What to Bring to Your Family Photo Session in Mallorca

One of the questions I get asked most before a family portrait session is what clothes to wear and what to prepare. It’s a fair question — clothing and small preparation details have far more impact on the final result than most people expect. Here’s my practical guide, built from years of family sessions all around Mallorca.

None of this needs to be complicated or expensive. Most of it comes down to a handful of small decisions made a day or two in advance, rather than scrambling the morning of the session — which is exactly when stress creeps in and shows up in everyone’s face on camera.

Clothing: less matchy, more harmonious

The most common mistake is everyone wearing the exact same thing — same color, same style. The result usually looks forced and artificial. Instead, I recommend picking a palette of 2-3 colors that work well together (earth tones, whites and soft blues, for example) and letting each person wear something slightly different within that palette. Steer clear of large prints or flashy logos, which pull attention away from the real subject of the photo: you.

For beach sessions, light clothing in pale tones tends to work best with Mallorca’s light. For sessions in stone villages like Sóller or Deià, earthy and autumnal tones pair especially well with the setting.

A simple trick that works well for most families: pick one person’s outfit first — often it ends up being what the parents already planned to wear — and build everyone else’s clothing around those colors, rather than trying to coordinate five outfits all at once from scratch.

Footwear: think about the terrain

If the session involves dirt paths, stony beaches or cobbled streets, choose comfortable shoes — or go barefoot if it’s a beach session. I’ve seen more than one person spend the whole session uncomfortable because of shoes that weren’t right for the terrain. If you’re not sure, just ask me beforehand — I’ll tell you exactly what kind of footwear suits the location we’ve chosen.

It’s also worth packing a spare pair of shoes and socks for younger kids, especially for beach or harbor sessions — a wet, sandy foot ten minutes before we start is a small thing, but it’s the kind of small thing that can derail an otherwise smooth session.

For sessions with young children

Bring a snack or a favorite small toy — not to pose with, but to have as a backup for a moment of distraction between shots. Schedule the session outside nap time whenever possible; a well-rested child gives far better results than a tired, cranky one, no matter how beautiful the location. And above all, don’t force smiles — some of the best family photos come from moments of real connection, not from “look at the camera and smile.”

If you have more than one child, it also helps to plan a little one-on-one time into the session — a few minutes of each parent with each kid individually. Those pairings often produce the most tender, least self-conscious photos of the whole gallery, and they’re easy to fit in without adding much time to the booking.

Personal items and details

If you have an object with special meaning — a family blanket, an instrument, a bicycle, the kids’ favorite toy — bring it along. These small details often make for the most personal, least generic photos of the whole session. You can also bring a small picnic or a drink (lemonade, cava) if you’d like to include a small celebration as part of the session.

Timing: trust your photographer’s recommendation

I know the ideal time (early morning or late afternoon) isn’t always the most convenient, especially with young children or if you’re on holiday and would rather sleep in. But the difference in light quality — and therefore in the final result — is huge. If you can be flexible on timing, it’s genuinely worth it.

If early mornings really aren’t realistic for your family, say so — I’d rather plan around a slightly less ideal but realistic time slot than have everyone exhausted and irritable at the “perfect” hour. A relaxed family at 10am will usually photograph better than an overtired one at 7am, light notwithstanding.

The day before the session

Check the weather forecast and have a backup plan in mind (I always have one ready too). Lay out everyone’s clothes in advance rather than deciding that same morning in a rush. And if the session involves any walking, make sure everyone — especially the kids — has rested and eaten well beforehand.

If you’re traveling to Mallorca specifically for the session, or fitting it around a short holiday, I also recommend confirming the exact meeting point and parking situation the night before — trying to find a trailhead or beach access point for the first time with a stressed toddler in the back seat is not how anyone wants to start the morning.

The most important thing: come ready to enjoy it

The best family sessions are the ones that feel like quality time together, not an obligation. My job is to capture those moments as they happen — the more relaxed and present you are, the better the result will be.

If you have more questions about preparing for your session, or want to lock in a date, message me on WhatsApp and I’ll help with anything you need, including location recommendations on my page about the best locations for family photos in Mallorca. And if a beach or a stone village near Palma or Sóller is on your shortlist, I’m happy to talk through which fits your family best.