Edinburgh

Private Photography Tour of Edinburgh With a Local

Badge of ExcellenceEdinburgh, Scotland

4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Enjoy a private history and photography tour of Edinburgh's Old and New Town alongside a guide who's called the city home for over 50 years. Explore over 30 stops throughout the city, uncovering Edinburgh's top landmarks and hidden gems—all while taking pictures. Even if photography isn't your strong suit, rest assured: by learning useful tips from a professional photographer-guide along with way; you're guaranteed fabulous shots that will last a lifetime.

Discover Edinburgh’s landmarks and hidden gems on a private tour
Learn about Edinburgh’s amazing history from a local guide
Photograph Edinburgh’s landmarks and get photography tips
A great introduction to the city with a coffee/tea break

What's Included

Coffee and/or Tea
My Photography Guide, explaining how to use your Camera & Smartphone to take better photos.
My Guide to Spending a Day in Edinburgh and my recommendations for Cafe's, Restaurants & Pubs.
A photo of you, or your group, at a location of your choice.
My FREE, 100 page, Essential Visitor Guide to Edinburgh

We do not provide Cameras or other equipment. Please bring your own camera or mobile phone camera.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Costa Coffee
43 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2AD, UK
The meeting point is directly outside the COSTA COFFEE KIOSK within St Andrew Square Gardens in the city centre. The approximate postcode is EH2 2AD. I will be wearing a BLUE CAP and have a GREY RUCKSACK. I will provide a telephone number in case you need to contact me.

End point

Greyfriars Kirkyard Edinburgh
26A Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QQ, UK
The tour ends at Greyfriars Kirk in the Old Town, near The Grassmarket. I am happy to walk you back to your hotel, or your next destination or restaurant etc.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for travelers with back problems

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Not recommended for anyone with foot injuries or related problems. We cover approx 1.8 miles on foot requiring a reasonable level of fitness. Please bring comfortable shoes, a sun-hat, sunscreen and water.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

31 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 31 reviews

Tour photos are the best of our trip

Pam_M, May 2024

David was an absolute delightful and knowledgeable guide. His enthusiasm for Edinburgh was infectious, and his photography hints will definitely be put to use. Will recommend.

Response from Host, May 2024

Hi Pamela, a huge thank you to you both for coming on the tour - it was really lovely to meet you both and show you around Edinburgh - it was fun! I'm so glad you found all my wee tips useful and I really hope you'll continue to get lots of joy out of your photography. Take good care of yourselves and I really hope to see you both again soon. Stay in touch. Warmest best wishes & thanks, David

The Best Tour I’ve Ever Booked

Zion_F, Apr 2024

David was the best tour guide I’ve ever had the pleasure of booking. Not only was he supremely knowledgeable about the history of Edinburgh, he was also so enthusiastic to share it with us. The photography tips he shared were just a cherry on top. We had an awesome time walking all around Edinburgh exploring the must-see sights and hidden gems. If you are deciding between a few different tours, stop looking and just book David, I cannot recommend him enough. Thank you for an unforgettable experience, David!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you so much for this wonderful review and for coming on the tour. It's so kind of you and deeply appreciated. It was an enormous privilege to show you the city and I so enjoyed getting to know you all - you're such a lovely family. I really love my city and I'm so happy you enjoyed seeing it. Please do come back soon and it'd be really wonderful to show you more amazing places. Take really good care of yourselves and a huge heartfelt thank you for the lovely review. Warmest best wishes & thanks, David :-)

Best photographer guide

YANBING_Z, Feb 2024

We had such a great afternoon with David! He is an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the city as well as photography. He taught us great way of improving or photography, technically but also emotionally. I highly recommend David to anyone who wants to know everything about the city as well as improving their photography.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thank you so much to you both for coming on the tour. You were great fun to be with & I'm so happy you enjoyed it. Your enthusiasm for photography was wonderful and I'm glad I was able to pass on a few tips. Really hope you come back to Scotland again soon, and I'd be delighted to show you more of the city, and to also pass on some of my top tips for other places to visit in the Highlands & Islands - we really do have some of the most amazing beaches! Take good care of yourselves and thanks again for the lovely review, which is deeply appreciated. Warmest best wishes & thanks, David :-)

