Family photos in Cabo San Lucas, in about an hour. Ana Badillo photographs families at golden hour or early morning, on a beach that suits your children's ages. Here is how a session actually works. Last updated: September 2026.
Most families arrive in Cabo for a holiday and leave with hundreds of photos on a phone: everyone squinting into the sun, someone blinking, the baby looking away. A family session fixes that in under an hour. I'm Ana Badillo, a family photographer in Cabo San Lucas, and this is how a beach session here actually works.
The short version: we shoot at golden hour or early morning, on a beach that suits your children's ages, and we keep it moving. No long posing blocks, no matching outfits head to toe. The photos that end up framed are almost always the ones where nobody was performing.
| Best time | Golden hour or early morning |
| Where | On a beach that suits your children's ages |
| Length | Forty-five minutes to an hour and a half |
| What to wear | A simple palette of two or three related colors; light fabrics in cream, sand, soft blue or olive |
| Avoid | Large logos and matching outfits head to toe |
| Large families | Extended families, grandparents and big groups are welcome |
Why family photos work so well in Cabo
The light here does most of the work. For most of the year the sun sets over the water, the desert behind the beach glows warm, and the sea turns a deep blue that flatters every skin tone. Add bare feet, wind and a bit of running around, and you get the version of your family that actually exists on holiday, rather than the version that stands still and smiles.
It is also genuinely easy to schedule. A session takes an hour out of a week, and it can happen at the beach closest to wherever you are staying.
Where to take them
Medano Beach. Right in front of town, swimmable and easy to reach, with the marina at one end and Land's End in view. It is the busiest beach in Cabo, so we shoot early or work the quieter ends of the sand.
Santa María Bay. A sheltered horseshoe cove a short drive up the corridor, with clear, calm water. This is the one I recommend most often for small children, because the sea stays gentle and there is room to play.
Monuments Beach. On the Sea of Cortez side, with dramatic rock formations and far fewer people. It is a surf beach, not a swimming one, so it suits families with older children who want something wilder. I wrote a full guide to it here: the best photo spots in Cabo San Lucas.
Your resort. If you are staying somewhere with beach access, the sand in front of it is often the easiest option of all. Everyone is already relaxed, and there is no travel time with tired children.
The best time of day
Golden hour, the last hour before sunset, is the best light in Cabo and the one I build most family sessions around. It is warm, soft and forgiving, and it is also the time of day when children are usually happiest running on the sand.
If your children are very small, or if you simply want the beach to yourselves, early morning is the better trade: cool air, soft light and almost nobody else around. The one window I would avoid is midday, when the sun is directly overhead and everyone squints.
How a session with kids actually works
We do not start with the group photo. We start by walking, because a family that is moving looks like itself and a family that is standing still looks like a queue.
1. Walk and play. Ten or fifteen minutes of nobody looking at the camera. This is where the real expressions live.
2. The whole group. Once everyone has settled, we gather for the portrait that ends up on the wall. Because the nerves are gone by then, it takes a minute rather than ten.
3. Pairs and singles. Parents together, siblings together, each child on their own for a moment, grandparents if they have come along.
4. The last light. We finish with backlit, golden frames as the sun drops. If the little ones are done by then, that is completely fine; we have already got what we need.
What to wear
Pick two or three related colours and let everyone choose something they are comfortable in. Cream, sand, soft blue and olive sit beautifully against the sea, and light, breathable fabrics move well in the wind.
Two things to skip: large logos, and matching outfits head to toe. Both make a family look stiffer than they are. If you want more detail, I wrote a full guide to the best outfits for beach photos in Cabo.
Good to know before you book
Tell me the ages. A session with a toddler is planned differently to one with teenagers, and knowing in advance means I bring the right approach rather than improvising.
Check the tide. The usable sand changes a lot through the day. When you book, I check the tables and build the plan around them.
Bring a change of clothes. Children end up in the water. Almost always.
Large groups are welcome. Extended families and grandparents are no problem; a slightly longer session just gives everyone a turn.
"The photos families keep are rarely the ones where everyone is looking at the camera. They are the ones where everyone forgot it was there."
Your family photographer in Cabo San Lucas
I've photographed families on this coastline for more than fourteen years, and I plan every session around the light and the children rather than the other way around. Tell me your dates and how many of you are coming. You can see more of my family photography in Cabo San Lucas here, and if you are also planning a wedding, my destination wedding coverage is right here.
