On an island full of aesthetically amazing beach clubs like FINNS Beach Club, Potato Head Beach Club, Luna Beach Club, and Atlas Beach Club. You’re going to want to get some photos of your beach club experiences.
However, there are some important rules to follow in beach clubs in Bali when it comes to photography and our guide will help ensure you stay on the right side of them and help you get some amazing images for your Instagram feed.
The Most Important Rule – No Cameras, Only Smartphones
Most beach clubs in Bali are quite amenable to your bringing your smartphone to take photographs with.
However, nearly every beach club on the island has banned bringing in any kind of camera – this includes Polaroids, point and clicks, DSLRs, Mirrorless, Film, Action Cameras, etc. as well as drones, handy cams, cinecams, etc. too.
You’re also not allowed to take any kind of lighting setup (including external flashes for your phone) or tripods and selfie sticks inside.
In short, you’re limited to your phone, unless you can get written permission from the beach club of your choice to bring in any other gear. This must be obtained from the club’s marketing department and will, usually, only be given to influencers with very substantial followings (we’re talking 100,000+).
This isn’t because the beach clubs don’t want you to go home with memories. It’s to stop the club from filling up with people with expensive gear that is easily broken and can be ruined if it gets wet. And don’t forget this is around a backdrop of lots of people consuming alcohol.
No club is going to pay to replace your camera gear if it gets destroyed.
It’s also to stop would-be influencers from filling venues and ruining them for everybody else. A beach club is meant to be a laid-back place or somewhere that can showcase high-profile events, it’s not meant to be a waiting room for Instagram fame.
If you do bring camera gear to the best beach clubs, you’re going to find that you’re asked to leave it with security or if they don’t have room to store it for you, you may be asked to leave it in your vehicle.
The Best Time To Take Photos In A Beach Club
You will find that beach clubs like FINNS Beach Club, Luna Beach Club, Atlas Beach Club and Potato Head Beach Club look best in golden hour.
The golden hour is so called because it is the hour that surrounds either sunset or sunrise. It’s when the light is kindest to our skin, when the details of your surroundings are rendered without harsh contrast and when the Bali sky over the infinity pool looks best.
However, as most of the best beach clubs by the Indian Ocean are not open for sunrise, that’s going to mean the hour around sunset.
At this point in the day, things can be pretty busy inside clubs and you will want to plan your shooting spots very carefully as they can be super crowded with everyone looking for that perfect shot.
Tips For Taking Great Photos In A Beach Club
We’ve also got some handy tips for you that should help you get the images that you want while you’re enjoying the live music, local and international DJs and the excellent food and drink inside a club.
- Don’t be afraid to ask wait staff for some help – these are the people who know the clubs inside out and can help point you in the direction of places that look awesome in photos or even take a few photos for you. Obviously, don’t stop the busiest person carrying somebody’s food and drink for this and be respectful of their time, but the wait staff are a huge asset when in search of great photos.
- Make sure to be respectful of other people – it’s OK to have a couple of goes at getting your perfect shot, but we need to stress that clubs are full of other people. Many of whom are going to want to shoot where you’re shooting and many others who won’t enjoy you blocking their view of whatever they’re looking at. Don’t stand in the same place for 20 minutes trying a hundred different ideas, it’s not going to lead to a good time.
- Do scout out the venue before you shoot – take a walk around inside. Find the best places to get some shots, that spot by the wall with the stylish décor, the obligatory snap of someone sipping champagne in the infinity pool, that sort of thing. Be clear about what you’re going to photograph and you’ll get better shots and spend less time getting them.
- Remember photography is all about light – if you’re taking photographs of people, make sure there’s light on their faces and they’re not strongly backlit. This leads to people looking grey and washed out in your shots.
- Always ask if you want to take photos of other people – it’s fine to take pictures in public anywhere in Bali but if you’re going to make someone the subject of your photo, rather than just appearing in the background, it’s always best to ask them first. In an environment where people are drinking a lot of alcohol, you don’t want to upset someone even if there is security around to protect you.
- Change your angles up – most people shoot at eye level, but you get pictures if you bend your knees or raise your camera up high (especially for crowds shots when the live music and world class DJs take the stage).
- Keep flash to a minimum – your smartphone flash isn’t banned inside most clubs but if you use it constantly, it might start to annoy other people. If you want to use this flash, you’re free to do so, just be sparing with it. Don’t use flash on entertainers and musicians, it can distract them from what they’re doing.
FAQ
What Is The Most Instagrammable Beach In Bali?
Probably the most Instagrammable beach in Bali is Kelingking Beach which is best photographed from above as the rock formation on the beach looks like the head of a Tyrannosaurus Rex (when viewed from the right angle).
Please don’t try and get down on to the beach itself, though, several of the beaches in Nusa Penida are extremely dangerous to access and this is one of them. A few people have fallen to their deaths on these beaches as they try to navigate the inadequate cliffside paths and stairs to the sand, don’t be one of those people.
There are plenty of other, safer, beaches in Nusa Penida where you can frolic in the sands and get some lovely pics too.
What Is The Most Instagrammable Beach Club In Bali?
The most Instagrammable beach club in Bali is in Canggu.
FINNS Beach Club on Berawa Beach is going to be top of most people’s list of beach clubs to get some snaps inside and there’s no doubt that the non-stop entertainment in FINNS really does lend itself to some great shots.
Just be careful though, FINNS Beach Club is the most popular beach club in Bali and that means a lot of people inside checking out the world-class DJs, expertly mixed cocktails, gelato bar, etc. so you need to time your photos so that they’re not annoying other people. Less is more is definitely a good rule of thumb in FINNS Beach Club.
Final Thoughts On Taking Photos At Beach Clubs In Bali
Bali has some of the best beach clubs in the world and it’s natural to want to take photos inside them. You’re welcome to bring in your smartphone and make images and videos in any club here.
Just make sure to follow the tips above and you will get some awesome photographs for your social media without upsetting anyone else.
