WELCOME TO
The Blog
Sweet 15 Photoshoot in Edinburgh | A Fairytale with a Scottish Twist
If you’re looking for a beautiful destination to celebrate your Sweet 15, Sweet 16, or Quinceañera, Edinburgh is perfect. With its cobbled streets, ancient castle, and gothic charm, it’s one of the most photogenic cities in Europe — perfect for a once-in-a-lifetime photoshoot.
When Ana travelled from Texas to Edinburgh to celebrate her fifteenth birthday, she wanted something truly special — not just a party, but an experience. Her Sweet 15 (or Quinceañera) photoshoot in Edinburgh turned into a magical Scottish adventure through Edinburgh’s Old Town, through the gardens and up the hills.
How We Created a Fairytale Quinceañera Photoshoot in Scotland
Ana looked incredible in her flowing purple gown and sparkling tiara, with hair and make-up by the wonderful Caroline Stewart. Everywhere we went, people stopped to smile and compliment her — she looked every bit the princess against Edinburgh’s dramatic architecture and moody skies.
Best Edinburgh Locations for a Sweet 15 Photoshoot
We started in Edinburgh’s Old Town, finding the perfect viewpoints for Edinburgh Castle — the soft evening light gave her photos a magical, storybook glow.
Next, we took a taxi to one of the city’s historic graveyards, where the dark stone crypts created a striking contrast to her regal gown and added a touch of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) inspiration.
We finished at Princes Street Gardens and Calton Hill, where the sunset wrapped the city in golden light — the perfect end to an unforgettable Quinceañera photoshoot in Scotland.
💡 Photographer’s Tip: Start your shoot near the Castle or Royal Mile for timeless fairytale backdrops, then head to Calton Hill for the best panoramic views in Edinburgh.
Why Choose a Destination Sweet 15 or Sweet 16 Photoshoot? ✈️
A destination photoshoot is such a special way to mark a milestone birthday. It’s about creating something personal and meaningful — it’s about creating real memories with your family, discovering somewhere new, and expressing your personality in a truly unique way.. The photos aren’t just for social media, but they become a memory you’ll treasure forever.
A Sweet 16, Sweet 15 or Quinceañera photoshoot in Scotland offers the perfect blend of travel, culture, and creativity. Ana’s family got to see Scotland together, and now they have a collection of images that capture not just how she looked that day, but who she was at that moment.
Why Edinburgh Is Perfect for Quinceañera Photography in Scotland
Edinburgh feels like a real-life fairytale — full of character, history, and cinematic views.
In just one session, you can capture so many moods:
🏰 Castles for grandeur
🌸 Cobbled streets for old-world charm
💀 Graveyards for moody gothic vibes
🌄 Calton Hill for epic sunsets and skyline views
Each location tells a different story — and together, they create a magical visual journey.
A Gothic Twist — Edinburgh’s Historic Graveyards 💀
Edinburgh has many fascinating graveyards — some inspired great stories, others witnessed ancient battles beneath the Castle, and many were once the hunting ground of infamous grave robbers such as Burke and Hare.
For Ana, it was the perfect place to bring in those Day of the Dead vibes, and we had such fun creating something so unique and atmospheric.
Plan Your Own Scottish Sweet 15 or Sweet 16 Photoshoot
If you’re dreaming of a unique way to celebrate your Sweet 15, Sweet 16, or Quinceañera, why not turn it into an adventure in Scotland?
From the castle to dramatic city views, Edinburgh is full of cinematic backdrops that make every photo feel like a scene from a fairytale film.
📸 Ready to start planning your Edinburgh photoshoot?
Get in touch here and let’s create something magical together — your own Scottish fairytale photoshoot.
Discover more Scotland guides, wedding venue inspiration and real weddings from Edinburgh wedding photographer Ali Jay.
Outdoor Maternity Photo Shoot Near Edinburgh
Outdoor maternity photo shoots to perfectly reflect who you are. Magda booked a flamenco themed woodland maternity photo shoot. It was completely personal & completely
Mum To Be Gift
For those that love adventure, an outdoor maternity photo shoot is a great way to celebrate your pregnancy and immortalise it for the future in a way which reflects an adventurous personality.
It’s the perfect mum-to-be gift to give yourself or the person you love!
Like all my photography, I want it to truly reflect who you are and for you to feel happy, comfortable and have a lovely experience which you will remember when you look back at your photos.
Due soon? Get in touch to check availability—I only take on a few maternity shoots each month.
Shoot Consultation
For Magda, we did a flamenco themed woodland shoot as she is a flamenco dancer and when we discussed ideas we came up with the concept of a woodland shoot and that she would wear her mantón (Spanish shawl).
Relaxed & Enjoyable
We chose a very quiet woodland in Dunfermline, near Edinburgh, for their shoot.
We had the woodland to ourselves which was great as it is important to feel truly comfortable in front of the camera.
