Craigsanquar House Wedding for Tracy and Ryan

It's ages since I've posted on the Blog for which I feel very guilty.  In my defence, I have been extremely busy and for me, client work always comes before blogging!

Picking up the theme of summer weddings, this one was a cracker!  It was my first time shooting a wedding at Craigsanquar House near Cupar, and we had a perfect day for the planned outdoor ceremony!  Tracy looked amazing in her Jenny Packham vintage dress, with hair styling by the talented Alison Stewart and stunning make up by Stacey Whittaker.  Ryan also looked gorgeous and the couple were an absolute pleasure to work with.  It had always been very important to Tracy and Ryan to have time mingling with their guests on their big day, many of whom had travelled from afar to attend the wedding, so they kept their formal photos to a minimum and we took a scant 20 minutes for the Bride and Groom photos.  This is where the pre-wedding shoot reaps benefits...we were already familiar with one another and I was able to direct the shoot for maximum impact using a minimum of their precious time. 

 

 

 

 

The Wedding of Gillian and Andrew

Now and again, a wedding takes me a little further afield than usual, and on July 28th, I found myself on the road to Aviemore and the Boat of Garten Hotel, for the wedding of Gillian and Andrew. This wedding was particularly special for me because two years before, I had photographed the wedding of Gill's sister, Susan. It's lovely to see familiar faces at a wedding, and knowing the family already made for a very relaxed day. The weather was rather "on and off", but we managed to find a rain free window for some photos on the fabulously quaint station platform, and I would like it to be known that the hotel manager went above and beyond the call of duty, personally chauffeuring Gillian, Andrew and I round to the "alternative" access to the station when we found the closest station entrance locked and barred! What a star! Anyway, we got some great photographs...here are just a few....

The Marriage of Naomi & David

Recent internet connection problems have curtailed my posting on the Blog, however, everything seems to be behaving today, so "tally ho". Tinto Country House Hotel (www.tintohotel.co.uk) is nestled at the foot of Tinto Hill in Symington, South Lanarkshire. I met Naomi and David at one of the hotel's wedding fairs over a year ago, and on 23rd June this lovely couple tied the knot. They've had an eventful year with baby Pippa arriving just a few weeks before the wedding, but seem to have taken to the whole thing like ducks to water. Their wedding day was beautiful, relaxed, romantic and great fun. Baby Pippa allowed Mum and Dad to be the stars of the show and what stars they were! The Bride looked absolutely stunning and the Groom was obviously mesmerised...cue the goosebumps!!! Here are a few photos to enjoy!

Turning Japanese - Final Photos

A couple of weeks ago I posted some "behind the scenes" images from a portfolio fashion shoot I put together with a team of talented collaborators...this kind of photo shoot is always great fun and it's so nice to work with a team of people for a change because so much of my day to day work is done alone.  Why Japanese?  It all started with a Twitter post I picked up showcasing some very interesting eye make up.  I sent the image to our model, Nicole and MUA, Susie...what did they think?  They loved it, so the hunt for Japanese inspiration began....it led to me looking at images of Siousxhie Sioux, as I wanted to produce something that was not a straight Geisha look....our stylist Eilidh totally got the vibe I was looking for and combined genuine Japanese kimonos and props (borrowed from a friend who had lived in Japan) with "punk" elements to create our final look.  Hair stylist, Lynn, did a magnificent job with Nicole's hair, producing a fantastic "do" which combined both punk and Samurai warrior really effectively.  We couldn't resist the chop sticks though...even if they did try to slip out of place all the time!  Anyway, a great day and we're all pleased as punch with the final images!

Racecourse Wedding for Michelle & Jamie

First past the post for me this June, (you've got to allow me one pun!) was the wedding of Michelle and Jamie which took place place at my local church in Kinross.  A beautiful ceremony was followed by photos in the church grounds before heading up the motorway to Perth Racecourse for the reception. This was my first wedding at Perth Racecourse and it was an absolute delight because there is so much you can do with the location...sadly Michelle and Jamie had a wedding day to get on with, otherwise I would have dragged them from one end to the other for photographs. As it is, we took photos in the lush surroundings down by the river, on the racecourse itself (no oncoming horses, whew!!) and in the stands, still making the 4.30 p.m. deadline for the sit down! The weather was perfect (seems churlish to moan about bright sunlight) and the balmy evening was perfect to catch up a few extra photos before the dancing kicked off....simply a wonderful day.

 

Best Scottish Weddings Magazine

Ooohhhh great excitement today when my new copy of The Best Scottish Weddings magazine arrived in the post! I had sent some images from our Bridal Inspiration shoot at Tullibole Castle to editor, Beth Forsyth, as she had expressed an interest in the shoot! I was almost certain the magzine was going to use the images, but there's many a slip ("twixt cup and lip") so I don't count on anything until I can see it. Well, I was not disappointed! So pleased for the entire team who worked with me on the shoot that day, from Rhoderick Moncrieff and his wife Alison who allowed us free run of the castle, Susie Bloice MUA, Nikki McIntyre, hair stylist, Hayley Allcoat, camera assistant, Lesley Vaughan of the Bridal Studio in Dollar who supplied the dresses and assisted getting the models, Shona, Samantha and Nicole into them. Sadly, the magazine did not use the images of the wonderful venue itself, lovingly styled by Hayley with chair sashes from Sashes Venue Styling or the images of Caroline Watson's divine cupcakes, but for anyone interested in using Tullibole Castle as a wedding venue, there is a page on my website with more of the images we took that day. Anyway, without futher ado, here's the page!

 

Just Horsing About

What a busy weekend I have had....I haven't even started working with the files from Saturday's wedding yet, but on Sunday, under the umbrella of my equine brand, Mad Gallop Photography, I covered the dressage element of the SERC Dressage/Endurance event for Fife Riding Club.  I love photographing horses, but confess to having a slightly wicked side, in that I am always a tiny bit delighted if the horses misbehave, as long as no one is hurt of course.  I will probably be struck off for that comment, but I love to see the spirit of an animal shine through, and of course, it often makes for a good photograph!   I really enjoyed seeing the colourful tack and riding attire of the Endurance riders too...what a great way to spend a Sunday morning! 

Turning Japanese...I Really Think So!

What a blast we had at Tracy Gow Photography HQ today, as we created a fashion shoot with an Oriental twist....stylist Eilidh Ellery did a brilliant job of creating some very extraordinary looks with a combination of punk fashion elements and authentic Japanese kimonos. Hair stylist, Lynn Suttie created an amazing "samurai" look for model, Nicole Abbot, whilst MUA Susie Bloice used a pink and black smokey eye effect with a striking white stripe to great effect. As for me, I created some colourful, sheer fabric backdrops to shoot against...the final results are eye popping, but for now, just a couple of getting ready shots...more to follow next week.