April & Dave's wedding

There are so many elements of a wedding that you as a photographer can't control, and the weather is one of them, especially in Scotland, even in the summertime!

When you plan an outdoor wedding in Scotland, you HAVE to make alternative arrangements. Unfortunately April and Dave's wedding had to be turned from an outdoor wedding in the gardens of Fernie Castle, to an indoor ceremony in the Grand Hall thanks to the horizontal drizzle this weekend.

All weddings are emotional but this wedding was extra emotional, April's parents unfortunately no longer with us but they were never forgotten on the day, and there were certainly times of laughter along with the tears.

Fernie Castle has probably the most totally unique honeymoon suite, a Treehouse on the edge of the castle grounds, which has had so many personal little touches given to it. The staircase is just a photographers dream!

And when the couple think of only each other, you get amazing images like this!

Enjoy St Lucia guys I am SO jealous, we were there in 2000 and it was amazing!

The "Breathless" marathon last weekend was fun, shame one of the appointments cancelled at the last minute but I got some great images. It was also nice to meet past Breathless clients who were picking up albums and prints and even Andy the groom from last months wedding in Newcastle came to collect his finished album!

"Breathless" Newcastle marathon.......AGAIN!

Yup, so quick after the first one, I have ended up with another Marathon, back in Newcastle on 9th June!!

And I shall be meeting up with some of the ladies from the previous Marathon who will be picking up their albums etc!

And if there is anyone looking for a "Breathless" session in the North East, I have ONE space left!
Email me on nmcleodphoto@aol.com

New website!

If you haven't already noticed, HAPPY DANCE! New website, live TODAY!!!!

It's still not 100% done, still a few minor adjustments to be made, and a few more galleries to be added, but on the whole, for the first major overhaul on the website, it' s pretty goooodddd!!

Leanne and Allan's wedding

Another fabulous wedding today.

For the first time ever, I did the "getting ready" section of the day with the groom rather than the bride! I was very lucky and got to ride in a stretch limo, only the second time it has happened in my lifetime ! The limo ride was great fun, and I persuaded them to let me take the limo down to North Queensferry for some funky shots at the Bridges.

We were again so lucky with the weather and it gave us the opportunity to get some amazing portraits in the grounds of Abbot House in Dunfermline after the City Chambers ceremony.Leanne is so pretty, look at her amazing eyelashes! Totally gorgeous couple, and I bet they are at this moment still enjoying their party! Enjoy the Dominican guys, see you in a couple of weeks!

Jen and Jon's "Bliss" session

"Bliss" session? Yeah well, it's a "Bling" session but AFTER the wedding!


"Bling" sessions are engagement sessions done obviously before the wedding, where my couples get to know how I work them in front of the camera. But last year, one of my brides asked if she could do the session AFTER the wedding, back in her dress, with her dogs! YEAH of course! and it was fun!


And it made me think that maybe some couples who have booked the Ultimate packages would prefer their session after the wedding, when they are all tanned and loved up, and not so nervous about the big day. And that's what Jen and Jon wanted.


After a superb day in St Andrews at the beginning of the month, and a wonderful honeymoon in the Maldives, the pair killed 2 birds with one stone and came back to the studio for a "Bliss" session as well as viewing the finished results from their wedding day photography. Bride, groom, Mother of the Bride AND the photographer were all in tears watching the slideshow and seeing the emotion come back to life from a fantastic day. 833 images! Yes you saw that right, EIGHT HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE images!! I have NEVER shot a wedding with that many images, but I have never shot a wedding from 9am till midnight before (my latest before that was a Balbirnie wedding, 11am till 10pm!) But it was worth every second for Jen and Jon's wedding, and all 833 images are now available to view on the proofing section of the main website.


After the crying stopped (and the sun wasnt so cruel!) we ventured out for the "Bliss" session! Now I have had ideas in my head for these sessions that really have been waiting for the right couple to come along, and this was the couple, and they were up for everything I asked of them! We visited the local shopping centre, we went down the beach, they rolled in the sand, they did piggy-backs, Jen and Jon were just amazing!


Here is a few of today's images;


This couple are beautiful on the inside as well as the outside and it has been an honour to know them and their families. And I am right there whenever the first Bird baby drops from the sky whenever that may be; I know it will be as beautiful as it's parents!

Ursula and Graham's new baby!

And congratulations are in order to the Brookies for the new baby boy brought into the world this week! It was the first time I had done a Newborn session in the actual maternity hospital, I forgot how hot those places get!

