Destin Photography Planning Checklist

Timing

• Shoot in the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset; midday on white sand is heavy glare and hard contrast
• Stay after the sun goes down — the best colour is often several minutes later
• Look up the actual sunrise and sunset times for your dates rather than assuming a generic evening
• Overcast is not a lost day; flat light suits portraits far better than harsh sun

Protecting gear

• Salt spray is the real risk on a boat, not water immersion. Keep everything in a dry bag between shots
• Sand and lens changes do not mix; pick one lens for the beach and stay with it
• Rinse any strap or bag that gets salt on it before it dries
• Bring more battery than you need — heat drains them faster than expected

Choosing where, without a list

• The access you are already using is usually the right answer; the walk to a better one costs more than it gains
• The harbour gives structure and reflections in the evening, which open beach does not
• From the water looking back is the angle most visitors never get — worth asking a captain about
• Ask your accommodation which direction faces the sunset from where you are staying

Fill in before you go

Sunrise time for our dates

Sunset time for our dates

Which evening we are keeping free for it

Which direction the sunset is from where we are staying