Monthly Archives: September 2010

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Irene & Chris wedding

Posted in Weddings

Portmahomack Church was the location for Irene MacRae and Chris Howarth’s wedding earlier this month. The couple live at Fearn, and that was where I began my day with Irene and the rest of the gang getting make up done and getting ready. It was a beautiful sunny day and probably a better day than we had in July. I have to give a mention to the minister at Portmahomack, Rev. David Scott, who was superb. He was very helpful to me, and made sure I got the shots the couple needed, and also conducted the ceremony with a fair amount of humour. A far cry from the numpty I had encountered four weeks previously….

After the ceremony we had to drive to Strathpeffer to the Ben Wyvis Hotel for the reception, with a quick stop for a few images of the couple together before we got there. It was a great wedding to be aprt of. Lots of fun and a lovely group of people, meant there was a really nice atmosphere throughout the day.

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Monday, September 20, 2010

Lynn & Martin, Dunrobin Castle Wedding

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Earlier this month I was delighted to be back at two of my favourite wedding venues – Dornoch Cathedral, and Dunrobin Castle. Lynn Day and Martin Doak had their wedding at the Cathedral and then their reception was at the Castle.  It was a lovely day again – much better than much of the weather we’d had in July. Lynn got ready at the Royal Marine Hotel in Brora before driving up to Dornoch in a stunning vintage Rolls Royce. I love weddings at Dornoch Cathedral, as it’s a stunning building, with loads of space to shoot the key moments, and the minister there Susan Brown is fantastic and makes the whole event as much fun as it should be. A far cry from some of the ones I’ve encountered recently. Then on to Dunrobin, my favourite Castle in the country! You can’t fail to get good photos at this venue. The Sutherland Schools Pipe Band turned up after dinner to play on the staircase and the sound in the old building was out of this world, and they are so talented! The evening finished for me with one of the best first dances I’ve seen – so take a bow Lynn and Martin!

Ceremony Venue: Dornoch Cathedral, with the service performed by the fantastic Reverend Susan Brown.  We had guests telling us it was the best wedding service they’d been to.

Reception venue: Dunrobin Castle

Dress: Bride’s Delight, Aberdeen

Shoes: Diane Hassall shoes from Arabesque, Perth

Cake: Heather Clubb, Dornoch

Rings: John Park, Aberdeen

Hair: Lorna Benson

Make Up: Laura Milne

Cars: 1932 Austin from Chapelhill Wedding Cars

Groom’s Highland Outfit: Georgian Dress Hire, Aberdeen.  The bride helped make the kilt!

Stationery: Signature Wedding Specialists, Aberdeen

Flowers: Angela Stewart Creative

Piper: Pipe Major John MacDonald

Band: The Blue Notes Dance Band

Pipe Band: Sutherland Schools’ Pipe Band

Catering: Swift Catering, Alness

What was your favourite moment of the day?

Martin saying his vows to me – I couldn’t look at him, I was so close to crying!

What advice would you give to other brides planning their wedding?

Go with your gut feeling on suppliers, trust your instincts!  And keep the day’s events simple, there’ll be less to go wrong and the day flies by as it is.

Was there anything you’d have done differently?

Absolutely nothing!  It was a perfect day.

Any other stories or comments

The pipe band went down a treat with the guests – everyone was raving about it and couldn’t believe it was a schools’ band, they were so professional.  The sound on the staircase was phenomenal and brought a tear to the eye!

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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Laura and Robert, Strathpeffer.

Posted in Weddings

The Spa Pavilion in Strathpeffer was the venue for the Wedding of Laura Fraser and Robert Johnston, who live at Hatton of Fintray, Aberdeenshire. Laura is from Golspie, so it was there I started as she got her make up done, before heading to the Ben Wyvis in Strathpeffer for the proper getting ready shots. We then moved on to the Pavilion, which was basked in beautiful sunshine for the day. It was a lovely wedding, on the lawn in the sunshine, and the atmosphere was great. The Golspie contingent were certainly very entertaining…take a bow Linda, Morag and the rest of the gang for making the day so much fun, and I didn’t want to leave at the end. One last mention for one ofthe best men, who’s name I forget – funniest speech I’ve heard in a very long time!

Ceremony Venue:  Strathpeffer Pavilion

Reception venue:  Strathpeffer Pavilion

Dress:  Avorio, Fochabers

Shoes:  John Lewis, Rainbow Shoes

Cake:  Marks & Spencers

Rings:  Jamieson & Carrie, Union Street, Aberdeen

Hair:  Bliss  Bror

Make Up:  Kendra Ballantyne, Bliss, Brora

Cars:  Top Class

Flowers:Stephen Seedhouse

Catering: Red Poppy, Strathpeffer

Band: Ignition

What was your favourite moment of the day?  Walking up to the altar

What advice would you give to other brides planning their wedding? Don’t stress about the little details, you won’t even notice them on the day – focus on the big things and getting them right.

