Family photoshoot by Big Ben and on Westminster Bridge

Last updated: 21 August 2026

I'm Kate, a London family photographer, and Big Ben and Westminster Bridge is one of my favourite spots in London to photograph families. It works beautifully with young children too, as long as you know what to expect going in. A one hour session is £240 and two hours is £380 and you pay on the day. I'd suggest starting between 7 and 8am, before the bridge fills up.

What follows comes from two real sessions there, both with children under four, and the difference between them is probably the most useful thing I can tell you.

What a one hour family shoot at Westminster Bridge looks like

I had a family photoshoot recently that's a good example of why I always recommend at least an hour for a young child, and ideally two if you can manage it.

The family arrived about twenty minutes later than planned, caught in traffic on the way in, which happens, London traffic is what it is. I ran the session twenty minutes over to make up for it. Arriving right on time for your shoot is completely fine, that's what the slot is for, though if you'd like a few minutes to settle in and say hello before we start, arriving five or ten minutes early works well too.

Their three year old was in the most beautiful outfit, full of energy, and genuinely a joy to photograph once she found her rhythm. Like most kids that age, she wasn't interested in standing still and smiling to order, she'd rather be running about, which is honestly where some of the best natural, candid shots come from. It just means you're working with her pace rather than a strict plan. Westminster Bridge is a working pedestrian bridge too, not a studio, so there's a steady stream of tourists passing through, and part of the job on the day is waiting for the gaps and being ready the moment one opens up.

The light conditions kept changing the whole way through. Beautiful and cloudy, then beautiful and sunny, then a cloud again, then the sun, and people moving across the shot throughout, so I was adjusting as we went rather than settling into one setup. Even so, we came away with a lovely straight-on shot with Big Ben behind her, and a few further down the bridge that I'm really pleased with.

She was nervous about the edge at first, though she did end up sitting on it, which I was really pleased about. What we didn't get to was the stone arch section, and that was purely a time thing. I'd rather come away with a good, considered shot from each spot we're actually in than rush through twice as many and get nothing properly. Worth saying too, the other little one I photographed here wasn't bothered by the edge at all, so it really does vary from child to child, and there's no knowing until you're there.

One hour or two hours with a young child?

I did a similar session a while back with another young child, and the difference two hours made was significant. We met near the Corinthia Hotel and walked down to the bridge, so there was already a bit of a warm-up built in before the camera came out properly. That child was calmer and more responsive on the day too, every kid is different, but the extra time meant we weren't racing the clock. We got shots in the middle of the bridge, by the red phone booth, on the north side near the pub, and back around toward the hotel. Nothing was rushed, and if one spot wasn't working, we simply moved on to the next one without it costing us the whole session.

That's really the difference between an hour and two hours with a young child. An hour gets you one good setup, maybe two if you're lucky with timing and mood. Two hours gives you room to adapt, to lose ten minutes to a change of mood and still come away with a full set of images.

One hour is genuinely enough for a family photoshoot with young children, though, and I wouldn't recommend booking less. What matters is how that hour gets used. For a one hour session, I'd keep us to one location and maybe two spots within it, so we can properly settle into each one and come away with a good, considered set of photos rather than rushing between viewpoints. Two hours opens things up to two locations, with a couple of spots or perspectives at each, which is lovely if you want more variety, but it's not necessary to get beautiful photos. Plenty of families get everything they want from an hour.

What matters more than the clock is staying flexible once we're there. I don't go in with a fixed list of specific shots, this angle by the phone booth, that one further down the bridge. It works much better to see how your child is doing on the day and adapt around that. Whether you've brought a buggy or left it at home, how your little one is feeling that morning, all of it shapes what we do in the time we have, and that's a good thing. The best photos usually come from working with your family in the moment.

The best time to photograph Westminster Bridge

Mornings are best, and earlier than you'd think. I'd suggest starting between 7am and 8am, and 8am to 9am start still works well. After that the bridge fills up properly with tourists, and you end up spending more of the session waiting for gaps than actually taking photos. Weekdays and weekends are much the same, so pick whatever suits your family.

