Ask the vicar early
Check the church's photography guidance when you book the christening, then pass it on so the plan fits.
Christening Photographer in South London
Christenings, baptisms, first communions and naming ceremonies, photographed quietly in your church or home in South London, with the family groups and the meal afterwards.
The short answer
Is there a christening photographer who covers South London?
Yes. Kaushik Bathia photographs christenings, baptisms, first communions and naming ceremonies at churches, venues and homes within about 20 miles of Northwood, which takes in South London from Richmond upon Thames at about 12 miles to Lewisham at about 19.8. The service is photographed quietly within the church's own guidance. Christening prices are given on request, with travel from Northwood set out in a written quote.
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!
Kaushik Bathia has photographed our family on many occasions and done a fantastic job. His work is displayed all over our family homes and he has captured moments which will be cherished forever. He also managed to get great pictures of my two children (both under 5), a near enough impossible task in itself. We highly recommend!
In church
What to ask your vicar or priest about photography
Each South London church decides for itself what photography it allows during a service. Some allow pictures throughout from a set spot, some ask for none during the baptism itself, and many are somewhere between. The simplest step is to ask your vicar or priest when you book the christening, then tell us what they said. We follow the ceremony quietly and work within whatever the church allows.
South London has some very old churches, and the building often shapes the pictures. All Saints in Kingston is a Grade I listed 12th-century church. St Alfege in Greenwich, by Nicholas Hawksmoor, was consecrated in 1718. St George the Martyr on Borough High Street has an 1897 ceiling of cherubs breaking through clouds. Whatever your church, the vicar's guidance comes first.
Other blessings
Naming ceremonies, a Hindu namkaran or an aqiqah
Not every welcome for a baby happens in church. A non-religious naming day at home or in a hired room is photographed the same way: quietly during the words, then the groups. A Hindu naming ceremony, which can be held at home with a priest and close family, or an aqiqah to mark a birth in a Muslim family, follows the customs of your family and your community.
For any of these, tell us what happens, in what order and what you would like photographed, and we plan around it. If a priest or imam gives guidance on photography, that guidance applies. South London is a mixed place, from Tooting, where 28.8% of residents were Asian or Asian British in 2011, to Lambeth with its Caribbean heritage, and every family's ceremony is its own.
The groups
Parents, godparents and grandparents on the church steps
Straight after the service is the moment for the group photographs: parents with the baby, godparents, grandparents and then the wider family. We agree the list in advance, so the groups move quickly and nobody stands in the cold for long. A tree-lined churchyard, like the small wooded graveyard round St Nicholas in Sutton, gives a softer background than a busy street.
Plan for the baby. Christening outfits are long and babies are wriggly, so a feed shortly before the service and a spare outfit in the car both help. The groups can go first if the baby is calm, or after a feed if not.
Afterwards
The family meal or gathering after the service
The meal afterwards is where much of the day's warmth is: grandparents holding the baby, cousins under the table, the cake being cut. We follow on from the church to your home, a restaurant or a hired hall and photograph the small in-between moments as well as the big group shot. Tell us roughly how long you would like covered so the timings fit.
If the gathering is at home in Merton or Carshalton, the garden can give a few relaxed family pictures in better light than the church. For a meal at a restaurant in Tooting or Kingston, a quiet corner by a window works for a final portrait of the baby with the godparents.
Distance
Christenings from Richmond to Lewisham, and the other option
Christenings are covered within about 20 miles of Northwood, and the South London towns on this page all fall inside that: Richmond upon Thames about 12 miles, Wandsworth 13.7, Kingston 14, Southwark 14.9, Merton 16.1, Sutton 19.1, Greenwich 19.4 and Lewisham 19.8. A church further out than that is checked first before a date is confirmed. The travel from Northwood to your church is costed in your written quote before you book.
If you would rather not have a photographer at the service, a family portrait at the Northwood studio in the christening outfit is a calm alternative, with time for feeds and cuddles. See the national christening photography page, or the South London family page for sessions closer to home.
Planning
Planning around South London
Agree the groups
Parents, godparents, grandparents and wider family, listed in advance so the photographs on the steps move quickly.
Historic churches
All Saints in Kingston, St Alfege in Greenwich and St George the Martyr in Borough each give a very different setting.
