Beach Portrait Help

[SoccerMom2]

I am planning on taking some family portraits for my family on the beach. I am kinda scared. I have tried this before but the sun was in our eyes so we all squinted. I will taking the pictures in front of the water. Here are a few questions i have.
1.What time of day should i take them?
2.Should i take them when the sun is directly above me or behind them?
3. I heard using a white bed sheet behind me would help soften the light, is that true?

Any trick and tips would be greatly appreicated. I am going back to the exposure book and refreshing my brain.

 

[kwillia]

Beach Pictures - A Tutorial in Beach Photography

 

[Chasey_Lane]

I just had family pictures done on the beach. Some will depend on what county you'll be in, but for the most part, the earlier the better. Try to be at your location around 8 am. Anything after 10 and you'll have squinty eyes, not to mention bad lighting.

 

[GWguy]

Sun should always be behind you.

Regardless, using a flash helps even out the shadows.

If you're using a newer camera with changeable automatic settings, see if it has a "beach" or "snow" setting. Experiment with it before you shoot for real.