Recently a couple approached me about having a couples shoot in their home town of Winchester. It's only about an hour from where I live but I'd never been, so to give them the best experience possible, I decided to take a free weekend day trip to Winchester and have a look around. I do location scouting and venue visits all the time, and it is a free service to all couples that book me. Unusually this time though, I had my lovely partner with me and we made a day out of visiting Winchester. To give a scale to things I asked my partner to step into some of these shots, as it gives a little bit more context.


The idea was to keep it very central as possible, as from my initial research there was already plenty to see and use a a nice backdrop. I wanted to avoid the high street at all costs, and keep it causal but also elegant.


Here are one of the top spots that I found thought the centre of Winchester.


Space in front of the gurkha museum


I think this is a great place to start here, as there is parking, its open, flat and should be accessible to wheelchair users, which was one request the couple had, to do a family group shot before their couples shoot.


Really picturesque space, building with pillars, and a lovely garden area that would make a great setting.

Classical colonnade with tall white pillars along a brick university building.
Black and white view of a parking area with fountain and modern building architecture.
Brick university building with manicured hedges and paved pathway leading to entrance.
Tree-lined campus walkway with red brick buildings and landscaped grounds.
A grand red brick Georgian mansion with manicured grounds and gravel driveway on a sunny day.
Classical stone columns frame a garden view with landscaped hedges and greenery.
A black and white architectural photograph showing stone pillars framing a garden view.
Historic stone colonnade with tall pillars overlooking a formal garden.
Symmetrical red brick Georgian manor house with central clock tower and formal entrance.
Red brick period building with formal landscaping and topiary bushes.
A view of a grand stone entrance with classical architectural details.
View through stone columns of a red brick mansion with manicured topiary gardens.
Formal garden with symmetrical topiary and water feature leading to a Georgian mansion.
Georgian brick mansion with ornate gardens featuring perfectly trimmed hedges and central water feature.
Grand red brick Georgian building with four stories and symmetrical white-trimmed windows on a grassy lawn.

Winchester castle


It's a nice open space, ornate a beautiful. It is just around the corner from the gurkha museum above.


The 'Great Hall' (costs £4 entry per person and not sure if photography is allowed in there) is here also, though I didn't go in.

Medieval stone building facade with intricate flint work and Gothic arched entrance.
Historic stone gateway with Gothic arches and blue doors beneath a red flag.
Gothic stone architecture and buildings along a sunny courtyard with church spires visible.
Historic stone courtyard with Gothic architecture and cobblestone pavement at a university campus.
Gothic stone building entrance with pointed arches and two tall flagpoles flying flags against blue sky.
Medieval stone building with dormer windows and ornate architectural details on the facade.
Arched doorway framing a garden view with ornate iron hinges visible in the shadows.
Historic Gothic revival building with ornate stonework and bay windows along a city street.
Gothic stone building with a green-capped tower and ornate architectural details against blue sky.

The CATHEDRAL


The main thing Winchester is known for, Its quite a busy space, and while I think we'll be able to find gaps in the crowds I don't think this should be the focal point for our shoot.


Lovely walk through the arches is a must though.

Gothic cathedral facade with three pointed spires and ornate stonework against blue sky.
Side view of a Gothic church with flying buttresses and ornate architectural details.
Ornate Gothic archway entrance with detailed stone carvings and iron fencing.
Close up of Gothic cathedral entrance with pointed arch and decorative stone tracery.
Sepia toned view through arched stone corridors creating dramatic shadows and perspective.

Behind the CATHEDRAL and Dome AlleY


I really liked this area as it was quieter, and I found this really gorgeous garden, I believe it's called Dean Garnier Garden. (The one with the steps and benches under the arches)


Dome alley is a dead-end street with a gorgeous wall and flowers on one side, we'll have to see if there's anything colourful by the time your shoot is taking place, but it's worth a look as it's in the same area.

