https://quietmorningsphoto.com/

Quiet Mornings Photography, Midmar (2026)

15/07/2026

Ongoing projects for you to be a part of.

While I have a deep love for documenting the stories that matter to you, there are stories I believe need to be told. Mostly about the quiet beauty I find in things the world has written off.

These stories are too important to wait for someone to ask me to document, so
I made a list of themes I want to create work around. If one of the concepts speaks to you, I would love for you to be part of the project.

Natural aging. On women with grey(ing) hair.

For this project, I’m creating portraits of women with grey(ing) hair. Your age isn’t important, although I would love to include as many decades as possible.

Together with the photo session, we’ll record a conversation about the work we created.

In exchange you’ll receive 10 photos.

Vulnerability. On taking off your mask.

For this project, I’m looking for people who are willing to be vulnerable, and have their portrait taken without the mask they wear in everyday life.

It takes a lot of courage and trust to be vulnerable, and you’ll need time to grow comfortable with me, so I can offer this as a free 30-minute add-on at the end of your portrait session.

In exchange you’ll receive 3 photos.

Scars. Stories of hurt and healing.

This is a fairly new idea, and I’m not sure yet why I’m drawn to the subject. But in my experience, sometimes the reason comes to the surface after you’ve started creating. So, I’m just going to put it out into the world.

Together with the photo session, we’ll record a conversation about the work we created.

In exchange you’ll receive 10 photos.

Want to participate? This is how you get in touch.

What you need to know before you apply.

I have a clear vision for these series, and not everyone is a good fit. So you may not get accepted.

My client work comes first, so it might be a while before I can edit your photos.

You have to be ok with publication of the photos and parts of the recording.

If you take issue with any of these points, but do want to work with me, please book a portrait session instead.

The specifics.

Write me a note – either through the contact form on my website, or via email. Tell me a little bit about yourself,

10/07/2026

How we can work together.

What I do.

At the core of my work lies a deep love for telling the stories that often go unnoticed. The everyday, the in-between, and the things you prefer to keep to yourself.

As these stories aren’t limited to just one aspect of life, I offer five types of photography: portrait, wedding, brand, family, and couples.

Swipe to learn more.

Portraits.

Weddings.

Brands.

Families.

Couples.

This is a collaboration.

As your story is central to the work we create, this has to be collaboration. If you want stunning images that document this time in your life, or that reflect your work, you have to show at least a little bit of yourself.

I know, that might feel a bit scary and vulnerable, but I promise you, as long as you’re willing to work together with me, you’re going to be fine.

Where I work.

As I live on the side of a hill, in the middle of nowhere in Aberdeenshire, most of my work is created in Scotland.

But being from the Netherlands, and travelling back several times a year, I’m well connected to most of Europe – and the world for that matter.

So let’s meet some place that’s meaningful to you.

When you should get in touch.

For weddings, as soon as you have a date. I love weddings, but I can only take on a very limited number each year.

For everything else – including elopements – 6 to 12 weeks gives us enough time to comfortably book you in and prepare for your session.

And if you have something on shorter notice, but are ready to book, just send a message. We can probably make it work.

Sustainability & Inclusivity.

Quiet Mornings is by design a sustainable and inclusive company. This means that during our work together, we’re mindful of our impact on the environment, we accept each other as we are, and we both can ask for accommodations when we need to.

For a full list of our practices, visit the website.

Curious about what we can create together?

Schedule a wee blether so we can explore the possibilities.

01/07/2026

Hi, I’m Hester. The person behind the camera.
Swipe to get to know me a little.

The basics.

What I do: I document the quiet beauty in your life and/or work.
Where I live: in the middle of nowhere, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
What I love: good food, deep conversations, quiet mornings, the theatre and cinema.
Who I work with: people who want photos that truly reflect who they are.

My style of photography.

Quiet beliefs.

Your memories are more important than the perfect picture.
Your photos should reflect who you are.
Beauty can be found everywhere, if you know how to see it.
Your wedding is only about the two of you and the things you value.
You are already interesting enough.
Your story deserves to be documented.
The internet’s opinion can go in the bin.

Why people work with me.

Working with me is a deeply personal experience. It starts and ends with you.
Who you are, what you value, the things
and people you hold close to your heart.

The stories that truly matter often need some time to unfold, so this isn’t going to be quick. But I promise you this: throughout the entire process, I offer you a safe space to tell your story at your own pace, and help you however needed to turn it into a document you can hold onto forever.

This is one of the most important
photos I have of myself. But that’s a story that doesn’t
belong on the internet.

How I feel about texting.

