Silver Photography

Actually, it was probably one of my most recent ones. It was a tiny elopement on the beaches of Arisaig in western Scotland, one whole day late because a huge storm meant that nobody could actually get there! As it turned out, the weather cleared and the couple, Kay and Ryan, were the possibly the sweetest couple I have ever photographed.

Relaxed. Photojournalistic. Natural. Beautiful. Candid.

Each and every time a couple thank me for their photographs it reminds me that I am doing a great job. Not only to I really enjoy it, even after over 20 years, but I like to know that I am helping my clients enjoy their day too!

Never just do something without questioning whether it is the best thing to do. For example, why is your ceremony at 2pm, and is that really the best time for it?

Every guest's napkin was actually a handkerchief bought from a second-hand store, and most had designs on them that were meaningful for that particular guest. It looked beautiful, and everyone took them home too so there was no waste.

As I say to all my clients, I am really very relaxed. I see my role as a photographer who is there to work around you and your plans, interfering only when I think it is better for me to do so. It is super-important for me that you have a great day and, with that in mind, I always have a video meet a few days before so that we can run through all your plans and figure out exactly what you may, or may not, want to do on the day in terms of photography. I almost always start before the ceremony to capture some of the preparations and buildup, I then photograph the ceremony. After that I think it is nice for couples to have a breather and say hello to their friends and family before we capture any formal family photographs they may have asked for. Then we usually take 20 or 30 minutes to have a wander around various locations whilst I make some beautiful couple's portraits. I really try and interfere as little as possible because I truly believe that the best images come when you are feeling relaxed, happy and in love. As soon as I start posing you too much that magic is lost. This is your unique wedding story — let me capture it for you the way it actually was on the day.

For me I would say that is almost impossible to answer because every one of my clients have a different idea about what they want from their wedding photographs and what is a vital photograph for one may not be even slightly relevant for the next. I do always have a video meet with clients a few days before each wedding where we run through your plans and, importantly, we always have a chat about any specific photographs you might like me to take. Because people choose me as a documentary photographer, rather than the sort pf photographer who poses every photograph, I often just get left to capture the events of the day as they unfold (although most of the bigger weddings do involve just a few family photographs, so don't worry :) )

At a recent elopement in Scotland I was asked to photograph the happy couple walking into Loch Linnhe in their full outfits once we had finished the photographs. It was a pretty chilly day and I was just pleased that I didn't have to go in too...

I live, and work, in Scotland so rain is very likely. You can't plan your wedding around the weather but there are a few things to think about. An umbrella is the most obvious suggestion (try and pick one without any writing on it, and cut off the little securing strap that they all have otherwise it will be dangling down in all of the pictures). If you are having a big wedding, and will want some nice family photographs, choose a venue that has enough space indoors to do that. There are so many venues that have no spaces for photography indoors and, if you are keen on photographs, I think that should be a big consideration when picking somewhere for your wedding.

When I got married, many years ago now, we really wanted someone who would come and capture our day for us without any cheesy poses. Sadly it really wasn't like that at all and we ended up spending ages having our photographs taken and we didn't really like many of them at all. As I was already a keen photographer at the time I decided there and then that I would start my own business and that there would be absolutely no cheesy poses, no enormously long photoshoots, only as many family groups as my clients asked for and, above all else, it would be fun.