How to Prepare for a Family Photoshoot in Dubai
Planning a family photoshoot in Dubai? Here are practical tips on what to wear, what to bring, choosing a location and preparing children for natural family photos.
A family photoshoot can sound like something that requires a lot of preparation. What will everyone wear? Will the children cooperate? Should you bring snacks? What if your toddler refuses to smile? Should you choose a studio, the beach or your home? The good news is that you probably don't need to prepare as much as you think.
For the kind of family photography I do, I am much more interested in how your family actually is than in creating a perfectly arranged version of it. Children can move, parents can cuddle them, someone can be shy, someone can run away for five minutes. Those things are part of your family too.
If you're planning a family photoshoot in Dubai, here are some practical things I recommend thinking about before the day.
1. Choose a time when your children are at their best
This is probably more important than choosing the perfect outfit. If your child is exhausted by 5pm, there isn't much point scheduling a session at 5pm simply because the light is beautiful.
Think about your family's usual rhythm. When are your children generally fed, rested and happy? When does your toddler usually have a nap? When is everyone least rushed? For younger children, I often prefer working around their normal routine rather than asking them to adapt completely to a photoshoot.
And if your child needs a snack, a nap or a little time to warm up, that's completely fine. A family photoshoot doesn't need to begin with everyone immediately looking at the camera.
2. Don't feel that your children need to behave
This is one of the biggest things I would tell parents before a session. You don't need to spend the morning saying: "You have to listen today because we're having photos taken." In fact, I would rather your children arrive as themselves.
Some children are immediately comfortable with a camera. Others need time. Some want to explore everything around them. Some want to stay attached to Mum or Dad. None of these things mean the photoshoot isn't going well. With documentary family photography, I can work with those little differences rather than trying to make everyone behave in the same way.
If your child runs off, we can follow them. If they want to be held, hold them. If siblings start playing together, we can let them play. The goal isn't to manufacture a particular expression.
3. Keep outfits simple
Choosing clothes is often the part parents worry about most. My advice is to start with what you genuinely like wearing. You don't need everyone to wear matching outfits. In fact, I generally prefer clothes that coordinate rather than match.
Think about:
colours that work well together
natural fabrics and comfortable clothing
textures and layers
clothes your children can actually move in
bringing a cardigan or extra layer if the weather allows
You also don't have to dress your children in something completely different from what they normally wear. If your daughter always wears a particular dress she loves, or your son is happiest in shorts and a T-shirt, there is something to be said for keeping that part of them.
What about neutral colours?
Neutral colours can photograph beautifully, but you don't have to create an entirely beige wardrobe. Soft colours, earthy tones, denim, stripes and subtle patterns can all work. What matters more is that the clothes feel connected without making everyone look identical. And most importantly: make sure everyone is comfortable. A beautiful outfit that your child refuses to wear isn't going to make for a particularly relaxed session.
4. Bring the things your children actually need
You don't need to bring a suitcase. But depending on the age of your children, a few practical things can make the session easier:
water
a small snack
nappies or wipes
a change of clothes for younger children
a favourite comfort item if they need one
anything you would normally take with you when spending a couple of hours out with your family
I don't mind stopping for snacks or taking a break. Sometimes those pauses become part of the photographs too.
5. Think about where your family actually feels comfortable
A family photoshoot doesn't have to happen in a studio. For some families, being outdoors makes sense. For others, home is where everyone is most relaxed.
An at-home family photoshoot can be especially lovely when you want photographs that feel very connected to your everyday life. We might photograph breakfast, playing in a bedroom, reading on the sofa, getting ready to go outside or simply the way your children move around the house. There is no need to create a spotless, magazine-ready home either. Your home is part of your family's story.
If you'd rather have an outdoor session, we can choose a setting that gives your children space to move rather than expecting them to stand still and pose.