Personalised
Javier is brilliant musician so we reflected this part of their lives in both their maternity and newborn shoots with Javier playing his guitar.
Their daughter is going to grow up with music all around her so when we discussed the concept it was really important that we included this in their shoot.
At Home Baby Shoots
Magda opted for a double shoot package so I returned to capture newborn photos at their home in Edinburgh.
A shoot was really important for Magda & Javier as their families all live overseas so they wanted to make sure they could share their daughters arrival by sending beautiful photos for them to treasure.
Bump to Baby Photo Shoots
We did these shoots a few years ago and we are now preparing for a second bump to baby shoot with their new bump.
I can’t wait to catch up with them again and capture more of their family story.
Do you have somewhere special in mind where you would love to do an outdoor maternity shoot?
If you’re unsure, I can recommend locations. I travel for outdoor maternity photo shoot to locations around Edinburgh, Lothians, Fife, Perth or Stirling, please get in touch today to start planning some amazingly special memories that you’ll all be able to treasure forever.
Discover more Scotland guides, wedding venue inspiration and real weddings from Edinburgh wedding photographer Ali Jay.
Family Photo Shoot Elie
This family photo shoot in Elie was taken at dusk. We explored the ‘Lady Janet Anstruther’s Tower’. The shoot is full of adventure and I love the lovely dusk atmosphere.
Elie
Elie is one of the many beautiful towns which make up the stunning East Neuk of Fife.
Elie has lots of lovely walks including the Elie chain walk to the west and this walk to the east.
It’s also worth a visit on a nice day as the beach is gloriously big and sandy and there are some lovely pubs too.
Dusk Light
Scott and Jaimie moved from Canada to Kirkcaldy when Scott got a contract with the Fife Flyers Ice Hockey team.
This was the second family photo shoot I’d done with them and for both shoots they wanted a photo shoot to capture the beautiful Scottish landscape.
It was the first time I’ve done a family shoot at dusk but it was really nice to capture the photos as the night started to draw in and they cosied in together.
Max
This was my second shoot with Max and we enjoyed messing around and he thought it was great fun playing silly games with me.
Jaimie’s Words
It turns out Max just thought I was his friend which was a lovely thing to hear :-)
“We can’t say enough good things about Ali. Not only is she an amazing photographer, but she is also a wonderful person who makes you feel at ease while having your photos taken. She takes the experience of having your photos taken and turns it into an adventure. Our children loved her, our three year old actually asked why she wasn’t in the photos with us We absolutely love our photos and will always cherish them.” - Jaimie Aarssen
The Tower
The path we took was from the east side of Elie.
We walked along the path to explore the little tower called ‘Lady Janet Anstruther's Tower’.
The tower was bulit in the 1770’s as a changing room for Lady Anstruther.
She would use the tower for for her sea swims. It’s basically an ancient beach hut!
Kid Fun & Cuddles
As we explored the tower Jaimie and Scott hugged and played with Gracie and Max.
The tower also made a great for pirate ship lookout.
As the night drew in, Gracie cuddled into her mum and Max carried on exploring the lighthouse and rockpools.
This was a beautiful shoot and one I hope they will treasure as the kids grow up.
If you like this family photo shoot in Elie and you’re interested in your own shoot you can book one in or buy a gift voucher. All the information is over on my family page.
Discover more Scotland guides, wedding venue inspiration and real weddings from Edinburgh wedding photographer Ali Jay.
Newborn Photo Shoot with Sunshine Yoga
A gorgeous newborn photo shoot at home with Stephanie, Matt and Granny
When a new baby arrives your life is suddenly turned upside down and you are bound to your babies every need. It’s a beautiful time to get a shoot so it can be documented and remembered, as moment by moment your baby changes.
When I arrived for Jasmina’s shoot, she was needing a little clean, so I captured her having a little bath. Matt delicately washed Jasmina as she kicked so happily in the water.
I spent an hour or so with Stephanie, Matt, Jasmina and her grannies and observed all their little interactions and activities.
At home shoots are great. You don’t have the stress of getting everything ready and getting out the door and you capture your baby’s first home, their nursery and their first toys. When you look back in years to come, you’ll see their favourite toy all fluffy and new before the years of love wear it down to a fabulously floppy, loved looking rag.
Stephanie is from the Netherlands so I was offered a lovely beschuit. Giving a beschuit is a tradition in the Netherlands to celebrate the birth of a child. They are sprinkled with pink and white muisjes when a girl is born, and with blue and white muisjes when a boy is born. Muisjes are seeds from the anise plant which are covered in a sugary coating.
“The pictures are absolutely beautiful and we feel so blessed that her 7 day birthday got captured in such a wonderful way.”
Discover more Scotland guides, wedding venue inspiration and real weddings from Edinburgh wedding photographer Ali Jay.
AS FEATURED
