hidden but not gone!

the new website is live and I'm so happy with it. There will be a brand new blog too but this blog will stay where it is forever and ever. For weddings post June 2010 then please go to www.fionamacneill.com/blog

Love Fiona xxx

normal service resumes...

Phew- panic over...my site is back in action.

Fxxx

Site down - aaaaargh

Hello - this is a bummer of a post but my site is down and will be for the next few hours while my tech people try to fix it.

I apologise to any clients trying to view slideshows but these are down also.

As soon as it is working, I'll post again.

Thanks for your patience.

Fiona x

wild flowers

Bon soir!

I am back from a very hot and sunny South of France and can't begin to say what an amazing holiday I've had. Two blissful weeks with Jason, Nina and the Boy!

So, I arrived home late yesterday and was straight back into the swing of things today with a pre-wedding shoot. I hadn't met Kirsteen and Jamie before today as they live in London so we had a good long chat over coffee before going outside for a wee practise session. I don't normally Blog about pre-wedding shoots any more but there were one or two pictures from today that I just had to share! Right next to the car park where we met was a patch of wild flowers and I just knew I had to use them. Kirsteen's Mum had told her to watch out for honey bees as they are very active in the clover right now and she was right! There were little bees on most of the flowers, especially the clover but we managed to find a trampled down patch free of clover and didn't squash any bees whilst we were there!

Anyway, I've chosen a couple of my favourites and have posted them below. I think they are so lovely and who would know that there were cars and loads of pedestrians all around us! It looks as if we are in some beautiful, lofty Alpine meadow!

I can't wait until the weekend when Kirsteen and Jamie get married at Ardanaiseig. They were naturals in front of the camera and Saturday promises to be a wonderful celebration.

I still have some availability for later in the year and a few key summer dates for next year so email me ASAP if you wish to book. Remember, every client gets a complimentary pre-wedding shoot which is brilliant fun and invaluable if you want to relax and feel at ease in front of the camera!

Fxxx

Holiday

Hey - this is just to say I'm on hols now until the 11th of July! I will have access to my emails whilst away but if you need me urgently then do call my mobile.

Fxxx

Amanda and Neil in St Andrew's

I am being a little naughty here and blogging out of order but there is a certain gorgeous newly-wed in Indiana champing at the bit to see her wedding pictures and I don't want to keep her waiting any longer. Amanda was the sweetest bride ever and the planning and preparation that went into her wedding went above and beyond anything I've really known before. My lovely Wendy from Utopia Wedding Planning was the coordinator and I think I heard her say that they had exchanged more than 600 emails in the couple of years they were planning! I love that...I also think Amanda would make an amazing wedding planner and wouldn't be at all surprised if we heard about Utopia Wedding Services Indiana very soon!

Amanda and Neil got married amongst the historic ruins of St Andrew's Cathedral with 14 of their nearest and dearest there to witness their joy, love and happiness. I met with them a few days before the wedding for their pre-wedding shoot so knew that we would have no problems on the day. They were a little nervous at first but soon got into the swing of things and were kissing and cuddling all over St Andrews by the end of the shoot. Amanda loved the results and I'm sure it helped reassure her that she didn't need to worry about the photography on the day.

Amanda and her sister got ready at The Old Course Hotel in the morning with Mum and Dad there soaking up all the excitement and anticipation that comes with getting your hair and make up done, the flowers arriving and knowing that in a couple of hours time you will be a Mrs!

The ceremony was perfect with all Amanda's little touches adding to the loveliness of the day. There was also a little surprise for the guests when a little barn owl called Finnbar delivered the rings to Troy, the best man! It was amazing and very Harry Potterish! I believe they are big fans.

We had some group photos in the grounds of the cathedral and then we went down to the castle rock pool and beach for a short photo session. I just knew the pictures would be stunning. Everything was right...the light, the weather, the mood!

Back at the hotel, the guests were relaxing and admiring the views over the Old Course while we took the opportunity of having some fun on the Swilcan Bridge. Well you can't go to St Andrew's and not get some shots there! There was an American TV crew there filming for the forthcoming Open Championship so I hope they got some footage of us having a giggle.

