Wednesday 29 October 2008

Quote of the week

"A positive attitude can really make dreams come true - it did for me." - David Bailey

and Christina's favourite Bailey quote:

"When I die I want to go to Vogue" - David Bailey

Monday 27 October 2008

Edinburgh by night

Jay has just returned from a sunset/night shoot (I chose to stay at home by the warmth of the fire!). With the clocks having gone back at the weekend the sun was beginning to set today at around 4.30 (sigh, how long is it until spring?). I do love winter's glorious sunsets though, and tonight's resulted in some great urban landscapes.

We will be launching a new website soon where you will be able to see more of our landscapes and fine art photography. Watch this space...




Sunday 26 October 2008

Lynda & John, Neidpath Castle & Cringletie House - Scottish Borders wedding photography

Today we headed to the Scottish Borders to photograph the wedding of a fantastic couple, Lynda & John. It was very wet and windy but despite this the day was beautiful in every way.

We began the day by shooting the bridal preparations in Peebles, where Lynda and her team of helpers were getting ready. It was a really special moment when Lynda put her dress on and her young bridesmaids saw her as a bride for the first time. She looked absolutely beautiful and the girls were completely in awe of her!

Then it was a dash through the rain to Neidpath Castle, where the guests were soaking up the atmosphere and warming themselves in front of the log fires. A candle incident resulted in a small fire of another sort but it was quickly put out by the groom and his ushers!

As the bride's Rolls Royce pulled up in front of the castle, the room quietened in anticipation. The couple's young nephew led the way down the aisle as page boy, and soon got used to the many cameras that were trained on him! Lynda looked absolutely stunning as she walked down the aisle and it's no wonder John couldn't keep his eyes off her for the rest of the day!

After a great, and often amusing, service, drinks and canapes were served. We took this opportunity to sneak Lynda and John away for some photographs. We'd like to thank the couple's young bridesmaids and flower girl who were fantastic helpers, holding the bouquet and sorting Lynda's dress. The girls were intrigued by the trapdoor to the prison and an expedition into the depths of the castle followed!

After some family photographs it was then time to head to Cringletie House, where a fantastic meal and celebration were waiting. It was a lovely ending to a fantastic day.

Lynda & John, we hope you have an amazing time on honeymoon and enjoy the warm weather! We hope the photographs help bring back all those special memories of the day and look forward to showing you them when you return.























Friday 24 October 2008

Urban portrait photography, Edinburgh

Armed with new equipment and some new techniques to try, we headed out today to do a portrait shoot with two top models (ahem!), ourselves!

We're sure people sometimes think we have gone a bit mad when we suggest using urban locations for portrait shoots. Why on earth do we want them to stand in front of a piece of rusty corrugated iron when there is a lovely park just over the road? They are (usually) too polite to ask, but we know that's what they are thinking!

To prove that you don't need auspicious surroundings to create amazing photos we headed to a car park in Leith today (not very glamorous) and challenged each other to come up with the goods.

Here are a few of our favourites from today:








Tuesday 21 October 2008

Quote of the week

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."

Ansel Adams

Monday 20 October 2008

Katrina, Frances & Theresa, South Queensferry - Edinburgh portrait photography

As usual, today began with us studying the weather forecast for clues as to how the day would play out. Allegedly, the rain showers would clear up shortly after lunch. Yay! Just in time for our family portrait shoot, we thought optimistically.

We met Katrina, her mum, Frances and her gran, Theresa at Orocco Pier in South Queensferry. They had spent the morning having their hair and make-up done in Edinburgh and all looked fantastic.

We headed down to the shore for some shots with the impressive Forth Rail Bridge as a backdrop. It's always great to photograph different generations of one family, particularly as many of us never quite get around to having these photos taken. And having supported each other through some difficult times, Katrina and her mum and gran are particularly close.

After a stroll along the beach (with us snapping away) it was time for a change of location and we headed off to our next spot. By now the wind was picking up and the clouds were growing darker so we had to shoot as quickly as possible before dashing back inside to the lovely, not to mention warm, Orocco Pier. We were joined there by Katrina's dad, Tom, who usually hates having his photograph taken but put on his best smile for us!

