““Solen is the best photographer! I love my new headshot and recommend her if you want to be mixing your lens time with equal parts political straight talking and belly laughing.””

— Emily Kenway

A woman sitting on a black couch with yellow cushions, writing in a notebook, in a living room with a white bookshelf, orange framed artwork of a light bulb, and wooden furniture.

A woman with tattoos wearing a striped apron and white t-shirt stirring a pot in a commercial kitchen.

Edinburgh Brand Photographer

Creating Editorial, Authentic & Feeling-Led Visual Stories

A metal bowl with textured design, a large black knife with a worn handle resting against a concrete block.

A woman examining a paint color swatch while sitting at a table near a window.

Brand Photography, Product Imagery & Founder Content

My brand photography is designed for businesses who want more than polished content.

This is visual storytelling for brands, third sector charities, collaborative projects, artists and creatives with a clear point of view. We’ll translate your values, visual identity, products and personality into imagery that feels authentic, editorial and strategically aligned.

Alongside founder portraits and promotional content, brand sessions can include:

editorial product photography
still life imagery
candid behind-the-scenes service and workspace photography
campaign visuals
abstract textural colour studies to enrich your brand voice visually
detail shots that support your wider visual ecosystem

Optional 35mm analogue film photography is available across all brand sessions, offering an added layer of softness, grain, texture and atmosphere for brands drawn to a more tactile and emotionally resonant visual language.

Shooting on location (indoors and/or outside), in your workspace or in a hired photographic studio, all my brand shoot offerings are designed to be versatile and adaptable to capture the messaging you need.

Close-up of a hand with an elegant large ring featuring a dark blue gemstone and diamonds, reflecting sunlight.

A woman in a white wedding dress holding a colorful bouquet of flowers, smiling joyfully outside near a brick wall with a sign that reads 'sugar bonda'.

brand photography blog

Why I Offer 35mm Film for Local Brand Photography

Photography is not just about what something looks like, for me, it’s very much about how things feel.

How a brand lives in the hands of its maker. How light moves across texture. How time leaves its mark. This is why, when I photograph local brands or record promotional portraiture, I often return to 35mm and medium format film.

Commissions : Rowanjoy Bridalwear

Digital photography brand commission for Rowanjoy. Rowanjoy bridal is an Edinburgh based bespoke and made to measure bridal designer. From her studio in Leith, Rowan creates unique, special dresses and bridal outfits for brides who are looking for something that little bit different for their wedding day

Sneaky peek : Rowanjoy Bridalwear

Some images from a recent brand commission for Rowanjoy Bridalwear. I’ve shot several editorial collaborative shoots with Those Were The Days Bridal and Flossy & Dossy as well as Rowanjoy in the past so here’s a few of my favourite photographs from those.

Editorial : Haar Bridal

A collaborative shoot with Aetla Jewellery and Those Were The Days Bridal. Shot on location in Portobello.

Editorial : Pop 💥

Editorial Pop 💥 Collaboration between some good local folk at The Bellfield, Portobello featuring one very cool Moschino Blazer. A fine piece of kit indeed.

brand photography packages

A woman with short light brown hair and glasses, wearing a black zip-up jumpsuit and tan woven shoes, standing against a white brick wall with her hands in her pockets, partially obscured by a white wall with green leaves in the foreground.

Founder Promotional Portrait Photography & Modern Headshots

Promotional portraiture is available for founders, artists, musicians, writers, performers, makers and creative professionals who need imagery that feels authentic, editorial, playful and emotionally grounded.

Rather than stiff posing or generic personal branding photography, these sessions focus on environment and atmosphere, feel candid, collaborative and relaxed. I work with lots of camera-shy people and have 13+ years experience of helping put you at ease in front of the camera, creating portraits that feel aligned with both your professional identity and your creative practice.

Photographed digitally with the option to include 35mm and medium format analogue film, these sessions are ideal for those wanting portraits with greater texture, softness, and visual character.

I also offer a new creatives subscription with monthly payments and 2 annual 90. minute shoots to gather all the content imagery you need to promote your work over socials, your website and other promotional materials every season across the year.

Shoot outside as a moveable feast around various backdrops with relevance to your requirements or in a photographic studio or your workspace, these sessions are designed to be flexible and varied.