The as-yet unnamed wee man is just gorgeous, I love the wrinkly old-man hands newborns have. Mum and baby are doing well, dad is doting!

It's been a busy week. I was down in Bristol last week, for a seminar of 2 of my favourite photographers; Yervant in Australia and Joe Buissink from California. Both have different styles of photography and yet it was a well balanced and very inspirational seminar. I shared the day with my good friend Melanie East who is starting up in wedding photography in the Bristol area. Melanie is an established portrait photographer, who gave me a studio tour last year, and got some shots of Jack too! This kind of get-together is really important in this industry as it can get very lonely when you work for yourself!

Ursula's "Bump" session

I am glad I don't do too many "Bump" sessions.........I get seriously broody with every single one!

This one was special, as the bump in question belongs to a previous bride of mine! You may not recognise her face (not that you can see it on these pics!) but you would recognise her bum!

Ursula is the target on my famous bum shot (as viewed at the top of this blog, and on the front page of my website!) Her new husband Graham was walking away from a Cypriot beach several years ago when I spotted him looking over his shoulder at me, I knew he was up to something, so kept the camera to my eye. And sure enough, he lands his hand right on Ursula's bum! This shot has been a winner with many a client of mine, and I am sure that this cute bump is gonna turn into a cutey Brookie in the next couple of weeks!

Jen and Jon's wedding

It's unusual to get a "Thank you" note from a bride BEFORE I shoot her wedding but that's what happened at the rehearsal on Thursday of Jen and Jon's wedding. And it was the start of a weekend long celebration in St Andrews for this wonderful couple.

From the Gina shoes and Caroline Castigliano dress.........
to the stunning bride...........
to her handsome groom awaiting her at St Salvadores Chapel..............
to the bride running to her groom in the Chapel arches...........

to the wonderful couple...........
to the fireworks at the end of the night at the Old Course Hotel.....................
It was a wedding to end all weddings! Enjoy the Maldives guys, see you at the end of the month!

Newcastle "Breathless" marathon sneeky peeks!

It's been a busy week of editing and all bar one lass from the Newcastle Marathon has allowed to show you these sneeky peeks! (the other one is waiting till after her wedding!)

Thanks girls it was fun, look out for the postie in the next week or two!

KJ and Dave's wedding

The gorgeous wedding of Kirsty-Jane and Dave took place at a new venue for me, Kirkley Hall near Newcastle. My first military wedding, and very smart the boys looked too, though that sword looked dangerous!A lovely 11am ceremony, with tears aflowing all around, especially when the registrar mentioned about Dave getting posted to Iraq when the couple got engaged.

This couple were daft about each other; from serious smooches one second.....
to hamming it up for the camera the next!!
And the bride certainly hammed it up on cue when requested!
And my love for brides with long veils continued!

And for those that know KJ well, this shot of her shoes will give you a laugh! For comfy footwear for the reception at the Britannia Hotel, KJ had specially commissioned Crocs with "Just Wed" on them!

Comments from the first ever "Breathless" marathon

From Wedding Ideas Magazine forum;

"Went up to Newcastle for my 'Breathless' shoot with Nikki McLeod yeasterday. It was amazing. Something I've always wanted to do, and so glad that I've done it. Definitely one of those things to say before you die 'I did that'. She made me feel completely at home, I got to dress up in my sexiest underwear, and she made me feel like a top model. Anyone thinking about it - DO IT!! You won't regret it. Now can't wait for my pics to be ready."

"I thoroughly enjoyed my sessions too - thanks Nikki. Never thought i'd dare do anything like that but you made it very relaxed. i hope the photos come out as good as i felt! Bet you were shattered Nikki! To anyone considering it I agree with Sue, just bite the bullet and do it - it is no where near as scary as you think and Nikki makes you feel fab!! can't wait to get my photos!"

"i had mine done yesterday nikki is great and i can't wait to see the pics."

and another comment regarding previous "Breathless" sessions;

" you would have the courage with Nikki. She really put me at ease despite me not being a natural model."

Bleurgh......................

I have just dissolved into a little sweaty blob in the corner, I am so exhausted!

A grand total of 330 miles on the clock, over 12 gb used, with over 1000 images, a gorgeous wedding, and some cracking "Breathless" sessions............... what an amazing last couple of days!!

Congrats to KJ and Dave, who as we speak will be celebrating at their evening reception of their wedding. I was SO glad the rain held off today to allow us outside. Once my brain is a bit more awake tomorrow, I shall download the images and give you a sneak preview here, right on this blog!

