Jo Hanley Photography : Edinburgh

I specialise in portrait photography from my base in Edinburgh — making professional portraits and business headshots that feel honest, human and useful. My approach is narrative-led: I’m less interested in airbrushed perfection and more interested in real expressions, natural posture and portraits that say something about the person and the role they hold. Why choose Jo Hanley for your portrait work? Because I bring documentary instincts to studio and on-location shoots. That means quick, decisive lighting and direction combined with a patience for small, revealing moments. Whether you need a crisp LinkedIn headshot, a suite of executive portraits or relaxed staff photography for company profiles, I focus on creating images that will work across websites, reports and social platforms while retaining a distinct, editorial sensibility. My process is straightforward and designed to put people at ease. We start with a short briefing: who the portraits are for, where they’ll live and what tone they should convey. On the day I keep things efficient and conversational — a few simple prompts, small adjustments and plenty of gentle encouragement. The result is a collection of images that look effortless because they were made with intention. What I bring to each job is decades of experience producing portrait and corporate photography across the UK. My work balances technical control with an appetite for the imperfect — the hair out of place, the laugh at the wrong moment, the weather that ruins plans and then gives you the shot you didn’t expect. Those imperfections are often the things that make a portrait memorable. For businesses, I provide consistent, brand-aware headshots that read well together and support recruitment, PR and internal comms. For individuals I craft portraits that feel authentic and professional — ideal for LinkedIn, speaker bios and press. Because portrait is my primary discipline, you get a specialist focus: considered lighting, flattering yet honest framing, and an emphasis on personality over posture. If you’d like portraits with character that also perform commercially, I’m happy to discuss your brief and how we’d approach it. Based in Edinburgh, I work across the city and the UK and tailor each session to the needs of the client — practical, personable and picture-led.