Jo and Derek's Edinburgh Wedding

I first met Jo and Derek Drever at their flat, on a warm summer day, when they decided that they wanted to book me as their wedding photographer. After that, we organised their engagement photo shoot, which took place at their favourite pub in Edinburgh. I blogged the images from their Edinburgh engagement shoot when we had an absolutely fantastic time. After the success of their engagement shoot, I was really looking forward to photographing their wedding, which took place at the Best Western Hotel on Clermiston Road in Edinburgh.

Jo and Derek had a very personal wedding that day. Their wedding was adorned with little links to each of their lives, connecting elements of family history and their journey as a couple.

These are some of the photographs I took of their wedding.

 

 

Unfortunately, the Edinburgh weather gave us rain with light winds, so going outside for some "couple" shots really wasn't an option! Luckily, the hotel had lots of wonderful little photogenic nooks for us to adopt, giving me some of my personal favourite indoor images.  It really was a case of turning around, and seeing a totally different photographic opportunity.

From a personal perspective, I do enjoy doing the shots above - I like to think that the couple can then have a photo of one another which they could use as a desk picture at their different work places.

 Jo's flowers were pinned with a brooch featuring Maeshowe Dragon, a famous symbol of Orkney, connecting Jo's roots and heritage into the wedding.

I loved this table plan! Jo and Derek had been travelling together a few years back, and so each table represented a country they'd visited. Many of their guests were friends who travelled from across the globe to join them on their wedding day.

Derek works in I.T, and these favours for the male guests were very appropriate - old floppy disk notepads, with a pencil inscribed with Derek and Jo's name and date of their wedding, as a cool keepsake.

Jo designs and makes these gorgeous beaded favours (her online jewellery shop can be found here: http://www.coriandr.com/shop/joshighlystrung) . For her wedding, she personalised every bracelet with the initial of the lady who it was intended for. Many of the female wedding guests were touched by this thoughtful element.

 Confetti was scattered on each table, relating to each of the different table names. For example, the Netherlands had lovely little orange tulips, while the USA had red, blue and white stars.

I hope you've enjoyed viewing the photos from this wedding. Many thanks to Jo and Derek for letting me be a part of their special day.

Tips from Photographers

If you've ever been in a situation where you've had your photo taken, and you've not wanted to because you know that the result won't be flattering, then this post is specifically for you. I know a lot of people aren't particularly comfortable with the idea of having their photo taken, partly because they dread seeing the result.

So I recently asked some amazing professional photographers to help me with this post, and asked them to contribute a few words to help you when you're faced with a lens pointing at you. Here's their top tips for looking your best in photographs....

Don't wear fake tan. It may look fairly natural to the naked eye but it almost always looks orange on a digital photo! Also, if the ladies wear fake tan and the men don't the difference is obvious on the group shots.
- Paula Anne Brown
www.ollievision.co.uk

A smile is in the eyes as much as the mouth - the better you get to know your photographer before the event the more relaxed you will be when smiling and that will shine through in your photos
- Helen Rushton
www.helenrushtonphotography.co.uk

A photograph taken from above is always best to avoid double chins and also makes your waist look smaller too!! Just make sure your top isn't too low cut or you might get to see more than you bargained for!!
- Kerry Diamond
www.kerrydiamondphotography.com 

I tell my clients, "Think like a swan, swans never have double chins"
- Mandy Charlton
http://mandycharlton.com/

keep your arm away from your body, put it on your hip and point your elbow out. stops flattened arms looking big against bodies 
- Kathy Dunn
http://www.katherineashdown.co.uk/ 

Shimmy and relax your shoulders avoids that hunched-like-a-vulture look. And look up into the camera or at your partner.
- Rosie Woodhouse
http://www.littlepeopleportraitsskye.co.uk

When your arms hang at your sides it makes you look wider so always bend them at the elbow and create that little triangle of light between your body and arm. This is a great slimming trick.
- Robin Owen
http://robinowenphotography.com/ 

I tell clients not to smile because they're having their picture taken but because it's a beautiful day, because they're in love, because they've just married the love of their life. I also tell clients to whisper a compliment in one another's ears or to remind each other of something they noticed about one another on the first day they met, or something they love about one another. When they do this, it always brings natural, genuine smiles to their faces.
- Erika Szostak
www.photomadly.com

