Best locations for a family photoshoot in Somerset
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If you're looking for somewhere for family photos in Somerset, you've got a really lovely range of options, and they're quite different from the parks and green spaces you'll find in Bristol or Bath. Out here, it's coast, countryside and wide open space. Beach sessions with sand dunes and big skies. Lakeside walks with rolling hills behind you.
I'm based in Portishead, so this is my patch. I know these locations well - the light at different times of day, where to park, which spots are sheltered from the wind, and which ones give you that feeling of having the whole place to yourselves. Here's what I've learned from photographing families across North Somerset and the wider area.
Portishead Lake Grounds
This is my home turf, and I think it's a great one for family photos. The Lake Grounds sit right on the seafront - a big, green open space with a boating lake, mature trees, a playground and views across the Bristol Channel to Wales.
What makes it work so well for family sessions is the variety. You can be walking along the esplanade with the sea behind you one moment, then sitting under a tree by the lake the next. The grass is well kept and there's plenty of space for children to run. In the evening, the light coming in off the water is really beautiful - soft and warm with that particular quality you get near the coast. Children love it here because there's lots to look at - the ducks and geese on the lake, the boats, the sea. And if they need a break from the session, the playground is right there. It takes a lot of pressure off knowing you've got that to fall back on.
Battery Point is just a short walk from the Lake Grounds, and it gives you a completely different feel - rocky coastline and lovely views. It's more rugged and dramatic than the green spaces by the lake, and the light there at sunset is beautiful. The marina itself is worth considering too - the boats, the water, the modern architecture around the harbour all make for an interesting backdrop, especially for families who live nearby and want their photos to feel like their Portishead.
Further along the coastal path, you reach Black Nore lighthouse, which is a gorgeous spot. For those with older children who enjoy exploring, the lighthouse and the coastline around it have real character.
Best seasons: It works all year round, but I particularly love it in spring and autumn. The trees around the lake look good in both seasons, and the light off the water is at its best when the sun is a bit lower. Summer evenings are beautiful too. Winter can be exposed and windy along the seafront, but the Lake Grounds are sheltered enough to work.
Practical things: Free parking on Lake Road and surrounding streets. There's a cafe by the lake and at the lido by Battery Point, a playground, and toilets. The paths are all flat and surfaced - fully buggy-friendly. It's easy to get to and there's usually plenty of space even at weekends.
Best for: Families with children of any age. It's particularly good for younger children and toddlers because everything is flat, safe, and close together.
Clevedon seafront
Clevedon has such a lovely atmosphere. It's a proper Victorian seaside town - the kind of place that feels timeless. The pier, the seafront, the bandstand, the ornamental gardens along the promenade. There's so much character here, and it all photographs beautifully.
The promenade gives you that classic seaside backdrop, and the Salthouse Fields are a lovely open green space right by the sea where children can run around freely. There's something about the combination of the sea, the sky and the old architecture that gives the images a real warmth and sense of place.
The pier itself makes a gorgeous backdrop. You don't need to go on it, just having it in the frame behind you adds a lovely element to the photos. And at sunset, the light along Clevedon seafront is some of the most beautiful I work with anywhere. The sky over the Bristol Channel can be spectacular.
The rocky beach is interesting too. Children love clambering about on the rocks, and there are often wonderful reflections in the rock pools. It's a different kind of beach session from a sandy beach - more textured, more varied.
Best seasons: Beautiful in every season, but summer and early autumn are my favourites here. The evening light along the seafront is at its best when the sun sets over the Channel. Spring is lovely too, with the ornamental gardens in bloom. Winter can be bracing along the front, but on a still day it has a quiet beauty.
Practical things: Parking along the seafront and in nearby streets - some pay and display, some free depending on where you park. There are cafes and toilets along the front. The promenade and Salthouse Fields are fully accessible and buggy-friendly. The rocky beach is not - it's uneven and slippery when wet, so only really works for older children who are steady on their feet.
Best for: Families who want a seaside feel with character and atmosphere. It suits all ages on the promenade and green spaces. The rocky beach works best with older children.
Chew Valley Lake
Chew Valley Lake is about twenty minutes south of Bristol, and it feels like a completely different world. It's a huge reservoir surrounded by gentle countryside - rolling fields, hedgerows, quiet lanes, and big open skies. There's a peacefulness to it that you can feel the moment you arrive.
I use the lakeside paths and the picnic areas near the dam for family sessions. The nature trails are well surfaced and gentle - easy walking for families with young children or buggies. The views over the water are beautiful, and the light here can be really special, particularly in the afternoon when the sun comes across the lake and everything turns warm and golden.
It's a lovely choice if you want your photos to feel rural and peaceful rather than coastal or urban. The backdrop is all water, sky and green hills - simple and natural, which means the focus is entirely on your family. Children tend to be quite calm here. There's something about the space and the quiet that settles them.
The birdlife is a bonus too - children often get distracted watching the ducks and geese on the water, which gives me some lovely natural, unposed moments.
Best seasons: Spring and summer are the best here. The surrounding fields are green and full of wildflowers, the light is soft, and the lake looks its most inviting. Autumn is lovely too, with warm colours in the trees around the shore. Winter can feel exposed and cold by the water.
