London Family Photoshoots
Photoshoots with family, pets and extended familyFamily photography with a hint of elegance in the West London Studio and on location
Est 2005
Not just great photos, but beautiful portraits
I have been a London Family Photographer for over 20 years now and specialise in children and Family photoshoots in the Ealing studio and on location around London. I was awarded with a NAPCP Master of photography for my family portraits.
Serving Ealing, Hampstead Heath, Richmond Park, Wimbledon Common, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Holland Park, Chiswick Park, Kew Gardens or your local park.
Guidance on what to wear, where to go and what to expect. Extended family welcome
No images will be shared on Social Media
Why choose me as your London 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 been a London family photographer for 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..
Susan Porter-Thomas
yes, that’s me
The photo shoot session with Susan was a great experience, including for our 1.5 year old toddler who seemed to have so much fun (which was captured in the photos)! Susan’s friendliness made us all feel at ease and helped us look natural in the photos. The photos came out great, and they are a joy to look at! I’d highly recommend Susan!
We had a fantastic experience with Susan during our photoshoot in Regent Park.
At first our daughter was not confortable, Susan was very patient and proposed many ways to make her feel more at ease.
Susan has a keen eye for finding the right light and background, the result is stunning! family.
EXPLORE MY PORTFOLIO
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OUTDOOR PORTFOLIO
Important Questions Answered – Outdoor Shoots
Should I book an Outdoor or Studio family photoshoot?
In general children prefer the outdoors once they can walk/run as it’s far more interesting than the studio. I aim to take artistic shots in the outdoor setting though so it’s not just a pic in the park, but if your kids are energetic I would opt for this.
For calmer kids or older kids, or kids who can’t sit yet, you could certainly opt for a studio shoot where I can control the light and backdrop.
What if it rains on the day of my outdoor family photoshoot?
I will keep a close eye on the weather forecast but as you probably know if you’ve lived in this country for a while, it’s only really worth checking the forecast the night before the shoot or even sometimes the morning of the shoot if it’s very changeable. So if it’s looking like it has the potential to rain over the time you have booked, I will be in touch with you a few days before and we’ll come up with an alternative plan but make a final call either the night before or the morning of the shoot. We can then either rearrange to another date or opt for a studio shoot it’s up to you.
As an aside, I wouldn’t trust any other apps apart from The Met Office app. It’s the most accurate for this country.
What happens during a family photoshoot?
So your job is to get to the meeting place with everyone looking their best and I’ll do the rest. Once we’re off into the park, I’ll give the kids time to settle into having me around, have some silly time if they’re a bit retisent, and start with some running shots to get them warmed up. If we have shy children the approach is differnt so don’t feel I have a one size fits all, I very much am led by the charachters of the children and won’t force them to do anything they don’t want to do.
I’ll suggest lots of different ideas which are essentially tools to allow you to show your relationships off to their best, get the children giggling if possible and enjoying themselves. If they are having a good time then the images will be great.
I’ll do lots of different combinations of people, so we have kids together, individual kids, mum and kids, dad and kids etc. If you have one child then the shoot would be around 45 mins (usually) and 2 or more kids around an hour. I don’t do longer than this as kids do get bored with the process, so I’d rather keep it short and sweet so that they have a great memory of the shoot and are happy to go again next year.
Where should we do our London family photoshoot?
We’re very lucky in London to have loads of excellent parks for doing a family photoshoot in. I have a list of my favourite places here but I am happy to do different locations if they mean more to you. So do let me know your preferrence but I’m happy to suggest places based on the age of your children and where you live. If your kids are young we won’t want to be walking too far.
What should we wear for our London outdoor family photoshoot?
I have a very useful link here for clothing ideas as what you wear has a huge effect on the final image. In general I would aim for a similar colour palette for all of you, not the same, but similar. Pick 3 colours and stick to it, eg Navy, Brown, White. It’s a bit dependant on the time of year as well, as in the summer, you’re looking at more beige, soft pink or soft blue for example. And obviously in the autumn any kind of rust colours are great. Just don’t go for big patterns and avoid logos that are too big and distracting.
Do we need to come back to your studio to view the images?
No, I know how time stressed families are, I will be sending you a gallery of the edited images for you to view at home in private within a few days of the shoot. So you just have to sit back and wait for the email to come. I will be on hand to answer any questions you might have regarding packages or albums etc.
What’s the best time of day for a family photoshoot?
In my experience the earlier in the day the better for children. The later in the day you leave it, the more opportunity there is for things to go wrong and create a tired grumpy child. You should definitely have well fed children as hungry kids are not happy kids. So generally I would aim for mid morning for the best moods all round. Most of my family shoots are taken at this time so you can see what the light should be like.
If you have older kids and would like to do a golden hour shoot do let me know.
How do I book a family photoshoot?