Get to know your photographer before the big day, via an engagement or portrait shoot - you will be much more relaxed in front of the camera come the big day and your photographer will have learnt a lot about you and the style you like! (And no red or patterns on clothing at the enagement shoot!) 
- Sally Beard
www.thephotographyboutique.com 

I always get clients to raise the chin slightly. That always seems to sort out the "double chin".
- Addey Kehinde
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Imagery-by-Addey-Kehinde/139728756082158

Kiss the back of your hand to plump up your lips again after you've been smiling for ages and your lips feel all thinned out.
- Hannah Webster
http://www.lifelinephotography.co.uk/

On my shoots I often say "chin up" as it avoids unsightly shadows under eyes (in natural light) and makes people look more attractive. If you are being photographed try to be mindful of your body and posture, (e.g. what you do with your hands, if in doubt hand on a hip always looks good) but don't concentrate on it too much, as long as you look natural and you're having fun the pictures will look good as well.
- Olivia Vitazkova 
www.reverinephotography.com

Always stand with your weight on your back foot and bend your front leg. stand at a slight angle about 45 degrees to camera not flat on unless instructed to do so.
-Emily Walker
http://www.emilyhancock.co.uk

Be honest with your photographer about any concerns you have BEFORE the photo shoot. Do you have a skin condition that you don't want to show on the photos? What about a mole or birthmark that you dislike? It's vital to discuss this prior to the shoot so that the photographer can take action to minimise the appearance of a condition if necessary.
- Paula Anne Brown
www.Ollievision.co.uk
 
Always make sure you get an engagement shoot before your big day. You'd be surprised at the difference it will make to your wedding pics and how comfortable you feel if you and the photographer have built up a relationship and you have experienced the way he/she shoots. It also gives the photographer chance to get to know how you photograph. Try to be yourself and not to do to much 'posing'. The idea is to capture YOU Don't be afraid to chat, laugh and play around with one another as if the photographer isn't there- these make great shots!
- Emma Thwaites
https://www.facebook.com/emmylouphotography?sk=wall 

When you're being photographed try to think of your photographer as a funny friend, not a random stranger. The way you look at a funny friend is very different from a stranger. So your photographer is your best buddy. ;)
- Cathie Heart
http://www.cathieheartphotography.com/blog/

make sure the person with the camera is shooting slightly downwards so that your eyes look bigger, close your eyes for a moment before the click so they are fresh, make sure the light is even on your face and you're not squinting and relax!
- Jo Blackwell
www.joblackwell.co.uk
 
and finally, two tips from me...
If you're short (like me!) ask your partner to put their arm around your waist, rather than placing their hand over your shoulder. If it's on the shoulder, it can end up looking like you're being pushed down further, whereas round the waist makes you look closer to their height.

Ladies, try to avoid holding bouquets/handbags too high. Holding a bouquet under the bustline hides the outline of the waist and can make even a slimline lady look wider than she is. By keeping arms long and relaxed, you elongate your figure. 

I hope you've found these tips helpful... feel free to add any you've picked up or know to the comments box below, and I may do a follow up on this post!  

Wonderful Welsh Wedding (part 2)

Yesterday, I blogged photos from the pre-wedding shoot of Jen and Rob. They'd invited me to photograph their day at Craig-Y-Nos Castle, north of Swansea, after we'd met a year earlier at another wedding I was photographing.

Craig-Y-Nos Castle is an absolutely fascinating venue for a wedding. A bold, gothic Victorian building snuggled deep in the Swansea Valley, it boasts stunning vistas over the River Tawe as well as a rich and somewhat quirky history. The castle was bought by opera singer Adelina Patti, who built her own private auditorium which is a grade 1 listed opera house. It's now a boutique hotel, and available for weddings.

 Rob and Jen had a blue theme tied through their wedding. This incredible cake was made by Sofairy Cakes.

I adored the table place settings. Jen and Rob love video games, and so went with Super Mario inspired table "names".

The Adelina Patti Theatre was the setting for the couple's wedding blessing. It made an impressive backdrop, as well as giving all of their guests a fantastic view of the couple's ceremony.

I like to try and evoke emotion from couples when I'm photographing them, rather than formally "pose" them. Rob and Jen were complete naturals, they just really got straight into the spirit of things and it made photographing them together an absolute dream. In the shot below, I asked Rob what was the first thing he really fancied about Jen. His response? "Her username", as they'd met online. Jen just cracked up (as did I!) at that brilliant reply. 

Many thanks to Rob and Jen on letting me be a part of their special day.