Ask the church early
Your vicar or priest will say where a photographer may stand and when. Pass that on when you book and the coverage is planned around it.
Christening Photographer in East London
Christenings, baptisms, naming ceremonies and other blessings, photographed quietly at your church, home or venue in East London, with the family groups and the meal afterwards.
The short answer
Is there a christening photographer who covers East London?
Yes. Kaushik Bathia photographs christenings, baptisms, naming ceremonies and first communions at churches, homes and venues in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Newham and Redbridge, all within about 20 miles of Northwood. The ceremony is photographed quietly within the church's own guidance, followed by family groups and the gathering afterwards. Travel from Northwood is quoted up front and set out in writing before you book, and prices are given by phone or WhatsApp on 07956 505383.
Kaushikbhai is an incredible photographer, fantastic 'after event' care and top bloke. I've only known Kaushik for 5 years - and in that short space of time, I can't even begin to count the number of events of ours that he's photographed.
…On the day, he was there on time and took lots of photographs of all close families and friends, as and when requested and also walking around the venue at different times. The photo taken were ready within the week. The quality in terms of focus, brightness and clarity was amazing. Kaushik knew how to get all party guests to smile in group photos and also capture those natural moments. Great job!
We had the loveliest experience having our family photos taken at this photography studio in Northwood Hills. The photographer was absolutely wonderful, so warm, patient and amazing with the kids! He really knew how to keep them entertained and capture their personalities so naturally. 🥰📸 The photos came out absolutely beautiful, and these are memories we will cherish for a lifetime.
Before the day
Before an East London christening: the church's photography rules
Every church has its own guidance on photography during a service. Some are happy for a photographer to move quietly during the baptism itself; others ask for pictures only before and after, or from a fixed place at the back. Ask your vicar or priest when you book the christening, and tell us what they say. Kaushik then plans the coverage inside those limits, whatever they are.
If the church prefers no photographs during the service, the day still has plenty to photograph: arrivals at the door, the godparents with the baby, a quiet moment at the font once the congregation has gone, and the groups outside. The national christening photography page explains how a ceremony is followed without getting in anyone's way.
The churches
From Christ Church Spitalfields to Emmanuel Church in Forest Gate
East London's churches give very different backdrops. Christ Church Spitalfields is a Grade I listed church designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor and built between 1714 and 1729. Emmanuel Church in Forest Gate is a Grade II listed Gothic Revival church of 1852 designed by George Gilbert Scott.
In Walthamstow, St Mary's Church stands in Walthamstow Village, the oldest part of the town, next to the 15th-century timber-framed Ancient House and old almshouses. Whatever your parish, the planning is the same: the order of service, where the font is, where the family will sit and how long the church has before the next booking. Send those details and the coverage is planned around them.
Other blessings
Naming ceremonies, a Hindu naming day or an aqiqah
Not every welcome for a new baby happens in a church. Non-religious naming ceremonies take place at home or at a hired venue, and the same quiet approach applies: the words, the promises from the chosen adults and the reactions around the room. A Hindu naming ceremony, held at home or at a mandir, and an aqiqah, the Muslim welcome for a new baby that can bring family together over a meal, can be photographed in the same way.
Newham had 351,030 residents at the 2021 census, and 34.8% of them were Muslim, the second-highest proportion of any London borough. Tell us how your ceremony runs, who leads it and what guidance the family or place of worship gives on photography, and the coverage follows that. The East London event photography page covers larger family celebrations.
Afterwards
The family groups and the meal after the ceremony
Group photographs come straight after the ceremony: parents, godparents, grandparents and the wider family. The list is agreed in advance and a relative who knows everyone can help gather each group, so nobody waits long and the baby is not kept out in the cold. Church steps or a garden nearby usually give room for the larger groups.
Then comes the meal, which can turn into the real party. It might be lunch at home, a hall, or a restaurant table on Brick Lane, the heart of the country's Bangladeshi community and known for its curry restaurants. At the gathering, the coverage turns to the small in-between moments: a great-grandparent holding the baby, cousins under the table, the cake being cut. Ask the restaurant or venue ahead whether they are happy for photographs to be taken.
Distance and options
Travelling from Northwood, and a portrait instead of coverage
Christenings are covered at churches, venues and homes within about 20 miles of Northwood, and every East London borough on this page is inside that: Hackney about 16 miles, Walthamstow and Tower Hamlets about 17, Forest Gate and Newham about 19 and Redbridge just under 20. Travel from Northwood is set out in your written quote, next to the coverage price.
