Portraits are everywhere and in today's interconnected world, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we would often 'meet' people online long before we ever met in person. Now that so much more of our lives are happening online it is more important than ever. Whether for business or pleasure the quality of that first impression is critical to what develops. To use the jargon, it is all about 'personal branding'.

At its most basic it is a simple headshot, still the actor's unit of currency in the auditions marketplace but also the most fundamental personal connection on websites of all sorts. It's the profile picture on our social media page or the image on the 'about me' page on our website. A tightly cropped image of head and shoulders which can therefore be taken just about anywhere, including outdoors.

Location can be more significant in a longer portrait session. The sort of picture that brings elements from your surroundings into the frame. This form of portrait, much favoured in newspaper profile pieces, harks back to the tradition of painted portraiture, carefully composing the scene in which the subject is placed. While such a photographic portrait is often commissioned for use on a business or personal website to tell people a bit more about you and what you do, it would surely also take pride of place printed and framed on the wall, perhaps in the home of a family member. It could be outdoors, in a location that tells a bit more about you.

All this talk of branding shouldn't ignore the other important strand of portraiture - the taking of pictures to capture people at a particular moment in their lives for them to share and look back on. While everyone has a camera these days too often the images we take are rather hurried, quickly posted and soon forgotten. A more considered portrait can be something to keep and enjoy for years. Marking significant life moments, like big birthdays, are a great excuse to gather the family together for a picture! It doesn't always have to be a group picture. For example, albeit still much more common across the Atlantic, the 'Senior Portrait' - marking a teenager's final year of school - is becoming more popular here in the UK. An outdoor individual portrait could be just the thing to mark an important life-stage.

Talking of family gatherings, whatever the occasion it can be worth hiring a photographer to capture some great images of the party. Yes, everyone has a camera in their pocket these days but rather than leaving things to chance it is more reassuring to have a professional on hand for a mixture of candid and posed pictures to help remember the day. And that can leave you free to enjoy your time with your guests.  Something to perhaps put on hold until we can have big parties again, although you may well be comfortable with smaller gatherings .

As you can see, my work is usually done on location but I have done my share of studio photography and if that is something you are particularly interested in we can see what we can arrange. Without a studio of my own we would have to hire the space  adding to the cost of the shoot, but it need not be prohibitive.

Finally there is one last form of portraiture that is also becoming more common where the setting is almost as important as the subject - hiring a professional 'Vacation Photographer'. Whether it is individuals, couple or families, the idea is to have a photographer on hand to take your pictures as you explore a new tourist destination. Even, or perhaps especially, if long distance travel feels unsafe that doesn't prevent you from being a tourist at home, exploring Edinburgh through tourist's eyes and getting some great outdoor portraits into the bargain. And if you are being a tourist in Edinburgh, what better location than a trip to Edinburgh's Seaside - Portobello - for some Seaside Photography.