A full day London pre wedding shoot
Eight locations and three outfits, from the Royal Albert Hall and Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge at dusk.
Yuefasi and Lian wanted as much of London as we could fit into one day. We ended up with three outfits, a black cab, a coffee stop, most of the landmarks you’d put on a postcard, and Tower Bridge as the light went.
It’s still one of my favourite pre wedding days, and some of the photos below are among the best I’ve taken in London.
Eight London locations in one day
Hair and makeup at the hotel
I met them at their hotel in central London first thing. Hair and makeup was by one of the team at Gemma Sutton, who were brilliant as always.
I always suggest hair and makeup on a shoot like this. It isn’t only about how you look in the close-ups. When you know your hair and makeup are right, you stop worrying about it and relax in front of the camera, and that’s what makes the photos.
Royal Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial
We started in Kensington with Yuefasi in a pink gown and Lian in a blue waistcoat, which looked great against all that red brick and terracotta. The Royal Albert Hall first, then round the corner to the Royal College of Music, then across the road to the Albert Memorial.
The memorial steps are one of my favourite spots in this part of London. You get height, a bit of gold, and plenty of room, so the couple can walk and chat while I work around them rather than standing still and posing.
Regent Street and a red bus
A quick change into the white dress, then we hailed a black cab over to Regent Street. The cab ride was worth a few frames on its own.
We worked the view looking back towards Hotel Café Royal, with the curve of the buildings, taxis going past and the red buses coming through. The shot on the Underground steps with a bus behind them is one I’d happily put on the wall. It’s busy there, so it’s mostly a case of picking a spot, being patient, and waiting for the right bus.
St James’s Park and Westminster Bridge
After a coffee to warm up, we walked through St James’s Park and round the lake. It’s an underrated spot. You’ve got the willows over the water, the pelicans, and it’s a lot calmer than the streets either side.
From there it’s a short walk down to the river. We went to the south side of Westminster Bridge, under the arches, looking back across the water to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The sun was out and the sky was full of big clouds, which is about as good as it gets there. The arches give you shade and a natural frame, and a long veil on a windy bridge does the rest.
Harrods and Buckingham Palace
Back to the hotel for the last change, into the red gown, and out again to Knightsbridge. We did some photos outside Harrods, then walked down the road to Brompton Oratory, which is one of the most beautiful churches in London.
Then over to Green Park and Buckingham Palace, with the Victoria Memorial in the foreground. It’s the one photo everyone’s family back home asks for, so I always make sure we get it.
St Paul’s and the Millennium Bridge
Into the City next. St Paul’s from the steps, then out onto the Millennium Bridge with the dome behind them. The red dress with its long train really came into its own here. On a plain grey bridge it’s the only colour in the frame.
Tower Bridge at dusk
We finished on the north bank by Tower Bridge as the light started to go. There’s a little bench there that looks straight onto the bridge, and a quiet moment on it was a good way to end a long day. Turn round and you’ve got The Shard across the river as well, so you get two very different Londons from the same spot.
Thank you both for a brilliant day. All the best for the wedding in China.
— Barrie
More London pre wedding stories: St Paul’s to Hyde Park with a Singapore couple and a British Museum shoot ending at Westminster Bridge.
Planning a pre wedding shoot in London?
If you’d like a day like this one, I’ll plan it with you. Tell me the places you’ve always pictured, how long you’re in London and how many outfits you’re bringing, and I’ll put together a route that works with the light and the crowds.
- The itinerary, in an order that makes sense on the map and gets the best light at each stop
- Royal Parks permits for places like Kensington Gardens and St James’s Park, which you need for a shoot in wedding clothes
- Hair and makeup at your hotel, and dress rental if you’d rather not fly a gown in
London shoots from £850 for three hours. Five hours adds an outfit change and golden hour, and a full day like this one is built as a bespoke package.
