Photographers in London

Light

London light is soft more often than not. Thin cloud turns the sky into a giant diffuser, which flatters faces and keeps pale stone from burning out, so an overcast day is rarely a reason to cancel. The seasons swing hard: in June the sun rises before 5am and sets after 9pm, while in December it is down before 4pm and stays low all day, which gives long, warm side-light even at lunchtime.

Views

Several of London's hilltop views of the skyline are protected by planning policy, so they have stayed open for generations: Primrose Hill, Parliament Hill in Hampstead, the hill below the Royal Observatory in Greenwich and King Henry's Mound in Richmond Park. They suit sunset sessions and proposals, with the city small and sharp behind you.

Seasons

• March and April: cherry blossom and magnolia in parks and residential streets.
• Late April and May: wisteria on Georgian terraces in Chelsea, Kensington and Hampstead.
• June: roses in Regent's Park.
• Late October and November: autumn colour in the parks.
• From November: Christmas lights across the West End.

Weddings and elopements

Many London civil ceremonies take place at register offices such as Old Marylebone Town Hall and Chelsea Old Town Hall, which pair well with a short portrait walk afterwards. See elopement photography in London and wedding photography in London.

Arriving: Heathrow is linked to central London by the Elizabeth line, the Piccadilly line and the Heathrow Express to Paddington. Gatwick has the Gatwick Express to Victoria and Thameslink trains, and the Stansted Express runs to Liverpool Street. Eurostar arrives at St Pancras International.

Getting around: the Tube, the Elizabeth line, the Overground, the DLR and buses all take contactless payment or Oyster, with a daily cap on fares. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers river buses stop at piers along the Thames, including Westminster, Bankside and Greenwich, and are a scenic way to link riverside shoots.

Driving: not recommended. Central London has a Congestion Charge, the whole of Greater London sits inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking is scarce. Check current charges with Transport for London.

Plan your session around one walkable area or one Tube line, and your photographer will suggest a route that keeps travel time down.

When to go: late April to early June and September to October give mild temperatures, long evenings and fresh colour. August is warm but the landmarks are at their busiest, and December gives short days with lovely low light.

Crowds: landmarks are quietest at sunrise and on weekday mornings. Big annual events close roads and fill streets, including the London Marathon in April, Trooping the Colour in June, Notting Hill Carnival over the August bank holiday weekend and New Year's Eve along the river.

Permits: the Royal Parks, privately managed estates such as King's Cross, Canary Wharf and Covent Garden, and squares run by the Greater London Authority can all have rules for professional photography. They differ, so your photographer will confirm what applies and include any fee in your quote.

Drones: flying is tightly restricted over central London and in the Royal Parks, so do not plan around aerial shots.

Rain: covered backups include Leadenhall Market, Old Spitalfields Market and the Southbank Centre's undercroft. See our rainy-day guide.

London uses the same starting prices as the rest of England: from £200 for families and portraits, from £250 for proposals and couples, from £300 for engagement photography and from £150 for corporate headshots. What moves a London quote is usually logistics: a sunrise start, weekend demand in spring and summer, a second location across town, extra time (from £100 per hour) or a permit fee, which is quoted separately. For business work, see personal branding in London.