To be honest, texts are my least favourite form of communication. If it’s not urgent and it’s a simple question, sure, send me a text. But calls and emails are so much more convenient for planning and organising. Maybe this means I’m old, but I’ll happily accept that label.

My aversion to texting might explain my regular breaks from social media.

My favourite types of food: snacks, dessert, soup, bread, salad.

What you may not know.

This is not just me showing up with my camera, but putting a ridiculously diverse skill set developed over decades of studying art, working in fashion, being a chaplain, and travelling the world into practice. The combination of my knowledge of composition, fabrics, and colours, my ability to hold space for your story, and my skill to make the most of your chosen

03/06/2026

Last week, I gave away a print to celebrate my birthday and it turned into such a lovely experience. I got to dive into my archive of photos from 3,5 years ago when we spent some time on the Isle of Skye. Photos I had not yet seen before because right after that visit our lives got taken over by moving countries. And then after we settled into our new home, I had simply forgotten that this folder of files existed. But what a joy it was to rediscover them, and then send one of them to a new home.

25/04/2026

An appreciation post for our incredible team:

for organising this with me.
for the beautiful venue.
and for the lovely hair and makeup.
for the stunning dresses.co for the wild flowers of my dreams.
for the incredible stationery and engraving.
for the golf, content creation, and the unintentional recreation of a horror movie.
for a delicious cake, and a design that matched one of the dresses.
And for being our model for the day.

22/04/2026

I’m going to be really honest with you for a minute: I find a lot of photos really boring. With our lives being oversatured with images, and spending so much time looking at strangers’ photos (and the number of likes and comments they get), that we’ve reached a state where it feels more safe to replicate what we know than create something unique.

So we resort to shotlists and moodboards, practicing soft smiles, and choosing performance over experience, just to make sure we get the perfect phots. The same ones everyone else has. The ones that show not one ounce of your personality. And I would like that to stop.

Because why would you have your photos taken only for them to turn out like everyone else’s? That’s not the point. The point is to document you, your life, your facial expressions, the way your body moves, how you hold your loved ones, the people and things that matter to you.

And of course, there is a place for shotlists and moodboards in the process of preparation. But that’s where we’ll leave them. They’re here to serve as inspiration for the location, your outfit, and the overal vibe of your photo series. They’re not there to be copied. Because the interesting photos are created when we lean into the moment. And that can never happen when we’ll constantly worry about the outcome.

Two things to end this note on:

1. For people looking for a deeply personal approach to their photos, let’s chat about working together on creating your next photo series.
2. For photographers who want to learn about creating a more personal approach, I have some space for Quiet Conversations in the coming weeks.

14/04/2026

I have a train ticket to London and some time for photo sessions. So if you are in or near London, and want to work with me, this is your chance.

Think city brand portraits, a seaside family session, or a cosy coffee date in a park.

Between 30 May and 2 June I have three spaces available.

And because I already have my train ticket, I’m waiving my travel fees from Aberdeenshire.

13/04/2026

A little over a year ago, I began working in my studio. What started out as something unsure in an unfamiliar place, grew quietly into a practice of flower photography, teaching, and deep conversations. So how fitting to spent my anniversary their with flowers from a styled shoot I never thought I’d organise.

These photos move me. Not just the flower portraits that remind me of passing time, and energy and emotions flowing, but also the ones I took of my studio. A space I reluctantly accepted for lack of something better, a space I often resented throughout the year, and a space I now deeply care for because it allows me to create without the pressure for it to be anything.

Flowers gifted by .co

10/04/2026

For this post I selected some of my favourite photos of our styled shoot at Elsick House. What I love most about this selection is that it shows that even the smallest of details can create a completely different vibe. So before you start planning your wedding, give some thought on how you want it to feel. That will make the process a little bit easier.

Team:
Hester van Dam // Scotland photographer

Elsick House
Wild & Coral
Donia Rae | Calligraphy & Engraving
Wedding Cakes Aberdeenshire and Beyondco
hannahbaileymua
Rachel Spence Bridal Hair & MakeUp /Edinburgh/Scotland
Tricker Bridal: Sample, Bespoke & Vintage Wedding Dresses

07/04/2026

One of my favourite things about being a photographer is the range of what I get to document. From small weddings, new families, creative personal portraits, and love stories to small events like Slow Living Scotland’s Festive Fayre.

While all of them sound wildly different, in every situation it comes down to one thing: creating a connection with the person on the other side of my camera. And when I focus on you, the circumstances don’t matter so much anymore.

Quiet Mornings Photography

15/07/2026

10/07/2026

01/07/2026

03/06/2026

25/04/2026

22/04/2026

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10/04/2026

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