What to wear for my Photo Shoot
Photo Shoot Clothing The most commonly asked question by my clients once they have booked is what to wear for my photo shoot. Memorable family portraits take careful planning, and the clothing you choose is very important to your portrait’s success. Planning...
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How to take good Family Photos
DIY Family Photos Let me introduce myself first of all. I am a family photographer who has been taking photos of children and families since 2005 (and back to about the age of 10 if you count my own childhood!). I was awarded Master Photographer in Child Portraiture...
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How to take pregnancy photos at home
We all want to record our pregnancy as it’s such a special, unique time of our lives..but there is a good way to do it and a bad way! Let me show you how to take the best portraits possible at home if you can’t get to a photographer
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How to keep on top of your family photos
How to get started on editing your family’s photos, get them printed and keep them safe for future generations to enjoy
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Parachute Dress Photo Shoot
The behind the scenes look at the making of the Parachute Dress for maternity portraits by Susan Porter-Thomas Photography
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Buying Camera Kit
Buying Camera kit can be very complicated but it’s so worth it. Susan explains why she has bought her own kit and by doing so goes through the decision making process..plus places you can go for advice and help
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What to do with 3 or more children on a family photo shoot
How Susan deals with larger family groups on a family photo shoot on location
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Why I switched from Canon 5D mk3 to Sony A7iii
Why I switched from Canon 5D mk3 to Sony A7iii!A personal account So every year I go to the SWPP Photographic convention in London. And this year I went with a view to take a good look at the mirroless Sony A7iii. I had no plans to buy at that stage, but clearly I...
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children’s photographer London Fulham
A Family Shoot in Fulham in January!watching your family grow Susan xoA recent family shoot in Fulham. Just to prove that you don't need wide open countryside to find great light and colour here are a few shots from my first family shoot of 2019 which I took in...
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What are the best ages for baby photo shoots
A baby is the best subject for a photo shoot, but what are the best ages for baby photo shoots, when are the cutest moments and stages to record and potentially go for a professional photo shoot? I will show you the best stages to photograph and why as well as the worst stages!
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Flattering Lighting in the Studio
My Favourite lighting - so it's probably clear from my Instagram account what I like in the way of studio lighting..I'm a succour for moody, gently lit, soft lighting that flatters the skin and flattering to the body. Not surprisingly as I do a lot of Maternity...
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Simple and elegant Maternity Shoots in London studio
I have done thousands of maternity shoots in London over the last 15 years and a lot of my clients prefer to go for the impact of lighting and pose rather than the addition of materials and movement. I love this style, we can work on great lighting and amazing shape...
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Photo Shoot Voucher
Give the gift of gorgeous portraits.. £170 session fee only With fine art portrait photographer Susan Porter-Thomas Photography LSWPP (applies to all session types, either on location or in the studio) £50 credits can be added to buy prints etc...
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Kind Words
Jennifer Landesberg
13:51 13 Sep 23
I had my maternity shoot with Susan at 37 weeks and she made me feel so comfortable and at ease. The pictures turned out beautifully. I cant wait to get them printed. Thank you!
Mums and chill
22:33 05 Sep 23
Susan is amazing! Me and my family visited her at her studio, such a warm welcome the pictures are absolutely stunning she was also great with my girls.Thank you so much,Mrashi
Declan Flood
17:33 25 Jul 23
Wow! We arranged a photo shoot in our garden and are DELIGHTED with the results. Susan created a calm atmosphere - even with our 2 non-compliant children, and even less compliant dog. She guided us... through the process, suggesting superb ideas. Highly recommended.read more
Eleni Oeconomopoulou
08:49 16 May 23
Our family vacation in London was sealed by a wonderful family photo outdoor session!! We are really happy that we selected Susan to add her aesthetics and wide professional experience with children... and families to make our memories with our young children unforgettable!! We hope in a future trip to have more sessions with Susan!!!read more
Tim Dahl
16:54 08 May 23
A true professional. We had a maternity session and her vibe was fun and creative. The pictures turned out amazingly!!
