WELCOME TO
The Blog
15 Of The Best Photo Spots Edinburgh
Where are the best photo spots in Edinburgh for your city centre wedding? This handy little photo location guide to the top 15 photo spots in Edinburgh is here to help with photographs from real weddings as inspiration for your city centre adventure.
Where are the best photo spots in Edinburgh for your city centre wedding?
This handy little photo location guide is here to help with photographs from real weddings and a handy little map of city centre highlights. They are all close to the city centre & perfect to easily explore on your wedding day
Please let me know if you have a favourite place that you think should be added.
-
City Centre Map
1. St. Giles Cathedral
2. Edinburgh City Chambers
3. The Royal Mile
4. The Edinburgh Festival
5. Writerās Museum
6. Riddles Court
7. John Knoxās House
8. Edinburgh Castle
9. Victoria Street
10. The Vennel
11. The Mound
12. Princeās Street Gardens
13. Carlton Hill
14. Holyrood Park
15. St. Anthonyās Chapel
Useful Links
Letās start at the heartā¦
St. Giles Cathedral
St. Giles is literally in the heart of Edinburgh, the Heart of Midlothian is a mosaic on the ground outside St. Giles. Although this sounds like a romantic place to stand, beware, it is thought to be good luck to spit on it (apologies for spoiling the romance with a rather yucky start to this guide).
Letās skip past that partā¦ St. Giles is one of Edinburghās most iconic buildings with itās crown top a prominent part of Edinburghās skyline. I love exploring the pretty steps & doorways and I use it as a screen to take you away from the Royal Mile crowds into some of the quieter spaces behind.
2. Edinburgh City Chambers
Edinburghās City Chambers is a fantastically placed Registry Office, placed right outside St. Giles the chambers building is beautiful with its courtyard and sheltered arches (which have sheltered many weddings from Scotlandās weather over the years).
3. The Royal Mile
Talking about weather, around the city centre there are plenty more sheltered spots to explore around the royal mile, if the weather isnāt optimal. I have photographed in rain and fog around the city and it often just adds to the beauty.
When it rains the sandstone on the buildings darkens and the cobbled streets glisten and colours pop.
In the fog, everything looks old world-y and the diffuse light is beautifully flattering for portraits.
The Royal Mile links Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace and has the majority of the best photo spots in Edinburgh, especially as there are many popular wedding venues on the mile or within walking distance.
St. Giles and the Chambers are on the high street part of the mile which is the most photographed part but boogle down some of the Closeās and youāll find hidden gemās such as Advocateās Close with itās brilliant views of the Scottās Monument or Riddles Courtās with is beautiful courtyard.
4. The Edinburgh Festival
In the festival Edinburgh fills up and the Royal Mile is packed with crowds, buskers & entertainers. The atmosphere is electric. Walking down the Royal Mile in a wedding dress will always get cheers of friendly congratulations but in the festival, you will be hidden amongst the many crazy outfits of the performers vying for your attention.
Jemma and Alasdair got married during the busiest week of the festival and loved getting amongst the crowds for their photos.
5. The Writerās Museum
Continuing up the Royal Mile from the High Street you reach the Lawnmarket which leads up the final stretch to the castle.
Just off the Lawnmarket you find Lady Stairās House. The 17th century Lady Stairās House is home to the writerās museum, I love exploring the peaceful courtyard and the cute lamposts.
6. Riddles Court
Riddles Court is one of my favourite Edinburgh buildings. I love the orange faƧade & pentice stair. I can imagine the king holding his banquetās there in the 16th century. Itās tucked away off the lawn market. Itās so hidden, few touristās find it so itās the perfect place for some quiet photos with some stunning unique architecture.
7. John Knoxās House
Further down the High Street, just before you enter the Cannongate part of the Royal Mile you get to John Knoxās House. Parts of the building date back to the 15th century building and it now houses the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Itās a little off route and on a busy part of road on the Royal Mile but it is one the oldest buildings in Edinburgh and very picturesque.
8. Edinburgh Castle
The temptation is to go the castle for wedding photos but unfortunately if you have a wedding dress on, they wonāt let you onto the castle esplanade (unless you are getting married there) but really the best spots are a wee walk away, venture to the Vennel or the Ross Fountain for the perfect castle pic.
9. Victoria Street
Victoria Street is famous as the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. This cute little street has some brilliant little shops and links the Royal Mile to the historic Grassmarket where you can get a brilliant view of Edinburgh Castle.
10. The Vennel
Just off the Grassmarket you can climb up the Vennel Steps and get one of the best views of Edinburgh Castle. If youāre really lucky you might get a congratulations from the author Ian Rankin who was passing by during Maria & Rhysās wedding, weāre waiting to see if they appear as characters in a Rebus novel.
