NORTHLIGHT

Studio

Edinburgh, Scotland

Enquiries

studio@northlight.photo

Elsewhere

The photographer seated in a bare studio beside a window

About me

A studio of one,on purpose.

Hey, I am Rowan Vale, a photographer based in Edinburgh. I work mostly in portraiture and lifestyle, but I enjoy photographing all kinds of stories.

Working since
2017
Based
Edinburgh, Scotland
Commissions a year
Around 40

The short version

My goalis simple

My goal

I photograph real moments that feel like you. I want you comfortable enough to stop performing and just be there, whether that is on your wedding day, during a family session, or halfway through a creative project we are figuring out together.

In practice that means arriving early, learning the room before anybody else turns up, and then mostly staying out of the way. The less you notice me working, the better the pictures get. Almost nothing in my portfolio was posed for.

When I am not behind a camera I am usually somewhere in the Pentlands, or walking the same four streets of Leith looking at light I have already photographed a hundred times. Tell me your story and let us make something worth keeping.

Get in touch
A set of small black and white prints held up against a white wall

Every commission ends as a print

Finish it by hand

How it works

Four steps, andno surprises

The process
  1. 01

    We talk first

    A call, no charge, where you tell me what the day is and I tell you honestly whether I am the right person for it.

  2. 02

    A plan you can read

    You get a written outline: timings, locations, what I need from you, and exactly what it costs. Nothing moves until you agree to it.

  3. 03

    The shoot itself

    I arrive early, learn the space, and then mostly stay out of the way. The less you notice me working, the better the pictures get.

  4. 04

    Edited and delivered

    A private gallery within seven days, fully edited, downloadable at full resolution and yours to keep and print.

My gear andsoftware

Equipment

None of this matters as much as people think it does, but I get asked often enough that it may as well be written down.

Close detail of the camera body used on commissions
  • Canon EOS R5Camera
  • Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8LZoom lens
  • Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM ArtPrime lens
  • DJI Mavic Air 2Drone
  • Godox AD200 ProFlash
  • Lightroom and PhotoshopEditing

Why choose me as yourPhotographer?

Why choose me

From expert guidance to a stress-free session, I am here to capture your most memorable moments with quality and care.

The Northlight studio mid-session, backdrop rolled down and prints pinned across the wall
Check my instagram

100+

Satisfied clients

  • Portrait of a past client
  • Portrait of a past client
  • Portrait of a past client
  • Portrait of a past client
  • Portrait of a past client
Portrait in full sun, the woven brim of a hat throwing dappled light across the face

Enjoy high-resolution photos that capture every detail and emotion beautifully.

Black and white close study, blind slats laying bands of light across a face

30%

Clients book another session within a year

A camera resting in raking afternoon light, the lens catching a warm highlight

Taken with precision

Today 09:15

What if I look awkward in photos?

Today 09:15

Everyone feels that way at first!

We will do some test shots

You will see how great you look with the right angles and lighting

Perfect, thanks!

A portrait session in open daylight

Turnaround time

Edited photographs delivered in seven days or less, every time.

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