confirm whether any permission is needed on the seafront.

Family photoshoots start from £200 and maternity sessions from £250. The beach is free to use, so there is usually no location fee, but summer parking adds to your costs, and a trip to Old Harry Rocks or Hengistbury Head may add travel time. Summer weekend evenings are in demand, so a weekday or early-morning session can give you more choice.