Joanna Sawyer
21:40 24 Apr 23
We had an outdoor family photoshoot with Susan. She very quickly struck up a warm and friendly rapport with our two children, putting them at complete ease. This allowed her to capture some great... moments despite initial anxiety from one child and the other wanting to head off in the opposite direction! It helped that Susan clearly knew the location well and the best spots for a great backdrop. She is plainly very experienced at keeping children moving and interested, enabling her to capture some amazing images. We could not be happier with the photos that followed within a few days of our session. Put your smartphone camera away and book a session with Susan, you will not regret it! We look forward to more shoots with her in the future.read more
Kevin Metherell
14:13 24 Mar 23
This was our second time having photos taken by Susan. Yet again they surpassed our expectations. Susan and team were great at helping our children feel comfortable throughout the photo shoot, and... Susan was very responsive to our questions/edits once we were sent the digital gallery to view. Would 100% recommend to anyone looking for a fantastic family photographer.read more
Sophie Shaw
21:50 14 Mar 23
Really enjoyed my experience with Susan in her lovely home. I don’t usually like having my photo taken but I was made to feel very comfortable and had a lot of fun. The resultant photographs are... beautiful and a wonderful way to capture this special time during my pregnancy.read more
Tamsin Jordan
11:22 09 Feb 23
I can't recommend Susan enough, we were completely blown away with the photos from my pregnancy photo shoot. After a long and difficult journey to make a baby, I wanted to celebrate the amazing thing... that my body was doing, but I felt so deeply uncomfortable with the whole idea. Susan not only made me feel comfortable but made sure that I looked my absolute best. We will treasure these photos forever. Thank you!!read more
Wendy
22:22 02 Dec 22
I was hoping to have maternity photo shoot with my husband and my boy this time to add to the family album and Susan did it beautifully. She managed to capture the moments that we all smiling and... laughing together. It’s totally a pleasure to have the final results as what I expect. It’s lovely to meet Susan and her assistant Lisa on the day. Thank you xread more
hpoonie
18:37 05 Nov 22
Susan did my maternity shoot, new born shoot and this is our second family shoot. She manages two toddlers at ease and our outdoor shoot was done in an hour no fuss. The pictures are gorgeous! We... had much fun on the day.read more
Yu Guo
20:57 08 Oct 22
My wife and I had an amazing experience with Susan and we're very satisfied with the photos. 100% recommend.
Galina Kalfova
22:32 20 Jun 22
Anna Lipińska
15:54 31 May 22
She is an artist
R R
10:26 21 May 22
Susan is my go-to photographer for photoshoots. She is a brilliant, highly professional and I’m more than pleased with the final results. This is my third time shooting with her and I have booked... another new born photoshoot. She understands the client’s expectations. Shooting with Susan is always fun and exciting. She is very accommodating with client’s ideas and what better way to capture these precious moments with a beautiful experience. I highly recommend her.read more
Reena De
15:06 07 May 22
The best decision ever! My pregnancy was very stressful and I thought this would help create some positive memories. But it did far more than just that! I also got my hair and makeup done by the... lovely Si and it was the best makeup I ever had, felt a million dollars and felt at ease with how I looked. Susan has such a calming, relaxing and loving presence, both her and her assistant made my husband and I feel at home. Susan captured my dream looks even better than I envisioned. I loved that I did not have to worry about outfits, hair or makeup. I turned up with my husband and some chunky jewellery and rest is history. I cannot wait to do more shoots - let me be your muse! <3read more
Sachin Sharma
19:25 27 Apr 22
Susan is a brilliant photographer and I have no hesitation in recommending her! We are so pleased with our family portraits, both artistically shot and of timeless quality! Thanks Susan!
