Thinking about having a photobooth at your wedding or party?

The photobooth has been around for a while and seems to be gathering pace as opposed to being a dying trend.  There are so many different types you can have from black taxis and passport photo booth style which print out pictures instantly through to more elaborate set ups with backdrops, furniture set and props.  You can make your own by providing a box of dress up, a polaroid camera, book and pen and theme the booth through your choice or props or backdrops.  You can either rummage in your local charity shops for props or companies such as Etsy

Alternatively your photographer (i.e. me) may offer this as an optional addition to your package.

Here are a few reasons why I think photobooths work so well at weddings:

1.  They usually take place later in the evening when your guests are a little more, ahem, relaxed and in the full swing of the evening.  This means they will be ready to perform and it would be a shame not to catch your friends at their most entertaining and creative.

2.  Put a silly hat, wig or prop into someone's hand and suddenly the camera seems far less scary and your guests are more likely to pose for a photo rather than ducking into a camera-shy manoeuvre.

3.  The pictures provide a great momento for your guests of the evening.  I upload all of the images onto a private online gallery that your guests can view and order prints from.

4.  It's a source of interactive entertainment for participants and viewers alike throughout the evening.

5.  You can use chalk boards to have your guests write messages to the happy couple.

I really enjoy running a photobooth - it is a great opportunity to interact with the guests who I have been photographing all day and capture another side of them; relaxed, fun and often very silly!

Below are some examples of recent booths I've run including in a yurt at Lucy and Simon's wedding at Inshriach House (the team there went all out to help me decorate the yurt with some awesome props)  and those with the green curtain are from a wedding party at Shoreditch House.  I set up in a corner using what was available in the venue.

I always bring extra lighting and use my professional camera so that the images are as high quality as the rest of the images from the wedding.  The images can be edited for a more vintage style and are always supplied in colour and in black and white.

If you are booking me for your wedding then I will set up a photobooth for £250 for 1.5 hours after the first dance.  For stand alone photobooths for parties and other events I can provide a quote depending on length of time required and location.

Wedding Planning by Katherine Courtney - and 5 minutes with me!

I recently met up with two absolutely fabulous girls with a beautiful creative vision.  Katherine and Courtney are the duo behind Katherine Courtney Wedding Planning & Coordination.  I'm very excited at the prospect of working with them in the future on both some styled shoots which we are planning, and of course on some weddings this year. They write a wonderful blog as well as being very active on Pinterest with their ideas.  They recently did a short piece on me talking about my inspiration and way I view the wedding photography industry.  You can read the piece here.  I'm looking forward to writing for me soon about the importance of wedding planning.

The transcript for the interview is below:

KC:  How long have you worked within the industry?

HA:  I have worked in the photography industry for 5 years having retrained after 10 years of working in events and marketing.  I used to book photographers for my events and it was always a career I held in high esteem – at the time I never dreamed I could actually become a photographer myself.  However, a combination of luck, opportunity and a lot of hard work have turned that dream into a reality and I’ve never looked back.

KC:  What inspires your work?

HA:  My inspiration comes from a lifetime of travel and experiences and I gain a lot of ideas for poses and techniques from fashion magazines, portrait and fine art photographers and film.  My first degree was in History of Art and so I have always had a love of imagery.  When working with wedding clients I am often led by them as people and the way in which they love.  I take my creative cues from their relationship and how they like to express it.

 

 

KC:  What three “tools-of-the-trade” are a must have?

HA:  My 5d Mk 3 cameras, my Shootsac (essential for carrying spare lenses, batteries and cards when on the move at a wedding) and huge amounts of energy!

KC:  Any advice for our brides?

HA:  Always meet with your wedding photographer.  Your photographer will be close by your side for much of the day and it’s really important that you have a good personality fit.  If you have the opportunity do a pre-wedding shoot then this is very useful.  I offer this as part of my standard package as I think it’s so important to get used to being in front of the camera and to build a relationship with your photographer BEFORE the big day.

