SCOTLAND - The Storyteller's Photo Guide

If you like travel and photography (and who doesn’t because they are the perfect combo), this is the book for you. It’s a lovely mix of a travel book and a “best of pictures taken while traveling “ book that makes you want to go and see all these places yourself. Then it is mixed in with cute little stories about what happened there and specific advice for when to go to get the best photos. This really opens up Scotland to the reader. I’ve traveled there a handful of times and have been to many of the places but not to a lot of them as well, but they all are captured beautifully through the photos in this book. I got lost for hours reading and looking at the pictures and would do it again. It makes me want to take my wife back to Scotland tomorrow. I’ve got to go… I’m looking for flights… should I fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow? Well, let me look at this book again.

A free copy of this was provided to me for an honest review on Net Galley.

As someone from Scotland, I really loved seeing all the views in this book. All the photos look stunning and it has made me want to go travel and see all of these places that are near me. This book provides plenty of scottish destinations to visit and notes on travelling there are provided which I thought was a nice touch to help people get an idea of how to get there. I also thought that the descriptions of the places were well done and not too much. There was additional signs and symbols for each place to get an understanding of when to visit and how hard it is to get to the location. Additionally, tips were provided throughout and there were challenges for the reader to add an element of interaction. There was also a huge variety of locations from castles, to bridges. I think it would be very useful if you were planning on visiting Scotland.

It is rare that a travel guide offers photo tips, anecdotes, general tips about when to visit, what is available, how long the walk is, and the difficulty levels for the photos, tide levels etc.
The range of photo spots covered is good.

First of all, Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. This is an incredible, interactive (it contains links to better access to infos) and fulfilled photo travel guide to enjoy every beautiful (and meaningful) spot from Scotland.To professional photographers to random tourists, this photo guide can help appreciate (and make registers from it too!) the beauty of this marvelous and magic country.

What an interesting and unique photo guide! On top of a series of gorgeous photographs, author Joana Kruse gives us a full menu of useful information about each location, practical tips such as best time of day to shoot, where to park and how easy it is to get to the site, and links to more information. Also sprinkled throughout the book are suggestions for infusing your creativity and unique voice into your photographs. But the aspect of the book that makes it truly unique is a fun through narrative imagining Kruse and her traveling partner interacting with a series of quirky locals. The story underscores the Scottish culture that informs all of the locations: it is full of Scottish folklore and a wee bit of magic.

As a descendent of Scots I consider Scotland my heart home, and I have immersed myself in its history, culture, legends and even food. I’ve toured many of the places in the book, and the glorious photography made me a bit homesick, but eager for another trip so I can find some of the places I haven’t been. My only complaint is that there were not even more pictures- many locations only had one photo, and the list after each section of other sites made it clear that there was plenty more to see. Kruse concentrates on wild locations; cities other than Edinburgh are not covered. That’s okay - especially when it becomes clear that one of her interests is ecotourism and sustainable travel. She even has information at the end of the book on where to find electric charging stations and good vegan food.

If all of this content seems overwhelming, it is, a bit…it’s hefty enough that I don’t think it would be practical to carry along in a backpack (although a girl can dream). Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This fantastic travel guide is stuffed full of charming stories and gorgeous pictures.

I will bookmark this guide for my next Scottish trip. I typically enjoy self-guided travel and found including links for parking guides and viewpoints most helpful. What a great idea!

I also loved the little key tips peppered throughout. These are excellent recommendations for ensuring you are getting the most out of your experience and photos!

Some of my favorites were part of the Northern and Eastern landscape. Just stunning.

Informative and helpful, since I have a Scotland trip planned so it great that this dived by region.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC.

Wow. This is the most unique and comprehensive guide for Scotland I have ever seen!

It is chock full of gorgeous photographs and the most brilliant advice about photography but what sets it apart is that it presents almost like a novel - the quirky story of Joan and Brian travelling through Scotland, hunting the Traveller's Mark.

Every location is described with photo potential, difficulty of terrain, best time to visit, a 'did you know' bonmot and even parking info. It is hugely helpful and not just a 'best of Scotland' type of book!

