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I’ll be real with you, I’ve had a running list of family photographers in Medellín recommendations saved in my notes app for way longer than I’d like to admit. Saved links from Facebook groups, WhatsApp contacts a friend sent “just in case,” Instagram profiles I bookmarked and never did anything with. It’s not that I was gatekeeping (maybe a little), I just never sat down to organize it.
Well, consider it organized! As we head into holiday season (hello, mini sessions and end-of-year holiday cards), I figured it was time to stop sitting on this and actually share it. Some of these photographers I’ve used myself and recommended more than once. Others come highly rated from a few different mom groups I’m part of. A few I haven’t tried yet but am excited to this season.
For context: in four years in Colombia, I’ve done a maternity shoot in San Andrés and Cartagena, newborn photos with my two youngest, and I’m about to shoot my fourth year of holiday photos here. This list is less “here’s a random directory” and more “here’s who I’d actually send a friend to.”
Whether you’re after proof of mom, mailing end-of-year cards back home, capturing that beautiful baby bump, or just want new family photos on the wall — there’s someone on this list for you.
Medellín Family Photographers: My Trusted List for Every Season
The full Notion directory, which I send by email, includes photographers who shoot everything from:
Family • Newborn • Maternity • Pregnancy • Postpartum • Engagement • Wedding • Lifestyle • Events • Commercial • Corporate • Product • Architecture • Studio • Kids • Pets • Couples • Professional Portraits • Quinceañera • Christmas • Halloween • Mother’s Day • Graduation • Video
Below is a small taste. The full list has session categories, contact details and planning notes, and it lives in a Notion directory I send by email, so request the directory by email. Every tab and column I mention below is in that directory.
A Few Photographers From the Directory
Here are three entries to get you started. The session types come from the directory, so go look at their work and ask about the exact session you have in mind.
- A la vista olas: listed for family, maternity, birth and newborn photography. Find their work on Instagram at @alavistaolas.
- Andrew Shainker: listed for family, maternity and lifestyle photography, among other sessions. Browse Andrew’s photography portfolio.
- JJE Photography: listed for family, maternity, engagement and lifestyle photography, among other sessions. Find their work on Instagram at @jjelifestylephotography.
How to Use the Emailed Directory & Good to Knows
Finding Your Session Type
Open the Notion directory from your email. The Main view has the full list. Want to narrow it down? Pick a session view like Holiday, Newborn or Maternity. Names and price ranges are columns, so you can compare as you scroll.
Contacting a Photographer
Most contact info in the directory is WhatsApp. That’s intentional. IYKYK. It’s a good place to ask about pricing, availability and booking, but if a photographer lists a different way to reach them, use that.
Pricing for Family Photographers in Medellín
The $ / $$ / $$$ ranges in the directory are rough bands from when I put the list together, based on what photographers shared. Think of them as planning numbers, not quotes. I haven’t refreshed them since, so ask for a current quote for your session, especially for holidays or larger families.
Historical price bands (COP):
- $: 200.000–400.000 COP
- $$: 400.000–800.000 COP
- $$$: 800.000+ COP
Booking Lead Time & Turnaround
Booking lead time varies a lot. You’ll generally get better options the further in advance you book. That said, some photographers are willing to accommodate a last-minute session if their calendar allows.
Turnaround time means how long it’ll take to get your photos back. Ask for a delivery date before you book, especially if you’re ordering holiday cards or prints. And exercise a little patience here. Sometimes it takes longer than originally estimated. These are real people, and last-minute things come up. Be kind.
Session Locations
Session locations vary too. Ask whether your photographer does studio, at-home or outdoor sessions, and whether travel or location fees apply, before you make plans.
Weather & Rainy Season in Medellín
Talk this through with your photographer ahead of time. Will they reschedule for rain, or shoot through it? It’s a bit of a gamble depending on when you book.
- What the data says: SIATA puts the rainier stretches at March–May and September–November, with less rain in December–February and June–August.
