I recently got the opportunity to photograph a couple coming all the way from Germany to celebrate with a honeymoon couples session on Miami Beach at sunrise. Sunrise is my favorite time for a photoshoot at South Pointe Park; the beach is empty, the light is soft, and the hour after sunrise gives you three completely different looks in one session. Here's how a sunrise photoshoot in Miami Beach works from start to finish.

Romantic couple silhouette kissing on beach at golden sunset with ocean backdrop and glowing sun.
Couple sitting on rocks at sunset beach, smiling romantically in golden light.
Romantic couple silhouette kissing on beach at golden sunset with sun reflecting on ocean water.
Couple holding hands running on a sandy beach at golden sunset with sun reflecting on calm ocean waves.
Couple sharing a romantic sunset moment on a beach, man kissing woman's head while she smiles warmly.
Couple sharing a romantic kiss on a beach at golden sunset with ocean waves in the background.

Why Sunrise


When clients ask me about golden hour, they immediately assume we're shooting at sunset. And, honestly, that's mostly fine. You still get that beautiful golden hour photoshoot during sunset. But... Miami Beach faces east, so sunrise is when the sun comes up directly over the water on this side of Florida. That means that the real golden hour with glowing silhouettes and intensely gold lighting happens early in the morning. We always meet about 20 minutes before the sun comes up so we're ready the second the light hits.

Romantic couple silhouetted against a golden sunset at the beach, leaning in for a kiss by the ocean.
Couple holding hands on a sandy beach at sunset, facing the ocean, man in floral shirt and woman in white dress.
Romantic couple silhouetted against a golden sunset on a beach, standing close together near the ocean waves.

First Light, Silhouettes, and Sun Flares


I like to use the first 15 minutes after the initial sunrise for the dramatic shots. I position the couple between my camera and the rising sun for silhouettes and cinematic shots. Timing is important here, because there's only a narrow window of time to shoot them first and move fast.

A happy couple playfully spinning on a sunny beach with ocean waves in the background.
Smiling young blonde woman relaxing outdoors with a man in a floral shirt, sitting on rocks in a sunny tropical setting.
A young couple holds hands and gazes at each other romantically on a sandy beach at sunset.
Couple joyfully spinning on a sandy beach at sunset, with ocean waves in the background.
Couple sharing a romantic moment on a sandy beach at sunset, man kissing woman's cheek as she smiles.
Couple holding hands barefoot on sandy beach, woman in white dress and man in tropical shirt with white shorts.
Romantic couple embracing on a sandy Miami Beach with palm trees and luxury high-rise buildings in the background.

Golden Hour Portraits


I spend the rest of the shoot before the water treating it like any golden hour photoshoot in Miami. This is when we do the romantic portraits: walking hand in hand down the shoreline, sitting together, playful lifts and spins at the water's edge. Since this was a honeymoon shoot, I kept the posing loose and let them just be newlyweds to get real laughs and smiles.

Romantic couple sitting together in ocean waves on a sandy beach at golden hour sunset.
Romantic couple kissing and dancing in shallow ocean waves at sunset on a beautiful beach.
Couple sitting together, woman in white dress with gold ring and bracelet, man in tropical print shirt.
Couple playing in ocean waves at sunset, man lifting woman in his arms while she raises her fist joyfully.
A couple sits together in shallow ocean water at sunset, smiling at each other in casual summer attire.
Couple holding hands running into ocean waves on a sunny beach, man in floral shirt and woman in white dress.
Silhouette of a romantic couple embracing in the ocean at sunset with golden light reflecting on the water.
Romantic couple kissing while sitting together on a sunny beach, waves gently lapping around them.
A romantic couple plays in ocean waves at sunset, man carrying woman in his arms on a beautiful beach.

Ending in the Water



I always save the water for last, for obvious reasons: once you're wet, you're wet. We finished the session with the couple running into the ocean holding hands, splashing, and him carrying her through the waves. These end up being the favorites almost every time. If you're up for it, getting in the water is the best way to close a Miami Beach couples session.

Book a Sunrise Photoshoot in Miami Beach


Whether it's a honeymoon photoshoot, engagement session, or couples session, sunrise on Miami Beach is hard to beat. I'll handle the timing, the locations, and the posing; you just show up (and maybe bring a change of clothes). 

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