Don’t be afraid to be honest about you want – at the end of the day it’s your day so work with your photographer to ensure you get the type of photographs you want but do listen to their advice – they will have done hundreds of weddings and can be a great source of information about what works and what doesn’t and can guide you in planning a smooth and successful day.

KC:  What trends do you forecast?

HA:  Wedding photography has changed dramatically over the last 10 years from being very formal and formulaic to a more natural and documentary style.  I love that wedding photography has developed into the creative and personal expression it is now and that is why I was attracted to working in the industry.   There will always be trends in wedding photography but I’ve always believed in simplicity.  I don’t want to use gimmicks in my photography or post production but to capture a scene in the most natural, beautiful way that will stand the test of time.

Polly + Damon's Wedding

Only days after getting back from snowboarding in Switzerland Polly and Damon came together at Islington Town Hall on Wednesday, near their home, to get married in front of a very small group of close family from near and far.  I was only with them for a few hours but thoroughly enjoyed their energy and relaxed natures. Even though it was absolutely freezing Polly came outside the hotel for a few minutes to get some lovely shots of her and her sisters.

They finished off their day at Frederick's in Camden Passage.

Rosie and Brad's Somerset Wedding

Rosie and I have been friends from when we were about 13 and I arrived at her school in the middle of the second year.  Everyone else had already found their friends and I was all gangly and shy and awkward.  She took me under her wing and became my best friend.  We both ended up going to university in York; she to study philosophy, politics and economics and me to study english and history of art.  In the first year we lived together, partied together and rowed together - getting up at the crack of dawn to hit the river. We've always stayed in touch but our lives took very different directions as we got older.  Whilst I headed for London for a somewhat frivolous career in marketing and events, travelling around the world putting on parties and encouraging people to drink more of my client's brands, she took a more serious direction into the RAF and our meetings became less.

But she has always been a true friend and it made me so happy to be able to photograph her wedding to Brad (whom she met in the RAF eight years ago) as they were married in Somerset at St Peter's Church, between their new home in Pylle and her family home in Barton.  The sword party as they exited the church was pretty exciting - I've not photographed one before - the men were super handsome in their uniforms.

The reception was back at their home - a newly extended farm cottage with a field for her horse, and chickens in the garden.  The marquee was beautifully decked out and the surprise show was Morris Dancers (very west country!) who entertained the guests who had to huddle in the marquee away from the rather extreme winds and then torrential rain than let loose after the ceremony.

I was rather lucky to have my partner Christian second shooting with me for part of the day - we've recently started doing more work together and it's really quite exciting to see how complementary our styles are....

[slideshow]

Flowers by Mundy's Florist

See the full link to the gallery here.  Password is Brad's surname.

Kate + Alex's outdoor island wedding on Arran

Having holidayed on Arran for many years with her parents owning a holiday cottage there, getting married on the island was an obvious choice for Kate. Bravely they made the decision to do the ceremony outside and whilst England was enjoying the jubilee in torrential rain and wind, Arran awoke to calm seas (thankfully as I was on the first morning ferry - the ferry takes 30 minutes from Ardrossan) and sunshine breaking through.  I was blown away when I saw the location for the ceremony - the walled garden sits at the foot of Brodick Castle which is perched on the hillside overlooking the sea.  steeply sloped a pathway ran from the castle down through the garden to the foot of the hill where a stone circle with rambling roses surrounded a sundial.

Kate arrived and was led by her father for the long walk through the gardens watched all the way by Alex (secretly praying she wouldn't trip on the steep path!)  It was a stunning site and by far the most dramatic entrance I've seen at a wedding.  The ceremony took place within the circle with the guests standing in a tight circle which made the whole ceremony feel incredibly intimate.

After the ceremony they had afternoon tea and champagne on the lawn then headed back to Auchrannie House Hotel for the reception.

Kate and her bridesmaids got ready at Orwin Cottage and Alex got ready at Rowanbank Cottage.  I stayed at The Glenartney guesthouse on Arran and Burnfoot House in Ardrossan the night before.

You can view the whole gallery here.  Password is Guinan.

