Black on black for the first half, then a white blazer for the second. This Big Ben photoshoot started by the red phone box in a long coat and heeled boots, walked the river past the London Eye, and finished on Westminster Bridge and the South Bank in leather trousers and white trainers. Two looks, one grey London day, and a lot of black and white.

On this page:

• Look one: the red phone box
• Along the river to the London Eye
• A dip by the tower
• Look two: a white blazer on the bridge
• The South Bank
• How to plan two looks

Look one: the red phone box

The phone boxes on Great George Street, just off Parliament Square, put the clock tower at the end of the street. A long black coat and sheer tights look sharp against the red, and a lifted heel turns an ordinary kiss into the classic London frame. One portrait on her own, leaning on the box, completes the set.

Along the river to the London Eye

On the Westminster side of the Thames the river wall faces the London Eye and County Hall. Walking hand in hand along it gave one of the most natural frames of the day, shown here in colour and in black and white, so you can see how differently the same moment reads.

A few steps further, they sat on the wall. A kiss on the cheek, eyes closed, the wheel making a perfect circle behind them.

A dip by the tower

Near the foot of Elizabeth Tower, with traffic passing and the wind catching her hair, came the most cinematic pose of the session: the dip. In black and white the coats, the stone and the sky become one palette, and all that is left is the movement.

Look two: a white blazer on the bridge

Then the change. A white oversized blazer, black leather trousers and white trainers, and suddenly the same Gothic backdrop looks completely different. On Westminster Bridge the white jacket stands out against the honey-coloured stone of Parliament and the grey sky.

The South Bank

From the river wall on the South Bank they turned their backs to the camera and looked across at the tower, arms around each other.

Under the arch below the bridge the long black coat came back for a silhouette: the brightest part of the frame is the tower, the darkest is the two of them.

Then a forehead kiss by the river wall, and a last kiss sitting on it, with the whole of the Houses of Parliament, the tower and Westminster Bridge lined up behind them.

How to plan two looks for a Big Ben photoshoot

	Look one	Look two
Pieces	Long black coat, short black dress, sheer tights	White oversized blazer, black leather trousers
Shoes	Heeled ankle boots	White trainers
Feels	Classic, dramatic	Relaxed, modern
Best spots	Red phone box, the river by the London Eye	Westminster Bridge, the South Bank
Works in	Colour and black and white	Colour, where the white stands out

• Change one big piece, not everything. Swapping the coat for a white blazer changed the whole mood in a minute, with no need to change completely.
• Keep one colour as the thread. Black runs through both looks, so the photos still feel like one story.
• Plan shoes for walking. Heels for the phone box, trainers for the bridge and the riverside, where you walk the most.
• Ask for both colour and black and white. Grey London days are made for monochrome, and some moments look stronger without colour.

Want two looks of your own? The two-hour session (£500) includes two locations and a change of outfit, with 100 to 140 photos. See all prices, or read 12 natural poses for a Big Ben photoshoot.

A grey, drizzly day, a plaid skirt, two black jumpers and one clear umbrella. This Big Ben photoshoot started with a portrait each by the red phone box, crossed Westminster Bridge and finished under the arch on the South Bank. Nobody got a sunny day, and nobody needed one.

On this page:

• The red phone box
• A short history of the red phone box
• Across from the London Eye
• Westminster Bridge in the rain
• A portrait each
• The arch and the river wall
• Ideas to borrow

The red phone box

The shoot began at the red phone box just off Parliament Square, with the clock tower at the end of the street and a red double-decker bus behind. She held the door open and picked up the receiver. He leaned on the side of the box with his hands in his pockets. Two very different people, the same box, and both look completely at home.

A small confession: the line was silent, as it has probably been for years. Judging by that smile, she got through anyway.

A short history of the red phone box

The box in these photos is not just a prop. It is one of the most copied pieces of design in the world, and its story starts with a competition, a cathedral architect and an argument about colour.

