DNphoto Blog

New photo-cover albums

2009-06-11T04:05:00.000-07:00

We'd like to welcome you to our next generation of magazine albums. We are now introducing our albums with a photo-cover option to replace the previous dust-cover. This allows us to deliver you an even more professional and long lasting cover which, I'm sure you'll agree looks absolutely stunning. For those of you who have opted for our magazine albums we will now be providing this as standard. We hope you'll be as delighted as we are with this improvement.

Our premium album covers - both the acrylic and metallic covers - are still available and take the overall quality and finish to the next level. Just let us know if you'd like to find out more about the choices or watch this space and we'll add some images for you as we've got a few albums that are hot off the press to show you.

Lisa and William, Saturday 6th June, Motherwell

2009-06-11T03:36:00.000-07:00

The sun shone at all the right moments today, making it extra special for Lisa and William who, judging from the smiles and laughter, had an amazing day.

My coverage begins with the bride getting ready before the ceremony and I got some great shots of 'the girls' which capture all the ecxcitement.

The wedding ceremony took place at Our Lady of Good Aid in Motherwell and it was a spectacular venue which provided a great backdrop for many of their photgraphs both during and after the ceremony. This was ideal as Lisa also had a spectacular dress which perfectly suited the grand scale of the church. I took plenty of shots that show it off to it's best advantage.

They headed off to the Strathavan hotel afterwards where, after the formals, I got to spend some more time with the couple for some very relaxed portraits. Lisa and William were so happy that their smiles and expressions came naturally.

It was another great day and thanks to Lisa and William for being so good to work with.

Carol and Chris, Saturday 16th May, Cameron House

2009-06-11T02:56:00.000-07:00

I had a great time today working with Carol and Chris and everything their wedding went like a dream. Their ceremony took place at Kilmaranock Church, which is a hidden gem in the countryside to the East of Loch Lomond.

Every wedding and every couple are so completely different and that has to be what keeps the job so interesting.

So, even when revisiting a location, a different couple can bring a completely fresh perspective and take things in totally different direction. After capturing the day's events in a reportage style and taking the formals, I spent time around the grounds of Cameron House shooting some more stylised and fun portarits with Carol and Chris.

My day ended after the couple's first dance and I left them as the party got underway. The couple and their families made me feel so welcome and it was a real pleasure to be there.

Gail particularly like the 'aisle' shots as Carol and Chris are bursting with happiness, but I've added a few of my personal favourite below.

2009-05-11T15:03:00.000-07:00

I have a few commercial clients that I do regular work for and, as my site focuses more on the social photography side of the business, I probably don't showcase it as much.

However I thought I'd share this one where the magazine was looking for some creative shots for a feature. I had a carte blanche to come up with a different perspective on the city centre shopping hotspots.

Dan And Joe, 14th March, Loch Lomond Youth Hostel

2009-05-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

There was a great party atmosphere from the offset at Dan and Joe's wedding and the couple, who live in Brighton, pulled out all the stops to give their friends and family (both from here and down south) a real Scottish shindig that was befitting of the grand house and lochside setting.

It was a really happy occasion and I worked to get the shots as the events unfolded - starting with documenting the hustle and bustle as the Joe and her bridesmaid were getting ready, through to the ceilidh getting underway. Yes, this was everything Scottish even down to the traditional fayre served up for their guests - of course, we're talking curry here!

I enjoyed taking the shots of the guys before the ceremony and everyone seemed to enjoy the group shots. One of my favourite shots was a reportage shot taken in the bride's room, where the glare from the window creates a lovely sunburst that adds a bit of sparkle to the image.

Lynn and Neil Saturday 7th March, Edinburgh

2009-05-11T13:56:00.000-07:00

Lynn and Neil were a great couple to work with. They were so relaxed and took everything in their stride. The whole affair was very intimate, sophisticated and quite chilled-out.

The shots captured a lot of the details of the day - starting with the pre ceremony reception at The Howard, while the bride was getting ready. Lynn and Neil wanted to capture a bit of the 'Edinburgh vibe' - so we had a bit of fun after the ceremony at the Lothian Chambers with some of the city's great architecture as a backdrop.

The wonderfully intimate atmosphere continued back at the hotel where, after the group shots, their guests joined them around the banqeting table for the start of the evening celebrations.

I was delighted witht the results as I got a great mix of reportage, details and some good classic portraits while still keeping their natural expressions.