Nick + Pip's West Country Wedding

It gets a little difficult to take pictures when you are wiping an emotional tear or two away but that's what I've undertaken the past few weekends when a couple of dear friends have finally tied the knot (although not to each other...). I met Nick about 6 years ago and have many happy memories that this blog doesn't have room (or licence) for.  I was so excited that he asked me to photograph the wedding - I hadn't even met his fiancé at this point as it had all been a rather whirlwind affair starting on the dance floors of the London Scottish reeling clubs.  I was utterly charmed when I met Pip - she lights up the room with a smile that seems unending.  And that smile, along with Nick's stayed firmly put from the moment I arrived at her mother's house in Tisbury to the final twirls on the dance floor back at Nick's beautiful family home at Milton on Stour.

The ceremony took place at the spectacular Palladian style New Wardour Castle which discretely houses a rather grand and cavernous Roman Catholic chapel.

After the ceremony the guests went on ahead Nick and Pip had some time together with me for photos and then a leisurely drive back to the house, after a quick champagne stop, where the guests were waiting for the car to pull in and shower them with confetti.  With the sun out everyone was able to mingle on the lawn over champagne and canapés for a couple of hours before heading into the marquee as the sun dropped.  The speeches were, and I know I am biased but, nothing short of excellent.  Heartfelt, honest, funny and utterly endearing.  Cue more tears...

The full album of images with all the guest pictures are here.  The password is Mason.

I can't wait to see the new Mr and Mrs Mason back in London very soon xxx

Alexander House Wedding Photographer, Perth || Aylin + Benedikt

Watching Wuthering Heights the other day really reminded me of the moment I pulled up at the end of mile long drive way to arrive at Alexander House, Auchterader, for Aylin and Bene's wedding. I stopped my car when I was in view of the house to get a few shots before arriving and literally my car was rocking with the strength of the wind! It was so dramatic, with bruised skies and rolling hills with this house just perched at the top.

I love doing small weddings and this was one of the smallest. Only about 20 guests, all staying for most of the week at Alexander House with Aylin and Bene who only recently moved to Glasgow from Germany. In fact, when I met them in September they had only been there few weeks. After being together for many, many years Benedikt proposed and then drove Aylin all the way to Perth to show her where they were going to get married.

She looked stunning in an elegant white shift dress and jacket from Tiger of Sweden, shoes by Phillip Hardy and a cute key necklace from Tiffany's. In her hair she had a cute fascinator from Melle Cloche (thanks Lisa at MC for putting Aylin in touch with me!). Her flowers were by Glasgow's Roots, Fruits and Flowers.

A number of American wedding photographers have recently introduced the concept of a 'first look', where the bride and groom meet before the ceremony in order to take the couple shots then, therefore allowing the day to run more smoothly. This was the first time that I had the opportunity to do this. And in fact I loved the fact that Aylin and Bene were getting dressed in the same room and that he zipped up her dress and she turned to him with such a beautiful look.

As the day was closing in we took the group photos in front of the house before all getting on a bus to Perth for the registry office. Being early and it being a new city for almost all of the guests we took a little detour around the town and up to the rather majestic Scone Palace before arriving at the Old Council Chambers on the River Tay for the ceremony.

After the ceremony whisky was enjoyed before heading back to the comfort of Alexander House for champagne and canapes by Alison Kerr at which point I took my leave and left them to enjoy a week of great company and joy with their family and friends.

