Estudio Playa Mujeres is the family side of the Atelier complex, with a kids' club for children up to 15 and the same calm, shallow beach. For family photos, book sunrise if your children are under five and the hour before sunset if they are older. Sessions start at 245 USD, and Essential Flow, 60 minutes for 395 USD, is the family favourite.
Estudio Playa Mujeres opened in 2019 as the family-friendly half of the Atelier complex: same art-and-design concept, same beach, but built for children. That beach is the reason family sessions here go so well. The water is shallow and calm enough for toddlers to stand in, so we get real play instead of forced smiles. Here is how we plan a family photoshoot at Estudio.
The Session at a Glance
- ResortFamily all-inclusive, the family half of Atelier Estudio Playa Mujeres
- KidsKids' club for children up to 15
- BeachShallow and calm, facing Isla Mujeres
- Best hoursSunrise for small children; the hour before sunset for older ones
- Length45 to 60 minutes for most families
- Our sessionsFrom 245 USD, gallery in 1 to 3 business days
Where We Shoot
The shallows. Our first stop and the heart of the session. Children can wade, splash and run in water that barely moves, and parents can relax because nobody is getting knocked over by waves. The best family photos here are running, lifting and laughing frames, not lined-up portraits.
The art and the gardens. The complex is designed around contemporary Mexican art, and its sculptures, colourful walls and planted paths give children something to look at and adults some shade. We use them for the classic group portrait, especially with grandparents.
The beach at the last light. We finish where we started, at the water, as the light softens. The beach faces east, so the sun sets behind the resort and nobody squints.
Sunrise or Sunset
Times for this beach on the 15th of each month in 2027:
| Month | Sunrise | Golden | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:27 am | 5:54 pm | 6:26 pm |
| March | 6:56 am | 6:27 pm | 6:57 pm |
| May | 6:09 am | 6:47 pm | 7:18 pm |
| June | 6:05 am | 6:58 pm | 7:30 pm |
| July | 6:14 am | 7:01 pm | 7:32 pm |
| September | 6:34 am | 6:21 pm | 6:50 pm |
| November | 6:58 am | 5:34 pm | 6:06 pm |
| December | 7:17 am | 5:35 pm | 6:08 pm |
For children under five we usually recommend sunrise: they are awake anyway, the beach is empty, and the heat has not started. From roughly September through March the sun also rises from behind Isla Mujeres, directly across the channel. With older children, start about an hour before sunset.
A Plan That Works With Children
We photograph the youngest first, while their energy lasts, and save the full group portrait for the middle of the session, when everyone has relaxed. Bring a snack and water, and keep one favourite toy in a bag; it buys us five more minutes of smiles. For outfits, soft neutrals with one muted colour look best against pale sand and turquoise water; our family outfit guide has palettes that work. For toddler-specific tips, see family photos with toddlers in Cancún.
Families on Playa Mujeres, Through Our Lens
Real IVAE Studios family sessions on Playa Mujeres and Isla Mujeres, in the same calm water your children will play in.
Collections and Access
Every collection includes editing and a private 4K gallery delivered in one to three business days.
| Collection | Time | Photos | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spark | 35 min | 15 | 245 USD |
| Glow Hour | 45 min | 25 | 325 USD |
| Essential Flow | 60 min | 35 | 395 USD |
| Creative Runway | 75 min | 50 | 475 USD |
| Visual Story | 90 min | 70 | 575 USD |
| Full Experience | 90 min | Full gallery | 725 USD |
Glow Hour at 45 minutes suits a family of three or four; Essential Flow at 60 minutes is better for larger families and several generations. As a staying guest, you simply give the front desk the photographer's name and the session time in advance. For a private family session, a staying guest is very seldom charged the outside vendor fee used for weddings, but we confirm the current policy with the resort in writing. More on our Cancún family photographer page.