Hong Kong Family Photography | ‘Kids Being Kids’ Since 2007
Relaxed, Fun Family Photoshoots Across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon & New Territories
Book a stress-free, kid-led family photoshoot anywhere in Hong Kong, from Repulse Bay Beach and Sai Kung to Kowloon Park and the Mid-Levels. Let’s go explore and see what happens!
Shy Kids, Rambunctious Kids — no Problem!
For 20 years, I've photographed Hong Kong families at every stage of childhood, from toddlers who won't sit still to teenagers who'd rather be anywhere else. I don't need kids to pose, smile on command, or “perform” for the camera. I let them be themselves and build the photographs around whatever happens naturally.
The “Never Say Cheese!” Rule
For 20 years I've specialised in exactly the kind of spontaneous family photography Hong Kong families book year after year. I aim for relaxed, easy sessions that don’t feel staged or cookie-cutter. I let the personalities of the kids lead the way.
Keeping the whole thing fun is the other not-so-secret secret to great family photography.
Not Great With Cameras? Don’t Worry.
You don't need to know how to pose, where to stand or what to do with your kids. That's my job. I’ll keep things moving, give you enough direction when you need it, and let the kids do what kids do. The goal isn't to create a perfect family portrait. It's to create photographs that actually feel like your family.
I’m not interested in creating a perfect-looking version of your family. I want to document the personalities, relationships and little moments that make you who you are, and tell your family’s story as it really is.
Book a Creative Family Session Where Kids Can Be Kids
Drop your email and I'll send you my 2026 family photography packages + my favourite Hong Kong locations.
No commitment. I reply within 24 hours.
Kind Words
120,000+ FB Fans
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“Ian has photographed our family for over 10 years. His images are brilliant- always natural and beautiful with the ability to accurately capture the essence of each person. Ian is a delight to work with. He engages each person in just the right way making the shoot fun and efficient even for camera shy people! I can't recommend him enough.”
Andrea
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“Ian is such an amazing family photographer. He is so talented and also a genuinely great guy to work with. His style is candid and relaxed and will capture priceless shots of your kids. I can't recommend him enough!”
Xannie
Doing Hong Kong Family photoshoots for 20 years: I’ve had two themes since Day One.
Kids Being Kids & Never “Say Cheese!”
After two decades as a family portrait photographer, I’ve worked with everyone from reluctant teenagers and chaotic four-year-olds to grandparents having their first professional family photos. I know how to bring out the best in all of them.
Hong Kong Family Photography Packages
Outdoor beach sessions, park shoots, and home visits with all-inclusive high-res files
Check this page for my 2026 Family Packages, including my 20% Weekday Discount and Fall Family Mini Sessions (HKD2450). Sessions are all-inclusive with hi-res files, no need to purchase products from me.
There is nothing like a empty Hong Kong beach or public park in the morning, or wandering around Stanley on a weekday after-school with the ocean breeze and complete lack of crowds. Weekdays can feel much more like we are making a little documentary, rather than a photo session. Escape work an hour early and have the most relaxed family photos possible!
“We had a lot of fun with Ian. My son instantly connected with him and we had amazing natural photos. The whole process was so smooth and easy. We are usually a bit awkward in front of cameras but Ian put us at ease and we were able to have fun.”
Helen, June 2026
Trusted photographer for CDNIS, CIS, HKIS, HKA and many more Hong Kong international schools.
More Kind Words
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"We have had the pleasure of Ian photographing our family since 2012 and the photos are always STUNNING. He was incredible at capturing the cutest moments of our young children and now that they are teens, he still manages to capture their essence. Ian's photos are a treasure and I highly recommend him!"
Therese
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"Ian is fabulous at capturing that special moment. He works really hard, fast and technically is all over the process (the light, the composition, speed, depth etc…) but what makes him special (and as I teacher I recognise this) is that he has the knack of getting the kids to be themselves and reveal the actual person they truly are - and in that moment he captures it. That’s what makes him special. Thoroughly recommended."
