school hols!

I never intended the blog to be all about work but until recently, it's all I've had time for! Anyway, we are now on the last day of the October school hols so there's been lots of time for the boy and I to have fun!!! Jason even managed a couple of days off work too which was a lovely surprise and a real bonus.

In the middle of the week, Jason's cousin Fraser and his wife Debbie and their two boys came through to stay for a couple of days. They only live in Edinburgh but it's been ages since we last saw them all. The three boys are all quite close in age so they had a ball. The first day we went to Finlaystone Park (www.finlaystone.co.uk/) which is in Langbank and is just the best place for kids who love getting their wellies on and going on a big woodland adventure. The woods there are filled with all sorts of amazing structures from a huge pirate ship to tee pees with lots of swings, slides, forts and seesaws in between. It really is a haven for active kids and Debbie and I even managed to struggle over the net wall - not a pretty sight! We got home late that afternoon exhausted but the boys had had an amazing time.

The next day we set off for Culzean Castle (www.culzeanexperience.org/) in Ayrshire for another action packed day. Jason and I go here a lot with the boy and we even joined the National Trust for Scotland because we go so often! We had a picnic in the courtyard before heading straight down to the beach. I took the camera and have chosen some favourite shots to post. You can see them below. I'm so pleased that we had good weather last week and were able to enjoy the great outdoors - we are so lucky where we live! We drove past Braehead shopping centre a couple of times and it was packed! I can't believe people would rather go shopping with their kids than hit the park or the beach!

Here's my favourites!

don't delay

I have just had to email another lovely couple today and tell them that I am NOT available to shoot their wedding next year. They sounded so nice and I know I would have enjoyed working with them. I get about 6 enquiries per day for various dates and it really upsets me when I have to turn people away for 2008 but it re-enforces the simple fact that good photographers get booked up at least 18 months in advance. I am still getting enquiries for the key summer dates next year and I really wonder how these couples are going to find a good photographer this late in the day. I have limited availability for 2009, never mind 2008 and people have already started asking about 2010!

If you read this and are planning a wedding for 2009 and beyond - I urge you to book your photographer as soon as you possibly can to avoid disappointment. Not to mention the fact that prices could increase and you'll be kicking yourself! So, when you find a photographer you like, remember that there are hundreds of couples getting married on your date and they are all looking at the good photographers and making enquiries. If you hang about and keep searching the chances are that you'll be struggling to get the one you want!

Blogging about this has made me think of all the other pieces of invaluable advice that I can pass on! I think I'll compile a list of 'essential info' and also 'frequently asked questions' and post it here in the next week!

Keep an eye out and one other thing - if you read this and find it interesting or useful, please please leave a comment or pass it on to someone else!! Spread the word!!!

Sarah and Neil

I have no voice!! I have got this nasty virus and it has gone straight to my throat. I have been in bed since Monday and feel rotten but my clients are still waiting to see their lovely images from the end of September so I've dragged myself out to the studio....oh never mind! I'll just get on with the story of Sarah and Neil! They booked me last year but I only met Neil a few months ago when we met in Leith for their pre-wedding shoot. Neil is in the army and was in Germany until last month so it was Sarah who had done all the hard work and planning! I'm sure Neil won't mind me saying but she did a grand job!!! The wedding was fab and everything went to plan. Sarah has since told me that one of her favourite parts of the day was the morning in the house with the girls getting ready! I was ever so chuffed as I had managed to persuade Sarah to have a girly morning! The original plan was to head into North Berwick to have hair and make up done separately. Whilst this is fine; it's not as much fun as getting great hair and make-up artists out to the house or hotel and having it all done on sight. Anyway, she took my advice and they had a hoot! There was bubbly, hairspray and lip gloss everywhere but they all looked gorgeous and were super chilled! I must say that this really is the best way to spend your wedding morning! I hate to hear of brides darting about town in their veil and jeans from hairdresser to beauticians - not relaxing and wind and rain are a threat!

Anyway, Neil had a boys lunch in the pub in Dirleton and I arrive in time to catch them walking down to the church. Neil had his guard of honour with him and sheesh - did they look dapper or what?! I do love a uniform but there's was really striking. The service was lovely and the minister let me shoot the ceremony from a great spot. Its important that some of the ceremony is captured forever but sadly, a lot of ministers don't allow photography during the service. I intend to write about this at a later date.

After the service and very exciting guard of honour, it was off to the Marine in North Berwick for bubbly and canapes and lots of windswept fun on the golf course!

I enjoyed myself so much that day and the speeches were brilliant too. Sarah and Neil had a short honeymoon in a secret location up north before relocating to the south of England where Neil will be posted for the next few years. I wish them all the best in their new life and can't wait to see them next month when they come up to choose their album images!

Here are a few of my favourite images from the day that tell their story!

I'm famous!

Well, not really but my copy of Real Life Weddings magazine plopped through my letterbox on Saturday and there it was...all 7 glorious pages of my photographs of my gorgeous bride Katy, an of course Graeme!!! I am so chuffed that I got such a big spread as it's almost impossible to get any photography featured in there never mind 7 pages! Katy and Graeme look brilliant and I'm about to email Katy to see what she thinks! It must be strange to see your own wedding pictures in a magazine!

Anyway, the magazine is in the shops now and they are launching a website in the next day or two so that will be great for brides planning their big day! The site is at www.reallifeweddings.co.uk/ but hasn't gone live yet.




I hope you get a chance to see it!


Fxxx

quick update

It's been how long since my last blog? Oh dear - where do the days and weeks go? I am slightly traumatised that it is October today! how did that happen? Anyway, just an update on my life! I shot my last wedding last Saturday and will spend the next 2 months finalising the processing of all the outstanding wedding images, meeting clients to show them their wedding images and then designing their albums so that they get them in time for Christmas! It's going to be a busy couple of months for me!

I decided not to take any weddings beyond September this year for a couple of reasons. I am working on a new baby and child portraiture website so that will take up some time and also, I wanted to spend some weekends with Jason and the boy! I feel as if I've hardly seen them since the middle of February as I've had weddings every weekend since then! Don't think I'll be putting my feet up though; I will be busy during the week doing various things and I am taking new wedding bookings for 2008/2009 and meeting new clients every week! Phew-it is an exhausting and constant business but all worth it!

I met with Karen and Andy last week to show them them wedding images. They loved them so much and were delighted with the choices I helped them make for their album. For me, the viewing is the most nerve-wracking part about the whole wedding! Wondering if clients will love their images as much as you hope they will! I'm happy to report that ALL my clients have loved the pictures I've shown them and what a fab feeling that is!

I also got a lovely email from Alison who got married in September at Wedderburn. She wrote
"The photos are absolutely gorgeous. I could not love them more, and they do bring back really lovely memories of the day and of our time with you -- you have such a gift for this! Thank you, thank you. I can't wait to get out of this office and look at them with George! " These emails make all the hard work worth it! Alison and George live in Chicago and have only seen their images online so far which isn't ideal. I'm currently making a web slide show for them to watch. Their images will be much larger and easier to see. This will mean that they can choose the shots they want in their album more easily - I'd love to fly to Chicago for a viewing but I don't think it would be cost effective!!!

Anyway, enough chatting!

Fxxx