London Family Photographer | Baptism in St James Church in Twickenham
One of the things I really love about my job is the constant variety of jobs I get exposed to. Whether it is a wedding, a newborn baby photoshoot, a family photo session or a pet photography session - they each represent a set of different challenges which I enjoy tackling and learning from.
Baptism and Christening Photographer
I really enjoy photographing baptism or christening services. As a christening photographer, I draw from my experience photographing weddings, and families. Similarly to a wedding ceremony, a baptism service has its own pace, and a set of rituals, all of which happens quickly and without repeat. So there are no second chances! I therefore have to work quickly, moving around to find the best angle and making sure those special, fleeting moments are captured. I draw from my family photography experience to capture those little smiles, glances, and connections between family members. This experience also comes in handy when I have to direct larger groups for those very important group shots at the end of the ceremony!
London Christening Photographer
I was recently commissioned to photograph a Baptism in St James Church in Twickenham. This is a beautiful Roman Church, set in a quiet residential area. The baptism ceremony was a part of the Sunday mass, and so the main challenge was to photograph descretly and only the family of my client, which involved identifying the area of movement which gave enough coverage but was not obtrusive to others.
The church was beautiful inside, with exposed wooden beams, and stained windows letting in lots of light through.
My clients whom I photographed at St James Church in Twickenham asked me not to post their photos on my website and social media, to respect their privacy. So, I apologise for not being able to share those particular photos. However… You can see below a selection of photos from a different christening service, to give you a flavour of the types of moments captured during a ceremony.
If you would like to see more photos, please visit my recent blog posts here and here.
Fees
My fees for baptism or christening photography services are £195 per hour with 2h minimum booking. The fee includes:
A pre-consultation. I am happy to give you a call or arrange FaceTime to meet and discuss your requirements
My time on the day
A selection of 100+ professionally-edited photos on a beautifully presented memory drive
My travel costs. I work across London, Surrey and the South East. I travel free of charge 30 miles from where I live, and I am happy to go further afield for an additional travel fee
I also provide album-design services which are charged at an additional cost.
Booking
Booking for a christening or baptism service is easy! Contact me by email at info@minamilanovic-photography.com, call on 07793 677 867 or use the contact form on my website, and tell me a little bit about yourself and when you would like the photoshoot to take place.
Baptism Photography in London | Chiswick Christening Story
“Easily some of the best professional pictures we have had of an event! Mina is a dream to work with, very accommodating and an all round lovely person. I was expecting something good as she instilled confidence in me prior to our event but was absolutely blown away by the end result! The photos captured the day in such a way that you could feel it all over again. Just breathtaking!”
There’s something quietly special about a christening. The sense of togetherness, the soft rhythm of the ceremony, and the small, meaningful moments that unfold in between.
I love photographing events like these. Whether it is weddings, birthdays, family gatherings or christenings, I am drawn to the emotion of the day. My approach to baptism photography in London is documentary and natural. I focus on capturing real moments and connection between family members in a set of beautiful, timeless and candid photographs which you and your family can look back on in years to come.
Chiswick Baptism Photography
A couple of months ago, I photographed little B’s christening service at St Michael and All Angels church in Chiswick. It was a beautiful and intimate service, filled with love and warmth. Family and friends sang together with the minister, while children gathered around little B’s pushchair. It felt very personal, relaxed and full of connection. After the ceremony, family and friends gathered for some drinks, food and cake.
Natural Documentary-style Baby Christening Photographer London
I worked using documentary-style photography to capture the afternoon unfold, and combined wide angle shots to give the service a sense of scale and place, together with tighter framing to show detail and emotion. As Surrey christening photographer, I work across Surrey, West Sussex and London to photograph baptism or christening services.
“The photos are just incredible, thank you very much. You have captured so many of L’s facial expressions perfectly!”
Planning a Christening in London
If you are planning a christening or baptism, it is worth thinking about how you’d like the day to be remembered. Every church and family celebration is slightly different, and a natural approach to photography allows those differences to shine through.
Many churches, including places like St Paul's Cathedral, have their own guidelines around photography, so it is always helpful to check in advance.
If you are planning a Greek Orthodox baptism in London, the choice of churches is even narrower so planning in advance is advised. I have had a pleasure of photographing a Greek Orthodox baptism at St George’s church in Kingston-upon-Thames. My documentary, storytelling style is perfectly placed to capture the many rituals, traditions and steps of a Greek christening ceremony.
A Few Gentle Tips for Beautiful Baptism Photos
Like for any other type of family photography, taking a few steps to prepare in advance of the photoshoot helps create relaxed, beautiful photos. These are a few tips which will hopefully help create those lovely candid photos for your family album.
Preparation is half the work. Think of what everyone is going to wear in advance of the ceremony, and weather the colours complement one another. This will help create a pleasing esthetic in photographs. Have a rough plan of timings and when different photographs can be taken: the candid ones, the group ones, the reception ones etc. Allow a little time before or after the ceremony for quiet, candid moments.
Keep things relaxed on the day. Children pick up our energy so keep things as light and fun for them as possible. Bring a book, their favourite toy or a snack so they are entertained during the ceremony.
Don’t worry about everything being perfect, it is the real moments and connection that matter. Every baptism ceremony is different, and every child will behave differently. I will work with you and your family to make the experience as pleasant as possible.
Looking for a baptism photographer in London?
Hello! My name is Mina, I am a professional family, pet and wedding photographer, working across London and Surrey. I have been photographing baptisms and christenings for over 10 years now, and love how intimate, ceremonial, and connection-filled the event is. My approach to baptism photography is documentary-led. I observe the service and capture the day as it unfolds, making sure both big and small moments are preserved for you and your family.
If you are planning your child’s christening or baptism, and you are considering hiring a professional photographer, please get in touch to discuss your ideas and options. I would love to hear from you!
FAQ
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Baptism photography documents your child’s baptism or christening ceremony. It typically captures the location, christening outfit, arrival of guests at the ceremony location, the interior of a church or cathedral, sacred rituals, family interactions, and candid shots during the ceremony itself. Most clients choose to have at least a part of the reception captured as part of the photography package.
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Hiring a professional baptism photographer in London allows you to completely immerse yourself in the baptism ceremony. You can enjoy the ceremony in the knowledge that a professional photographer will capture the atmosphere, the detail and the little moments, without missing anything.
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On the day of a baptism, expect a joyous church service (often as part of a Sunday mass). The service involves a welcome, bible readings, prayers, and the central ritual of water poured on the head (or immersion). Some of the key moments include signing with the cross, godparents’ promises, anointing with oil, and receiving a lit candle.
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The most important aspect of any family photography is to be yourselves and relaxed. Children pick up on parents tensing up and wanting to control the situation. With babies and small children, anything can happen but generally most children find the service interesting and interacting. Some children can find the act of pouring of the water on the head a bit scary but most think it is really fun!
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Search for baptism photographers, compare styles and prices, contact a few photographers and see who you have the best chemistry with. Everyone will feel more comfortable and confident knowing they are on the same page.
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Go through the brief with your client, check venues, timings, and important shots. Talk to your client(s) before the even and try to answer any questions they may have. If your clients feel confident and re-assured, they will in turn be relaxed on the day, which will contribute towards having great christening photos.