Some of my favourite shots were taken in the evening outside the hotel. The black and white images, show off the reflections of the rain on the cobbles. (Although Gail was quite alarmed at the bus appearing around the corner)

Contemporary portraits

2009-02-27T05:10:00.000-08:00

Even though it was was a freezing cold day, Lucy was brave enough to hit the streets of Glasgow with me to shoot some 'edgy' portaits for her. We started off in the West End and headed to George Square via the subway. Lucy was thrilled with her images so it was well worth putting up with the banter we got from the locals.

Gold award

2009-02-27T03:14:00.000-08:00

Just recieved another certificate in the post! This one is a Gold Award for an image submitted to the SWPP monthly competition. This is the second gold award I've recieved since I started entering the competitions last year. This is the winning image of Callum and Pauline who's wedding I shot last July.

Scottish Wedding Directory

2009-01-13T05:59:00.000-08:00

A great number of our clients first come across our images in the SWD magazine - to which we regularly contribute images to support their editorial features. As the latest of their bi-annual issues has just hit the shelves we thought we'd share a few of them with you. You may recognise them if you're flicking through the magazine.

Elaine and Jim

2008-12-15T06:53:00.000-08:00

It's great to see couples whose weddings I have shot come back to me again with their new families!

Here are a couple of shots from a family portrait session with Elaine and Jim.

Carol and Iain, Saturday 22nd November

2008-12-15T06:42:00.000-08:00

Picture the scene... a busy Saturday afternoon in Glasgow's West End with a little sprinkling of snow before the ceremony. A very relaxed and happy atmosphere here, witht he bride leaving on foot from The Grosvenor across the road to Oran Mor for the ceremony and reception. The couple joined me outside for a while to take some fun street shots and I spent time capturing the happy expressions of the couple and all their guests.

Good to see Laura and David as guests here, too, after shooting their wedding almost a year earlier.

Pamela and Craig, Friday 21st November

2008-12-15T06:33:00.000-08:00

The start of a busy weekend! Today was the wedding of Craig and Pamela which took place at Stepps Parish Church and afterwards of to Glenskirlie. There was quite an atmosphere at the house when I arrived to take shots of Pamela beforehand - thanks to all the bridesmaids and flowergirls! It was a lovely bday and although sunny it was deceptively cold, so we took most of the group shots in the sanctuary of the church!

The coupled braved the cold back at the hotel for a while for their portraits and escaped to the warmth of their room for a few more relaxed shots.

Aileen and Ross, Staurday 26th September

2008-12-15T06:29:00.000-08:00

This wedding started off locally for me, at Bishopton Parish Church and then headed down to The Gailes, in Irvine. I stopped off at the beach with Ross and Aileen before they went on to the hotel to join their guests and we managed to get some of the fantastic shots they had hoped as they walked across the sand. I've put a few of my favourites here.

Jillian and Stuart, Saturday 6th September

2008-12-15T06:21:00.000-08:00

Jillian and Stuart's wedding ceremnony took place at Kirkton Church, Carluke and afterwards headed off to Cornhill House in Biggar. We managed to avoid the rain long enough to get some great shots outside. There was a real party atmosphere back at the hotel with plently of great reactions and laughter during the speeches.

Kirsten and Giles, Drumintoul Lodge, nr Aviemore, Saturday 9th August

2008-08-21T03:55:00.000-07:00

This was an amazing rural location which gave loads of opportunities for Kirsten and Giles' photos. Here are a few of my favourites from the day - taken at the water's edge and using some of the old buildings around the grounds as a backdrop.

Claire and Andy, Nether Barfod, Lochwinnoch, Saturday 26th July.

2008-08-21T03:38:00.000-07:00

This was a wedding with a difference and a real family affair. The venue was the groom's father's farm in Lochwinnoch where a huge marquee had been set up to cater for everything.

The day started off with the bride's arrival on a horse and carriage and after the the ceremony the whole carnival atmosphere began.

The marquee had a soft play area set up for the kids and outside thet had bouncy castles and a trampoline and a magician to keep all the young ones entertained while the 'grown ups' got on with the partying.

In keeping with the relaxed and fun atmoshpere of the day, I aimed at catching a lot of the images of the events as they happened, keeping things fairly loose. Claire and Andy then took some time out from the party to spend getting some more creative shots.

It was a wedding that I thouroughly enjoyed !

John and Rosaline, Holy Trinity, Motherwell and Roman Camp Hotel, Callendar, Friday 25th July.

