Looking for beach picture ideas for Instagram? You’ve made it to the right place.
Whether you’re spring breaking in the Caribbean, vacationing in the tropics or relaxing in the Mediterranean, these beach photo ideas will elevate your Instagram game from casual poster to professional influencer.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If a product is purchased using one of the following links, I may earn a small commission from the brand at no cost to you.
All of these beach picture ideas for Instagram are free for you to copy. Be sure to tag me in your photos for a chance to be featured on my Instagram Story!
Also, if you need more ideas, I have plenty of travel photo guides, including this list of the best travel Instagram captions, this blog post on the best travel photo poses and this guide to the best budget-friendly travel camera gear.
Without further ado, here are 30 beach picture ideas for Instagram you need to copy.
How Do You Take Cute Beach Pictures?
To take cute beach pictures, you need a cute beach outfit, flattering beach picture poses that you love, beach picture ideas to inspire you, and beach-themed props if you have them.
The following beach picture ideas for Instagram will show you exactly how to take cute beach pictures that you feel confident about with absolute ease.
If you need good beach outfit ideas, check out my Positano outfits guide and Tahiti packing list for inspiration.
Cute Beach Picture Ideas For Instagram
1. Sit facing the ocean.
One key factor of the perfect travel pose is to make the pose as natural and seamless as possible. At the beach, you naturally sit facing the ocean, watching the waves and perhaps the sunset over the horizon. Taking a picture in this simple pose will evoke the true feeling of visiting the beach.
2. Lay down on the sand.
Furthermore, laying down is one of the most realistic, relaxing parts of visiting the beach. Laying down on the sand and taking a photo from a unique angle (above, behind or laying in your beach chair) makes a super cute beach photo opportunity.
3. Walk along the shore.
Everyone likes a pretty beach walk, right? A simple walk adds enough movement to turn a boring touristy beach picture into a natural, iconic professionally shot photograph.
4. Run along the shore.
Similarly, if you want to add more movement to the picture for extra dramatic, artistic effect, run along the shoreline instead of walking. Bonus, wearing a dress or other flow-y beach attire will add even more motion and depth to the photo.
5. Wade in the water.
Next, if you don’t have enough of a “do it for the ‘gram” attitude and you’re afraid of looking like a running fool in public (I totally get it), try wading in the water for another simple, minimalist beach picture.
6. Waist up in the water.
Alternatively, carefully walk into the water with your camera and take a photo when you’re in waist-deep water. This angle is particularly flattering if you’re feeling self-concious in your beach attire (even though you seriously look fantastic).
7. Hold a coconut or other beach drink.
When in doubt, hold a coconut, beach drink or other beach prop (such as a beach hat, beach bag or sunglasses) to add character to the beach picture. This beach picture idea for Instagram will definitely make your photo stand out to your followers online.
8. Hold onto your beach hat.
Likewise, holding onto your beach hat while it’s on your head will make the viewers imagine the ocean breeze that you’re experiencing from their home. And, this will create a triangle shape with your arm(s), which is a huge posing tip from professional photographers.
9. Wear a flower crown.
Or, if you want a unique alternative to a beach hat, you can wear a flower crown in your beach picture. This will give your picture major Bora Bora vibes, all while ensuring that your Instagram post will stand out among all of the other spring break and summer vacation posts.
I have this flower crown from Amazon, and I love it. I’ve worn it on beaches in Maui, Tahiti and Bora Bora. No matter where I wear it, it never fails to add extra flavor to my photos.
10. Put your sunglasses on your head.
Remember how I mentioned that creating triangles with your arms (and legs) is a super easy yet professional way to elevate your travel photos?
Like holding onto your beach hat, putting your sunglasses onto your head will create this same triangle shape to make your photo more appealing, realistic and motion-filled.
11. Lay in a hammock.
If there happens to be a hammock on the beach you’re visiting, laying in the hammock with your legs hanging over the edge seamlessly transports your followers into the beach scene, guaranteeing a ton of likes.
12. Sit on a beach swing.
Or, similar to the hammock, if the beach you’re visiting has a swing, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to take a good Instagram photo here. You may have to wait your turn for a beach swing photo, but, trust me, the wait will be worth it.
13. Sit on a boulder or rock.
If there isn’t a hammock or beach swing in sight, you can always find a naturally large rock or boulder to sit on, too. Pair the rock with a serious facial expression for an iconic beach model look.
14. Read your beach book.
Like I’ve mentioned previously, beach props are one of the easiest ways to make your beach picture more Instagrammable. Grab your beach book and read it (or pretend to read it — I won’t tell) for a picturesque, whimsical vacation photo.
