Find the perfect local backdrop for your photos…

Getting beautiful photos of your kids doesn’t have to mean planning something big or complicated and you also don’t need to battle with the kids sit still and smile. Sometimes it’s just about knowing a few simple spots where you can go, let the kids run around, and quietly capture those little moments as they happen.

These are a few of our favourite easy photo spots around Mandurah. These are places we come back to again and again as a family. If you’ve worked with me before, you might recognise some of them from your sessions too.

A black and white photograph of a boy holding sunscreen, looking at his mum, and pointing towards his nose.

1. The Beach (Especially at Golden Hour)

Living in Mandurah, the beach has to be the number one spot for family photos. I specifically love the beach that runs between Calypso Beach and Dotties. Apart from being a beautiful, quiet stretch of sand with calm sections of water, the streatch is well equipped with the amenities families need. At the Calypso beach end, you’ll find toilets, a park, lookout, and often a coffee van. At Dotties you’ll find a playground, toilets, and cafe. In the middle, at Blue bay beach, you’ll find toilets, showers, and a well maintained grass area for getting dressed away from the sand. This means that wherever you set up, you’re never too far from what you need.

As for your photos… The light is soft, the space is open, and kids can just be themselves, running, digging, splashing, and exploring.

You don’t need to plan much:

Let them play
Walk along the shoreline
Sit together in the sand

If you can, head down in the late afternoon when the heat of the day has subsided, the light is softer, and if you time it just right, you might even catch a beautiful West Australian sunset in the background. Overall, the beach is one of the easiest ways to get natural, relaxed photos without even trying too hard.

A boy hangs onto a flying fox and smiles at the camera whilst his mum holds him up

2. Local Parks (Simple, Open Spaces)

Mandurah has so many beautiful, well equipped parks and open green spaces that are perfect for photos. Peelwood Park is one of my favourite places for my mini sessions. If you have an interest in photography or want to try your hand at some more styled photos, it has lots of open space, shade, and high greenery that mean you can find the perfect light first and you’ll always have a beautiful backdrop.

If you have energetic kids, parks with a good playground are more than just good energy burn off. Suddenly that ‘mum, watch me!’ moment becomes an opportunity. Kids are climbing, hanging, and swinging, all of which provide repetitive movements. Repetitive is important because that means you have several opportunities to capture the same image. Great if you’re looking for that perfect angle.

Tips for fast paced playground photos:

Swap to pro-mode in your camera and turn your shutter speed up. Ideally 1/800 or higher
Join in with the play and look for unusual angles, like looking through tunnels or a bird’s eye view
Don’t ask them to ‘smile’. Instead capture the genuine joy of the moment as they play.

Being at the park doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on being in the shot. Hand your phone to a friend and slide together, play ‘pirates’ or push them on the swing.

Let it feel like a regular fun family day at the park, that’s where the magic is.

A boy in a plad shirt washes his hands with a hose whilst his puppy watches

3. Right at Home

Some of my absolute favourite photos of my family are taken at home. It might not feel like an obvious choice, especially if your house is overflowing with more toys and clutter than natural light, like mine. But the thing is, home is where the heart is, it’s where you are most comfortable, and it holds the memories they’ll cherish most. It also gives you the most control over your environment and opportunity to get back in the frame.

I often suggest choosing an activity that naturally brings everyone together:

Baking sweet treats in the kitchen
Reading books on the couch
Playing with bubbles in the backyard

Look for natural light coming through windows or move lamps around to create a soft glow and avoid harsh overhead lighting wherever possible. And try not to stress about everything being perfectly tidy, your connections and personality are the focus. When it comes to the photos, the mess will simply melt into the background.

These are the moments your kids will recognise and remember as they grow, they’re worth capturing now, exactly as they are.

4. Along the Foreshore

The Mandurah foreshore can be busy, but if you can get there early, it’s such an easy, beautiful spot for families. Go for a casual walk, grab an ice cream, play at the park, and let the kids explore while you capture little moments along the way.

There’s a fantastic mix of water views, open grassy areas, and picturesque walkways. Some of my favourite spots to capture along the foreshore area include:

The open, grassy areas on the western foreshore
The wooden boardwalks on the north-eastern side
The rainbow walkway between Ormsby Terrace and Keith Holmes reserve

The great thing about this one is that you don’t even need to make a special trip. Most of us are down at the foreshore at some point anyway. So, next time you’re there, simply slow down, take a little more time to explore, and keep your camera, or phone camera, in hand.

A few tips before you go

If you’re heading out with the intention of getting a few family photos, here are a few tips to help you make the most of the trip

Keep It Simple

A beautiful backdrop is nice, but it’s important to remember you don’t need the “perfect” location or posing to take meaningful photos.

Your kids don’t need to sit still.
You don’t need perfect outfits.
And you definitely don’t need to overthink it.

The best photos usually come when everyone is relaxed, happy, and free to be themselves.

Seek space

No matter what styles of photos you’re looking for, you don’t want to capture other people in the background (one more reason I love home shoots). If your chosen location is popular, head there in the early morning or late afternoon. The lighting will be better and you’ll have more space to just be together without worrying about photobombs.

Whilst we’re on the subject of space: A quick photography tip… Leave space at the edges of your photos. That way if your photo needs straightening or you want to crop later, you can, without risking cutting off your subject.

Join in

I’ll be saying this until the day I die: Mums deserve to be in the photos too! Use your timer, invest in a phone tripod, or ask a mum friend who wants photos themselves to come along too. Join in on the fun, make some memories with the kids, and capture the kind of photos that you always wanted.

A mum and dad push two blonde haired boys in toy cars in a race across the lawn

Key Takeaways

Locations:

🏖️ The beach: Calypso beach, Dotties Beach, & Blue bay beach

🛝 The park: Halls head park for styled shoots and playgrounds for high-energy kids

🏠 Your home: Simple, easy, meaningful

🌊 The foreshore: Western side for green space, north eastern side for the wooden walkways, and the rainbow walkway by the cinema for some whimsy

Tips:

📸 Use pro mode and increase your shutter speed for fast kids

🖼️ Leave space at the edge of your photos for straightening and cropping

🧁 Plan activities that naturally bring you together

🪟 Seek natural light in doorways and windows or utilise soft lamp lighting. Avoid harsh overhead lighting wherever possible.

🫶 Get in the frame: Use a tripod, timer, or ask another mum friend who wants photos too to tag along

💖 Keep it simple: Connection > Perfection

Your Family, Your Story

If you’d love photos like this without having to think about taking them yourself, I offer relaxed, family-focused sessions around Mandurah that capture these moments as they naturally unfold. Whether you want a cozy home session, an adventure to your favourite spot, or prefer a mini experience, find out more and get in touch by clicking below.

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