Hong Kong Family Photography | ‘Kids Being Kids’ Since 2007
Family & Childhood Photography in Hong Kong
Book a no-stress, kid-led, spontaneous family photoshoot anywhere in Hong Kong: on HK Island, Kowloon or the New Territories. Let’s go explore!
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, 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.
“Because a family photo Is the most important photo”
Not Great With Cameras? Perfect.
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 growing family for 3 years… absolutely fabulous.”
Deb
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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
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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 Hong Kong Family Photography Packages & Availability
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.
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. Or, just simply sign up to get on my mailing list.
Hong Kong Family Photography — Frequently Asked Questions
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Packages start from HKD 2,450 for Mini Sessions. Full session rates on my rates page below, with 20% off weekday sessions.
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!
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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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, 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!”
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 Take Your Family Photos
(Beach, City & Hidden Spots)
Where We Can Take Your Family Photos
(Beach, City & Hidden Spots)
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:
Capturing Kids' Personalities, Not Just Their Smiles
Hong Kong family photography should be about more than getting everyone to look at the camera. The best photographs happen when kids are comfortable enough to forget we're taking them.