I want to take some pictures of my kids by the beach without tons of people there. Are all beaches super full these days? Any less crowded ones or hidden gems?
Depends what time of day you go and what part of the beach you go. For example Coney Island is packed midday but by late afternoon it gets a little emptier and there are areas further away from the popular parts that are mostly empty.
Another option is Jacob riis. Same thing. You may have to walk a bit to find a quieter area.