This portrait of Megan was taken at Glen Etive in the Scottish Highlands — one of Scotland's most dramatic and remote locations, made famous as a James Bond filming location in Skyfall.
Megan, an American who has completed all of Scotland's Munros, chose Glen Etive as the perfect backdrop for her elopement portraits — a place that truly reflects her love of Scotland's wild landscape.
Shot in full Highland sun with no shade, this image presented one of the technical challenges I love most — working with harsh, uncontrolled natural light to create something soft and timeless. Megan's lace-back mermaid gown by Brides in the City, Glasgow, flows beautifully against the glen's green hillsides, with the Buachaille Etive Mor ridge forming a natural frame in the distance.
This session was a gift — a way of celebrating not just their wedding but their shared love of the Scottish outdoors. It's exactly the kind of photography I love most: adventurous, personal, and rooted in a real connection to place.
Here's what Megan's husband said about working with me: "We used Derek both for our elopement last year and our full wedding this year. Battling weather and terrain in the highlands was quite an ordeal, but Derek's professionalism and lightheartedness made the whole experience enjoyable. As somebody who doesn't enjoy getting their photo taken, Derek's demeanour is perfect — the right balance of seriousness and fun."
Planning an elopement or adventure portrait session in the Scottish Highlands? I would love to hear about it.
Location: Glen Etive, Ballachulish, PH49 4HZ, Scottish Highlands.
Keywords: Documentary Wedding (7), elopement, outdoor wedding photo, Scottish Highlands.