Kate + Alex's Wedding at Great Fosters, Surrey

I have to confess; covering a wedding for a friend is quite possibly the most stressful assignment out there for a photographer.  I feel the pressure even more than usual to ensure that the photos are absolutely knock-out good (they know where I live), but this wedding actually turned out to be one of the most relaxed and calm I've been to all year.  The whole day from start to finish just flowed smoothly.  The team at Great Fosters were outstanding, with fabulous attention to detail and service.  And Kate and Alex simply radiated happiness and charm throughout. Kate got ready at her parents house, with make up by her friend Christina Panzini and then it was a short hop to the very lovely chapel upon a hill; St Edward the Confessor in Sutton Park.  It was pretty tight inside which meant I had to try and make myself even more discrete during the ceremony (at nearly 6 ft this is something I sometimes struggle with!).  Kate's composure dropped and her emotion came through as she entered the church on her dad's arm wearing a stunning gown designed for her by Forget Me Not Designs.  At the top of the aisle, Alex was tense in anticipation before he turned to see her walking down the aisle.  Oh, I'm welling up just writing about it! As everyone piled out of the church the sun broke through, accompanied by the pealing of church bells courtesy of one of the ushers, Mark, my brother (such wide ranging skills, who knew?!) and I pulled the couple away for a quick stroll up to the end of the church lawn and a few pictures. Back at Great Fosters we took a walk around the gardens where we had been a few weeks earlier for their engagement shoot.  Except for 30 seconds of rain (literally) it stayed bright and lovely.  I could have shot for hours with them, they are such a beautiful couple, but got them back to the Tythe Barn in good time for their grand entrance.   Usually at a wedding I will take a break during the meal (photos of people eating are never flattering), collapse in a corner, call my boyfriend and drink a LOT of water and when lucky be provided with the wedding meal.  Kate and Alex kindly squeezed me onto a table and I was sandwiched between newly weds Gemma (my brother's wife - wedding pics from Ibiza here) and Hayley.  Unfortunately for them I probably wasn't great company as I was hopping up and down every 5 minutes for shots but it was nice to grab snippets of conversation between mouthfuls.

The meal was delicious, salmon roulade, lamb and plum crumble and ice cream.  Cheese came in the form of a cheese 'cake' instead of the traditional wedding cake (made by The Lavender Hill Company who also did all the beautiful flowers).  After the first dance the awesome Ska band, Oomphf from Brighton kicked in, and parked outside was a photobooth taxi providing instant prints for guests.  Here is me and Dan the fantastic videographer from From the Hip trying it out:

If you were a guest at Kate and Alex's wedding you can view the full album here.  The password is their surname.

Carla + Tom's Liverpool Wedding

The last time I went to Liverpool was for the launch of a New Look store in my old existence as a marketeer, so my knowledge was limited to the shopping district.  It was a long way to go on Saturday, especially after a full day wedding in Surrey on the Friday but a friend and colleague, Luke, asked me at the last minute to cover his brother's wedding for just three hours.  And since I had just bought the Skoda, I thought it a good opportunity to stretch her legs on the open road. I pretty much never photograph a couple without having met them at least once, and usually done an engagement shoot with them too, so it was a little strange turning up on the doorstep of Carla's friend, where she was getting ready.  The gorgeous three story house was a hive of activity with Carla having six bridesmaids (of mixed sex).  My favourite image of Carla was actually taken in the bathroom, sitting on the loo, where the light was gorgeous - she looks absolutely beautiful.

Michelle Webb, a friend of Carla's, was doing the make-up.  I'd met Michelle before on the set of 500 Miles North, a film directed by Luke and mostly filmed up at Inshriach.  I went on set for three days to do some behind the scenes shots.

Luke didn't supply me with details of the church until the last minute, so it was a bit of a Magical Mystery Tour (ahem) of Liverpool, but I found the church, All Hallows, Allerton, looming large on a fork in the road.  The bridal party made their entrance, with Carla walked down the aisle by her mother who had come over from Mexico.

I was only booked to stay long enough to get the group photos done outside the church (efficiently choreographed by Luke), and a few shots of the couple before the party reconvened at a local pub for the reception and I headed back on the long drive to Surrey.

Hannah + Danny's Wedding at Mar Hall, Glasgow

Hannah and Danny are the young couple that I recently photographed in Edinburgh for their engagement shoot.  I was so looking forward to their wedding and it didn't disappoint. When I join a bride at the start of the day they are often getting ready either in their own home or that of their parents which is always quite an insight into who they are and it's quite a privilege to be invited into such a personal space.  Despite being a doctor, it's clear that Hannah is a multi-talented girl.  Music is important to her and her creativity shone through in the wedding favours, decorations and the fact that she had personally designed the bridesmaids dresses and her mother's dresses.  I loved an anecdote that her father told during his speech about how, as a little girl, she was in an art shop and the lady behind the counter asked 'when you grow up do you want to be an artist?', Hannah, confused, replied, 'I already am an artist'.

