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

Elaine and Martin

I have been dying to get a chance to post some images from Elaine and Martin's wedding at Glenskirlie Castle a couple of weeks ago! Glenskirlie Castle is a new venue in Scotland although Glenskirlie House is a well known venue and has been there for years. The owners bought the land next door and designed a purpose-built castle for weddings! Its brilliant and only opened in July of this year. The Castle itself looks rather unusual from the road - a real mix of old and new but inside it really works! Wow - the reception is amazing and the rooms are to die for! I have been dropping hints to Jason that a wee night there would be in order!!!

Anyway, the whole day was brilliant and Elaine and Martin are such a lovely and happy couple who wanted a very relaxed and informal day! The girls made their final preparations in the honeymoon suite so I got a sneak preview and the ceremony itself was held in the Castle. Afterwards guests mingled in the garden at the back and the sun stayed out! After some champagne had been downed...I took Elaine and Martin up to their room for a pillow fight! It was hilarious and although not my usual style, the room was too amazing to not feature! I thought a pillow fight would be perfect for them as they are always laughing with each other and just generally having fun.

Elaine's hair was flying everywhere and they didn't hold back or be gentle with each other! There were big feathery cushions on the bed and the feathers were flying about! Don't tell Glenskirlie!

I have posted some of my favourite images for you to see - I think you'll agree that Elaine and Martin both look amazing!

SECC wedding enquiries

I thought I would do a quick post to the lovely couples we met at the show and are awaiting a brochure, price list and information pack. The packs are all ready and will be posted first thing tomorrow morning so that they arrive on Saturday morning. The information pack is normally larger than most people's letter box so I always post them to arrive at the weekend so it avoids a trip to the post office.

If anyone wishes to get in touch before then, please call the studio on 0141 885 2229 or email me on info@fionamacneill.com

Fxxx

useful info for brides to be!

I have been thinking about the wedding show and all the lovely people we met over the course of the weekend and there was a very apparent pattern emerging...couples were feeling more and more overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of wedding planning. I heard the same things said time after time...'we don't know where to begin', 'can you recommend such and such?', 'the venue we wanted is booked', 'we've heard horror stories about this cake maker or stationer or photographer' and so it went on and I really began to wonder if anyone out there actually enjoys and relishes the challenge of planning a wedding in a world where there are hundreds of suppliers all wanting your business! I was lucky when I planned my own wedding, firstly, it was very small and intimate and secondly, I knew exactly where and who I wanted to use for the venue, flowers, stationery, photography etc as I had first hand experience of their work and knew I wouldn't have any worries. I have a page of recommended suppliers on my website called 'friends' and it really is a valuable source when starting out. A recommendation is worth a million glossy ads or a fancy stand at a wedding show.

However, it also got me thinking about my friend Wendy who is a wedding planner and runs a very successful company called Utopia Scotland. Wendy has helped many couples over the years plan and then have their dream wedding. She sources a handful of venues to match your requirements and once you are happy with the venue she has a shortlist of suppliers that she has worked with on numerous occasions and deemed to be 'professional, punctual and nice!'

Not only that, Wendy is the point of contact with these suppliers and does all the hard work in contacting them, paying them on your behalf and coordinating the whole day for you, while you sit back and watch it all come together. Finally, the day itself, and again I am very fortunate because I am at the wedding all day and get to see what goes on! At about 75% of the weddings I shoot, something doesn't go to plan. The flowers are the wrong shade or the wrong style, the wedding car breaks down or some other major decision has to be taken there and then. Its always the bride who is left to sort these things out and I always feel so sorry for them. While she's trying to have her hair and make up done, the mobile is ringing and turning the poor girl into a nervous wreck! So, what could be better than having Wendy there to take the calls and deal with the little hiccups leaving you to relax and enjoy the day!

If you haven't already visited Wendy's website you can do so at www.utopia-scotland.com/

Go on - it makes sense!!!

