Family Portrait Photography in Wiltshire
Luxury Family Portrait Photography across Wiltshire
and South of England
Based in Wiltshire, Gemma undertakes family portrait commissions here and across neighbouring counties such as Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Berkshire, photographed at home, in private gardens, on country estates and in carefully chosen outdoor settings. Gemma Brunton works throughout the surrounding counties for families who want portraiture that is entirely bespoke, beautifully composed and far removed from the standard family photo session.
Why families commission me here
Families often come to me when they want portraits that feel more considered than a standard session. photographs created at home, in the landscape, or somewhere woven into family life, with enough direction to feel beautifully resolved but never stiff.
Wiltshire is where I am based, and it is still the place I come back to most. There is so much variety here: open downland, big skies, rural views, farm and parkland and some of the best-loved landmarks in the country. Salisbury Cathedral, Old Sarum, Avebury, Lacock and Stourhead all give the county a strong sense of character, and the wider landscape around Salisbury Plain and the Cranborne Chase National Landscape offer incredible views that go on forever, especially later in the day when the light softens and everything feels more atmospheric. Those are the kinds of places that give a family portrait a real sense of place without distracting from the people in it.
Family Portrait Photography in Salisbury
I regularly photograph families in Salisbury and the surrounding villages. The city has a very particular feel to it: the Cathedral Close, the older streets, the river, and the surrounding countryside all make it an easy place to work in a way that feels personal rather than over-planned. Salisbury Cathedral is of course the landmark most people know, but Old Sarum also gives the area a strong visual identity, especially if you want photographs with more open views and a sense of history in the background.
For families in Salisbury, sessions can be at home, in the garden, or out in the surrounding Wiltshire landscape. I tend to prefer places that feel slightly tucked away and unforced, where children can move about freely and the photographs still look calm and considered.
Beaches and Coastal Portraits in Dorset
For families in Dorset, especially around Bournemouth and Christchurch, the coast can be a stunning setting all throughout the year and the light is always beautiful, no matter the weather. I often photograph around Hengistbury Head, as well as Mudeford Sandbank and Christchurch beaches, where you get a softer, more open shoreline and a lovely stretch of sea and sky. These are especially beautiful later in the day, when the light drops, the beaches quieten, and we can watch the sun dip below the horizon.
For Dorset sessions more broadly, I am usually drawn either to the coast or to the softer countryside inland, depending on the family and the feel they want from the photographs.
Hampshire Family Portrait Photography
I also photograph families across Hampshire, including in and around Winchester. The obvious landmark there is Winchester Cathedral, which gives the city a strong sense of scale and history, but I also love the wider Hampshire landscape for portrait sessions - especially where you have a mix of old buildings, trees, open ground and that warm evening light.
The best locations are somewhere meaningful to you as a family that will give context to the images we create. I often photograph in the New Forest with the epic views, water, foliage and variety of landscape from forest to heath and never fail to be amazed by the breadth of scenery there.
Oxfordshire, Surrey and Berkshire
I also work across Oxfordshire, Surrey and Berkshire, and these areas offer some very strong settings for family portrait photography. In Oxfordshire, places connected with Blenheim Palace and the surrounding landscape around Woodstock have that sense of scale and structure that works beautifully in the background. In Surrey, I am drawn to gardens and landscapes such as Painshill or the wider Surrey countryside when you want something green, soft and understated. In Berkshire, the landscapes around Windsor Great Park and the setting of Windsor Castle make strong visual anchors, especially for families who want a location with a recognisable sense of place.
Some places work best because of the view, some because of the trees or the shape of the land, and some simply because the light there in the last hour of the day is beautiful. Most of all, it has to have some kind of connection to you as a family - where the memories of where we photograph add to the significance of the images.
A Natural Approach to Family Portraits
The photographs I like most are the ones that feel grounded in a real place. That might be your own home in Wiltshire, a garden in Salisbury, an evening on the beach near Bournemouth or Christchurch, or a spot up on the downs where the sky opens up and everything goes quiet for a while.
I will always help choose a location that suits your family as well as the look of the photographs. Sometimes that means somewhere iconic. More often, it means somewhere with good light, enough space, and a feeling that fits the people in the pictures.
Family Portrait Sessions in Wiltshire and Beyond
If you are looking for an award-winning family portrait photographer in Wiltshire, or you are planning a session in Salisbury, Dorset, Hampshire, Winchester, Oxfordshire, Surrey or Berkshire, I offer family portrait photography that is relaxed, thoughtful and shaped around places special to each family.
Wiltshire is home, and it remains the heart of my work but beyond that, I also photograph families on the beaches around Bournemouth and Christchurch, on the water in Poole Harbour, Lymington and other beautiful settings across the neighbouring counties.
I'd love to hear from you and we can design a portrait session that will be meaningful to you all across the generations.
I am based in Wiltshire and also photograph families in London, as well as in Mallorca for clients spending time on the island.
For more information about my approach to family photography, please see the main family portraiture page.
Each family commission is tailored individually, but typically includes:
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an initial consultation before our shoot date
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guidance on timing, clothing and location within the property or surrounding area
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a gently directed portrait sitting
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a considered final edit
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help selecting artwork, albums or framed pieces for your home
The process
Portrait Commissions
SIGNATURE FAMILY PORTRAIT EXPERIENCE
Created for families who value beautifully observed portraiture and would like a relaxed, thoughtfully guided experience resulting in finished photographs to enjoy now and keep for years to come.
Commission fee £450
Consultation and planning
A planning conversation to discuss your family and how you would like the portraits to feel, with considered guidance on styling, location, and visual direction.
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Portrait sitting
A relaxed portrait session lasting around two hours
at your home or at a carefully chosen location.
Travel may apply where appropriate.
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Curated final gallery
A carefully edited selection of over 40 finished images
presented in screen-resolution format for personal viewing and sharing.
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Fine art prints
Three fine art matted prints, prepared with care and ready for framing.
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Artwork design consultation
Design consultation to explore bespoke wall art and albums for your home.
Bespoke framing
Thoughtfully framed, your portraits become part of the home, bringing a quiet sense of joy every time you see them.
A product guide is available on request for those considering framed pieces or custom albums.
KIND WORDS
AMY & HENRY
We were thrilled with every aspect of our session in the woods, you really made all of us feel at ease and you achieved the natural photos we were hoping for, all in a perfect setting in Wiltshire. Thank you for being so flexible and making us feel so welcome!
CATHERINE & JOHN
Gemma has a remarkable ability to tease out the personality of even the most shy of children and record it on camera. There is an ethereal quality to her imagery that evokes a strong emotional reaction to each and every photograph.
JONATHAN & KATE
We will treasure these images forever. When I'm old and wrinkly, I'll be able to show my grandchildren what their parents were like as kids. You captured their spirit and our love as a family perfectly. We also loved the location you found for our outdoor photoshoot. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.