Senior portraits in London: South Bank and Big Ben

Last updated: 24 August 2026

I'm Kate, a London photographer, and South Bank is my go-to spot for senior portraits that look unmistakably like London. Big Ben, the London Eye and the red phone boxes, all within one easy walk. An hour is £240, two hours is £380.

Senior portraits are an American tradition, so if you'd call this a graduation shoot or school leaver photos, it's the same session under a different name. It isn't a university gown shoot, that's a different thing.

If you'd rather have London in your photos without London shouting at you, my senior portrait shoot in Kensington is the other end of that scale. This one is deliberately the postcard version, right in the middle of the most photographed part of the city.

What a senior portrait shoot at South Bank looks like

One of my favourite senior sessions here was with a senior in a dark denim dress, shot in summer. We booked two hours and used all of it for Big Ben, the park by London Eye, the red phone box and the South Bank stretch itself. That's a lot to fit in! But I think the variety of photos that came out was great.

We started near Westminster Bridge in the morning, which I'd recommend. The light falls onto Big Ben beautifully from that angle at that time of day, lighting it up instead of leaving it in shadow. From there we walked toward the London Eye and used Jubilee Gardens as the backdrop. Normally the grass there is a proper green throughout, though this year we had a drought.

Her dress worked the whole way through, which doesn't always happen. Dark denim sits beautifully against green, and it sat just as well against the yellow-painted stairs further on South Bank. Most bold colours and black work well against those buildings, it's really only yellow itself that might get lost.

Her mum was with us the whole way and joined in for a couple of photos partway through. I always love it when that happens. If a parent is coming along, it's worth setting aside a few minutes for that, they're often the photos families end up treasuring most.

What it's like shooting with me

I love photographing seniors. Everyone dresses up, everyone looks great, and we usually end up having a laugh somewhere along the way.

If you're not good at posing, that's completely fine, most people aren't and nobody expects you to be. I'll warm you up, get you moving, and we'll work from there. The point is to get your personality into the photos, not to arrange you into awkward shapes.

I also spend a lot of a session looking for pockets of light to play with. I'd rather find something a bit different for each person than hand everybody back the same set of pictures.

How long does a senior portrait shoot at South Bank take?

This shoot took two hours and covered Big Ben, the park by London Eye, the red phone box and South Bank. Two hours also gives you room for a second outfit, which I'd take. Break it up however you like with very touristy in one and quieter in the other, or the park in one and everything else in the second.

If you'd like a view of St Paul's in there too, two hours would stretch as far as another park beyond the National Theatre, which opens views to the East of the city. We didn't get that far on this particular shoot, so it's an option that you might want to take or not.

Morning works well for Big Ben specifically, given how the light falls on it. Beyond that South Bank is walkable throughout the day. It gets busy, especially at weekends, but there's enough space and enough going on, street performers, food stalls, secondhand bookshops, that a busy stretch doesn't work against you the way it can on a narrower bridge. In summer I'd avoid the middle of the day, roughly midday to 2pm, when the light overhead gets harsh. Outside that window any time is fine.

South Bank has a nice buzz to it beyond the photos too, if you want to make an afternoon of it. There are pop-up food stalls and the odd art installation along the river most of the year, and a Christmas market if you're shooting in winter. It's a good spot to stick around in afterwards.

What to wear for senior portraits at South Bank

Bold colours and neutrals photograph equally beautifully here. The one colour I'd steer away from is yellow itself, which tends to blend into the backdrop. My what to wear guide has more general advice that applies here too.

If you're booking two hours, definitely bring a second outfit. Two distinct looks from one morning is worth more than more photos of the same one. There's a bathroom in the Royal Festival Hall along the way that's easy to change in, so it doesn't need planning around.

How to get to South Bank

Westminster tube station is the best place to start, on the Jubilee, District and Circle lines. You come out of it and you're standing right by Big Ben, which is where I'd begin anyway. If you're coming by taxi, anywhere around there is easiest, since South Bank itself is mostly pedestrian and there's a bit of a walk into it.

The distances are short. The red phone box is about five minutes from the bridge, and most of that is waiting at traffic lights. The walk the other way along South Bank is maybe fifteen. What takes the time isn't the walking, it's the stopping to take all the awesome pictures! We photograph as we go, and how long we spend anywhere depends on the light that day and how busy it is, so I never plan it to the minute.

One practical thing worth knowing. If you want the classic shot with a red phone box, start early. By 11am there is literally a queue of people waiting to have their photo taken with it. However, because in the morning Big Ben is back lit, it is a nice photo in the afternoon if you did want to capture it yourself.

Book a senior portrait session in London

I'm Kate, a London photographer specialising in candid, street-rooted photography. If you're planning senior portraits in London, get in touch and we can talk through timing and locations. You can see more of my work on my portraits page, or have a look at how I work with families visiting London.

FAQ

Do you do senior pictures in London?

Yes. Senior portraits, senior pictures, school leaver photos, it's the same session. I photograph them across central London, most often around Westminster Bridge, Hyde Park and Covent Garden.

How much do senior portraits cost in London?

£240 for an hour and £380 for two hours. An hour covers Big Ben and two hours cover the London Eye and the South Bank stretch. Two hours gives you the full spread and room for a second outfit.

Can we do senior photos while we're visiting London?

Yes, and plenty of families do exactly that. Mornings work well if you're fitting it around sightseeing, and the whole South Bank route is walkable, so it doubles as a proper look at the city.

Do you photograph young men?

Yes. The same route works just as well, and the Big Ben and South Bank backdrops suit a smarter look or something more casual equally.

How long should a senior portrait shoot at South Bank take?

An hour is enough for Big Ben and Westminster Bridge. Two hours covers all of that plus the red phone box and South Bank, with room for a second outfit.

What's the best time of day to photograph Big Ben from South Bank?

Morning. The light falls onto Big Ben nicely from that angle at that time of day, which lights it up instead of leaving it backlit.

Can you get a photo with the red phone box and a view of Big Ben?

Yes, but go early. By the middle of the day there's literally a queue of people waiting for their turn with it. First thing in the morning you'll have it to yourself.

What if I'm bad at posing?

Most people are, and it doesn't matter. I'll warm you up and get you moving, and to me the best photos that feel alive come from the movements than from holding a position.

Where can I change outfits during a South Bank photoshoot?

There's a bathroom in the Royal Festival Hall, right on the route, and it's easy to use. If you're booking two hours and bringing a second outfit, that's where I'd recommend to change.

Is South Bank too busy for a photoshoot?

It gets busy, especially at weekends, but there's enough space and enough happening that it doesn't work against you the way a narrower location can. Just plan around the middle of the day in summer, when the light overhead gets harsh.

What should I wear for senior portraits at South Bank?

Bold colours and neutrals work just as well. Something a bit fun and that feels like you right now. I’d recommend bringing a pair of trainers in case you are going to wear heels.

Can my parents come along to the shoot?

Yes absolutely. I'm always happy to get a few photos of you together partway through the session, alongside your solo portraits.

Is this the same as a graduation photoshoot?

Near enough. Senior portraits, school leaver photos and graduation shoots all mean dressing up to mark finishing school, and I photograph all of them. The one real difference is the cap and gown, which usually comes with a university graduation. If you want a formal gown shoot, say so when you get in touch and I'll plan it differently.

Ready to book your senior portrait photography session in London? Get in touch with your travel dates and what you have in mind, and I'll help you find a slot that fits your itinerary.