There are photography tips galore, a section on Scottish words and phrases and even a guide to sustainable travel and being vegan in Scotland.

With 984 pages it has Outlander dimensions but you don't need to read it chronologically. It's fantastic for dipping in and out depending on where in Scotland you plan to travel. I know I will use this extensively on my next trip!

Scotland, a story teller’s photo guide, is truly a unique and non-tradition travel guide and I loved it! This guide weaves together practicality, instruction, and inspiration, and creativity. As one who loves photography, I truly appreciated the tips and suggestions for positioning, lighting, and settings. I loved that so many places in Scotland were covered, taking you beyond the traditional sites. When I finally get there one day and travel beyond my armchair, this will be a companion guide I will want with me.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Scotland The Storyteller’s Photo Guide provides details of more than 155 locations in Scotland for photos, photography tutorials, challenges, and travel tips. The book is organized with each section of the country and a list of the locations with great photos to demonstrate the beauty of each area. There is a story interwoven in the photo guide that details the adventures of two photographers, Joana and Brian.

I would recommend this book for people traveling to Scotland. As a photographer with an upcoming trip to Scotland, it was useful in planning out locations to visit, times, and where to stand for the best photo. You will need to download the app, what3words, for the links provided in the text. This app is similar to Google maps and allows you to save the locations. I would have preferred for the story to be separate from the guide, it was distracting me from the locations and details of each site.

Thank you BooksGoSocial and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

This book was very easy to look at, the formatting and graphics were great. I really enjoyed this book, and will be getting a hard copy!

Joana Kruse’s The Storyteller's Photo Guide is a gorgeous look at Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. The book blends stunning photos with engaging stories, perfectly capturing Scotland’s landscapes and culture. It’s not just a visual treat but also a great source of inspiration for travelers and photography lovers. If you’re fascinated by Scotland’s beauty and history, this guide offers a unique and captivating perspective.

As a visual storyteller myself, the thought of this book really exited me. I was pleased to find that the narrative was also enriching and thoughtful. My husband and I are off to Scotland ourselves in just a few weeks and this book will play both inspiration and guide! The images are evocative and the Author shares some wonderful tips to enhance ones photography skills. I couldn't recommend this enough to enthusiasts and pro's alike!

Princess Fuzzypants here: This book would be a treasure just for the stunning photography of Scotland. The pictures are evocative and beautiful. But the authors take a couple of turns from your usual guide books. They build stories around the photography to give it more depth and essence. The stories are entertaining. That would keep the average person quite content.

But they add one more important turn. They not only take the pictures, they tell the reader how they can take their own. They include everything from ease of access to the angles and to the times of day to get the best shots. For the photographers in the readers, this would be a most valuable addition. Less so, perhaps, for the photographers who pull out their iPhones and shoot.

I wish I had an actual printed book rather than an ARC. I think it would be one that could be brought out and perused at leisure. Five purrs and two paws up.

I thought this was amazing and I’m ready to go to Scotland. Seriously I love how the author communicated the places and it was very easy to use and understand.
I highly recommend it.
Thanks BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.

#SCOTLANDTheStorytellersPhotoGuide #NetGalley #booksgosocial

As someone planning a trip to Scotland in 2026, SCOTLAND - The Storyteller's Photo Guide by Joana Kruse couldn't have come at a better time. My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this beautifully presented book, and it has already helped us plan some of the key areas we'd love to visit during our trip.

The book is not only filled with stunning photography but also packed with relevant information for each location. Every destination featured comes with historical context, details on the best time to visit, and information on the difficulty level of accessing the site, making it an excellent resource for travellers.

Whether you're planning a trip or simply love learning about Scotland's breathtaking landscapes, this guide is a wonderful companion. The combination of visual beauty and practical advice makes it a must-have for anyone exploring the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Thank you to NetGalley and JoanaImages Publishing for gifting me an e-book ARC of SCOTLAND - The Storyteller's Photo Guide in exchange for my honest review. It's truly a beautiful guide!