The meal counts
Coverage can follow on to your home, a restaurant or a hall for the in-between moments with family.
Within about 20 miles
Richmond at 12 miles to Lewisham at 19.8, with travel from Northwood set out in your written quote.
Churches, landmarks and gathering places in South London
Historic churches, landmarks and gardens across South London, each with a source, for the ceremony and the family pictures afterwards.
- Shakespeare's Globe: Shakespeare's Globe on Bankside is a reconstruction of the 1599 playhouse for which Shakespeare wrote, completed in 1997 close to the site of the original. 1
- Granada Tooting: The former Granada cinema in Tooting, opened in 1931 with interiors by Theodore Komisarjevsky, became the first Grade I listed 1930s cinema in 2000. 2
- Southwark Cathedral: Southwark Cathedral, the former Augustinian priory of St Mary Overie and an Anglican cathedral since 1905, is Grade I listed, with a choir and retrochoir built between 1214 and 1260 and a nave rebuilt in the 1890s by Sir Arthur Blomfield. 3
- St George the Martyr, Borough: St George the Martyr on Borough High Street, built in 1734-36 by John Price in red brick and Portland stone, is Grade II* listed and has an 1897 ceiling by Basil Champneys showing cherubs breaking through a clouded sky. 4
- Petersham Meadows dog exclusion: Under Richmond's 2026 dog control order, dogs are not allowed on Petersham Meadows from 1 April to 31 October each year, and are banned from Barn Elms playing fields at all times. 5
Sources, facts checked October 2026
- Shakespeare's Globe - Wikipedia
- Granada, Tooting - Wikipedia
- Southwark Cathedral, British Listed Buildings (Historic England list entry 1378460)
- Church of St George the Martyr, British Listed Buildings (Historic England list entry 1378366)
- Public Spaces Protection Order 2026 (Dog Control) | London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Town by town
Christenings across South London, town by town
South London towns and boroughs within about 20 miles of Northwood for christenings and naming days, with the distance for each.
- Richmond upon Thames (12 miles from the studio)
- Wandsworth (14 miles from the studio)
- Kingston upon Thames (14 miles from the studio)
- Lambeth (15 miles from the studio)
- Southwark (15 miles from the studio)
- New Malden (15 miles from the studio)
- Tooting (16 miles from the studio)
- Merton (16 miles from the studio)
- Sutton (19 miles from the studio)
- Greenwich (19 miles from the studio)
- Lewisham (20 miles from the studio)
Good to know
Christening photography in South London: questions answered
Yes, where the church allows it. Every church has its own guidance on photography during a service, so ask your vicar or priest when you book, and we work quietly within whatever they allow.
Yes. Greenwich is about 19.4 miles from Northwood and Lewisham about 19.8, both inside the 20 miles that christenings are covered within. A church further out than that is checked before the date is confirmed, and travel is set out in writing before you book.
Yes. Christenings, baptisms, first communions and non-religious naming days are all covered, at churches, venues or at home.
Yes. Tell us the order of the ceremony, who will be there and what you would like photographed, and we plan around your family's customs and any guidance from the priest or imam.
Yes, if you would like. Coverage can follow on from the church to your home, a restaurant or a hall, for the groups, the cake and the quieter moments. Tell us how long you would like covered when you enquire.
Yes. A family portrait in the christening outfit is a calm alternative to coverage of the service, especially if the church has strict photography guidance.
Call or WhatsApp 07956 505383 for a christening price, which depends on how long you want covered and what you would like to take home. The written quote shows the travel from Northwood to the church.
Christenings in South London
Planning a christening or naming day?
Tell us the date, the church or venue, where the meal will be and roughly how many guests. We will agree the list of family photographs with you and set out travel from Northwood in writing.
More in South London
- Photography across South London
- Weddings in South London
- Asian weddings in South London
- Hindu weddings in South London
- Sikh weddings in South London
- Muslim weddings in South London
- Family photography in South London
- Newborn photography in South London
- Maternity photoshoots in South London
- Engagement and couples shoots in South London
- Headshots in South London
- Portraits in South London
- Event photography in South London
- Pet photography in South London
- Commercial photography in South London
- Christmas photoshoots in South London
- Cake smash photoshoots in South London
- Graduation photography in South 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 East London
- Christening photography in Central London