A family flew in from Ontario last winter with four suitcases, three kids, and exactly zero idea of what to wear for their photoshoot. We ended up doing a quick fifteen minutes before the session going through what they’d packed, mixing and matching on the spot. It worked out, but it added stress nobody needed on vacation. Fait que now I send every family a packing list before they even land.
What to pack, in order of priority
Start with colors, not outfits. Soft neutrals, warm tones, and a few pops of color work best against the beach and jungle backgrounds around Playa del Carmen. Think sandy beiges, whites, terracotta, sage green. Avoid stark white on everyone (it blows out in bright sun) and avoid busy patterns that clash on camera when five people stand together.
Bring at least two outfit options per person. Light changes fast here, and having a backup means we’re not stuck if the first look doesn’t photograph the way you expected.
For the little ones
Pack a small snack and a toy that’s easy to hide behind your back. Kids under six lose patience around the twenty-minute mark, mettons, so the goal is to get the shots that matter in the first half of the session while everyone’s still fresh. Comfortable shoes over cute sandals, especially if we’re walking through sand or uneven cobblestone streets. Blisters ruin the mood faster than anything else.
Sun protection that doesn’t ruin photos
Reef-safe sunscreen, applied at least twenty minutes before we start (white residue shows up badly in close-up shots). A hat or sunglasses for the walk over, but plan to take them off for the actual photos unless you specifically want that look. Bring a light cover-up for between shots so nobody’s sweating through their outfit before we even start.
The stuff people forget
A hairbrush and bobby pins for touch-ups between setups. A change of clothes if we’re doing any beach shots where feet or legs might get wet. And honestly, snacks and water for yourself too, not just the kids. A two-hour family session in Riviera Maya heat is more tiring than it looks, and a hydrated, comfortable family photographs so much more naturally than one that’s wilting.
What not to overthink
Perfect coordination isn’t the goal. Matching everyone in the exact same shade of blue usually looks stiffer than a loosely coordinated palette where each person’s outfit complements the others without being identical. Dans le fond, the goal is that you look like your family, just the put-together version of it.
If you’re planning a family photoshoot around Riviera Maya and want the full packing list tailored to your session’s location and time of day, just ask when you book. It takes five minutes and saves a lot of last-minute suitcase panic.
Par Marrie-Eve
