scottish wedding photographer Archives

Articles Tagged with: scottish wedding photographer

Oct

Half Day Wedding Photography Arta Glasgow – Jennifer & Craig

Half Day Wedding Photography
at Arta Glasgow

Jennifer & Craig – 17th October 2024

In this blog, I will talk through this wedding day to give you an idea of what happens at a half day wedding. This wedding was a 1/2 day, which is 4 hours, but Jennifer added on an extra 2 hours.

Arta is a magical Mediterranean inspired venue in the heart of Merchant City, Glasgow. Set over 3 floors, you are transported into the rich and vibrant surroundings of a Spanish Hacienda.

Half day weddings (4 hours) generally allow for the ceremony, group shots and bridal shots, and then a good dose of time to capture some candid guests shots. On this occasion, Jennifer hired me for an extra 2 hours so we could capture the speeches, meal and first dance.

For this Wedding I arrived at 1pm for a 2pm ceremony. This allowed time to set up lighting (it’s quite a dark venue), chat with the brilliant celebrant Victoria, and capture both Jennifer & Craig before the ceremony began. I never photograph during the meal (who wants photos of themselves eating?!) but on this occasion I used that break time to capture some detail shots of the rings and flowers.

I always have a zoom meeting with my half day couples to go over the day. As with all weddings, I then create a schedule of photography, so I don’t miss a thing!

Time Spent Shooting

7 hours
1pm-8pm

Kind Words

“What else can I say but ‘wow’! Jen was so easy to work with and all our guests commented on how relaxed she made the photo-taking experience“

Images Delivered

135 in colour – 135 in black & white
Delivered in 6 days

The Ceremony…

Arta is a stunning venue, a little bit of Spain in the middle of the Merchant City in Glasgow. Beautiful, but quite dark! I used 2 speedlights on either side of the couple which kept some nice ambient light but made sure they were lit nicely. This was a very intimate wedding, with a toddler as the star of the show, little Cillian!

Jennifer & Craig were so laid back and this was a ceremony full of so much laughter, made so personable by the Celebrant Victoria Johnston.

Group & Bridal Shots

This is the opportunity after the ceremony when we can get a full guest shot (usually possible at a more intimate wedding!) any group shots and of course, bridal shots! A lot of the images centered around little Cillian, which I was thrilled about because he seemed to really like me and my camera! I did take Jennifer & Craig away from the party for about 20 minutes to utilise the streets around the location for some couples shots.

As you can see, these shots are always fun! We play games and have a laugh, but sometimes there are shots I see where I ask them to channel their inner drama-queen, and they absolutely nailed it!

I like to try and give my couples some shots that are a little different, and a passing car and puddle were off-the cuff images that worked out for me! I think it’s really important as a wedding photographer to be able to ‘see’ the world slightly differently and utilise any given landscape to take wall worthy shots!

Quite a few of these shots required some extra photoshopping as I don’t like random people, lamp-posts or cars in the key shots, but in the City Centre, one can’t really ask them to move! It’s extra work, yes, but it’s MY work and I want it to be perfect!

The Speeches, details & dancing….

The speeches were incredible short, but very sweet! There were a few tears, and once again, lot’s of laughter! During the meal, I took some time to capture some ring shots and flower shots. As I mentioned above, it’s important to be able to quickly see where shots can work, and the ring shot was taken on a pub table using Jennifer’s flowers to create a dreamy background. Fortuitously for me, the autumnal display within Arta also worked beautifully with the flowers!

The first dance involved a petal drop which was so beautiful and I managed to run upstairs for an overhead view too.

Any my absolute favouite part of this venue is the stunning arched balcony, which finished off the wedding perfectly!

Sep

Wedding Photography Crossbasket Castle Glasgow – Colin & Nicola

Wedding Photography
at Crossbasket Castle

Colin & Nicola – 14th September 2024

In this blog, I will talk through this wedding day to give you an idea of what happens at a full day wedding. From the beginning, all the way to the end, so buckle up!

