A family trip, photographed where it happened
When a family travels to Jekyll Island together, the trip itself is the reason for the photos. Three generations, a long weekend, and a historic resort that most of them may never stay at together again. This session took place at the Jekyll Island Club Resort, and it’s a good look at what a Jekyll Island family photo session can be when we use the whole property instead of one spot on the lawn.
As a Jekyll Island family photographer, I work with a lot of families who are visiting from out of state and don’t know the island well. That’s the whole point of hiring someone local. You show up, I already know where the light falls at 5pm, which corners of the Club stay cool, and how to keep a toddler happy for an hour in Georgia heat.
Why the Jekyll Island Club works for family photos
The Club gives you two completely different looks in one session. Outside, you get live oaks draped in Spanish moss, open green lawns, and the Victorian clubhouse with its turret behind you. Inside, you get dark carved wood, warm lamplight, and rooms that feel like 1890 never left.
We started outdoors for the big group portraits. The full extended family on the lawn with the clubhouse behind them is the photo grandparents frame. From there, each little family got its own time under the oaks, and I let the kids run the garden paths while I photographed them chasing each other.
Then we moved indoors. The grand wooden staircase made a natural frame for each family to sit together. In the parlor, I set up quieter moments: a couple on a leather chair by the fireplace, a dad playing with his son, the grandparents laughing on the sofa. The cousins got into a board game at the coffee table, and that became some of my favorite frames of the day. Nobody was posing. They were just a family on vacation.
That mix is what I’d plan for any family at the Club. Portraits for the wall, and real moments that show what the trip felt like.
What to wear: the all-white palette
This family went with all white and soft neutrals, and it was the right call for the Club. White reads clean against green lawns and moss, and it glows against the dark wood interiors. It also ties a big group together without everyone matching exactly.
If you’re planning outfits for your own Jekyll Island family photo session:
- Pick one palette for the whole family: white, cream, sand, or soft blue all work here
- Mix textures like linen, eyelet, and cotton so the group doesn’t look flat
- Skip big logos and bright patterns, which pull the eye away from faces
- Choose shoes you can walk in on grass and gravel paths, or plan to go barefoot on the lawn
- Pack a backup outfit for the little ones
Planning a family photo session on Jekyll Island
Most families I photograph on Jekyll are here for a few days and want the session handled without adding stress to the trip. Here’s how I plan it.
- Book before you travel. Weekends and holiday weeks fill fast. Lock in your date once your trip is set.
- Plan for the morning or the last two hours before sunset. The light is softer and the heat is easier on kids and grandparents.
- Schedule it early in the trip. If weather moves in, we still have days to reschedule before you fly home.
- Give it room. Big groups and little kids need time to warm up. Rushed sessions show in the photos.
- Pick your locations with me. The Club, the historic district, and Driftwood Beach each give a different feel. I’ll tell you what fits your group and the time of day.
- Let the kids be kids. Some of the best frames happen when nobody’s looking at the camera. I’ll guide the portraits and leave space for the rest.
If you’re staying at the Club, ask the front desk about any guidelines for photography inside. I’ll handle the rest.
Book your Jekyll Island family photographer
This family booked an Extended Family Session, which gives us time for the full group, each little family on its own, and the in-between moments indoors. For a smaller immediate family, a Full Family Session gives you an unhurried hour on the island.
If your family is traveling to Jekyll Island, send me your dates, your group size, and where you’re staying. I’ll suggest a location and time that fit your crew.
Phavy Photography
Family Photographer in Jekyll Island, GA
www.phavyphotos.com/family-photography
