Chris & Judith's Wedding in Bordeaux

It is definitely one of the perks of my job to be able to travel for work.  It gives me such joy to know that I can pack up my camera bag and work anywhere in the world.  This year I have done a handful of destination weddings for UK based clients and am looking forward to doing more next year. Chris and Judith chose to marry in France, away from their family homes in Belfast and Glasgow.  They found the beautiful Chateau de la Ligne just outside Bordeaux and brought over 60 close friends and family (Chris is one of 9!).  From the outset they made me feel so welcome and comfortable and I honestly felt like one of the party - and I think this benefits the photography as by the time of the wedding I knew exactly who everyone was and they were all far more relaxed in front of the camera.  It was lovely to be able to capture both the boys and girls and all the family getting ready across the chateau before they went down to the village church for the ceremony which was conducted by their local priest who also came over from Belfast.  After the ceremony canapés and champagne were served on the lawn before a meal served in the cool orangerie.  They surprised their guests with fireworks over the vineyards as the sunset, and then they were surprised by a video link with Chris' brother who was unable to attend the wedding because he was on tour with his choir in Canada.  At this point I slipped off to bed but the laughter continued long into the night.

See the engagement photos here.

Lynn & Stephen's Wedding in Glasgow

I just recently posted the engagement shoot for Lynn and Stephen here (they used the pictures for the front of the order of service!).  It was such a great shoot and they were full of enthusiasm and energy so I knew their wedding would be too.  I love the picture of Lynn literally clapping her hands in joy in the car after the ceremony - she really was having the best day of her life! Lynn and her bridesmaids got ready at the extremely charming boutique hotel 15 Glasgow by the park.

The wedding took place at their church, St George's The Tron, which is on Glasgow's high street and since it was a Saturday the town was crowded and delighted by the arrival of a gorgeous young bride.  The wedding was very inclusive with every member of their church attending both the ceremony and the reception.

After the ceremony Lynn and Stephen took half an hour to themselves as we wandered through Victoria Park outside of Glasgow and enjoyed ice creams and coca cola by the duck pond before arriving at Paisley Town Hall.

Lynn & Stephen's Engagement Shoot at the BBC Scotland Props Department

Lynn:  "Stephen and I have an idea that we thought we would run past you... My mum has a friend who works for the BBC and when I was younger she introduced me to the BBC prop store - you may have heard of it? It's the most amazing place, it's basically a warehouse with aisle after aisle of clutter, things from various tv programmes and films. It also has a costume department with everything from ball gowns and tuxedos to flapper dresses and flares. It reminds me a lot of the underground part in the ministry of magic from Harry Potter!  What do you think of shooting there?" Me:  "Well, yes - of course!  What's not to love about shooting in a prop department?!"

Here are the results of that shoot a couple of months ago.... a truly beautiful and very much in love young couple and I very much enjoyed shooting their wedding in October. A blog posting to follow of the wedding pictures.

Robbie & Anna's Wedding at Ardkinglas House, Loch Fyne

Every now and again, a wedding comes along that the wedding gods have really smiled on, and everything falls into place most perfectly.  This seemed to happen for Anna and Robbie.  A beautiful, quirky couple with a charming little girl, they married on Loch Fyne at isolated historic Ardkinglas House that was so gorgeously styled it felt like a fashion shoot.  The sunshine unexpectedly came out at the right times and enabled them to marry outside under the open sky surrounded by only close family and friends.  The day really felt quite magical and it was a privilege to have been part of it. After supper everyone donned wellies and coats and headed down to the edge of the loch to pass The Quaich, a two-handled cup containing whisky that was passed round the guests allowing them to propose individual toasts to Anna and Robbie to wish them well.

You can view the full album here - the password is Robbie's surname.

Laura & Alan's Wedding at Oran Mor

Laura came to me through a mutual friend; the best kind of referral.  I was even more delighted when I met her and discovered that she was absolutely gorgeous!  She told me she was getting married at Oran Mor where I waitressed there when I was still studying so I knew the venue well.  The auditorium is a dream wedding venue with celestial ceiling mural by Alasdair Gray one of Scotland’s largest pieces of public art and grand stained glass windows as it once was a church and is now a venue containing restaurants, bars and nightclub.

I photographed their pre-wedding shoot at the university a few months back - you can see the results here...

I didn't know Laura but I soon came to know that she is highly organised!  I was extremely impressed at her attention to detail - a good sign that a wedding is going to run smoothly - and it did.  I met up with the bridal party at One Devonshire Gardens, one of my favourite hotels in Glasgow where the girls were getting ready and then headed onto the very intimate ceremony held up in the gallery in the uppermost point of Oran Mor, accompanied byApollo String Quartet.  Afterwards we risked the rain and headed out to the botanic gardens but were hampered by a massive downpour and had to hid in the glass houses - along with the rest of the tourists.