Plus I have a super quick and relaxed alternative modern headshots offering, based in my studio in Leith, a 45 minute headshots only session. Note this is literally all I have space for in my busy studio as the ceiling height doesn’t allow for full length images so if more involved portraits are needed, the 90 minute sessions on location are for you.

Woman with short, blue and white hair, black glasses, wearing a black top with cut-out shoulders, smiling, standing in front of a brick wall.

A smiling man with short light brown hair, wearing a black t-shirt, sitting outdoors in front of a brick wall.

Portrait photography blog

Championing the camera-shy: Natural Brand Portraiture

Let’s be honest — being in front of a camera can feel cringe.
Awkward. Unnatural. Like you suddenly don’t know what to do with your hands or your face.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. A huge number of my clients tell me they feel uncomfortable being photographed — whether it’s for their wedding, an elopement, or a branding session. The good news is this: feeling awkward at first doesn’t mean your photos won’t be beautiful.

In fact, some of my favourite images happen when we push past the cringe and lean into the moment.

Why I Offer 35mm Film for Local Brand Photography

Photography is not just about what something looks like, for me, it’s very much about how things feel.

Portraits of The Manatees: Brand & Portrait Photography

I snapped a few quick portraits for The Manatees while I lurked about at The Lexington in that there London on a recent trip to visit pals…

Portraiture : Emily Kenway

Digital and analogue film portraits of Emily Kenway. Emily Kenway is a leading expert on modern slavery and human trafficking. As a former adviser to the UK's first Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, she was at the heart of government action on modern slavery.

Portraiture : Jamie Sutherland

Recent portrait commission for Jamie Sutherland’s second album release on Frictionless Music.

We did these press shots with a mix of digital, medium format and 35mm film.

Portraiture: Lou

Some edits from a recent portrait session with Lou. We shot these in my flat, just using natural light. There’s a couple of 35mm film scans and digital shots. I really enjoy promotional portrait sessions, they’re always relaxed and fun.

Portraiture: Laura Tippenhauer

Laura is my beautiful friend, an incredible artist, musician, mother, wife, busy woman. These are from a recent trip to visit her in Hamburg.

We’ve been threatening to do a shoot together for a long time and finally got our shit together.

Portraiture: Courtney Marie Andrews

I stole Courtney for 10 minutes before she made everyone weep, in a good way, on the Isle of Eigg at a Lost Map weekend. I then proceeded to rant at her about how her lovely coat reminded me of Gram Parsons’ famous embroidered suit while I slipped into a ditch.

Portraiture : Alexia Avina

Portraits of: Alexia Avena, an American singer-songwriter and guitarist born and raised in Southeast Asia, previously based in Montreal and now living in rural Massachusetts, whose heavenly music is rooted in ambient, folk and dreampop traditions.

Shot when Lost Map Records moved their hearts into the Isle of Eigg.

Portraiture : Makeness

Portraits of: Makeness creators of elaborately broken-sounding dance tracks which utilize buzzing guitars, post-disco beats, and falsetto vocals.

Shot when Lost Map Records moved their hearts into the Isle of Eigg.

headshots & promotional portraits

family & loved ones portraiture

Event & Performance Photography in Edinburgh & Scotland

Event and performance photography at Solen Collet is designed for brands, organisations, venues and cultural projects wanting imagery that captures atmosphere as much as activity.

Rather than simple documentation, these commissions focus on storytelling, environment and emotional presence, creating imagery that feels alive, immersive, candid and editorial in tone.

This offering is suited to both commercial and cultural environments where energy, connection and visual identity matter. I’ve worked on a broad range of event photography commissions. Previous clients include Lost Map Records Isle of Eigg gathering, Fierce Panda Records live shows at the Lexington, Starcatchers for various rehearsal and event images for early years theatre shows and for practitioner training workshops, Ed Fringe workshops and puppetry events for kids plus Marriott Hotels’ international digital teams annual conference daytime events and evening social time. I’ve also photographed multiple PR events for Aetla for fine jewellers’ trunk shows and various organisations’ PR birthday events, private product launch events and industry conferences.

Optional 35mm film photography can be integrated into selected commissions for a softer, textural, more atmospheric visual layer.

A man in a tuxedo and glasses, standing and gesturing with both hands, delivering a presentation or speech in a professional setting.

A black and white photo of four people in a room with a large window and white walls. In the foreground, a man and woman are standing close, looking at each other, with the man's forehead touching the woman's. To the right, a man and woman are engaged with something in front of them, looking down.