Fxxx

Pre-wedding Shoot

All my clients get a complimentary pre-wedding shoot included in their package which is in fact a practise session so that the couple feel relaxed and comfortable with me on the day. They get a chance to see how I work and any nerves they have about getting their picture taken or indeed having a bit of a smooch in public will have gone by the end of the session! Not only that but they then get a large print from the session to keep! I get it mounted with a big broad ivory mount and take it to the wedding. all the guests on the day then sign round the picture! It's such a fabulous keepsake and is much more practical and usable than a guest book.

So, last week I met up with Karen and Christopher who are getting married this Saturday at Seamill Hydro. They seemed OK about getting their picture taken but weren't really sure what to expect. We started off with some individual shots to get them warmed up and then I put them through their paces together and by the end of the session, they were naturals! I tend to use the same venue as it works so well for the backdrop. Its an old industrial estate in Glasgow which is really grotty but looks amazing in the pictures. It's private so we can have lots of time and room to mess about and get the pictures right!

The pre-wedding shoot is available to be booked as a separate session for couples who have already secured a wedding photographer and it's also popular for anniversary sessions of just for couples who fancy some nice relaxed shots of themselves.

Here are some of Karen and Chris's best shots!

Karen & Andy

So, Karen and Andy were married a couple of weeks ago and the whole day started in Karen's parents house with all the girls getting ready in a lovely big bedroom which was so light and airy and perfect for lots of gorgeous 'getting ready' shots! I love doing these shots because its a part of the day that the groom doesn't get to see and its always a time of ever increasing anticipation and excitement as the clock ticks by! It sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it!

The church ceremony was at Aberfoyle Kirk which is a beautiful wee church in such a stunningly beautiful part of Scotland. After the ceremony, we all headed back to Karen's parent's house which overlooks Loch Ard. the weather was great and everyone mingled on the terrace drinking bubbly and eating fab canapes. Karen had particularly wanted shots taken of her and Andy on their jetty at the loch side so we did a short session down there and some other lovely shots in the fabulous grounds.

Karen's dress was magnificent with a jewelled bodice and full, cascading skirt. She felt the dress was enough and just wore her hair simple with no veil or tiara. It was a good call and she really did look perfect! Andy was very smart in his dark kilt and gold cravat.

After the speeches and cake cutting the reception was underway and the first dance was really lovely in the huge marquee. The ceiling of the marquee had a dark blue star cloth which twinkled away with hundreds of white and blue fairy lights! It really was a brilliant day and I know Karen and Andy will love their pictures! I am seeing them next Thursday for a viewing session when I'll help them choose the best images for their album!

Here are some of my favourites!

yeeeha!

So...it's been a mental weekend which has marked the end of a mental few weeks! We had the Scottish Wedding Show this weekend (a month earlier than usual) and it was truly exhausting!

To let you understand, the wedding show doesn't just mean rocking up with some nice pictures and some flyers to hand out - it's a labour of love which consumes you and turns you into a maniac craving and striving for the most creative and mind boggling stand imaginable! Anyway, it was 'alright on the night' and the stand looked gorgeous! We had numerous visitors admiring our work and enquiring about all sorts of dates and venues from this October in a zoo to October 2010 in Eilean Donan Castle!! It was a fabulous show and I want to thank everyone who took the time to visit the stand and appreciate our work! I say 'our' because it is very much a joint effort! I couldn't do what I do without the support of Jason so although I'm the one taking the pictures, the brand would be non-existent without Jason!

It was also our 2 year wedding anniversary on Saturday but we are postponing celebrations until October when things have quietened down a bit!

And, besides all this excitement, I shot a beautiful wedding on Saturday in Dirleton and North Berwick. Sarah and Neil are a lovely couple and I was very exited about a wedding at the Marine in North Berwick as its the first time I'd been there since their refurb! The hotel is incredible. So stylish but retaining so many lovely authentic features. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day and can't wait to post some images in the next week of Sarah and Neil's wedding!

Finally, I have so many other things that I want to blog about; I will try and get round to them all in the next few weeks!

F xxx