If you would rather not have a photographer at the service, a family portrait in the christening outfit at the Northwood studio is a calm alternative, at the baby's own pace with time for feeds. You might also like the newborn or first birthday sessions for East London, and the East London photographer page lists every service.
Planning
Planning around East London
Agree the group list
Write down the family groups you want: parents, godparents, grandparents and cousins. A relative who knows everyone can help round each group up on the steps.
Check with the restaurant
If the meal is at a restaurant on Brick Lane or elsewhere, ask whether photographs are welcome. Some of the warmest pictures can come from around the table.
A portrait instead
If coverage at the service does not suit, a portrait of your baby in the christening outfit gives you the keepsake without a camera in church.
Churches, landmarks and gathering places in East London
Churches and landmarks in East London that this page refers to, each linked to its source.
- Christ Church Spitalfields: Christ Church Spitalfields is a Grade I listed church designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, built between 1714 and 1729. 1
- Emmanuel Church: Emmanuel Church in Forest Gate is a Grade II listed Gothic Revival church of 1852 designed by George Gilbert Scott. 2
- Memorial Park, Chingford Mount: Memorial Park at 212 Chingford Mount Road (E4 8LR) is a large open park with under-7s and under-12s play areas, an ornamental pond and a bowling green, where dogs must be kept on a lead. 3
- Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park: Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, a 12.55-hectare former cemetery opened for burials in 1841 and declared a public park in 1966, became the borough's first Local Nature Reserve in 2001. 4
- Forest Lane Park: Forest Lane Park in Forest Gate has a lake, a dipping pond, woodland and a children's play area. 5
Sources, facts checked October 2026
Town by town
Christenings across East London, town by town
The East London boroughs below are listed with their distance from Northwood, and every one is within the area christenings are covered.
- Hackney (16 miles from the studio)
- Walthamstow (17 miles from the studio)
- Waltham Forest (17 miles from the studio)
- Tower Hamlets (17 miles from the studio)
- Forest Gate (19 miles from the studio)
- Newham (20 miles from the studio)
- Redbridge (20 miles from the studio)
Good to know
Christening photography in East London: questions answered
That is up to the church. Every church has its own guidance on photography during a service, so ask the clergy at Christ Church Spitalfields, or at your own parish, when you book. Kaushik works within whatever they allow, and the groups on the steps afterwards are always possible.
Yes. Naming ceremonies and other blessings for a new baby are photographed quietly in the same way as a christening, at home, at a hall or at your place of worship. Tell us how the ceremony runs and any photography guidance it has.
Yes, if you would like it. The gathering afterwards, at home, at a hall or at a restaurant on Brick Lane or elsewhere, can be where the warmest pictures happen. Check that the restaurant or venue is happy for photographs to be taken.
Christenings are covered within about 20 miles of Northwood, which takes in Hackney at about 16 miles, Walthamstow and Tower Hamlets at about 17, and Forest Gate, Newham and Redbridge between 19 and 20. The christening quote sets out that travel in writing before you book.
Yes. Christenings, baptisms, naming ceremonies and first communions are all photographed, with portraits of the child afterwards. For a first communion at Emmanuel Church in Forest Gate or another parish, ask the church about photography during the service.
We agree the list of groups in advance: parents, godparents, grandparents and the wider family. After the ceremony they are organised quickly, ideally with a relative who knows everyone helping, so the baby is not kept waiting.
Christening coverage is priced by phone or WhatsApp on 07956 505383, according to how long you need and what you would like to take home. The travel from Northwood is on the same written quote.
Christenings in East London
Tell us about the day
Send the date, the church or venue, roughly how many guests and where the meal will be. Kaushik replies with the coverage price and the travel from Northwood in writing.
More in East London
- Photography across East London
- Weddings in East London
- Asian weddings in East London
- Hindu weddings in East London
- Sikh weddings in East London
- Muslim weddings in East London
- Family photography in East London
- Newborn photography in East London
- Maternity photoshoots in East London
- Engagement and couples shoots in East London
- Headshots in East London
- Portraits in East London
- Event photography in East London
- Pet photography in East London
- Commercial photography in East London
- Christmas photoshoots in East London
- Cake smash photoshoots in East London
- Graduation photography in East London
- Christening Photography
Other counties
- Christening photography in Hertfordshire
- Christening photography in Buckinghamshire
- Christening photography in Berkshire
- Christening photography in Surrey
- Christening photography in Essex
- Christening photography in Bedfordshire
- Christening photography in Kent
- Christening photography in Oxfordshire
- Christening photography in North West London
- Christening photography in West London
- Christening photography in North London
- Christening photography in South London
- Christening photography in Central London