Planning a trip to London with kids and want to book a London family photographer? Keep scrolling to check out my tips for getting the perfect London family photos for your next London vacation!
This post about tips for the cutest London family photos was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Looking for a unique way to capture your family memories in London?
We booked a London photo shoot that hit up lots of iconic London backdrops and I’m here to spill all the locations. Plus, we’ll give you tips on what to wear so everyone looks their best in the photos.
Imagine having beautiful photos of your family to hang on your walls and look at every day. With our photo shoot, you can make that dream a reality.
Relax and enjoy your time in one of the most beautiful cities in the world knowing that everything is taken care of by a professional photographer in London.
Keep scrolling for all my London photography tips!
Don’t want to scroll? Click HERE for $25 off a Flytographer photoshoot!
Don’t have time to read a bunch of London blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting London with kids.
Popular London Tours/Activities
- London Eye (this is a relaxing adventure where you can see a birdseye view of London)
- Double-Decker Bus Tour (this one has a 2-hour guided tour option)
- Harry Potter Walking Tour (this one is especially for families)
- WB Studios in London (this is a MUST-DO for any Harry Potter fan)
- Afternoon Tea (this one takes place on a vintage double-decker bus)
- Flytographer Photo Shoot (this is an easy and affordable London photography option)
Kid-Friendly London Hotels
- Crowne Plaza London Kings Cross (this is right by Kings Cross Station, which is really convenient)
- The Clermont London (this is an easy walk to the London Eye and Buckingham Palace)
- Georgian House Hotel (this is perfect for Harry Potter fans)
Why are London Family Photos Important?
London is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and it’s easy to see why. The city is brimming with history, culture, and natural beauty.
And, of course, who doesn’t love a good London selfie?
But if you really want to capture the essence of London, it’s best to hire a professional photographer. London family photographers know all the best spots for scenic photos, and they can help you capture cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
Your kids will grow up quicker than you think, so this is a great opportunity to capture this slice of what life is like at this stage. You won’t regret it!
So next time you’re planning a trip to London, be sure to book a session with one of these talented professionals! They know all about family photography in London!
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Why You Should Hire a London Vacation Photographer Through Flytographer
1. SECRET INSIDER TIPS
If you’re thinking about booking a photo shoot in London, make sure to ask the photographer for some insider tips!
They know all the best restaurants, playgrounds, and photo spots in the city. Plus, they can help you avoid tourist traps and make sure you get some great shots of the iconic landmarks.
And since they’re professional photographers, they know exactly where and how to take photos without getting random people in front or behind while you’re doing the shoot.
Our photographer Rajesh knew exactly where to take us for secret spots literally steps away from the busiest areas in London. It felt like we were in the English countryside!
So whether you’re looking for some guidance on where to go or just want some tips on getting great photos, London photographers are a wealth of knowledge!
2. POSING HELP
If you’re looking for some photogenic places in London, Flytographer photographers are definitely the people to ask.
But most importantly, they’ll quickly come up with poses for you that look natural, despite being forced into awkward positions.
And once you get your photos back, you’ll definitely notice a difference in how relaxed you look. Plus, they do a great job capturing silly moments as well and more natural movements.
So if you’re ever feeling camera-shy, just remember that the Flytographer team will always be there to help you capture those special moments.
3. CAN LEAVE YOUR GEAR AT HOME
With Flytographer, you can leave your camera gear at home and focus on being present for the family photo session.
You literally leave everything else in its wake when booking a photoshoot with them. No need of trying out different poses while using self-time or wasting time waiting around for people to get out of your shot.
Plus, you’ll have someone else directing your kids. That’s a huge perk in my opinion!
Flytographer is the best way to capture amazing memories on your trip without having to worry about lugging around a bunch of equipment.
And, they have photographers in some of the best photography spots in London so you can be sure to get some great pictures!