A modern, minimalist dining room with a wooden table set with wine glasses and platters of grapes and cheese, surrounded by wooden chairs, large windows, white walls, and contemporary lighting fixtures.

A woman with shoulder-length hair and bangs, wearing a leopard print dress, stands in a room with studio lighting and various equipment, looking down with a serious expression.

brand PR events
client dinners and invitations
in-house conferences
workshops and retreats
charity launches
hospitality activations
theatre performances
rehearsal imagery
musicians and live gigs
festivals and grassroots cultural events

Three men in tuxedos, two adjusting the third man's bow tie outdoors under a cloudy sky.

PR event, gigs & performance photography

Event : Woven Whisky + Ellis Mhairi Cameron + Aetla

I loved shooting this whisky tasting event with Woven Whisky and Ellis Mhairi Cameron at Aetla.

Event : Alison MacLeod + Aetla

THANK YOU Alison MacLeod for asking me along to photograph the 20th anniversary party for her beautiful jewellery business, hosted by Aetla.

Aetla kind of adopted me this summer, we worked together on several events in the store along with a brand commission and editorial shoot. I’ve loved working with their super creative wee team so here’s to more coming soon-ish.

Performance + Event : Starcatchers

Starcatchers is Scotland’s Arts and Early Years organisation who create performances and creative activities for babies and children from birth to 5 years and the adults who care for them. Their Mission is pretty exemplary if you ask me.

Performance : Howlin’ Fling, Isle of Eigg

Sometimes the only way you can give yourself a fighting chance against the void is to head off to a remote, soul cleansing spiritual retreat and take a wee nibble on a mix of dead nice people.

Incoming. Lost Map Records on the Isle of Eigg. A special one. I’ll warn you.

Event : Debutante Launch

It’s easy to espouse feminist rhetoric and adopt surrealist motifs but if words and actions don’t align it’s really just empty platitudes… Photos are from The Debutante launch party way back before the pandemic and all that other stuff.

edinburgh event photographer

A Collaborative and Art-Led Approach to Visual Storytelling

Every project begins with conversation.

Before photographing, time is spent understanding your business, audience, goals, references, and visual identity. This ensures each session feels intentional rather than generic, creating imagery that functions both as content and as part of a wider brand ecosystem.

Influenced by editorial photography, analogue process, material studies, and visual ritual, the work balances strategic clarity with atmosphere — creating photography that is commercially effective while retaining emotional depth and artistic integrity.

Digital Photography with Optional 35mm Film

All services are photographed digitally, with the option to integrate analogue 35mm and medium format film across selected sessions and commissions.

Film introduces a slower rhythm and an added tactile quality to image-making. It softens the edges, offers a point of difference enhancing textures and creating imagery with subtle imperfection and emotional warmth.

Popular across:

founder sessions
brand campaigns
product photography
event coverage
promotional portraiture
select performance commissions

Film is offered as an enhancement to digital galleries, allowing clients to combine practical versatility with a more distinctive visual atmosphere.

MORE ABOUT SOLEN'S 35MM FILM PHOTOGRAPHY

A woman with light brown hair wearing a cream-colored dress with a bold red and black pattern stands among lush green hydrangea flowers. She is touching her hair with one hand and has a contemplative expression on her face.

A man with a beard and mustache standing outdoors near a body of water, wearing a dark coat and pants, with his hands in his pockets, during cloudy weather.

A man with a beard and red hair wearing a gray coat stands in front of a colorful background with the number 36 on a wall or door.

Brand Photographer in Edinburgh, Scotland

Based in Edinburgh and with a small messy studio in Leith, Solen Collet works with brands, founders, artists, third sector and independent organisations across Scotland, including East Lothian, Glasgow, Fife and surrounding areas.

Available for:

brand photography Edinburgh
founder photography
event photography
product photography Scotland
promotional portraits
theatre and performance photography
PR event coverage

Selected UK and international commissions also available.

Build a visual world that feels aligned

Whether you need a founder session, regular content support, event coverage, or a full editorial campaign, each commission is built collaboratively with clarity, atmosphere, and intention.

Enquiries are open for creative businesses, artists, cultural organisations, and design-led brands looking for photography that feels authentic, editorial, and strategically aligned.

A woman wearing a white wedding dress and veil, facing the camera against a neutral background.

Black and white photo of a woman wearing a veil and lace dress, making a playful expression with tongue out, against a plain background.