As a Scotland photographer, specialising in couple and engagement photo sessions, I’ll be happy to provide you with advice and recommendations!

Edinburgh engagement session ideas – tips & FAQ

Having a pre-wedding / engagement shoot is an amazing idea.

Why should we have an engagement session?

Where should we have our engagement session in Edinburgh?

When shall we have our pre-wedding photoshoot?

What should we wear?

My top tips: go barefoot for beach engagement session. Don’t wear high heels if you hate them. Don’t wear dresses if you don’t like them. Don’t be scared to wear a beanie or gloves in the winter. Scotland can be super cold and windy!

Also, when you’re booking an engagement shoot and are unsure about what to wear, I’ll be happy to give you some outfit-related advice depending on the place we have planned our shoot in.
Generally, I like seeing people in neutral colours – especially when surrounded by nature.

Earthy colours also go amazing with the atmosphere of Edinburgh and Scotland – my favourite clothes colours include mustard, brown, orange, red and green. Although – green is not a good idea if our backdrop is nature/plants, as it blends in. I love to create a colour pop effect in my photographs so if we’re going to shoot at the Botanics or Holyrood Park, yellow, mustard or orange will be the most wonderful colours choices.

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 Why not consider having professional hair and make-up done for your engagement photoshoot?

If you are unsure about what to do with your hair or what kind of make-up would suit your outfit you should definitely consider this step. A professional stylist / hairdresser / MUA will help you look incredible and will give you some useful tips, without a doubt.

Make and adventure out of it.

Go to a delicious weekend brunch or start your day with a big cup of coffee at your favorite café and invite your photographer to meet you there. The better you know your photographer and the more comfortable you feel around them, the better the photographs will be. Get in the car and head outside the city, go for a long walk before the start of your session. Or simply go somewhere none of you have ever been to – what if you discover a new, magical place?

Chase the light.

If possible, try to schedule your engagement session two hours before the sunset or shortly before the sunrise.

The golden hour is my favourite time of the day – it’s a period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which light is beautiful, warm and soft. This time of the day gives you the best chance for outstanding photographs.

So the rule is: the lower the sun is in the sky, the better everything will look in the pictures.

Sometimes the sky is cloudy and seeing the sunset is impossible, but it will give us an opportunity to create darker, moody look in the photos, which goes so well with the Scottish landscapes and atmosphere. A little bit of rain will not hurt either, as the colours become beautiful and saturated.

 What if we want to have our pre-wedding photography session outside Edinburgh?

Then get in the car and let’s go! There are so many incredible placed to explore in Scotland and it’s an amazing idea to have your engagement session done somewhere far away from the city.

We are spoilt for choice. Engagement photoshoot in the Scottish highlands? Or maybe a photoshoot in Isle of Skye? Having your photographs taken on the gorgeous cliffs of Saint Abbs? What about some engagement photos near the picturesque Loch Lomond? Or beautiful area of Cairngorms National Park? Pre-wedding photos by one of the magical Scottish lochs in the north?

And if you don’t want to leave Edinburgh for the whole day, there are so many pretty places nearby! One of my absolute favourite is Seacliff Beach in North Berwick. It’s my favourite beach in the area.

As you can see, we have so many choices. Please get in touch if you need some advice with choosing the best location for our photography adventure!

Any other engagement session tips?

Best engagement session locations in Edinburgh

• Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat
• Stockbridge
• Portobello Beach
• Cramond Island
• Royal Botanic Gardens (glasshouses admission fees apply)
• Carlton Hill
• the Royal Mile
• Edinburgh Castle (admission fees apply) unfortunately quite crowded in every season of the year. Whereas there are no photography restrictions on short engagement photoshoots, please note that the wedding photography and weddings are not permitted from June to September. If you’d like to know more about weddings in Edinburgh Castle visit Edinburgh Castle website for more info.
• The Meadows
• Pentland Hills
• Edinburgh Zoo (admission fees apply)