4. THEY ARE FUN + EASY!
From the moment we arrived, our London professional photographer Rajesh was able to put everyone at ease and capture some truly beautiful moments.
He was also able to read each and every one of us, pulling engaging games out of their imaginary toolbox for the best photos.
During our shoot on the bridge, my dress kept flying up in the wind. He thought it would be fun to do a few candid shots in a Marilyn Monroe-style!
And when our kids got restless, he had them jump over little fences!
I would highly recommend Flytographer to anyone looking for a fun and memorable experience on their London family vacation.
Book a Family Photo Shoot
Whenever we travel, we almost always book a family photo shoot with Flytographer. They are super easy and affordable AND guarantee that I’ll be in some photos. You can get $25 off if you book through this link or use the code HAWAIITRAVEL.
Top London Photography Spots
One of the best places to take photos in London is near Big Ben. It’s one of the most recognizable London landmarks. Plus, it’s near the London Eye and the Thames River, so there are lots of route options.
Tower Bridge is also one of the best photography spots in London. You can either keep it the background or walk across the bridge and check out the Tower of London.
If you want to get away from the classic London photography spots, head to Notting Hill. It’s an adorable neighborhood with cute markets, boutiques, and Victorian-style homes.
Covent Garden and Piccadilly are perfect for families looking for a lot of city vibes and energy. You won’t run out of places in London to take pictures.
How to Book Affordable London Photographers
While we’ve used a lot of different vacation photographers throughout the years, some of my most memorable experiences have been through Flytographer.
Basically, it’s a concierge vacation photography website where you can find photographers almost anywhere in the world, including London. Actually, they have tons of photographers in England. Find the best prices here.
Flytographer makes it really simple to pick the perfect London family photographer. You can find out all about their photography style, secret places to take photos, and even scroll through their online portfolio before you book your shoot!
And Flytographer’s booking process is simple and quick — just pick your preferred dates with a click of a button.
They will then check availability for you so that there’s no stress involved in selecting an available date or time slot when they get back to you with more information on what works best for them!
What I love most about Flytographer is that they are FAST! We sometimes receive our photos before the end of our trip! I love looking at them on our flight home.
What to Wear for Your London Photo Shoot
Of course, you can totally wear whatever you want for your London family photos. But, I know some people like to get ideas, so I’m listing a few options to add to your London packing list to make your photos look cohesive.
Anything Red or Blue
When a lot of people think about London, they usually picture the colors red and blue. Those colors are part of the Union Jack, so it makes sense.
I’d suggest wearing a shade of blue. Royal blue is a nice pop of color or you can go more muted with navy.
Red can be a tricky color to wear in photos because it’s so bright. But, it also draws the eye, so it can be a great choice if you’ll be doing your London photo shoot during a crowded time of day.
Something “Royal”
If you really want to look the part, check out what the Royal Family members wear and do something similar.
This usually means semi-conservative dresses for women, button-down shirts and sweaters for men, and “preppy” looks for the kids.
Flip through some magazines featuring the Royal Familiy and see what you can come up with.
Pastels
Another option is just to go with a pastel color scheme. You can pick one or two colors and have everyone wear something coordinating.
Pastel blues look really nice and give a sweet contrast to the red phone booths and golden brown buildings.
Neutrals
If none of the ideas strike your fancy, you’ll probably want to go with neutral colors. These are usually white, grey, tan, or blue.
The reason why this color scheme is so popular is that it works well with any sort of background.
8 London Photo Shoot Tips You NEED to Know
1. Bring an Adapter for Hair Tools
If you’re coming from the United States, you’ll want to make sure you have the right adapter for any hair tools you use.
I brought along my trusty hair straightener and It made me feel a whole lot more put together. I’m so glad it worked out!
2. Pin Your Hair Back
If you are doing a London photo shoot route that is near the river, you’ll definitely want to pin your hair back. The wind is insane and most people will end up with hair flying everywhere in their photos. Not exactly cute.
