Christening Photographer in Oxfordshire

The short answer

Is there a christening photographer who covers Oxfordshire?

Oxfordshire is beyond the usual 20-mile christening range of the Northwood studio, with Oxford and Bicester about 38 miles away and Banbury about 51, so each date is checked first by phone or WhatsApp on 07956 505383. Where a date works, Kaushik follows the service quietly within the church's guidance on photography, organises the family groups and can cover the meal afterwards, with travel set out in your written quote.

Our usual session area is within about 20 miles of the studio. Further out in Oxfordshire, sessions are by arrangement, with travel quoted in writing before you book.

Google reviews

What clients say

4.8 from 580+ Google reviews

Fantastic pictures from Kaushik, took my daughter's beautiful photos at 6th months in 2005 and back now for graduation photography. Amazing work.

Humphrey M., Google review, 2021

WE HAVE USED KAUSHIK FOR EVERY SPECIAL OCCASION WE HAVE CELEBRATED. FROM WEDDINGS TO BIRTHDAYS KAUSHIK HAS ALWAYS GONE OUT OF HIS WAY TO ENSURE HE CAPTURES EVERY LITTLE DETAIL OF OUR SPECIAL DAYS AND I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM AND HIS TEAM FOR ANY OCCASION OF ANY SIZE. THANK YOU KAUSHIK!

GAURAV A., Google review, 2017

Amazing service from Mr Kaushik Bathia. He is very professional, friendly and helpful. He made the family photoshoot a funny and pleasant experience. We highly recommend him! Thank you.

Elena H., Google review, 2024

Read all the reviews on Google

Before the day

Ask the vicar or priest what is allowed

Every church sets its own rules about photography during a service, and they vary from one parish to the next. Some are happy for the photographer to move during the baptism; others prefer pictures only before and after, or from one fixed place. Ask your vicar or priest when you book the christening, and pass on what they say, so we can plan around it.

Kaushik follows whatever the church allows. If photography is not permitted during the service, the focus moves to the arrival, the font before or after, the family outside and the gathering. Our national christening photography page explains how the day is covered in more detail.

Parents lying on the studio floor with their baby between them

Old churches

St Edburg's in Bicester and Oxfordshire's older parish churches

Bicester's St Edburg's shows how old an Oxfordshire parish church can be: it was built by Gilbert Bassett around 1120, gained its west tower in the 15th century, and is the oldest building in the town and its only Grade I listed one. A church of that age has narrow aisles, stone floors and fixed pews, which shapes where a photographer can stand without getting in the way.

We work with what the building gives us. The font, the stonework and the doorway are as much a part of the record as the faces, and a family group on the church path or by the tower gives the day its setting. Tell us which church you are using, and if it is your first visit too, a look round before the day helps everyone.

Other traditions

Baptisms, naming ceremonies and blessings in other faiths

Not every family marks a new baby in church. A non-religious naming day at home or in a hired room, a Hindu naming ceremony with the family gathered round, or an aqiqah with relatives and a shared meal are all photographed in the same quiet way: the ritual first, then the people around it.

Tell us the order of the day and who the key relatives are, and Kaushik will make sure the moments that matter, and the people who matter, are covered. Whatever the tradition, the guidance of the person leading the ceremony comes first. For larger family occasions in the county, the Oxfordshire event photography page covers parties and celebrations.

Parents lying on the studio floor with their toddler between them

After the service

Family groups, then the lunch

Straight after the service come the group photographs: parents, godparents, grandparents and the wider family. We agree the list with you in advance and organise the groups quickly, so nobody stands around for long. A christening party in Oxford may have relatives arriving from Oxford station or Oxford Parkway, so note anyone who has to leave early and photograph them first.

The meal or gathering afterwards, whether at home, in a restaurant or in a hired hall, is where the relaxed pictures happen: the baby being passed round, cousins under the table, the cake being cut and a few words from a godparent. That part is covered candidly, with an eye for the small in-between moments as well as the big group shot.

Getting to you

Booking a christening photographer from Northwood

Because Oxfordshire sits beyond the usual 20-mile christening range, check your date by phone or WhatsApp before anything else is planned. Kaushik drives from the Northwood studio, about 38 miles to Oxford or Bicester and about 51 to Banbury. Travel from Northwood is quoted up front and set out in writing before you book, together with the hours of coverage. Christening prices are given on request, depending on how long you want coverage to last and what you would like to take home.

