Quick answer: The best destinations for island fashion shoots in the Indian Ocean and Atlantic are Mauritius, Seychelles, the Maldives, Madagascar, Zanzibar and Cape Verde. Between them they offer turquoise tropical water, palm‑fringed white‑sand beaches, dramatic waterfalls, volcanic mountains, rainforests and rich cultural Old Towns — an enormous range of backdrops for editorial and commercial island fashion shoots. African Fixer supports international video and stills island fashion shoots across all six, handling permits, location scouting, local crew, model casting, wardrobe, equipment, boats and 4×4 transport, customs clearance and on‑set logistics so your team can focus on the frame.

From the granite coves of La Digue to the baobabs of Madagascar, the Stone Town doorways of Zanzibar and the volcano of Fogo, these six islands pack beaches, nature and culture within short travel distances — making them standout destinations for island fashion shoots. Explore our full range of African filming locations, or see how we deliver production support in Mauritius and across the islands.

Why these islands are made for island fashion shoots

Editorial and commercial fashion lives on light, texture and colour. These destinations deliver clean tropical water, white and pink sand, swaying palms, waterfalls, mountain ridges, rainforest and characterful architecture — all with reliable sunshine and short distances between looks. As experienced island fashion shoots specialists, African Fixer turns logistically remote paradises into smooth, well‑run productions.

Mauritius — lagoons, Le Morne and waterfalls

Mauritius is a compact island of contrasts that is ideal for fashion shoots: luxury lagoons one hour, jungle waterfalls the next. It also offers a generous filming rebate, world‑class crew and infrastructure.

• Beaches: Le Morne, Trou aux Biches, Belle Mare, Flic en Flac, Pereybère and the sandbanks of Île aux Cerfs.
• Waterfalls: Chamarel Waterfall (the island’s highest single drop), Tamarind Falls (the Seven Cascades) and Rochester Falls.
• Mountains: the UNESCO‑listed Le Morne Brabant, plus Black River Peak, Pieter Both and Le Pouce.
• Nature & parks: Black River Gorges National Park (rainforest and trails), the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths, Casela Nature Park, Île aux Aigrettes reserve and Pamplemousses Botanical Garden.
• Other locations: the capital Port Louis and Caudan Waterfront, the sacred lake at Grand Bassin, colonial sugar estates and the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site.

Seychelles — granite peaks, palm valleys and postcard sand

The Seychelles is the editorial dream and a flawless setting for high‑end fashion shoots: sculpted granite boulders, glassy shallows, misty peaks and protected nature across Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.

• Beaches: Anse Source d’Argent (La Digue), Anse Lazio (Praslin), Beau Vallon and Anse Intendance (Mahé).
• Waterfalls: the Sauzier Waterfall on Mahé, fed by cool mountain streams into a natural pool.
• Mountains: Morne Seychellois (905m) and the granite peaks and cloud forest of Morne Seychellois National Park.
• Nature & wildlife: the UNESCO Vallée de Mai palm forest (home of the coco de mer), the giant tortoises of UNESCO‑listed Aldabra Atoll, and Curieuse Island.
• Other locations: the tiny capital Victoria with its clock tower and market, and La Digue’s historic L’Union Estate.

Maldives — over‑water blues and a sea of stars

Few backdrops read as instantly luxurious as the Maldives, making it perfect for swimwear and resort island fashion shoots. As a chain of flat coral atolls it has no mountains or waterfalls — its drama is entirely marine, in every shade of blue.

• Beaches & sandbanks: near‑identical white‑sand islands, private sandbanks and over‑water villas across 26 atolls.
• Nature & marine life: the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Hanifaru Bay, where manta rays and whale sharks gather, plus pristine house reefs and coral gardens.
• Natural phenomenon: the bioluminescent “Sea of Stars” that lights the shoreline at Vaadhoo after dark.
• Other locations: the capital Malé, lively local islands such as Maafushi, and the coral‑stone Hukuru Miskiy (Friday Mosque).

Madagascar — baobabs, tsingy, canyons and lemurs

Madagascar offers something rawer and more exotic than anywhere else on earth — a dream for adventurous, nature‑led fashion shoots, from desert sandbars to rainforest and canyons.

• Beaches: the sandbar of Nosy Iranja, Andilana on Nosy Be, Île Sainte‑Marie, and Ifaty and Anakao in the south.
• Waterfalls: the hidden falls and natural pools of Isalo, and the waterfalls and crater lakes of Amber Mountain (Montagne d’Ambre).
• Mountains: Maromokotro (the highest peak), the granite domes of Andringitra and the rainforest massif of Amber Mountain.
• Nature & wildlife: the iconic Avenue of the Baobabs, the UNESCO limestone pinnacles of Tsingy de Bemaraha, the Grand Canyon‑like sandstone of Isalo National Park, and the lemurs and singing indri of Andasibe‑Mantadia.
• Other locations: the capital Antananarivo, the UNESCO Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, and the surreal spiny forest of the south.