Crossbasket Castle is breathtaking 17th century castle and tower that is nestled within their country estate on the outskirts of Blantyre and Glasgow. It’s a photographers dream to be honest! The staff were incredible and the day went without a single hitch!

As with all full day weddings, I show up when hair and makeup arrive, so I have as much time as possible to capture the prep, the details shots, the dress shots, the venue and room shots.

It also gives me time to check out the ceremony room so I can make sure the lighting is going to work. If necessary, I can set up any additional light sources that might enhance the photos.

For this Wedding I arrived at 9am and left at 9pm with a break while dinner was served. I meet with all my couples 8 weeks before the wedding to go over the day. I can then create a detailed schedule of what’s happening, and when, so I don’t miss a thing! I know what group shots they’d like, any specific shots they have in mind and their overall wants and needs from their photography. There is no winging it, it’s like a well-oiled photography machine!

Time Spent Shooting

12 hours
9am-9pm

Kind Words

“These are excellent! We’re lying in bed looking at them after our first day at safari laughing out loud!”

Images Delivered

574 in colour – 574 in black & white
Delivered in 14 days

The Beginning….

I arrived at Crossbasket about 9am when Hair & Makeup arrived. It’s always nerve-wracking when you arrive at a venue you’ve never shot at before and you have no idea what the getting-ready room is going to be like! But then you walk into a room with full height windows, glorious old furniture, a huge bathroom and stunning decor! Your little photographer brain starts whirring like an out of control overexcited toddler leaving you unable to remember to even greet your bride!! Your eyes dart around the room with thoughts of “Ooooooh..this there and that there and omg I’m soooooo excited, look at that freaking WARDROBE!”

And so you control yourself (to a point!) and say hello to people, introduce yourself and sliently squeal inside. Except I don’t silently squeal, I very much tell my bride how excited I am with the room! I mean, look at the room people, it’s dreamy!!

The next few hours were spent capturing the venue, indoor and out, the girls getting ready, plus all those little details shots. These details shots like the veil hanging over the bath, and the special framed photo of her and her dad, are important memories.

I always try to take photos that are slightly different, a different way of looking of things I guess! For example, using the shower for the back of the dress to also get a reflection of that chandelier, using a puddle to get a close-up of the castle tower, shooting through larger objects or my favourite, using mirrors!

The Boys….

Most of the morning is taken up with the girls, the dress, the details, the flowers etc, but the boys should always feature if at all possible! Every part of their story needs to be told, and just because they take a fraction of the time to get ready, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have a little bit of their story told! (If the truth me known, the boys went to the driving range after breakfast!!) I always try and encourage the boys to have some fun groomsmen (or groomslady!) images taken, and this venue offerend up the perfect opportunity! From my first sniff around, I knew I wanted to use the library to get some solid ‘boy shots’ and they were ever so accommodating!

Once I’d got some shots of the boys, it was back to the girls for those fabulous photos where they’re getting into their dresses, final make-up touches and that all important pre wedding shot of something to calm the nerves!

The Middle…

It was finally time for the ceremony, so I left the girls and hoofed it down to the ceremony room, checked the lighting, put in a fresh battery and captured some before bits that’s the couple don’t always see until they get the photos back.

It’s obviously important to capture to capture the really important parts of the ceremony, but I always try to capture the little moments that they’ll miss because, well, they’re getting married! The little moments of the Groom (or bride!) waiting, the reactions of their guests, the piper and the nervous giggles! In this wedding, Nicola’s dad wasn’t there to walk her down the aisle, so Colin let her make her glorious entrance then walked up the aisle to walk her down himself, and I’m not gonna lie, it was such a beautiful thing to do I almost shed a wee tear!

The ceremony was full of laughter and joy, and again, this is the part where I can get a sneaky little shot of the pride in a son’s eyes, or the best friend looking a little emotional, and I love it when someone cries!

Wedding Photography Crossbasket Castle

The Cat Herding….

Yes, this is what I call The Cat Herding! It’s that short window of opportunity after the ceremony when we can get a full guest shot (not always possible but this time it was!) any group shots (this is normally family at this point) and of course, bridal shots! This window is small and group shots are like a military operation, but always fun! I never take my couple away for any longer than 30 minutes because they want to be with their guests, and rightly so!