From a failed first try to a national icon

Britain’s first standard telephone kiosk, the K1, appeared in 1921. It was made of concrete and was widely disliked. In 1924 a competition was held for something better, and it was won by Giles Gilbert Scott, the architect of Liverpool Cathedral. His design, the K2, was a cast-iron box with a domed roof, and it is often said to echo a tomb that the Regency architect Sir John Soane designed for his wife.

Scott wanted his kiosk painted silver. The Post Office chose red instead, so it would be easy to spot on a busy street, and that decision gave London one of its most famous colours. The K2 was large and expensive, so almost all of them were installed in London.

In 1935 Scott updated the design for the Silver Jubilee of King George V. The new K6 was smaller, lighter and cheaper to make, with horizontal strips of glass instead of the K2’s grid of square panes. It went everywhere, from city streets to village greens, and it is the box most people picture when they think of a red phone box. The one by Parliament Square is a K6: count the horizontal panes in the door and look for the crown on top.

Year	Kiosk	What changed
1921	K1	The first national kiosk, in concrete. Not a success.
1924	K2	Scott wins the design competition: cast iron, a domed roof, painted red.
1929	K3	A cheaper concrete version for the rest of the country. It tended to crack.
1935	K6	The Jubilee kiosk: smaller and lighter, and the one that went nationwide.
1968	K8	The last of the red boxes, a plain modern design.

Five things to tell your friends

• It was meant to be silver. Red was the Post Office’s choice, not the architect’s.
• The first K2 prototype is still standing, in timber, at the entrance to Burlington House on Piccadilly, home of the Royal Academy.
• Tens of thousands were made. Historic England counts 64,000 K6 kiosks by 1960, of which about 11,700 survive and around 2,000 are listed buildings.
• The crown is a clue. On a K6 the crown sits in relief on each side; on the older K2 it is cut through the metal as ventilation holes.
• The same architect worked on Parliament. Giles Gilbert Scott oversaw the rebuilding of the House of Commons after the Second World War, a few hundred metres from this phone box.

So when you lean on the box for a photo, you are leaning on a listed piece of 1930s industrial design. Gently, please.

Across from the London Eye

On the Westminster side of the river the wall runs along the water, with the London Eye and County Hall on the far bank. Grey sky turns the wheel into a soft white circle, a perfect frame for two people who only have eyes for each other.

Westminster Bridge in the rain

On Westminster Bridge the rain kept most people moving, which left long stretches of wet, empty pavement. One frame looks upstream along the river, the others walk back towards the tower, hand in hand, with the Houses of Parliament on one side and the traffic on the other.

Bold choice of the day: white trainers, in the rain, in London. They were still white in the very last photo. We are not sure how.

A portrait each

Most couples remember to ask for a solo portrait for her. This time he got one too. A few minutes each on the bridge, one hand on the green railing, the palace and the tower behind, and both of them left with a photo that is just theirs.

The arch and the river wall

The last part of the walk crossed to the South Bank. Under the arch below the bridge the stone frames the tower across the river: one frame in black and white, heads together at the wall, and one walking out towards the camera, still hand in hand. A few steps away, on the river wall, came one more hug.

Ideas to borrow from this Big Ben photoshoot

• Match, but not exactly. Two black jumpers and one plaid skirt look coordinated without looking like a uniform.
• Ask for a portrait each. Both partners, not only one. It takes a few minutes and you both get a photo for yourself.
• Use the props London gives you. Open the phone box door, pick up the receiver, lean on the railing.
• Do not cancel for drizzle. Wet pavements reflect the tower and keep the crowds moving. If you would rather wait for a dry day, we move the session for free.
• Try one frame in black and white. Grey days are made for it, especially under the arch.

See all the spots on this walk in the Big Ben guide, pick up a few natural poses, or check the prices for a session of your own.

A Big Ben photoshoot in steady rain, walked along both banks of the Thames: the red phone box, the river wall facing the London Eye, Westminster Bridge, the arch under the bridge and the South Bank opposite Parliament. One clear umbrella went all the way round, and the wet pavements did the rest.

