Photographers in Windsor Castle

The castle is large and pale grey, so it reads well at a distance and in silhouette. The Round Tower on its mound is the recognisable shape. The flag above it is the Royal Standard when the monarch is in residence and the Union Flag otherwise, a small detail some couples like to notice in their photos.

From the Long Walk, the castle sits at the end of a straight avenue nearly three miles long. The view is symmetrical, and from further down the avenue a longer lens pulls the castle in behind you, making it look larger in the frame. The avenue runs roughly north to south, so morning and evening light comes in from the side and the trees throw long shadows across the path.

From the Thames, particularly the Eton side of Windsor Bridge, you see the castle above the water and trees, softer and more romantic. From the town, Castle Hill and the lanes below the walls show the stonework up close, with Georgian and Victorian shopfronts beneath.

Crowds are thickest at the visitor entrance on Castle Hill and around the Changing of the Guard. The further you are from the gates, the calmer it gets, which is why the Long Walk and the river are the realistic settings for most sessions.

Both of Windsor's stations are a few minutes' walk from the castle. Windsor & Eton Riverside has direct trains from London Waterloo, and Windsor & Eton Central is reached from London Paddington with a change at Slough. Heathrow is a short drive away.

The Long Walk can be reached on foot from the town, and Windsor Bridge is a few minutes from Castle Hill. Snow Hill, at the far end of the Long Walk, is roughly two and a half miles from the castle, so allow close to an hour on foot or drive to a Great Park car park and walk in.

Town-centre car parks fill quickly on busy days, so the train is usually easier.

The castle closes to visitors on some days for royal and state occasions, such as Garter Day in June, and roads around it can close too; check the castle's visitor information before you choose a date. The Changing of the Guard takes place on scheduled mornings and draws crowds to the town and Castle Hill.

Photography inside the State Apartments and St George's Chapel is generally not permitted, and professional shoots within the precincts need the Royal Household's permission, which is rarely practical for a personal session. The Long Walk and the Great Park are managed by the Crown Estate, and professional photography there may need permission; your photographer will confirm what applies.

The quietest times on the Long Walk are early mornings and weekday evenings.

A proposal or couple session with the castle in view starts from £250. Because the castle is photographed from public ground, there is usually no access fee to budget for; if a spot in the Great Park needs Crown Estate permission, any fee is quoted separately. Visitor tickets to the castle are your own and are not part of a photography quote.