15. Walk on the boardwalk.
Next, like walking along the shoreline, walking on the beach’s boardwalk quickly turns a tourist photo into a picture that’s worth a thousand words, depicting all of the fun beach experiences you had.
16. Kneel on the sand.
Moreover, if you’re feeling sassy and want the ultimate influencer Instagram beach picture pose, kneel on the sand. You can make this pose dramatic and fashion-forward with a serious face. Or, if you want to showcase how happy the beach makes you feel, pair this pose with a smile and/or fake laugh.
17. Flip your hair. (Beach Picture Ideas For Instagram)
Ready to level up from the kneel pose? Try flipping your hair up and take a shot from your profile view. You may — correction, will — end up with sand in your hair, but, in my opinion, the beach pictures this pose produces are definitely worth sandy hair.
18. Swoosh your hair in the wind.
Otherwise, if the hair flip is a little too dramatic for you, you can simply swoosh your hair in the wind to quickly add motion and depth to your photo. This pose will also help your followers envision the ocean breeze you felt.
19. Run your fingers through your hair. (Beach Picture Ideas For Instagram)
Or, you can run your fingers through your hair for a similar effect. Running your fingers through your hair will also produce that flattering triangle shape with your arms that we’ve been talking about.
20. Hug your knees into your chest.
Next up, hugging your knees into your chest is another easy beach picture pose that showcases all of the fun, relaxing, chill beach vibes that went on behind the scenes of your photo.
21. Look up at the palm trees. (Beach Picture Ideas For Instagram)
While the ocean water typically gets all the credit for beach beauty, don’t forget about the palm trees. Stand tall among the beach’s palm trees (or lean against the palm trees) and look up at an angle to show off the gorgeous palms. Add triangles with your arms and/or legs to look like an Instagram pose pro.
22. Hide under a palm tree shadow.
Or, if you really want to take your beach Instagram influencer career to the next level, you could attempt the legendary palm shadow back pose. I have to admit, though, this photo is a lot more difficult to execute. You’ll need at least one friend to hold the palm branch and another friend (or tripod) to hold the camera.
23. Snorkel or swim underwater. (Beach Picture Ideas For Instagram)
In addition, another advanced yet very cute beach picture idea for Instagram is to take an underwater photo of you swimming, snorkeling, free diving or scuba diving. Don’t have a GoPro? No problem! Just use one of these underwater smartphone pouches and your phone’s camera. I swear by this trick.
24. Kayak or canoe.
If swimming under saltwater isn’t your thing, sit in a kayak or canoe for another unique beach photo that most tourists don’t think to post.
25. Pose with your significant other. (Beach Picture Ideas For Instagram)
Lastly, before we discuss the best beach Instagram picture ideas for boys, you can also take incredible beach pictures with your significant other. To add character to these couple photos, avoid the side-by-side standing pose and, instead, opt for a cute lift or sit face-to-face in the waves.
Beach Picture Ideas For Instagram Boy Edition
Now, for the beach boys, there are various beach picture ideas for Instagram for boys, too, that exude model-status masculinity and go far beyond the basic smiling tourist photo.
1. Wear your sunglasses.
First, wear your sunglasses. This simple beach prop adds a dramatic effect to your photo that is still completely realistic.
2. Look down at the sand.
Second, with or without your glasses, look down at the sand at an angle. This simple posture gives off a model attitude without looking like a desperate Instagram-wannabe in public. To add to the scene, you can take slow steps toward the camera or naturally pop one leg behind you.
3. Look into the distance at an angle. (Beach Picture Ideas For Instagram)
Third, look into the distance at an angle. This angle will make your facial features and jawline appear more chiseled while adding character to the photo. After all, when you’re at the beach, you spend more time looking around at the scenery than you do staring into a camera lens, right?
4. Wade in the water.
Moreover, just like I mentioned earlier for girls, wading in the water is a simple yet effective way to add quick flavor to your beach pictures. Also, this is an insanely subtle pose if you don’t want it to be obvious to strangers that you’re taking pictures for Instagram.
5. Walk on the boardwalk. (Beach Picture Ideas For Instagram)
Finally, you can also walk on the beach boardwalk for an iconic beach picture that will definitely stand out among all of the other boring tourist pictures you see when you scroll through Instagram during vacation season.
Well, did you find the perfect beach picture ideas for Instagram?
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and tag me in your photos. I’ll share your post to my Story!
More Beach Picture Ideas For Instagram
Funny Vacation Instagram Captions You Need To Steal
25 Easy Poses For Travel Photos (With Examples)
115 Travel Instagram Captions You Need This Year
Cheap Travel Camera Gear For Better Photos
Save These Beach Picture Ideas For Instagram
Save these beach picture ideas for Instagram for easy access later by saving to your social media.
Leave a Reply