Rainy Old-Town Elegance – Heather & Erin’s Edinburgh Couple Session

Heather and Erin landed in Edinburgh for a long weekend, hoping for moody streets and a hint of mist. They got both—and a steady Scottish drizzle for good measure. Rather than hiding indoors, we built a route that turns wet pavements and low cloud into soft-box lighting: Vennel Viewpoint, Victoria Terrace, St Giles Cathedral and a quick hop to Holyrood Park for loch-side frames before dark.

Why dress-up beats dress-down in this city

Jeans and T-shirts contrast with the cobblestones; tailored pieces pop.

Heather’s navy maxi dress moved like a cloak, catching raindrops that turned to bokeh under streetlamps. Erin’s chinos and suit jacket kept the set cohesive without feeling stuffy, and the muted palette sat perfectly against weathered sandstone.

If you want Edinburgh’s Old Town to feel cinematic rather than tourist-casual, aim for smart layers – umbrella optional, readiness for fun essential. This way your couple session will drip in Scottish magic.

Quick tips if you want this look

Bring backup footwear. Cobblestones + long coats + puddles demand practical soles between frames.

Choose coats with structure. Trench belts, strong lapels and maxi lengths create clean lines in wind.

Maxi dresses for the win – if you love that 300-year-old Outlander look.

Time St Giles early or late. When the cathedral gates are closed for tours, it’s our best bet of getting the most romantic shots.

Rain doesn’t cancel romance

Heather and Erin wanted a quick city loop that stitched Edinburgh’s best backdrops into one evening – let’s look into their choices.

1. The Vennel Viewpoint

We started at the famous stairway looking straight toward the castle. Morning rain left the steps reflective, so one quick off-camera flash turned the slick stone into a mirror. Heather’s red hair punched colour into an otherwise grey frame while Erin kept watch for the occasional runner sprinting past.

2. Colour splash on Victoria Terrace

Ten minutes later the curved terrace offered the opposite vibe: bright shopfronts, rainbow building fronts and hanging flower baskets. We worked wide shots of the full curve, then a waist-up portrait where Heather’s coat matched a navy shop door almost exactly—a colour-block trick that makes the couple pop without extra props.

3. Gothic lines at St Giles

Crowds build fast at the cathedral, but drizzle bought us a gap. The trick here is to shoot low and tight so the spire fills the negative space. Erin’s charcoal jacket echoed the dark stone; Heather’s coat carried the only highlight, guiding the eye straight to them. A quick ring-close-up on the iron railings finished the stop.

4. Holyrood Park finale

With an hour of light left we drove to St Margaret’s Loch. Gulls skimmed the surface; Arthur’s Seat loomed under cloud. Heather swapped heels for waterproof ankle boots under her dress—proof that elegant doesn’t have to mean uncomfortable. We framed reflections of ruined St Anthony’s Chapel in the loch, and loved every single minute it rained.

Ready to plan your own dressed-up wander through the Old Town?

Check my current packages on the Investment page, or browse the full Edinburgh Engagement Guide for more outfit and comfort tips, but also for more route ideas, permit notes and weather backups and why it’s always best to get up early to explore the Edinburgh Old Town.