{Blush}

"We just wanted to say an absolutely massive thank you for last Monday (can't believe it was over a week ago already). You were absolutley fantastic really blended in like one of the guests and put Ruairidh and I at complete ease while we did our shots & the results speak for themselves - absolutely stunning!! We couldn't have asked for more and everyone that has seen them thinks they are fantastic. As you know we didn't have a video and these images will be what we look back on for years to come, Everytime I look at them (which is at least once a day) its like I'm right back there.

Thank you so much Nikki for helping to make our day extra special and giving us wonderful images that will stay with us forever.

Luv Lisa & Ruairidh"

Greetings from Vancouver!

Yeap back again, meeting with up with old friends from last year's Bebbinar.

Kate is holding the fort back home, though you can get me via email on nikki@nikkimcleodphotography.com

Lisa & Ruairidh's wedding - Loch Ness

(if the above show is not working, click here)

What a fabulous wedding - I make no apology for making this a slideshow blog post!!

Lisa & Ruairidh travelled across country from Aberdeen way for their amazingly personal wedding at the Foyers Country House on the banks of Loch Ness. This place was just so cute - originally a country house hotel, now you can rent it for self catering which is what happened for the newlyweds and their children and family.

After 6 years and 3 children together, it was amazing to see the love this pair had; there was so many tears shed that day!

And the weather totally played ball - after several rainy days, the sun shone on the wedding day, enabling a champagne reception on the lawn outside, and a wonderful couples session on the banks of the Loch.

And the couples session ROCKED! In Lisa's words, "I totally trust you, Nikki" and the results show this! From romantic shots lochside, to an industrial feel just minutes from the loch, we had a blast! From America's Next Top Model posing, to big slushy kisses, it was so much fun! Having lots of time together for a couples session makes such a difference and the newlyweds totally appreciated having the time away.

The bride had put a lot of effort into this wedding, and involved a lot of her family and friends in it, in order to make it personal and welcoming to all.

My thanks goes to Lynne for travelling over from Skye to assist me, we had a blast girl!

The password has now been released to the newlyweds, so if you would like a nosy, contact the newlyweds direct, or contact me on nikki@nikkimcleodphotography.com with the bride's maiden name and groom's surname.

Vendor’s information
Wedding venue; Foyers Country House, Foyers, Loch Ness
Cake; made by the bride
Flowers; put together by sister in law Sophie
Piper; Calum Fraser - "Spud the Piper", Inverness
Bride’s dress; designed by Maggie Sottero; bought at Brides Delight, Aberdeen
Bridesmaids dresses; designed by Alvina Valenta Maids
Make-up; by the bridesmaid
Stationery: “You are invited” Aberdeen

Michelle & Charles' wedding - The Woodside Hotel, Aberdour

Another crazeee weekend of weddings and portraits!

Michelle & Charles' wedding brought me back to the lovely village of Aberdour for the second weekend in a row, with the continued varied weather to boot!

Bijou Florist made an amazing job on the flowers.
Michelle wore a stunning almost vintage style Maggie Sottero dress, which so suited her
colouring.Charles & Michelle live in a most glorious location, which made my job so much easier! Meanwhile at the Woodside, Charles was nervously awaiting his bride.
The Clipper Bar in the Hotel is a wonderfully scenic venue, look at this roof!
After the wedding and formals, Michelle has chosen to go to the beach at Aberdour and we spent half an hour dodging the rain clouds!
And yet looking in the other direction, you would have though you were at the Med!
But those big black rainclouds threatened.... You can even see the rain falling on Edinburgh over the water!
And soon enough, the rain did start to fall, but Michelle just produced her lovely parasol and we carried on!One of my favourite images of the day!

Michelle and Charles will hopefully be enjoying the sunshine on the Isle of Skye!

Many thanks to James for his assistance with lighting-on-a-stick, video lighting and general hilarity!

If you would like to see the complete portfolio of images from this wedding, when it is released online (the couple will see them first on return from honeymoon), email me on nikki@nikkimcleodphotography.com with the groom's surname and bride's maiden name in the email, and I can send you the password when it is released.

