When the Beach Comes to the Studio: A Surreal Sandbox Set | Jada and David

When the Beach Comes to the Studio: A Surreal Sandbox Set

Blog by Jada Parrish | Conceptual Photography| 05/29/25

Surrealism has always been a big part of how we see the world and how we create within it. We love starting with something ordinary, something familiar, and then twisting it into something a little strange, a little whimsical, and a little unexpected. This recent shoot was exactly that.

We started with a simple idea: a studio photo shoot that referenced a beach scene. But, true to form, we knew we didn’t want it to feel too literal. We wanted to give it a conceptual, surreal spin that would make people look twice.

A few weeks before the shoot, we put out a model call specifically looking for someone who naturally gets strong, visible tan lines. I had a very specific image in my mind—a shot from behind, with a nude torso clearly showing the outline of a bathing suit. It felt ironic and funny in a subtle way, like a quiet nod to summer nostalgia and the awkwardness of human habits. That detail became the spark for everything else.

We found an incredible 1960s-style beach chair on Amazon and used its bold striped fabric as the anchor for the set design. From there, we built a literal sandbox in the middle of our studio. Yes, a real sandbox. It brought a playful, childlike energy to the whole shoot that we loved. Inspired by the chair’s pattern, we painted colorful stripes across the set and added a big semicircle in the corner of the room to represent the sun. That simple shape added the perfect surreal punch, turning a blank wall into something dreamlike.

The shoot became a fun mix of contradictions. The real and the surreal. The adult and the childlike. The posed and the silly. There’s something magic in that middle space where imagination takes over and lets everyday things feel new again.

When the Beach Comes to the Studio: A Surreal Sandbox Set - Jada And David Parrish

Planning a conceptual shoot like this one always starts with a strong idea. From there, we build on the concept through set design, color choices, styling, lighting, and more. When all of those elements come together to support the story, the final images have so much more impact.

If you want to learn how to develop narrative-driven concepts and pull all the creative pieces together, check out our Conceptual Photography Guide. We break down exactly how to use set dressing, lighting, and color to bring your vision to life—no matter your style.

If you want to learn more about how to create more impactful photos, check out our Conceptual Photoshoot Guide - Webreak down exactly how to use set dressing, lighting, and color to their fullest potential.