A great day again!

If you want to become a ‘people’ photographer, or if you just want to guarantee great results when taking family photographs, this course is a must for you. The course is taking place at the Synergie Building, Fairways, Inverness. It is running from 10am – 4pm and you will get lunch provided. Rate for this intensive course is £150 with an early bird rate of £125 if you book by 17th June. You will come away from this course with a great knowledge of your camera, some amazing images, and a burning desire to get shooting the right way!

For more details contact me on info@captiv8.uk.com, or call the ITP Training office to book. Details on the attached flyer.

Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most famous landmarks in Scotland, and a very romantic location. It was somewhere the couple visited last year and Amber loved it, so an ideal choice for the big question to be popped! I arrived up there this morning after a 2 hour drive through constant rain and got set up. I had been sent photos of the couple and knew what car they would be in so was ready. Only issue being that I had to be discreet so as not to give the game away to Amber. It was a real buzz waiting for the car and ready to jump to action!

I followed them across the famous bridge into the castle, not knowing when things would happen, but a few minutes later they popped outside and Niall dropped on one knee. It was a very quick yes from Amber, to put us all out of our misery and I have to confess to being moved to tears by the whole thing. It was so lovely being part of something so intimate and personal and I think I managed to stay completely unnoticed throughout. In 15 years of wedding photography this is the first time I have photographed this part and must admit it was a massive privilege and totally blew me away. I’m not sure who was shaking more afterwards, Niall or myself. The adrenaline was pumping as I couldn’t miss a split second, and then the emotions set in.

We spent a bit of time taking more photographs around the castle and grounds before the rain finally got the better of us.

What a lovely, lovely couple and I am so proud to have had this job. Another ‘I Love My Job’ day!

A few photos of the day!

It was great being back at Achnagairn, and the wedding was so much fun. Everyone getting ready at the house makes life a lot easier and we started with make up shots by the amazing Stephanie McDonald from Halo and hair by the talented Louise Crystal. The ceremony was beautiful and we then went outside to do the photography which was a great bonus! Then it was on to the speeches and the dance to the Ann Dickson band. A nice firework display was also part of the evening entertainment. A great day!

Eilidh got ready at her parentshouse before arriving in style at the church. The rain threatened to spoil things with a shower hitting us just as she arrived, however the rest of the day was lucky and stayed dry. It was a fun shoot down at the river after church, before heading to nairn for a fun set of speeches and a great dance.

If you are getting married why not book an engagement shoot, with no obligation to use us for your wedding. Get in touch to find out more!

The couple get married this summer and I can’t wait to be part of it

The weather was really grim and it rained heavily most of the day, however we managed to get what we were after.

A selection of images:

80th anniversary of first Nessie sighting

One of the world’s greatest and most enduring mysteries was celebrated when a special boat trip marked the 80th anniversary of the first modern sighting of the Loch Ness Monster. On 14 April 1933, Mrs Aldie Mackay, manageress of the Drumnadrochit Hotel, spoke of seeing a “whale-like fish” in the loch. Alex Campbell, a water bailiff and part-time journalist, recorded the sighting in the Inverness Courier, under the headline: “Strange Spectacle in Loch Ness”. Exactly eight decades on since Mrs Mackay first saw something strange in the loch, a group of monster buffs will head out on to the water to raise a glass of whisky to the woman whose sighting sparked a phenomenon that continues to captivate the world.

Adrian Shine, leader of the Loch Ness Research Project and designer of the five-star Loch Ness Exhibition in Drumnadrochit,  led the excursion, which also included Edinburgh Fortean Society President, Gordon Rutter, Loch Ness investigator Dick Raynor and a number of other noted Loch Ness specialists. A single malt, “Superstition”, was specially selected to mark the occasion, along with a blend of port and brandy named “Conviction”. Members of the boat party  also enjoyed a slice of “Nessie at 80” birthday cake designed and made by Drumnadrochit’s own Cobb’s Bakery.  Although Nessie herself did not attend, she was not be left out of the party, receiving her own beer liberation poured in the loch courtesy of local, Loch Ness Brewery.

Adrian Shine, one of VisitScotland’s ‘Meet the Scots’ ambassadors said: “Even without Nessie, Loch Ness is a place of great beauty and remarkable intrigue, but the first modern sighting by Mrs Mackay was a key date in history, not only for Loch Ness, but for Scotland as a whole.”

Malcolm Roughhead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland said: “It would be difficult to overstate the importance of Mrs Mackay’s sighting of the Loch Ness Monster to tourism in Scotland. There are few places in the world where people haven’t heard of the phenomenon and the 80th anniversary is sure to spark renewed interest and encourage even more visitors to come here and see if they can spot Nessie for themselves.”

Graeme Ambrose, Executive Director at Destination Loch Ness, said: “Clearly Mrs MacKay’s sighting has had a huge impact on the worldwide perception and tourism potential of Loch Ness.  The icing on the cake is that there is even more to this fascinating area beyond the monster, and we know that visitors to Loch Ness are intrigued, inspired and impressed by what they do see.”

Esther Brauer, 82, of Kylesku Post Office,received a Long Service Award  from the Post Office recently.

Esther began work in 1953 – the year of the Queen’s Coronation – first working from a Post Office that was part of her house, and for the past 31 years she has worked from an 8ft by 6ft hut in her garden.