2008-08-21T03:21:00.000-07:00

I arrived to photograph Rosaline before the ceremony and have to say that she is one of the calmest brides I have ever seen!

Their ceremony was conducted by a close family friend and afterwards the couple and their guest journeyed to the Roman Camp hotel for their reception. It was a fantastic day and the sun was splitting the sky - which was great for the couple (and a bit more of a challenge for me).

I took the couple down to the river for some of their shots while their families made the most of the great day with a drinks reception on the lawn.

Catriona and Euan, Duntreath Castle, Saturday 19th July

2008-08-21T02:57:00.000-07:00

This was a spectacular wedding, which took place at Bearsden Parish Church and followed by a reception at Duntreath Castle.

Catriona arrived in an unusual, and very stylish car - a vintage Bean (we had to google it to make sure we got that right!)which set the tone for the whole day.

After the ceremony the couple took their guests to Duntreath Castle, which is a real hidden treasure and, from the moment you set eyes on it as you approach, you can tell why the couple new this had to be their venue.

The grounds were immaculate and this stunning backdrop, with a beatiful pond, bridges and endless opportunities is a photographer's dream.

I made sure that I got the shots of Catriona and Euan from across the pond as these are the images she had in her mind and were one of her reasons for choosing the venue.

The couple hosted their meal and evening entertainment in a marquee set in the castle grounds.

By the time I'm getting round to publishing this post Catriona and Euan have returned from their honeymoon and I can say that Catriona was delighted with the results when she came to view her proofs.

As we photograph so many weddings with couples who live at a distance, its always great to see first hand the reactions of our clients when we show them their photographs in person.

Rod and Gayle - Western House Hotel, Ayr - Saturday 12th July

2008-07-14T16:14:00.000-07:00

It was a gorgeous, sunny day for Rod and Gayle's wedding which took place at a Portland Parish Church in Troon.

Rod's family had travelled from down south for the occassion, and both families were great to be around. There was a real party atmosphere at the hotel with the Gaelic folk group, The Whistlebinkies, playing in the open-air bandstand. This was a bit of a scoop for the couple as the band (who I believe also played at Stella McCartney's wedding) don't normally play at weddings.

I had loads of great opportunities to photograph the couple around the hotel grounds and I managed to capture the natural and relaxed images they were after, with a great mix of reportage and more stylised shots.

Gary and Michelle - Caledonian Hilton, Edinburgh - Friday 11th July

2008-07-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

Off to Edinburgh today for the wedding of Gary and Michelle which was taking place at the Caledonian Hilton.

The hotel is right in the heart of Edinburgh, amidst all the hustle and bustle and inside the atmosphere was great. The couple and their guests enjoyed aspects of the castle from the windows of the ceremony and reception rooms.

Although Michelle was a little nervous, she was absolutley radiant and they both seemed to relax and enjoy the ceremony.

Raj's Graduation - Strathclyde University - Wednesday 9th July

2008-07-14T15:59:00.000-07:00

Raj's family have had a lot of reason's to celebrate over the last year and I've been privileged to capture all these special occasion's for them. Today I was off to Strathclyde University for Raj's graduation. The grounds around the Business school are a like a well kept secret in the heart of the City Centre and gave us all an interesting background to capture Raj with his family and friends.

Callum and Pauline - Saturday 5th July

2008-07-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

If you've been following the blog, then you may remember Callum and Pauline's pre- wedding shoot from a few weeks ago. The couple held their service in Neilston Parish Church and took themselves and their guests off to Melville Castle, Edinburgh for their reception.

The couple had a great time at their wedding (which for Pauline was only one highlight of her week -having completed her Queen's Guide award on the Monday, married on Saturday and graduating on Wednesday) Having endured such an exhausting week, Callum and Pauline have now set of on a ten month world tour. We can't wait to see your travel blog, guys - and we'll try not to get too jealous!

They put their faith in David to come up with some great shots and, when they came over for a sneaky peek at some of their shots before they jetted off, I think they might even have exceeded their expectations.

We have been promised a viewing of their own holiday snaps when they return!!!

Jamie and Lisa - Friday 4th July

2008-07-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

Up to Pitlochry today for the wedding of Jamie and Lisa at the Atholl Palace. Everyone's fingers were crossed that the rain would stay away and, against the odds, the outdoor ceremony went ahead. Lisa's arrival was marked by the sound of pipes and she was led by the piper all the way down to the gardens - making a really spectacular entrance!

