Engagement Photoshoot at

Why Playa de San Agustín Is One of My Favourite Beaches

San Agustín doesn’t get talked about as much as Maspalomas, and honestly, that works in your favour.

Quieter Than Maspalomas

The sand here is coarser and slightly darker than the fine gold sand of the dunes further west, and the beach curves inward, which cuts down the wind you’d otherwise get on a completely open stretch. It also means fewer people walking through the back of your photos — San Agustín is more residential, with apartments and smaller hotels behind the promenade rather than a wall of resorts.

I’ve shot maybe two hundred sessions between here and Maspalomas over the years, and San Agustín is where I send couples who want the ocean and the golden light without needing to walk fifteen minutes across sand dunes in the wrong shoes.

The Rocky Coastline

Toward the harbour side of the beach there’s a low run of dark volcanic rock that stays mostly dry except at high tide. It’s a different texture entirely from the open sand — good for a handful of quieter, more still portraits partway through a session, especially if the light is a bit flat and needs something with more contrast.

San Agustín vs. Maspalomas

Maspalomas is the postcard shot — enormous dunes, very wide open sand, and a horizon that goes on for a long time. It’s genuinely worth shooting, and I still do sessions there most weeks.

But it also means more walking, more wind picking up sand around your ankles, and considerably more other visitors doing the same golden-hour walk you are. San Agustín is smaller in scale and calmer in feel. If you’re staying at Paradisus and want photos that don’t require a fifteen-minute drive or a trek through soft sand in the heat, this stretch of coast usually makes more sense.

The Best Time of Day for Your Photoshoot

Golden Hour

This is still the most requested slot, and for good reason. The sun sits low over the water, the light turns warm, and it hits the west-facing terraces at Paradisus directly. Exact timing shifts through the year — closer to 8:30–9pm in June and July, and nearer 6:00–6:15pm in December and January.

Morning Sessions

Less requested, but I like them for a different reason: the beach is nearly empty before 8am, the light is softer and slightly cooler in tone, and you’re not racing the sunset clock. If you’re an early riser on holiday anyway, this is worth considering.

Sunset Sessions

Most couples choose this, and I’d say it’s the right call more often than not. You get warm light, some colour in the sky most evenings, and the water picking up whatever colour is overhead.

How the Light Changes Throughout the Year

In winter the sun stays lower for more of the day, so the light has a warmer, more golden quality even a couple of hours before sunset. In summer, midday sun is harsh and mostly unusable for portraits — we shoot early or late, and the sunset itself shifts further to the northwest, which changes where shadows fall relative to the hotel.

My Favourite Photo Locations Around Paradisus

Tropical Gardens

Tall palms, dense planting, and light that filters through rather than hits you head-on. Good for the first ten minutes of a session, while you’re both still settling in.

Palm-Lined Walkways

Long, fairly symmetrical paths through the property. I use these for walking-away shots and for getting you moving and talking naturally before we get to anything more posed.

Oceanfront Terraces

Slightly elevated, facing straight out over the water. This is where I take the calmer, more composed portraits — good light, clean background, and no sand in your shoes yet.

Playa de San Agustín

Wide, open, and reflective at the waterline when the tide is right. Most of the session happens here, especially in the last thirty minutes before sunset.

Volcanic Rocks

The dark rocks at the western end of the beach give texture and contrast that plain sand doesn’t. I usually save this for a few quieter, more still shots partway through.

Nearby Viewpoints

A short walk along the promenade toward Playa del Águila gives an elevated view back over the coastline — useful if we have time and the light is holding.

Practical Things to Know Before Booking

Hotel Permission

Playa de San Agustín is a public beach, so shooting there needs no permission from anyone. The hotel’s own gardens and terraces are semi-private, but you’re a paying guest walking around with a camera during your own stay, not a film crew setting up lighting rigs — I’ve never had an issue at Paradisus or any other hotel along this coast for a normal one- or two-person engagement session.

Payment

Payment is after the shoot, not before — you see the results first. I don’t ask for a deposit for a standard engagement session. The only time I ask you to commit earlier is for peak weeks like Christmas or Easter, when I’m often fully booked days in advance.

Rescheduling

If your flight’s delayed or your plans shift, just message me and we’ll move the session to another day of your stay rather than lose it. The same goes if the weather turns on the day — we simply pick a new time rather than force a session in bad light.

Adding a Second Location

Some couples split one longer session across two spots — Paradisus and San Agustín for one evening, then the Maspalomas Dunes or Puerto de Mogán on another day of the trip. It’s an easy add-on if you’re around for a few days and want two distinctly different backdrops rather than doubling up on the same beach.

Let’s Plan Your Photoshoot

If you’re staying at Paradisus by Meliá or anywhere around San Agustín and want an engagement session that actually looks like the two of you rather than a stock photo, feel free to get in touch. I’ll ask a few questions about your stay and the look you’re after, and we can plan the timing and locations together from there.

Message me on WhatsApp whenever suits you — even a rough idea of your travel dates is enough to start planning.

Questions and answers