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

Nice words..

I don't normally look at wedding forums as there are so many of them and I would never get any work done. I once spent about 4 hours reading all the interesting posts from brides planning their weddings - it was addictive. Anyway, I was on the Scottish Wedding Directory website and on their forum feed page was my name in a post! I clicked through and here is what I found. Someone had posted about finding a photographer in Glasgow/Ayrshire and one of my lovely brides has replied saying this! I am so thrilled but shocked that my name appears on the internet. After all these years its still very exciting. Thank you thank you for saying such lovely words....its the best PR anyone could ask for!

Hi!
We are using Fiona MacNeill as we loved the sentiment in what she says on her website www.fionamacneill.com and her photographs seem to capture perfectly all those little moments without everything looking too "posey" and staged. When she came to our flat and showed us her beautiful albums and let us view a slideshow from a whole wedding we were bowled over and took to her down-to-earth character immediately. I know I can be honest and direct with her about what I want and don't want - mostly because she shares my opinion on photography style and how I want to remember my day. She isn't the cheapest, but once the day is over, what else do you have? I think photographs are worth spending that little bit extra on.
Fiona really is lovely and worth a look - her photographs are beautiful.
Good luck!
xx

I do still have some 2010 dates available and 2011 is filling up fast. If you haven't booked your photography yet, please get in touch with me as soon as possible!

Fxxx

The most beautiful card for your Mum...ever!!!!!

Well who would believe its the end of February already? I am in utter shock but glad to be approaching spring and all the gorgeous things that come with it...daffodils, chocolate and of course Mother's Day! I have my eye on a lovely recipe box so I hope my dear children read this post and oblige but on with the post!!!!

I have been thinking an thinking about a lovely Mother's Day offer for my loyal clients past and present and finally come up with something really nice with the help of my dear friend Emma from Twenty-Seven stationery. I wanted something physically appealing as well as just a really good offer so its lucky that Emma makes and designs to die for stationery. So we have designed a range of beautiful Mother's Day cards with a fab portrait session voucher inside!

Its £55 for the card and included in the price is a mini portrait session with me plus an elegant 6x9" desk frame with your favourite image from the session inside! Voila - what Mum wouldn't want lovely memories of March 2010? You could make it a family session, a mum and daughter session or a parent's only or whatever you fancy! I'm on hand to help you make the right decision and the session itself will be fun and informal so everyone enjoys themselves and feels comfortable!

Anyway, here are some photographs of Emma's beautiful designs...you can choose any colour of ribbon you wish. My Mum's favourite colour is green so I'm sorted but Emma has every colour of ribbon imaginable so go on...treat your Mum or yourself! Its healthier than chocolate and much more fun than over-priced set menu!!!!

To take advantage of this delicious offer just email me or call 0141 885 2229. Act fast so I have time to get your card and voucher to you! Mother's day is the 14th of March so contact me by the 7th at the latest.

Fxxx