If you would rather not have a photographer at the service at all, a studio portrait in the christening outfit is a calm alternative, with time for feeds and cuddles. It works well a week or two after the day. For newborn pictures earlier on, see newborn photography in Oxfordshire, and for everything else in the county, the Oxfordshire photographer page.

Newborn baby asleep along a parent's forearm

Planning

Planning around Oxfordshire

01

The vicar's guidance

Ask your Oxfordshire vicar or priest about photography during the service when you book the date, and tell us what they say.

02

A list of groups

Write down the family groups you want, godparents first, so they are done quickly outside the church before guests leave for the meal.

03

Relatives by train

If family are coming in to Oxford station or Oxford Parkway and leaving early, tell us, so their group is taken first.

04

Narrow aisles

An old church such as St Edburg's in Bicester has fixed pews and stone floors, so a look round beforehand helps plan where to stand.

05

The meal counts

The lunch or tea afterwards, at home or in a hired room, is where the relaxed family pictures come from, so keep it in the coverage.

Churches, landmarks and gathering places in Oxfordshire

The notes below describe Oxfordshire landmarks and churches, along with the parks and gardens that suit a family group after the service.

Radcliffe Camera: The Radcliffe Camera, designed by James Gibbs in the Baroque style and built in 1737-49, is now a Bodleian reading room that is not open to the public and stands between Brasenose and All Souls colleges. ¹
Church of St Edburg: St Edburg's Church was built by Gilbert Bassett around 1120, gained its west tower in the 15th century, and is the oldest and only Grade I listed building in Bicester. ²
Bicester Village: Bicester Village, the designer outlet on the edge of the town, first opened in April 1995 and now has more than 150 boutiques. ³

Sources, facts checked October 2026

Town by town

Christenings across Oxfordshire, town by town

Every Oxfordshire town below sits beyond the usual 20-mile christening range of the Northwood studio, so each date is checked first by phone or WhatsApp.

Oxford (38 miles from the studio)
Bicester (38 miles from the studio)
Banbury (51 miles from the studio)

Good to know

Christening photography in Oxfordshire: questions answered

Can you photograph a christening at St Edburg's in Bicester?+

Bicester is beyond the usual 20-mile christening range, so check your date with us first. If it can be covered, ask the vicar about photography during the service; Kaushik works within whatever the church allows, and the family groups can be taken by the church afterwards. The 38-mile journey from Northwood appears in your written quote.

Do you photograph baptisms and naming ceremonies as well?+

Yes, they can be. Christenings, baptisms, non-religious naming days, first communions and other blessings, including a Hindu naming ceremony or an aqiqah, can be photographed at a church, a hall or at home, once the Oxfordshire date has been checked.

What if our church does not allow photographs during the service?+

Then we photograph the arrival, the family outside the church and the gathering afterwards, and ask the minister whether a picture by the font is possible once the service is over. The church's rules always come first.

Do you stay for the lunch after the christening?+

If your date is confirmed, the meal or party afterwards can be included, and it is where the relaxed pictures happen. Tell us where it is, whether at home or in a restaurant or hall in Oxford, Bicester or Banbury, so the timing and travel can go into your quote.

How much does christening photography cost in Oxfordshire?+

Prices are given on request by phone or WhatsApp on 07956 505383, depending on the length of coverage and what you would like to take home. The cost of the journey from Northwood is quoted up front in writing.

Is Banbury too far for a christening photographer?+

Banbury is about 51 miles from the studio, well beyond the usual 20-mile christening range, so check the date by phone or WhatsApp before booking anything else. If it can be covered, the travel is set out in your written quote and a morning service is planned around the drive.

Can we have a studio portrait instead?+

Yes. A studio family portrait in the christening outfit is a calm alternative to coverage on the day, and the session moves at the baby's pace.

Behind the camera is Kaushik Bathia, established in Northwood since 2001, FBIPP and FMPA, with five European Kodak Gold Awards.

Christenings in Oxfordshire

Planning a christening or naming day?

Tell us the date, the church or venue in Oxfordshire and roughly how many guests, and we will check the date first, then reply with a quote.