Practical things: Pay and display car parks near the dam and picnic areas. There's a cafe (Salt and Malt) with food and drinks. The Grebe nature trail in particular is well surfaced and buggy-friendly. Some of the longer paths around the lake involve road walking and rougher ground, so I'd usually stick to the area near the car parks for family sessions.
Best for: Families who want a quiet, countryside feel. It suits all ages, and the flat, easy paths make it a good choice for families with buggies or very young children.
Sand Bay
Sand Bay is just north of Weston-super-Mare, and it's one of those places that feels like a secret. It's a long, wide, sandy beach backed by dunes, with views across the Bristol Channel to Wales and the headland of Sand Point at the far end. On a quiet day (which is most days) you can feel like you've got the entire beach to yourselves.
What I love about Sand Bay for family photos is the space and the light. The beach is so wide and open that the sky becomes part of every image. On a clear evening, with the sun going down over the water, it's absolutely gorgeous. And the dunes behind the beach are lovely - natural, windswept, full of grasses and texture. They make a beautiful, slightly wild backdrop that's very different from a park or a garden.
Children love it here because it's a beach! There's sand to dig in, dunes to climb, space to run. It brings out a freedom and energy in them that photographs really well.
One thing to be aware of though - when the tide goes out at Sand Bay, it goes a long way out, and the sand can get quite muddy closer to the water. I always plan sessions based on the tide times and keep to the firmer sand near the dunes. It's absolutely fine for family photos, you just need to know the beach and plan accordingly.
Best seasons: Summer is the obvious choice - long evenings, warm light, and the beach at its best. Late spring and early autumn work well too. Winter is beautiful on a clear, still day but it's exposed and can be very windy.
Practical things: Three free car parks right behind the beach. No toilets or cafe directly on the beach, though there's a cafe nearby. The sand is firm near the dunes and soft further out - not suitable for buggies on the beach itself, but fine for walking with shoes off.
Best for: Families who want a beach session with big skies and open space. It works well for all ages, but the wide-open beach is especially wonderful for energetic children who love to run.
Berrow Beach
Berrow is further south, near Burnham-on-Sea, and it's part of a seven-mile stretch of sand that runs down the Somerset coast. It's a big, beautiful, quiet beach - wide and flat with sand dunes along the back and a real sense of openness.
What draws me to Berrow is the light and the space. The beach is so vast that it has an almost cinematic quality to it. On a summer evening, with the sun low and the sand stretching out in every direction, it photographs beautifully. The dunes are gorgeous too - natural, grassy, and sheltered from the wind, which makes them a lovely spot for quieter moments during a session.
It's quieter than Sand Bay most of the time, which is saying something. Even in summer, you can walk for a while and barely see anyone. There's a beautiful sense of calm and freedom to it.
Like Sand Bay, the tide goes a long way out and the sand can get muddy lower down the beach. I always shoot near the dunes and the firmer sand, and plan around tide times. There are also some interesting features here - the dunes themselves are a local nature reserve, and at low tide you can sometimes see the remains of an old shipwreck, which children find fascinating.
Best seasons: Summer and early autumn, when the evenings are long and the beach is warm. Late afternoon light here is gorgeous. Spring works well too on a calm day. Winter is very exposed.
Practical things: There's a car park near the beach, and you can also park at the nature reserve on Coast Road and walk through the dunes. There's a cafe near the main entrance. The beach is not buggy-friendly, but the paths through the dunes are manageable.
Best for: Families who want space, quiet, and a real sense of escape. The wide, empty beach is wonderful for running, playing, and those big, open-sky images. Works best with children who are happy walking on sand.
How to choose
If you're not sure which location would work best, here are the things I'd think about:
What kind of feel do you want? Clevedon gives you seaside character and atmosphere. Portishead is coastal but green and sheltered. Chew Valley Lake is peaceful countryside. Sand Bay and Berrow are wide-open beach and sky.
Your children's ages. Portishead Lake Grounds is the easiest and safest for very young children - flat, enclosed, lots to look at. Chew Valley Lake is similarly gentle. The beaches are wonderful for older children who love to run and explore, but they need a bit more managing with toddlers.
The time of year. Beach sessions work best in the warmer months when the light is golden and nobody's freezing. Portishead and Chew Valley Lake are more sheltered and work well all year round. If it's winter, you might also want to think about an at-home session.
Whether you have a place that means something to you. If there's a beach your family visits every weekend, or a spot where the children always play, that can be a wonderful choice. Having your photos taken somewhere familiar means children are more relaxed and more themselves. And when you look back at the images, the place will mean something too.
If you're still not sure, just ask. Once I know a bit about your family, I can usually suggest somewhere that'll work well.
The quick version
Portishead Lake Grounds is easy, sheltered, and suits all ages. My home turf and one of my favourite spots.
Clevedon seafront has character, atmosphere, and gorgeous sunset light. A seaside session with real charm.
Chew Valley Lake is peaceful countryside - big skies, gentle paths, and a calm that settles children.
Sand Bay is wide-open beach with dunes and space to run. Quiet and beautiful.
Berrow Beach is vast, empty, and cinematic. The biggest sense of space and freedom.
If your family has a favourite place, that's often the best choice of all.
Not sure where would work best for your family? Get in touch and we can talk it through. I'm always happy to suggest somewhere based on your children, your location and the kind of photos you're hoping for.