The couple were very enthusiastic about getting their photographs taken and were happy to move around all the great locations in the hotel grounds - with some amazing results.

Chris and Verona - Saturday 28th June

2008-07-14T14:58:00.000-07:00

David was off to one of his favourite parts of the country to shoot the wedding of Chris and Verona. The couple were getting married at Kilchrenan Church and were off to the Ardanaseig Hotel afterwards for their reception. It was an idyllic setting (one of the reason we like to escape up there ourselves)and David reports that they day itself was very tranquil. This must have had an effect on Chris and Verona as David felt they were quite relaxed and relishing in everything that was happening. The grounds were beautiful and it was a real pleasure to spend time with them in all the little nooks and crannies around this fabulous backdrop.

Hanretty's family portrait

2008-07-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

This shoot was done on the quiet as the family were wanting to surprise their parent's with a gift for their silver wedding anniversary. They wanted to keep the photo-shoot quite relaxed and informal and their parent's were really pleased with the results. Having the photographs taken outside (environmental portaits) brings another dimensions to an image - it tends to lose all the stuffines and formality you associate with a portrait and captures a bit more personality.

2008 'wedding season' well under way

2008-07-14T14:27:00.000-07:00

We're now well into our 7th summer wedding season - and what can we say? It's been our busiest summer yet and things just keep getting better! David has been working extremely hard - shooting portraits midweek as well as weddings at the weekend and of course, aiming to get everyone's proofs out on time. So, I'll be taking over the blog for a few weeks and will be keeping you up-to-date on the latest shoots.

Most of our couples have opted for our custom-designed Bellissimo albums this year and we're looking forward to getting our new sample albums delivered this week. If you like the look of the images on our site and would like to see how we can put the whole thing together for you then give us a call.

Gail

Saturday 21st June p.m. Bishopton Day 2008!

2008-06-25T02:55:00.000-07:00

One of my last 'free' Saturdays for a while and quite pleased that it was on 'Bishopton Gala Day' which meant that I got time to spend with the kids while they got time to spend my money. The village has a great atmosphere on the Gala day which carried on after the main event with a kid's party at the local pub and off to friends for a b-b-q in the evening. I tried out my new Cannon Ixus compact camera and got some good shots of the Jez Avery stunt show.

Saturday 21st June a.m. - Pauline and Callum

2008-06-25T02:46:00.000-07:00

I met up with Pauline and Callum this morning for a pre-wedding shoot. The location this time was Paisley. They were a great, fun couple and relaxed quite easily in front of the camera and I'm now looking forward to shooting their wedding in a few week's time.

Friday 20th June - Abi's graduation

2008-06-25T02:39:00.000-07:00

This photo-shoot was the start of a busy weekend for me with portraits on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I shot Abi's wedding in August last year and it was brilliant to photograph her again on another great occasion. The graduation ceremony took place at Glasgow University and we used the opportunity to take the photographs in and around the cloisters

I'm used to photographing brides and grooms at this location, so I enjoyed the challenge of trying a different look.

Congratulations to Abigail M.Arch. on completeing her Master's degree in Architecture!

Laura and David

2008-06-13T02:15:00.000-07:00

I was off out last week to meet up with Laura and David who are getting later this year at Balgonie Castle. As the couple live on the east coast, we arranged to meet midway at 'The Pineapple' near Kincardine. A pre-wedding (or engagement) shoot is a great way of getting to know a couple before their wedding and gives me a great opportunity to take some amazing shots for them - minus the pressure of the wedding day itself.

Anne-Marie and Barry - Saturday 7th June

2008-06-10T03:12:00.000-07:00

Around and about Glasgow this weekend for the wedding of Anne-Marie and Barry. It was a glorious day and the wedding was a great family occasion. After their ceremony at St Catherine's it was off to Europs oldest public park- Glasgow Green, for photographs before their reception at St Andrew's in the Square. The groom's attire was quite a surprise and Barry looked quite striking in his white kilt. However, it didn't take anything away from Anne-Marie who was a picture of radiance from the moment I arrived for her portraits. A wee mention too for Brandon, their son, who did a fantastic job as their page boy - and he looked every bit as good as his dad in his kilt.

Gold Award - SWPP Monthly Competition

2008-06-10T02:52:00.000-07:00

If you've been following the blog recently you may know that I've already picked up an award this year at the MPA Scotland's (Master Photographer's Association)annual awards. I'm also a licentiate with the SWPP (Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers) and, last month, I decided it was about time to start submitting some of my best work to their own monthly and annual competitions. I've only entered once before in the past - so you can imagine my surprise when, this time 'round, a certificate came through the door announcing that I'd won May's Gold Award in the Contemporary Wedding category.