Wedding venue; Woodside Hotel Aberdour
Cake; Made by a friend’s sister
Flowers; Bijou Florist
Transport; Baincraig Cars
Band; Canongate Cadjers
Bride’s dress; designed by Maggie Sottero; bought at Patricia Rose Bridal Studio Edinburgh
Bridesmaids dresses; designed by Dessy; bought at Pretty Woman Edinburgh
Make-up & hair; Done by Bride and Bridesmaids
Stationery: Sarah O’Neill Designs

Nancy & Craig's wedding - Aberdour Castle & Strathearn Hotel, Kirkcaldy

Bit of a delay on blogging this stunning wedding, too many celebrations this week, between leaving work and my birthday today! But here at last is Nancy & Craig, whose wedding last Saturday was so elegant and fun!

It was a full house on Saturday in Buckhaven, where Nancy was joined by her friends and family, for pampering by Jo Bechard who did beautiful work on the beautiful girls
Before travelling to Aberdour Castle for the wonderfully personal ceremony by Gillian Stewart of the Humanist Society.

I don't normally like textures on my images, but this one just fitted perfectly.And we were so lucky again with the weather, allowing the couple to greet their guests immediately after the ceremony in beautiful light.
And Alfie the dog played a big part of the day; I think he is vying for the most important man in Nancy's life!Entertainment was laid on during the champagne reception, with a decidely Scottish feel. After all the guests had left, we had a cracking couples session; firstly around the Castle itself.And then we moved onto Silver Sands for a short while. Look how amazingly stormy the weather was, we were SO lucky, we were fighting against the elements all day as it looked like the heavens were just going to open up on us at any moment. Fortunately they didn't, and the sky gave dramatic contrast in the images.

And then it was onto the Strathearn Hotel for a lovely meal.

Hope you guys are enjoying Thailand, looking forward to showing you all the results on your return.

If you would like to see the complete portfolio of images from this wedding, when it is released online (the couple will see them first on return from honeymoon), email me on nikki@nikkimcleodphotography.com with the groom's surname and bride's maiden name in the email, and I can send you the password when it is released.

Vendor’s information for the blog
Wedding venue; Aberdour Castle
Reception venue; Strathearn Hotel, Kirkcaldy
Flowers; Lazy Daisy Leven
Video; bride’s brother
Transport; Bennochy Classics Leven
Band; Rumours followed by a DJ
Bride’s dress & Bridesmaids dresses; designed by Berkertex bought at Wilkies Kirkcaldy
Make-up; Jo Bechard Dalgety Bay
Hair; Louise at Fringes, Buckhaven
Stationery: the bride

FREEDOM!

I don't tend to put too much of my personal life on this blog, but today is such a big important day for me and NMP that I just had to record it for history's sake!

NMP is now 8 years old and while I have been building up NMP to the high standards and great reputation it now brings, I have continued to work in the veterinary and animal care profession around the country.

At the young age of 18 leaving school, I was choosing between animals and art; working in kennels or going to art school. I chose animals. From a lowly kennelmaid earning £50 a week in 1991 in Skipton, Yorkshire, onto various kenneling positions then into veterinary nursing, firstly in Kinross, then onto other places like Glasgow and Glenrothes, through to the high heights of Head Nurse of Inglis Veterinary Centre in Dunfermline, in 2003. But after having Jack in 2004, having 26 weddings, my busiest year to date, and also starting boudoir photography too in the same year, it was just too much and I started to wind down in the nursing aspect of my career, moving into the management side of things at Inglis, finally over the past 7 months working just a day and a half as Insurance Manager.

Now as Summer 2008 is in full swing, there is another 26 weddings on the books, many portrait sessions and a nearly 4 year old and a husband to look after; it was time to make the leap off the cliff into full time self employment.......

So I sit here in the branch surgery of Inglis Veterinary Centre, with my last couple of hours in the veterinary profession, I raise a virtual glass to all I have met in the profession young and old, human and animal. Thank you for the last 18 crazy years! CHEERS!

The great thing for NMP is I can now commit all my working hours to the business, providing even better service as a fully qualified, full time, friendly, female, fun photographer!

The Hornes' "Bloodline" session

After shooting their amazing St Andrews wedding in May, it was a pleasure to be invited to the Hornes' beautiful home in the hills north of Dundee for a "Bloodline" session.

Their boys are just the cutest wee men ever!Young Oscar should take up modelling! Brotherly love.
Mum and Dad got involved too.
And baby Kasper was so funny!

Thank you for inviting me to your wonderful home guys, hope married life is suiting you all!

