Camps Bay family photography
Beach, rockpools and the Twelve Apostles rising straight behind you — Cape Town’s most photogenic stretch of coast, about 25 minutes from the city centre.
Why Camps Bay works for family photos
Camps Bay is Cape Town’s showstopper — white sand, a palm-lined promenade and the Twelve Apostles and Lion’s Head rising behind give you mountain and ocean in a single frame. It is a natural, unposed setting where families relax and the photographs feel like real life rather than a studio sit-down.
Works particularly well for families visiting from abroad, beach-loving families with older children, and anyone who specifically wants that Atlantic backdrop — plus a sheltered wind-day alternative just up the road.
Where we typically shoot
Glen Forest
The sheltered alternative just above Camps Bay, off Kloof Nek — a quiet stand of tall trees with soft, filtered light all afternoon. Our wind-day go-to.
Camps Bay beach & palm promenade
Iconic white sand, palms and the mountain backdrop — the classic Camps Bay shot.
Maiden's Cove tidal pools
Rock pools and boulders that children love to explore — good for variety within the same session.
Bakoven
Quieter coves and giant boulders a little further along the coast.
Lion's Head & Twelve Apostles backdrops
Dramatic mountain scenery framing the sea.
What to know
Best time of day
Late afternoon into sunset is the highlight here — the golden hour over the Atlantic is hard to beat. We usually begin about two hours before sunset to finish in that warm light.
Wind
In summer (November to March) the south-easter can pick up in the afternoons. On windy days we either start earlier or move into sheltered Glen Forest.
Session length & meeting point
A typical family shoot runs around 1.5 to 2 hours, enough time to move between the beach and a sheltered spot. Travel to Camps Bay from my Durbanville base is included in your session. We meet at The Round House restaurant in Camps Bay, with parking about 200m below. Meeting point on Google Maps →
What to wear
Lighter, neutral tones against the ocean and sand — linen, soft blues, warm creams, earthy tones. Avoid stark white in direct sun.
Camps Bay video
Behind the scenes (vertical/Shorts)
Book your Camps Bay session
More family photoshoot locations → — Sea Point, a Kirstenbosch-area forest and more, all with maps.