I've already posted a couple of images from Karen and Chris's wedding back in early May and this was just another one of many fantastic shots that I captured. The setting is Greenbank Gardens in Clarkston and it's quite a dreamy, romantic shot.

Getting the Shot - Scottish Weather

2008-05-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favourite shots of 2007. It was taken on what turned out to be the wettest day of the summer with torrential rain from morning to night.

This is probably a photographer’s worst nightmare. I imagine I pulled off so many great shots from this wedding as I had established a great relationship with the couple and understood exactly what they wanted from their photos. Otherwise, persuading a bride in all her finery to have a saunter in the park would have been a big no-no!

I wanted to capture the stream of heavy raindrops so this was done on a tripod using a long lens and a slow shutter speed. I think it shows that no matter the weather, if you approach it the right way you can use it to your advantage.

Adele and James 24th May

2008-05-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

Another fairly local wedding for me this week and one of my favourite locations - Glasgow University. The cloisters have never failed to provide a great opportunity for some dramatic shots and it came up trumps again today.

Adele and James were great on the day. They were looking for a mix of relaxed and spontaneous shots as well as a few formals and we managed to get some fantastic images. They held there reception at Oran Mor on Byres Road.

Ab-Fab Fashion Shoot

2008-05-19T05:28:00.000-07:00

No weddings at the weekend but we did have a fashion shoot for Ab-Fab Hair & Beauty. Thanks to models Kirsty, Megan & Paul for being up for it! Just a few images from the shoot below.

Alan & Karen's Wedding 10th May

2008-05-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

I was privileged to shoot Alan and Karen's wedding on Saturday. I don't think I've seen a happier bride than Karen! The day ran perfectly and although there were a few showers, they didn't seem to bother anyone.

The ceremony was in Greenbank church in Clarkson and the reception in the Holiday Inn in East Kilbride.

Commisioned work

2008-05-12T04:04:00.000-07:00

The blog and website is dedicated, on the whole, to my wedding and portrait work, but a good deal of my regular work is from commercial clients. Every now and then there's a little window of opportunity to shoot something a bit more creative on a client's behalf and these couple of images gave me a few moment's of pleasure in the midst of a hectic schedule.

Although I have commercial clients from very different industries they are generally focused on developing and maintaining their own strong branding and image. They are looking for photographs that will present the right kind of image to their potential clients, or having their product presented at its' optimum to maximise their sales.

As featured in Real Life Weddings

2008-05-12T04:03:00.000-07:00

You may already have seen Julia and Moloy's wedding in the latest edition of RLW magazine. I shot their wedding at Auchen Castle last year and they chose a square format magazine album to showcase their images. The images they chose for their album were quite stylised so Gail went for quite a simple graphic look when designing the album - focusing on the bold images and creating space around the groups of details and candids for a pleasing composition.

You can view their album design on our website and read their story here at the Real Life Weddings Magazine website page 150.

Julia and Moloy were "thrilled with the finished product!" and thanked us " for all the time and effort ... put into creating such a beautiful album. "

Many of the couples who book us to cover their wedding and design their albums, see us first of all in the Scottish Wedding Directory or its' sister publication Real Life Weddings. It's a great way for us to showcase our work and many of our couples are delighted to share the story of their wedding day with the readers. They tell their story in their own words and their photographs tell their story in pictures.

For us, it lets other couples who are searching for a photographer see the scope of our work and can help them decide on who can deliver the right images for them.

Chris and Karen's wedding 3rd May 2008

2008-05-06T05:46:00.000-07:00

Chris and Karen's portrait shoot featured in the blog a few week's ago (see further down). Well, we thought they looked great in their photos then but they were even more amazing on the day.

The weather forecast wasn't looking good in the run up to the day but it came through for us in the end. The couple got married in the Eglinton Arms Hotel in Eaglesham and took some time out after the ceremony to visit Greenbank Gardens in Clarkston for their photographs. Here's a preview of some shots from the day.

Andrew & Julie

2008-04-22T01:20:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Andrew & Julie last week on their big day. Julie was fashionably late for the ceremony, but Andrew seemed to take it all in his stride!

The wedding took place in Kilmacolm Old Kirk, followed by some photos at Kelvingrove Art Galleries and then onto the Ramada Jarvis in Glasgow for the reception. A couple of shots from the wedding shown below.