Was there anything you’d have done differently?Made sure the guest book was circulated a bit more in the evening.

Any other stories or comments Fantastic day, loved every minute of it – really pleased all the guests seemed to enjoy themselves too.  Couldn’t believe the weather, it just topped everything off, amazing all round!

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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Michelle & Lee, Loch Ness Country House Hotel

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Michelle Williams and Lee Jeans were married at Loch Ness Country House Hotel at the end of August. It was a really nice day, bright but not too sunny. The couple both got ready at the hotel, which meant I could move around and get shots of both of them in the build up. It was a mixed faith ceremony and it was a lovely service, full of emotion and laughter, just the way I like it. I must admit to having tears in my eyes during the vows, yet again.

After some great fun shooting family pictures, we had some time to wander around the beautiful hotel gardens and got some lovely images.

Michelle and Lee are in Australia just now (lucky them!), so hope you enjoy these folks!

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Sunday, September 5, 2010

Dunrobin Castle Wedding Photography

Posted in Weddings

A couple of weeks ago I was at Dunrobin Castle again, this time for the wedding of Gaeleen MacPherson and Chris Lafferty, who were over from Yellowknife, North West Territories, Canada to get married at this stunning venue. Gaeleen has family from Helmsdale, which is why she chose the Highlands of Scotland for her fairytale wedding.

Gaeleen and her bridal party were getting ready at the Royal Marine Hotel, Brora, so I started there, before we headed to Golspie for the main event. We had a great time shooting in the sunshine in the beautiful gardens, before heading back to Brora where golf fan Chris wanted a few shots on the golf course. Thanks to Brora Golf Club for allowing us to use the 18th green!

It was great to work with Lucy & Cheryl from Premier Wedding Planners Scotland again. Lucy is away to Dubai now, so good luck to her and hopefully we’ll be working together again soon.

Ceremony: Dunrobin Castle

Reception: Royal marine Hotel, Brora

Cake: Andrea Webster

Wedding Planners: Premier Wedding Planners Scotland

Video: Video Viewpoint

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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Ministers and Wedding Photography

Posted in Weddings

So 2 weeks ago I met another minister who decided the wedding was his day and tried to ruin it for the couple. I think there’s only been three ministers who I’ve ever had problems with and this guy was no exception. It was even more frustrating that he was a last minute replacement.He should have turned up and gone with what had already been arranged. But no, he also stopped the piper playing in the church.

Now I’ve heard all the arguments about a few photographers behaving badly and spoiling it for the rest, but I’m sorry, I’m not having that. That is a very poor excuse and all that should do is mean that the bad ones aren’t allowed to shoot and the rest of us are told strict rules about what we can and cannot do.

Now I haven’t read the bible for months, but at no time do I remember there being anything that said that videography was acceptable in church, but stills photography isn’t. I was once told by one of them that I couldn’t shoot because the wedding ‘wasn’t a visual spectacle, but a religious ceremony’. Fair enough but why are there two huge cameras on tripods at either side of the altar?

Now the way I see it, is that the minister is being paid to do his job, just the same as we are. So I get paid a decent amount of money to be a wedding photographer for a couple, and I spend all day with them and shoot everything EXCEPT the wedding. How can that be right? I shoot with no flash, my camera is very quiet, and I stay in one place throughout. The only reason this small minority of ministers say no to photography is because THEY CAN. Pure and simple – ego/power trip, call it what you like. This guy actually asked me to leave during the first hymn, and I could see how proud he was with himself when he approached me.His chest was puffed out like a pigeon afterwards, and I’ll guarantee he was boasting about it within an hour of leaving.

I have to say that the huge majority of ministers and celebrants I work with every week are lovely people and enjoy weddings as much as me, and are there for the love of the job, and want to make the couple happy. I am regularly complimented by many of them for being discreet, and very quick at getting the vital shots done, like signing the schedule etc. It’s a shame that one or two of them spoil it. It’ll be the same one or two that are complaining that the church is empty on a Sunday. That pretty much says everything to be honest.

Posted in Weddings
Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Heather & Adam, Inverness Wedding

Posted in Weddings

Heather Baird and Adam Morrison were married last month at St Stephens Church in Inverness, on a beautiful sunny day. The day started off badly as I got caught up in traffic at Kessock before the ICT v Celtic match and I spent an hour trying to get across the bridge. I eventually made it to the Drumossie Hotel with loads of time to spare. heather was getting ready there, so we got the shots done before heading to the church. Now, if the traffic was annoying, I wasn’t quite expecting the next part. Heather and Adams minister had taken unwell and a replacement was arranged. I’m going to avoid having a real rant at this point, I may make a seperate post for that, but basically he decided it was his day and refused to allow any photography of the wedding. I managed to get a few shots from the back row with a long lens but it’s not the same when you can’t capture the faces showing emotion. The couple were fine with things though and we headed back to the Drumossie for the reception.

Wedding venue: St Stephens Church

Reception: Drumossie Hotel

Videographer: Ness Pro Video

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