11. The Mound
If you walk down from the Lawnmarket you will get to the Mound and enter into Edinburghās New Town.
The architecture completely changes as you enter the straight streets and Georgian architecture of the New Town and see the statement pillars of the galleries.
Youāll be surrounded by the hustle and bustle of shoppers on Princesā Street. From here you can also explore Princeās Street gardens and get some great views of Edinburgh Castle.
12. Princeās Street Gardens & Rossās Fountain
Princeās Street gardens run along the whole length of Princeās Street and have some amazing views of the city & the castle. At the east end of the gardenās, youāll find the Ross Fountain area which is a great place for a pic with Edinburgh Castle.
13. Carlton Hill
Carlton Hill is the best place in Edinburgh to get panoramic views across the city or to enjoy sunrise or sunset. Itās a bit further away from the Old Town so you will need transport to get to there. If you chose to walk, itās about a 15 minute walk (with a some steep hills) from the High Street on the Royal Mile.
You can see from the River Forth to Arthurās Seat to Edinburgh Castle. Itās an amazing place to go when the sun is low but it is a good hike to get up to it. Olivia and Tom got a car up the hill and enjoyed the golden evening light at the top of the hill.
14. Holyrood Park
At the bottom of the Royal Mile youāll find Holyrood Palace which is the Kingās home when he visits Edinburgh.
The palace is next to Holyrood Park, if you want a real adventure with an amazing view you can walk up Arthurs Seat and get some photographs at St. Anthonyās Chapel
15. St. Anthonyās Chapel
St. Anthonyās Chapel is a ruined chapel on the hillside with stunning views over the city.
It takes about 20mins to get up to it and it is rough ground so you need good footwear but it is stunning.
Shauna and Frazer went here to exchange their vows after their wedding in the City Chambers.
Taxi Adventure
Edinburgh is compact but if you have high heels on a vehicle to get your around is a plan.
You can hire an Edinburgh cab to take you around some of the sights. Itās also a cute vehicle to have in your photos.
Red Bus Tours
If you want your guestās to enjoy the city while you have a more intimate adventure you can hire a Red Bus to take your guests around the city. Companies such as the Red Bus Bistro will do a tour with afternoon tea for your guests.
Are you planning an Edinburgh wedding?
If youād like to chat about your plans, check availability or pricing, please get in touch :-)
Useful Links
Graduation Photography
Alternative graduation photography in Edinburgh and around Scotland, opt for something different, choose to have photographs that tell the story of where you lived whilst at university. Much more exciting than the traditional white background graduation photographs!
Graduation photos donāt have to be dull and lifeless, with everyone standing stiffly in front of a white screen. Those pictures donāt really capture the joy of your university experience or the stunning beauty of Edinburgh, where youāve spent these amazing years. I want to give you photos that celebrate your graduation day and tell the story of your time in this beautiful city.
As standard, I suggest a 2-hour shoot to give us plenty of time to explore the city and the university, capturing all those meaningful spots. But if you want to venture further afield, we can always add extra time. You could even book a full day to cover your entire graduation day, from getting ready to celebrating after the ceremony and exploring the city. Edinburgh is a unique, ancient city, full of character and historyādefinitely worth recording in all its glory.
My graduation shoots are all about capturing the essence of your university life in Edinburgh. My graduation shoots are priced like my other portrait shoots so visit my vacations page to find out about my prices and what is included in my portrait packages. You can share the shoot with a few friends if you wish, or just get some lovely shots with your parents, just get in touch to find out more.
After your shoot, youāll get a beautiful gallery with lots of storytelling images to download, share, and print. These arenāt just graduation photosātheyāre a personal and meaningful record of this important part of your life. When theyāre framed or in an album, your kids or grandkids will love hearing about your time in Scotland. Youāll be able to show them the castle, the mountains, your student accommodation, or even your favourite pub.
Weāll chat before your shoot to make sure itās personalized and includes the spots in Edinburgh that mean the most to you. For example, Li, an Edinburgh University graduate from Hong Kong, couldnāt make his graduation ceremony, so we did a candid shoot around the architecture teaching areas on Minto Street and the Edinburgh College of Art. Karina and her friends, also from Hong Kong, booked me on their graduation day for some beautiful shots in their robes around the library, McEwan Hall, Old College, and the Meadows. Zuhri and Nisah wanted iconic Scottish scenery, so we spent a day in Glen Coe, capturing beauty spots like Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, Stirling Castle, and the Forth Rail Bridge.
For more info about pricing, check out my vacation portrait pages, or just get in touch at alijayphotography@gmail.com or 07885930579.
Letās make your graduation photos a beautiful, personalised story of your time in Edinburgh and Scotland.