Bespoke Albums

2008-04-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of images of one of our recent bespoke albums. The book shown is quarter bound in black leather with a leather back with a huon timber front cover. As you can see the couple's names are laser etched onto the cover. We have wide range of leather and other materials to choose from and we are happy to get covers made to your own spec.

The detail from inside the book shows a feature page layout with additional images inset. The inset images are actually behind bevel mounts and printed on metalic paper.

Every book we design is different....

MPA Annual Awards

2008-04-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

Sunday night (3oth March) saw us head off to the Corus Hotel in North Queensferry for the annual MPA Master Photographer of the Year awards.

We'd already had a terrific weekend - celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary and having no kids for 2 whole days!!

David picking up an award at the event was the icing on the cake for us and we're thrilled that he got an award of excellence in the classical wedding category. The award recognises outstanding achievement for originality and technical excellence.

Core Golf

2008-04-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

Down onto the beach at Turnberry this week to shoot some commercial images for Pro golfer Paul Affleck.

Fortunately, the rain held off for us on this day and despite being cold it was quite bright. We did the shoot early in the day to get the best light.

Karen and Chris

2008-04-03T05:31:00.000-07:00

I'm shooting at Karen and Chris's wedding next month and we took a bit of time out recently for a pre-wedding shoot. We had organised a late afternoon shoot - although the weather was not on our side! We managed to find a location that gave us a bit of shelter - long enough to get some good shots in the bag. They were great to photograph and relaxed quite quickly - which was really good as this was my first time meeting Chris.

Scottish Traditional Karate Federation

2008-04-03T05:22:00.000-07:00

When our daughter took up a karate last year her initial burst of enthusiasm didn't last very long. But before she threw in the towel however , David decided to give it a try and we're proud to say that he's just recently gained his yellow belt. It seemed natural then that ,when the STKF Junior and Cadet Championships were taking place, David was asked along to photograph the event. Unfortunately, I've not managed to catch a shot of David in his 'pyjamas' yet - but when I do I'll share it with you.

Moothie Flange Blues

2008-02-14T06:22:00.000-08:00

After what had been our busiest year of business to date, we took a wee break over Christmas and took the time to catch up with our friends and family. We had a visit from fellow photographers Glen and Elaine MacDonald and their family and, as usually happens, all the kids and the men went off to play. Glen took this film of David, who is jamming away on his blues harp to a track produced by his friend at Muzzmusic. Don't give up the day job, David!

click the harp box

Laura and Paul

2008-02-14T06:11:00.000-08:00

Laura and Paul have been a great couple to work with. The wedding date (17th November) had been chosen because it was Laura's 30th birthday and the couple both seemed to take it in their stride when they found out that the Scotland v Italy game was beeing screened to thousands at Glasgow Green - right next door to St Andrew's in the Square where they were getting married. It added a different element to their day and the coupled embraced the chance for a guard of honour from kilted, 'see-you-Jimmy' wig-wearing fans!

Andy and Hannah

2008-02-14T06:01:00.000-08:00

This was a terrific wedding for me to shoot as I had already photographed the wedding of Hannah's twin sister Abi back in August last year. They are a great family and I enjoyed spending time with them both. There were lots of challanges on the day - the biggest being having to create a completely different set of photographs to suit Hannah and Andy's own distinct style. The venue was House for an Art Lover - which was perfect for art school graduate Hannah. The couple both made the most of their surroundings for some very bold and dramatic images. Here are a few of my personal favourites.

Lauren and Steve

2008-02-14T05:47:00.000-08:00

Here's a couple of shots from Lauren and Steve's wedding

which took place at the Registrar's in Edinburgh and

afterwards at the The Scotsman Hotel.

2007 Portfolio - Mar Hall and Guthrie Castle

2007-09-25T04:23:00.000-07:00

This has been yet another busy season and I realise that I should have been posting more regularly. So, to show you that, yes, I have been working hard over the last few months, I've put together a wee compilation of the best of this summer's weddings. It has been an amazing year with some fantastic couples, brilliant venues and some great parties - and I've even found time to be a guest at two weddings of both myself and Gail's best friends. However, the weddings don't stop there so I'll have more to update over the coming weeks. Check our website for more pictures & watch this space...

Emma and Michael at Dryburgh Abbey.

