Extended Family Photography London: A Big Ben Session
Andrea Whelan is a London vacation photographer based in Greenwich, South East London. She photographs families, newborns, maternity, and visiting families across London and beyond.
Westminster Family Photo Session
There’s something a bit magical about Westminster early in the morning, before the tourists arrive, just a few commuters rushing and before the city fully wakes up. The light is soft, the bridge is almost empty, and if you’re lucky, there’s a bit of mist still hanging over the Thames. On this particular morning, I had all of that, plus a family of nine who had flown in from America for a holiday and decided a London photoshoot should be part of it.
They came to me on a recommendation, which is always the loveliest kind of booking. Mum, dad, five children, and grandparents. Three generations, one early start, and a city ready to do its thing.
Meeting on the South Side of Westminster Bridge
We met on the south side of Westminster Bridge with Big Ben sitting perfectly in the background. The family had thought their outfits through beautifully. Mum wore a stunning blue dress, dad echoed it in a blue shirt, and the kids and grandparents had coordinated without ever looking like they were in uniform. It is always such a gift when a family puts that kind of care into the styling. It does half the work before I’ve even lifted the camera.
There was a lingering mist over the bridge that hadn’t quite lifted, and as we walked across the bridge it gave the shots this dreamy, slightly cinematic feel you get on a warm morning. You couldn’t have planned it. Some of my favourite frames from the morning came from those few minutes when the mist was still doing its thing in the background.
On Photographing Large Families (Never Apologise!)
I want to talk about this because it comes up so often. Families with lots of people, or with grandparents joining, or with multiple generations turning up, often book the session with a slightly apologetic tone. “I hope it’s not too many.” “Sorry, there’s a lot of us.” “Is nine okay?”
Yes. Nine is wonderful. Twelve would be wonderful. Fifteen would be wonderful.
Here is the thing nobody tells you about photographing a big group. It is actually easier in some ways than photographing a small one, because there is always somewhere to go and someone to focus on. If one of the children needs a moment, or a grandparent wants to sit down for two minutes, or a toddler has decided that today is not the day, the shoot doesn’t grind to a halt. We just shift focus. Dad and his eldest daughter walking together. Mum cuddling her boy. The grandparents on their own, holding hands the way they probably have for fifty years.
Those quieter pairings are often where the real magic happens, and they only exist because there are enough people in the group to make space for them.
By the time everyone regroups, the child who needed a break is ready again, and we’ve gathered a whole collection of intimate moments along the way. Nobody feels pressured. Nobody feels like the whole shoot rests on their three-year-old cooperating for the next twenty minutes. The dynamic stays light, and the photographs reflect that.
What We Captured
We worked our way across the bridge, weaving in the iconic London details as we went. Big Ben from a few different angles, the red phone boxes, the grandeur of Westminster itself. There were beautiful editorial shots of mum and dad in among it all, the kind of frames that remind you they are not just parents and grandparents-to-the-kids but a couple who chose each other a long time ago.
We did the playful, in-between moments with the kids running ahead and grandparents bringing up the rear. We did the formal, everyone-looking-at-the-camera shots, because I know those matter just as much, and they’re the ones that end up framed on the wall back home.
I’ll also confess to a small personal delight. There was a redhead in the family, and as a redhead myself, I always feel a quiet sense of solidarity when one turns up at a shoot. There aren’t that many of us. We have to stick together.
A Family Holiday They’ll Remember
What I love most about London family vacation sessions is that they capture something specific. Not just the family, but the family in this place, at this point in time, on a trip they planned together. The photographs become part of the holiday itself, and they outlast all the souvenirs.
If you’re travelling to London with your family, whether it’s just the four of you or three generations on tour, please don’t talk yourself out of booking a session because you think you’re too many. The bigger the family, the more there is to photograph. The more there is to photograph, the better.
If you’d like to plan a session of your own, in Westminster or anywhere else across the city, I would love to hear from you.
What you get
A gallery of around 60 to 80 edited images, delivered online within two to three weeks. High-resolution, print-ready, yours. Optional prints, frames and a fine-art album if you want them, and if you don’t want them, no pressure. I’m a photographer, not a salesperson; nothing ruins a relaxed session like the suspicion that the photographer is going to upsell you a frame at the end. I have a shop in my gallery and it couldn’t be easier to order what you need.
If you fancy a session of your own
Drop me a line via the contact page. Tell me your due date and a rough corner of London. Marylebone, Greenwich, Blackheath, Notting Hill, your kitchen, a hotel, all work for me.
Frequently asked questions
Do you photograph large or extended families in London?
Yes, and they’re some of my favourite sessions. Whether it’s grandparents joining for a special trip, multiple siblings with their own families, or three generations all together, large groups are very welcome.
Is there a limit on how many people can be in the shoot?
Not really. I’ve photographed everything from couples to groups of fifteen or more. Bigger groups actually give us more to work with, because we can break off into smaller pairings throughout the session.
Do you only photograph posed shots, or natural ones too?
Both. My style is lifestyle meets editorial, so most of the session is about catching real moments and interactions. I’ll always include some gathered shots where everyone is looking at the camera too, because I know those are the ones that end up on the wall.
What’s the best time of day for a session at Big Ben or Westminster?
Early morning, without a doubt. The light is soft, the crowds haven’t arrived, and you have the bridges and landmarks largely to yourselves. Sessions usually start around sunrise or shortly after.
How do we book a session?
Just get in touch through the contact page and tell me a bit about your family and what you’re hoping for. I’ll come back to you with availability and the full pricing guide.
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