Dan
Book Your Hong Kong Family Photoshoot
Tell me a bit about your gang, your timing, and what you have in mind, and I’ll come back with options that work. Or, just simply sign up to get on my mailing list.
Hong Kong Family Photography — Frequently Asked Questions
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Outdoor family photography doesn't have to mean lining everyone up and asking the kids to smile.
I react to what is going on with the light and the vibe, rather than setting up shots. That’s why every session is completely different, because every family is unique.
I never tell kids to say "cheese" or force rigid poses, as that produces contorted, unnatural expressions. Instead.
I even wrote a 228-page guide on this exact approach:
Never Say Cheese! How to Take Great Candid Photos of Your Kids.
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I've never come back empty-handed in 20 years of doing this. Shy kids often make the best portraits, because they aren't performing — I shoot from a distance with longer lenses at first and let them forget I'm there.
Rambunctious kids are the opposite, but just as much fun. Every kid's different, and that's what makes the job interesting.
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If you’re looking for straightforward family photography packages in Hong Kong without hidden fees, options start from HKD 2,450 for Mini Sessions.
Full session rates are listed on my rates page, with 20% off weekday sessions. Every package is all-inclusive, no hidden fees, no high-pressure sales, and no surprise upsells for your digital files.
Full details: https://www.iantaylor.ca/hkrates -
Yes, I do HK holiday photos!
A big part of what I do is working with families visiting Hong Kong year after year — from Singapore, Sydney, London, Toronto, LA and beyond. Sessions are built around your itinerary.
Kowloon Park is a favourite for visitors, ten minutes from Central, rarely crowded on weekday mornings. Or we can do something more urban in Sheung Wan.Never an issue to find a location, the important thing is to lock down a spot well in advance.
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When planning a family portrait, Hong Kong gives us endless variety, but I care less about finding a "perfect" backdrop than finding somewhere your kids can relax and be themselves.
Hong Kong is basically a giant movie set, the backdrops are world-class everywhere you turn.
A few favourites:
Beaches: Deep Water Bay, Chung Hom Kok, Mui Wo
Parks: Kowloon Park, the Botanical Gardens, Lingnan Garden
Urban: Hollywood Road, the Mid-Levels staircases, West Kowloon waterfront
Honest advice, though: pick somewhere easy and close to home. The location is 10% of the photo, your family is the other 90%. So don’t sweat the location!
See my guide to Hong Kong family photoshoot locations.
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Sooner is almost always better.
The wobbly toddler stage is portrait gold, a few weeks into walking, they have zero self-consciousness, and these are the shots you'll actually want in 20 years.
Don't wait for the "perfect moment", the thing I hear most often from families is that they wish they'd booked sooner.
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This completely depends on two things: the weather and the location.
My brand of family photography mostly requires soft light.
On a sunny day I am looking for shade, while on an overcast day I am looking for more open locations.
So beach sessions are generally scheduled for fairly early morning or late afternoon. HK ‘Urban Jungle’ sessions are best midday during clear weather. Parks work in sunny or overcast conditions, which is why I use them so much, especially Kowloon Park.
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Every session has a completely different vibe, no two people are the same, whether they're one or eighty-one. That said, I generally try to work through:
Biggest grouping first. The holiday card shot!
Sibling interaction, if there's more than one kid
Individual portraits
Candid parents and kids playing, not necessarily posing
If parents would rather not be in the photos, that's completely fine, I'll just spend the whole session with the kids. In my first five years alone, at least 25%
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I have a developed methods to take care of this occasional issue. Essentially I handle it through a combination of equipment and scheduling.
My ‘look’ is based on very ‘fast’ (i.e. expensive!) lenses that blur the background. This keeps the attention on the subject, especially the eyes. (They aren’t wrong when they say “the eyes are the window to the soul”.)
Also, after 20 years, I know when most locations are busy. Stanley at 5pm on as nice Sunday can be tricky!
This is why I always push for weekday sessions, some of the best family photography locations in the world are completely empty during the week.
