Photographing Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
I know it, I’ve got a fantastic job, being a professional photographer based in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. This is an inspirational place to live and work, and I love photographing the combination of people and landscapes.
Through this series of photographs, I want to share a little of my work, featuring landscapes, family portraits, weddings, commercial work, and events in this beautiful part of Scotland.
Discovering Photography in Loch Lomond
I moved to Loch Lomond 18 years ago. I’d been visiting the area for years before that, drawn like countless others by the fantastic scenery. But living here is different. Spending time here changes how you see the place. You begin to notice how the light shifts hour by hour, how a familiar viewpoint can feel completely new depending on the weather, the time of year, or even your own mood.
It didn’t take long after moving here for me to realise I wanted to be a full-time photographer. In 2010, I set up a photography business, followed shortly by a marketing consultancy.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs spoil you for choice. From loch shores and woodland paths to islands, hills, villages and quiet back roads, there is always somewhere to explore. Even now, after nearly two decades, I still find new angles, new details, and new reasons to stop and take a photograph.
Building a Love Letter to the Area: See Loch Lomond
That growing connection to place eventually led me to create a separate website, See Loch Lomond. It began as a way to share information, photographs, and stories to help people get more from their visits. I wanted it to feel helpful and welcoming rather than promotional, something you might stumble across while planning a trip and feel quietly reassured by.
I still find it hard to believe that over 1.5 million people have visited that site. The feedback has been genuinely humbling. People often tell me they discovered places they wouldn’t have found otherwise, or that it helped them slow down and see the area differently. That, for me, has always been the point. Photography isn’t just about what something looks like, but how it makes you feel and how it invites you to engage.
Alongside that, I’ve built an extensive library of scenic photographs that have been used in magazines and newspapers around the world. These images are also regularly used to promote Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, my own businesses, and wider Scottish tourism.
Wedding Photography in a Landscape That Means Something
One of the most moving parts of my work is photographing weddings across Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. I’ve photographed ceremonies at beautiful venues, private holiday homes, and in locations chosen for their special meaning to the couple.
There’s something incredibly special about documenting a wedding here. The landscape doesn’t compete with the moment; it complements it. I’ve photographed newly married couples rowing a boat as the sun sets behind Ben Lomond, laughter echoing across the water as the day gently winds down. Those moments are fleeting, unscripted, and impossible to recreate, which is precisely why they matter.
Every wedding is different, but they all share a common thread. People choose to commit to each other in a place that feels meaningful, calm, and connected to nature. My role is to observe, to anticipate, and to quietly preserve those moments so they can be revisited long after the day itself has passed.
Family Photography and Shared Time
Family photography is another gratifying part of what I do. I work with families from across Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, some local, some visiting from elsewhere in the UK or from overseas. Often, these sessions coincide with a milestone. A significant birthday, a wedding anniversary, or a rare gathering where everyone has managed to come together in one place.
Many families book holiday homes here, turning a few days into a memorable experience. What strikes me time and again is how rare those moments are. Busy lives mean it’s rare for grandparents, children, and grandchildren to be in the same place at the same time.
A family photography session becomes a way of honouring that. Not overly posed or forced, but relaxed, natural, and rooted in the setting. The result is a set of photographs that act as a lasting souvenir of time spent together in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, a reminder of connection and shared experience.
Training and Sharing Knowledge Through Photography
Alongside client work, I also enjoy working with other photographers. I run one-to-one and group photography training sessions, sharing practical knowledge of camera settings, composition, and reading light. These sessions are as much about confidence as they are about technical skill.
Locations such as Balmaha, Inchcailloch Island, and Luss have provided fantastic backdrops for these courses. They offer a mix of landscape, detail, and changing conditions, which makes them ideal for learning. There’s something very satisfying about watching someone’s understanding click into place, seeing their photographs improve in real time, and knowing they’ll leave with skills they can build on long after the session ends.
Working With Businesses Across the National Park
Over the years, I’ve worked with most of the significant businesses and organisations across Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. My role often goes beyond simply taking photographs. It’s about understanding how images will be used, how they tell a story, and how they support marketing and communication.
I’ve worked with Steamship Sir Walter Scott on Loch Katrine, a remarkable vessel built in 1899 and sailing since 1900. Photographing something with that level of history carries its own sense of responsibility. I’ve also worked with businesses such as the Oak Tree Inn, Cameron House Hotel, and Cruise Loch Lomond, as well as organisations such as the Great Trossachs Forest and the West Highland Way, which runs through Scotland’s first national park.
In each case, the aim is the same. To create imagery that feels authentic, grounded, and reflective of what people actually experience when they visit or engage with these businesses.
Charity, Conservation and Giving Back
Charitable work has always been important to me. I’ve previously been a trustee and business supporter for Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, a conservation and heritage charity.
Working with charities brings photography back to its roots. It becomes about documentation, advocacy, and care. About helping organisations communicate why a place matters and why it should be protected for future generations.
Books, Commissions and Ongoing Stories
My work regularly appears in magazines and online publications, and I’m often commissioned for specific projects tied to the area. I’ve also published a book, 101 Things to Do in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, which has sold thousands of copies. That book was another way to share not just places but also ideas, experiences, and ways to engage more deeply with the park.
Alongside that, I photograph engagements and surprise proposals, maternity sessions, and couples who may have married elsewhere but want photographs in Loch Lomond as part of their story. I’ve photographed couples in places like Balmaha who connect with this landscape in a meaningful way.
While I do work elsewhere in Scotland and enjoy that variety, it’s always a pleasure to return home and continue working in a place that has given me so much, both professionally and personally.
Photographing Moments That Matter
At the heart of all of this is a simple idea. People come to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs to slow down, celebrate, reflect, and spend meaningful time together. My role is to witness that and to capture it honestly.
Every photograph is a small act of preservation—a way of holding onto light, emotion, and place. I feel incredibly fortunate to do this work here, in a landscape I care deeply about.
If you’re planning a visit, celebrating something special, or want to capture a moment that matters to you in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, I’d love to hear from you.
About Paul Saunders
I am a Professional Photographer based in Drymen, Loch Lomond, capturing natural and authentic portraits amongst beautiful Scottish scenery. I photograph weddings, families and businesses across Scotland. Please get in touch if I can help you with any kind of photography here in the National Park, or anywhere in Central Scotland. Call/message me on 07810 481426, email me at paul@paulsaundersphotography.com, or get in touch using the contact page of this website.