Michael B Stewart
12:22 24 Apr 22
Beautiful pics!Pursuing the images of Amelia/Violet Brightman led me to you.I am a most frustrated photographer, gardener, nature watcher etc. etc.My most horrific experience was when I could no... longer use my Canon F-1 fully manual camera that I had been using for about 30 years!I bought a version of Kodak cameras with "advance?" lens control etc... Do not dare to mention the model which was so terribly frustrating to use... Perhaps I am so "old school"...however still was able to get some great pics... many lost because of our defunct "computer technology" after two computer crashes...computers which we treat as our most godly approach to the world that we are living in?Now I have this new (actually purchased several years ago) digital camera (Panasonic Lumix #DC-FZ1000M2) which I am still too afraid to use as all this "technology" seems to have cursed whatever creative spirit is left within me!!! (Technology et al has taken us "down hill" rather than really helping us climb that creative mountain?)Perhaps I am still more willing to drive a horse drawn carriage than the stinking, energy guzzling motor cars that seem to dominate our existence! ...and will soon send us to HELL in a basket if we do not WAKE UP from the "...flash of neon lights..." that has us so spell-bound!Out of complete frustration I smashed my most precious lenses- Vivitar 90mm close focus (1:1) lens as well as the f-5.4 300mm Canon lens. also the "hardware" needed to create an "out-of-doors" studio for nature photos.FYI: this Vivitar lens was also amazing for Portraiture work as well as living and moving life within the Natural World. However was never a "point and shoot"... you had to do a bit of mental work to get the right shot!!! (obviously something that is lacking in our present world!)TECHNOLOGY has its advantages if one is not consumed by it... rather need be used with a delicate and discerning touch. However there are few that will be even willing to grasp this.Again... I am still afraid to take even my first shot with this new (now already "old") camera...My KODAK camera is now completely dysfunctional... otherwise I would have included pics of my CANON F-1, lenses and whatever hardware I have left.How I long for my old FULLY MANUALLY OPERATED CANON F-1!!!read more
Mr Carter
20:06 26 Mar 22
First and foremost, the quality of Susan’s photography speaks for itself - this much is clear from a 60 second perusing of her portfolio. However, what makes working with Susan especially fantastic... is the way she puts everyone at ease during the shoot and gets the absolute best out of everyone. We had our pregnancy photos with her and will be going for our new born shoot on Monday. I will be recommending her to all of my friends and no doubt will use her for family photos in the future.read more
D Kay
17:02 03 Feb 22
We booked Susan for a maternity shoot and honestly we couldn't be more pleased with the final results. The communication was professional and everyone was all clear from the offset on expectations.... At the shoot itself Susan was warm and accomodating, she made us feel at ease straightway. We are quite particular when it comes to having our pictures taken and have a good idea of what we like and how we like to look in images and always go to long lengths to find the right photographer. Susan was honestly brilliant and was open to our ideas and style. When it came to post production, Susan was so patient and understanding when requesting specific edits and honestly we were so grateful for that. Susan really aspires to create photographic art that you will be completely happy with. We highly recommend Susan for beautiful maternity pictures she's amazing. Thank you for everything!read more
Eva Yang
09:40 12 Jan 22
Myself and husband had a maternity shoot with Susan. Being 35 weeks pregnant with twins I wasn’t feeling the most confident self to show case my body but Susan managed to make me feel comfortable and... at ease straight away. The makeup and hair service at the studio is a bonus so that I don’t have to get it done at another venue. The shoot process is easy and Susan is very professional with the photo set up and lighting. The photos turned out amazingly and I am so glad we were able to document this special moment of life. Thank you Susan!read more
James Barker
11:09 22 Nov 21
Susan made the photoshoot great fun, and we are delighted with the fantastic pictures that have come from it - so pleased to have them. Susan was very professional but relaxed and friendly too.... Couldn't recommend her more highly. Thank you Susan.read more
Karim Jivraj
15:15 29 Aug 21
This was a fantastic experience for Alina, the girls & I. We had so much fun with Susan and it really made us feel (and look) great... we would highly recommend Susan to anyone wanting to document... such a special and personal moment in their lives.read more
gledis vaic
12:53 28 May 21
