Ta Prohm is one of my favourite temples for family photography in Angkor. The combination of huge trees, ancient stone, narrow pathways and soft light coming through the jungle gives the photographs a very different feeling from the more open surroundings of Angkor Wat.
For this family photoshoot at Ta Prohm, we spent the session exploring different parts of the temple and stopping for photographs as we went. With children, I generally prefer this approach to trying to keep everyone posing in one place for too long.
The result is a mixture of family portraits, photographs of the children and more relaxed images that show something of the experience of visiting Ta Prohm together.
Photographing Families at Ta Prohm
Family photography works best when there is some flexibility. Children are not always going to stand exactly where you want them to, look at the camera at the same time or be interested in repeating the same photograph several times.
That isn’t necessarily a problem.
I normally begin with the photographs where I need everyone together, then work more freely as we move around the temple. Some locations are perfect for a traditional family portrait, while others work better for individual photographs or smaller groups.
Ta Prohm gives us plenty of variety without needing to travel between different temples during the session.
The Jungle Setting
One of the main reasons to choose Ta Prohm is the environment.
The temple is famous for the enormous trees growing through and around its ruins, but there is much more to photograph than the best-known viewpoints. There are stone corridors, doorways, courtyards and quieter areas where the jungle has gradually taken over the temple.
The light also changes considerably as you walk through Ta Prohm. Some areas are dark and atmospheric, while others receive beautiful patches of sunlight through the trees. I use these changes in light and background to give a gallery more variety.
Keeping a Family Photoshoot Relaxed
I don’t expect children to treat a photoshoot like adults would. Particularly at Angkor, they are somewhere completely new with plenty going on around them.
So I try to keep family sessions moving.
We might take a few photographs in one location, walk to another part of the temple, photograph the children separately and then bring everyone together again when we find another good setting.
It means you still get the important photographs of the whole family, without making the entire visit feel like a long series of posed pictures.
Is Ta Prohm a Good Choice for Family Photos?
Ta Prohm is particularly good for families who want their photographs to have a strong sense of place. Even without seeing the most famous tree roots, the jungle and ruins immediately give the photographs the atmosphere of Angkor.
It can also work very well as part of a longer Angkor photoshoot. Angkor Wat offers the grand architecture and iconic views, while Ta Prohm provides something greener, more intimate and atmospheric.
For families visiting Siem Reap, the two temples can produce very different sets of photographs from the same trip.
Planning Your Own Family Photoshoot in Angkor
Every family is different, so I can adapt the timing and locations depending on the ages of your children, how long you want to spend taking photographs and which temples you would most like to include.
If you’re considering a session, you can read my Angkor Wat family photoshoot guide for more information about planning a shoot with children, or view my Ta Prohm photoshoots to see more examples photographed around the temple.