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Cinematic family portraits where the sun sets directly over the Atlantic, Cape May Point, the lighthouse beaches, and the quiet stretches Victorian-era families have been photographed against for over a century.

CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY

Cape May beach portraits,

where the sun sets over the Atlantic

About-Cape-May
beautiful cape may beach photography

A NOTE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER

A Portrait Session

as Timeless as Cape May

There's no place on the Jersey Shore quite like Cape May. The Victorian inns, the gas-lit streets, the lighthouse rising over the Point, it's a town that feels caught between centuries, and the beaches that wrap around the southern tip of New Jersey are some of the most unique in the country. Cape May is the only spot on the East Coast where you can watch the sun set directly over the ocean, which means the families I photograph here get a backdrop you simply can't find anywhere else.

II've been photographing families along these beaches since 2016. I know which stretches of sand light up at golden hour, where to find quiet space away from the crowds, and how to make a beach session feel like a relaxed evening with your family — not a stiff photo shoot. Whether you're staying at Congress Hall, renting a Victorian in the historic district, or visiting from out of state for a multi-generational reunion, Cape May rewards families who want their portraits to feel as timeless as the town itself.

Michael Walsh
Shore Beach Portraits

Gallery-Cape-May

RECENT SESSIONS

A summer on the

Cape May coast

Selected portraits from this season's beach sessions in Cape May: families, couples, and a few unexpected moments in between.

SESSIONS-Cape-May

SESSION OPTIONS

Choose the moment

you want to keep

Transparent, all-inclusive pricing. No hidden fees, no surprise upsells. Every package includes a full print release and hand-edited gallery.

———    MAIN PACKAGES    ———

THE CLASSIC

Signature Beach Collection

A relaxed, golden-hour family portrait

$500

 · all-in

60 MINUTES · UP TO 12

—   Up to 12 family members

​​

   1-hour relaxed session, 1 hour 

      before sunset

​​

   50+ professionally hand-

      blended images

​​

   Full print release with all images

​​

   Delivered via Pixieset -

      easy to download, easy to share

​​

   Nothing else to buy

​​

   All major cards + Venmo + Zelle

MOST POPULAR

The Legacy Family Session

Flagship session for larger families

$600

 · all-in

60 MINUTES · UP TO 15

   Up to 15 family members

​​

   1-hour relaxed session, 1 hour 

      before sunset

​​​

   75+ professionally hand-

      blended images

​​

   Full print release with all images

​​

   Delivered via Pixieset -

      easy to download, easy to share

​​

   Nothing else to buy

​​

   All major cards + Venmo + Zelle

FOR LARGE GROUPS

The Grand Reunion

Multi-generation reunions on the sand

$700

 · all-in

60 MINUTES · LARGE GROUPS

—   For large groups & reunions

​​

   1-hour relaxed session, 1 hour

      before sunset

​​

   50+ professionally hand-

      blended images

​​

   Full print release with all images

​​

   Delivered via Pixieset -

      easy to download, easy to share

​​

   Nothing else to buy

​​

   All major cards + Venmo + Zelle

———    OTHER BEACH PORTRAIT PACKAGES    ———

CLASS OF 2026

The Senior Experience

The graduate, and an evening to remember

$500

 · all-in

60 MINUTES · GRADUATE +

SOME FAMILY SHOTS

—   The Graduate + Family Shots

​​

   1-hour Relaxed Session

​​

   50+ professionally hand-

      blended images

​​

   Scheduled 1 Hour Before

      Sunset for Best Lighting

​​

   Print Release w/all Images

​​

   Delivered via Pixieset -

      easy to download, easy to share

   Nothing Else to Buy

​​

   All major cards + Venmo + Zelle

   Outfit Changes Encouraged

SAY YES

Shoreline Beach Proposal

The moment, captured the second it happens

$500

 · all-in

60 MINUTES · FUTURE COUPLE + FAMILY

—   Future Couple + Family

​​

   1-hour Romantic Session

​​

   50+ professionally hand-

      blended images

​​

   Scheduled for: Whenever You

      Think She'll Say YES

​​

   Print Release w/all Images

​​

   Delivered via Pixieset -

      easy to download, easy to share

   Nothing Else to Buy

​​

   All major cards + Venmo + Zelle

   Contact For More Details

COASTAL CEREMONY

The Coastal Wedding Experience

Beach ceremony coverage, beautifully kept

$750

 · all-in

FROM 60 MINUTES · CALL FOR CONSULT

—   Beach Ceremony Coverage

​​

   1-hour Romantic Session

​​

   75+ professionally hand-

      blended  images

​​

   Scheduled Around Your Time

      at the Beach. Call for Consult

​​

   Print Release w/all Images

​​

   Delivered via Pixieset -

      easy to download, easy to share

   Nothing Else to Buy

​​

   All major cards + Venmo + Zelle

   $500 per hour afterwards

Kuczynski Family
"We had such a great time getting our photos taken with Mike! Wonderful photographer!"

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

FAQ-Cape-May
FAQ-LBI

QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

Everything you'd

want to know first

Most families ask us a version of these same questions. If yours isn't here, we're a quick email away.

CHOOSING YOUR BEACH

The best beaches in Cape May

for family portraits

Cape May isn't one beach — it's a string of distinctly different beaches, each with its own light, character, and ideal use. Here's where I shoot most often, and what makes each special:

01

Sunset Beach

Cape May Point

The crown jewel

This is the famous beach where you can watch the sun set directly over the Atlantic — the only place on the East Coast where this happens. The view of the SS Atlantus shipwreck just offshore adds an unforgettable foreground. Sessions here glow with warm pink and gold light unlike anywhere else on the Jersey Shore. If you've never been, it's worth the short drive from town just to see it.

02

Cape May Point Lighthouse Beach

Cape May Point State Park

Unmistakably Cape May

The iconic Cape May Lighthouse rises behind you while we photograph your family on quiet, wide beaches. The lighthouse anchors the images with a sense of place — these aren't just "any beach" portraits; they're unmistakably Cape May. I love this location for multi-generational sessions because the lighthouse provides a natural focal point that ties everyone together.

03

Higbee Beach

Western Cape May Point

The quiet alternative

Tucked away on the western side of Cape May Point, Higbee is the quiet alternative. Wide, undeveloped, and almost always empty in the evening hours. If you want a session that feels intimate and removed from the bustle of summer crowds, this is the spot. Especially beautiful for couples and smaller family groups.

04

The Cove

West End of Beach Avenue

Where the beach meets the inlet

The combination of dunes, jetty rocks, and open sand creates remarkable variety in a single session. Particularly good when wind is a factor — the geography offers natural shelter.

05

Poverty Beach

East End, near Congress Hall

Walkable from the historic hotels

For families staying at the historic hotels in town, Poverty Beach is walkable and beautiful. Soft dunes, gentle slope, and far enough from the main beach crowds for a relaxed session. The Victorian rooflines of town often peek into the background — a uniquely Cape May detail.

HOW WE CHOOSE

I'll help you choose the right beach based on where you're staying, the size of your group, and the kind of feel you want — classic Victorian-era Cape May, or dramatic Sunset Beach.

RESERVE YOUR DATE

The light won't wait. 

Neither should you.

Summer dates in Cape May fill quickly — especially Sunset Beach evenings. Reserve your session in under three minutes.

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