Lush stationery!

Well, its been a very busy time for me. My weddings for the year have finished and its been a period of intensive album design for my fab clients! The deadline for Christmas is this weekend so it was high pressure but I'm happy to say the designs are gorgeous and the albums will be even more gorgeous - can't wait to see them!

Anyway, apart from that I've also been busy designing a new website which will be unveiled in December. I'm very excited about it but don't want to say too much at this time. It does involve a lot of work and I hope I can get it all done and launched this year - I'll Blog about it nearer the time of course.

My lovely friend Emma, who owns www.twenty-seven.co.uk and makes the most delicious wedding stationery has also been busy making a new website. She felt her current site wasn't making the most of her designs and wanted a more visual website where her brides and grooms could see just how beautiful and unique her work was. She has also been beavering away designing new ranges to add to her current portfolio so it made sense that I photographed everything for her new website so we had a day together a couple of weeks ago photographing all her new stuff. I felt very privileged to be the first to see her new designs and I was wowed when I saw what she had come up with! Not only has she built on the success of the signature style of her stationery, she has come up with all sorts of little extras to make the day look even more special.

I am really loving the sweetie jars with the gorgeous little tags round them...after all the horror stories about chocolate fountains, sweetie bars are big news at weddings right now. Guests just can't resist a flump or a Vimto lolly you know! http://www.moodflowers.com/ do an amazing colour coordinated sweetie bar. I've seen one in pinks and purples and it was fabulous. Really well done and visually stunning. I think the little favour jars are a fab idea too and would look gorgeous on any table. And check out the little Lego guy on top of the name card - so original!

Well, I'm so so pleased for Emma and wish her all the best with her new website and her new designs. I have posted some of my favourite pieces below and hope they inspire and excite you as much as they did me! Please visit her at http://www.twenty-seven.co.uk/

Fxxx

Gillian and Geoff

Well some weddings are wet, some are dry but all are happy and when Gillian and Geoff got married beside The Bridge Over the Atlantic it was no exception...despite the rain putting in an appearance halfway through the ceremony!!!! The happy couple and all their guests were a marvel and stood in the rain quite happily while the vows and the rings were exchanged! I'm not sure how many other wedding guests would manage such staying power!!

The day started with the girls getting ready at the house...hair and make up were well under way when I arrived and Gillian looked very glam in her huge rollers! While the girls supped a mug of tea, I went for a little nosey about to see what I could find! I was so excited to see Gill's dress - a two piece! I haven't had one of those for so long and it was gorgeous! You can't beat a two piece for understated style and elegance and Gill's dress was just that. She told me it was what she had wanted before she'd even set foot in a dress shop! All her accessories were beautiful and matched her Gran's necklace that she was going to wear. After the dress was on and we were all wowed, I sped off to The Isle of Seil to catch up with the menfolk! They were already at the venue under the guise of 'last minute things to do' but I could see right through them...especially when they suddenly disappeared into the pub!!!! I suppose Geoff did deserve one small drink while he was waiting!

The guests arrived by bus and soon after the girls were there and the sun was shining! The Humanist ceremony was lovely and I guess nobody cared that it started raining...I know that I hardly noticed it and I am a real rainophobe!!!

Typically the rain stopped after the ceremony so champagne and beer was consumed al freso. I don't think anyone noticed us sneaking away for a ten minute photo session - I like to keep it to a minimum so brides and grooms enjoy their day more! We got some stunning shots on and around the bridge. The bridesmaids were in the most amazing peacock blue and the flowers were bright yellow sunflowers so the shots with the girls were so striking! I like a lot of black and white photographs but these colours were too wonderful to change.

The Royal hotel in Oban was the next stop. Gillian's Dad's microbrewery in Glenfinnan supplied the ale and the guests relaxed in the lounge while the speeches were on. Gill and Geoff wanted everything to be relaxed and informal and it was. After dinner, the band started and the first dance was a fabulous Strip the Willow! Six brave souls joined Gillian and Geoff for a very lively session! I got some amazing shots of them all whirling round! I have posted some of my favourites from the day below and I know Gillian is eager to get a sneaky look so I hope you enjoy!!!!!

I loved my rainy west coast adventure and the fish and chips in Oban weren't bad either!

Fxxx

Julie and Iain and some rain...

I know the weather has been exceptionally lovely for the last week or so but there was a Saturday not so long ago when it just tipped it down all day long...well Iain and Julie had their wedding that day and despite the damp weather, the wedding was anything but! It was one of the most happiest and joyous weddings I have ever had the pleasure to photograph! Both of them just smiled and laughed all day!

I started the day by catching up wit Iain and has boys at the flat where a PlayStation session was underway. They had been very good the night before but still looked a bit shell shocked when I turned up! After that, I went to Julie's Mum's house and it was all going on there! Ainsley M was doing her fab make up and Julie's hairdresser had them all looking chic and gorgeous! Julie's hair was amazing - you'll see it in the photos!

