Summer Photoshoots at German Lakes: A Complete Guide

Note: The featured image is a symbol image created with AI.

From May until early October, summer is the prime time for photoshoots at the picturesque lakes of Bavaria and southern Germany. These locations offer a unique blend of lifestyle and sensuality, allowing for stunning imagery without needing to commit to one aesthetic. The water serves as a captivating backdrop, with its reflections and movements creating a dynamic visual experience. Many women who participate in these shoots often remark, "I didn't even notice how quickly time passed." This is the magic of the lakes.

This article outlines my favorite lakes for photography, the best times for lighting, recommended outfits, and equipment to bring. It also highlights why summer lake photoshoots are some of the few events that should be planned months in advance.

The Best Lakes for Photography

Olchinger See

My home lake, conveniently located nearby. Best lighting occurs in the early morning between sunrise and 8 AM, when mist lingers on the water and the area is still quiet. The sandy entrance on the west shore and old piers on the north shore provide excellent settings for various compositions. This location is versatile for everything from summer dress shoots to bikini editorials and lingerie shots in the water.

Mammendorfer See

A quieter alternative to Olchinger See, ideal for weekend shoots when the latter gets crowded. The reed edges offer beautiful wide compositions, and the water is usually clear. The optimal time to shoot here is in the late afternoon.

Ammersee

Located just 30 minutes from Olching, Ammersee boasts a larger water surface that enhances light reflections during golden hour shots. The west shore (Riederau, Utting) features calmer bays, while the east shore tends to be more crowded in the summer. This lake is particularly effective for editorial lifestyle and lingerie shoots, where a larger body of water adds depth to the images. Best shooting time is late afternoon until just before sunset.

Starnberger See

A 45-minute drive from Olching, Starnberger See is the largest lake in the area and offers numerous piers and boathouses for varied compositions. It is a standard choice for premium editorial sessions, where the travel and setup time are justified by the resulting images. Locations like Tutzing, Possenhofen, and the east shore are quieter than the tourist hotspots.

Brombachsee (upon request)

Situated 90 minutes from Olching towards Nuremberg, this lake is perfect for women looking for a day trip or those already familiar with the Olchinger or Ammersee aesthetics. It features sandy beaches, wide lighting windows, and ample space. This option is available upon request, with travel costs billed separately.

Effective Lighting Windows

• Early Morning (sunrise to 8 AM): Fog on the water creates soft, diffused light with minimal human presence. This magical atmosphere is ideal for lifestyle and editorial photography. In high summer, sunrise is around 5:30 AM, so we typically meet at 5 AM for early risers.
• Late Afternoon (2.5 hours before sunset until sunset): The golden hour provides warm reflections on the water, perfect for sensual editorials and images where warmth is desired.
• Just After Sunset (blue hour, about 30 minutes): Although brief, this period offers cool light that can make the water appear almost metallic, particularly effective for black-and-white water editorials.
• What Doesn’t Work: Midday (harsh light), early afternoon (lack of atmosphere), and overcast days without light edges (resulting in dull images) are not ideal conditions. We will reschedule if these conditions arise.

Imagery and Outfit Suggestions

Summer Lifestyle (Standard)

Light summer dresses made of flowing fabrics in earthy tones or broken whites are recommended. You might walk along the shore, sit in the reeds, or dangle your feet in the water. This authentic summer women's editorial lies somewhere between Kinfolk and Magnolia Journal. The best outfit choices include a linen dress (from brands like Massimo Dutti Linen, COS, or Sézane) or an off-white slip dress, paired with sandals or barefoot.

Bikini on the Pier

This style features minimalistic summer-sensual images. Choose matte bikini sets in black, beige, or broken white—avoiding bright colors and logos. Sitting on the pier with dangling feet or occasionally jumping into the water works particularly well at Olchinger See (due to its pier architecture) and Starnberger See (with its boathouse piers).

Lingerie Editorial in the Water

This is the premium format for sensual photography. We’ll enter the water in lingerie (cream, beige, black—fine cotton or silk) up to the hips or chest during the golden hour. Water reflections and golden-orange light edges on the skin create a classic look reminiscent of Sarah Moon's early water editorials. This genre requires more depth and experience in sensual photography.

Nude / Black-and-White Water Nudes

Available upon request and after prior discussion. These black-and-white images in the water focus on classic compositions, typically shot early in the morning at Mammendorfer See or a quiet section of the west shore at Ammersee. Discretion is key, not bravery.

What to Bring on Shooting Day

• 2 to 3 outfit variations. A summer dress plus bikini is the standard combination. For premium sessions, include an additional lingerie set.
• Large beach towel (or two). One for drying off and another for sitting on the grass.
• Change of clothes for the journey home. Wet outfits can be uncomfortable on the way back. A cozy sweater, dry pants, and possibly an extra pair of shoes are recommended.
• A small water bottle. Even early in the morning, summer shoots can take longer than expected.
• For bikini/lingerie shoots: a small bathrobe or cover-up. Useful for breaks between setups, especially if passersby are around or if you want to dry off briefly.

When to Book

• March to May for the entire summer season. Prime slots (sunrise times at Olchinger See on weekdays, late afternoons at Ammersee) often fill up by May. If you inquire in July, you may only find weekend slots available, which tend to be busier at the lakes.
• Plan for a 2-3 week weather buffer. If overcast days arise, we will reschedule, as images without light edges can appear dull. This means reserving a date, checking the weather two weeks prior, and possibly scheduling an alternative date within the same week.
• The end of the season in September/October is often underestimated. The sun is lower (providing golden light throughout the afternoon), there are fewer tourists, and the water remains warm enough for water editorials. My best summer shoot in recent years took place in mid-October.

Costs for Summer Lake Photoshoots

• Lifestyle Basic (2 hours, one setting, one lake): starting from €200.
• Extended (3 hours, 2 outfits including bikini, one lake): starting from €350.
• Premium (4 hours, editorial sequence with summer dress + bikini + lingerie in water): starting from €500.
• Half-Day Editorial at Starnberger See or Ammersee (5 hours, multiple setups, travel included): starting from €700.
• Brombachsee or other lakes: Travel costs are billed separately (0.40 €/km).

All prices include a pre-shoot consultation (free of charge), a post-shoot image selection discussion, honest editing, and digital delivery in high resolution. Prints and albums are charged separately.

Final Thoughts

Summer lake photoshoots are unique in that the day after, I often think, "We should have booked earlier." Not because of the images—they turn out as planned—but due to the overall atmosphere. The fleeting lighting windows in summer feel limited. If you're looking to capture images by the water this season, reach out to me well in advance. The best slots tend to fill up quickly.

Water, Light, Summer

Whether at sunrise at Olchinger See or during the golden hour at Ammersee, prime slots go quickly. Contact me as early in the season as possible; consultations are always free.