To protect the privacy of my dating profile clients, I generally use images of my business clients when showing dating photography examples on my website
When it comes to midlife dating support
When it comes to midlife dating support, most women I work with tell me the same thing: it’s hard to find guidance that actually fits where they are in life.
Because dating in midlife is a whole different ballgame.
You’re not who you were in your twenties or thirties – and thank goodness for that. You’ve lived, loved, lost, learned. You know yourself better. You’re clearer on what you want (and what you absolutely don’t). But that doesn’t necessarily make dating feel easier.
In fact, for many women I’ve spoken to, clients, friends, and peers, getting back out there after a long relationship or a significant life shift can feel like stepping into a completely unfamiliar world. The dating landscape has changed, the tech - there's tech?! - can feel overwhelming, and the idea of showcasing yourself online might bring up more questions than answers.
You know, most dating advice out there just isn’t made for women in this stage of life.
It assumes you’re trying to “put yourself out there” with the same energy, priorities, and self-image you had a decade or two ago. But midlife dating calls for something different – something more thoughtful, more grounded, and more supportive.
That’s exactly why I’ve started collaborating with Edinburgh-based dating coach and behavioural scientist Dr Mairi Macleod. And why I’m so keen to offer dating profile photography that truly honours where you are right now – and where you’d like to go next.
How I met Mairi - and why her work stood out
Back in 2022, Dr Mairi Macleod reached out to me to collaborate on her online programme Dating Evolved, which is designed to help midlife women find a lasting, healthy relationship. She asked if I’d create a video module for her members on how to take great dating profile photos – and I was more than happy to say yes.
It’s an area of my work that feels especially meaningful – because I know just how much the right images can shift someone’s confidence, and it’s something I care deeply about.
As a brand photographer working with clients across Edinburgh and Scotland, I’ve seen first-hand the impact that well-thought-out, natural imagery can have – especially when someone is putting themselves out there in a vulnerable and hopeful way.
Dr Mairi MacLeod, "Dating Evolved"
Although we’d worked together online, Mairi and I didn’t actually meet in person until a good while later, at The Outsiders – a fantastic netwalking group for small business owners in and around Edinburgh. We bumped into each other during one of their relaxed walks and instantly clicked.
I already admired her work, but meeting face-to-face confirmed what I’d suspected: Mairi is just as thoughtful, insightful, and genuine in person as she is in her writing and coaching.
She’s a behavioural scientist by "trade", with years of experience researching human relationships and writing for national publications. But what I especially appreciate is how she applies that scientific understanding in a way that’s warm, practical, and empowering – never patronising or fluffy.
From the start, it was clear our work aligned beautifully. Mairi’s approach is all about helping women be seen for who they truly are – not a version they think they “should” be, and not a diminished version that hides their personality either. And that’s exactly what I aim to do with my dating profile photo sessions across Edinburgh and Scotland.
This collaboration has felt less like a business arrangement and more like a shared mission: to help midlife women feel visible, valued, and ready to connect with the right people – in a way that feels completely genuine.
Real stories and shared values
One of the things that first made me take a closer look at Mairi’s work was a close friend of mine who went through her Dating Evolved programme – and absolutely raved about it.
She felt supported, seen, and encouraged throughout the whole process, and her experience wasn’t just about finding someone new (though that happened too).
It was about reconnecting with her own confidence and feeling more sure of what she was looking for – and what she was no longer willing to compromise on.
The Dating Evolved programme
My friend's story really stayed with me. Because so many of the women I work with – whether for brand photography or dating profile photos – are navigating that same sense of redefinition. They’re asking: How do I want to show up now? What do I want people to see? What do I want to feel when I look at my own photos?
That’s the overlap I see in Mairi’s work and mine. We’re both here to offer structure, clarity, offer midlife dating support in our own distinct ways to women who are stepping into something new. Whether it’s a relationship, a business, or simply a fresh chapter, we both believe that women deserve to be seen as the whole, brilliant, multi-layered people they are.
It’s not about reinvention. It’s about re-connection – and showing up in a way that feels true to where you are now.
Where photography and coaching come together
There’s a real art to creating dating profile photos that feel like you: not stiff, not overly staged, and definitely not trying to tick some box you don’t believe in.
A lot of people assume that taking a good dating photo just means “look nice and smile,” but it’s so much more than that. It’s about conveying warmth, personality, confidence, and ease ... The kind of images that make someone pause and want to know more.
And that’s where my background in brand photography really comes into its own.
I’ve spent years helping small business owners across Edinburgh and Scotland show up with clarity and credibility online. Dating profile photography draws on the same skills – guiding someone through a process that helps them feel confident, relaxed, and fully themselves in front of the camera.
Working alongside Mairi means that between us, we’re offering a joined-up experience for midlife women who are navigating online dating: she supports you in getting the words right, and I support you in getting the visuals to match. (And if the idea of updating your dating profile photos feels overwhelming, my blog post on why you need professional photos for your dating profile might help you feel more comfortable about taking that first step.)
Together, we want you to feel not just visible, but proud of how you're showing up - it’s about creating an experience that offers real midlife dating support – through both visuals and words – so you feel fully yourself online. We want you to absolutely know that the person reading your profile and looking at your photos is seeing the real you.
Support that makes you feel seen
Dating in midlife can stir up all sorts of feelings, like hope, nerves, excitement, and self-doubt. It’s a brave thing to do, especially if it’s been a while. And it’s okay to want a bit of support while you figure out how to present yourself in a way that feels absolutely real.
Wherever you are in the dating journey, you deserve midlife dating support that helps you feel visible, confident, and hopeful about what comes next. That’s what my collaboration with Mairi is all about. Between us, we’re here to help you move forward with a clear sense of how you want to be seen – in your photos, in your profile, and in the kind of connections you’re looking to make.
If you’d like help with the visuals, I offer relaxed, supportive dating profile photo sessions in Edinburgh and across Scotland. You can find out more about my dating profile photo sessions here – and if you’d also like some expert help with the words, I can't recommend Mairi’s Dating Profile Review highly enough (And my clients get 30% off, too!).
Here’s what Mairi offers as part of her Dating Profile Review:
use code DPR30 at the checkout for 30% off
Midlife dating support from Dr Mairi MacLeod's "Dating Evolved" programme
This thoughtful process is designed to help you get noticed by the *right* kind of man – and avoid wasting your time and energy on those who aren’t a good match.
It puts you in the best possible position to start dating again with clarity and confidence.
Dating in midlife isn’t about trying to slot back into the dating world of your twenties – it’s about moving forward on your own terms, with a stronger sense of what matters to you and the kind of life you want to share with someone.
That deserves support that reflects where you are now, not where you used to be.
Whether you’re just starting to think about dating again or you’ve been on the apps for a while and feel disheartened, know that there are ways to approach this next chapter that feel more natural, more thoughtful, and more aligned with who you are today. And if you’d like dating profile photos that reflect the real, present-day you, I would love to help you.
Helpful blog posts about dating profile photography:
Posts from my brand photography blog you may find useful:
Whatever your story, you deserve to feel proud of how you’re showing up – and hopeful about what comes next.