1. Decide if you prefer studio or outdoor portraits – check both porfolios on this page to see what you think?
2. Have a think about where you fancy doing the shoot or get in touch with me to see what I can suggest.
3. Check pricing and pick a package
4. Get in touch – either you can book online or you can start a chat on Whatsapp and I can book my end.
5. After your shoot you will receive a gallery within a few days with the edited images for you to choose from.
Once again, we had such an amazing experience. Susan has a great personality and a spot on eye, able to improvise at any minute while we were outdoors. My daughter felt relaxed and happy and so did we. The pictures were fabulous and that is why I keep coming back to Susan for more and more photo sessions. I would recommend Susan to anyone who would want long lasting, quality memories.
Thank you Susan, you’ve been brilliant again! xx
This was a photography session for my wife’s 40th birthday. Susan was very relaxed and made everyone ( a <1 year old and a 3 year old) feel comfortable and at ease, which really showed in the photos. She struck a great balance between giving direction and letting moments unfold naturally, so the pictures feel both polished and genuine. Thank you!
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Studio PORTFOLIO
Important Questions Answered – Studio Shoots
Should I book an Outdoor or Studio family photoshoot?
In general children prefer the outdoors once they can walk/run as it’s far more interesting than the studio. I aim to take artistic shots in the outdoor setting though so it’s not just a pic in the park, but if your kids are energetic I would opt for this.
For calmer kids or older kids, or kids who can’t sit yet, you could certainly opt for a studio shoot where I can control the light and backdrop.
What happens during a studio family photoshoot?
If you’ve booked a studio session, you’ll have had advise on what to wear and you’ll turn up looking gorgeous. You’re welcome to bring a change of clothes but it’s best not to do more than one change as kids do get annoyed by this and it wastes time when we could be taking lovely photos.
When you arrive I’ll give the kids time to settle in, build a bit of a rapor with me, and for me to see what kinds of charachters I’m dealing with. I am very concious of adapting to the children, so if we have very shy kids, then I’ll go gently and see how we get on, if we have confident kids we can jump straight in. So please don’t worry about your kids, I’m very experienced at drawing them out.
So I’ll do lots of variations on kids together, kids with parents, mum with kids, dad with kids, kides on their own. I’ll be using different lighting and have lots of ideas for getting the best out of the children.
If you have young children it’s always good to bring some kind of small food bribe! I use raisins if you don’t have anything.
If you have just one child then the shoot will be around 45 mins, more than 2 and you’re looking at around an hour. I don’t do longer than this as children do get tired of it after this long and I want them leaving having had a great time so they’re happy to do it again if you decide to come back. I have many clients who come back year after year and I have a lovely bond with the kids.
What should we wear for our Studio family photoshoot?
I have a very useful link here for clothing ideas as what you wear has a huge effect on the final image. In general I would aim for a similar colour pallette for all of you, not the same, but similar. Pick 3 colours and stick to it, eg Navy, Brown, White. Just don’t go for big patterns and avoid logos that are too big and distracting.
I have different canvass backdrops in the studio that you can use to compliment what you’re wearing so have a look at the clothing advice page and you’ll see those colours which will help you to pull together the right clothing.
Where is your family photography studio in London?
My studio is in my home in Ealing, W5 4UJ, and is a lovely natural space with 5 stunning canvass backdrops and room to relax.
There is free parking on the road right outside and we are only 2 mins walk from the Piccadilly line tube station Northfields. It’s half an hour from central London by tube.
other FAQ
How do I go about booking a family photoshoot?
If you like the work I do then the next step is to check for availability. You can do it here on the website or you can send me a text or email and get the ball rolling. You can either book your shoot online or I can do it my end and send you everthing you need.
What does a London photoshoot cost?
My family shoots are from £399 and all packages include a certain number of images. Take a look at the full pricing here and you can either book online or get in touch and we can book together.
Do I need to come back for a viewing after my photoshoot?
No, I will provide you with a private online gallery which you can look at from home. You’ll have 5 days to choose the images you would like to keep and of course you can buy more images or add wall displays or albums at this stage.
How long are the photoshoots? I'm worried my kids won't last.
The location shoot would take around an hour and the edited images will be ready to view from your home computer within a few days. Kids work best when stimulated so an hour is plenty enough time as by the end of this they will be ready for a break.
I am happy to photograph siblings together and separately and parents with each child, it may take slightly longer to do 3 kids but I work quickly so as not to have them run out of steam and I find that the kids truly love the sessions and feel very special having their portrait taken.
What if my kids act up or make silly faces during the shoot?
Please don’t worry about this, it’s completely normal and I am well practiced at distracting them out of doing this. Behaviour is never a problem, even with children who have special needs. There’s always a way and I’ll tell you what I need from you to help me manage any situation that arrises.
Click here to read my advice to families for their photoshoots and how to manage children.
My child has special needs, can I still do a family shoot?
Yes absolutely. As long as you tell me their condition and how they need to be accomodated, I can adjust my approach and manage it so it’s not too loud or sudden or stimulating. I am very adept at bringing all kids out of themselves and have ADHD myself . There’s always a way and I’ll tell you what I need from you to help me manage any situation that arrises.
I would recommend doing an outdoor photoshoot for these kids, it’s more natural and less intimidating for them.
Click here to read my general advice to families for their photoshoots and how to manage children.
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.