The red phone box

We started at the red phone box, with the clock tower on one side and a red bus passing on the other. Rain on the glass and reflections on the pavement made the colours look richer than on a dry day. Close-ups under the umbrella, plus a full-length frame from a few steps back.

Across from the London Eye

On the Westminster side of the river the wall runs along the water, with the London Eye and County Hall on the far bank. Grey sky turns the wheel into soft white lines behind the couple.

On Westminster Bridge

The bridge in the rain: an ornate lamp post overhead, the Houses of Parliament to the left and the tower ahead. Leaning on the railing together is an easy pose even for people who have never been photographed.

The arch under the bridge

Under the bridge on the South Bank side the arch keeps everyone dry and the tower framed across the river. The light from outside turns the couple into a silhouette, which is why we took the same moment in colour and in black and white.

The South Bank river wall

Last stop, the river wall opposite Parliament, with the bridge arching on the right. Here there was room for slower photos: facing each other, looking at the tower from behind, and a solo portrait with the umbrella.

Ideas from this Big Ben photoshoot

• Bring a clear umbrella. It keeps you dry without hiding your faces or the tower behind you.
• Pick one statement piece. A brown fur coat over an all-black outfit stands out against grey stone and red paint.
• Wear boots you can walk in. Wet pavements are part of the look, so dress for them.
• Turn away from the camera once. A back view looking at Big Ben is one of the simplest and most natural poses.
• Ask for a solo portrait. A few minutes on your own gives you a photo just for you.
• Try black and white under the arch. Silhouettes against a bright river need no colour.

Rain on your dates? We move the session for free, or we keep it and take photos like these. See the Big Ben guide for every spot on this walk, or the prices for a session of your own.

Low sun, a clear sky with long streaks of cloud, and the stone of the Palace of Westminster glowing like honey. This Big Ben couple photoshoot is a good example of how much light matters: the same bridge and the same river wall look completely different when the sun is low and warm.

A portrait each first

We started at the red phone box on the corner by Parliament Square, with a few minutes for each of them on their own. Solo portraits at the start are a good warm-up: one person poses, the other watches, laughs a little, and by the time they stand together the nerves are gone. A short walk along the Embankment added one bonus frame with the London Eye across the water.

Westminster Bridge in low sun

On the bridge the light did most of the work. With the sun low and to the side, faces stay soft, shadows stretch across the pavement and Big Ben stands out sharp against the sky. We kept it simple: a hug, a kiss on the cheek, a lean against the green railing. Simple poses look best when the background is this strong.

Just walking

The easiest pose on any Big Ben photoshoot is no pose at all. Hold hands, walk towards the camera, look at each other instead of at the lens. Between the walking frames, a quick solo set with sunglasses on, facing the sun.

Through the arch and down to the river

At the south end of the bridge a flight of steps leads down to the river, and a pointed stone arch frames the Palace and the clock tower almost perfectly. From there the river wall runs along the Thames: sitting on it, the couple has the whole Houses of Parliament behind them in one warm line.

Two in black and white

Hard sun and deep shadows make strong monochrome. The lift by the river wall is our favourite frame of the day: pure fun, and it shows.

Ideas for your own Big Ben couple photoshoot

• Dress in two tones. Black with one neutral, like a grey or beige blazer, looks good in any light and never fights with the stone.
• Bring a layer to take off. Blazer on for the street, off for the river: two looks without changing clothes.
• Start with solo portraits. Five minutes each at the phone box and you’re both relaxed for the couple photos.
• Walk, don’t pose. Hand in hand towards the camera, talking to each other. It works every time.
• Try the hug from behind. One of the easiest poses there is, and it keeps both faces in the frame.
• Come early if you can. Sunrise sessions cost nothing extra, and the bridge is at its quietest before the city wakes up.

The whole route, from the phone box to the river wall, is a short walk, so a one-hour session covers the classic backdrops. Add the London Eye and a change of layers and it’s closer to two.

