We all have locations that make our heart sing when we shoot.

For me, that location is the beach.

It’s where I’m the happiest and feel the most creative and connected. Since I live about an hour away from the beach I don’t get to shoot there often, so I have to make good use of my time and surroundings when I’m there.

Here are a few tips to help you this summer when you hit the beach in search of the perfect shot!

1. Different lighting conditions

When you shoot at the beach often times it seems as though the days are longer, this is because there typically is not much that is blocking the rays from the sun, so the golden hours actually seem to start earlier and end later so keep this in mind if you prefer to shoot in those magical hours where the light is soft and dreamy.

Sunrises and sunsets on the beach can provide some seriously amazing color in your images!

2. Water Reflects Light.

Since light is easily bounced with water you’ll have to keep in mind that when the light is harsher that this will also be reflected in the water and can bounce the light to create unflattering highlights both on your subject and the surroundings.

3. Creative locations

Just because you are shooting at the beach doesn’t mean that you are only limited to the beach! Look for unique settings that will help to tell the story more elaborately.

For example, there is a path that I love to shoot that leads up to the beach. I really enjoy photographing children as they run through it going to the beach, it makes for nice framing and it tells more of the story.

Some other fun ideas might include sand dunes, piers, fun colored beach houses, jetties, lifeguard stands, etc. Don’t be afraid to try out new things, but remember to be careful if you are on piers and jetties!

4. Don’t forget your lens hood

This is especially important on the beach when you are shooting into the sun for backlit images. By using a lens hood you will be able to drastically cut back on haze that could overwhelm your subject.

While I’m all for some yummy haze, I think it’s best in moderation so that it isn’t overbearing. Your lens hood will help you to retain those important details of your subject.

5. Experiment

Shooting at the beach can be a great time to rent a wide angle or a fish eye or even a Lensbaby. These lenses can help to give your images a unique feel and with such a vast and beautiful backdrop what better time to try something new!?

Some other fun and unique equipment you might want to try are Polarizing and UV filters, these can add blues and rich hues to your images while shooting at the beach.

6. Bracketing

When you are shooting at the beach and you are wanting to retain some of the sky along with keeping your subject well exposed and you do not want to use a flash, you can try bracketing!

You can either do this manually by exposing for the different highlights and then shadows or some camera bodies actually have a bracketing mode that will shoot several exposures of the same image. Then you can use your post processing software like Photoshop to merge the images for some very dramatic results.

7. Spot metering

I have always found that spot metering seems to work the best when metering on the beach. This way you are exposing for your subjects skin as opposed to evaluative or matrix metering which might be thrown off by the much brighter background and reflective water.

8. Don’t be afraid of less than ideal weather

One morning I had a session and when I showed up there was so much fog I could hardly see the water. After it started lifting a teeny bit, I was able to start shooting and the fog left me with some very ethereal photos.

The fog also helped to keep the sun from becoming too bright too quickly so I actually had more wiggle room with my time too! Also, stormy dramatic skies can make for some truly stunning images, so don’t fear the clouds if they start to roll in.

9. Watch that horizon

It can be so much more evident when you have a very sharp horizon, like where the ocean meets the sky running through someone’s head or neck. Horizons can also become more sloped and angled if you tend to shoot like a drunk monkey… which I do, so I am always keeping this in mind when shooting.

10. Random strangers

In most cases, you are not going to be the only one on the beach when you are shooting. First thing in the morning joggers and surfers are usually out in full force and by the evening hours families are enjoying walks along the shore.

Try to find a location that might not be as popular, something off the beaten path or just be sure that you are aware of random people that might be popping into your frame and try to shoot around them or angle so that they are not in the photo.

11. Keep an eye on your gear

It is very easy for sand to get into your camera when you are switching lenses especially if you only shoot with primes, like I do. I typically try to change lenses with the body in my bag keeping the sand from blowing in and I do this very quickly.

Also it is very easy to be caught up in the moment and drop your gear into the ocean, so try to always use a strap when shooting in the water.

12. Check your background

Often times on the beach you will find trash cans, over abundance of seaweed, cars and more. Remember to keep an eye on your background to keep distracting elements out of the frame. Having such a wide open space like the beach will just make these elements appear more obnoxious.

13. Safety first

While I am all for trying some creative and fun poses, I always keep safety a top priority when at the beach. It is very easy to slip and fall on slimy rocks that make a jetty or to have a toddler fall face first into the water.

Be mindful of your surroundings and keep safety a top priority when you are shooting at the beach.

14. Have fun

Shooting at the beach can be a ton of fun, especially with children.

Many times they are so interested in exploring their surroundings, don’t become irritated if they don’t want to sit perfectly still and smile at the camera, instead follow them around and try documenting them as they explore their surroundings and feel the salty water or gritty sand between their toes!

Plan Your Itinerary Carefully

There are never enough ways to make traveling easy. Millions of people travel every year and with newer technologies and the advent of the internet of things, we continue to find new ways to lessen the stress and burden.

