The Joy of Family Photography — Why It Matters
Updated 27 October 2026
Most families have hundreds of photos of their children and almost none of the whole family together. Someone is always behind the camera — usually Mum. After 12+ years photographing families in Cape Town, I believe the real value of a family shoot is simple: it puts everyone in the picture, at this exact stage of life, and gives you images you will look at for decades.
This is a look at the moments I find most meaningful to capture, and why they matter more than a perfect pose.
Thinking about a family shoot? Start with my complete guide to family photography in Cape Town, or view packages and pricing.
Get in touch: +27 82 556 7427 · info@riekertcloete.com
Laughter Is the Heart of It
The images families love most are rarely the ones where everyone looks at the camera and smiles. They are the unscripted bursts of joy — the giggles, the playful teasing, the tight hugs. My sessions are never about stiff poses. I keep things moving, tell bad jokes, get Dad to chase the kids, and wait for the moment the laughter is real.
A genuine laugh changes a photograph completely. Faces soften, bodies relax, and you see the family as they really are with each other.
Mums in the Frame
Mothers are the family’s photographers. They document every birthday and first day of school — and appear in almost none of it. A family shoot fixes that. Your children will one day want photographs of you holding them, not just photographs of themselves.
If you feel self-conscious, you are not alone. I guide you gently, focus on how you interact with your children rather than on you, and the result is images of connection, not posing.
Dads with Their Children
During every session I make sure to capture different combinations — and dads with their children are among my favourites. Fathers and daughters have a tenderness all of their own. Fathers and sons tend to be all action: wrestling, racing, throwing each other into the sand.
These are the images that end up on desks and in wallets, and that grown-up children treasure most.
Brothers and Sisters
Sibling photographs capture a relationship that will outlast almost every other. They may squabble in the car on the way to the shoot, but put them side by side on the beach and something changes. I always set aside a few minutes for siblings alone — with older children, often away from their parents, where they relax and simply enjoy each other.
Babies and Little Ones
Babies change month by month, which makes these sessions some of the most precious. Taking a baby on location is a little trickier than a toddler, but once they can sit up — usually around five or six months — I can place them in the environment, and the results are lovely. For newborns and very small babies, home is often the best option. See my newborn and baby sessions.
Everyday Life at Home
With newborns and small children it is not always practical to go outside — and home sessions have a charm of their own. They capture the family almost in its everyday routine: the reading corner, the kitchen counter, the bed everyone piles onto on a Saturday morning. Years from now, the house itself becomes part of the memory.
Not sure whether to stay in or head out? See my post on indoor vs outdoor family photography.
Sunsets, Rocks and Wild Places
The setting adds its own emotion. Golden hour on a Cape Town beach wraps everyone in warm light. Granite rocks add texture and drama against soft sand and sea. Forests and open nature give children permission to explore, and that freedom shows in the photographs.
For specific places and what each one offers, see my guide to family photography locations in Cape Town.
How I Make Room for These Moments
- Play first, pose second. The posed group shot takes ten minutes. The rest of the session is about connection.
- Every combination. Whole family, each parent with each child, siblings, couples — I work through them so nobody is missing.
- Time for warming up. Children need a few minutes to forget the camera. I never rush that.
- Room for real life. The tantrum, the sandy face, the dog that will not sit — often the family favourite years later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should we have family photos taken?
Many families book once a year, often in the same season, so they build a record of the children growing up. At minimum, every two to three years while children are young, because they change faster than you expect. Babies change month by month, which makes those sessions some of the most precious, and for newborns and very small babies, home is often the best option. A yearly session in the same season also makes it easy to see the changes side by side, and it puts everyone in the picture at this exact stage of life, including the parent who is usually behind the camera. Riekert Cloete Photography can suggest a rhythm that suits your family, so tell me your children’s ages.
My children don’t like being photographed. Will it work?
Yes. Most children who “hate photos” hate being told to stand still and smile. When the session is a game, they forget about the camera. My sessions are never about stiff poses: I keep things moving, tell bad jokes, get Dad to chase the kids and wait for the moment the laughter is real. Some of my best images come from children who arrived determined not to cooperate. A genuine laugh changes a photograph completely, because faces soften, bodies relax and you see the family as they really are with each other. Tell Riekert Cloete Photography about your children, their ages and what they enjoy, and I will plan the session around it.
Can grandparents join the session?
Absolutely, and I encourage it. Three-generation photographs become family heirlooms. Grandparents and small children cannot walk far, so I choose locations with easy access and a short distance from the parking area, and your holiday house or garden is often the best option for very young and very old relatives because there is no travelling at all. A few combinations make the session richer: grandparents with grandchildren, as well as the whole family together. Riekert Cloete Photography can plan the location and timing around everyone who will join, so tell me who is coming and their ages when you enquire. For larger groups, see my post on photographing big family groups.
Can we bring the dog?
Please do. Pets are part of the family, and they often bring out the best laughter. Bring a lead and someone to hold it while I photograph the people-only combinations. A session works best when the family is relaxed, and a pet running with the children on the beach or in the garden often produces the kind of unscripted moments families love most. Riekert Cloete Photography photographs both the combinations that include the dog and the ones that do not, so that you have the whole family together and the people-only portraits too. Let me know what kind of pet you are bringing when you book, and I will take it into account when choosing the location.
What should we wear?
Coordinate rather than match: two or three soft colours that work together, no big logos, and clothes the children are comfortable in. Two or three soft shades across households work better than everyone in identical clothes, and comfortable clothes let children run, climb and explore, which gives you natural expressions. Whatever you choose, keep the outfits simple, so the photographs are about the faces and the connection between you. More advice is in my complete family photography guide, and Riekert Cloete Photography can talk through colours with you before the session if you are unsure.
Ready to get everyone in the picture? Tell me about your family and the moments you would love to keep.
Riekert Cloete · Cape Town Family Photographer
+27 82 556 7427 · info@riekertcloete.com · WhatsApp
100+ Google reviews · 12+ years in Cape Town
Family photography · Packages & pricing · Portfolio