Zanzibar — Stone Town’s Old Town meets powder beaches

Zanzibar is two shoots in one and a favourite for fashion shoots that want both beach and culture. The island is low‑lying — no mountains or waterfalls — but its powder beaches, spice‑scented forests and historic Old Town more than make up for it.

• Beaches: Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje, Jambiani and Matemwe, plus offshore sandbanks like Nakupenda.
• Old Town: Stone Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), with its carved doors, coral‑stone alleys, the House of Wonders, Old Fort and Sultan’s Palace.
• Nature & wildlife: Jozani‑Chwaka Bay National Park and its endemic red colobus monkeys, the mangroves, and the reefs of Mnemba Atoll.
• Other locations: aromatic spice farms, Prison (Changuu) Island with its giant tortoises, and sunset dhow sailing.

Cape Verde — Atlantic dunes, green valleys and a volcano

Out in the Atlantic, Cape Verde brings a completely different palette to fashion shoots: a dramatic volcano, terraced green valleys, desert dunes and wide, empty beaches under big skies.

• Beaches: Santa Maria on Sal, Santa Mónica and Praia de Chaves on Boa Vista, and Tarrafal on Santiago.
• Mountains & volcano: Pico do Fogo, the 2,829m active volcano of Fogo and its Chã das Caldeiras, plus the rugged peaks of Santo Antão.
• Nature & valleys: the green terraced valleys and Cova crater of Santo Antão, the Viana Desert dunes of Boa Vista, and the Pedra de Lume crater salt pans on Sal.
• Other locations: the music city of Mindelo on São Vicente, and Cidade Velha on Santiago — the UNESCO‑listed first European colonial town in the tropics.

Top island locations for island fashion shoots, at a glance

What African Fixer handles for your island fashion shoots

As your production partner for island fashion shoots, African Fixer offers our full range of world‑class services to suit productions of all sizes — for video and stills:

• Film permits — permit applications for filming sorted before you begin shooting, including beach, marine and heritage sites.
• Visa applications — applications for visas for all international celebrities and crew.
• Local crew — local crew sourced and vetted for all different departments as needed.
• Heads of departments — experienced HODs who know how to work on the islands.
• Scouting and locations — local knowledge to match beaches, waterfalls, mountains and Old Town backdrops to your brief and the light.
• Casting — model and talent casting, including contracts for usage and performance.
• Art department — management and supply of all props, including wardrobe needs.
• Film equipment — camera, grip and lighting hired locally or shipped and cleared.
• Equipment hire & shipment — full support for imported and local kit.
• Shipping of logistics — equipment hired locally or shipped and cleared in each country.
• Production vehicles — on‑ and behind‑camera vehicles, plus boats for island and sandbank access.
• Drivers / chaperones — hiring of drivers and/or chaperones, including the sourcing of vehicles.
• Hotel & flight bookings — bookings for travel and accommodation, including negotiating discounts.
• Catering — catering for all on‑set personnel as per dietary requirements.
• Security — sourcing of professional security for celebrities and international crew.
• Local fixers — production coordinators with indispensable local knowledge.

When is the best time to shoot in the islands?

Broadly, the Indian Ocean islands (Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, Zanzibar and northern Madagascar) shoot best in their drier, sunnier seasons from around May to October, while Cape Verde enjoys warm, dry conditions for much of the year. African Fixer plans schedules around each island’s light, tides, trade winds and rainy season so your island fashion shoots deliver on every shoot day.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a permit for a beach fashion shoot?
Yes — most islands require permits for commercial stills and video island fashion shoots, especially on protected beaches, marine parks and heritage sites such as Stone Town. African Fixer arranges these in advance.

Can you shoot more than just beaches on these islands?
Absolutely. Beyond the sand we scout waterfalls, mountains, rainforests, volcanoes, deserts, botanical gardens and historic Old Towns — so a single trip can deliver many different looks.

Which island is best for a swimwear or resort campaign?
The Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles are ideal for clean, luxury resort and swimwear island fashion shoots, while Madagascar, Zanzibar and Cape Verde add culture, nature and untouched, exotic texture.

Can you coordinate local models, crew and equipment?
Yes. We handle model casting, contracts, full local crew and heads of department, and equipment hire or customs clearance on every island.

Plan your island fashion shoots with African Fixer

From the Maldives to Cape Verde, African Fixer turns the world’s most beautiful islands into smooth, fully‑supported island fashion shoots — permits, crew, beaches, waterfalls, mountains, boats and logistics for video and stills.

Planning island fashion shoots? Contact African Fixer to start building your production.