Susan has done an incredible job with my maternity photos. She is uniquely talented and is able to create real pieces of art. We could not resist and did a newborn photo shoot with her as well and... ordered albums for both sessions. We are so grateful she immortalised those two special family moments.My husband was initially a bit sceptical but then when he came to the shoot he really enjoyed it and when he saw the photos he told all his friends he was so glad we did it.During the 2 sessions Susan was amazing at handling our 2 little dogs and managed to take great photos of us with them and then once the baby arrived she was amazing at handling him so brilliantly as well. She is a mum of 2 so I also got some very good tips from her on the day. :)We cannot recommend Susan more - she is better than any of those maternity photographers you can see on Instagram from all over the world!read more
Raisa Williams
21:37 18 May 21
My boyfriend and I recently had a maternity shoot with Susan. From the time my boyfriend and I entered her studio we was made to feel very welcomed and comfortable. Even though I was extremely shy... and nervous, Susan was able to capture beautiful shots of my boyfriend and I. I love her unique style and her materials used in my session are stunning. I'm so happy with the results of my pictures and I'm now struggling to narrow down my choices of images. Apart from the positive experience on the day of the shoot, communicating with Susan was fairly easy as she always responded promptly to any of my questions. I recommend her services any day. If you're looking for someone that genuinely admires their work and values the utmost customer satisfaction then Susan is your photographer.read more
Lucy Metherell
21:03 25 Apr 21
We had a newborn photo shoot in the studio with Susan and our two older children. We were a little apprehensive how our toddler would cope with the photo shoot but Susan was brilliant at engaging... him and the whole experience was effortless. We're very happy with the images and would definitely consider getting family photos taken with Susan in the future.read more
K Gryn
20:27 23 Dec 20
Me and my husband enjoyed our pregnancy photoshoot with Susan very much. We got an advantage of a studio shoot with the professional photographer, backgrounds and light, combined with a very relaxed... atmosphere. Susan made us feel home but stayed focussed on the shoot. She gave us a lot of flexibility to experiment but also offered some safe and tried options. The whole process was nothing but fun - Susan has a great sense of humour.Communication was smooth and we’ve got the photos very quickly. We’re very happy with the result as well - we’ve got unique professional photos to celebrate this precious moment in our lives. Looking forward to a newborn photoshoot with Susan!read more
Julia Lu-Sellers
18:46 15 Dec 20
Amazing photographer and highly professional! Her maternity photos are very unique and definitely worth every penny! Her webpage and ordering systems are very responsive and userfriendly! Definitely... highly recommended for anyone looking to make amazing memories of their pregnancy!Thumbs up!read more
Alix van Meerwijk
22:22 13 Nov 20
Great service and great experience for both pregnancy and newborn photoshoot. Susan is highly experienced, photos are really amazing. I had a very good moment and I highly recommend Susan for taking... photos of the important and moments of your life.read more
Laura Cunha Leal
12:30 20 Sep 20
Such a fantastic experience! I came with my husband and my two-year-old boy for maternity photoshoot. We felt very comfortable and relaxed at the studio, especially my boy who enjoyed playing in the... garden. Susan was very helpful to advise me on what clothes I should get for my boys, and this made the preparation process much easier. Loved all materials, I felt very comfortable at the photo shoot. Stunning photos!read more
neelima kumar
22:07 25 Aug 20
We had a very nice stressfree session with Susan. She told us exactly what to do and that care of half the job. Very friendly and professional at the same time. The only stressful part was having to... choose the pictures as they were all good.read more
karen Mulvihill
17:44 19 Jun 20
I have been looking for an extra large scarf for a long time. They seem hard to find and terribly expensive. But today I lucked out and purchased an extra large forget me knot scarf. I am... absolutely thrilled. it is absolutely exquisite and beautifully made and good quality silk. I wish I could buy all of them, they look amazing with dress up/ down casual and event pieces. I am going to float around in all my outfits with my lovely scarf, to show my friends. When they see it, they will also want to buy one too, Thank you Susan!read more
Marina Gordeeva
22:21 15 May 20
Great experience throughout and fantastic pictures - from the professional communication, friendly welcome in the studio, fast turnaround of the images from the photo shoot and absolutely stunning... pictures - I definitely recommend Susan to other moms-to-be.read more
Jasvin S
21:39 07 Mar 20
We had a great time at Susan's studio and loved the style of photography and quality of the shots. Would definitely use again.
