Winter Family Photography in Wimbledon Common | London Family Photographer
The winter family photo sessions have started early this year, and we’ve had some amazing winter light to enjoy taking family portraits in. My first winter family photoshoot this season has been a lovely family of three, with whom I arranged to meet in Wimbledon Common, one of their local London parks. They wanted natural, relaxed family portraits, outdoors, in one of their favourite parks.
We met on a crisp winter morning, wrapped up in layers. The weather was overcast, with a forecast of rain later that afternoon. However, with fast moving clouds, there was also a possibility of sunshine, perfect for outdoor family portraits.
One of The Best London Parks For Family Photography
Wimbledon Common has quickly become one of my favourite locations for family photography in London. It is vast, natural and wonderfully varied, ideal for families who want photos that feel relaxed and natural, rather than posed.
I first discovered Wimbledon Common years ago, but fell in love with it last year while photographing a family with their newborn baby and dog. During that particular photo session, I discovered some lovely little nooks on the common. Since then, I keep finding new spaces that work beautifully for family photo sessions: open woodland paths, soft grassy clearings, and gentle textures that let families be themselves.
For anyone looking for outdoor family photography in South West London, natural family photos and locations that look natural, feel calm and child-friendly, Wimbledon Common is always a wonderful choice.
Why Winter Is a Beautiful Time for Family Photos
Winter family photo sessions are often underestimated, but to me, winter is one of the lovelies times of year to photograph families in. The winter light is soft and directional, creating flattering tones and gentle contrast. Without the distractions of bright foliage, the focus naturally shifts to connection, movement, and emotion. The bright colours of winter woollies create a striking contrast against the soft, subdued tones of the winter landscape. Children can explore freely, parents can slow down, and the resulting images feel honest and timeless.
Winter photography sessions are perfect if you love:
Being outdoors
Misty mornings and crisp sunny days
Soft light and subdued tones
Neutral, earthy colour palettes
Layered outfits and natural textures
And yes, children almost always forget about the cold once they start exploring!
A Relaxed Family Photo Session Experience
This session was all about observing the family interact and capturing the connection, little smiles and genuine moments. No pressure or expectation to perform, no stiff posing, just gentle guidance and space to connect and explore.
We wandered, chatted, paused when the light felt right, and let moments happen naturally. These are the sessions where children feel safe to be themselves, parents relax into the experience, and the images tell a story that feels true to real life.
If you are curious about what a session with me feels like, you can read more about my approach to family photography here.
Planning Your Own Wimbledon Common Family Photo Session
If you are considering a family photoshoot in Wimbledon Common, winter is a beautiful and often quieter time to do it. Sessions work especially well in the morning or early afternoon when the light is at its softest. I am always happy to offer guidance, to choose the best meeting spot on the common and to plan a session that works around young children and your schedule. Please get in touch to start planning your session.
About Me
Hello! My name is Mina and I am a Surrey-based family photographer specialising in natural, emotive family photography. My work is gentle, relaxed, and focused on real connection rather than perfect poses. I photograph families across Wimbledon, South West London, Surrey and beyond, creating images that feel honest, timeless, and full of heart.
If you value warmth, simplicity, and storytelling in your family photos, you’ll feel right at home here.
Family Photography Gift Vouchers
A family photography gift voucher is a thoughtful and meaningful gift, especially for new parents, growing families, or grandparents.
Gift vouchers can be used for:
Outdoor family photo sessions
Pet photo sessions
Newborn photo sessions
Couple photo sessions
They are available as digital copies or printed vouchers, can be purchased year-round and are valid for one year from the date of purchase. Please contact me for further information or to discuss a custom gift certificate.
Ready to Book Your Family Photo Session?
If you are dreaming of natural family photos in Wimbledon Common, please get in touch, I would love to hear from you. Booking a family photo session is easy!
1 SAY HELLO!
Drop me a line at mina@minamilanovic-photography.com to enquire about a session or fill out a form on my contact page and tell me a little bit about what your requirements are. I will send you my availability and answer any questions you may have before you book your session. We can arrange either a weekday or a weekend session, whatever works best for you and your family.