Once we have the bridal shots nailed, I know that any shots after this are all candid, and there is always the chance later in the day once everyone is slightly more well-oiled (shall we say!) to get groups shots with friends.

As you can see, these shots are always fun, no one wants to have a memory of ‘that hour we were awkwardly posed and missed most of the party’!

The Speeches….

This is one of my favourite parts of the day and it’s always, without fail, the part where you’re get laughter and tears! And this wedding was no exception! I love shooting these completely candid moments where you can capture a loving glance, a look of pride, people peeing themselves with laughter, and it’s all just so natural and beautiful! It’s a deep honour to be an observer at someones wedding, so I make sure to capture as much of the joy as possible.

And capturing people p**ing themselves laughing is just soooo much fun!

Wedding Photography Crossbasket Castle

The end…

Another favourite part of the day for me, the paaaaaartay! I usually stay for 4-5 dances, but sometimes there’s just too much fun to capture and I simply can’t walk away!

I managed to persuade the groom and his men to come putside for their ‘Reservoire Dog’ photo, and Nicola and I popped up to the Honeymoon Suite for some fun photos after she’d touched up her makeup! It’s amazing how some prosecco can encourage my brides to be photographed in a bath (clothed I might add!

With Big Vern & The Shootah’s entertaining the masses, this was an epic party!

Wedding Photography Crossbasket Castle

Fantastic Suppliers

Venue – Crossbasket Castle
Makeup – Lauren O Makeup Artist
Hair – Geraldine Farrell
Band – Big Vern n the Shootahs
Florist – Flowers By Isabel
Event Stylist – Bespoke Touches – Wedding & Event venue decorators
Wedding ‘Cake’ – The Fine Cheese Co.
Favours – Confetti Wedding Illustration
Piper – Matthew Provan

Jun

Elopement Wedding Photography Loch Lomond – Zoe & Scott

Elopement Wedding Photography
at Loch Lomond, Scotland

Zoe & Scott – 26th June 2024

This has perhaps been my favourite wedding to photograph to date! In this blog, I will talk through everything elopement with this 4 hour wedding in the beautiful Scottish hills overlooking Loch Lomond.

Scotland has some of the most incredible scenery the world has to offer, and this is why Zoe & Scott chose Conic Hill to say their vows! Both from Wales, they are drawn to Scotland and at the last minute invited their parents along for the ride!

This was my first, and much longed for elopement photography wedding and it did not disappoint! Zoe and Scott were just so lovely and were so willing to entertain my excitement and somewhat crazy ideas!

We shot from 10am-2pm and I captured every minute of their story, from meeting in the carpark, to the hiking boots under the beautiful dress, and I even managed a ring shot!

There wasn’t the usual tight schedule to contend with so a simple questionnaire that I sent to the couple was more than enough to tackle the day and get everything they wanted!

The weather was slightly overcast and dry, and a beautiful eerie fog was kind enough to offer up some dreamy atmosphere. Absolutely perfect!

Time Spent Shooting

4 hours
10am-2pm

Kind Words

“Jen, thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts. You captured every moment from tears, love and laughter- we couldn’t be happier. You were so much fun to work with and really added to our day (not only the photos, but also your company) . Really, we don’t know how to put it into words how grateful we are”

Images Delivered

278 with a few Black & White
Delivered in 3 days

The Beginning…

We met in the carpark at the visitor centre at the bottom of Conic Hill in Balmaha. It was a weekday so wasn’t too busy, and finding a bride wasn’t too tricky!! With both sets of parents and the brilliant Alex Moore we started the 1/2 ascent up the hill. I was just blown away by the scenery and was very grateful I’m quite a fit person!

Zoe & Scott had arranged for a Piper to be waiting at the part they’d chosen for the ceremony, which was just incredible! Robin from Harmony Bagpiping was a sight to behold at the brow of the hill! As we neared the summit of their chosen ‘alter’ we heard the pipes starting and it was just magical! The tourists who were enjoying their climb must have thought that there are pipers in full Scottish regalia up every Scottish hill!