Back at Oran Mor all the evening guests were arriving for the meal.  There were some wonderful speeches, particularly from Rosaria, Laura's best friend and maid of honour who spoke so dearly of her friend.  Laura is truly one of those people who is both beautiful on the outside and on the inside - her friends were testament to her kindness but so too were all the personal touches at the wedding; the thank you cards, the roses for the guests, the basket of useful things in the bathroom.

Towards the end of the evening we were treated to a line up of Laura's talented musical friends including Rosaria who belted out some awesome opera.  It was all such a wonderful day - the type of wedding I left thinking I wouldn't have minded being a guest.

Hair - Hair by Maureen Crolla

Make-up - Linda Wilson

Flowers - Gabriella Crolla

Pianist - Chris Connelly

Band - Sound Cradle

Magician - The Magic Renz

[slideshow]

Vicki, Alan, Lewis and Brooke at Pollok House

When Vicki and Alan booked me they asked if for their engagement shoot they could include their children Lewis and Brooke which of course I was more than happy to do.  Although toddlers do NOT stay still for a second!  A photographer needs lightening reflexes or a bottle of calpol.  And their moods swing quicker than lightening!  Lewis was charming though and it was quite adorable they way he was so caring towards Brooke. We did the shoot at the stunning Pollok House and gardens just outside Glasgow.

I think it's great that kids can be involved in their parents weddings and I look forward to another loch-side wedding next month where (weather pending) Vicki and Lewis will be arriving for the ceremony in Callendar by boat.

Lorna & David's Engagement at the Botanic Gardens, Glasgow

I've really crammed a lot into my recent weekend in Glasgow, 1 pre-wedding consultation, 2 engagement shoots and a wedding.  I love visiting Glasgow and enjoy getting to use some of my favourite locations for engagement shoots.  I met Lorna and David for a coffee in Heart Buchanan on Byres Road before heading over to The Botanic Gardens for a little stroll around.  Their wedding is in just two weeks time in Loch Lomond which I'm very much looking forward to.

Laura + Alan's Engagement Shoot at Glasgow University

I've shot several weddings at Glasgow University and the cloisters there are beautiful so I was delighted that Laura suggested we meet there for their engagement shoot.  They looked totally fabulous for their shoot, and with Laura having modelled in the past it was a treat to shoot them.  She was a total professional despite it being SO cold and wet.  We were shivering under the arches most of the time but her smile was gorgeous, real and infectious. I offer a complimentary engagement shoot with every wedding package.  It only takes an hour or so and is a great opportunity to get to know each other better and for a couple to get used to being in front of the camera so that by the wedding day the whole experience feels a lot more natural.

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

Mikey the Model Team/ScotCampus Winner

Over the last year or so Cathy at Model Team has been brilliant at letting me use the new models on her books for test shoots so I was more than happy to help out when she asked me if I would photograph the Fresher's Week winner of the Model Team & ScotCampus Magazine model search. I've shot a few weddings at One Devonshire Gardens, a Hotel Du Vin venue and was keen to do something more formal there as it's such a beautiful hotel (if it's good enough for Cheryl Cole...).  It rained all day non the previous weekend when I shot a wedding there but for our shoot it was gorgeous sunshine all morning providing lots of dappled light in the courtyard through the trees.  Mikey didn't enjoy the sunshine so much with his baby blue eyes being ultra sensitive - he kept his eyes shut most of the time until I shouted 'now'! as a prompt.  Made for a sultry scowl though...

We could have shot all day but we had to let Mikey head off into town to meet his patient girlfriend who was waiting to celebrate their 2 year anniversary.  I'm pretty happy with the results though.

Thanks to Alan Drummond who has recently gone from being friend to friend/assistant - he did an awesome job and I'm looking forward to him working with me at a wedding at the end of the month.  Hair and make-up was Sarah MacInnes.  Styling was a mish-mash of all of us as my favourite stylist Katy was rushed to hospital (she's ok now).  Who knew male styling was so difficult?!

Mo + Lionel's Engagement Shoot

I hadn't seen Mo and Lionel since we met to first discuss their wedding back in September but their wedding date has swung round so fast, in fact we only just managed to squeeze in the engagement shoot last weekend, two weeks before their wedding, before they rushed off to go and look at a new house they are looking to buy in Perth. They are such a lovely smiley couple and reassured me that the rain wasn't a problem in Glasgow's Botanic Gardens. They then enthralled me with plans of their honeymoon - a drive around Italy taking in the main cities and wine regions. That's pretty much what my parents did for their honeymoon and sounds absolutely perfect.