2 SESSION DEPOSIT
A 30% booking deposit is required to reserve your date on my calendar. The remainder of the fee is payable before the agreed family photography session date.
3 SESSION LOCATION
We will discuss location choices. I am happy to meet you at your favourite location, or provide a list of locations in the Surrey and London area. I can also meet you at home for a home family session, or we can split our time between your home and an outside location.
Winter Family and Pet Photo Session in Sussex | Surrey Family Photographer
At home family photoshoot in west Sussex
I had the great privilige of photographing a lovely family of three with their two dogs in the Sussex countryside last winter. Winter photoshoots can be a bit temperamental in terms of the weather, but we were lucky on a gorgeous February morning. The sun was shining, the light was beautiful and the company even better!
We started the photo session at home, spending some time in the garden while everyone got ready. This was a fantastic opportinity for the more shy members of the family to get to know me and relax in front of the camera. Both dogs were ready for action and I was keen to capture their unique personalities. One of the dogs was more extroverted and people oriented, whereas the other - a collie mix - was always on the ready, waiting to herd! I waited for a few moments of stillness and captured these portraits below.
A few negotiating steps and final touches - waterproofs, hats and gloves for a cold winter’s day, and we were all ready to venture out and explore the great outdoors!
I love photographing toddlers. They are always ready for an adventure and are so into everything! Muddy puddles, worms, bees, birds, playing hide and seek, you name it they’ll join in and investigate!
Outdoor Family Photoshoot
I often aim to get some together shots first thing when we go out. I find it takes the pressure off somewhat, knowing that I have some shots of all the family together. On this occasion, I took the opportunity to take a candid family portrait as we were walking down the road, the family chatting, unaware that I was taking photos. The resulting images are natural and spontanios, telling the story of this family’s weekend routine.
When photographing families with young children, I often suggest we meet first thing in the morning. Children are rested and in a good mood, parks empty so there is no worry photographs will be cluttered with people in the background. We can spend a good couple of hours outside and have a variety of backdrops for a really nice and varied set of images.
Action Photography for Active Dogs
While photographing families, I love to take some time during a break in the session, for instance when it is child’s snack time, and focus on the dogs. These two were only still when for short periods of time, so I had to work fast and get their portraits. They gave me run for my money, being constantly on the move and chinging directions. I was very impressed with my Canon EOS R5’s auto focus system, which kept focusing on the chosen dog even at high speeds and while dogs were chasing the ball and changing directions.
Family and Dog Photo Session in the Sussex countryside
We followed a loop which intersected Downs Link, a long distance route which follows two unused railway lines. Since trains stopped using these lines, the tracks have become a green corridor, providing an important lifeline for wildlife surrounded by arrable fields. Due to the combination of clay soil and flat ground, a lot of the land was flooded and colonised by a variety of waterfowl, egrets and harons, which provided a lot of interest and enterntainment.
After a long walk, and a wonderful morning spent playing, lauging, jumping in puddles and smelling flowers it was time to head home. It was a fantastic family photo session from beginnig to end, and I am really happy with how the photos turned out.
Photography Gift Vouchers
This family & dog photo session was gifted to this family as a Family Photography Gift Voucher. Photography gift vouchers are the perfect gift for any occasion - anniversiry, birthday, new baby, or a unique Mother’s day gift. If you would like to puchse a gift voucher, please visit my gift voucher store or get in touch.
About Mina Milanovic Photography
Mina Milanovic is a professional photographer with years of experience capturing beautiful, authentic moments. My passion for photography is rooted in a deep appreciation for the connection between people. My work focuses on capturing these connections, in an outdoor setting where everyone feels more relaxed and comfortable.
Whether you're looking for a portrait to celebrate a special milestone or want to capture the love you share with your family, I am here to capture those moments and help you cherish them.
Book Your Family & Dog Photo Session Today
If you enjoyed seeing the photos in this blog post, and are thinking of booking a family session, please get in touch to discuss your requirements. I am available for family photoshoots on weekdays and weekends, and I work across Surrey, Sussex, London and the South East. For more information on family photoshoots, please visit my Family Portraits page.