The Ceremony

The chosen spot for the ceremony was absolutely stunning, and as you can imagine we drew quite a crowd! It’s not often you get to watch a wedding on a hillside! The ‘witnesses’ were incredibly respectful and watched from a distance! The other witnesses , AKA the sheep, didn’t really bother with us!

While Scott waited with his parents and Alex down the hill, Zoe’s dad walked her down the aisle (hill!) with the Piper. It was a beautiful sight!

Zoe & Scott had written their own vows and chose to do the traditional Hand Fasting (which if you didn’t know, is how the term Tie the Knot came about!) As the ceremony began, a slightly icy wind floated in and made everyone grateful they hadn’t had their hair done! A beautiful and emotional ceremony that was absolutely perfect, and they even got a round of applause from the watching crowd!

The Bridal Shots….

Stick a fork in me, I’m done! During any wedding, there is a short window of opportunity to take bridal shots, but with this elopement, I had 2 whole hours. TWO hours of the bride and groom on a Scottish hillside…I was like a pig in poop!!

Zoe and Scott were so accommodating with my ideas, they just went with everything and I have never been happier!! After a gentle meander back down the hill, stopping at various places that tickled my fancy, we tried to find a way down to the loch front. This was trickier than we imagined!

We ended up asking in the local coffee shop, St Mocha Coffee Shop & Ice Cream Parlour , who let us get access through their private entry! We spent about 20 minutes making sure we captured the loch vista in all it’s glory, then walked back to the pub where they met back with the family for a well earned drink!

This is was an epic day for me, I would love to do more elopements! If you’re planning to get away and tie the knot, just holler, I’ll just be over here waiting to hear from you!

Tiny Band of Brilliant Suppliers

Venue – Conic Hill, Balmaha
Piper – Harmony Bagpiping
Celebrant – Alex Moore Humanist Celebrant
Big up to the staff at St Mocha Coffee Shop & Ice Cream Parlour in Balmaha for giving us access to the Loch! ❤

Feb

How to choose your wedding photographer – a guide to picking your perfect match

What should you look for in a wedding photographer?

There are lots of things to consider when you choose your wedding photographer, and since I sometimes have to turn down wedding work because I’m already booked, I thought this handy guide might be useful!

You should put as much time and thought into your photographer choice as you do your flowers, dresses and music, because, at the end of the day, when the hangovers have kicked in and the flowers are wilting, the only tangible part left of your amazing day will be the photos! So make sure they fill your cup of joy!

This list is my top 5 things to look for in your photographer, and there’s a very important ‘don’t’ in at the end for good measure!

1) Make sure their work excites you!

When you’re checking out photographers, visit their website and social channels for a good nosey! If you don’t get a wee buzz of excitement in your belly, they’re maybe not for you!

Do a deep-dive into their work, don’t base your decision on 1 or 2 photos from a wedding on Instagram! Maybe they have more on their website from that one wedding, go full blown detective and see if they’ve really told a story with what they’ve captured, rather than one or 2 wow shots! You can read about some of the weddings I’ve done in great detail over at The Wedding Blog >>

Do the moments they manage to capture really make you go ‘oooooooh’ with lovehearts coming out of your eyes?! Does their editing style ‘talk’ to you?! Do you want to keep staring at those photos even though it’s a random couple and you know that’s a little creepy?! If the answers above are YES, then talk to that photographer!

This leads very swiftly onto my next little nugget of advice….

2) You should ‘click’ with your wedding photographer!

Your photographer will be like a wedding guest, but one that stalks you and is there constantly! You MUST get on with them! If you don’t click, it’s gonna be a little awkward throughout your day! You don’t need to be BFF’s by the end of the day, but you should like them enough to have them around as a big part of your day! If you can, organise a coffee before you sign on the dotted line, or a video/phone call if that’s not possible! This isn’t essential, but if you’re unsure, ask to meet them, if they’re like me, they’ll be delighted to do so!