When I arrived at Hannah's parents house that morning they had already had their hair and make-up done and were milling about looking so extremely calm and relaxed I thought I must be in the wrong house.

The boys were also pretty relaxed and Danny looked so happy and excited.

Despite some upset about the scaffolding that had unexpectedly gone up at the church in the weeks preceding the wedding, all such concerns drifted away as Hannah arrived down the aisle on the arm of her proud father.  The church was so beautiful inside.  Robben led the parade - Hannah had been bridesmaid at her parent's wedding 13 years ago - a tradition they hope will again be honoured in another 13 years.

On coming out of the church the rain that had not stopped all day was still pouring but nothing could wipe the smiles off their faces as they bundled straight into their waiting car whilst the guests stayed on at the church for tea and cake.  We went straight on to Mar Hall for the couple photographs.

They had pictures of both sets of their parents on their wedding day and a polaroid camera available for guests to take pictures and add to the guestbook.

I've mentioned Mar Hall before - it has the most wonderful grand hall which hosted a champagne reception, followed by the meal in an absolutely huge marquee (necessary to seat the 190 guests).  I have to say Danny's speech will be hard to top.  He told us that it had not been love at first sight but required a little engineering from some insightful friends, but then surprised everyone by pulling out a guitar and serenaded his new bride with a self-penned love song left the 190 guests in no doubt about the strength of his adoration and love for her now.

If you were a guest at this lovely wedding, you can view the full album and buy prints here. The password is Danny's surname.

Hairpiece by Katy Moon

Dress by Joyce Young by Storm

Flowers by Ruby Flowers

Cake by Top Tier

Yvonne & Gordon's Wedding at Brigadoon

Brig O'doon House Hotel in Ayr is a perfect wedding venue.  The hotel itself is set on the banks of the River Doon in an outstandingly beautiful area within lovely manicured gardens. The Brig o' Doon is a late medieval bridge used as the setting for the final verse of the Robert Burns's poem Tam o' Shanter. In this scene Tam is on horseback and is being chased by Nannie the witch. He is just able to escape her by crossing the bridge (over a running stream) narrowly avoiding her attack as she is only able to grab the horse's tail which comes away in her hands (thanks Wikipedia - my literature degree didn't cover Burns comprehensively).

Yvonne and Gordon had taken over Doonbrae House, a 19th century house opposite the house, to stay in before and that's where Yvonne and the girls were getting ready whilst the boys were in Rose Cottage next door.  Yvonne was very cheery and relaxed when I arrived, more concerned with helping everyone else in the party to get ready before herself, I found her on the floor tying up her dad's laces long after she should have been in her dress!  Gordon and the boys, on the other hand, were regretting getting into their woollen kilts so early as for October it was so, so hot and muggy.

The bridal party were piped over to the hotel and down the grand staircase into the main ballroom where the ceremony was taking place.  The flowers and bouquet were created by Elaine at Dream Flowers & Favours.  The celebrant for the ceremony was one of Gordon's tennis students.

Yvonne's niece, Emily, was like her little shadow the entire day...

Doonbrae House...

Tennis ball's as favours...

If you were a guest at Yvonne and Gordon's wedding, you can view the whole album and purchase images here.  The password is Gordon's surname.

Kate + Alex's Engagement Shoot at Great Fosters, Surrey

I am hugely flattered to have been chosen by Kate and Alex to shoot their wedding.  As a school friend of my brother's, I hadn't seen Alex for many, many years until he was best man at Mark's wedding recently.  Mark hadn't actually mentioned to Alex and Kate that his sister was a wedding photographer and so they had booked another photographer.  Happily for me they decided to change at the last minute and even more happily I was available.  We managed to squeeze in this shoot 10 days before their wedding.