C J
11:18 21 Feb 20
The whole experience with Susan was amazing. She was great and flexible around the booking for the shooting session.The session itself was smooth and fun and while we were worried about how our... toddler would behave, everything went so well thanks to Susan’s experience !We have then received the pictures within few days only (other photographers usually take much longer).Last but not least, the pictures were astonishing ! We never had pictures like these ones. We, and more particularly our toddler, looked so naturally beautiful in the pictures!Not only we will recommend Susan to all our friends but we will definitely use her again in the futureread more
Helena Bloomer
19:33 17 Feb 20
Susan captures the most amazing images. She completely puts you at ease meaning they look natural and is a genius with lighting and angles. Her photos manage to make you look like you’re in... editorials from glossy magazines.read more
Sugha Murugesu
14:32 13 Feb 20
Beautiful photos - thank you!
Bhupendra Patel
11:48 12 Feb 20
Amazing pictures. Experience was very happy and relaxing.
Tim Gort
06:51 05 Jan 20
This is the second time that my wife and I have had our photos taken by Susan; the first two years ago was for a maternity shoot and more recently we did a newborn shoot. On both occasions Susan put... us at ease, especially when I am uncomfortable behind and in front of the camera. Susan was very patient with our daughter in our recent photo shoot, she gave easy to follow directions and was very good with her.Overall we had two fun and enjoyable experiences which resulted in some lovely photos.read more
Analeesa Ciampi
14:28 11 Dec 19
We recently moved to London from New York and wanted to take family photos to share with our friends and family abroad. Susan was very professional and fun to work with. She did a great job... capturing our 11 month old and beloved family dog as well as taking candid family moments. I would highly recommend her and use her services againread more
Veronika Pal
10:55 08 Dec 19
Me and my partner had great fun on our maternity photoshoot with Susan, she really made the whole experience easy and the photos came out great.
Oroblam
08:17 08 Nov 19
Gabriela Salomão Martins
09:18 11 Sep 19
Susan is such a talented photographer! Just had my maternity photoshoot with her and absolutely loved it. We did outdoor pictures and the results were stunning! The session was really fun and she... made me feel relaxed throughout the process. I couldn't recommend more her services.read more
Rex Osafo-Asare
12:24 29 Jun 19
A true professional. Her work speaks for itself. 10/10
Tarana Shivdasani
19:35 06 Apr 19
Susan was absolutely brilliant -- we did 2 sessions with her, and in both cases, she went out of her way to make us comfortable. She's an absolute pleasure to work with, and the final result is... exactly what we were hoping for!read more
Y Wu
14:35 06 Apr 19
Susan is amazing. Had my maternity photography in Susan's West London studio when I was 36 weeks pregnant, and also did my baby's 100 days photography with her as well.
