Here are some of my best tips for long Exposure photography:

 

1. Have a good Tripod, use the self-timer or better a remote

2. Find a good foreground middle ground background, use

3. Shoot HDR as needed to get a variety of exposures

4. You don’t need an ND Filter to start

5. Shoot toward the good light

6. Shoot toward the waves

7. Try to be around 1 to 3  sec when the sunset starts

8. Use my free presets to retouch in few clicks

 

www.photo-serge.com/FreePresets

www.photo-serge.com/FullPackPresets