Best Beaches for Family Photos in NH, Maine & Northern MA
Best Beaches for Family Photos in NH, Maine & Northern MA
You don’t need the “perfect” beach for family beach photos.
If you’re on a beach vacation, you’re already where you need to be. You’ve already done the traveling; the ocean near where you’re staying will work. It’s just a matter of which beach, what timing, and how we use it.
One thing to keep in mind, this is the East Coast. The sun rises over the water, and in most places it sets over land, so that can shape how we think about timing, or make early mornings worth it if you want that long reflection over the water.
You can read more about beach session timing in my Ultimate Guide to NH & Maine Summer Family Pictures on the Beach)
Southern Maine Coast (Old Orchard, Ogunquit, Wells, & York)
Old Orchard Beach
Old Orchard Beach has a ton of access points, and the beach itself is one long, continuous stretch of sand. The area near the pier and amusement park can be a lot to navigate, especially later in the day.
The pier is actually amazing at sunrise. It’s quieter, the amusement park and shops are closed, and the sun comes up right behind it over the water.
For evening sessions, I usually head toward the quieter sections so we’re not working around crowds the entire time.
If you’re staying right on the beach, we can meet there. If you’re at a hotel or Airbnb nearby, I’ll just want to know what parking looks like so I can plan ahead. If you’re staying off the beach, we’ll figure out a spot that makes sense.
Ogunquit Beach (Main Beach, Footbridge, Moody)
Ogunquit Beach gives us options. It’s really one long stretch of beach, just broken up into a few main access points.
The main beach near the Norseman is the most “in town” option and has more going on around it.
Footbridge Beach has its own parking lot, and getting to the sand involves two short bridges, one over the tidal river and another over the dunes, so the approach feels a little different.
Moody Beach also has a dedicated parking area, and it’s a quick walk across the street to get onto the beach.
Wells Beach + Drakes Island
Wells Beach is more about where you’re staying than anything else.
There is public parking, but it’s limited and fills quickly in the summer. If you’re staying right on or near the beach, that’s usually the easiest way in.
Drakes Island Beach is more straightforward, with a dedicated parking lot and clear access out to the sand.
York (Long Sands vs. Short Sands)
York beaches are basically two different setups.
Long Sands is more spread out and gives us a little more breathing room once we’re out there, but there’s no central parking lot, and finding a spot in the evenings can take some patience.
Short Sands is smaller and right in town, which means it’s much busier in the evenings, especially mid-summer, but it works really well for a sunrise session.
New Hampshire Seacoast (Portsmouth / Rye through Hampton & Seabrook)
New Hampshire’s coastline is short, but there are a handful of solid options, all pretty close to each other. These are all different access points with different (paid) parking setups, so we’ll just plan around whatever makes the most sense for where you are
Great Island Common (New Castle / Portsmouth)
Great Island Common is a grassy park right on the water with rocky shoreline and open space. It’s not a sandy beach, but it’s a nice option if you want something a little different or a mix of looks in one spot.
There’s also a playground here. It can be fun as a reward at the end, but for some kids it’s a little too tempting in the middle.
Odiorne Point State Park (Rye)
Odiorne Point State Park is a different kind of option. It’s more rocky shoreline, paths, and open space than a traditional beach, which gives us a lot to work with.
There’s also a playground here, same deal, great at the end, potentially distracting in the middle.
Rye (Jenness Beach + Wallis Sands)
Rye beaches have a couple of consistent access points.
Jenness State Beach is smaller with limited parking.
Wallis Sands State Park has a larger lot.
North Hampton State Beach
North Hampton State Beach has its own feel. It’s a popular spot with surfers and tends to have more going on in the water.
Parking is paid and can be tight depending on the time of day, so it’s something we plan around.
North Beach (Hampton)
North Beach is great for sunrise minis. It runs along Ocean Boulevard but sits north of the main strip, so it feels a little more open than Hampton Beach proper.
South Beach (Hampton)
South Beach is just south of the “main drag” and has easy parking, dunes, and a jetty if you’re up for the walk.
Seabrook Beach
Seabrook Beach is mostly residential, so access depends on where you’re staying, but if you’re already there, it works really well and tends to feel a little quieter than some of the more well-known beaches nearby.
Northern Massachusetts (Salisbury + Newburyport / Plum Island)
This is about as far south as I go, and it works well for families staying just over the Massachusetts line. Sunrise is over the water here, sunset isn’t in the same way, so timing can shift depending on what you’re hoping for.
Salisbury Beach
Salisbury Beach State Reservation is a long, open stretch of sand with a mix of public access and state reservation areas.
There’s a main, more built-up section, and then quieter stretches depending on where you enter. Parking is paid and fills up on busy days, but once you’re out on the beach there’s usually room to spread out.
Plum Island (Newburyport / Newbury)
Plum Island has a few different access points, and where we go depends on where you’re staying. It works best if you’re staying on the island with direct access to the beach and parking for me.
Some areas are more residential, while others are part of the refuge with boardwalk access out to the beach.
It’s one of those places where a little planning goes a long way, but it works really well once we’re in the right spot.
That’s really it. You’re already where you need to be.
Some beaches are busier, some are quieter, some take a little more planning, but none of that is a dealbreaker. It just changes how we approach it.
If you’ve got a spot in mind, send it my way and I’ll help you figure out the rest.
