Summer Family Photo Shoot in North West London
Helen Bartlett is a London-based family photographer and Canon Ambassador with over 20 years’ experience, photographing families in natural settings across London and the home counties. Hampstead Heath is one of her most frequently chosen locations for outdoor family photography in North West London.
A natural, joyful family photo shoot on Hampstead Heath — ancient trees, open meadows, scooters, bubbles, and hide and seek in NW3.
Last updated: May 2026
I’ve been photographing families on Hampstead Heath for more than 20 years and it remains one of my absolute favourite places to work in London. I was appointed a Canon Ambassador in 2017 — the only family photographer in the UK to hold this role — and the Heath has featured in my work more times than I can count. What keeps drawing me back is the extraordinary variety the location offers: no two sessions here have ever looked the same.
Hampstead Heath Adventures
My third family photo shoot with this wonderful family took place in Hampstead, in the heart of North West London, on a bright and sunny June day. The weather this year has been spectacular, which has meant a very busy diary for this happy photographer. I absolutely love photographing families outdoors, and the more summer bookings I get, the happier I become and Hampstead Heath is the perfect spot for family photography.
This shoot was always destined to be one of my favourites. This lovely family approaches each session with joy and enthusiasm, focusing on their son’s favourite activities, and that always makes for relaxed, happy, and authentic pictures.
If you’re planning a family photography session, start by asking yourself: What do your children love doing right now? That’s always the best place to begin when designing a truly memorable and meaningful shoot.
Hampstead Heath – The Perfect Spot for Outdoor Family Photography
Hampstead Heath is one of my top recommendations for a family photo shoot in North West London. The variety of landscapes – from ancient woodland to wide-open meadows – offers the perfect backdrop for natural and playful images.
On bright, hot days, shade becomes incredibly important. The woodland areas of the Heath provide beautiful, soft, even light that’s ideal for natural family portraits and helps everyone stay comfortable during the session.
Starting at Kenwood House
We began our shoot at the iconic Kenwood House, a favourite meeting point for many of my Hampstead shoots. With coffee and toilet facilities on hand, it’s a practical and family-friendly place to start.
After grabbing a few portraits with the elegant house in the background, we set off to explore and Hampstead Heath never disappoints. No matter which path you take, you’ll find endless opportunities for fun: running down hills, climbing trees, or just chasing each other through the woods.
Bikes, Scooters, and Childhood Joy
Every year when I photograph this family, they think about what their son is into at the moment which is a brilliant way to build a long-term record of his childhood. This time, anything with wheels was a big hit!
We brought along his bike, trike, and scooter, and raced around the Heath’s winding paths. These action-packed photos are some of my favourites to shoot – they’re full of energy, movement, and expression. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m photographing a future Formula 1 driver!
Tree Climbing and Timeless Moments
The ancient trees on Hampstead Heath are ideal for family group photos. Majestic and full of character, they bring a sense of history to each image.
I often think of a childhood book I loved, about the life of an oak tree through the centuries. These trees have seen so many families pass by, and it’s wonderful to think we’re adding our own tiny chapter to that story.
Bubbles, Buttercups, and Imagination
When planning a family shoot with young children, I always suggest bringing a few favourite toys or activities. While wheeled adventures were the star of this shoot, we also had great fun with bubbles which are always a hit with kids, and a joy to photograph thanks to those wonderful, wide-eyed expressions.
We also came across a stunning field of buttercups. Our little explorer picked a couple of flowers to give to his parents in a quiet, sweet moment captured forever.
Hide and Seek for Candid, Playful Family Portraits
We finished our morning with an energetic game of hide and seek in the trees. These spontaneous, joy-filled moments are often the highlight of any shoot. They’re real, unscripted, and full of connection which is exactly what I aim to capture in every session.
These are the images that bring families joy for years to come – snapshots of what life was really like in this season.
Book Your Summer Family Photo Shoot in North West London
It was a wonderfully active and joy-filled morning, and I’m already looking forward to our shoot next year.
If you’re thinking about booking a summer family photo shoot in North West London, now is the time! My weekends are booking up extremely quickly, so get in touch via the contact form to start planning your perfect session. Whether it’s Hampstead Heath, Regent’s Park, or your local favourite, we’ll create beautiful, lasting memories together.
Frequently asked questions about family photography on Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is exceptional for family photography because of the sheer variety it offers within a single location – from shady ancient woodland to the wide-open grass expanse in front of Kenwood House, different areas allow for completely different types of images within the same morning. The enormous trees are a particular highlight: children of all ages find them irresistible, and tree-climbing photographs are some of my very best. Add in clean, well-maintained public toilets at several points around the Heath and a wonderful café at Kenwood, and it’s as practical as it is beautiful.
I always recommend meeting at 8am, and while I know that sounds alarming on a weekend, the rewards are more than worth it. The Heath at that hour is almost entirely ours: the light is at its most beautiful, the paths are empty, and the children can run and explore without any self-consciousness. Being up and out early means we win the day before the rest of London wakes up.
Hampstead Heath spans approximately 800 acres, which means there is always somewhere quiet, beautiful, and off the beaten track to go. We can find hidden corners where nobody will feel on display, and in a single session we might move from the iconic lawns of Kenwood House through ancient woodland to the children’s zoo at Golders Hill Park, or discover the stunning Pergola – one of the Heath’s best-kept secrets and one of the most beautiful backdrops I know anywhere in North London.
For a family with both toddlers and teenagers, you really can’t find a better location. Toddlers are absorbed immediately – there are sticks to collect, paths to charge down, puddles to consider. Teenagers, who often arrive with understandable scepticism about having their photograph taken, tend to relax the moment they’re given genuine space to explore and something active to do. Climbing trees, wandering through woodland, and playing hide and seek means they forget about the camera very quickly. It’s one of my favourite spots for mixed-age families, and sessions here often produce some of my best work across the whole age range.
helenbartlett.co.uk · Summer Family Photo Shoot in North West London · May 2026