So, bring along hair clips or a hair tie just for photos near the river. You will definitely be glad you did and you’ll get the shots much faster than other families.
3. You’ll Want to do Full Makeup
Even if you usually just do a little or no make-up in your everyday life, I highly recommend kicking it up a notch for photos. That’s because you might look a little washed out during the editing process.
It’s also an easy way to tone down sunburns or acne. Just take the extra time to do up your face, trust me.
4. Think About Your Outfits
I decided early on that I would be using the Royal Family for my style inspiration.
I was able to find a knock-off Kate Middleton dress on Etsy that I completely fell in love with. I had my boys dress up like they were Prince George and Prince Louis.
I think our outfit choices worked well for the backdrop of London. I’m also glad that we had long sleeves because it was super chilly and windy.
5. You’ll Either Wake Up Before Dawn or Stay up Late
We had a hard time deciding between a sunrise shoot or a sunset shoot. That’s when it’s the best light and minimal crowds.
We hired our London family photographer for a summer shoot, so that meant either doing an early morning or a late evening. Since we had already been in Europe for a week, we figured it might work out to keep the kids up for a 6pm shoot.
We did a bus tour in the morning, headed back to our hotel for a long break, and then did the London Eye right before our photo shoot. It ended up working out well for us.
6. Choose Your Route Carefully
It always helps to peruse the portfolios of London family photographers so you can decide which locations speak to you the most.
Since this was our first trip to London as a family, I wanted to make sure to get as many iconic London scenes as possible. It’s actually the main reason why we chose the 90-minute shoot. That way, we could walk around and get a ton of different backgrounds.
And it also let me off the hook for taking iPhone pics of my kids in the same spots. Win-win!
7. Add an Incentive For Your Kids
We always like to reward our kids for a job well done, especially with photo shoots. While I LOVE them, it’s not really their favorite activity.
So for our London photo shoot, we booked the London Eye right before since that was on their bucket lists. But, we also promised them specific souvenir items they really wanted if they did a good job.
Our photo shoot ended up being a lot longer than we anticipated, so we doubled up the incentive.
8. Think About Props
One of the ways you can make your family photo shoot in London a bit extra special is by adding props.
We actually bought little British flags that I sort of forgot about until the end of the shoot. But, we were able to use them and it was pretty cute.
Harry Potter robes are another great option or fancy “royal” hats or even just a change of clothes.
How to Hire a Photographer in London England FAQs
The price of a photographer in London England can vary a lot. We used Flytographer, which has a flat rate of $285USD for a 30-minute shoot, $385USD for a 60-minute shoot or $535USD for a 90-minute shoot. This is one of the most affordable London photographer rates.
You’ll want to dress up a bit but be comfortable in whatever you wear. Royal blue is a popular color and neutrals are always a good idea. There will be a lot of walking if you want different backdrops, so wear nice shoes you can walk around a lot in.
You’ll want to find out their style of photography (posed portraits, lifestyle, candid, etc). You should also ask to see their portfolio and see whether or not they help with posing. Finally, you should make sure you are clear on the payment structure. Do you get a set number of digital photos after the shoot or is that a separate fee?
London Travel Photography Wrap Up
Get your London family photos taken by one of the best photographers in England.
Check out our list of recommended photographers in London and book a shoot with them today!
Remember to wear clothing you feel comfortable in so you can have an awesome photo session in London. Make sure to follow these tips for getting perfect pictures, too!
Now get ready for some fun in one of the coolest cities in Europe. It’s time to start looking at those cute kiddos again and plan how they’ll look when they’re standing next to that iconic London landmark or cityscape.
Check out these awesome London family photographers! Click HERE for $25 off a Flytographer photoshoot!
Looking for more London content? Check out my London travel tips, kid-friendly London hotels, hidden gems in London, things to do in London at night, London Instagram spots, day trips from London, things to do in London with kids, best London tours for families, 1 day in London, and my 4 day London itinerary for families!
