Best Locations for Family Photos in Mallorca

If you’re planning a family photo session in Mallorca, location is probably the most important decision after choosing your photographer. Not every beautiful corner of the island works well with toddlers, strollers, nap schedules or limited patience — so here’s an honest guide to the spots that actually work, drawn from years of family portrait sessions across the island.

Mallorca has no shortage of postcard-worthy spots, but “beautiful” and “good for a family session” aren’t always the same thing. A cliffside viewpoint might make a stunning couple’s photo and be a nightmare with a three-year-old who wants to run toward the edge. Below is the shortlist I actually recommend to families, ranked by how well each location handles real kids, real weather and real patience limits — not just how it photographs in isolation.

What makes a location good for family photos

Before the list, here are three criteria I use to judge a location for families:

• Easy access. No steep, tricky descents with a stroller or grandparents with limited mobility.
• Room for kids to move around. The best moments almost never come from “stand still and look at the camera” — they come from letting them explore.
• Soft, consistent light, without harsh shadows that force you to watch the clock the entire time.

1. Illetes and Portals Nous beaches (Calvià)

Fine sand, calm water and relatively easy parking make this stretch one of my favorite recommendations for families with young children. The first hour of the morning, before the crowds arrive, brings both better light and more space for the little ones to run around without dodging beach umbrellas. It’s also one of the areas I know best from my photography work in Calvià.

2. Palma’s old town

The La Lonja neighborhood and the area around the Cathedral are perfect for families after something with more urban character — cobbled streets, historic facades and shaded corners that help during the hotter months. I recommend going on a weekday, early, to avoid the tourist crowds. It’s one of the areas I work in most often as a photographer in Palma.

3. The orange groves of Sóller

If you’re after something other than the typical beach shot, the paths through Sóller’s orange groves offer gorgeous filtered light and an almost storybook feel, especially during blossom season (March-April) or when the trees are heavy with fruit (winter). It’s a calm setting where kids can explore without any real hazards. More on this in my page about photography in Sóller.

4. Alfabia Gardens

A historic garden with ponds, fountains and lush vegetation, ideal for families looking for shade in summer and a backdrop different from the usual. Access is easy and there are places to rest, which is always appreciated with young children or babies in the group.

5. Port de Sóller

The small natural harbor, connected by a historic tram, combines a maritime atmosphere with the ease of a flat, accessible promenade. It’s a popular choice for families staying in the north of the island who don’t want to travel far for the session.

6. Tramuntana mountain viewpoints

For families with slightly older kids who enjoy a short hike, some of the Tramuntana viewpoints offer spectacular views with very few people around. They’re not ideal for babies or very young children because of the uneven terrain, but they work beautifully for active families.

7. Cala Portals Vells

A quieter alternative to the busier Calvià beaches, with small coves separated by low rocky outcrops that give a bit of natural privacy from other beachgoers. It’s a nice option for families who want a beach session but would rather not share the frame with unrelated sunbathers in the background.

How to choose the best time of day

In Mallorca, the most flattering light is usually in the first two hours after sunrise or the last two before sunset. Outside those windows, midday sun creates harsh, unflattering shadows, especially on faces. For summer sessions, I almost always recommend early morning — besides better light, it’s cooler, which everyone appreciates, especially the youngest members of the family.

Late afternoon in the hour before sunset works beautifully too, particularly in spring and autumn when temperatures are milder and toddlers are less likely to be overtired by nap-deprivation. The trade-off is that beaches and old-town streets get busier again as the heat of the day fades, so I tend to reserve that slot for locations like Alfabia or the orange groves, where crowds are less of an issue.

Practical tips for the session

Bring comfortable clothing in neutral or earthy tones that work well together across the whole family, without everyone matching exactly — that tends to look forced. Schedule the session around nap times for the little ones, and build in extra time in case you need to stop for a snack or a break. And above all, don’t worry about “posing well” — my job as a photographer is to capture moments as they happen, not to direct a rigid session.

It also helps to arrive a few minutes early and let the kids explore the location briefly before we start shooting. A few minutes of unstructured time to touch the sand, poke at the orange trees, or run down a cobbled street tends to burn off the initial energy and nerves, and the actual session goes much more smoothly once that’s out of the way.

For more ideas on what to bring on the day, I have a full guide: what to bring to your family photo session in Mallorca.

Book your family photo session in Mallorca

Each of these locations has its own character, and the right one for you depends on the age of the kids, the time of year, and the mood you’re after. If you’d like help choosing the perfect spot for your family, message me on WhatsApp with your dates and the kind of atmosphere you’re picturing, and I’ll suggest the best options.