Alex & Adolfo Custidianer
18:03 03 Apr 19
We had a family photo shoot with our eight month old baby and absolutely enjoyed the experience! Susan made us feel very comfortable and the photos turned out amazing! We couldn’t pick just 5 so... ended up going for 15. Expensive but so worth the price, they’re a work of art and will be treasured for many years to come.read more
Hazel Tang
18:31 03 Mar 19
Susan is lovely! We went to her for a maternity shooting when I'm 36 weeks pregnant. My husband is quiet nervous when we have no idea what to do in front of camera . Susan was very patient and kind... that guide us to pose a couple pose and the result is brilliant. We are having so much fun while shooting. She's friendly and accommodating. I would highly recommend!read more
Chanda Brae
13:38 08 Feb 19
I took a workshop with Susan and was so thrilled with the knowledge that I gained from just one day! I feel reinspired and cant wait to start applying the new lighting techniques into my business.... Susan is patient and professional, I would recommend her to anyone looking for fine art portraits or looking to learn from her at one of her workshops. She is worth every penny!read more
James Martin
21:09 14 Jan 19
My partner and I had a delightful day with Susan. She spent the time teaching us some of the skills of portrait photography in studio settings and natural light. Her warmth and enthusiasm was... infectious and we came away thrilled with the photos we had taken under her guidance.read more
Ian Saxon
11:28 05 Jan 19
Great photographer, great assistant, lovely studio where we were made to feel comfortable throughout. True professionals. We did maternity and newborn and were very pleased with both.Ganna Yevtushenko
12:32 05 Sep 18
I would recommend any pregnant woman to enjoy the experience of maternity photoshoot! After months of changing body shape, focusing on having a healthy pregnancy, clothes that stop fitting and... scrutiny from the outside world - it is amazing to have a few hours dedicated just to you and beauty of your pregnancy. Susan made me and my husband feel extremely comfortable during the whole photoshoot and final images are just stunning memories of our pregnancy journey.read moreSamantha Allarton Pointer
22:21 03 Aug 18
The whole session was so fun. I was very nervous to begin with and felt like I was shaking in front of the camera. Susan has a very calming presence and is very talkative, so I was quickly distracted... from those nerves and enjoyed posing in front of the camera by the end! Despite being so warm and friendly, she is also assertive & professional in directing the session and glides around capturing all the right angles and lighting to recreate your favourite looks or new postures that come to mind at the time. I had photos in quite a few outfits, with and without my husband, in different lighting, with different backgrounds and with dramatic chunky jewellery - and we absolutely love the portfolio - just a shame we can’t afford them all!! Nevertheless, we will treasure the photos we’ve chosen for a lifetime. Such fantastic memories of bump and the pregnancy as a whole. We can’t wait to see the prints on physical form (and maybe get one framed for the house). Totally recommend Susan for this creative type of photography! We can’t wait to return for a session with Bambi to capture both the “before” and “after” moments...read moreRachel Hung
17:19 04 Jul 18
Was so impressed by my pregnancy photoshoot that I went back to Susan for our newborn pictures despite living right across London from her - they were even better! Susan is fun to work with and is... completely open to suggestions and ideas. Highly recommended.read moreRüdiger Kloss
18:04 15 May 18
Susan made us comfortable and we were able to do many different types of shots. We are very glad with the outcome and would highly recommend her!Yvonne Ogorek-Zarate
10:43 08 May 18
Susan was such a professional and made the whole experience very, very memorable. From offering me a fresh strong coffee after a tricky night with my little one, to making her big sister feel very... special and included, it was a day and show to remember. The pictures are magnificent and they will be treasured for a lifetime. Worth every penny.read moreQian Yu
22:17 19 Mar 18
It has been great experience to have Susan capturing both the bump and newborn sessions for us. Susan is professional, lovely and easy to work with. These impressive shoots from her mean so much to... us.read moreEliza Moldovan
20:58 05 Mar 18
Having a baby is such an amazing and wonderful experience. Susan managed to capture this happiness. I am so pleased with our newborn and family pictures. Again and again, Susan proves herself to be a... professional photographer and I would highly recommend her to anyone who wants the perfect photoshoot experience. Thank you Susan.read moreHelen Lin-Chhatpar
20:41 31 Jan 18
Susan is an incredibly talented and professional photographer with a gorgeous elegant yet demure style. She is fun to work with, and very understanding and supportive of what you want to get out of... your portrait experience. I absolutely love how my maternity portraits turned out and 100% recommend her to anyone that wants a keepsake with some "wow" factor.read moreAnne Raleigh Rees
18:01 22 Jan 18
my sons got me the most wonderful gift- a family photo shoot! Susan was lovely to work with and we are all happy with the finished product- thank you for capturing the family so beautifully and... accurately- you even managed to get the dog in a few photos!read moreCONTACT Me
+ 44 7815 864 884
susans@sptphotography.com
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#pregnancyphotoshoots #londonfamilyphotographer