PhotoGili Islands · North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara

Family photoshoot · Gili Islands

In short

A family photoshoot on the Gili Islands costs from $180 for 30 minutes, usually on Gili Air’s east beach between sunrise and 8 am, before the heat. You receive 15+ edited photos — group portraits and unposed play — online within 48–72 hours. If the photographer travels from Bali or Lombok, the island transfer is $90.

Starting from: $180
Duration: 30 min
Edited photos: 15+

Why here

Why choose Family photoshoot in Gili Islands?

Families tend to choose Gili Air over Trawangan, and for a photoshoot with children it is the right call. The water on its east side stays shallow and calm a long way out, the lanes have no scooters to watch for, and the island is small enough that nobody spends the session tired in a car seat. For parents the lack of traffic changes the whole shoot: a toddler can run down the middle of a sandy lane and the only thing to watch for is a bicycle bell. Children rarely pose on cue, so we do not ask them to. We give them something to do — dig, splash, chase the waves, ride on a shoulder — photograph the play, and gather everyone for two or three group portraits in the quiet moments in between. Gili Meno works in exactly the same way if you are staying there.

How the shoot is planned

What does the shoot in Gili Islands look like?

The route

We start where the children are happiest: at the water. On Gili Air’s east beach the first ten minutes are play — little ones digging at the tideline, older ones wading out to where the seagrass begins, where turtles sometimes feed in water you can stand in. While they are busy, the photographer catches the frames parents love most and never get themselves: both of you in the picture at once. When attention starts to wander, we move a few steps up the beach for the group portraits, everyone sitting on an outrigger boat or along the sea wall with Lombok behind you. The last few minutes are a walk back along a palm-shaded lane, a child on someone’s shoulders, which usually becomes the favourite frame. An extra hour ($100) is worth it with several children or grandparents, simply to allow breaks.

The timing

With children, the clock is set by naps and heat rather than by the perfect sunset. On Gili Air’s east side the sun rises over Lombok at around 6 am, and the hour after it is cool, soft and empty — most small children are awake by then anyway. By 9 am the sand is hot, the light is hard and everyone is cranky. If your family does not do early mornings, the last hour before sunset on the west side works, though it is busier and clashes with dinner and bath time. The dry season, April to October, gives the calmest water; in the wet season, November to March, mornings remain the best bet, with the bonus of fewer people on the beach. Avoid the day of a boat crossing: children who have just done a fast boat are rarely in the mood for photos.

What’s included

What does the package include?

The Family photoshoot package in Gili Islands covers: 15+ edited photos; One location near your stay — a beach, a garden or your villa; Start time planned around naps and the heat; Group portraits plus unposed moments of play; Private online gallery within 48–72 hours. Nothing is added to the price after the shoot. Permits worth knowing about: Gili Trawangan sunset swings — swings belong to beach bars and hotels; usually a drink order or a small fee.

Book online

Portfolio

Family photoshoot in Gili Islands

Frames from recent shoots, to plan yours against.

Before you book

FAQ — Family photoshoot in Gili Islands

Is Gili Air safe for young children during the shoot?

It is one of the easiest places in the region for small children: no cars or motorbikes, and calm, shallow water on the east side. The things to watch are the sun, coral fragments at the waterline and the occasional bicycle or horse cart in the lanes. Bring reef shoes for little feet and a hat for between frames; we keep everyone in the shallows where you can stand.

Can grandparents or friends join the family photos?

Yes. The price does not change with the number of people, but the time does get shared: with a larger group, 30 minutes covers the full group portrait, each family unit and a little play. For three generations and individual portraits of everyone, add an extra hour ($100) so nobody is rushed and there is time for shade breaks.

Should we take a horse cart to the shoot?

You do not need to: we choose a spot within walking distance of where you are staying. Cidomo carts are the islands’ only motorless taxis and children love them, but many visitors prefer to avoid them because of concerns about the horses’ welfare in the heat. If you would like one in the background of a frame, one passing in the lane is usually enough.

What should a family wear for photos on the beach?

Pick two or three colours that sit together — white, sand and soft blue suit the Gilis well — and dress everyone within them rather than in matching outfits. Avoid big logos and neon, which pull the eye away from faces. Children will get wet, so choose clothes that look fine damp and bring a dry set for afterwards.

Same shoot elsewhere