Whether it’s via plane, train, or ferry, the easier it is to travel, the better you’re able to concentrate on what brought you to the place you’re traveling to. So, these tips will help you whether you’re traveling for pleasure or for business.

This is key to making your travel easier. You’ll want make sure your connections are within the time you’ll be able to get from one connection to the other.

If you’re on a business trip, planning your itinerary gives you a chance to work out any kinks you may have with the client or customer you’re working with.

They may have a different idea what’s going to happen during your trip, so it’s best to be able to share that information and ensure everyone is on the same page.

2. Utilize Multi Use Devices and Hacks

The internet is rife with life hacks and travel hacks. From how to pack your bag to how to utilize a hotel’s free services, you can find devices and hacks to make your traveling easier.

Using your cell phone as a recorder, map, and filling it with books or videos, allows you to keep yourself and your family busy during the travel to and from your destination. You can pack smaller sample sized personal items to utilize the space in your carry on for other things.

Family’s on vacation are more apt to need personal items that are larger sized. Or they could create individual carry ons for the children who can hold their own stuff and still utilize smaller items.

3. Update Your Cell Carrier for International Travel

If you plan to travel to another country, whether you’re driving, flying, or boating there, you’ll want to make sure you’ve purchased international calling and data for your electronic devices.

Most cell carriers are will to give you temporary pricing to help you stay in touch with those at home.

But, remember to do your research, because depending on what country you go to, you may need to utilize their internet services. Especially for those on business, it’s not a good idea to be without connection to your home office or the internet.

4. Get Travel Insurance Before You Travel

If you’re planning an adventure vacation, you’re going to want to get hard travel insurance. If you’re just planning to stay at the beach and write, you’ll want to get soft travel insurance.

Because you’ve planned your itinerary, you’ll know what type of travel you’ll be doing. So do your research, contact your insurance carrier, and see if their insurance coverage for travel will fit your needs.

There are more and more insurance companies including travel insurance in their portfolio than ever before, so you’ll be able to price shop for the right value for you and your family.

Business travel insurance is critical to in case you lose your electronic devices, get sick, or are in an accident while in a different country. Make sure your company has you covered. Do your research and you’ll be able to get the best deal.

5. Don’t Let Your Temper Flare

The old adage, “Patience is the key to happiness” is true for traveling, too. Learning techniques to help you keep your temper during stressful travel experiences will make your travel easier. From healthy eating to meditation, there are a myriad of ways to keep yourself calm.

When it comes to family travel, practice makes perfect. If you have young children, you can practice calming games with them. You can also perfect the art of redirection.

Children who can learn to calm themselves and will allow you to redirect them takes practice and lots of it. Don’t expect to have a perfect experience if you and your family have never flown outside the country.

There are lots of things that happen during international travel that will wear on a child’s small psyche. You’ll want to practice techniques to help them recover and deal with these issues.

The best river towns in the U.S. have a natural exuberance, a playful energy not unlike the bubbling water that flows through them. Maybe it’s the towns’ proximity to the mountains, like beacons beckoning adventure, or the fact that river town residents live there by choice, not chance, having made quality of life, scenic beauty, and active outdoor pursuits like kayaking and whitewater rafting a priority. Then again, it could be the beer—microbreweries tend to open up near rivers, which provide a plentiful source of pristine water for making handcrafted brews.

By Jayme Moye

The mighty Arkansas River churns through Salida, a former mining town inhabited by equal parts artists and athletes. DVK Expeditions, Colorado’s oldest and arguably best whitewater-rafting company, is based here, as is FIBArk, the nation’s oldest whitewater festival 67 years and counting. Kayakers, kids on boogie boards, and even stand-up paddleboarders take on the surf waves in Salida’s rowdy whitewater play park, located in the historic downtown. Standout restaurants like Laughing Ladies (owned by two former Napa Valley chefs) and craft cocktail bars like Shallots and Wood’s Mountain Distillery, round out a quintessential river town experience.

From the rugged edge of western Montana, at the place where five mountain ranges converge, Missoula presides over the scenic Clark Fork River near its confluence with the Bitterroot. Originally a trading post, the mid-sized town has evolved into an outdoor sports mecca, thanks, in part, to the novel and film A River Runs Through It by Missoula native Norman Maclean. Besides the world-class fly-fishing and ample whitewater rafting, residents also enjoy hiking and biking, not to mention the progressive college-town mentality complete with a farmers market, a thriving arts and culture scene, a fierce sense of environmental stewardship and a half-dozen local craft breweries.

The wild and scenic Deschutes River flows from deep inside the pine forests of the Cascade Mountains to the sunny, high desert haven of Bend, a destination that’s become synonymous with adventure. Rock climbing, mountain biking, camping, hiking, and even skiing at nearby Mount Bachelor are all in play in Bend, but it’s still a river town at heart. World-renowned fly-fishing and easy access to notable rapids like “First Street” originally put Bend on the map, and the river remains its biggest attraction.