I was bowled over by how stunning Great Fosters is - it will be a perfect wedding venue.  The grounds are spectacular and the venue itself is impeccably smart with wonderful staff.  We had a lovely 2 hours wandering around the grounds and they were such a delight to photograph - and absolutely gorgeous as you can see...  9 days and counting!

Lucy + Simon's highland wedding at Inshriach House

When I met up with Lucy and simon in the summer in Super Pizza on Brick Lane I was delighted - here was a couple with strong creative ideas and lots of input as to the type of photography they wanted. Roll on a few months and I arrived up at Inshriach House, nr Aviemore to find full hands on deck for their homemade village fete style wedding. The marquee on the lawn of the main house was bedecked in the brightly coloured, many metres of bunting that Sophie had worked tirelessly on for the Insider Festival, long trestle tables ran the length, covered with linen and sackcloth and scattered with purple vetch. Wild flowers were in a mix of cut glass vases and jars and the crockery and cutlery were mismatched. Unique place names (the arrangement of which were still being decided on hours before the ceremony!) were handwritten seed mats which could be taken home and planted. As I captured the details in the morning both the bride and groom were wandering in and out seeing to last minute arrangements.

Lucy didnt emerge from the bathroom until about an hour before the ceremony and slipped effortlessly into a trailing vintage style lace dress and enormous platform shoes (Lucy is very petite and Simon well over six feet!) and then I dashed on ahead to meet Simon at the Old Bridge Inn opposite the church - St Aidan's.

The cars were supplied by Bygone Drives in Aviemore with the bride arriving in a beautiful 1954 convertible split screen Morris Minor and her three gorgeous sisters, who were the bridesmaids, in a Bentley.

Whilst the signing of the register took place Lucy's sisters sang and Lucy and Simon peeped out to watch, both very moved. This is a couple so deeply in love that it's expressed strongly in their every interaction, so much so that I was moved to tears just watching them (it's something of an occupational hazard).

I always knew the the couple photographs would have the most spectacular backdrops. I could have shot there all day and we didn't even make it to the farmyard (chickens, tractors, festival props etc) but we did stroll through the fields and past the squash court and bothys.

The owners of Inshriach, Lucy and Walter Micklethwait, perhaps inadvertently,  come as part of the venue fee and are untiring in their efforts to ensure that a wedding on the estate runs like clockwise with nothing being too much trouble (picking vetch at 7am on the wedding day, extra lighting for photobooths at 11pm at night etc) So much so that the grateful bride usual insist they join the guests for the party.  As this bride told me, unlike other venues who are quick to discuss costs and curfews during an enquiry call, Walter simply enthused that a wedding at inshriach is 'amazing!' - sales pitch enough for an openminded couple with imagination.  Where possible they encourage the use of local or connected suppliers (such as myself - I have been going to Inshriach for 10 years) which gives any event a homely and personal touch.

The food, which had a very Scottish flavour, including venison stew and cranachan was supplied by Taste of Moray.  The cake (made by Lucy's sister, layers of coffee and fruit and nut cakes trimmed with wild flowers) was cut and it was onto a waltz for the first dance, played in by Ali and Hazen et al of Ord Ban Music who followed up with a good old barn storming ceilidh (which yours truly couldn't resist joining for a very extended Dashing White Sergeant.

I ended the night with an hour in the teepee cum photobooth with guests scratching out messages for the couple on the blackboard.  It's the first time I've done a photobooth but I really think it brings out the exhibitionist in guests - well, that and a belly full of wine, love and happiness...

(If you were a guest at this wedding, you can view the full album here.  The password is the surname of the groom).

Faye + Hugo's London Wedding

This summer my friend and fellow photographer Lorna ended up with a foot in plaster.  Not a good situation for a wedding photographer - you kind of need to be super mobile and for hours on end.  I was more than happy to step in and help her out at the intimate London wedding for Dutch couple Faye and Hugo. Having been living in London for a few years and big fans they wanted to mark their wedding in true London style which meant red double decker buses, union jack bow ties and Chelsea Town Hall.  Their bigger wedding happened later back in Holland later in the summer.

