Exactly! People and emotions! This is definitely my favorite type of photography because you can’t plan a family photoshoot, and you never know what will happen… It’s always improvisation, always something new and unpredictable 🤪
Best time for a photoshoot at Bavaro Beach?
From my many years of experience as a Punta Cana photographer, I can say that the best time for a photoshoot in Bavaro is morning! Why? In the morning, there are fewer people on the beach, and the light from the ocean side is great. Also, the weather is usually better in the morning. After rain at night, the clouds usually clear 1-2 hours after sunrise, and the sun comes out for beautiful photos. And by the way, direct sunlight is very important because everyone wants photos that look like an ad for a tropical paradise. When the sun is behind the clouds, the photos look flatter, softer, and less colorful…
But we went for our photoshoot in the morning for another reason… There is one more important advantage of a morning photoshoot, especially for family sessions with small children. It is much cooler in the morning than in the evening. After a cool night, the morning temperature is perfect for small children because after a full day and the midday heat, it can still be pretty hot in the evening 🤓
Our family photoshoot had one little 4-month-old passenger. So we all planned everything around her and decided to do the photoshoot early in the morning at 8:00. So, dad, mom, son, daughter + photographer (me) chose a pretty unusual location at Bavaro Beach. It is at the very end of Bavaro Beach (also the end of Bibijagua Beach), near the Barcelo Bavaro hotel. After the hotel, there is a wild beach with a very narrow shoreline and interesting palm trees hanging over the water. I rarely do photoshoots here because it is a long walk along the beach from the nearest parking lot.
By the way, we also chose this location because of our little passenger 😅 Bavaro Beach is very large and stretches for about 12-13 kilometers. This part of the beach is the calmest, with no waves, very quiet, and very beautiful. I wrote more about Bavaro Beach in another article, and I’ll leave a button to it below 😎
How to prepare for a family photoshoot with kids?
Experienced parents know their kids 100%. What they like to eat, what makes them angry, when they poop 😅 and so on. So preparation is all about having a good step-by-step strategy. If the photoshoot is on the beach near your hotel — everything is easier. You need some toys for distraction, food in case your child gets hungry, and a secret weapon — cartoons (although I don’t support gadgets for small children, sometimes in very rare cases they are necessary). Favorite snacks can also be helpful. Strategic time frame — about 1 hour. Difficulty level — easy 😇
If you need to leave the hotel and take a transfer to another beach — you need to plan everything a little better. Strategic time frame — about 2 hours, difficulty level — medium. The best strategy is to plan the ride to the photoshoot so your child can sleep on the way. When we arrive for the photoshoot, the child will wake up, have a little snack, and be in a great mood. A well-rested, well-fed child is an angel. The worst scenario is when the child is tired and hungry 😡
One more important part of preparation — choose a good Punta Cana photographer 😉
How to choose a photographer for a family photoshoot in Punta Cana?
This is the easiest part of the strategy — just message me and we’ll find a date that works for you! I’ve done hundreds and hundreds of family photoshoots, and this is also my favorite type of photography.
So I can honestly say — I’ll be happy to be part of your vacation and capture your happy moments for years to come! Below, I’ll leave a button where you can check the prices and details of the photoshoot.
Why is Bavaro Beach perfect for a family photoshoot?
Because very often you don’t need to go anywhere and can do the photoshoot right on the beach. However, this is not possible at every hotel. If you want a photoshoot with a private photographer who does not work for the hotel, from some hotels you will need to go to Macao Beach or the private Amor Beach. The good news — almost all private Punta Cana photographers include round-trip transportation in the price of the photoshoot 🤓
Bavaro Beach is perfect for a large family photoshoot — that’s true. Imagine you have a big family … grandma, grandpa, brothers, sisters, and their children. If the whole family has more than 10 people, going to another beach can be pretty difficult. But we (private photographers) always know where to rent even a whole bus to transport a large family, so don’t be afraid to ask about it! The only thing is that transportation for more than 4 people is not included in the price, so you will need to pay extra. Depending on your hotel, the season, and how soon you need it, transportation for, for example, 12 people to the photoshoot and back to the hotel can cost around $100.