A 2.5-hour drive from Anchorage, Talkeetna is located in the shadow of 20,237-foot Denali, at the confluence of three rivers: Talkeetna, Chulitna, and Susitna. The small town is used as a basecamp for climbers attempting the highest peak in North America, and as a tourist destination for salmon fishing and rafting. But what really makes Talkeetna special is its authentic frontier vibe—a National Historic Site with iconic landmarks like the Talkeetna Roadhouse and Nagley’s General Store that really haven’t changed much at all since the early 1900s.

Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boise (pop. 214,237) is more a city than a town, but its progressive use of its meandering namesake river earned it a spot in this list. The Boise Parks & Recreation Department maintains a 25-mile biking and walking path along the river that links 850 acres of parks and natural areas in the heart of the city. Locals enjoy rafting, kayaking, tubing, fishing, and stand-up paddleboarding on the river, as well as using the path for alternative transportation (to, say, brewpubs like TableRock and Highlands Hollow).

On the southern tip of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains in Northeast Georgia sits tiny Tallulah Falls, a lesser-known river destination with a big water scene. The town takes its name from a series of six waterfalls that drop the Tallulah River 500 feet in one mile—a natural phenomenon made possible by the rocky chasm known as the Tallulah Gorge that the river runs through. Come spring and fall, scheduled “whitewater” releases send the water from a dammed section of the river, aptly named Lake Tallulah Falls, into the gorge, creating Class V+ rapids that draw the region’s best kayakers and whitewater rafters.

The hipster of America’s best river towns, Asheville pulses with an active, outdoorsy vibe that permeates everything from its farm-to-table restaurants to its work-hard, play-harder tech firms. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, at the confluence of the Swannanoa and the French Broad rivers, Asheville boasts 18 craft breweries—the highest number per capita in the nation. Rafters and paddlers get to choose from three acclaimed rivers (French Broad River, Nantahala River, and Nolichucky River) serving up everything from family canoe outings to fast-moving whitewater.

Fed by snowmelt from Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous United States at 14,505 feet, the Kern River runs literally right through its namesake town of Kernville. A particularly scenic spot nestled in a valley of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Kernville packs a fun Wild West flair and is legendary for its voluminous whitewater—a whopping 100 miles’ worth. Rapids range from Class I to V, so there’s something for everyone.

Two hours east of Seattle, in the Central Cascade Range at the confluence of the Icicle and Wenatchee rivers, sits the most unique river town in America. Leavenworth was modeled after a Bavarian village—even McDonald’s and Safeway sport the gingerbread-style architecture typically found in the mountain villages of the Alps. The Wenatchee serves up the best Class III whitewater rafting in the state, while the Icicle offers mellow floats, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding. After a day on the water, it’s a tough choice between a local winery and the Icicle Brewing Company.

An outdoor sports legend in its own time, with more than a hundred paddling, fishing, climbing, and cycling outfitters, Fayetteville serves as basecamp for both the Gauley River and the New River Gorge. Every September, the Army Corps of Engineers kicks off “Gauley Season” with a series of controlled dam releases from Summersville Lake, turning the Gauley into a world-class whitewater destination. At that point, the Gauley gushes about 100 rapids, more than half of which are Class III-V. The finale is Bridge Day, held in town the third Saturday of every October, a festival in which skydivers, BASE jumpers, and climbers on rappel fling themselves off the bridge 900 feet into the New River Gorge.

The most recent spate of terrorism attacks serve as a reminder that travel is both enlightening and challenging. In today’s world, travel safety and security are now more important than ever. It should be emphasized that no one can guarantee a traveler’s total safety. The following points however are at least some of the precautions that travelers should consider when attending events at home or abroad, and when traveling as part of a group or as individuals.

1. Do your research before you go.

Take the time to search the internet to understand the local risks. Different parts of the world present different types of risks, from health issues to safety issues such as crime, robbery and pick pocketing to issues of terrorism.

2. Get your information from a variety of sources.

In many parts of the world hoteliers are notorious for telling their guests what they think they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. Contact local airlines and police departments to corroborate information

3. Do not advertise who you are.

A general rule of tourism is to not stand out. Visitors are often victimized because people think that they can be hurt without consequences. Not standing out in a crowd is essential. Thus, do not speak loudly, especially in a foreign language, dress according to local customs, and frequent restaurants at the times that the locals eat rather than at the hours that you would eat at home.

4. Watch the news.

It is essential that you have some idea about what is occurring in the news. Remember that terrorist groups often use any excuse to commit random acts of terror, and the potential of a conflict causing a spill-over effect on innocent travelers, while unlikely, is possible.

5. Make sure the US embassy knows where you are and if you have a special need.

The US Department of State maintains international travel warnings and advisories. US consulates encourage US citizens to register with them and provide them with a contact number. That way, in case of emergency, the consulate already knows where you are and how to find you.

6. Make sure that someone back home has your itinerary.

Before you leave home give someone your itinerary, a way to contact you, a photocopy of your passport and emergency numbers. If you are a single woman, then take extra precautions and if you are a single man, think before you get into trouble.