Then I was then honoured to be invited to Arran to capture Colin’s 70^th birthday celebrations. Colin’s family had travelled from all over the world for this special occasion. After taking the boat over to the island, Emma very graciously came to collect me from the ferry. We then travelled through some ‘biblical’ rain to get to Colin’s village. Unfortunately we had hoped to take pictures in and around various Arran landmarks but the weather ruled that out, so we made do with indoors.

As luck would have it, just as we were wrapping up, the weather broke. We managed to get some shots outside on the village beach where the whole family grew up and got some cracking shots of Colin and Elizabeth looking out to sea.

A lovely family and a great occasion to be a part of.

www.1500photography.co.uk

No doubt you may have caught this story in the press or perhaps on TV.

Newlyweds win court battle over shoddy wedding pictures

A sorry tale of a cowboy wedding photographer who made a mess of a couples wedding pictures. The following statement is from the chairman of the Master Photographer Association, of which I am a proud member.

I was pretty sure I was going to have fun at Robert and Leanne’s wedding, and I wasn’t disappointed. A great couple, stunning weather, patient and friendly families, super locations and a beautiful dress.  I really couldn’t go wrong.

Leanne looked so beautiful and has such a great personality that photographing her and Robert (who scrubs up pretty well in a kilt) was an absolute joy from start to finish. As per usual with a 1500 wedding we started at the house capturing all the chaos & calm of the bride getting ready before moving onto Paisley Abbey.

The Abbey really is one of the best venues in Scotland for a wedding, it is simply breath-taking inside.

After the ceremony we returned to the Dalmeny Park Country House Hotel. Again, a venue which I am very familiar with from my Paisley days and again a venue which has plenty of scope for great photography. As the guests mingled and soaked up the sunshine (and champagne), Robert and Leanne help me create some amazing images.

Due to the fact that Leanne originally booked her wedding with 1500 for the wrong date (2008 instead of 2009) I had been looking forward to their wedding for a very long time. I am so glad that when it did come around it was such an excellent day in every way. I really love these guys and I am so proud if their pictures.

Incidentally Leanne’s dress was obtained from Juliettes in Paisley. Having previously met with Margret I have been a big fan of this supplier and highly recommend them. After all the fuss lately over dress shops it is good to see someone who really cares about what the bride will wear, rather than just wanting to make commission on a sale. Check them out at http://www.juliettes.co.uk/

A wee bit of exciting news has come our way

The finalists in the first stage of judging in the 2009 Kodak Wedding & Portrait Awards have been announced.

The successful photographers in the wedding category are : Peter Trenchard (2) from Jersey, Gary Walsh from Stockton-on-Tees and Stuart Wood (2) from Dunbartonshire. Each of these now go forward to the final judging in September 2009. The overall winners will be chosen from this final judging. The overall winning consumer (ie the bride and groom) wins £1000. The overall winning photographer(s) receives the title of Kodak Wedding or Portrait Photographer of the Year 2009, a framed certificate and trop Presentations will take place at the Master Photography Awards 2009 at the Newcastle Hilton on 11 October.

I am delighted to have managed to get two images into the final. If successful, the couple featured in the winning image are also awarded a prize of £1000 !! So fingers crossed for Leanne and Kieran, Loretta and Jason and 1500 Photography (although, I just want the trophy) !!!

Learn more about theses awards here www.thempa.com/consumeraward

www.1500photography.co.uk

I was out the other evening with ‘top couple’ Joanne and Martin who took me up on the June engagement portrait offer. We met up at Pollock House for an evening shoot, which was just lovely. I was booked for Joanne and Martins wedding in August next year but will now be photographing their reception when they return from sunny Cyprus for their (re-arranged) wedding.

Althought a little disappointed not to be photographing the day I really dont mind too much as these guys are brilliant fun to hang about with and apparently came really close to just having their wedding in Scotland purely because they were so keen on my pictures.

As it is, I am consoled by the fact we will be taking plenty pictures on their return to Scotland as a married couple. A superb night, great laugh and (of course) one or two fantastic pictures.

Just to let you see something a wee bit different……

Samantha and Willie are getting married in June,  so last week we went out for an ‘engagement’ style shoot. The main purpose of this sitting was to let Samantha see how her make-up would photograph and give Willie some idea of what it felt like having his picture taken professionally (a common concern for guys). It also allowed me to see how the guys would photograph.

Im please to report it was a roaring success all round. Sam and Willie had an excellent time, the couple themselves photographed really well and the shots looked fantastic and even though it was bucketing of rain. 

I really enjoyed the afternoon and I would like to do it again…..so, with that in mind………

FREE ENGAGEMENT SITTINGS THROUGHOUT JUNE

This offer is open to all couples whether 1500 Photography is shooting your wedding or not. Previous 1500 Bride and Grooms ? This offer is open to you too.  The only stipulation is the the sitting has to be booked for the month of June.

Call 0141 280 1500 to arrange your location portrait or email us at info@1500photography.co.uk 

As I said,  as well as the prestige of winning our inaugural “Picture of the Year” Poll the winners would receive a small token to celebrate winning. Here I am pictured presenting Lee-Ann and Kieran with their winning shot.

Deserved winners and a cracking couple into the bargain. Well done again guys.

I think next year, I will wear a tie though……..

A new venue for 1500 Photography. Set in some glorious countryside by Buchlyvie, Ballochneck House provided the location for this wedding. An intimate affair for only close friends and family, Bob and Jan’s wedding was wonderfully personal and particularly moving (I even had a lump in my throat during the ceremony!)

Despite reservations about having their pictures taken we managed to coerce some lovely shots from the couple, especially from Jan who was nervous about having her picture taken. As you can see, she looked absolutely beautiful in her stunning dress and need not have worried.

For me this wedding is one I am really proud of as I had two fairly reticent clients who wanted the focus of the pictures on their guests. To have come away with the images that I have from Bob and Jan’s wedding and for the couple to be absolutely delighted with the results has been really satisfying for me. Thank you both

www.1500photography.co.uk

We are delighted to announce that our wedding from August last year – Josephine and John at St Andrews in the Square has been featured in this seasons Real Life Wedding magazine. 

I am really pleased that one of our weddings is being highlighted and I hope some of our pics can help showcase what an excellent venue St Andrews in the Square is.  My great thanks again to Josephine and John for their kind words about me in the article and for being such great sports on the day.

Order your copy of RLW here

I went back to Paisley this week to talk to the students of Reid Kerr college. The students are currently taking a social photography (wedding and portrait) course as part of their HNC and invited me along to “impart some of my experiences”

This course is something I would have jumped at had it been available when I left school. The college has got some fantastic equipment for the students to experiment with and an excellent tutorial team to advise them along the way.

I only wish something like this had been available when I started off !!

As part of my slideshow I let them see my big break in photography. Age 17, working as a YTS at the Helensburgh Advertiser. Guess who got the shot of the day on a Royal visit?

Anyway after giving them my rags to …… well slightly better rags story, I then went on to give them some tips on how to develop their own photography style, how to approach weddings and what to avoid.

They then displayed true photographers instincts and ran for it as soon as they had to get their picture taken !! This is me with those who didnt react quick enough.