Wonderful, emotional and funny speeches preceded dinner and then the dancing started! Mike, my favourite video guy (from RPL Weddings) caught the first 3 dances on DVD but I managed to get some fab shots of them too. The third dance was a bit of a surprise when Amanda and her Dad, Randy performed the most hilarious mash up. I have never seen anything like it and had to keep remembering I was still working and not just gawping!

So, it was a wonderful day of joy, laughter, tears, emotion but most of all love. Weddings are always emotional for me, but this one just got me. I loved being a part of their day and wish them more love and happiness in their life together.

They are having a party for friends and family back home this weekend so I hope they all love the pictures. I have chosen just a teeny tiny few to post here so I hope you enjoy.

Fxxx

Kate and John - with much love x

Oh my poor neglected Blog has been playing on my conscience over the last month so I have finally found a spare hour or two to blog about all my lovely wedding clients and their happy days. Now, you may think that blogging is a simple, easy thing to do - especially for a blether like me but its not...its a very complicated process using all sorts of technical wizardry, which I find hugely challenging! Anyway, I'll stop complaining and tell you a little bit about Kate and John. I know them through mutual friends and during the planning process, they have become dear friends. I like to get to know my clients so that when the day dawns, we are all familiar and comfortable around each other; it makes everyone more relaxed and the resulting photographs are always the bets they can be.

So, under an impossibly blue sky in North Berwick, Kate and John tied the knot after a year of planning. The ceremony and reception was at The Marine Hotel and I have to say that everything went according to plan, much to Kate's delight and relief. Kate wore a stunning blush pink gown by Linea Raffaelli and her bridesmaids were in a beautiful, regal purple. Her niece, Nina (good name!!!) wore a cute warm gold dress and looked every bit of a beautiful flower princess!

John get ready with his boys at the hotel too and I spent some time with them in a very small, warm room! I always like to get some shots of the boys getting ready although I'm not sure the feeling is always mutual! John forgot how to tie a bow tie and the rest of them were getting hotter and hotter by the minute and wishing they could strip back off again! I have posted a shot of John below with his 'wedding face' on! John was the best man at my friends Emma and David's wedding a few years ago and I have an identical shot of him with the same expression. I love this shot and it just sums up John!

The ceremony was lovely and there were a few sniffles when Kate's two dear friends did their readings. I must admit I had a we bubble too but soon after everyone was happy again and the rest of the day followed suit. The weather was amazing and everyone braved the fierce wind for an outdoor drinks reception. I sneaked off onto the golf course with Kate and John for a ten minute photo session and we didn't even have to dodge one golf ball.

The speeches were emotional, funny, moving and just really nice. I love the speeches and always get the most amazing shots of love and laughter. After dinner, the cake was cut and the dancing commenced. I was pooped so shot off home but was assured that the band and party at night was one to remember with some of the boys drinking well into the wee small hours.

I have posted some of my favourite shots below and hope you enjoy them. Kate and John are a truly special couple and I can't wait to show them the gorgeous album I'm designing for them!

Fxxx

That's all for today but I'll be back in the land of Blog on Thursday...Nan and Brian's wedding next xxx

Laura and Tim

My first wedding of 2010 was on Good Friday in Blair Castle near Dalry. Its an amazing place for a special event and the owner Lina and her team looked after everyone very well indeed. The happy couple were Laura and Tim who live in Hong Kong but had arrived in the UK earlier in the week. Laura had entrusted a lot of the wedding planning to her Mum, Audrey who had in turn enlisted the team at 88 Events to pull out all the stops and give Laura and Tim a day to remember. Between them all, the most amazing wedding was planned to perfection and executed with precision. Everything was just as it should be and there were some surprises for Laura and Tim that had been kept a secret from them. There was a moment in the huge marquee when a big black partition dropped to reveal the dining area and the dance floor. I managed to get a shot of Laura and Tim's faces at this precise moment so I know they were just stunned. It was simply fabulous. I could go on and on about the marquee but the rest of the wedding was just as lovely. Laura looked so beautiful in a stylish hand made gown by Kerfuffle in Clarkston and carried a bouquet of simple white phalaenopsis orchids (my favourite and the same as my own wedding bouquet). Tim looked super cool and suave in a tailored grey suit and there was a great mix of tartan kilts and troos thrown in to add a splash of colour. Linda Britton, a really lovely Humanist celebrant performed the ceremony and as always she had taken the time to find out all about Laura and Tim, how they met and their love for eachother.

