This was Xenia and Lok with Lachlan and Leila, meeting Yu and her two boys by the waterfront.
Four kids who have grown up together is not a playdate. It is an established institution.
There were adults present, technically. Xenia, Lok, and Yu handled the respectable parts: standing nicely, smiling properly, making the whole thing look briefly organised. The children supplied the rest — leaning, laughing, running, climbing into each other’s personal space with the confidence of people who have known each other too long to ask permission.
Hong Kong did its bit in the background. Water, skyline, good light. Very professional of it.
The nice thing about photographing kids with their old friends is that you don’t have to build anything from scratch. The rhythm is already there — old jokes, quick alliances, and a shared disregard for the adult plan.
The tidy photos happened early, before everyone remembered who they were.
If your family photos involve close friends, cousins, or a small group of children with a long shared history and questionable crowd control, get in touch.
See more family work in the Tribe gallery.