The day before: lay out and steam one outfit per person, skip new haircuts and skincare, stay out of the midday sun, confirm where we meet, and pack water, snacks that do not stain, a small towel and a spare outfit for each young child. On the day: eat, put sunscreen on 15 to 30 minutes before you go out, and arrive a few minutes early. We confirm your hotel's rule on outside photographers, you pay at the end, and a preview arrives within 24 hours.
By the day before a family session, the big decisions are made: the dates, the hotel, the palette, the collection. Our 90-day checklist covers the three months before. This page covers the last 24 hours, item by item, plus a short prep list for each person in the family, from the baby to the grandparents.
The Last 24 Hours, Item by Item
One table, item by item. It works for morning and late-afternoon slots alike; the next section covers what changes between them.
| Item | The day before | Session day |
|---|---|---|
| Start time | Check the slot you booked: 6:30, 7:00 or 7:30 am, or 5:00 or 5:30 pm. Set alarms in local time. | Leave your room with time to spare. |
| Meeting point | Confirm with us where we meet, and time the walk from your room. | Arrive a few minutes early, so the kids can explore the spot before we start. |
| Hotel rule | Already confirmed by us before your session. | If your hotel charges an outside-photographer fee, you pay it to the hotel. |
| Outfits | Lay out one outfit per person, two if your collection includes two looks. Steam, and check for stains. | Dress last, after sunscreen and snacks. |
| Hair | No new haircut or color. | Simple hair that can take the wind, with hair ties in the bag. |
| Skin | No new skincare or makeup, and no long hours in the midday sun. | Sunscreen in your room, 15 to 30 minutes before you go out, rubbed in well. |
| Snacks | Pack ones that do not stain: plain crackers, pretzels, rice cakes. No chocolate or red juice. | A real snack before you leave; the rest stays hidden in the bag. |
| Water | One bottle per person, chilled overnight if your room has a fridge. | Bring them all, and have a drink before you start. |
| Towel | Pack a small one for faces, hands and sandy feet. | Blot faces and brush off sand between frames. |
| Sleep | An early night for everyone. | For a 5:00 or 5:30 pm start, protect the nap. |
| Payment | Nothing to pay ahead: there is no deposit. | Pay at the end, by card or in cash. |
Nothing new. No new haircut, color, skincare, makeup or shoes, and no outfit nobody has tried on. If anyone needs a trim, do it at home, well before you fly.
Outfits. Linen and gauze crease in a suitcase, so hang everything the day before and steam it, with a travel steamer or in the bathroom while a hot shower runs. Try the children's outfits on once, while there is still time to swap a scratchy collar. If your collection includes two looks, as The Story, The Editorial and The Heirloom do, lay out both. For colors and fabrics, see what to wear for a family photoshoot in Mexico.
Sunscreen. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises putting it on 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors (checked November 14, 2026). Do it in your room before anyone gets dressed, and rub it in until none shows at the hairline and ears. Mineral filters can leave a white cast in photos, so for faces choose a tinted formula; why sunscreen makes faces glow white in photos shows how to test your bottle at home. And keep the day before shady: sunburn and fresh tan lines show in close portraits.
Your hotel. We confirm your hotel's rule on outside photographers before the session. If your hotel charges a fee for an outside photographer, you pay it to the hotel directly; our resort photographer page explains how this works hotel by hotel.
“She handled everything as far as coming to the resort (contacted reception to set up her visit)”
Stacy T., Google review
Morning Slot or Afternoon Slot
Online booking at ivaestudios.com/book offers three morning starts and two late-afternoon ones; other times are arranged on WhatsApp. The checklist stays the same; the shape of the day changes.
6:30, 7:00 or 7:30 am
A morning session is won the night before. Leave the packed bag by the door with the sunscreen on top, so the morning is short: wake up, a small snack, sunscreen, clothes, out the door. Save the big breakfast for afterwards, as the reward.
5:00 or 5:30 pm
An afternoon session is lost during the day. Swim in the morning, stay in the shade after lunch and protect the nap. Leave time for wet hair to dry and for a proper snack before you go. Our heat plan for family sessions covers warm evenings, and how long a family photoshoot takes walks through the session itself.
A Prep List for Each Family Member
Bring everyone you want in the photos: there is no limit on the number of people and no per-person fee.
Baby
Keep the baby's routine as close to normal as the trip allows. Choose an outfit the baby has already worn, soft and nothing brand new, pack a spare, the pacifier and a muslin wrap, and time a feed for just before we meet. For babies younger than 6 months, the same AAP page advises keeping them out of direct sunlight, with sunscreen only on small areas such as the face when clothing and shade are not available.
“It's not easy getting great shots with a baby, but Vianey was incredibly patient, playful, and made all of us feel comfortable from the start.”
Ivan S., Google review
Toddler
Talk about tomorrow as a game at the beach, not a photo shoot. Try the outfit on once, protect the nap and give a real snack shortly before you leave. Hide one treat and a small favorite toy in the bag for the moment a reset is needed. Our guide to family photos with toddlers in Cancun goes further.
School-age child
Tell them the plan the night before: how long it lasts, one job they will have, and one spot they get to choose. Promise something fun afterwards, then keep the promise. If a haircut went wrong or new glasses matter to them, tell us privately.
Teen
Ask them privately what they are comfortable with and which photo they would actually keep. Let them pick their own outfit within the family palette, agree that the phone stays in the bag until the end, and keep a late night away from a 6:30 am start.
“What really impressed me was how they handled my two shy teenage boys. They made them feel comfortable and guided them to pose naturally.”
Linh K., Google review
Grandparent
Flat shoes with a real sole for the walk, a hat for between frames, water and any medication due around that hour. If standing on soft sand for long is tiring, tell us before the day, not on the beach.
What to Bring to the Session
- Water, one bottle per person
- Snacks that do not stain, plus one hidden treat
- A small towel, wipes and tissues
- Hair ties and a comb
- Sun hats for between frames
- A spare outfit for each young child
- The baby's pacifier or comfort toy
- A tote for shoes, if you go barefoot on the sand
- A charged phone with WhatsApp
- A card or cash: you pay at the end
On the beach, sand sticks to fresh sunscreen and wet feet, and the breeze lifts hair and hems: that is what the towel and the hair ties are for.
If Plans Change
Trips with children do not always go to plan. If a fever, a sunburn or a run of short nights changes things, message us on WhatsApp as soon as you know. Cancellation is free up to one day before the session, and nothing is paid up front. If another day of your trip is still open, you can book that one instead.
After the Last Frame
You pay at the end of the session, by card or in cash. A preview arrives within 24 hours, and the full private 4K gallery, with unlimited downloads and print rights, follows in 1 to 3 business days. For families we recommend The Chapter: 60 minutes, 35 edited photos and one look for 475 USD.
Our team, led by Vianey Díaz, has more than 20 years of photography experience and has photographed thousands of families and couples in that time. Since IVAE Studios opened in 2023, we have delivered more than 500 sessions, and we hold a 5.0 rating across 75 Google reviews. We work in English and Spanish. When you are ready, book online or see how our family sessions in Cancun work.