After the ceremony there was lots of bubbly and just enough time to get some happy family shots as well as some natural and relaxed shots of Laura and Tim.

I will have to stop now as I could go on and on but I just wanted to mention the fabulous malteser cake organised by Tim's Mum, the lovely saxophone music provided by Laura's younger cousin, the starlight dance floor complete with white grand piano, the fabulous Swing Cats, Wild Thyme catering, the fabulous Fiona from Paper Blossom Stationery and all the other little touches that made the day so special. I am seeing Laura next week after her South American honeymoon and hope she'll love the photographs I've taken for her.

It was a wedding I'll always remember and here are some of my favourite shots from the day.

F xxx

Nina and some knitted things!

I thought it was high time that I got back into the swing of Blogging. I used to Blog often about life out with my photography business but got out of the habit because since Nina arrived I have absolutely no time for anything other than the essentials! Nina is now 21 months and one of my best ever models. I'm not saying she is cooperative, far from it, but when I do manage to get her to stop moving for one teeny tiny nanosecond, the results are usually adorable. I don't think she has ever featured on the Blog (well maybe a wee newborn shot a long time ago) so I think its time for her debut. My very clever mother in law is an expert knitter among other things and we bought her a book of knitted toy patterns. She has been beavering away for the last couple of weeks and at the weekend she sent her creations down for the kids. They are totally amazing and I can't believe she knitted them herself. Nina loves them so we set them up to take some shots to send to Granny. I'm certain there would be a market for cool knitted things...but here's a wee look in the meantime!

Fxxx

TV

Ok so I'm not normally a TV addict but its really very good at the moment. Monday nights are to die for...Glee (the most delicious highschool sitcom ever. Sue Sylvester is genius), America's Next Top Model (my guilty pleasure and a 100% fiercely addictive show), Flashforward (welcome return to this intriguing drama) and Burnistoun which is a fabulously accurate comedy about the West of Scotland). My Sky+ works overtime and often makes me choose which of these fab shows to cancel. Anyhoo, I just wanted to lament the end of my very favourite comedy, Harry Hill's TV Burp and also mention my new TV crush Louie Spence. If you have never watched Harry Hill, I urge you to do so. Its just brilliant and the once irritating Harry is totally hilarious and magnificently shrewd. He apparently spends about 80 % of his week watching TV to put this show together and thank goodness he does. Its magic. Its now finished until the autumn but I'm sure it will be repeated on loads of channels or you could watch it on one of those catch up things.

On to Louie...aaah he's hilarious. He does spell his name wrongly but never mind. When you are this fabulously camp you can spell your name any way you like! He's the star of Pineapple Dance Studios on Sky1 and is a legend. Look him up on Facebook or just Google him. I'm not going to type any more because you just need to see and hear him to love him. Here's a wee pic from his official website but do try to tune in and enjoy the truly awesomeness of dance God Louis Spence!

Fxxx

Working days!

This is just a wee post about the days I work so you all know when I will be responding to emails and when you might have to wait a few hours until I'm back in work mode. I would put on an out of office thingy but I do still suffer from severe Mumnesia and would just forget. Anyhoo, I work Tuesday through Thursday and Friday mornings. If you do need to contact me outwith these times, just drop me an email as I have a funcy wee Iphone and do check my emails periodically. If its really urgent then call the mobile. If you don't have the mobile let me know and I'll email it on to you.

So, that's that. Rather dull but important nonetheless. Love that word!

Fxxx

My lovely land

Last week I felt the need to get out of the office and fill my lungs with clean fresh Scottish air. It had been a while since I'd been further north than Loch Lomond and the weather has been so bad that many roads were closed anyway. My friend Jane and I hopped in the car and headed out. We whizzed up the side of Loch Lomond stopping to admire Ben Lomond in the distance. It looked amazing, like it was covered in bright white icing and the light was so beautiful I was glad I had packed the camera. On we went up as far as Glen Etive stopping a couple of times to take some shots of mountains and scenery that made my heart sing. I never forget how beautiful Scotland is but just how beautiful it is always takes my breath away. I took a handful of shots and wanted to share them with you...

I hope you enjoy and are inspired to go and experience this wonderful wilderness for yourself.

Fxxx