Photography top tips

Personal photography is welcome in all our outdoor places and most of our historic interiors. You don't need fancy equipment or professional experience — just bring your smartphone and enjoy snapping pictures of whatever takes your fancy!

The beauty of photography is that there are no rules. Where you go, what you use and what you choose to shoot is all up to you! Two of Scotland’s leading photographers in wildlife and landscape photography share their top tips to help you take better photos.

Wildlife photography – Laurie Campbell

Laurie is an award-winning photographer with a passion for capturing Scotland’s wild creatures in their natural habitats. Over his 40-year career, he has worked with the Trust, the Scottish Government, and more. He also runs his own wildlife photography workshops to share his passion and experience with others.

Laurie’s top tips

1. Find a good subject and spend time with it

‘Be selective and cherry-pick what you photograph instead of simply pointing and shooting again and again. Consider your subject, take the time to watch and appreciate it, and don’t leave too soon ... often you get the best pictures when you’ve stuck around that little bit longer.’

2. Use what you’ve got

‘Smartphones are incredibly powerful and can make getting a great photo easier, cheaper and quicker. Don’t worry about professional kit. Do whatever works for you and helps you enjoy it.’

3. Look closer!

‘Lots of people go straight for the big-ticket subjects like eagles or deer, but if you stop to take a closer look at your environment, you might see other fascinating natural subjects like the lichen on a tree or butterflies hovering around the water. Taking a great photo of something more prosaic can be more of a challenge and more rewarding!’

4. Do your research

‘A good wildlife photographer thinks ahead and knows about his subject in advance, not just so they know where to look, or how different wildlife might behave, but to make sure you work responsibly and protect plants, animals and habitats.’

Wildlife photography best practice

When taking photos of wildlife, there are a few things to remember to make sure you don’t disturb animals or their environment ...

• Watch your proximity, keep the noise down and be careful with the flash to avoid causing animals any stress or panic.
• Check if you need a licence to photograph the animals you’re interested in, especially during breeding season.
• Watch your step and try to stick to designated paths so that you don’t mistakenly disturb vulnerable wildlife or damage important habitats.

Laurie says: ‘When it comes to best practice and protecting wildlife, my advice is always the same: know the law! Disturbing protected species isn’t just bad form; it’s a criminal offence. Check the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) to find out more about different species and what you can and can’t photograph.’

For anyone visiting our countryside properties, we always recommend that you follow the general code of conduct to make sure you help us preserve and protect the places we love.

Great places for photographing wildlife

Laurie has photographed wildlife in every corner of Scotland, and the Trust's places are among his favourite spots. Here are a few for you to visit ...

• St Abb's Head NNR – a great place for photographing seabirds in the sky or nesting on the rugged cliffs.
• Brodick Castle, Garden & Country Park – home to Scotland’s famous red squirrels, not to mention all the other wildlife on Arran, from eagles to otters.
• Threave Garden & Nature Reserve – famous for its bats, but also home to ospreys and many other exciting creatures.
• Balmacara Estate – gives you a rare chance to see elusive pine martens in the wild... but prepare to be disappointed; they’re the shyest of creatures!

Visit Laurie’s website to see more.

Landscape photography – Dougie Cunningham

Dougie has spent years working with the Trust, capturing the incredible scenery at many of our properties, especially those around Glasgow and the West Highlands.

As the author of Photographing Scotland, he has plenty of experience showing aspiring landscape photographers where and how to shoot the Scottish outdoors.

Dougie’s top tips

1. Go to nice places!

‘It may sound obvious, but you need a great spot to get great shots. You’re better off spending your money on getting to the best locations than on fancy equipment.’

2. Think things through ...

‘It helps to plan your day, think about the photos you want to get, and what you need. What kind of light do you want? Are certain places busier than others? Do you need extra equipment such as a tripod to help you take photos at different heights (which often makes your photo collection much more interesting)?’

3. ... But don’t worry about getting the perfect shot

‘Lots of people spend so much time fretting about framing their shots perfectly or waiting for the perfect moment that they forget to look around and appreciate their surroundings. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the unexpected, and don’t always go for the hero shot with everything in one photo — landscape photography is as much about the details at your feet as it is about epic vistas!’

4. Take photos for you

‘Don’t focus on the kit, and don’t worry that every photo needs to be gallery-ready. Take photos for you, take photos for fun, and you’ll never be disappointed, whether you’re using a smartphone or a top-of-the-range SLR ... ’

5. Learn by experimenting

‘My best bit of advice for any photographer trying to improve is: don’t throw away the shots that don’t work. Look at them and use them to learn how to take better shots the next time you go out ... ’

Great places for landscape photography

You’re never far from a spectacular view in Scotland, and the Trust cares for some of Dougie’s favourite places to capture Scottish landscapes at their best...

• Glencoe NNR – might seem an obvious choice, but every inch of Glencoe is breath taking, especially the epic Three Sisters.
• Mar Lodge Estate NNR – another spectacular outdoor destination with many different types of locations in one place, from the snow-peaked Munros to the gorge at Linn of Dee.
• Culzean Castle & Country Park – easy to access from Glasgow, and full of interesting scenic details.
• Iona – Scotland’s islands are iconic and beautiful. You can’t go wrong heading to Iona or other nearby islands!

Visit Dougie’s website to see more.

Smartphone photography tips

The phone in your pocket is a fantastic thing. It’s also a powerful computer and a simple and convenient camera that can instantly take brilliant, high-resolution photos.

How can you up your smartphone photography game? Here are a few tips:

1. Follow your instincts

Don’t overthink things; just take photos of whatever catches your eye as you go. The more photos you take, the better your instincts will become.

2. Use the built-in tools

Smartphones are packed with digital perks such as gridlines that help you frame your shot better, time lapse for capturing changing scenery, and portrait mode for experimenting with blurred backgrounds.

3. Take high-resolution photos

Unless you’re stuck for space on your phone, make sure the photos you take are in the highest resolution possible. Not only will they look better when printed, but you can also resize and crop them afterwards without losing detail.

4. Use your surroundings

Need to take a shot in low light or with a long exposure? To avoid shaking while holding your phone, find a flat surface to rest your camera on, like a branch or stone; that way, you’ll prevent blurry shots.

With endless storage on your phone, the world’s your oyster. By becoming a Trust member today, you can get free access to all our places year-round.