After some shots on the balcony, followed by a nice hot coffee, it was time to head home, dodging the lightning as we ran to the car!

We'd like to thank Katrina and her family for being such fantastic fun to work with and for not raising their eyebrows too much when we asked them to pose by the blue door! We really enjoyed the shoot and can't wait to show you your photographs.

We would also like to thank Lyn and the staff at Orocco Pier for their hospitality and the Willow Foundation for giving us the opportunity to do such an enjoyable photo shoot!





Saturday 18 October 2008

Virginia & Steve's wedding at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh - Edinburgh Wedding Photography

The National Museum of Scotland is an amazing building, set within the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town. Photographing a wedding in the Museum really appealed to Jay. The only problem, he told me, would be managing to use all of the fantastic locations within it in one day!

The day began with getting ready shots, with Virginia and her matron of honour having the finishing touches done to their hair and generally getting glammed up for the big day. Meanwhile, the guests were being transported to the Museum in a vintage ice-cream van - just one of the many individual touches Virginia and Steve had chosen for today. They have spent a long time planning this day - Jay was booked to photograph this wedding almost two years ago! - and this attention to detail really shone through. Everything was beautiful!

Virginia looked fantastic and radiated happiness as she arrived at the Museum in a lovely vintage car. And Steve looked so happy when he saw his bride in her gorgeous dress for the first time.

After a moving Humanist ceremony, and some celebratory bubbly, it was time for the more formal photographs. Virginia and Steve were great to work with and allowed Jay to dash them off to all his favourite parts of the building!

Then it was time to return to reportage, allowing Virginia and Steve to enjoy the rest of the celebration with their family and friends, many of whom had travelled great distances to be here today.

And what a celebration it was...hilarious speeches, a great meal and lots and lots of dancing! We wish Virginia and Steve lots of love, laughter and happiness!

To view the photo gallery from Virginia & Steve's wedding go to Elemental Weddings and enter the password (available from the bride and groom) in the client proofing section.











Tuesday 14 October 2008

Scottish Highlands photography

Here are a couple of photographs from our trip to the Highlands last week. Eilean Donan Castle looked amazing as always, particularly against the autumnal backdrop.

We stayed near Torridon, which has quickly become a favourite spot. Last month we photographed a beautiful wedding there and Claire and Jeffery inspired us to come back and do a spot of hillwalking and kayaking ourselves.

With this being October the weather wasn't quite as kind to us, but at least only two of our party of four went for an accidental bath in Loch Torridon!


Sunday 5 October 2008

Annette & Chris - Perthshire wedding photography

Today we travelled to Perth to photograph the wedding of a fantastic couple, Annette and Chris. A romance spanning many years led them to this day, and it was a great pleasure to photograph their wedding.

The day started with photographs of Annette and her four bridesmaids getting ready. The house was a hive of activity and it was great to see the excitement build as the clock ticked closer to 2pm!

Meanwhile, Chris and his best men and ushers were welcoming guests at St Leonard's in the Fields and Trinity Church. And despite a small (and easily fixed) wardrobe mishap on the part of one of the two best men, everything ran very smoothly! Annette looked absolutely beautiful, and Chris could not have been happier when he saw her in her stunning gown for the first time.

After a lovely service we dodged the raindrops and headed to the Crieff Hydro - an impressive hotel set within a 900-acre estate. The sun came out just in time for the bride and groom's arrival and we were able to spend some time in the grounds with Annette and Chris.

A wonderful meal, hilarious speeches and fantastic party followed, with music provided by the excellent ceilidh band, Sporran Again. Having had Sporran Again play at our own wedding last year, it was great to have the opportunity to hear them again.

Annette and Chris only had eyes for each other as they opened the night's dancing. Then it was on with the ceilidh!

We'd like to thank Annette and Chris, and their wonderful families and friends, for making us feel so welcome and looked after throughout the day. Annette and Chris, we hope you have a fantastic honeymoon and look forward to showing you the photographs when you get back!