I went for a rummage upstairs and found exquisite ivory gown and delicious Gina heels! Again - not my size - I hope my next bride will be a size 3!!! I had a play with the dresses and shoes and then went back down to see what else was going on! The girls were all dancing in the living room and Julie was getting very very excited!
The ceremony at Lodge on Loch Lomond was lovely. The rain poured down but with the big windows in the wedding suite, it was bright and lovely and very warm!

Afterwards we headed down the road to the Pier at Luss. The bridal party came too so we had a bit of a giggle on the beach before getting some gorgeous shots of Iain and Julie on their own. I work fast anyway but because of the rain, we were super speedy and back in the Lodge before anyone noticed we had gone. Job done!

After some bubbly, we had amazing speeches; so funny and heartfelt too. Julie also got a surprise signed photo from Noel Edmonds which she loved! I got to have a wee rest during dinner and then there was some dancing!!! Julie and Iain had had some dancing lessons and it paid off! Everyone was wowed by their routine especially them - I don't think they could believe they pulled it off!

I loved being part of such a happy happy day and I hope they are enjoying a relaxing and glorious sun drenched honeymoon!

Fxxx

I'm in the Mood for flowers!!!

Its late(ish) on Wednesday night and I've just come home from the most amazing party at Mood Flowers http://www.moodflowers.com/ flower studio in Glasgow! It was one of, if not the best corporate nights I've been to! Vivienne and Nick had decided to throw a cocktail party and invite all their corporate clients and industry contacts to remind everyone what amazing florists they are and I can safely say that everyone was blown away! Nick had transformed the studio into a wonderland of amazing flowers, displays and candles. Everywhere was festooned with different flowers. There was a huge pink and purple area and in the middle there was a huge white table with candelabras and hanging above were huge balls of white roses! There were orchids hanging above the champagne bar and even white roses and petals all round the loo!!! I don't think I'm doing it justice but Vivienne took some photographs so I'll see if I can post them later this week. Anyway, it was fab. I had my nails done and a head and neck massage by the Spa girls from The Carrick at Cameron House, I had a delicious Mojito from the cocktail bar from Hotel Du Vin, yummy canapes from Grooms and came home with a beautiful white orchid and a huge pick 'n' mix bag filled with treats from the sweetie bar - which is a much better idea than a chocolate fountain!!! There were some great raffle prizes available too. I have donated a mini portrait session and I'm very excited to hear who the lucky winner is!

So, thank you Nick, Vivienne, Lucy and Laura for the amazing night but there is only one bad thing to report....I was driving!!!!!

Fxxx

Decisions decisions

Phew - yesterday was a day of extreme wedding planning! I had 5 enquiries for various dates and venues for 2010 and 2011!!! I wonder if now the wedding season is winding up, couples are now turning their attention to their own celebration?! Anyway, whatever has happened the wedding bug has bitten!

Well, while I was speaking to and emailing these lovely people about their wedding photography it struck me that sometimes making a decision isn't an easy thing to do! I'll explain...I offer my clients a choice of four different packages all with different pricing structures to suit most budgets and tastes. I've listened to feedback over the year and have hopefully put together four options with something for everyone, but sometimes its not an easy decision to make. For instance, the whole wedding budget might be unknown until venues are confirmed or numbers decided upon. Sometimes parents may be paying for certain things but aren't available at that time. What everyone is keen to do is to secure the date for the wedding and then make the final decision on which package at a later date. Makes sense, which is why I found myself saying the same thing over and over again yesterday....'if you aren't able to decide on which package you want at this time, don't worry - do it nearer the wedding date!' This was just just what everyone needed to hear because it takes some of the pressure off! Job done!

I'm now wondering what today will bring :)

Fxxx

21st century stuff

Ok - so this is a real quickie but very important! I have finally dragged myself into the 21st century and got myself a wee page on Facebook or as my Mum calls it - Bookface!!! You can find it by searching for Fiona MacNeill Photography and become a fan (if you feel inclined!!!) but not only that...I am also now on Twitter. I can't promise to tweet anything profound, more like the random thoughts that pop into my head daily!!! The link is here so you can follow me http://twitter.com/FionaMacNeill

So, that's the latest news from MacNeill HQ!

Have a great weekend xxx

Back by popular demand

Well, its been a while since I blogged about anything but weddings but here I am! Its also been a while since I have taken any gorgeous photographs of little ones but here I am - finally after loads of requests from past clients and friends, and friends of friends wondering when I'll be working with babes and kids again, I couldn't put it off any longer! So, I have updated my website to include a cute little page called 'little ones' and there is a brand new gallery called 'babes' in the 'look' section...does that make sense? I do hope so...but if you get stuck then just give me a shout!
Its a good time to get booked in for a baby lifestyle session with the dreaded 'C' looming! Adorable photographs of your little darlings are a perfect Christmas present for anyone you can think of! I also don't think a house is truly a home until its filled with family photographs and I can help you create unique pieces of art for any space you have in mind.
Session fees start from £65 and you can choose to have it in the house or somewhere else. Maybe you know of a fab little beach cove or live near a great park or maybe you own a wild and rambling country estate! Perfect - just drop me an email or call the studio on 0141 885 2229 and we can get the ball rolling!
Here are some ideas for gorgeous galleries to inspire!


Fxx