And as for you "Breathless" marathon girls in the Newcastle area, you gals ROCK!!! Every single one of you brought something different, in props and personality to your own sessions, as well as girlfriends and husbands; and again I can't wait to download the images and see full screen, the work that was being produced!! I will asking each girl if they will let me put some images on here, that are "safe" for the world to view!! Well done, all of you (and PS i enjoyed my bath at 11pm last night!!)

"Breathless" Newcastle, here I come!

Well, time to depart for Newcastle for a round of "Breathless" sessions, as well as Kirsty and Dave's wedding. Can't wait to meet all the girls, and have a great time at the wedding too!

Here's some previous "Breathless" shots to get us in the mood (all with the permission of the girls in photo!)

Julie and Paul's wedding

Well the good weather continues, and so does the stunning weddings I have been lucky enough to be PAID to photograph!! I truely love this job; I get more excited than the bride sometimes!!

Yesterday's wedding was no exception; Scotland and Northern Ireland joined forces at Balbirnie House for the wedding of Julie and Paul. What a lovely couple, and what a stunner Julie was!
It's always special for me shooting a wedding at Balbirnie, as I got married there myself nearly 8 years ago and going up the drive towards the beautiful Georgian house still gives me goosebumps! So does turning out work like this (easy when you have such an amzing couple!)
I'm really into arty angles at the moment; I don't mind lying flat on my back in order to get the shot!

As well as shooting till after 9pm at night, in the car park in order to get shots like this!

Enjoy the Maldives guys; can't wait to show you the rest of the images when you return!

Lesley and Chris' wedding

Easter weekend; usually unpredictable weather and lots of chocolate.

For me this year, it is BEAUTIFUL sunny weather, a gorgeous wedding and lots of chocolate!!

Lesley and Chris made sure everyone remembered it was Easter weekend, with lots of personal touches at their Garvock House wedding. The daffodils were in full bloom, the bride looked gorgeous and there was tons of chocolate for everyone!!

And the winner is....................

JESSICA AND NEIL!!!

Congrats guys, I will be over to shoot your wedding in Belfast in September!

Many thanks for everyone for entering!

Competition finalists!!

Oh boy did I have a difficult decision in trying to find a winner, and as yet I still haven't decided?!


There were so many fabulous entries, so many great reasons why YOU should win a wedding photography package for FREE from me.



But I have narrowed it down to the following three finalists;



Patra and David
Patra and David are getting married in the Oldham area this year and this is Patra's story;





"Myself and Dave have been together nearly 12 years and due to redundancies for both of us, we have just really struggled to get the money together to pay for a wedding, although it is something we have always wanted, I know we could do it on the very cheap, registry office local pub ect ect, but we wanted something a little special and that meant if we had to wait and save then so be it.
We are not after any limelight or masses of presants from everyone, to us the wedding signifies us being commited to each other for ever and not just about a big party and getting dressed up for the day.
So we have no photographers planned it is just the people attending taking the photos and hopefully we will get some great shots, but a proffesional photographer would be the icing on the cake."

Next is

ROSS & "H"

This couple are getting married in Cyprus this year but coming home for a wedding reception in North Wales.

Their story;

"We have been trying desparately to get a photographer to come to the function to get photos of family members that will be missing as they cannot make it over to Cyprus with us i.e. my fiancees nan who is too poorly to travel etc.

Further details removed now on request of the couple but the rest of the story was regarding a death in the family.

And finally

JESSICA AND NEIL

This is Jessica's story; her and Neil are getting married in Belfast this year

"i would like to win the free wedding photographybecause ive had a crap year literally ...heres mystory..excuse the pun..

went to work in spain to open new store for primarktook really ill in spain thought i had food poisoning..unfortunately not..turns out i had ulcerative colitis which is an inflammatory bowel disease i have never been sick in my life and ivenever heard of this ..to cut a long story short docs tried everything colon swoll up and nearly died and they had to remove it i now have an ileostomy whichmeans i have a colostomy bag and a lovely 7 inch scar on my stomach..

the wedding was nearly cancelled as ivebeen out of work for months however ive just returnedto work and im slowly but surely trying to get my lifeback...as you can imagine my confidence has beenshattered im only 25 and im very self concious so really want wedding pics to be good.

im sure im no more deserving than anyone else but hey its worth a shot!! and im sure my boyfriend would appreciate it as god love him hes had to fork out for everything!"

Can you see my predicament?!

I've got a portrait session this afternoon, so I will be making the decision between the above three at some point today.