Photography tips
If you've ever tried to get a two-year-old to "look at the camera and smile" on a beach, you already know the truth: the posed, everyone-looking, everyone-still family photo is mostly a myth when little kids are involved. And that's okay. Some of the best family photos I take in Aruba are the ones where nobody is looking at me at all.
I was born and raised on this island, and I've photographed a lot of families on these beaches. Here's what I've learned about making it work when the kids are small — so you get real photos you'll actually want on your wall, without anyone ending the session in tears (kids or parents).
Time it around the meltdown, not just the light
Everyone tells you golden hour is best, and they're right — the soft, warm light near sunset is beautiful here. But golden hour in Aruba lands late in the day, right around when small kids start to fall apart. That's the real tension for families.
Here's the fix, and it's simpler than you'd think: if your child still naps, push the nap to early afternoon on shoot day. A kid who's had a good rest a couple of hours before sunset shows up fresh, fed, and ready right when the light turns golden. That way you don't have to trade away the best light of the day — you just line up their second wind with it.
The point is: we plan the session around your child's rhythm, not the other way around.
Come with a full belly and a bag of bribes
This isn't the moment to be precious about snacks. It's completely okay to bring the snacks they love and use them for a little bribery — a cup of something good, kept just out of frame, buys you golden minutes. Same with a favorite small toy. Whatever keeps them happy, bring it. Feed everyone before we start. A hungry kid is a done kid. I'd rather you show up ten minutes late and fed than on time and hangry.
And if your little one hits a wall mid-session, that's not a problem — it's built into how I work. At any point we can take a quick break and let them reset and recharge while I turn the camera on the two of you for some couple shots, or grab the detail frames (hands, rings, the little moments). Nothing is wasted. By the time your kid is ready again, we've still made great photos.
Let them play — that's the plan, not the problem
Here's the shift that makes everything easier: stop thinking of your kids running around as the thing ruining the photo. That is the photo.
When I photograph families with young kids, I'm not trying to freeze everyone in a stiff line. I'm watching for the real stuff — you chasing them into the shallow water, a dad swinging a toddler by the arms, a kid completely obsessed with a handful of sand, the belly laugh when someone gets tickled. Those frames are the ones parents cry over years later. The stiff, say-cheese photo isn't. So when we're out there, let your kids be kids. Walk, splash, dig, run. I'll direct gently when I need to, but mostly I'm following your family being your family.
And if someone's just having a rough moment — a cranky kid, a tired parent, whoever — feel free to tell me. I'd genuinely rather know. It lets me adjust how I'm posing things and switch up the energy to keep the mood light and cheerful. No one has to fake being happy; my job is to help everyone actually get there.
Keep it short
An adults-only couples session can run an hour easily. With young kids, the usable window is shorter — often the first 30 to 40 minutes before the wheels come off. I plan for that. We get the important frames early, while everyone's still happy, and treat anything after that as a bonus.
Short and joyful beats long and miserable.
Where we shoot matters more with little ones
Not every beautiful beach is a good beach for a two-year-old. As a local, this is where I can save you some grief:
Calm, shallow water is your friend. Some of Aruba's beaches have gentle, almost pool-like shallows where a toddler can wade safely and you can actually relax. Others have more drop-off or wave action that turns into a stress test with small kids. I'll steer us to the right one for your family's ages.
Shade nearby is underrated. A spot where kids can cool off between frames keeps everyone happier — especially at midday if that's the only time that works for your schedule.
Less crowded is calmer. A quieter stretch means fewer distractions, fewer strangers wandering into frame, and a kid who's less overwhelmed.
You don't need to figure this out from a hotel review. Tell me your kids' ages and when you're free, and I'll pick the spot.
A quick word on outfits
I've got a whole post on what to wear for an Aruba beach shoot, so I won't repeat it all here. Just two kid-specific notes: dress them in something they're comfortable moving in (scratchy or too-tight outfits guarantee a fuss), and pack a backup outfit, because sand and water win eventually.
Let go of the "perfect" photo
Maybe the most important thing I can tell you: you don't need every single person looking and smiling in the same frame for it to be a great photo. Honestly, those frames often feel the least like your actual family. Give me a family playing, laughing, a little chaotic and completely themselves, and I'll give you back photos that feel true. That's how I work — I listen first, watch how your family actually is together, and shoot that.
If you're planning a family trip to Aruba and want photos your kids will one day be embarrassed by and secretly love, let's make something good.
Ready to plan a family session? Get in touch and tell me your kids' ages and your dates — I'll take it from there.