One Devonshire Gardens Wedding Photography || Glasgow wedding photographer

I woke up to the heaviest rain last Sunday morning - the perils of shooting weddings in Scotland and not LA I suppose.  Fortunately Lisa and Donnie had chosen to have their entire wedding within One Devonshire Gardens and so the need to dash from hotel to church to venue was avoided.  I don't mind it being grey, in fact I think the Scottish light can be quite lovely and flattering but when it is literally bucketing down the best thing is to stay inside.  Plus Lisa had to wear her dress again at their wedding party in a few weeks so I held back from thrusting an umbrella at her and suggesting we jump in puddles for 'creative effect'.  I'm thinking of getting some pink wellies to give to brides to wear for future wet weather days.  I usually suggest brides ensure they have a white parasol that matches their dress just in case.  My favourite wedding accessories shop, Melle Cloche on Byres Road in Glasgow, have a lovely range. Lisa and Donnie had chosen to have a lovely intimate gathering of about 30 close friends and family but had put in such a lot of thought into all of the wonderful details.  From the birdcage for guest messages, to the floral hankies to mop up any tears during the ceremony, the carefully prepared CD's as wedding favours and hand made and wrapped chocolates, the place was full of their personal touches.  I have to confess to making a mental note of the style of the dress which is one of my recent favourites - a lucky find on ebay.  The lovely flowers were by Sparrow and Rose.

Pimm's was served with wedding cake straight after the ceremony whilst I took Lisa and Donnie off for their couple shots around the hotel - they brought some great props with them.

They were such a cute couple - I always love listening to the speeches and hearing more about them from the viewpoint of their friends and families.  It seems poor Donnie has had to suffer no small amount of ribbing for being the younger man, including receiving colouring books as birthday presents from amused friends but there was also huge pride at his achievement of a first at his recent graduation.

And then they were off to Thailand and as I write will now be sitting on a beach reminiscing about their fabulous day.  I can't complain however as I am writing this from a gorgeously sunny Guernsey where I can see the sea from my window.

Lisa specifically requested a more 'vintage' look to the images which is why stylistically they are a little different to my usual look but I'm always happy to accommodate a bride's request.

Amy + Simon’s Wedding at Glasgow University Chapel and One Devonshire

You don’t get much grander wedding venues in Glasgow than the University Chapel – so much so that you are always guaranteed to have a gaggle of tourist to witness your wedding (and sometimes attempts to gatecrash).

I joined Amy and her bridesmaids at One Devonshire, which she had decked out beautifully with so many personal touches, from the flowers, to candy bar, homemade cup cakes and favours of lavender bags for the girls and chutney for the boys in dainty jars.

The service was punctuated with a musical rendition by Amy’s mother on piano and sister Lucy on cello instead of the usual readings.  The sun came out long enough for me to take the close family into the university quad for group photos before we all headed back to One Devonshire Gardens (where I seem to have been rather a lot this month) for the reception.

In Simon's speech he mentioned that Amy just didn't seem to realise how pretty she was - I thought she was stunning and she was such a joy to photograph.

Melle Cloche Glasgow || Wedding Accessories Shop Glasgow || Willow Tea Rooms

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.

Model Team/Scot Campus behind the scenes

Over the last year or so Cathy at Model Team has been brilliant at letting me use the new models on her books for test shoots so I was more than happy to help out when she asked me if I would photograph the Fresher's Week winner of the Model Team & ScotCampus Magazine model search. This was the first opportunity I had to work with Alan Drummond who is going to be assisting me at a wedding at Glenskirlie House in a couple of weeks.  He was fantastic to work with and I think we are going to make an awesome team at the wedding.  He even took a few shots behind the scene at our shoot which I have borrowed as a sneak preview of the main shoot which I can show you once it's gone to print in Scot Campus Magazine...

All images by Alan Drummond.

Mar Hall

I always like to check out a venue in advance of a wedding, to ensure that I have a chance to meet with the wedding coordinator and look at all the best locations for the bride and groom shoot to speed up the process on the day.

I have a wedding coming up at the beginning of October with Hannah and Danny at Mar Hall in Glasgow and so jumped at the chance to do a test shoot with my friend Sam.  She works as a model (she is in some of the pictures below), stylist and her mum makes beautiful headpieces which feature in the shoot.  The hair and make-up was done by Natasha Dardas.  It was the first time I had worked with Natasha and I was so impressed with her work - I'm looking forward to collaborating with her next week on a shoot for Model Team.

It was a pretty blustery day so we shot mainly inside but now I can't wait to shoot Hannah and Danny's wedding - it's going to be gorgeous (weather permitting - and Glasgow in October can do anything!)