PhotoGili Islands · North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara

Holiday photoshoot · Gili Islands

In short

A holiday photoshoot on the Gili Islands costs from $130 for 30 minutes around where you are staying — the beach out front, a palm-shaded lane, your bungalow terrace. You receive 15+ edited photos in a private online gallery within 48–72 hours. If the photographer has to cross from Bali or Lombok, add the $90 island transfer.

Starting from: $130
Duration: 30 min
Edited photos: 15+

Why here

Why choose Holiday photoshoot in Gili Islands?

A holiday photoshoot is meant to happen where you already are, and on the Gilis that is unusually easy to keep. There is no road trip to a famous spot and no traffic to plan around: the whole of Gili Air can be walked in about an hour and a half, so the beach in front of your bungalow, the sandy lane behind it and the warung where you eat breakfast are all within a few minutes of each other. That suits people who came here to do very little. You do not lose an afternoon, you do not dress up for a production, and the pictures look like the week you actually had — wet hair after a swim, bicycles leaning against a fence, a hammock, the boat that took you snorkelling pulled up on the sand. We shoot on whichever island you are staying on and use only what is in walking distance.

How the shoot is planned

What does the shoot in Gili Islands look like?

The route

Say you are on Gili Air. The photographer comes to your gate, and the first frames are the ones nobody else takes: you heading out with towels over your shoulders, unlocking the bikes, the lane in dappled shade with a cidomo going past in the distance. From there it is a couple of minutes to the sand. On the beach we work loosely — walking the tideline, sitting on a moored outrigger, a few straightforward portraits for the people at home who want to see your faces properly — and finish in the shallows, which on most of Gili Air stay knee-deep for a long way out. On Meno the same plan runs on emptier sand; on Trawangan we pick a stretch away from the main strip. An extra hour ($100) adds a second setting, such as the café where you spend your evenings, or a change into something smarter for sunset.

The timing

Pick the side of the island you are staying on. East-facing beaches, such as Gili Air’s main coast towards Lombok, are at their best from sunrise to about 8 am; the west coasts glow in the last hour before sunset, between roughly 5 and 6.30 pm. In between, the light is hard and white sand throws it straight back up at you. Holidays on the Gilis are often short, so do not leave the shoot for the last evening: boats can be delayed in rough water, especially from December to February, and you want a spare evening if a storm rolls in. The dry season, April to October, is the most reliable; July and August are the busiest weeks, when an early morning is the easiest way to have a beach to yourselves.

What’s included

What does the package include?

The Holiday photoshoot package in Gili Islands covers: 15+ edited photos; One location within easy reach of where you are staying; Posing guidance for people who are not models; 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

Holiday photoshoot in Gili Islands

Frames from recent shoots, to plan yours against.

Before you book

FAQ — Holiday photoshoot in Gili Islands

Do we need to go anywhere special for good photos on the Gilis?

No, and that is the point of this session. Every stretch of coast on the three islands has clear water, white sand and palms, so the beach nearest your room is usually as good as the famous ones and much quieter. If you do want a particular place, such as the swings on Gili Trawangan, it is fine as long as it is within a short walk or bike ride; anything further is better as an extra hour.

Can we shoot on the day we arrive by boat?

We would advise against it. Fast boats from Bali are regularly late, the landing is a wade through shallow water with your luggage, and most people want a shower and a swim before anything else. Book your second day instead, when you know the lanes around you and have found the beach you like. If arrival day is the only option, choose sunset rather than an afternoon slot.

What should we wear walking through the village?

Swimwear is normal on the beach but not in the lanes. The islands are mostly Muslim, so for the walking part wear something over it — a linen shirt, a sarong, a light dress — and take it off at the sand if you want swimwear frames. Light colours suit the palette; bare feet or flat sandals are fine everywhere, since the lanes are soft sand.

We leave the Gilis the next morning. Can we get the photos sooner?

Yes: express delivery is a $50 add-on and brings the full edited gallery within 24 hours instead of 48–72. Island internet can be slow, so we send a download link you can open later on Bali or at home; it stays live, and you do not need to download everything on the boat.

Same shoot elsewhere