The location of your photo shoot can be very important and I will always visit the locations before your photo shoot to decide on the best backdrop, depending on the weather and the time of year. I have some favourite locations including the Yate & Chipping Sodbury area of Bristol where I like to photograph, but I also love going further afield depending on your requirements, so I have listed some favourite locations here for you to read about, if you are unfamiliar with the area. 

I also travel further afield and I welcome your own suggestions for photo sessions. 

Kingsgate Park 

This large park is in the centre of Yate and provides a lovely variety of backdrops for family portraits and pet photography. Not only does it have an abundance of trees and woodland areas, but it also has a lake with ducks and swans, something for your little ones to enjoy. There is often wildlife to be seen here and is popular with locals and dog walkers. They have a local cafe nearby with a restaurant and hotel next door, providing food if you are having a day out. Parking is available.  

Ridge Woods

Ridge Woods is as the name suggests, a wooded area with some lovely backdrop opportunities for a photo shoot. This is a quieter area, but provides a popular pathway route from Yate to Chipping Sodbury.

Brimsham Park, Yate

This medium sized park can be found in North Yate, Bristol, and has a lake, popular with local fisherman. Parking is available. 

Wapley Bushes Nature Reserve

This is an open field with a large ancient woodland area beside it. It is situated on the outskirts of Yate and Dodington and is an excellent place for wildlife and nature. 

Westerleigh Common, Yate

This is an 124 acre common and the largest piece of open land in Yate, providing some open land aswell as some vast woodland. Ideal for walking, cycling, picnics and kite flying, it can be especially pretty for sunset photographs.

Royal Victoria Park, Bath 

This large park is very popular with locals and tourists and has a cafe, children's play area and pond. It is overlooked by the Royal Crescent which provides a beautiful backdrop for photography in itself, and has the Botanical Gardens here.

Severn Beach

If you are looking for more of an open space and somewhere with a popular focal point, then Severn Beach can give us a lovely backdrop with the Severn Bridge in the background. This will often work better in Spring and Summer when the tide is not too high and the

Sand Bay, Weston-Super-Mare

Beaches can make lovely backdrops and work well at sunsets. The beach allows dogs all year round, and this is one of my favourite locations for a pet photography shoot if you are wanting something a little more unique. 

Oldbury-on -Severn, South Gloucestershire 

This is a lovely walk out to the Severn, and both bridges can be seen. It is located next to the sailing club and has some beautiful views over to Wales. This is especially pretty in Summer.

Ashton Court, Bristol 

This is a beautiful estate situated to the West of Bristol, close to the Clifton Suspension Bridge  and Leigh Woods Nature Reserve.  The estate covers 850 acres of woods and open grassland, great for golfing and mountain bike trails as well as walking. There is also a deer park and a great variety of wildlife here. This is home to the famous Bristol Balloon Fiesta which takes place in August every year. 

Oldbury Court Estate, Bristol

This huge estate is so diverse and varied, creating some wonderful backdrops for photographs. Fields, woodland and riverside paths. Easy parking and some wonderful walking trails. 

Blaise Castle, Bristol 

Such a beautiful setting for engagement or pregnancy announcement photographs, as well as portraits and pet photography. There are lots of walking trails and woodlands that lead up to the magnificent castle with views over the Avon Gorge.

Coatewater Country Park, Swindon 

Looking a little further afield, Coatewater is a beautiful country park in Wiltshire with lots to do, and is ideal for photography as it provides a variety of backdrops. I am happy to travel here if time allows and you live in this area, though a fuel cost will be added.

Castle Combe, Wiltshire

Who doesn‘t love this place? Full of charm and character, this is the perfect setting for photo shoots because of its beautiful cottages that set the perfect backdrop. Parking is limited and it can get very busy on weekends, but it is such a beautiful place.

These are some of my favourite locations for photography and they all provide something different all year round. I will keep adding to the list, so please do comment with your own favourite locations in Bristol and Bath, Somerset & Wiltshire.