The Best Places for an Autumn Family Photoshoot in London

Autumn is one of my favourite times of year for family photography.  It’s not too hot, or too cold, the leaves are all coming down which gives us great scope for play.

The changing leaves, softer light and warm colours make a beautiful backdrop for family photographs – and the lower autumn sun gives us some particularly lovely light.

I’ve been photographing families since 2005, so I’ve had plenty of time to discover which locations work best at different times of year.

For an autumn family photoshoot, I’m looking for more than simply a park with a few orange leaves. I want somewhere with beautiful mature trees, interesting backgrounds, lovely light and enough space for children to move around and explore.

Here are some of my favourite places for autumn family photography in London.

Which is the best London location for an autumn family photoshoot?

There are so many locations we really are spoilt for choice.  If I had to pick one it would probably be Hampstead Heath for the amazing colours and space to use, but honestly you’ll find great spots in most of London’s parks.  

The best choice depends on the age of your children, how much walking you’d like to do, whether you’d like more formal gardens or a natural woodland feel, and sometimes simply which part of London is easiest for you to reach.

Some of my favourite autumn locations include:

• Kew Gardens
• Richmond Park
• Hampstead Heath
• Wimbledon Common
• Chiswick House and Gardens
• Regent’s Park
• Hyde Park
• Holland Park
• Gunnersbury Park
• Burnham Beeches

I’ve photographed families at all of these locations and can help you choose the one that will work best for your family.

See more of my favourite London photoshoot locations

Can I do a family photoshoot at Kew Gardens in the autumn?

Kew is one of my favourite locations for family photography at any time of year, but autumn can be particularly beautiful.  There are sections of it that create amazing colour in the autumn.

There are so many different areas within a relatively small space that we can create lots of variety without spending the whole shoot walking from one location to another.

The mature trees provide beautiful autumn colour and soft light, while the gardens give us a mixture of more formal and natural backgrounds.

It is also a particularly good location for families with younger children because there are no dogs, it’s very safe and you can explore off the path.

I often find that children forget about the camera very quickly when there is somewhere interesting to go and things to discover.

I’ve photographed many family sessions here over the years, and there are always new combinations of light, colour and season to work with.

Best time to go – November early morning, 10am to avoid the crowds.  

See my Kew family photoshoot page

Where in Richmond Park is good for family photoshoots?

I like to go up to the top at Pen Ponds car park and wonder around here and down to the lake, there’s great ferns which at sunset look amazing and the lake at sunset (if we get the sun) is stunning.   

Richmond Park has a much wilder feel than some of London’s more formal parks and is particularly beautiful in autumn.

The mature trees, long grasses and woodland areas give us plenty of opportunities for natural family photographs, while the open spaces create lovely backlighting when the sun is low.

And, of course, there is always the possibility of seeing the deer.

For family photography, I particularly like finding areas where we can get away from the busiest parts of the park and concentrate on your family.

The autumn light can be beautiful here, particularly later in the afternoon.

If you are looking for photographs with a more natural countryside feel without leaving London, Richmond Park is a wonderful option.

When it peaks: late September through to November. Richmond turns earlier than some other parks, so if you want autumn photos in September, this is the park.

When to book it: late afternoon into early evening. Golden hour is THE time for Richmond Park. Remember that sunset gets very early very fast in autumn (by early November the sun is down before half past four), so an “afternoon” shoot in Richmond in November starts at about 2.30pm.

Is Hampstead Heath good for autumn photos?

Absolutely.  Hampstead is one of my favourite locations for autumn shoots, it’s a more atmospheric setting and the colours are gorgeous, Hampstead Heath is hard to beat.  I usually meet at the Well Walk entrance, there’s an amazing avenue of trees that we can use if it’s not too busy but also a lovely spot off the main thoroughfare that gives us some privacy and some fabulous settings.

The mature woodland, open heathland and changing autumn colours give us lots of possibilities, and the landscape has a much less manicured feel than some of London’s royal parks.

It’s particularly lovely when the weather is slightly misty or overcast.

Rather than needing bright sunshine, autumn gives us beautifully soft, flattering light on cloudy days, while the colours of the trees provide the interest behind you.

For families who like a more natural, relaxed look to their photographs, Hampstead Heath can work beautifully.

What about Regent’s Park for autumn photos?

Regent’s Park is one of my favourite central London locations for family photography.  I tend towards the outer ring where we can get away from the crowds and be amongst the mature trees for that wonderful rust coloured background.

It has the advantage of being easy to reach from many parts of London, while still giving us plenty of beautiful backgrounds.

There are formal gardens, mature trees, open spaces and the lake, so we can create a varied gallery without needing to travel elsewhere.

I’ve photographed many families here, including families visiting London who want to combine their family photographs with their trip to the city.

See my Regent’s Park family photoshoot page

What is the best time of day for an autumn family photoshoot?

For outdoor family photography, I particularly love the softer light towards the end of the day, but if you have young kids it’s best to do this at 10am ish…when they are not too tired or hungry.  When they get older we can do a sunset shoot..

The lower autumn sun creates beautiful warm backlighting through the trees and can make the leaves glow.

However, you don’t necessarily need sunshine.

One of the lovely things about autumn photography is that an overcast day gives us soft, even light which is extremely flattering for portraits.

So don’t be put off if the forecast isn’t showing bright sunshine.

Sometimes a cloudy autumn day produces some of my favourite photographs.

For younger children, I’ll also take their routine into consideration. The technically “perfect” light isn’t much use if your toddler is exhausted and ready for bed!

What should we wear for an autumn family photoshoot?

Autumn is wonderful for clothing because we can introduce layers, textures and warm colours.

I generally recommend coordinating rather than matching.

Soft neutrals, earthy colours, creams, browns, greens, rusts and muted autumn shades can work beautifully with the natural surroundings.

Textures such as wool, knitwear, corduroy and soft fabrics can also add interest to the photographs.

The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and that the clothes still feel like you.

I’ll send you guidance on what to wear when you book your photoshoot, and I’m happy to help you decide what will work best for your family and chosen location.