Fabulous Guided Tour

Andrea_H, Oct 2023

David is a fabulous guide! You can truly tell he loves his city, what he does, and ensuring you are getting the most out of your trip! Certainly embodies the meaning of host and hospitality! He wants you to enjoy your entire visit in Edinburgh (not only the tour with him) and will give you tips on how to ensure your trip goes smoothly and to maximize your visit. His excitement about Edinburgh is infectious! I’m very grateful for my time on the tour with David! Highly recommend! You’ll learn a lot of history about Edinburgh as well as some useful photography tips!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hi Andrea, thanks so much for coming on the tour and for this lovely review, which I deeply appreciate :-) It was so lovely to spend the day with you showing you around Edinburgh and I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I really hope you'll come back and visit Scotland again soon and it'd be wonderful to show you more of the country. Take good care of yourself, Warmest best wishes & thanks, David

Absolutely great

Pierre_C, Oct 2023

Se had a wonderfull Time , beautifull sites visits, vert knowleagebals explanations, m’y husband And myself discovered Edinburgh oins depth , corners And détails From a professionnal could give us . Plus we had a photography course which will help us for thé rest or pur lives And wonderfull pictures to bring home as souvenirs . Thank do Michael David for this great afternoon .

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Pierre & Jacinthe, thank you so much for coming on my Edinburgh Photography & History Tour. It was a real joy to show you around Edinburgh and I'm so glad that you found all my photography tips useful :-) Keep photographing from the heart and having lots of fun with your photography. Hope to see you both again soon, Warmest best wishes & thanks, David

Wonderful experience!

JasonL, Sep 2023

David was amazing and highly recommended! Very knowledgeable and passionate about the history and culture of Scotland. Will definitely book again when we are back!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Hi Jason & Sarah, Thanks so much for the lovely review - it's deeply appreciated and has really made my day - a big thank you! I really hope you'll come back to Scotland soon and I can show you more of the city. I also offer a driving tour now of the Lothians which you might enjoy too :-) It'd be really lovely to show you some brilliant places outside the city. Thanks again for visiting Scotland and haste ye back :-) Warmest best wishes, David

This is the tour you’re looking for!

Carrie_S, Sep 2023

David has love for the country and passion to share it and his talents for photography. He was beyond brilliant showing us places we would have missed, and teaching us how to better take meaningful photos. If I could recommend any tour it would be this one. We will definitely come back to explore, and definitely be looking for David. Hands down the best tour we have ever been on. His extra time with us was so appreciated!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Dear Carrie & Daniel, It was such a joy to meet you both and show you around Edinburgh. Thanks so much for coming and this lovely review, which really does mean the world to me :-) A huge thank you! I really hope you'll come back soon and if I can be of any help in deciding where to go next - especially in the Scottish Highlands & Islands, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Really hope we'll meet again soon. Thanks again for coming and all your kindness. Warmest best wishes, David

One of our best tours in Edinburgh

Heather_L, Jun 2023

This was an absolutely stellar tour. David could not have been more informational, enthusiastic, or knowledgeable. He is passionate about photography but also passionate about his home and we enjoyed his tour so much. We did it our second day in the city but my recommendation is to do it as early as you can it your stay—such a great way to get oriented and learn about Edinburgh! David took us to some spots we never would have found or approached, which lead to to unique photos and perspectives. I shoot a digital SLR but my husband just used his iPhone and we both came out with terrific shots and new tips. Very fun tour, highly recommend!

