Just ‘Kids Being Kids’ | Hong Kong Family Photography
Family Photoshoot in Hong Kong | For Your Unique, On-Location Family Portrait
Book a no-stress, kid-directed, spontaneous family photoshoot anywhere in Hong Kong: on HK Island, Kowloon or the New Territories.
Rambunctious kids? Shy kids? no Problem!
“Never Say Cheese!” is the secret to a classic Hong Kong family photoshoot
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, I think you can see that in my work. It’s the reason so many families have let me document their kids from toddler to teen.
Keeping the whole thing fun is the other not-so-secret secret to great family photography.
Here's the thing about kids at two years old, most of their personality is already there. My goal is to capture that now, in a portrait your family will still be looking at in 40 years, and still saying"that's sooo her!" It’s not just a holiday-card photo, this is actually family history.
‘Kids Being Kids’ Since 2007
“Because a family photo Is the most important photo”
Book a 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 growing family for 3 years… absolutely fabulous.”
Deb
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“He connected with our boys right away, helping them feel at ease. We treasure the photos.”
Chris
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“Those portraits are still on our walls — treasured memories.”
Emily
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"Ian has taken the most beautiful photos of our family over the years. He did a superb job and was so easy to work with."
Siobhan
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 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.
2026 Sessions & Availability
Check this page for my 2026 Family Packages, including my 20% Weekday Discount and fall mini sessions. 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.
Inquire About 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.
Most families sign up one or two months in advance for fall sessions, so there is no last minute scrambling!
Or, just simply sign up to get on my mailing list.
Family Portrait Hong Kong — FAQ
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Packages start from HKD 2,450 for Mini Sessions, with full sessions from HKD 7,250 (20% off on weekdays).
All-inclusive, no hidden fees, no high-pressure sales, 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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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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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!
Browse location options: -
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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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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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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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, and I've been caught in everything over 20 years. If conditions aren't right, we reschedule, no penalties, no stress. Affects maybe 5% of sessions max.
Worth knowing: overcast days often give the most flattering, even light for outdoor portraits.
Let me make the calls on the weather. I’ve been doing this for a long time, I know what we need from Mother Nature.
The family photographer Hong Kong has trusted for a generation.
Twenty Years, One Photographer, 1000s of Kids
Toddler to Teen Story | Kids Photography
Hong Kong family photographer To a Generation of Kids
Looking for a kids photographer Hong Kong families trust for the long haul?
Many family photographers show you a single hour on the beach. I have documented the arc of dozens of childhoods. The toddlers in 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 are gone. Whether you hire me, or someone else, above all else do photos when the kids are young!
Sisters, 2012 & 2026
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
HK Family Photo Locations | Where We Can Shoot
(Beach, City & Hidden Spots)
When doing outdoor photos locations shouldn't be chosen just for a 'perfect' backdrop. To me spontaneity and serendipity are much more important when it comes to kids portraits than what’s in the background.
Pick something easy to get to from home is key.
Some of the most popular options:
Capturing Kids Personalities with Family photography, Hong Kong style
