Family Photography Locations in Cape Town — Real Shoots and Practical Tips
Updated 27 October 2026
The location shapes a family shoot more than anything else — the light, the mood, how relaxed the children are, even what you wear. After 12+ years photographing families across Cape Town and the Western Cape, these are the places I return to again and again, with real sessions from each and the practical details that make a difference on the day.
If you are still deciding on the basics — time of day, outfits, preparing the kids — start with my complete guide to family photography in Cape Town.
Not sure which location suits your family? Tell me your children’s ages and the look you like, and I will suggest two or three options. View packages and pricing.
Get in touch: +27 82 556 7427 · info@riekertcloete.com
Bloubergstrand and Derde Steen — Table Mountain Across the Bay
Blouberg gives you the postcard view: Table Mountain across the water, wide sand and space to run. For the Bezuidenhout family we started with a few group shots and then simply let the boys play — the trick on a beach like this is to allow kids to be kids, and the best images follow. A short walk north, the rocks at Derde Steen add texture and shelter from the wind.
- Best time: the last hour before sunset, when the mountain glows.
- Watch out for: the summer south-easter, which can blow hard on this coast.
- Good for: energetic toddlers, extended families, the classic Cape Town shot.
Watch the location tour:
More on this area: Bloubergstrand family photography.
Camps Bay — Granite, White Sand and the Twelve Apostles
Camps Bay is the favourite of families visiting from overseas, like the Jabbar family who booked a session during their Cape Town holiday. The granite boulders at nearby Bakoven make natural frames, and the Twelve Apostles light up in the late afternoon.
- Best time: late afternoon to sunset; mornings are in mountain shadow.
- Watch out for: crowds and parking in December. Weekday sessions are calmer.
- Good for: holiday families who want unmistakably Cape Town images.
Watch the location tour:
More on this area: Camps Bay family photography.
Noordhoek and Kommetjie — Wide, Wild and Quiet
Noordhoek is one of Cape Town’s hidden gems: kilometres of open beach framed by mountains. One of my favourite recent sessions here was a family whose children, now in their twenties, had come home while their parents were visiting. We started at their beach house and walked down to the sand — relaxed, unhurried, and full of real conversation.
- Best time: golden hour, when the light rakes across the dunes.
- Watch out for: the walk from the car park — wear shoes you can carry.
- Good for: adult children, reunions, families who want space and quiet.
Stellenbosch — Forests, Oaks and Vineyards
Stellenbosch offers mountains, rolling vineyards and shaded forests within minutes of each other. It is particularly good for families with teenagers and young adults, who often feel more comfortable among trees than on a busy beach. Eden Forest is a favourite: I spent a session there with the De Jong family, and since my own boys are a similar age, the chats with their two sons were half the fun.
- Best time: late afternoon; the forest is usable even in harsher midday light.
- Watch out for: some wine estates need permission, which you arrange; I am happy to shoot there once you have.
- Good for: teenagers, winter sessions, families who prefer shade to sand.
More on this area: Stellenbosch and Winelands family photography.
Franschhoek — Vineyards in Every Season
Franschhoek is beautiful in summer, but winter might be its best season for photographs. The vineyards turn gold and rust, the mountains look dramatic under soft cloud, and the valley has a calm stillness that suits a slower, more intimate session.
- Best time: mid to late afternoon; the valley loses the sun early in winter.
- Watch out for: travel time — about an hour from the city, so plan around nap times.
- Good for: autumn and winter sessions, families who love the winelands.
V&A Waterfront and the Cape Grace — City and Harbour
For families staying in the city, the V&A Waterfront combines Table Mountain, the working harbour and elegant architecture in one walkable location. I have photographed families at the Cape Grace Hotel and even on a yacht in the harbour — a memorable option for a special occasion.
- Best time: early morning before the crowds, or late afternoon.
- Watch out for: busy public spaces, and some areas may need permission, which you arrange.
- Good for: hotel guests, smart-casual styling, families short on travel time.
Helderberg — Somerset West and Strand
For families in the Helderberg, there is no need to drive into the city. I have photographed sessions on a beautiful farm just outside Somerset West and on the beach at Strand, where the mountains sit right behind the shoreline.
- Best time: late afternoon for the beach; farms work through the afternoon.
- Good for: local families, farm and countryside settings, warm-water beach sessions.
Looking for something less well known? See my guide to other family photoshoot locations — Sea Point, Llandudno, Kirstenbosch’s forest and more — or browse the full locations page with map pins.
How to Choose Your Location
- Children’s ages: toddlers love the beach; teenagers often relax more in a forest or vineyard.
- Season: beaches in the calm months; forests and vineyards in winter.
- Travel time: a location 15 minutes away with happy children beats a famous one an hour away with tired ones.
- Your style: sand and ocean for relaxed and barefoot; vineyards and oaks for something more classic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we choose a location that is not on this list?
Absolutely. Your garden, a favourite hiking trail, a family farm: if it means something to you, it usually makes for better photographs. I will check the light and access before the day. The location shapes a family shoot more than anything else, including the light, the mood and how relaxed the children are, so a place that already feels like yours often works best. The ones on this page are the places I return to again and again, but they are a starting point, not a limit. Tell Riekert Cloete Photography your children’s ages and the look you like, and I will suggest two or three options, or work with the place you already have in mind.
Do some locations charge a fee?
Some wine estates and private venues charge a fee or require permission for professional shoots. You arrange the location and any permission, and I am happy to shoot at a wine farm or venue once you have organised access. My locations guide lists free locations. If you have a venue in mind, ask the owner about their policy on professional photography before you book, and tell Riekert Cloete Photography what they say so that the plan for the day includes the right access and timing. I will check the light and access before the session, so nothing is a surprise on the day.
Which location is best in winter?
Forests and vineyards, in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, handle soft winter light beautifully, and Stellenbosch offers mountains, rolling vineyards and shaded forests within minutes of each other. Between cold fronts, beaches can be spectacular and almost empty. Winter is also when sheltered options matter: the rocks at Derde Steen add texture and shelter from the wind. Riekert Cloete Photography watches the forecast closely before every family shoot, so if a cold front is due we can choose a sheltered spot or move the time of day. Tell me your dates and your children’s ages and I will suggest the best winter location for your family.
Can we use two locations in one session?
Yes, if they are close together, for example a beach house and the beach, or a forest and a vineyard on the same estate. For one Noordhoek family, whose children, now in their twenties, had come home while their parents were visiting, we started at their beach house and walked down to the sand, which was relaxed, unhurried and full of real conversation. The key is that the move is short, so nobody is driving anywhere with tired children and the session keeps its pace. Riekert Cloete Photography will check the light and access for both spots before the day, so tell me the two places you have in mind and how far apart they are.
Do you photograph families outside Cape Town?
Yes. I photograph families across the Western Cape, including the Garden Route during the December holidays, when I spend about two weeks on the Southern Cape coast and photograph holiday families in Stilbaai, Jongensfontein and Witsand. Stellenbosch and the Winelands also offer oak trees, vineyards and shaded forests within easy reach of Cape Town. Ask me about your location, and see my pricing page. Riekert Cloete Photography will confirm the details before you book, including the location, the time of day and any permission needed.
Ready to book your family shoot? Tell me where you are based and the look you love — I will suggest the right spot.
Riekert Cloete · Cape Town Family Photographer
+27 82 556 7427 · info@riekertcloete.com · WhatsApp
100+ Google reviews · 12+ years in Cape Town
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