Romantic Mazunte beach couple photos

I’ve been to a lot of small, hippie beach towns and Mazunte is a standout among them. Right on the Oaxacan coast of Mexico, it’s small yet mighty, vibrant and absolutely breathtaking. Everything is walking distance, there is such a thriving community of artists and creative workshops to participate in, the food is so fresh and absolutely delicious and don’t even get me started on the sunsets!!!

For this session I had the honour of photographing Sandhyaa & Guillermo - two Toronto natives who came to Mazunte for a quick trip. We spent an hour on Mazunte beach, getting creative and documenting their steamy chemistry together. Unlike other crowded tourist spots, Mazunte can still feel quiet enough for photos that look natural and candid without a million strangers in the background of your photos. It really lends perfectly to photos that are more intimate and steamy.

What to wear for a beach photoshoot in Mazunte

Light fabrics and flowy dresses: take advantage of the windy breeze right on the beach by wearing clothing that flows and creates more movement. It’ll lend to more visually dynamic photos
Earthy, neutral tones: beiges, creams and off-whites and warm colours that complement the landscape. You want to make sure that what stands out in your photos is YOU and not what you’re wearing so steer clear of busy and distracting patterns or logos on clothing.
Barefoot or sandals: wear things that are appropriate for the environment that you’re in and allow you to move freely!
Minimal accessories: keep it simple so that what stands out in your photos is your chemistry together - not what you’re wearing!

Tips to optimize your beach photoshoot

Embrace the elements: don’t strive for “perfection” - embrace the windswept hair, the sand on your legs and getting in the water. Allow nature to truly be part of the experience by interacting with the environment you’re in.
Trust your photographer: I always give prompts to my couples with the intention of getting them to move and interact with each other. I don’t think of it as modelling, I approach my version of directing a couple as an opportunity for them to reconnect with each other through movement and laughing at my stupid jokes. I might tell them to meow at each other or to list different vegetables to each other in a sexy accent. This is all extremely intentional. Trust your photographer because they probably see something that you don’t BUT if you are asked to do something that makes you uncomfortable you are always encouraged to say no! No’s & setting boundaries are so sexy!
Be present: forget that there’s a camera in front of you. Connect with your partner and keep swaying back and forth to create a little bit of movement. My job is to figuratively hold your hands through the entire session. It should never feel like you’re modelling because I’ll be guiding you the entire session with prompts that are going to be flowing and fun.