London family & maternity Photographer
Newborn, Family and Pregnancy photoshootsI aim to produce truly artistic images not just great portraits in the West London studio and on location around London.
Est 2005
Not just great photos, but beautiful portraits
Natural, relaxed yet artistic sessions on location in London, or in the studio — by NAPCP Master photographer in both family and pregnancy portraiture Susan Porter‑Thomas.
Areas covered include Ealing, Richmond, Kew, Hampstead, Central London, Chiswick and Greater London
Why choose me as your family photographer?
If you’re looking for family portraits to form the backbone for your family memories, but are after something a little more stylish and elegant then you’re in the right place.
I specialise in elegant, artistic yet real photography for growing families in London and the surrounding counties. I’ve spent over 20 years perfecting what makes both an aesthetic image and great family portrait. I’ve done literally thousands of photoshoots in London and in the studio and have a Master of Photography awarded by the NAPCP, an international family photography body, in both pregnancy and family portraiture.
I also have 150 5* reviews on Google.
Whether you are celebrating a first pregnancy, photographing your newborn baby, or updating family portraits as your children grow, my sessions are designed around you and your personality.
Not just any old portraits..
ABOUT NEWBORNS
Susan Porter-Thomas
yes, that’s me
I dreaded this photoshoot as I had never done anything like it before. It was a gift from my partner for me and my son.
But the moment I met Susan face to face, all my worries and fears disappeared. It felt like spending the day with a very good friend.
Susan is incredibly professional, but she also has such a warm and calming presence that instantly puts you at ease. I left thinking, wow, that was actually fun — I could do it again 🙂
The photos were amazing.
Thank you, Susan, for such a beautiful experience. I would highly recommend her.
I had such a wonderful experience with Susan for a photoshoot with my baby. She is friendly, extremely professional, and a truly talented photographer. The photos of my daughter came out absolutely beautiful! Susan knew exactly how to make her feel comfortable and confident, and captured her sweet smiles perfectly.
Even though she was fully booked, Susan kindly made time for us since I was only in London for two weeks, and she was so accommodating and thoughtful throughout the entire process. I’m so grateful for the stunning photos and for her kindness, and I hope to do another photoshoot with her in the future!
EXPLORE MY PORTFOLIO
the GALLERIES
Maternity
Newborn
Family
Individual
Older Baby
Dogs
I had a wonderful maternity shoot experience with Susan. She made me feel completely comfortable and confident throughout the session, and her guidance was incredibly helpful while still allowing everything to feel natural.
The photos are beautiful and capture this special time perfectly. I’ve already recommended her to several women from my antenatal class and would happily recommend her to anyone looking for a maternity photographer.
My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Susan for our maternity photo shoot, and it was a wonderful experience from start to finish.
The session was relaxed, fun, and thoughtfully guided. Susan made us feel completely comfortable and paid close attention to the details we had suggested.
She is incredibly friendly, highly professional, and clearly passionate about her work. We are absolutely delighted with the results and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a beautiful, intimate, and private photo shoot.
When is the best time to book a professional photographer?
I would recommend the key stages of your family life to book a professional photographer. Make sure you capture the best possible images to create the memories for your family..don’t leave it to phone pics where one of the parents is not in the photos anyway.
Kew stages to photograph:
Pregnancy is a great place to start, as someone who has been pregnant twice I know it’s hard to get a nice photo of you when you’re pregnant. However with the right light and great direction you can look truly gorgeous. Don’t put the pressure on your partner to take nice photos, they are not equipped with lighting and posing knowledge. Roughly 32-36 weeks is the best time to do a shoot.
Newborn baby is very special, when your baby is really small and curls up still. When they are brand new and you’re still in the high after birth of having created a new human being. Roughly 10 days after the birth is the best time for a newborn shoot.
Older Baby stage is such a fun age to photograph, they can smile, they can sit, they can interact, and they find everything amazing. It’s such a lovely age, they are still so cuddly but are starting to really show their personality. Between 4-10 months is ideal for a baby photoshoot.
Family shoots when kids are able to walk upwards, it’s a really good idea to get a family shoot once a year. You know how quickly they grow, they are hard work when they are little and it’s even harder to actually get decent photographs of them because they move so much and often act up to parents. So a pro photographer can really help here, experienced in distraction and getting the best out of your child. I’ve photographed thousands families, and have always enjoyed it.
Family gatherings are the other great opportunity for a photoshoot. To make sure everyone that matters is in the photograph and in focus!
How does a professional photoshoot work?
The first step is to check out my portfolio of images to make sure you’re happy with my style.
When you’re ready to book, you can either email me or send me a whatsapp text to get a date sorted and start the booking process or you can check availability and book online here. I’ll send you a preparation guide which will give you ideas for clothing to wear in different seasons or studio clothes ideas.