A good photographer will be stealthlike when need be, but aside from the ceremony, they will be actively capturing you, and not like a wildlife photographer who’s hiding in the bushes! They should make you feel at ease and comfortable, because let’s face it, no one really enjoys having their photo taken! Equally as important, you want to know that they are going to be a welcome guest amongst your family & friends.

3) There should be no surprises!

Your photographer should be open & honest about their prices from the get-go. You should know exactly what you’re getting, how much time they will be there for, and what products (if any) are included in their costs. If you want an album and it’s not included, ask them for difinitive costs before you book.

Also make sure you know the payment terms and how long you will be expected to wait for your images. I have heard many a horror story about people waiting months for their images, so make sure they manage your expectations!

4) Communication is key!

Your photographer’s communication and customer service should be gold standard! You should feel like your wedding is really important to them, regardless of it’s size! If you have to chase them at any point in the beginning, it might be a sign of things to come, and with all the stress of organising a wedding, this is the last thing you’ll need!

You may have booked them over a year in advance, but there should be clear communication about when they will be in touch to meet up with you to discuss the day. This should happen a 6-8 weeks before the big day, when the finer details have been ironed out. Your photographer should know exactly what is happening on the day, so they can always be in the right place at the right time!

No photographer should turn up on your wedding day and wing it, they will want to know exactly what’s happening, when they can take you away for couples shots and what you really want from your wedding photos (see point 5 below!)

5) They should really listen to you.

Your photographer should ask questions, lots of questions! Usually they will send out some sort of questionnaire to get a jist of anything, or anyone, you want photographed. Your wedding day is so busy, you won’t have the time, or the headspace to remind your photographer about a speciific shot, so make sure everything you want can be covered! Equally, you might not think to have your dress photographed, or your fabulous shoes, but this is something that your photographer should automatically capture!

If the cake is really important to you, or you have a special item that you’d like captured, let your photographer know, they will have a list that they’ll work through on the day! You might forget about it in all the excitement, but your photographer shouldn’t!

In that first meeting, make sure you feel like you’re being listened to – it’s YOUR big day, and what’s important to you matters!

Finally….you will have a budget in mind, everybody does, but please don’t pick someone based on cost alone. Consider all the points above, and choose your photographer wisely! Happy Wedding Organising!

Getting married? I'd love to hear from you!

Get In Touch

Half Day Wedding Photography Arta Glasgow – Jennifer & Craig

Half Day Wedding Photography at Arta Glasgow

Jennifer & Craig – 17th October 2024

Time Spent Shooting

Kind Words

Images Delivered

The Ceremony…

Group & Bridal Shots

The Speeches, details & dancing….

Getting married? I’d love to chat!

Wedding Photography Crossbasket Castle Glasgow – Colin & Nicola

Wedding Photography at Crossbasket Castle

Colin & Nicola – 14th September 2024

Time Spent Shooting

Kind Words

Images Delivered

The Beginning….

The Boys….

The Middle…

The Cat Herding….

The Speeches….

The end…

Fantastic Suppliers

Getting married? I’d love to chat!

Elopement Wedding Photography Loch Lomond – Zoe & Scott

Elopement Wedding Photography at Loch Lomond, Scotland

Zoe & Scott – 26th June 2024

Time Spent Shooting

Kind Words

Images Delivered

The Beginning…

The Ceremony

The Bridal Shots….

Tiny Band of Brilliant Suppliers

Getting married? I’d love to chat!

How to choose your wedding photographer – a guide to picking your perfect match

What should you look for in a wedding photographer?

1) Make sure their work excites you!

2) You should ‘click’ with your wedding photographer!

3) There should be no surprises!

4) Communication is key!

5) They should really listen to you.

Finally….you will have a budget in mind, everybody does, but please don’t pick someone based on cost alone. Consider all the points above, and choose your photographer wisely! Happy Wedding Organising!

Getting married? I'd love to hear from you!

Half Day Wedding Photography
at Arta Glasgow

Wedding Photography
at Crossbasket Castle

Elopement Wedding Photography
at Loch Lomond, Scotland