How to choose your family photography location in and around Edinburgh

How do you choose the best location for your family photography session? Weʼre blessed with some absolutely stunning locations in and around Edinburgh so where to start when youʼre spoilt for choice? There are many
factors that can influence your choice so I’ve put together some tips to help make your decision a bit easier!

 

Favourite places

The first thing to consider is where do you like to hang out as a family? Do you gravitate towards the beach, do you love to walk the dog in the woods or are you more of an urban family? Your photos should reflect who you are as a
family and you could consider choosing a location that has sentimental value. How about returning to the venue you got married at, your local park or a favourite walk?

Accessibility

Accessibility is a key factor in choosing a location. If you have young children who canʼt walk very far youʼll probably want to bring a buggy along so a muddy woodland trail is probably not going to work ! If youʼre having a multi
generational shoot youʼll want to consider older relatives too.

The dirt factor

Do you want your kids to ( try!) and stay clean and tidy during the shoot ? Are you comfortable with them getting dirty in the mud or covered in sand at the beach?

Familiarity

If you have young children it has to be fun and going to a familiar place will help them to relax and be themselves. Some where they can run and let off steam is also ideal!

Season

The time of the year will be one of your main considerations when planning your photo session. Would you love to have a spring shoot in a  woodland filled with bluebells or do you prefer the gorgeous colour that Autumn brings?

 

I’ve been photographing families in and around Edinburgh for ten years and in that time I’ve built up a wealth of knowledge about the local area. Hereʼs a few of my favourite locations! 

 

Blackford Hill & Hermitage Braid

Blackford Hill & the woodland that surrounds it offer a wonderfully diverse range of backdrops all year round, thereʼs plenty for all ages to explore and itʼs a relatively easy walk from the car park to the top of the hill where the views over the city and Holyrood park are hard to beat.

 

 

 

Lauriston Castle

Lauriston ticks all the boxes year round, itʼs accessible, beautiful and has a great variety of backdrops from woodland to manicured gardens, itʼs also home to Edinburghʼs only Japanese garden! Throw in a stunning Edwardian
house and a fabulous sea view and itʼs a clear winner. Itʼs a great spot in Spring when the daffodils and bluebells are out in force and again in the Autumn when the colours are gorgeous.

 

 

East Lothian beaches

The stunning East Lothian beaches make the perfect backdrop for families of of all ages at any time of the year. Yellowcraig and  Gullane are great for younger children, thanks to their easily accessible beaches. The beautiful woodland at Yellowcraig offers shelter from the sun and the wind, the dunes and the marram grass are perfect for portraits, and even the play park is photogenic! Tyninghame beach and woods are equally gorgeous, with a wilder feel and a longer walk to the beach itʼs more suited to families with slightly older kids.

 

 

Cammo Estate

Cammo has a wonderful, untamed feel to it. Itʼs such a fun place to explore with ruined buildings and a tumbledown walled garden to fuel the imagination. Itʼs very accessible but at the same time you feel that you could quite easily
get lost in the woods. It has some of the oldest and most unusual trees in Edinburgh, a beautiful range of flowers in the Spring and a lovely open meadow.

 

 

Beecraigs Country Park

Beecraigs has it all. The forest is just magical, thereʼs a beautiful loch and even a deer park! Itʼs a lovely place for a wander with all ages, year round. Post shoot thereʼs the added bonus of coffee & cake for the grown ups at the cafe
and the play park is one of the best in the Lothians.

 

 

I hope you find some inspiration here – this is by no means an exhaustive list, I have so many places that I can recommend and I’m always open to suggestions. I love exploring new spots! If you would would like to have a chat about your next family session please get in touch!

You can call me on 07973 779223 or email me at rachel@rachelhein.com