Farnham Family Photoshoot Locations {Part 1}

My Top 10 Locations {Part 1}

As I enter my 11^th year in business as a family portrait photographer and my 6th year based in Farnham, I’ve been looking back at some of my clients favourite family photoshoot locations in Farnham and here are just a small handful of them.

These beautiful locations are what draw many families to live in this beautiful area tucked on the edge of the Surrey hills, bordering Surrey and Hampshire. And many of them are good enough for international film makers and medieval knights! too!

Outdoor family photography is my number 1 passion

I absolutely adore photographing family’s outdoors! With 11 years experience I’ve come to learn that these natural and playful settings help family members to truly relax and be themselves. This, in turn, generates the most captivating, fun, natural and genuine family moments which I record through my camera.  

Afterall, how else would you want your family photographs to look?  I am not a fan of studio family portraits, are you?

And, I hope at least one of these Farnham Family Photoshoot locations is somewhere that perhaps you didn’t know about and a new place for you to explore soon? 

And, you’re very welcome to get in touch with me if you need directions to any one of these favourite Farnham locations and especially if you’d like to have your family photographed there too!

Get in touch with me to arrange a chat here

1. Frensham Great Pond & Common

Frensham Great Pond & Common will be well known to Farnham families, on a hot sunny day, as our local swimming pond and sandy ‘Beach’. Frensham Great Pond and it’s sister ‘Little Pond’, were built in the Middle Ages to provide fish for the Bishop of Winchester’s estate.

The Great Pond is a beautiful location with wide open spaces and lovely soft light sandy pathways which create a wonderful contrasting backdrop for a family photoshoot.

It’s a wonderfully practical location for families with little children too. There is a large carpark which you have to pay to park in using the Ringo App. There are clean toilet facilities and a small kiosk selling hot drinks and snacks. Dogs would need to be on lead near the beech area however my favourite spot is next to the car park away from the beach so perfect for dogs on or off lead too.

In the early spring you will find smatterings of pretty yellow gorse flowers, in early summer the Heather is in full pink bloom, Then in the Autumn, the mixed deciduous tree’s lining the fishermans pathway, make this an ideal location for dramatic Autumn colour.

2. Frensham Common

Frensham Common is home to Great Pond but I’m giving it it’s own heading here, as a separate place for my Top 10 Farnham Family Photoshoot Locations, as it’s such a vast area spanning 255.67 acres of stunning heathland with multiple entrance points around Frensham.

My favourite aspect of Frensham Common are the the spectacular views, which don’t require a heavy hike to reach. They’re easy to access and can be enjoyed by even the littlest of legs. Evening shoots, an hour before sunset, are particularly beautiful on these hillsides.

I also love the ferns and tall bracken which grow up under the tall pine tree’s. They’re a dramatic green throughout summer and turn to a golden bronze colour in the Autumn. Then, throughout winter the sandy pathways and deep green pine trees, create a consistent and contrasting backdrop making Frensham a worthy location all year round.

You’ll find a mixture of tree’s too, including my favourites, the Silver Birch and Oak.

Frensham Common can be accessed from a variety of roads around Frensham and depending on your families needs I will know just the spot that’s perfect for your family photo session.

After your shoot, I recommend popping in to The Holly Bush Pub & Cafe for a post photoshoot bite to eat or drink.

3. Bishops Meadow

Tucked away behind the iconic St Andrew’s church steeple in Farnham, is Bishops Meadow. This is an ideal Summer or early Autumn location for a family photoshoot in the center of Farnham.

Here you’ll enjoy a playful session amidst wild flowers and swishy long grass.

There’s a fun adventure trail for the kids, which you can download from their website here.

Accessing the Meadow:

There are a number of different access points for Bishops Meadow.

• Park in the Wagon Yard Carpark and access the meadow from the back of St Andrew’s Chrurch Yard through a small allyway.
• Drive past The Farnham Maltings Car Park and park at the very end of Abbey Street, then continue walking down the pathway straight ahead and cross a small footbridge into Bishops Meadow.

4. Farnham Park

When you walk down the majestic ‘Kings Avenue’ of trees in Farnham park, towards Farnham Castle, you are walking a centuries old pathway that formed part of a medieval deer park.

The Avenue of tree’s is particularly stunning during the Autumn months and it’s the most popular time of year for a family photoshoot in Farnham Park.

Families of all ages enjoy The Avenue. Leaf kicking, running races, tree climbing are often an automatic response to this fun location.

In the summer time I recommend the top fields for the grassy meadows filled with buterflies.

Farnham Park has a cafe over at the golf course with toilets, a car park and two large play areas.

After your session you’re not far from the high street where you can enjoy a host of post photoshoot meal options. Our family favourites are: Thai Lotus Lounge, Sushi Jun and Bill’s. Or, if it’s coffee and icecream you’re after, head to Coffee Diem – Farnham Cafe for the best cafe service in town. : )

5. Thursley Nature Reserve, Elstead.

This has been one of our favourite family locations since our two boys were very little.

Sadly the board walks, which snaked their way across the wetland area, were devastated by a large fire in 2021. They were home to a host of wildlife including dragon flies and lizards. Planning permission has been submitted for the board walks to be rebuilt in the forseeable future.

However, this is still a top 10 location for Farnham family’s, as you don’t have to go far from the car park to achieve a beautiful set of family portraits.

Simply feeding the ducks at the Moat Car Park pond, explore a gentle network of meandering pathways, cross a little bridge (watch out for the trolls!) and exploring a small sheltered forest area where we can build a shelter.

The Moat Car Park is free but accepts donations.

Our favourite family pub: https://www.millelstead.co.uk

Recommended cafe’s: The Little Barn Cafe – Elstead – Surrey and Cafe 172

Thursley common is a vast area with a variety of settings suitable for big and little legs. It’s also the perfect location for doggy shoots too. This location remains a firm favourite for all seasons.

Want to read Part 2? : ) Here’s the link!

I hope the first stage of my Top 10 Farnham Family Photoshoot Locations has offered you some inspiration. Click here to reach part 2.

So where will your next family photography session take place?

Perhaps you have a favourite location in mind or perhaps you’d like to chat through your options with me to help you choose the best location for your family’s needs.

Whether you’re ready to book or you just want to find out more, why not get in touch with me today. : ) Fill out my contact form here to arrange a chat over email or phone.

About Sarah Angel

Sarah Angel is a professional newborn and family photographer based in Farnham, Surrey and photographs families across Greater London, North Hampshire and Surrey.

A UK Kiwi Mum, she is Fine Art trained and holds a 1st class honours award in Photography.

Prior to establishing her family photography business, she worked in education as a Secondary School Art and Photography teacher, for 20 years.

She continues to teach, running photography workshops for adult beginners, in the Farnham area.

You can read more about Sarah Angel here>