- Don’t treat those dates as exact. It caaaaan bleed a few weeks on either side, and less rain doesn’t mean no rain.
- Don’t write off cloudy days. Overcast skies can give some of the most flattering, evenly-lit photos.
Payment Methods
I’ve always paid via Bancolombia transferencia or PayPal, but don’t assume. Reference the Payment Method column in the emailed directory and confirm with your photographer ahead of time.
What to Wear for Family Photos
If you’re shooting against a white background, skip the white outfit. You’ll want something with enough contrast to stand out. A color wheel can help if you want a more technical approach than eyeing it. Every photographer I’ve spoken with on this list has been really kind, so don’t hesitate to ask for guidance if you’re not sure what to wear.
Beyond Family Photography
I kept the focus on family photos, but the directory also covers corporate, event, product, architecture and other kinds of sessions. Like a photographer’s style? Ask if they’d be open to something outside what’s listed here.
English Speaking Photographers in Medellín
Need an English-speaking photographer? Check the language info in the directory, and confirm who will actually be at your session. If they’re Spanish only and you love their edit style, don’t let the language barrier stop you. Plenty of people make it work without a shared language! And a gentle reminder that you’re in a Spanish-speaking country. Trying to learn the language isn’t just a kind gesture, it’s a sign of respect.
Deposits & Booking Terms
A photographer may ask for a deposit to hold your date, especially in busy season. Before you pay, ask:
- When does the booking become firm?
- How much is due?
- How does it apply to my total?
- What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule, including for rain?
Keeping This List Accurate
I did my best to verify every detail when I put this list together, but things change fast here, often without notice. Photographers’ services, contacts and prices can change, and I haven’t rechecked every entry in the separate directory. If something’s broken or outdated, email me at hello@mamainmedellin.co so I can fix it.
Picking a Family Photographer
Start With Their Editing Style
There’s no one right way to do this, but I always start here first. You can usually get a feel for a photographer’s style from their Instagram or website. Do the tones feel warm or cool? Bright or moody? That’ll tell you more than any review will.
Book in Advance
I book in advance so I can actually pick outfits and take my time. And since my kids are so much younger, I try to schedule earlier in the day, when they’re more likely to be patient and rested. Not everyone’s go-to, but I always bring the kid’s fave candy to help get them excited about smiling and moving around. Being told to smile for 10 minutes can feel like an eternity to a 3-year-old.
Practice at Home First
If it’s your first time doing family photos, try a silly mock run at home before the real session. Let the kids practice sitting, staying, and moving without the pressure of an actual shoot. It absolutely takes the edge off for everyone.
Let Go of the “Perfect” Photo
Don’t be afraid to take breaks mid-session. I get the stress of wanting a “perfect” photo, especially with younger kids who’d rather do anything else than smile on command and look at the camera at the same time, but your reality is the beautiful part, and it’s usually the photo everyone laughs about later anyway. The stress of “we paid for this and the kids were cranky the whole time” is real too, so give yourself some grace!
Tips for Photographing Older Kids and Tweens
If you’re dealing with older kids or tweens, the resistance just looks different, right? Less crying, more eye-rolling. A few things that help:
- Let them have some input, like picking their own outfit within the palette or choosing one pose idea, so it doesn’t feel like they’re just being dragged along.
- Keep the session short with a clear endpoint (“15 minutes and we’re done”). A little motivation still works, just different currency. Think ice cream after instead of candy during.
- And a few candid, unposed shots mixed in usually capture them better than forced smiles anyway, so ask your photographer to grab some of those too.
Communicate What You Want Ahead of Time
It also helps to know exactly what you’re looking for going in. This year I’ve got three specific frames I want to fill, plus a holiday mailer for family back in the States, so I’ll be telling my photographer that upfront. Communicate what you want ahead of time. It makes a real difference in what you walk away with.
Get the Full Photographer Directory
Pop your email in below and I’ll send you the link to the full Notion directory. You’ll get the photographer list, session views, contact details and planning notes. Bookmark it so you can come back anytime.
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