December Family Photography — Stilbaai, Jongensfontein and the Garden Route
Updated 27 October 2026
December is the one time of year when whole families are finally in the same place. Grandparents, cousins, children home from university or overseas — everyone ends up at the same beach house on the coast. Every December my own family spends about two weeks in Stilbaai, and while I am there I photograph a handful of holiday families in Stilbaai, Jongensfontein, Witsand and along the Garden Route.
Here are some of those sessions, along with what to know if you want to book one this year.
Holidaying on the Southern Cape coast this December? I am only there for about two weeks, so there are a limited number of sessions. See my Stilbaai family photography page and holiday session rates.
Get in touch: +27 82 556 7427 · info@riekertcloete.com
Why December Is the Perfect Time for Family Photos
The reason is simple: everyone is there. For many families, the holiday house is the only place where three generations gather at the same time. Debbie, who booked a session in Witsand, put it perfectly — for the first time in many years the whole family was in the same place at the same time. It was time.
Holiday sessions also feel different. Nobody is rushing from work or school. Everyone is relaxed, tanned and barefoot, and the location is somewhere the family already loves.
Stilbaai
Stilbaai is where my family holidays, so I know it well. The Louw family has been coming here for many years and decided to have their photos taken in what they call their favourite place in the world. That is the magic of a holiday shoot: the backdrop is not just pretty, it means something.
The Bosman family is another Stilbaai regular. On one holiday everyone was finally together, so we made the most of it and worked through every family combination — the whole group, each household, grandparents with grandchildren.
Jongensfontein
Just west of Stilbaai, Jongensfontein’s rocky coves and wide sea views make a dramatic backdrop. For the extended Walters family, Jongensfontein is where they grew up during holidays — so when everyone was together, there was no question where the photos would be taken.
Between Christmas and New Year, coastal towns come alive with visiting families and long beach days.
Witsand and the Wider Garden Route
I also travel along the coast for holiday families — to Witsand at the mouth of the Breede River, and further along the Garden Route. Recently I photographed a large multi-generational family who had gathered on the coast for the festive season. With big groups like this, a little planning goes a long way; see my tips on photographing big family groups.
Planning a Holiday Session
- Book early. I am on the coast for about two weeks, so availability is limited.
- Shoot in the evening. December sunsets on the Southern Cape coast are late, so the best light comes in the early evening, when the beach is quieter and the heat has gone.
- Plan for the wind. The coast can be breezy. I keep an eye on the forecast.
- Make a list of groups. With extended families, decide in advance which combinations matter most — each household, grandparents with grandchildren, cousins together.
- Dress for the beach. Light, coordinated colours and bare feet. Bring a towel; someone always ends up in the sea.
For more general advice on outfits and preparing children, see my complete guide to family photography.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should we book a December session?
As early as possible. I am only on the coast for about two weeks every December, so availability is limited. My own family spends about two weeks in Stilbaai each year, and while I am there I photograph a handful of holiday families in Stilbaai, Jongensfontein, Witsand and along the Garden Route, which means the number of sessions is small. December sunsets on the Southern Cape coast are late, so the best light comes in the early evening, when the beach is quieter and the heat has gone. Riekert Cloete Photography can only take a limited number of sessions, so send me your town, your dates and the size of your group, and see my Stilbaai family photography page.
How long is a holiday session?
A holiday family session lasts up to two hours, which leaves time for every combination even with a big extended family. With a holiday family the combinations matter: the whole group, each household, grandparents with grandchildren. For the Bosman family everyone was finally together, so we worked through every family combination. Holiday sessions also feel different, because nobody is rushing from work or school: everyone is relaxed, tanned and barefoot, and the location is somewhere the family already loves. Details are on my holiday session rates page, and Riekert Cloete Photography can advise on the best time of day for your group, usually the early evening.
Can you come to our holiday house?
Yes. Many sessions start at the holiday house and walk down to the beach. It adds a personal element and is easier for small children and grandparents, because there is no travelling at all. For many families the holiday house is the only place where three generations gather at the same time, so it is part of the story. Holiday sessions feel different from a one-off location: the backdrop is not just pretty, it means something, as it did for the Louw family, who chose what they call their favourite place in the world. Riekert Cloete Photography can plan the session around the house, the beach and the time of day, so tell me where you are staying.
Do you travel to other Garden Route towns?
Yes, within reason. Jongensfontein and Witsand are regular stops, and I travel further along the coast for larger groups. Jongensfontein, just west of Stilbaai, has rocky coves and wide sea views, and Witsand sits at the mouth of the Breede River. I have also photographed large multi-generational families who gathered on the coast for the festive season. With big groups like this, a little planning goes a long way, so see my tips on photographing big family groups. Because I am on the coast for only about two weeks, it helps to tell Riekert Cloete Photography your town and dates early. Ask me about your town.
Can we book a session in Cape Town instead?
Of course. If you are spending the holidays in Cape Town, see my guide to family photography locations in Cape Town. It describes the places I return to again and again, from Bloubergstrand and Camps Bay to Noordhoek and the Winelands, with real sessions from each and the practical details that make a difference on the day. Riekert Cloete Photography photographs families across Cape Town and the Western Cape, so a Cape Town session does not depend on the two weeks I spend on the Southern Cape coast. Tell me your children’s ages and the look you like, and I will suggest two or three options.
Want to get the whole family together this December? Send me your dates and town, and I will let you know what is still available.
Riekert Cloete · Family Photographer — Cape Town and the Southern Cape coast
+27 82 556 7427 · info@riekertcloete.com · WhatsApp
100+ Google reviews · 12+ years photographing families
Stilbaai family photography · Holiday rates · Portfolio