Stone steps leading to brick building entrance adorned with pink flowers in planter.
Historic brick building entrance with stone steps and flowering planters.
Stone steps with flowering plants in front of historic brick building wall.
Garden steps with pink flowers and brick wall of historic building.
Garden bench surrounded by blooming flowers and greenery in black and white.
Garden archway covered in climbing plants with bench underneath.
Two stone benches sit in a serene garden patio surrounded by flowering plants and greenery.
Grand Tudor-style manor house with stone facade and manicured lawn in summer.
Historic stone building with arched windows and medieval architectural features against blue sky.
Historic stone cottage with climbing vines and traditional Georgian windows in an English village.
Stone cottage with climbing vines along a narrow village road lined with flowering gardens.
A garden path with blooming roses and summer flowers in black and white.
Woman in striped dress walking down a village lane with stone cottages and flowering gardens.
Casual figure standing in a rustic courtyard with vintage car and brick buildings in background.
Charming medieval courtyard with stone walls, green foliage, and Tudor-style architecture.

Walk to castle ruins


Before we get to Wolvesey Castle, I found these two spots you walk past, a bookshop and the college entrance on the way, I didn't actually go into either but as a backdrop I thought it was very charming.

Gothic stone archway corridor leading to courtyard with vaulted ceiling and benches.
Historic P & G Wells bookshop storefront with wooden facade and display windows.

Wolvesey castle Keep


A ruined castle, it was free entry and a quiet place to be when I visited, I thought it was a stunning location for a more set-up posing shoot.

Ancient stone ruins with arched windows against bright blue sky.
Ancient stone ruins of a medieval church or abbey with crumbling walls against a blue summer sky.
Interior view of medieval stone ruins showing archway entrance and weathered walls.
View through an arched stone doorway in historic ruins with black and white photography.
Stone archway entrance with detailed brick work in ancient ruins on sunny day.
Historic stone ruins with arched entrance surrounded by greenery and gravel pathway.
Ancient stone fortress ruins with arched doorway on gravel path surrounded by trees.
Medieval stone ruins with multiple arched entrances and crumbling walls on sunny day.
Stone archway in historic ruins frames view of garden path beyond.
Crumbling stone walls and arched passageways of ancient ruins.
Ancient stone ruins with multiple arched openings and weathered walls against an overcast sky.
Historic stone church with Gothic windows next to medieval ruins.

Walking past the Weirs


Green open space, I find its always nice to have somewhere like this for some portraits.

Winding path through a park with towering old trees creating a natural canopy.
Serene park pathway lined with lush green trees and weeping willows on a sunny day.
Tree-lined walking path in a peaceful park with benches and lush greenery.
Scenic park walkway with weeping willows and ornamental gardens behind an iron fence.
Black and white photograph of a tranquil park path bordered by overhanging trees.
Charming riverside path alongside traditional buildings and a stone bridge in a European town.

Some extra locations


Symonds Street, and around that area.

An old brick building entrance with ivy growing on the wall and black wooden door.
A stone wall backdrop along a narrow street in a historic neighborhood.
A charming residential street lined with brick houses and blooming gardens.
A peaceful residential street with traditional brick homes and garden walls.
A Victorian-style brick entrance gate with stone archway and decorative ironwork.
A stately Georgian brick house with symmetrical windows and central doorway.
Garden stairway covered in leafy vines and greenery creating a natural archway.
Gothic revival church with tall spire and ornate architectural details against a blue sky.
Classic Georgian doorway with white columns and pediment on a red brick building.
A vintage iron gate entrance with brick archway and ornate details against a dark brick wall.
A classic British doorway with red brick archway and hanging flower baskets in a historic building.

It's unusual to have my partner with me on a scouting day but as she was, it made for some great shots that give the couple a very rough idea of what look I was planning in each location. These would make great sports for pre-wedding or engagement shoots as well.


Stay tuned for the actual shoot, coming soon!