Business Details
26 Years
experience
Award-Winning Beach Family Portraits in Delaware
Portraits In The Sand, founded in 2000, is a premier photography studio specializing in beach and on-location family portraiture. Led by Master and Certified Professional Photographer David Koster, the studio combines artistic vision with technical expertise to create timeless images that capture the essence of family bonds and coastal beauty. With over 25 years of experience, David employs advanced techniques in posing, lighting, and digital artistry to produce high-quality portraits that emphasize natural interactions and emotional connections. The studio offers comprehensive services including session planning, professional styling guidance, and custom printing on archival materials rated to last centuries. Clients benefit from personalized attention throughout the process, from initial consultation to final product selection in the studio's state-of-the-art viewing gallery. The team maintains active memberships in elite photographic organizations, including the American Society of Photographers, and holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.Every session prioritizes flexibility, with options for beach, boat, or location-based photography accommodating families of all sizes and compositions. The studio's commitment to excellence extends to post-production, where skilled digital artists perform detailed retouching and enhancement to ensure optimal presentation of each portrait. Clients receive comprehensive support in selecting display options that complement their home decor, with software tools to visualize how portraits will appear in their living spaces. The studio maintains strict quality control standards across all print products, using Kodak archival materials and proprietary mounting techniques to ensure longevity. This dedication to craftsmanship has earned the studio recognition as Delaware's premier beach portrait specialist, serving coastal communities from Rehoboth Beach to Fenwick Island.
Services
Family Portraits
Pet Portraits
Senior Portraits
Boat Portraits
Photo Organizing
Restoration Services
Greeting Cards
Business Headshots
Digital Archiving
Custom Printing
Details
- Year established: 2000
Highlights and features
- 25+ years of specialized beach photography experience
- Only Master Certified Photographer in Delaware's beach region
- Custom portrait styling and home display visualization tools
- Archival printing materials rated for 100-200 years longevity
- Comprehensive digital enhancement and retouching services
Associations and certifications
- Certified Professional Photographer (CPP)
- Professional Photographers of America
- American Society of Photographers
What people say
Treasured memories
Perfect portraits
Wonderfully artistic
Professional expertise
Heirloom quality
Services
Family Portraits
Beach and location family portraits capturing multi-generational connections. Sessions include professional posing guidance, group composition, and natural light optimization. Post-production enhancements ensure flattering presentation while maintaining authentic expressions and interactions. Ideal for creating heirloom wall art and holiday cards.
Pet Portraits
Specialized sessions capturing pets' unique personalities in coastal settings. Photographer employs animal behavior techniques to achieve natural poses while integrating family members. Includes digital enhancement options to highlight pet features and create cohesive family portraits with companion animals.
Senior Portraits
Custom sessions documenting milestone achievements with personalized styling. Offers both formal attire and casual lifestyle options, with location choices including beaches, boats, and personal interest settings. Includes wardrobe consultation and print finishing options for school displays.
Boat Portraits
On-water family portraits capturing boating lifestyle memories. Photographer holds Coast Guard captain certification for safe in-water shooting. Sessions document recreational activities while emphasizing family dynamics against maritime backdrops, with specialized waterproofing techniques for equipment protection.
Digital Archiving
Permanent digital preservation system with lifetime guarantees. Includes cloud backup, file format conversion, and metadata tagging services. Features proprietary software for organizing personal photo collections and creating digital legacy packages for future generations.
People
David E. G. Koster
Owner & Lead Photographer
Master Certified Photographer with 25+ years experience specializing in coastal portraiture. Holds CPP designation from Professional Photographers of America and membership in the elite American Society of Photographers. Former developer at Atlantic Color Lab with technical expertise in archival printing processes.
Carrie Rest Koster
Studio Manager
Digital archiving specialist managing client workflow and photo organization services. Certified in Forever Storage platform implementation with expertise in personal photo collection management. Coordinates session scheduling and post-production client consultations.
Questions
What makes beach portraits unique compared to studio photography?
Beach settings provide natural, dynamic backdrops with soft lighting that enhances subjects' features. The relaxed environment encourages authentic interactions, while coastal elements like waves and dunes add artistic context to family portraits.
How are portraits preserved for long-term display?
We use Kodak archival paper with protective coatings rated for 100 years, plus museum-quality canvas options lasting 200 years. All materials undergo UV protection treatments and professional mounting to prevent deterioration.
What preparation is recommended for a portrait session?
Clients receive styling guides with clothing coordination tips. We recommend avoiding overly matching outfits in favor of complementary color palettes. Arrive with hair and makeup already styled for optimal photo readiness.
Can digital files be obtained for portraits?
Digital packages are available starting at $2000 investment. Includes high-resolution files with usage rights, plus cloud storage through our Forever Archive system. Screen-resolution digital images accompany certain print purchases.
What happens if weather conditions are unfavorable?
Sessions are scheduled with weather flexibility. We monitor conditions closely and may reschedule to ensure optimal lighting. The studio maintains equipment to adapt to changing natural light situations during beach sessions.
Do you photograph special needs families?
Yes, we have specialized experience photographing families with special needs members. Our team adapts posing techniques and session pacing to accommodate individual requirements while maintaining artistic quality standards.
Videos
Reviews (4)
Jessica Spartana
Jun 03, 2021
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Dave and Carrie are great! We had a private wedding ceremony in Lewes and are so happy with the photos! We appreciate the attention to detail and the time they took to make sure we have lasting memories we love. They made our day really special!
Randy M.
May 29, 2020
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Used Mr. Koster to photograph a surprise proposal on the beach with my fiance. After I proposed, later that day he contacted us to review the photos. We sat in his studio for nearly two hours editing our photos and got it down to a total of 16 we really liked. We learned the 16 photo album we built would cost us $3,200 dollars. If we wanted a single picture it would cost us $150 and not even be print quality.
We were so frustrated and left with only two prints ordered Moments after we left Mr. Koster friend requested my fiance on Facebook and not myself while using our engagement picture on his company Facebook page without any regards to how we felt about it. I would never use this service again.
We were so frustrated and left with only two prints ordered Moments after we left Mr. Koster friend requested my fiance on Facebook and not myself while using our engagement picture on his company Facebook page without any regards to how we felt about it. I would never use this service again.
Barbara Ferguson
Mar 26, 2020
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I treasure our photos from 2007 of my husband, dog and me. My favorite is a black and white photo of our feet with my niece, husband and their boys with our Scottie in colour! In 2011 I had Dave take photos of our almost year old granddaughter. The photos were a gift to my son and daughter-in-law. Fabulous keepsakes!
Lisa Condon
Mar 22, 2020
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I am so grateful for Carrie and Portraits in The Sand. They introduced me to their picture organizing platform, walked me through the process and offered help along the way. Almost 30,000 photos later, I am ready to start printing books for my God-children, husband and his family. They made it so easy!