You’ll pay 50% of your shoot fee when you book a time, the rest is due on the day of your shoot.
When you arrive for your shoot, we’ll go through what you would like to get out of the session and if there’s anything you’d like me to know in terms of style or anything else. I’ll then taylor the shoot just for you.
I’ll take you through a number of different set ups by placing you in the best position and light and then getting you to relax, or if needs be we’ll do the relaxing bit first. Children often benefit from having some fun time first to get them used to me and what we’re doing, so a bit of running around, jumping etc can help to loosen them up.
We’ll do all the variations of people together that we can, ie whole family, kids together, kids on their own, parents with each kid, girls together, boys together etc. When I think I have enough combinations we’ll stop. Usually around an hour for a family of 4.
For a pregnancy shoot, the same applies to the start of the shoot, and having a selection of images you love that you can show me is helpful for me to curate your shoot.
Then a few days later I’ll send you a gallery with the best images edited so you can choose the ones you want to keep.
the FAQ
How much are the London photoshoots?
Check out the full pricing here
How do I go about making a photoshoot booking?
You can either fill out the form here, or jump on a whatsapp chat and ask about my availability to get the ball rolling.
I've left it a bit late, will you still have availability?
It really depends so do reach out. If you’re nearing your due date, let me know that and I’ll try and fit you in.
I really don't want my images on social media is that ok?
Yes absolutely. I don’t use social media any more.
I do update my website with the best images, but you’re very welcome to let me know you’d rather not have your image in my portfolio.
What should I wear for my outdoor family photoshoot?
I have a guide for clothing ideas for all seasons here.
I'm really camera shy, should I do a photoshoot?
Yes absolutely, this is the best way to ensure you get great shots. I can direct you and place you in lovely light, I can let you relax so I get the best shots.
I feel really unphotogenic but want to do a photoshoot
The only reason you’ve labelled yourself as unphotogenic is because you’ve been photographed badly in the past. Trust me to place you in the best light in the most flattering pose and to get the best out of you for really beutiful relaxed portrait, I have over 20 years experience with families and children and can guarantee you’re going to get a great set of images.
My child has ADHD/Autism, is that ok for a photoshoot?
Yes it’s completely fine. You can let me know ahead of time of any considerations I need to know about, I will adapt my approach to their needs. I have ADHD myself and I know what overstimulation feels like. It would definitely be better doing a shoot outside for these kids, it’s more natural and less intimidating to allow them to relax more.
What if my kids are badly behaved during the photoshoot?
This is a common worry and something completely normal. Your children are going to be inquisitive, lively, funny, energetic, fidgetty and silly. Don’t worry about their behaviour, I will manage the situation and let you know if I need a hand in getting the kids to do things. In general kids love doing a shoot, it’s something different, it’s fun, I give them silly tasks to do and they have both their parents attention. So try to relax and let me take charge. Kids are all gorgeous and there’s always a way to get the images in the bag.
Are there any recent reviews of your work?
I am very happy to have thousands of happy customers over the years I have been a photographer. Here are the reviews of a few of them.
Unique Maternity Photography
Pregnancy is a unique moment in your life, and maternity photography gives you a way to remember it artistically.
My London maternity photoshoots are designed to help you feel comfortable and confident, whether this is your first baby or you are growing your family. Sessions can take place outdoors in natural light locations or at a carefully chosen London settings that suit your style.
I have been a pregnancy photographer in London for over 20 years now and I still get excited about creating beautiful images of my lovely clients. Do come and have a bump shoot if you can, you won’t regret it.
Elegant Newborn Portraits
Newborn sessions are around 2 hours, gentle, baby-led and stress-free.
I focus on natural newborn photography that captures connection between parents, siblings and baby rather than complicated props or unnatural poses. Sessions are paced around feeding, cuddles and your baby’s comfort.
Many families choose:
Family Photography specialist in London
I am highly experienced in the following:
My style is natural, warm and relaxed, focusing on real expressions and authentic moments rather than heavily posed images.
My clients are often looking for photographs that feel:
genuine – emotional – timeless – artistic – relaxed – elegant but natural
That is exactly what I aim to create.
Relaxed Family Photography
Family sessions are designed to capture real relationships and natural interaction.
Rather than asking children to sit perfectly still, I encourage play, movement and connection. This creates photographs that feel authentic and full of life.
I photograph families across Greater London
Why Families Choose Me
Calm and relaxed approach
Natural light photography style
Relaxed studio sessions
Child-friendly sessions
Guidance with outfits and locations
Gentle and Timeless editing that won’t date
Experience photographing babies and young children
not just happy snaps but truly artistic portraits
My goal is simple: to create meaningful photographs your family will still love decades from now.