How to Book an Autumn Mini Photoshoot in London: 2026 Dates, Prices and How They Work
The summer holidays are about three weeks in. Nobody is wishing them away, least of all me.
But there's one date I need you to have in your diary, and it's much closer than it feels it should be: Monday 7 September. That's the morning my 2026 autumn mini photoshoots go on sale, and they go to my waiting list ONLY.
Not "first" as in a polite head start. First as in the best slots are gone before anyone else gets a look at them.
So consider this your early warning, sent in August so you've got plenty of time to do the one thing that actually matters and it takes about nine seconds.
Join the waiting list here!
What is an autumn mini photoshoot in London?
An autumn mini photoshoot is a short 25-minute family session, booked into a run of back-to-back slots across a weekend, timed for the few weeks when the autumn colour in London is at its very best.
I run mine at Cannizaro Park in Wimbledon, over three days a year. This will be the sixth year I've done it.
They exist for one simple reason. Most families don't need a full hour with me. What they need is that one photo where everyone is together and everyone is happy. Twenty-five minutes is enough to get it.
When are the 2026 autumn mini sessions?
Three days this year:
Saturday 17 October 2026
Sunday 18 October 2026
Saturday 7 November 2026
October catches the colour at its peak. November gives you that low, golden, late-afternoon light and gets your Christmas card sorted with weeks to spare, which is a smug feeling I heartily recommend.
Why do I have to be on the waiting list to book?
Because there are only so many 25-minute slots in a weekend, and the same families come back year after year (it’s one of the reasons I love these sessions SO much).
Bookings open on 7 September to everyone on my waitlist. These VIPs get the Autumn mini dates and times exclusively for 48 hours. In previous years the prime slots have gone inside that window. Not because I'm being precious about it, but because there genuinely aren't many of them.
Being on the list costs you nothing and commits you to nothing. It just means you're in the room when the doors open.
Get on the list for 7 September
Where do the autumn mini photoshoots take place?
In the gorgeous Cannizaro Park in Wimbledon, which is the fixed home of every seasonal mini weekend I run.
Once your slot is booked I'll send you directions, exactly where to meet me, and a proper guide on what to expect and what to wear. And I'm on hand for any questions in the run-up, however small.
How long is a mini session, and is 25 minutes really enough?
It's genuinely short and the perfect amount of time. I run two sessions an hour, so you have your 25 minutes to arrive, have a laugh in front of my camera, and then get on with your weekend.
And yes, it's enough. After six years of these I can tell you that the first five minutes are everyone finding their feet, and the twenty after that are where the good stuff lives. A longer session doesn't give you better photos of small children. It gives you a tired small child.
What photos will we get from our autumn mini photoshoot?
Three things, and they're the three every family actually comes for.
1. That elusive whole-family portrait. This is the reason you book in the first place. You want ONE photo where everybody is in the same frame, laughing, happy, together. I always get it. And looking at it afterwards makes your heart burst.
2. You, and the little people you made. This one is about connection: fierce cuddles, irrepressible giggles, kisses, general joy. It's also the one you'll be in, which matters more than you think.
3. Portraits of your children as they actually are right now. They grow up so fast. These are the photos that get more precious every single year, as your children change into people you haven't met yet.
How much does an autumn mini photoshoot in London cost?
The total cost is £400, paid upfront, and that includes:
Your 25-minute session at Cannizaro Park, with me steering the fun
A detailed guide on how to prepare and what to wear
A private online gallery and slideshow of every edited image (at least 15)
Five full-resolution digital images of your choosing, with a print release
One of those five as a 12" x 8" fine art print
If you fall in love with the whole gallery, you can have all of it for an extra £125. Individual extra images are £25 each. No pressure either way. Five and the print is the standard package, and plenty of families are very happy with exactly that.
You can read more about how the seasonal minis work on my seasonal mini sessions page.
How do I book my 2026 autumn mini photoshoot?
One step, and it isn't booking.
Join the waiting list. On 7 September you'll get the dates, the times and the booking link before anyone else, and you'll have 48 hours to pick your slot.
That's it. No deposit today, no decision today. Just don't be the person who finds out about this in October.
A few more questions I get asked
What happens if it rains? If it is merely overcast, we go ahead. Autumn light on an overcast day is soft and lovely and does beautiful things to faces. If the weather is genuinely unworkable I'll be in touch and offer replacement dates.
Are the autumn minis only for families? They're built for families, and that's who books them. But couples, grandparents, mums with grown-up children and anyone who wants a proper photo of themselves in autumn colour are all welcome.
How many people can come? A mini session comfortably fits an immediate family. If you're bringing a bigger group, message me before you book and I'll tell you honestly whether 25 minutes will do it justice, or whether you'd be better off with a full session.
My toddler will not cooperate. Should I bother? Yes. Cooperation is not the goal and never has been. I'm not after a row of children sitting still, I'm after the real ones: the running, the being carried upside down, the outraged face. Those are the photos you'll still love in ten years.
Can I book without joining the list? Any slots left after the 48-hour window open up to everyone. In previous years there haven't been many, and never at the popular times. The list is genuinely the way in.
