Okay so usually I’d have done this a few weeks ago, but I was too busy so I am finally going to post my favourite images of 2011. I struggled to get this down to ten and if you aren’t in here please don’t be offended, this is purely on a photographic point of view.
The Portland Arms in Lybster was my next wedding after returning from Phuket, this time for the wedding of Roanna Sweeting and Marty Grant from Helmsdale. It was a cold but overall quite decent day for the end of October in Caithness. Roanna was getting ready at the Bridge Hotel, Helmsdale so I started off there with her and the bridesmaids as they got hair and make up done, before heading back North to Lybster to get ready for the ceremony. After the ceremony we headed down to a very windy and cold Latheronwheel Harbour for a brief but fun photoshoot. I hastily arranged for a young seal cub to turn up to be aprt of the shoot, and he did seem to enjoy it for a minute before taking off to look for his mother. Then it was back to the hotel for dinner, speeches and the dance, with the wonderful ‘Jude’ as the band.
Some images from the day.
Well, what an adventure this was. An amazing time with some really awesome people. It was so nice to go out there and be made to feel so welcome by everyone, and by the time I left I felt like one of the family. A trip full of everything. Loads of laughter, good times, and an amazing romantic and emotional wedding to cap it all off.
The wedding was at the Banyan Tree Resort which was an amazing place. The villas were out of this world, and the chapel the wedding was held in was so beautiful, and the air conditioning was very welcome in there! It was very hot on the day, probably the hottest day of the trip, so a hasty wardrobe change was necessary just before I left as I was soaking in my usual wedding clothes! The ceremony was lovely. Alisha arrived by boat at the chapel and it was an emotional time, with quite a few tears around. Including myself…haha. We then had a baby elephant along to meet everyone, before we headed off to do a photoshoot. We then had the most amazing dinner I have probably ever eaten at The Plantation C lub
I cannot thank Alisha and Scott and everyone else enough for the amazing hospitality and friendship I received on this amazing trip.
Some pictures from the wedding day.
When Debbie Denoon and Gary Weir booked me for their 2012 wedding, it then turned out that Debbie was going to be a bridesmaid at Alisha and Scott’s wedding in Phuket so we decided to set aside some time to do their pre wedding shoot over there on the beach. So on the Friday afternoon we headed down to Kata Beach in the hope of a nice sunset, but it was a very overcast day so we never got lucky on that score. However we did have some fun and got some nice images. Looking forward to their wedding in June!
Well, I guess it’s time to start to post about my amazing trip to Thailand. Wasn’t sure where to start with this so I guess the best plan is to just break it up into parts. I’ll start with the touristy parts of the trip. When Alisha and Scott invited me to be their wedding photographer it was a huge thrill, as I’d never been anywhere as exotic before. Because I was going so far I decided it would be stupid not to spend a few extra days there seeing some of the area, so I ended up going over for 9 nights. There were so many things to do around Phuket that it was hard to decide which day trips to take. It turned out to be an amazing trip, one which I will never forget. Amazing country, amazing people, great company and some amazing nights out.
I went to Tapu Island (James Bond Island) on my first day there, which was where The Man With The Golden Gun was filmed in to 1970′s. It was surreal being there and seeing the iconic rock formations and remembering scenes from the movie. It wasn’t the best of days, a bit overcast, but that meant it wasn’t too hot. The boat trip took in various islands and was a great day out. We went to Talu Island where we went canoeing through loads of sea caves which was great apart from me as usualy choosing the canoe with the crazy man as a guide. Not 100% sure what he was smoking but it wasn’t Benson & Hedges that’s for sure. Highly entertaining all the same despite the fear factor. WW stopped at Panyee Island for lunch and a bit of a walk around. It’s an amazing little muslim fishing village built on the water, and totally self sufficient. The day ended with a stop at Naka Island where we had time to swim and relax at the beach bar. A lovely day.
The following day I went on an elephant trekking tour. Not sure whether it was the 4 hours sleep I had or not but I didn’t think it was that great. It was an interesting couple of hours but once you’d sat on the elephant for a couple of minutes it kinda lost the excitement. They don’t do much…..
I found out that a Louise and Don, who’s wedding I had just shot, were on honeymoon nearby so arranged a night out with them in Patong. Well, what a night that was. Bangla Road is very well known but until you experience it, it’s hard to imagine. I’ll save all the funny ladyboy stories for another day haha.
Saturday I was delighted to be invited to join the wedding party on a day trip to Phi Phi island which is where the movie The Beach was filmed. Had a bit of a late one on Friday night but managed to drag myself along and was able to survive the very long and choppy speedboat journey. What a place. Absolutely amazing. It was very busy with tourists but what a stunning place! We also visited various other islands including ‘Monkey Island’ and Coral Bay for snorkelling with tropical fish which was great! A wonderful day!
So that was it from the days out. The rest of my spare time was spent on nights out and shopping in the local markets. More about the work side of things coming up in my next post.
A second wedding of the year at the Melvich Hotel and this time it was the owners, Jo Hendry and Rob Wyke. The couple have done a fantastic job of turning the hotel around in the last few years and finally managed to take some time off, to celebrate their wedding. The day started at Forss House Hotel with Jo and the girls getting ready there, before heading to Melvich. It was a grey day with a few showers but we did manage to do some of the photography outdoors with the fantastic scenic backdrop of Melvich beach and the lovely coastline.
