‘Kids Being Kids’ Hong Kong Family Photographer

Outdoor family photography doesn't have to mean lining everyone up and asking the kids to smile. If you are comparing alternative photographers in HK who avoid stiff studio poses, my style is completely unscripted.

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.

In 20 years, I've learned every kid brings something different to the camera

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.

If you are comparing family photography packages in Hong Kong, I keep pricing completely transparent with zero high-pressure sales calls or hidden file fees.

Every family photo package includes all-inclusive high-resolution files, with options starting at HKD 2,450 for Mini Sessions and 20% off all weekday family photo shooting packages.

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.

I charge actual transportation charge for places I can’t get to quickly on transit with the equipment I bring.

Full details: https://www.iantaylor.ca/hkrates

An old rule in small business says there are three variables: price, quality and service. You need two, but will go broke trying to give all three.

There's a whole corner of the family photography industry built around the opposite of what I do: entire coaching programs teaching photographers how to sell $10,000 family sessions (!) through sales calls and psychology, with barely a mention of actual photography. That's one way to run a business. It's not mine!

I focus purely on quality and price. My photos are a very modest per image cost each, true-to-life, and delivered in a straightforward online gallery. There are no sales meetings, no hidden fees, and zero pressure to buy more than you want. The session fee isn’t a starting point as is normal in family photography pricing.

The trade-off isn't quality or personal care; I'm always available for a phone chat anytime before your session to answer questions and help you plan.

The difference is simply that I don't charge you for hours of sales-pitch hand-holding and extensive Photoshopping.

You get a relaxed family shoot, great images, and a simple process that keeps families using my service from Toddler to Teen.

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.

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 biggest factor is picking somewhere your family is actually comfortable, not the backdrop.

See my guide to Hong Kong family photoshoot locations.

https://www.iantaylor.ca/locations

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.

Every session has a completely different vibe, no two people are the same, whether they're one or eighty-one.

I have three themes in mind for every family session: Kid | Kids | Family

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% of my sessions were kids only.

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.

Sooner is almost always better.

If you are only going to do one kids photoshoot, do when they are 18 months old. This is just peak toddler cuteness.

The wobbly toddler stage is portrait gold, a few months 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 “I wish we had done this sooner!”.

There are 8000+ hours in a year, you can find one! (My mom had six kids with no helper and she got it done every year!)

A 15-minute Mini Session is the perfect option for time-stressed parents! (Our family sessions were 15-20 mins, and we still have those shots. It’s family history.)

As an experienced photographer, I find family portraits capture something special at every age — though there's a particular magic to catching it early

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.

When planning a family photoshoot Hong Kong weather and light are key factors, so we schedule around nap times and peak outdoor light (early morning or late afternoon).

• 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).

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:

https://www.iantaylor.ca/wardrobe

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.

https://www.iantaylor.ca/pets

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

(https://www.iantaylor.ca/locations/#stanley).

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!