Steph & Stuart's "Bling" session

Last Sunday was a bit of a crazy day for me in St Andrews.

I met up with the lovely Emily and her mother at the Old Course Hotel, to talk about her upcoming wedding there. It was lovely to receive this booking, again through the recommendations of the Old Course team, Phyllis and Kelly. I am looking forward to Emily's wedding in October, and Emily, I hope the planning from Hong Kong isn't too stressful!

After this meeting, I went to another fantastic St Andrews hotel to meet up with another of my fantastic clients, Steph and Stuart who are getting married next month at St Salvatores and the Golf Hotel. We had a chat about their wedding day, before shooting down to St Andrews Cathedral for a "Bling" session; a relaxed pre-wedding session. How lucky were we; when we were chatting about the wedding in the Golf, the heavens opened yet by the time we got to the Cathedral ruins, the sun was out, the sky was blue, and the Japanese tourists were out in full force!

After getting chucked out of the Cathedral ruins when they were closing we moved down the street, where we had a laugh.Having some fun with some new post processing techniques...Look at the sky on this image, we were SO lucky considering how wet and miserable it was just an hour earlier.

I am looking forward to your wedding next month guys; hopefully the weather will be like the above image on the day!

Emma & James' wedding - St Margarets Church Gorebridge & Melville Castle Edinburgh

I had been really looking forward to this wedding since meeting with Emma, as she told me that her hubby-to-be had surprised her with booking a horse and carriage for the big day! In 8 years, this was to be the first horse & carriage I was to photograph at a wedding! Since meeting Emma, I have found out that another 2 of my weddings this year are also including this beautiful mode of transport at their weddings, and one of those directly because of Emma's wedding! Why? I shall explain later!

Though originally from the area Emma now lives down south and did all her planning long distance, mainly through the internet. The weather was it's usual bizarre self, changing literally within seconds from rain to sun. But lucky the rain stayed off for the arrival of the bride & her father with 2 gorgeous gray horses pulling the vintage carriage.

It was wonderful to watch them leave the church and trot through Gorebridge and down the main carriageway. This is one of my favourite shots of the day of the handsome Josh & Issac.
I make no apology for concentrating on the couples session for this blog entry, we had such a blast at Melville Castle's gates with the horse and carriage.

We even stopped halfway up the driveway as by this time, the light was just gorgeous, peaking through the trees. How about this for stunning light..?
And just before we reached the castle, I expermented with some off camera flash.And as the guests were sitting down for the meal, we found some wonderful pockets of light around the castle for some last minute smooching!
Onto the pre-meal speeches and I think all the boys were quite nervous about this. And here I don't think Emma liked what her father was saying!
But she was soon smiling again!Her gorgeous bridesmaid Danna came over from the States for her first Scottish wedding, I think she quite enjoyed the various sights!The Best Man needed a topup for his speech though!

All in all, a fun day all round, and I hope you enjoyed Wales Emma and James.

Many thanks to Ross for assisting me on the day.

ETA: Forgot to finish my story; I have been wanting to shoot a wedding with a horse and carriage for.........YEARS! This year seems to be my year for them now. After I found out that Emma was getting one as a surprise, I then found out that my wedding in Surrey in August also has one. And then.....last week I got a phone call from the Mother of the Bride of my August Arran wedding. That shot at the beginning, my favourite shot, I apparently was outside this MOB's house when I took it; she recognised me as I shot her other daughter's wedding a couple of years ago! Long story short is, she loved the look of the horse and carriage that she was checking with me if it would be okay to book one for her daughter's wedding in Arran, as she imagined the photos would look cool with one!! Oh YES I said! Cool!!

If you would like to see the complete portfolio of images from this wedding, when it is released online (the couple will see them first on return from honeymoon), email me on nikki@nikkimcleodphotography.com with the groom's surname and bride's maiden name in the email, and I can send you the password when it is released.

Vendor’s information

Wedding venue; St Margarets RC Church Gorebridge

Reception venue; Melville Castle Edinburgh

Cake; Sweet Unique, Edinburgh
Transport; Platinum Limos and the horse & carriage by Carriages for All Occasions
Band; Lee Live
Bride’s dress; bought at Emma Roy
Bridesmaids dress; bought in Santa Barbara, USA
Make-up; Louise Dewar
Hair; Heidi @ Patersons S A, Dalkeith
Stationery: Paper Lace, Dalkeith