6. Don't plan every photograph
You don't need a list of poses. In fact, I prefer when families don't arrive with the expectation that we need to recreate a series of Pinterest photographs. There are a few things I may guide you through, particularly if it helps bring everyone together, but most of what happens during a session comes from your family interacting naturally.
I might ask you to walk together, sit somewhere, play with your children or spend some time doing something you would normally do. Sometimes the best photograph happens immediately afterwards, when everyone has stopped thinking about the camera.
7. Let your children have some control
This is particularly helpful with toddlers and older children. They don't need to spend the entire session doing what an adult asks. Giving them small choices can make a big difference.
"Do you want to walk or be carried?"
"Should we sit here or over there?"
"Do you want Mum or Dad to come with you?"
It gives them a little ownership without turning the session into a negotiation. And if they don't want to participate for a while, that's okay too.
8. Don't worry if your family doesn't look "perfect"
This might be the most important one. Real family life is messy. Someone spills something. A toddler cries. A sibling gets annoyed. Someone needs the toilet. Dad gets distracted. Mum has a moment where she just wants to sit down. Those things don't necessarily ruin photographs. They are part of what makes photographs feel personal.
When I photograph families, I'm interested in the relationships between people: the way a child reaches for their parent, the way siblings play, the little gestures that you might not consciously notice every day. Those photographs can become part of your family's visual archive.
9. If you're nervous, tell your photographer
If you don't normally have your photograph taken, you don't need to know what to do. Tell your photographer. You can tell me if you're uncomfortable in front of the camera, if your child is shy around new people, if your baby has been difficult to settle recently or if there is anything else you think I should know. There is no expectation that you arrive knowing how to pose. My job is to help you feel comfortable enough that you can forget about the camera for a while.
10. Give yourself a little breathing room
Try not to schedule your photoshoot immediately after something stressful. If possible, leave enough time to get everyone dressed, have something to eat and arrive without rushing. And once the session starts, give yourselves permission to slow down.
You don't need to make every minute productive. Sometimes we might spend several minutes doing very little. Then suddenly something happens between the children, or between a parent and child, that is worth photographing. That's often where the interesting photographs are.
What should you wear for a family photoshoot in Dubai?
If you're still unsure about clothing, my simplest advice is:
Choose clothes that look like you.
You can start with one person's outfit and build the rest of the family's clothes around it. Instead of finding four matching outfits, look for colours and textures that sit comfortably together.
For outdoor sessions in Dubai, also consider the temperature and how much your children will be moving. For younger children especially, comfort matters more than styling.
And don't be afraid of colour. A family photograph doesn't have to be entirely neutral to feel considered.
Should you have your family photoshoot at home?
Absolutely. For some families, home is the place where the relationships you want to photograph are most obvious.
An at-home session can be particularly meaningful if your children are very young, if you want to document your everyday routines, or if you simply don't feel comfortable posing outdoors. You don't need a huge house or a perfectly styled interior.
Good light, space to move and the people who live there are enough to begin. If you'd like to explore this option, I offer at-home family photography in Dubai as part of my family sessions.
What if my child doesn't cooperate?
They probably will, at least for some of the session, and if they don't, we work with that. Children aren't models, and I don't expect them to perform for the camera.
Sometimes the photograph is of them running away. Sometimes it's them hiding behind you. Sometimes it's a quiet moment after they have stopped crying. You don't need to apologise for any of it.
Those are still photographs of your child, at this particular age, in this particular family.
A family photoshoot doesn't need much preparation
If you take anything from this, let it be this: You don't need to turn your family into a photoshoot family. Feed the children. Bring what they need. Wear clothes you feel comfortable in. Choose a time that works for your family. And then come as you are. The photographs don't have to show a perfectly behaved family. They can show yours.
If you're looking for a family photographer in Dubai who takes a natural, personal approach to family photography, you can find out more about my family sessions below.
Planning a family photoshoot in Dubai?
If you want photographs that feel natural, personal and connected to your actual family life, I'd love to hear from you. You can find out more about my family photography sessions here.
