Beach photoshoot — Barcelona

It depends on the style. Barceloneta is the most recognisable, with the promenade and the W hotel behind, ideal if you want the Barcelona signature — but it's very busy. For cleaner photos and wide sand I recommend Bogatell or Nova Icària, a little further north, with palm trees and far fewer people. Since we shoot at sunrise or sunset, any of them will give us space and good light.

The beach is probably the best place to photograph children. There's no need to ask them to pose: they run, jump the waves, play with the sand and laugh, and that's where the best images are. I work at their pace, without forcing, and let the session flow like a stretch of play. For parents it's very relaxed, because there's no need to control the little ones — just let them enjoy while I capture everything.

What looks best are light, flowing fabrics that move with the wind — long dresses, linen shirts, airy materials — and light, natural tones that match the sand and water: whites, beige, earth, soft blues. Avoid loud prints and big logos. Going barefoot almost always looks better. I send you a style guide with examples before the session.

Yes, and it's one of Barcelona's great advantages. The beach is fifteen minutes from the old town, so in a slightly longer session we can start in the stone streets of the Gothic Quarter or El Born and finish with our feet in the sand at sunset. It's the best way to tell the city's contrast — stone and sea in the same gallery. We just need a bit more time, which we set at booking.