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Yes!
Reunions, grandparents, whoever's in town. Sessions are planned around mobility and energy levels so everyone from age 1 to 91 gets the most out of it.
These sometimes work best as an at-home session, and it's a great option for visiting relatives too.
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A successful family photo shooting shouldn't feel like work. Here’s how we keep your session effortless:
Minimal Posing: You don't need to coach your kids beforehand. Let them know we're going for a walk or spending time at the beach.
Flexible Timing: We schedule your family photoshoot around nap times and peak outdoor light (early morning or late afternoon).
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Coordinated, not matching.
Neutral tones and light layers work best against Hong Kong's varied backdrops.
Avoid heavy patterns or big logos, they pull attention away from faces. I'll send detailed wardrobe guidance once your session is confirmed.
More wardrobe tips:
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Absolutely!
I always encourage parents to bring a change of shirts at least. While not necessary, it gives a bit of variety to the results to mix up ‘the look’ of the wardrobe on the kids.
Just make sure they are happy with what they are wearing, and remember my sessions are quite active, so comfort is key as well.
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Yes!
Dogs and cats are part of the family, and I include them whenever possible.
I like to do pet photography where I include the ‘parents’ in a few as well.
Adult(s) and a dog is a family as well.
Years volunteering with Hong Kong Dog Rescue, the HKSPCA, and Catherine's Puppies (plus the K9 USAR Thailand Canine Rescue Team) taught me how to work with every kind of personality, from the shyest rescue to the most hyper puppy.
For cats, an at-home session is almost always the right call — easier to photograph on their own turf.
A few good outdoor spots for dog photos:
Wan Chai Waterfront, the Sheung Wan backstreets, Cyberport Waterfront Park, Sai Kung, and Stanley
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Hong Kong weather is unpredictable, If conditions aren't right, we reschedule, no penalties, no stress. Affects maybe 5% of sessions max.
Weather forecasts are not reliable. The only time I postpone more than one day before the session is when a ‘T-Something’ is aimed at the city.
Photography conditions can be counterintuitive: overcast days often give the most flattering, even light for outdoor portraits.
So I make the final call on the weather.. I’ve been doing this for a long time. (I did five years in motion pictures, snd five years in advertising, so I’ve seen every type of ‘on-set’ conditions.)
Mother Nature.has been my Lighting Director for many years, I know how to work with her!
The family photographer Hong Kong has trusted for a generation.
Twenty Years, 1,000+ Childhoods Documented
Tell Your Family’s Story — From Toddler to Teen
Hong Kong family photographer To a Generation of Kids
Looking for a kids photographer Hong Kong families trust for the long haul?
I have documented the arc of dozens of childhoods. The toddlers in some of these portraits are now in university. Some have left Hong Kong entirely for London and Singapore, where I also photographed them.
You can't go back and re-photograph the toddler years once they're gone. That's why I believe in photographing childhood as it actually happens, the personalities, the relationships, the funny little habits and all the things you'll miss when they're grown. I hear it all the time, “I wish we had done this years ago!”
Choosing the right family photography package Hong Kong families actually enjoy starts with finding a photographer whose approach works for your kids.
“Because a family photo Is the most important photo”
Sisters, 2012 & 2026 - Kids photoshoot in Hong Kong
Drummer in Hong Kong, on the phone in London
Still that same look, eleven years on
Same great hair, 12 years apart
Hong Kong kid, 10 years apart
14 yrs from Repulse Bay to Happy Valley
Twins and their big brother, Hong Kong to Brighton UK
Same blue eyes in Hong Kong and London
HK Southside girl in 2008 and 2023
Same blue eyes, 13 years later
Where We Can Do a Kids Photoshoot in Hong Kong
Popular Family Photography Locations in Hong Kong
When choosing a location, I care less about finding the "perfect" backdrop than finding somewhere your kids can relax and be themselves.
Picking somewhere that's easy to get to from home is key.
Some of the most popular options:
