Yana Skakun
Cambridge · Wedding Photo Locations
The Backs, Cambridge
Riverside meadows, willow-lined bridges and college lawns along the Cam — a local guide to photographing your wedding at Cambridge's most iconic view.
A Cambridge Photographer's Guide
The View That Defines Cambridge
The Backs is the stretch of open meadow and riverbank running behind the historic colleges along the River Cam — King's, Clare, Trinity, Trinity Hall, St John's and Queens' all back directly onto it. It is the view most people picture when they think of Cambridge: stone bridges, mown lawns, grazing cattle, punts drifting past willow trees, and college architecture rising behind it all. For wedding and engagement photography, it is genuinely hard to match — there is very little else in the UK that offers this combination of open riverside space and continuous historic architecture within a short walk.
What makes The Backs work so well photographically is its variety within a small area. In the space of a twenty-minute walk you move from the formal stone bridges near King's and Clare, through the lime avenue behind Trinity, to open grazing meadow towards Sheep's Green — each with a distinct character, and each responding differently to the time of day and season. It rewards a photographer who knows the ground rather than one seeing it for the first time on your wedding morning.
I'm based in Cambridge and photograph at The Backs throughout the year, in every season and in most weather. Below is a practical guide to the spots I return to most often, the light and timing considerations worth planning around, and the access realities of a location that is partly public and partly college land.
Locations
Six Spots Along The Backs
Clare College Bridge
The oldest surviving bridge on the river, its stone balustrade and carved sphere-topped urns frame some of the most elegant portraits on the Cam. The narrow bridge and the Clare College Fellows' Garden immediately behind it work particularly well in soft morning light, before punt traffic builds up.
King's College Bridge & the Front Lawn
The sweeping lawn behind King's College Chapel, with the chapel's Gothic pinnacles rising behind the willows, is the single most photographed view on The Backs — and for good reason. The bridge itself, and the open meadow beside it, give wide, uncluttered space for full-length couple portraits with genuine scale.
Trinity College Bridge & the Avenue
Trinity's bridge opens onto an avenue of lime trees leading to the Wren Library — one of the few spots on The Backs with genuine architectural depth as a backdrop. In autumn the avenue turns a rich gold; in winter, bare branches and low sun produce strong directional light along its length.
Mathematical Bridge, Queens' College
The wooden lattice bridge at Queens', built without nails according to local lore, is a distinctive and slightly unusual backdrop compared with the stone bridges further along the river — a good option for couples wanting a location with a different character within the same walk.
Garret Hostel Bridge & the Willows
A modern footbridge with a steep arch, close to Trinity Hall, framed by mature weeping willows that trail into the water. The willows here are especially good for softer, more intimate portraits with dappled light in late spring and summer, and for reflections on a still morning.
Silver Street & the Meadows Towards Grantchester
Below the main punt station, the river opens out into open meadow with grazing cattle and long grass — a genuinely rural feel a short walk from the city centre. This stretch, towards Sheep's Green and on towards Grantchester Meadows, suits couples who want The Backs' riverside quality without the busier college backdrops.
Light & Timing
When to Photograph The Backs
Because the river runs roughly north–south through this stretch, the bridges and lawns catch light very differently depending on the hour. Early morning, before the punt trade starts and while the meadows still hold overnight dew, gives the softest and quietest conditions — this is when I most often recommend an engagement session. In the hour or two before sunset, low warm light along the water and through the willows produces some of the most flattering portrait light available anywhere in Cambridge.
For wedding days, a short portrait window at The Backs — typically 30 to 60 minutes — usually fits naturally either straight after the ceremony, if your venue is nearby, or during a quieter part of the afternoon before the wedding breakfast. I plan the specific spots and route around your actual timeline and the light you'll have available, rather than a fixed itinerary.
Seasonally, spring (April–May) brings blossom and the freshest green; summer (June–August) gives full leaf cover, punting activity and the longest evening light, but also the busiest crowds around midday; autumn (late September– October) turns the lime avenue behind Trinity a striking gold; and winter offers bare trees, low raking light, and — on the right morning — mist rising off the meadows, which can produce genuinely atmospheric images for couples who don't mind the cold.
Investment
Wedding Photography Packages
Essential
£1,395
6 hours · 300+ images
- Ceremony & reception coverage
- Portrait session at The Backs
- Punt or bridge portraits, weather permitting
- Available light, no flash
- High-resolution digital gallery
- Delivered within 4 weeks
Most Popular
Full Day
£2,395
10 hours · 500+ images
- Getting ready through first dance
- Extended session at The Backs & college grounds
- Multiple bridge and meadow locations
- Golden hour riverside portraits
- High-resolution digital gallery
- Delivered within 4 weeks
Premium
£3,395
12 hours · 700+ images
- Complete wedding day coverage
- Pre-wedding engagement session at The Backs
- Fine art album (30 spreads)
- Two photographers
- Full college and riverside documentation
- High-resolution digital gallery
- Priority 3-week delivery
Why Choose Me
Photographing The Backs, Season After Season
Local Knowledge of Light & Season
The Backs face broadly east–west along the river, which means the direction and quality of light changes considerably depending on which stretch you're on and the time of day. I know which bridges catch soft morning light, which lawns hold golden hour longest, and which spots to avoid in flat midday sun.
Cambridge-Based, Not a Visiting Photographer
I'm based in Cambridge and shoot at The Backs regularly across the year, in every season and most weather conditions. That familiarity means less time spent scouting on your wedding day and more time making images — I already know where to go for your particular light, timing and college.
Working Around Punts, Tourists & Access
The Backs is a genuinely public, well-used stretch of river — punts, tourists, cyclists and college life continue around you. I plan portrait timing and specific spots to work with this rather than against it, and know the quieter corners and early or late slots that avoid the busiest crowds.
Understanding College Access Practicalities
Some of the finest backdrops along The Backs sit on college land rather than public towpath, and colleges vary in what they permit for wedding photography — from informal access to a requirement for prior written permission or a small fee. I help couples plan realistic routes and, where useful, suggest which colleges are worth contacting ahead of time.
Seasonal Variety in One Location
The Backs looks genuinely different across the year: cherry blossom and fresh green in spring, full leaf cover and punting activity in summer, gold along the Trinity avenue in autumn, and bare trees with low winter light and occasional frost or mist over the meadows. I can advise on which season suits the mood you want.
Combines Naturally with College Weddings
For couples marrying at a Cambridge college — King's, Trinity, Clare, Queens', Jesus and others — The Backs is often a five-minute walk from the ceremony or reception venue, making it a natural, unhurried addition to the day's portrait time rather than a separate excursion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need permission to take wedding photos at The Backs?
The towpath and open meadows along The Backs are public ground, so casual photography there needs no permission. Some of the best-known backdrops, however — college lawns, bridges and gardens — sit on private college land, and colleges have their own policies for wedding photography, ranging from open access to a requirement for prior arrangement or a small fee. If you're marrying at a particular college, I can advise on what's realistic to plan for.
What is the best time of day to photograph at The Backs?
Early morning and the last hour or two before sunset generally give the softest, most flattering light and the fewest crowds. Midday sun on a clear day can be harsh and contrasty across the open meadows, though it works well for the shaded avenue by Trinity. For a summer wedding, I usually recommend building in a short portrait slot around golden hour if the timeline allows.
Which season is best for wedding photos at The Backs?
Each season has real character here. Spring brings blossom and fresh green along the river; summer gives full leaf cover, punting activity and long evening light; autumn turns the lime avenue by Trinity a rich gold; winter offers bare trees, low light and occasional mist over the meadows, which can be genuinely striking for couples who don't mind the cold. There isn't a single 'best' season — it depends on the mood you want.
Can we combine punting with our portrait session at The Backs?
Yes — punting is one of the most distinctive ways to photograph The Backs, and many couples include a short punt as part of their engagement or wedding portrait session. It does need booking in advance, particularly in summer, and I'm happy to advise on timing so the punt slot lines up with the best light.
How much time should we allow for photos at The Backs?
A focused session covering two or three of the key spots — for example King's College Bridge, the Trinity avenue and one riverside meadow — typically takes 45 minutes to an hour, including walking time between locations. If you want a punt included, or want to cover more ground with multiple colleges, I'd suggest allowing 90 minutes.
Is The Backs suitable for a wedding ceremony, or only portraits?
The Backs itself isn't licensed for wedding ceremonies — it's college and public land rather than a registered venue — but it's an excellent location for portraits before or after a ceremony held at a nearby college chapel, register office or other licensed Cambridge venue. Most couples I work with treat it as their portrait location rather than their ceremony site.
Do you travel outside Cambridge for weddings and elopements?
Yes. While I'm based in Cambridge and know The Backs particularly well, I photograph weddings and engagement sessions across the UK and travel to Europe for destination weddings and elopements. Get in touch with your date and location and I'll let you know availability and travel arrangements.
Your Wedding at The Backs
Tell me your date and venue, and I'll help you plan the route and timing for your portraits along The Backs.
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