Being over the river, the bridge also tends to be windier than you'd expect, sometimes just a light breeze, other times properly blustery. It's not something every family thinks about, but if your child feels the cold easily or you'd like their hair to stay neat in photos, it's worth packing something for it. I've had a family bring along soft ear warmers for their little one, which suited her outfit beautifully, and a hat or scarf works just as well if that fits your style more. Worth bearing in mind even in August, and doubly so if you're booking through the colder months.

What to wear, and what to bring

It's worth saying, the effort families put into dressing for these sessions really shows in the photos. A beautiful dress, a little suit, whatever feels special for your child, makes for genuinely memorable images, the kind you'll want printed and framed rather than just saved on a phone. Coordinating tones across the family, rather than matching outfits exactly, tends to photograph beautifully too, soft neutrals, or a shared colour palette that complements the greenery and stone around the bridge, without everyone looking identical. It's absolutely worth making it feel like an occasion. My what to wear guide goes into more outfit ideas if you'd like a fuller starting point.

If it's close to your child's actual birthday, a balloon with their age on it is a lovely touch, and a helium one tends to work especially well since it floats rather than needing to be held. If the shoot is happening well before or after the birthday itself, it's worth skipping, the balloon reads best when it genuinely matches the occasion.

Getting there

Westminster station is a two minute walk from the north end of the bridge, on the Jubilee, District and Circle lines, and Waterloo is about ten minutes on foot from the south end. Whatever way you're travelling in, London traffic can be unpredictable, so building in a little buffer helps the whole session feel calmer from the first few minutes.

Book a family photoshoot at Big Ben

I'm Kate, a London photographer specialising in candid, street-rooted photography. If you're planning a family photoshoot at Big Ben or Westminster Bridge, get in touch and we can figure out timing together. You can also have a look at the Big Ben photo spot guide to see the location in more detail, the Belgravia family shoot for a sense of how a family session runs elsewhere in London, or my portrait portfolio to get a feel for the work.

FAQ

How much does a family photoshoot in London cost?

My rates are £180 for 30 minutes, £240 for one hour, £340 for two hours, £510 for three and £650 for four. There's no deposit, you pay on the day. For a family with young children at Westminster Bridge, one hour at £240 is the usual choice.

How long should a family photoshoot with young children be?

One hour is genuinely enough. For that time, I'd keep us to one location and a couple of spots, so we can settle in properly and get a considered set of photos. Two hours allows for two locations if you want more variety, though it isn't necessary.

What's the best time to photograph Westminster Bridge with kids?

Start between 7 and 8am, and an 8 to 9am start works well too. After that the bridge fills up with tourists and you spend more of the session waiting for gaps than taking photos. Weekdays and weekends are much the same.

Is Westminster Bridge good for family photos with young children?

Yes, it's one of the most rewarding backdrops in London, Big Ben right behind you is hard to beat. It's a busy pedestrian bridge, so the best results come from staying flexible and adapting to your child's pace on the day.

Is it windy on Westminster Bridge?

Being over the river, it tends to be breezier than the surrounding streets, sometimes a light breeze and sometimes more blustery. If your child feels the cold easily or you'd like their hair to stay neat in photos, a hat, scarf or ear warmers are worth packing, particularly outside the summer months.

Will my child be scared of the edge of the bridge?

Some are and some aren't, and there's no way to know until you're there. One little one I photographed was nervous about it at first and ended up sitting on it happily, another wasn't bothered at all. It's never worth pushing, there are plenty of other spots.

How can I help my child during a photoshoot?

There's no guaranteed way to get a small child to perform on cue, and that's completely normal. Keeping to one location rather than moving between spots tends to help, along with letting go of a fixed shot list and working with however your child is feeling on the day.

Do I need to arrive early for my photoshoot?

Arriving right on time is completely fine. If you'd like a few minutes to settle in and say hello first, five to ten minutes early works well too, but it's entirely optional.

Should I bring a balloon to my child's birthday photoshoot?

If the shoot falls close to their actual birthday, yes, it's a lovely touch, especially with their age written on it, and a helium balloon tends to photograph best since it floats freely. If the date is a while off from the birthday, it's worth leaving out.

Which tube station is closest to Westminster Bridge?

Westminster station, a two minute walk from the north end of the bridge, on the Jubilee, District and Circle lines. Waterloo is roughly ten minutes on foot from the south end.