Eagle Beach vs Palm Beach: Which Location Is Right for Your Flying Dress Photoshoot?
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
One of the first things many women say when planning their flying dress photoshoot is, "Which location should I choose?".
In Aruba we are blessed with many beautiful beaches…
But not all of them are suitable for a flying dress photoshoot, and I’m about to explain why.
Two of the most well-known beaches on the island are Eagle Beach and Palm Beach.
Both are beautiful. Both are iconic. But they create very different photos and very different experiences.
Learning the difference helps you understand why we prefer one over the other when it comes to flying dress photography.
Eagle Beach
The low-rise hotel area
Eagle Beach sits just south of Palm Beach and is part of what locals call the low-rise hotel area. The hotels here are smaller, quieter, and set further back from the shoreline.
This gives Eagle Beach something flying dress photographers love… space.
The beach is one of the widest on the island, which allows the flying dress fabric to move naturally with the wind without obstacles or crowds getting in the way.
You also get cleaner backgrounds. Instead of rows of high-rise hotels, the scenery is mostly open sky, white sand, and a simple horizon that keeps the focus exactly where it should be, on you and the movement of the dress.
This is why so many of our iconic images are captured here.
Palm Beach
The high-rise hotel area
Palm Beach is what most people picture when they think of Aruba’s resort strip. This is the high-rise hotel area, where many of the large resorts, beach bars, and restaurants are located.
It’s lively, vibrant, and full of energy.
Palm Beach is a fantastic place to spend the day relaxing, enjoying water sports, or watching the sunset with a cocktail in hand.
But for flying dress photography, it does present a few challenges.
The beach itself is narrower than Eagle Beach, and because so many hotels line the shoreline, it tends to be busier with people walking through the background. Depending on the angle, the hotel buildings can also appear in the frame.
That doesn’t make Palm Beach a bad location. It simply creates a different type of experience.
The Famous Aruba Postcard Tree
If you’ve ever seen a postcard from Aruba, chances are you’ve seen the famous divi-divi trees leaning dramatically toward the sea.
One of the most photographed trees on the island is located at Eagle Beach and it has become an iconic symbol of Aruba.
Naturally, many visitors want photos there.
However, for flying dress photoshoots we usually avoid that specific spot. It is almost always crowded with tourists taking pictures, beachgoers setting up umbrellas and towels for the day, and people walking through the frame.
For a calm, uninterrupted photoshoot experience, it simply isn’t the most practical location.
The good news is that Eagle Beach is huge, and there are many beautiful areas nearby where we can create clean, elegant images without the crowds.
Why Eagle Beach Is Our Preferred Choice
For most flying dress sessions, Eagle Beach simply offers more flexibility.
The open landscape allows us to:
• Capture dramatic movement in the dress
• Avoid busy backgrounds
• Work with natural light more easily
• Create those clean, timeless images many clients fall in love with
It’s not about one beach being “better” than the other.
It’s about choosing the environment that allows the flying dress to truly shine.
Don’t Stress About Choosing the Perfect Spot
Many clients arrive unsure which beach will work best for them, and that’s completely normal.
Most people want the easiest option which usually means what is closest to their hotel so they don't have to travel "far"... And I say far like this because Aruba is so tiny. It's only 19 miles long by 6 miles wide and you can drive from one end of the island to the other in under one hour. So nowhere is really that "far".
I personally think everyone should rent a car or Jeep for at least one day during their vacation to go exploring. Aruba may be small but she is mighty!
I have a great blog for the adventure girls who want to leave the resort areas and see the real Aruba.
And just remember, you don’t need to know the island like a local.
That’s what we’re here for.
Curious to See All the Locations?
You can explore all of our flying dress photoshoot locations in Aruba on the Locations page of the website and start imagining what your own session could look like.
When you’re ready, reservations can be made directly through the website.
I wonder which location you will choose...
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