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Dear Heather, I can't thank you enough for your kindness and this lovely review, which has made my day! I so enjoyed meeting you both, and and it was such a joy to spend time with you both - you're such enthusiastic photographers and I hope you'll get a lot of joy and happiness from your photography in the years ahead. Edinburgh's a beautiful city and the tour does make a great introduction to the city :-) Thanks again for coming to Edinburgh and visiting Scotland. We're lucky to have lovely people like yourselves visit, and I hope you'll come back soon. It'd be great to see you both again. Warmest best wishes & thanks, David

Amazing Tour of Edinburgh

David_H, Jun 2023

David gave us a brilliant tour and also some invaluable photo tips as we were travelling along.He tailored the tour to our pace and needs and we also stopped for coffee and cake. Highly recommended -David knows his way round the City and the camera! He spent 3 hours with us which was really kind.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hi David & Ainslie, Thanks so much for coming on the tour. It was really lovely to meet you both and show you the city, and I'm so glad you found my photography tips useful. You were a joy to be with and I loved your enthusiasm for photography, which I hope will continue to bring you lots of fulfilment & happiness in the years ahead. Take good care of yourselves and thanks again for booking. Warmest best wishes, David :-)

Enthusiastic and knowledgeable!

Judith_F, May 2023

There were only my brother and I yet David spent two hours showing us numerous places in Edinburgh that we would have missed. We spent over two hours together as he shared his favorite sights as well as numerous photography tips. I would highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, May 2023

Dear Judith & Doyle, Thank you so much for coming on the tour and I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It was great to show you some of my favourite places around the city and I hope I managed to pass on a few useful photography tips to you along the way. It was a great pleasure to meet you both and spend some time with you, and I really hope you'll come back to Scotland one day and I'd be delighted to show you more. Thanks once again, enjoy the rest of your stay. Warmest best wishes, David :-)

A Perfect Photo Guide for Edinburgh

Jason_P, Oct 2022

We highly recommend this tour with David. It was a rainy day and David reached out beforehand to see if we wanted to reschedule for the next day. We decided to go forward with the tour anyway. My husband and I got a private tour of both New and Old Town Edinburgh. David’s obvious passion for the city showed throughout each stop. He told us quite a bit about the history and added some photo tips and tricks. We had a blast and have revisited several spots during the rest of our stay. Thank you David for the great afternoon.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Hi Kim & Jason, I can't thank you enough for coming on the tour and for visiting Edinburgh. It's hugely appreciated. Thank you for this lovely review, which is very kind of you to write and much appreciated :-) I'm so glad we pressed on through the rain - I think Edinburgh takes on a magical quality when it's raining and makes for some lovely moody, atmospheric shots. It was a great pleasure to spend time with you and I really hope you'll come back one day, it'd be wonderful to show you more of the city. I sent you an email with some of my recommendations for the rest of Scotland which I hope will inspire you to come back and explore. Take good care of yourselves and thanks again for all your kindness. Warmest best wishes, David

A must to do in Edinburgh

Anne_K, Aug 2022

What a great tour. David was amazing - he enthused such passion about Edinburgh and photography and was so attentive to our teenage children giving them great advice not just with photography but with life in general. Although it was a wet afternoon, this did not spoil the tour - David took us into some really interesting buildings and shared some great tips on how to take a more interesting photograph from differing perspectives. This tour far exceeded our expectations - David was a real joy to listen to (much to our surprise he overran by an hour - we could have gone on for longer), but we walked away with a real enthusiasm for photography. Thank you x

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Dear Anne & family, Thank you so much for coming on the tour and for your lovely review, which is deeply appreciated. It really was a huge pleasure to meet you all and to show you around some of my favourite locations in the city. I'm so glad you found my photography tips useful, they often seem simple, but are hugely powerful when you get the hang of them. I really hope you enjoyed your visit to Edinburgh and please do come back soon and I'd be delighted to show you more of my favourite places. Warmest best wishes to you all, David :-)

More than your average photo walk!

Rebecca_M, Aug 2022

David was a wonderful guide, full of knowledge about Edinburgh. It was enjoyable to talk with a local and get a real feel for the city. I took away a lot of great photography tips. The tour went beyond snapping the obvious sites and pushed me creatively. Thanks David!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you so much Rebecca for this lovely review, which is very deeply appreciated. It really was a great pleasure to meet you and I really enjoyed all your enthusiasm for photography, which made it really good fun. I really hope all my tips help you in the future, especially controlling your exposure in Manual, and I can't wait to see your photographs from your trip. You're an excellent photographer. Enjoy the rest of your holiday and thanks again for coming on the tour. I really hope to meet you again one day and show you more of Edinburgh. Warmest best wishes, David :-)