Cake Smash - Tastic

"Cake smash?" questioned my neat and tidy husband.  "You're going to do what?"

"Cake Smash" is one of those shout out loud names that grabs your attention and conjures up images of patisserie vandalism and sticky mayhem in the minds of the uninitiated.  And why not?  It's got your attention hasn't it?  

Cake smash is a novel photo shoot idea from the USA (where else?) and involves putting a large, colourful and enticing cake in front of a one year old baby and watching what happens...well, actually photographing what happens.

I'd been interested in the idea ever since I heard about it, so last month I decided to do something about it.  Having read a number of blog posts written by American photographers who offer this shoot and having viewed many sample photos (some good, some bad) I decided how I wanted to shoot it and devised an approach for my own cake smash shoot. 

As luck would have it, I know a wonderful professional cake maker, Julie, from Sensation Cakes, who happily also has a baby of the right age.  We thoroughly enjoyed the shoot and we were all delighted with the final results.  No vandalism or cake slinging at all....just a delightful discovery of textures and tastes.  Babies are above all curious and it was beautiful to watch Sam take his first taste then watch his confidence grow as he explored the feeling of the icing in his hands....wonderful moments creating fabulous photo opportunities.  If you're interested in having a cake smash shoot for your baby's first birthday, then please contact me for details and prices.

 

Wedding Fairs: The Ultimate Guide

As a regular exhibitor at a number of wedding fairs throughout the year, I meet many, many couples and their families hunting around for ideas, inspiration and their perfect wedding suppliers.  A busy fair has a great vibe, but all that wedding buzz can leave you feeling dazed and confused as your plastic bag begins to weigh heavy with the sheer number of fliers, cards, samples and brochures you collect as you trawl the stands. 

I've devised the ultimate guide to surviving a wedding fair to make sure you get the information you need without succumbing to wedding fair overload.  Newly engaged couples with a long lead time may be happy just to browse, but if you're at the stage of serious wedding planning, here are some top tips:

• Set your goals before you arrive. You might have a particular supplier you want to visit, or you may want to compare prices for certain items or services between different exhibitors.  Arrive early so that you can chat to exhibitors and properly view products without jockeying for position with other couples.
• Exhibitors are there to showcase their products and services and are happy to answer any questions you have. Don't be afraid to ask questions, handle products and samples.  As a wedding photographer, I want couples to open up my sample albums and look at the photographs.  An image may prompt a discussion about my photographic style and approach, or may even just give you ideas for venue decoration, colours and flowers.
• If there's a fashion show, go watch!  Even if you've already got your wedding dress, fashion shows will usually showcase Bridesmaids dresses and Mother of the Bride outfits too as well as kilts and male wedding attire.  It's a chance to take the weight off your feet and to see how the different dress styles look from every angle. 

• If you're on a tight budget, do ask if services and packages can be tailored to your own requirements and budget.
• When you find a supplier you really like, mark their flier/business card with an asterisk or similar mark so you can shortlist your favourites easily when sorting through the paperwork later.
• It might seem obvious, but do check that your favoured suppliers have your date available. 

Do remember to enjoy planning your wedding.  It's a big task, but if you lean on your suppliers for help and advice, you will sale through.  

Steven & Marie at Garvock House

Whilst most of my weddings are booked well in advance, I was delighted to take a number of wedding bookings at the tail end of the 2012 which were booked on much shorter lead times.  With a great venue and a team of wonderful suppliers to help bring it all together, Steven and Marie arranged their wedding in about two weeks, which I thought had to be an all time record (but proved not to be....keep reading my posts!)

I had already booked a stand at a wedding fair on the day in question, but since the couple had planned for a late afternoon ceremony and their wedding was a five minute drive away from where I was exhibiting, I decided that it was completely do-able!

Garvock House Hotel was the venue, (one of my favourite local venues) and the day was bright and pleasant. The Bride had opted for a fantastic 50's style dress with splashy pink flowers, the theme being echoed in the Groom's tie and particularly in the stunning floral displays put together by Vivienne McBride of Lilywhite Wedding Florist.  There were lots of lovely details at this wedding which just goes to show that if you don't have a lot of time to arrange your wedding, it can be done, and done superbly well!  

Steven and Marie literally danced back down the aisle to "Bright Side of Life"....fantastically amusing!

 

The humour just kept coming....don't you just love people who enjoy having fun!

Check out the tiny rosebuds around the favours....it was all so pretty!

Sharlene & Rab Tying the Knot at Edinburgh Castle

I had a very busy September in 2012 with beautiful weddings at The Grouse and Claret in Kinross, Garvock House in Dunfermline, The Glen Pavilion in Dunfermline, and this one at Edinburgh Castle.

 

When Sharlene and Rab booked me to shoot their wedding, I confess I was very excited.  As a total "newbie" to Edinburgh Castle, I knew it would be a challenging day as soon as I looked at the "Photographer's Guide" to shooting at the Castle.  In a nutshell, the regulations about where you can shoot, with whom and when are extremely strict, and just to make sure you adhere to the rules, you get your own "minder".  Oh and by the way, the photographer must not to get in the way of the tourists!

 

So the day dawned, bright and sunny and first up were the getting ready photos with the Bride and her lovely Maids in the outskirts of Kirkcaldy.  Everything was perfect and spirits were high!  Did I mention there was a political rally on in the middle of Edinburgh, the route of which was up the mound and across the Royal Mile?  No?  Well, let's just say that having left the girls in plenty of time to get to the Castle, within sight of the Castle entrance, I was sent on my merry way by a very nice policeman who told me I'd have to go round.  So with white knuckled determination, I wove round Grassmarket and ploughed up the other side, finally to be ushered through the entrance and into my designated space close to St.Margaret's Chapel. 

 

Now, about these tourists....I'm sure I didn't get in their way, but they certainly got in mine. When the Bride arrived the air was thick with excitement and I got a sense of what it would feel like to be a Papparazzi photographer...jostled this way and that whilst obeying the rules, maintaining my dignity and getting a set of photographs that my couple would be proud to own..it was an interesting challenge.

 

I was going to have a little joke and say I spotted this shot when I'd been knocked to the ground by the mob, but it's not true. 

St. Mary's Chapel is the teeniest, tiniest chapel I have ever been in so after the ceremony it was fabulous to be back out in the fresh air...Rab and Sharlene looking so happy...there were about a million people on all sides of me, but you'd never know it. Bride and Groom kept their focus firmly on me. Bless 'em!!

 

On our way to the designated spot for photographs.  It was lovely to have a bit of space to ourselves!

 

 

 

We had just one and a half hours at the Castle, then it was back to the Pitbauchlie Hotel in Dunfermline for the reception.  An amazing couple, an amazing day, a real experience.

 

 

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!