2007-09-25T04:03:00.000-07:00

On the road again, and this time off to Melrose for the marriage of Emma and Michael at Dryburgh Abbey. This has been a great year for photo -opportunities, with some very grand and dramatic locations. Of course, they would be nothing without a great bride and groom and Emma and Michael were no exception. They wanted to make the most of their fantastic location and I think we were all overjoyed that the rain kept away and let them have the outdoor ceremony they wished for.

Mhari and Kenny at Edinburgh Castle

2007-09-25T03:56:00.000-07:00

Friday seen the start of a busy weekend for me - starting of with the wedding of Mhari and Kenny. I was off to yet an other amazing venue - this time the backdrop was Edinburgh Castle, where the couple held their ceremony and reception. I spent some time with Mhari at the Radisson Hotel, before she left for the Castle and then some time with Kenny around the castle grounds before her arrival.

Claire and Alasdair at Culzean Castle

2007-09-25T03:40:00.000-07:00

After their wedding in Troon, Claire and Alasdair went on to host their wedding meal and reception against the beautiful backdrop of Culzean Castle. It was a beautiful, sunny day which let me get some great shots of the couple as they moved around the castle grounds while their guests enjoyed a highland dancing display on the battlements. Their intimate meal for friends and family, by Nairn's Anywhere, was held in the castle's State Room. The castle has always been a special place for Clare and I'm sure she couldn't have dreamed of a more perfect wedding.

First day at school

2007-08-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

Here's James on his first day at school. Hyper before he get's there. Sorry Miss...

Manish & Abi's Wedding

2007-08-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

I had great fun shooting Manish & Abi's wedding last Saturday. The service was in their local church (Queens Park Baptist Church) followed by a packed reception in Pollockshields Burgh Hall. Caterers en croute provided the food and afterwards, family & guests were treated to an eclectic mix of musical styles from no less than 3 different bands , The Fortunate Sons kicked off the dancing (bluesy/folk sound), The Hallanshankers then took over for the Ceilidh, and downstairs, Jazz players 'Jazz & Co.' treated guests to a set of contemporary Jazz classics. Magician Lewis Barlow mingled with guests and keeping them entertained with some stylish close up magic before evening guests (and hungry day guests) tucked into a full Indian buffet provided by Bombay Blues (the lamb Kofta curry was superb guys!)

With everything else going on you could almost forget that the rain poured constantly ALL day without any respite!

May Portraits catch up.

2007-05-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

May seems to have passed in a flash and I thought I'd post a couple of things to let you all know that we are still alive & kicking. First pic here is one from a couple of weeks ago when I shot some portraits for Craig and Leigh-Anne. The wall belongs to Craigmillar Castle near Edinburgh. Leigh-Anne tells me that the shot below is one of her favourites. We had some cracking weather over at Craigmillar and this shot was taken in the shade of the inner courtyard of the castle.

Met with Paul and Laura on Sunday to take some shots in Glasgow. We started at St Andrews in the Square where the happy couple are tying the knot later in the year, and then we took a few street shots around Saltmarket. After some early nerves, Paul and Laura soon got into their stride and relaxed and had some fun being captured on CCD.

David Hits the Headlines with Steven and Jodie's Wedding

2007-04-18T03:30:00.000-07:00

For all those brides-to-be who are busy scouring the shelves for their Bridal magazines - please be on the lookout for this season's Real Life Wedding magazine. Why? - because we've made the front page!

This stunning picture is of Jodie Baynes, who got married to Steven at a beautiful winter ceremony just days before Christmas. Jodie reveals the story of their wedding inside the magazine which was full of thoughtful and seasonal elements like their mulled wine and mince pies, snowflake stationery and personalised Christmas baubles for their guests. Jodie was amazing to photograph, she was full of expression - a really elegant bride. It was a fantastic wedding to photograph and the team at RLW thought so too.

The weddings that I photograph feature regularly in both Real Life Weddings and it's sister publication The Scottish Wedding Directory.

Claire and Jim's Portraits

2007-04-18T03:14:00.000-07:00

I was out last night meeting up with Claire and Jim, who are getting married on the most auspicious day in July (07/07/07). We met on the Clydeside, near to the Science Centre. It was early evening when we arrived so I took advantage of the late sun and we managed to get some very dramatic shots. It was the first time I had met up with Jim and both he and Claire seemed to relax quite quickly in front of the camera (which was pretty amazing considering the weather was Baltic!). They are a great couple and I can't wait to shoot their wedding - if these results are anything to go by!

Day out with the Kids at Findlaystone!

