caves beach
Are you considering having your maternity session at Caves Beach? I have included a number of photos from two solo maternity sessions, a couples pregnancy session as well as a family session to give you a good idea of what this location has to offer.
Caves Beach is a wonderful location for so many reasons. It is very centrally located suiting clients from Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast and also Sydney.
In one direction, the cliffs, rocks and trees stretch out in the background, the open sandy beach and ocean stretch out opposite. We can then make our way near or even around the cliffs to have a beautiful rocky background. The caves and rocks provide perfect privacy for images with draped material or sculptural shots. There aren't many locations that can look as if we have travelled to more than one spot with the soft sandy beach, dramatic rock formations, textured cliffs, ocean views, coastal grasses and greenery and natural reflections on the sand as the water pulls out towards the ocean.
Caves Beach is generally one of the quieter beaches in the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle regions with less beachgoers particularly at sunrise.
My favourite time to shoot at Caves Beach is at sunrise from September/October to March/April due to the sun rising over the horizon and ocean, illuminating everything beautifully. The position of the setting sun changes throughout the year. In summer, it sets further south along the horizon at Caves Beach, giving beautiful soft side light that wraps around the headland. In winter, it sets much further north, which means the light hits the beach much more directly. That creates harsher light and stronger shadows on faces, even during golden hour, so I generally don't schedule sessions at this location over winter. A better option for a winter session, both sunrise and sunset, is Redhead Beach.
Parking is easy year round and there is a cafe that opens early as well as toilets which is great for pregnant clients and children. There is plenty of space on the beach for kids to run around and play, there are rock pools to explore and caves to venture through so that your children won't get bored.
The tides and swell can dramatically change the look of Caves Beach with more exposed rocks sometimes covered in algae, to waves crashing into the rocks creating huge splashes. While every session feels unique, if there is a particular shot or look that you love about Caves Beach, let me know and I can check the tides to suggest a date that will give us the best chance at getting that for you.
