Please help with Suggestions, examples Etc.

First off i have been lurking at this site for a while and it is full of great info. Thank you all in advance for the help.

My Dad has asked me to take pictures of him and his fiancee at the beach for their wedding announcement. I am pretty new to photography but have been reading all that i can and taking as many photos as i can to learn as much as possible.

I currently have the following equipment Canon EOS XSi with the following glass. EFS 18-55mm, and EFS 55-250mm glass. A tripod, and wireless remote.

Im going to guess they will want to take the pictures on the beach (Probably not at sunrise or sun set) so can you give me some pointers? Should i get a polarizing filter? Which lens do you think would be best for this? To make sure i get good exposure i could bring a gray card or expose of the lower 1/3 of the sky.

Do you have any examples of these kinds of shots that would be appropriate for mid 50's adults that you can share?

Thanks again for the help.

What do you intend to use as lighting? Are you going to use the pop-up flash or external flash? I would try to shoot either about an hour before sunset or after sunrise. That'll be the best lighting. A high sun is very tough lighting to work with. Here is a great article about flash and sunsets. Are you wanting to do the standard "stand there and let me snap a pic" or are you going to use a couple of other locations? The beach can offer a wealth of locations. If there is a pier, shooting around the pier in some shade might add some character to the image. Leaning against some beach rocks w/ the waves crashing in the background could really make a great image, too. Sorry, I don't live near a beach, so I don't have any sample images.

I will try to convince them to go earlier in the day or later but we might not get out there until like 10:00 which the sun would be up. If we do shoot early or late all i have available for lighting is the popup flash. This beach is in the South so there are no rocks or anything. I really am not sure what poses that is why im looking for examples. Probably them standing there, walking along the beach. Towards me, away from me.

Mudhog79 wrote in post #10510777
I will try to convince them to go earlier in the day or later but we might not get out there until like 10:00 which the sun would be up. If we do shoot early or late all i have available for lighting is the popup flash. This beach is in the South so there are no rocks or anything. I really am not sure what poses that is why im looking for examples. Probably them standing there, walking along the beach. Towards me, away from me.

Would they be opposed to sitting on the beach and getting sandy? Try to put the sun at their back, if possible and use the pop-up flash as fill. Maybe a search in the Wedding section for beach weddings and engagement sessions would yield some results for you to look at.

Here is a nice series. The picture doesn't have to be a static shot.

Beach Wedding: #6 specifically
Another: #4 specifically.

Thanks for your help.