What Happens When It Rains? A Rainy Autumn Family Photo Shoot in London

Family photography in Westminster, and at home in Parsons Green

I had one of the most fun family photo shoots on a rainy day recently. After the long hot summer we have had, the change in the weather has caught me a bit by surprise on the days it has rained. For this shoot we could see a bit of rain on the forecast from part way through the week, but it wasn’t going to be too much, and it was going to be dry to start with. And, of course, it was the day we had booked in and the day we could all do. We knew we would make it work.

If you haven’t come across my blog before, welcome. I’m Helen, a London-based family photographer, and many of the sessions I photograph gets its own “sneak preview” post like this one: a small selection of some of my favourite images and the story behind them, shared before the family receives their full gallery. It’s a chance for you to see what a real session with me looks and feels like, rain included, long before you ever book one yourself.

I’ve been photographing families like this one for over twenty years, working in a natural, documentary style in black and white, with no studios, no props and no forced poses. I’ve been a Canon Ambassador since 2017, but what I love most, session after session, is exactly the kind of morning I’m about to describe to you.

This was my fifth shoot with this wonderful family and every one has been absolutely brilliant. From our first meeting, where we were lucky with a glorious warm December day, to our photo shoot in Barcelona in 2024, each photo shoot has been unique and this was no different. I’m already looking forward to next year.

London landmarks

We had decided to start the day with some of London’s iconic landmarks. The family are from America, and so there was something particularly fun about heading into town to see Big Ben and the London Eye, these quintessentially London views.

We started early at Westminster Tube, meeting at 7.15 to beat the crowds and, as it turned out, to beat the rain too.

The image which opens this blog post might be my favourite image I’ve taken with the London Eye yet. I’m so happy with it.

I wanted to work with a reflection to add to the graphic quality of the Eye, so I used my iPhone as a mirror to create this image. Working with the silhouette and the slight side light, keeping enough detail in the subjects to see their expressions, it has come together beautifully in an image that I’m incredibly proud of.

We also, of course, had fun in Parliament Square and took some pictures with Big Ben.

Hide and seek at Embankment Gardens

After a quick game of hide and seek in Embankment Gardens, because it’s always really important to break things up when we’re doing landmark sessions, as posing with buildings gets boring for the kids otherwise, we walked back across the bridge with an eye to exploring the South Bank. Then the heavens opened. Umbrellas in hand, we scuttled to the road and called a cab home.

Gymnastics at home in Parsons Green

I always love taking pictures in my clients’ homes, and I would have expected to end up at the house late morning whatever the weather. We hadn’t expected to be rained in by 8am though, thank goodness we’d gone for the early start.

Once indoors, it was coffee to the rescue, and we settled to the serious business of having fun.

I was thrilled to discover that indoor gymnastics is a big thing now, and I always love the challenge of creating interesting and exciting images indoors. Jumping on the bed and flips worked brilliantly, and I chose to use the in-camera multiple exposure feature on my Canon R5 Mark II to create something new and unique for my clients. Here, two images are combined: one multiple exposure and one single shot to bring out the facial features, which can get muddled on a multiple exposure image. The combination works brilliantly, and this is one of my favourite shots of the year, not just of this session.

Toys and crafts: recording everyday activities

We spent some time doing crafts and playing with toys too. I’ve always loved to include everyday activities in my photo shoots, as these can be so meaningful to look back on. Often it’s the little things, which we might not feel would make the most stand-out, exciting picture, that really capture the imagination when we look back. This family had all their digital files from previous sessions loaded onto an electronic photo frame, and it was lovely to see old images coming up, often ones I had forgotten about. It was the little moments that really stopped me in my tracks: a tiny toddler lining up all her toys in a row, a snuggle on the sofa. These moments matter, and it’s so good to record them.

Bubbles at Parsons Green

By this point we had a break in the weather, and feeling it would be good to stretch our legs, we headed up to nearby Parsons Green to shake away the cobwebs and get some fresh air. With a bubble wand in hand, we spent a happy fifteen minutes running around and catching bubbles before the clouds gathered again and, with umbrellas up, we dashed back home.

Hide and seek

We finished with a game of hide and seek, one of my all-time favourite games, both for photo shoots and for general hilarity and playing. We had a great time and I love the resulting pictures.

It was a wonderful morning from start to finish, and I think the rain meant we did more different things rather than less once we got to the end of the session. Being indoors does involve more lateral thinking, finding activities to do and ways to keep everyone entertained, but the resulting pictures are so special.

Add those to our glorious images of central London that started the day, and it’s been one of my favourite recent sessions.

I can’t wait to see which images will be added to our growing gallery of frames, and the album design is looking wonderful, an addition to the collection that will be treasured for many years to come.

If you have liked what you have seen on the blog today and would be interested in booking your own family session, then do get in touch via the contact form. I’d love to hear from you, and together we can plan the perfect family photo shoot for your children.

This post was first published in September 2026