But let’s get back to Bavaro Beach… Of course, it’s very convenient to simply walk out of your hotel to the beach and do the photoshoot — that’s the perfect situation. Always ask your photographer if this option is possible for you or not 😎
How does a family photoshoot at Bavaro Beach work?
As I already said, a family photoshoot is unpredictable. Everything can go smoothly and according to plan, or it can be completely the opposite. From my experience, a one-hour family photoshoot almost always ends a little earlier because not everyone wants to keep going.
However, as I mentioned earlier, everything depends on your preparation and strategy. And to be honest, if we can get just 15-20 minutes of peace and calm from everyone, we’ll get great photos. And what kind of photos will we take? Of course, everyone together and happy, then in smaller groups — daughter with mom, son with dad, and any other combinations. We’ll also take some love story photos of mom and dad, plus individual photos of the kids and adults. At first, it may seem like a big plan, but in reality, everything is simple and quick. As we say in my country — “the eyes are afraid, but the hands are doing the work.”
Our photoshoot lasted only about 35-40 minutes because the main participant of the photoshoot got hungry and had a meltdown. Even so, we took great photos together, separately, and even in different outfits!
Frequently asked questions:
How much does a family photoshoot at Bavaro Beach cost?
It depends on the time and distance. If it’s a 30-minute photoshoot without transportation and without leaving the hotel, it costs around $200. If it’s a one-hour photoshoot, it costs around $300.
How long does a family photoshoot at Bavaro Beach take?
From my experience, usually 30 to 45 minutes, but it’s better to book a one-hour photoshoot because there will be extra time for different delays and unexpected situations.
Can we do a family photoshoot with small children?
You not only can — you should! Because small children will never be this small again! I believe it’s important to capture these priceless moments 😇
What should we bring to a family photoshoot at Bavaro Beach?!
Extra outfits, props (hats, jewelry, etc.), sunscreen, and mosquito spray. Also, bring a small snack and some water.
Do we need to know how to pose for a family photoshoot?
No. For most people in my portfolio, it was their first photoshoot, and even so, we got great photos. Don’t worry, I’ll help you with posing — it’s easier than you think 😉
How many days does it take to get the photos?
If it’s important for you to get your photos quickly after a photoshoot in Punta Cana and Bavaro, contact me, and your photos will be ready the next day. With other photographers, it usually takes longer… For some, it takes about a week, and for others, even a whole month.
What should we do if it rains on the day of the photoshoot?
Don’t worry, we’ll move the photoshoot to another time or another day 🙂
How far in advance should we book a photographer in Bavaro?
It depends on the month when you plan to do the photoshoot. If it’s outside the high season — April through September — you can book closer to the date, about one or two weeks in advance. If you come during the high season — November through March — it’s better to book as early as possible, one or two months in advance. There are usually many photoshoots during these months, and photographers are very busy.
What if there is sargassum seaweed on Bavaro Beach on the day of the photoshoot?
Recently, this has really become a problem, but don’t worry, I’ve learned how to shoot from the right angles to hide as much seaweed as possible in the photos. Usually, there are no problems with this. As a last option, we can go to another beach.
I hope you enjoyed the photoshoot, and now you know almost everything about a family photoshoot at Bavaro Beach. Why “almost”? Because I’ll share the rest of my little secrets in future articles. Thank you for your attention, and have a great vacation in the Dominican Republic 🙂
About the author:
Alex Po is a photographer in Punta Cana. He first came to the Dominican Republic in 2011. He has been a photographer for more than 15 years and has done hundreds of photo shoots on Bavaro Beach. For many years, he has also been observing the nature of the Dominican Republic from the air using a drone.