Three friends, one grey summer day and a plan to wear white. This Big Ben photoshoot stayed within a few hundred metres of the tower, yet every stop gave the gallery a different mood: the red phone box, the green railings of Westminster Bridge, the river wall below it, and a last look across the Thames at the London Eye.

Three friends, one palette

The styling did half the work. Nobody wore the same thing: a white suit, a cream knit dress with a structured jacket, a slip dress under a cropped blazer. What they shared was the colour, and against the honey stone of the Palace of Westminster that reads as calm and expensive rather than matching. We took the group shot first, while everyone was fresh, then split up at the phone box.

Westminster Bridge

The bridge is where Big Ben looks tallest. With a low angle and the railing leading into the frame, the tower fills the sky behind you. Each friend had a few minutes here on her own: leaning, sitting on the parapet, letting the wind do something with her hair. The overcast sky helped, it is soft on faces and keeps the stone from turning orange.

Down by the river wall

A flight of steps takes you from the bridge to the South Bank, and the view changes completely. From the river wall you see the whole Palace in one line, Big Ben at the end of it, and the green arch of Westminster Bridge on the right. The stone steps and the low wall are made for sitting portraits, which is a relief for anyone who doesn’t know what to do with standing.

One dress, two landmarks

The long white dress got its own set. A gust of wind, a pigeon cutting through the frame at exactly the right moment, and then a walk along the river for one frame with the London Eye behind: a second London icon without leaving the area.

In black and white

White outfits and a grey sky make natural black and white photos. A few monochrome frames often end up as the favourites, and in this gallery they did.

Ideas for a friends’ Big Ben photoshoot

• Agree on a colour, not a uniform. Same palette, different silhouettes. It looks planned without looking like a team kit.
• Group photo first. Everyone is fresh and nobody has smudged their lipstick yet.
• Give everyone solo time. A few minutes each on the bridge means every friend leaves with portraits of her own.
• Use the wall. Sitting and leaning poses on the river wall are easier than standing in the middle of the pavement.
• Let the wind in. Westminster Bridge is breezy. Loose hair and long skirts move, and movement looks natural.

With three people and four backdrops, a two-hour Big Ben photoshoot gives everyone solo portraits as well as group photos. Groups of six or more are priced on request.

The pavements were still wet when this Big Ben photoshoot began, and by the time we reached the bridge the sun had broken through over the Houses of Parliament. Three stops, all a few minutes’ walk from the tower, and two looks: warm coats for the street, white T-shirts for the river.

The red phone box

The phone box just off Parliament Square is one of the most photographed in London, and the reason is right behind it: Big Ben, framed between the old government buildings. We often start here. It works in any weather, and leaning on something gives nervous hands a job.

The frame people remember is the one shot through the glass. The red bars become a frame of their own, and the couple sit softly behind them, a little like a memory.

Westminster Bridge in winter sun

Ten minutes later the clouds opened. Low winter sun turns the stone of the tower gold and the wet bridge into a mirror, so we stayed longer than planned: a few frames right under the clock, and a few against the green railing with the Palace across the water.

The river wall on the South Bank

For the last part we crossed to the South Bank. Coats off, T-shirts on: a two-minute change that makes the gallery feel like two different days. From the river wall below the bridge you get the whole Palace of Westminster and Big Ben in one line, with the Thames catching whatever light is left. There was still time for a quick solo portrait before the sun went.

Ideas to borrow for your own shoot

• Lean, don’t stand. A hand on a shoulder against the phone box looks relaxed even when you feel stiff.
• Ask for one frame through the glass. It takes a minute and it’s the photo friends ask about.
• Bring a second layer. A coat for the street and something lighter for the river gives you two looks in one session.
• Turn your backs to the camera. A hug facing the Palace is the easiest pose there is, and it lets Big Ben take the lead.

This route fits into a one-hour session: three backdrops, all within walking distance of the tower.