Some images from a great day
Another lovely, small wedding, this time at Boath House, near Nairn. It was the wedding of Alison Helm and Barry James, who live in Edinburgh. The day began at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness where Alison was getting ready, before heading through to Boath House for the ceremony and reception. It was a bit of a wet day, but we managed to get some shots outside under the shelter of trees and pillars, before continuing the shoot indoors.
Some images from the day
Anne Marie Park and Kevin Coghill were married at Forss House Hotel. A small intimate ceremony for family and close friends. I’ve known Anne Marie for more years than I care to remember, and photographed her brother Jason’s wedding the year before, so feel like part of the family now
It was a dull day, but we were lucky and the rain stayed off just long enough to get everything shot outdoors, then started just as I’d shot the last family group. We ended up at the river and waterfall near the hotel where we got some nice atmospheric images.
The reception was then held at The Weigh Inn, Thurso.
Some images from the day
So after a huge build up, and lots of preparation that’s it over for another year. The Societies (or SWPP- Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers) annual convention at the Novotel Hammersmith. It is a huge event, the biggest of its type in Europe and attracts speakers and delegates from all over the planet. This was the 10th convention held by the Societies and the 6th in London, also my 6th having been to all the events in Hammersmith. This year I was back as a speaker and a judge. I was pretty stressed out in the weeks leading up to the event as I just seemed to struggle to find time to get prepared as it is so close to Christmas and it is a busy enough time of year.
I’ve been involved in judging before but it had been a while and I was offically judging this time, rather than just being asked to help out like before. The judging was great fun. It is done in front of a live audience so it is quite pressurised as you can be put on the spot to explain your score at any time. It’s quite a buzz, and I was very happy with my scoring throughout the two (very long) days. The judging panel was chaired by Dennis Orchard and I felt it was a great success throughout. I did think one or two categories were a bit weaker than usual but overall the standard was very high, and has prompted me to enter again this year!
I did three masterclasses. Friday on using run down location, Saturday was about my business and how I work, and Sunday I did one on mixing different types of lighting during a wedding day. All three classes were very busy and the feedback was great. Hopefully everyone enjoyed seeing how I work, and hopefully not to disturbed by any of my jokes or the PJ video….. Usually I am a nervous wreck before talking, but this year I felt a lot more confident and actually even enjoyed them. I’ll definitely be back presenting again next year! It’s also given the bug to do more teaching, so look out for more courses soon, aimed at all levels from beginners upwards.
The event itself is always a great chance to meet people. I had forgotten how many great friends I had in the photographic industry, but you don’t forget for long. I had just walked in the door when I was met by Christina lauder who I met at my first ever convention. You’re five minutes there and it feels like you have never been away since the previous year. This year I really enjoyed the social side, and I can honestly say I have never laughed so much in my life as I did over the week I was there. The banter this year was on a whole new level. To all the many people who had me almost doubled up laughing, I thank you – you know who you are. In particular, Derek Poulston and the One Vision team, Grant, Lenny, Joyce, Caroline, Alannah, and far too many others to even try to list. So much fun.
There are so many great photographers I’d like to thank for their continuous encouragement and support as well as freely offering advice on all sorts of things, not even restricted to work, and again too many to mention. I’d like to pay a special tribute to Tony Corbell, who despite saying in Professional Photographer magazine that I was nuts, is one of the nicest kindest people I have the privilege to call a friend. We go back a number of years and sometimes it’s easy to forget just how highly regarded Tony is throughout the world as a teacher and photographer. A very down to earth and humble guy who would do anything for you. Also Trevor and Faye Yerbury, who were by my side the very first time I ever spoke in public back in 2007 and they have always been a huge help as well, and their advice is always appreciated, as again they have probably got better things to do with their time than speak to me! There are so many others and I apologise for not mentioning them but i’d be here for days if I started.
Big thanks to Mark at Hasselblad who kindly let me play with a H4D-31 on Saturday. I didn’t get as long as planned due to a problem with the radio triggers we were using but what a great camera and I want one. I will be buying lottery tickets from now on. Image quality out of this camera is amazing.
Also a big thanks to One Vision & Johnsons Photopia for their continued support throughout the years. Great partnerships which I am proud to be part of.
I already can’t wait to next year, which is at a new venue in a more central London location. hanks and well done to Phil, Juliet and all the rest of their team for yet another amazing week.
Back to Caithness for this one and another visit to Ackergill Tower, near Wick. This was the wedding of Catriona Marshall and Paul Andrews from Thurso. The day began in Thurso at catriona’s parents home before we headed through to Ackergill where everyone would get ready. The wedding cermony was a lovely setting in the Great Hall, although the low lighting proved challenging, but it certainly had a lovely atmosphere. Despite yet another unpleasant day, we managed to escape outside to get some images before it turned really cold and wet. Then we went back to the Weigh Inn for the reception. Special mention for some great speeches, especially Catriona’s dad Willie, who had me in stitches.
© 2012 Inverness Wedding Photographers
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