2007-04-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

I decided to make the most of the good weather on Saturday and went straight out after Rhonda and Steven's shoot to Finlaystone Country Park in Langbank. I wanted to spend some time with the kids in the last few days of their Easter holiday and, as I was in the mood after the morning shoot, I just had to take the camera. We bumped into some friends while we were there so the kids went of to play together while we got the chance to relax. The only regret was not bringing anything for the b-b-q. Here are some very happy kids.

Steven & Rhonda's Engagement Portraits

2007-04-17T09:04:00.000-07:00

Another fabulous morning (in April???) and I met up with Steven & Rhonda for a chat about their wedding and of course to take a couple of pre-wedding shots for them. Apart from a couple of scary moments when we nearly all fell in the river next to the mill (featured) we had a great little portrait session and managed to catch some nice light. Really looking forward to the wedding next month in Troon.

New Arrival

2007-04-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Margo and Mark on the safe arrival of baby Jack in the early hours of Saturday morning. We are all totally thrilled!

Mike and Lizzie's Portraits

2007-04-02T02:01:00.000-07:00

A lovely spring morning in Culross set the scene for a relaxed portrait session with Mike, Lizzie and 'Murphy' the Jack Russell at the weekend. It was great to finally meet with Mike and Lizzie, having booked us for their wedding at Guthrie Castle later in the year. We shot some natural and relaxed portraits using the mediaeval buildings and streets of Culross as a backdrop.

A great portrait session, but Murphy always tried his best to be the centre of attention!

Tony & Leah's Wedding

2007-03-29T03:20:00.000-07:00

Tony and Leah's wedding on 25th Feb provided us with some fantastic opportunities for photographs. The service took place in Garnet Hill Synagogue and the reception at Mar Hall, Bishopton (about a mile from our doorstep!)

Leah's fabulous dress is shown here while she and Tony stole a quite moment in their suite at Mar Hall.

During the reception the Tony, Leah and guests took to the dance floor for a bout of fast and furious Israeli dancing.

They were a great couple to work with as they were so natural in front of the camera. Leah was a brilliantly happy bride and even in her more candid shots she was radiant and always expressing a smile.

Special thanks to Ken for second shooting and grabbing some great candids!

February Weddings

2007-03-28T16:04:00.000-07:00

My next busy spell took me to The Isle of Eriska Hotel, near Oban, for the wedding of Suzy and Thomas Finkle. Susy and Thomas's celebration was an intimate affair surrounded by their family. The photo opportunities were abundant at as I had the luxury of bags of time to spend with the bride and groom before their evening ceremony. I spent time with the guys on a clay pigeon shoot and time with girls as they relaxed and prepared. My special thanks to Susy and Tommy who made us feel more like wedding guests than photgraphers for the day.

New Award & Latest news

2007-03-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

We have fought our way out of a mountain of wedding albums and decided it was time to take stock of what's been happening lately. Apologies for the big time lapse since the last update - but it seems a photgrapher's work is never done.

Probably the biggest thing to date was David picking up an award at the annual MPA Scotland awards. Yes, my brilliant husband got himself an 'Award of Excellence' in the Avant Garde Portrait category for the entry posted below. This is a portrait of Lisa on the pier at Irvine.

The next biggest thing was probably the wedding of our great friends, Martin and Louise. This wedding is probably so special because it was at Martin and Louise's housewarming party in '95 that David and I met. So why did it take them 19 years to get married?

It was a great, if unconventional, wedding which took place on 27th January in The Pierhouse cottage at Loch Melfort near Oban. It was small, intimate and really good fun. The Humanist ceremony was really personal, they had a treasure hunt for the kids, Louise made her own wedding cake and bouquet as well as an impressive spread of canapes and pink champagne.
A house party followed the meal at a local restaurant; then a poker game in the evening - which ended in the groom causing himself some GBH when he split his chin open mucking around outside in the dark. Being in very remote place with a severe lack of first aid supplies the best he could do for sticking the open wound was the 'best before' tape from a loaf of bread.

We were also thrilled that Louise asked Antonia to be a flowergirl

All new Blog

2007-02-14T08:05:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone.

We have decided to start afresh with a brand new blog for 2007. Watch this space for wedding, portrait and personal work. We recently moved to a new place and the kids are just beginning to get used to it now. Yesterday I snapped some shots of them playing in the conservatory with a giant tub of play dough that our good friends Martin & Gayle (thanks!!!???) had given them at Christmas. Antonia's & James's modelling skills are featured below!