We caught up with them at Chelsea  Town Hall where the guests arrived on a London bus from The Hilton Hotel in Paddington.  The ceremony took place at the Chelsea Town Hall and the couple arrived together, Hugo walking Faye up the aisle in front of a small number of family and friends.

After champagne on the street the group headed back to Faye and Hugo's gorgeous flat in Notting Hill for cake and champagne.  Their friends had clubbed together to buy them a garden bench inscripted with their names and the date of the wedding.

A few hours later everyone regathered at the stunning private members club, Home House, for an evening meal and speeches.

A week in the highlands

I'm just back in Surrey after a wonderful few weeks in Scotland.  I like to combine work and pleasure where possible so I meandered up North after Tara and Folarin's wedding in Bedford for a couple of Glasgow weddings and finishing up in Aviemore at Inshriach House - one of my favourite places in the world.  I'll be blogging about the wonderful home-made wedding that Lucy and Simon had up there on Saturday night but I thought I would post a few pictures of the delightful Inshriach landscape taken for the Location Scotland website - taken in between hoovering the house ready for wedding guests, washing a smelly Monty-dog and cooking for Walter and Lucy to earn my stay in the 'Summer Palace' (see the last picture for my cosy home for the week).  I shot a fashion story up here last autumn and the place is just brimming with amazing locations including the Spey, numerous bothy's, a squash court, a victorian dog shed , vegetable garden and a mini loch - all within a stone's throw of the main house.  It's also home to the amazing Insider Festival in June.  Many thanks to Walter and Lucy for their hospitality, wine and for turning my electric blanket on full in anticipation of my late night arrival :) From top:  Cottages, loch, squash court

From top:  Caingorm Mountains, Loch, Inshriach House (with teepee and wedding marquee in background)

From top left: Squash court and bothy, river Spey, Victorian dog shed, 'Beer Moth'

Official residence:  Summer Palace

Before leaving I popped in to The Dell of Abernethy to take a few pictures for Ross and Polly of their new home which they have taken over running near Nethy Bridge. It has six stone cottages attached to the house which you can visit all year round and is an awesomely quiet and beautiful spot perfect for exploring the Caingorms.

Melle Cloche wedding accessories shoot

My flat in Glasgow was just off the main West End shopping street of Byres Road (populated it seems, mostly by cupcake shops and vintage shops) and so I was quick to spot Melle Cloche’s arrival and was probably one of the first through the door to say hello.  Melle Cloche is essentially a shop that sells everything wedding, except the dresses.  Run by two sisters, it is like a sweet shop for brides, stocked with such delicacies as parasols, headpieces, vintage style jewellery, shoes, lingerie and veils. Inspired by their stock I was keen to do a vintage style shoot and with dresses provided by Circa Vintage in Glasgow I pulled together a shoot at the elegant Willow Tea rooms(designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh) on Buchanan Street.

Our models Niahm and Misha were provided by Model Team, styling by Katy Nicholson, Make-up by Rachel Helena Imrie and hair by Alanna Lennox Coates.

You can see more of the images on Melle Cloche’s website and their marketing material.

Wedding Photography Ibiza || Amante Beach Club Wedding || Mark & Gemma

I had the pleasure of photographing at Mark and Gemma's Ibizan wedding back in June.  They met there one evening in Pacha nearly five years ago and knew immediately that they had met the one.  A courtship followed with a commute between Gemma in Wales and Mark in Surrey until they moved into a flat in Notting Hill a few years later. After an engagement in Cuba, Ibiza was decided upon as the only proper venue, and 50 friends and family gathered for a weekend long celebration.  The wedding itself was held in the evening at The Amante Beach Club, set in one of the most beautiful coves in Ibiza.  Overlooking the Sol D'en Serra bay the resort is surrounded by dramatic rocks and lush greenery.  The guest seating was laid out overlooking the sea and Gemma made her entrance down the steps wearing a beautiful Jenny Packham gown and beige Jimmy Choo heels.

Gemma had thought of every little detail and the whole day was utterly beautiful and elegant.  It was truly wonderful to watch the sun setting over the mediterranean sea as the party continued into the evening.