It’s not unusual to have one or two hic cups on a wedding day – busy traffic to and from the hairdresser or flowers arriving late but in most cases timings are built into the day of event schedule to accommodate these eventualities.
Balgit and Gary were well organised for their recent wedding at Eastwood House. Everyone turned up on time; it was a relaxing start to the day with champagne and strawberries in the girls’ dressing room. The Bride wasn’t even fashionably late for her entrance down the grand staircase.

After finishing the girls’ make-up I was all set with the camera upstairs to catch some Arial shots while Allan was photographing the main event at the foot of the staircase. All was going well – lovely music, hymns, readings and vows - then the exchange of rings.
The minister asked for the rings and the Best Man dutifully produced two shiny rings for the bride and groom – then the bride said – “that’s not my ring, my ring’s white gold”!
Yes, the best man had forgotten the rings and in true “Four Weddings and a Funeral “style panicked and had asked to borrow rings from a couple of guests.

Allan photographed the signing of the register but by this point the rings were OFF the fingers. After the ceremony the bride come straight up to the dressing room for a make-up touch up but after this, point blank refused to have any pictures taken without HER rings.
Allan and I were in a bit of a panic about what to do. They’d ordered a beautiful storybook album and we were there until the first dance but no amount of persuasion would change her mind.
The minister then offered to drive the best man the 40 miles from Giffnock to Hamilton and back to get the rings (luckily it wasn’t further away) and Allan took some candid shots of the guests while we waited. One and a half hours later the best man arrived back with the rings and it was a quick run out to the garden for those all important group shots. By this time it was nearing time for the meal to be served and the last thing caterers like is to keep food waiting so while everyone was being seated we stole the couple away to capture some of the shots in the grounds we had planned on.

The best laid plans as they say – not entirely the way we'd envisaged on what is usually a fast paced day for a photographer but it’s amazing how you can get things done under pressure.
In the end it was all smiles again and time to party.

It’s certainly not a wedding that will be easily forgotten (I don’t think the best man will ever be allowed to forget) but thankfully we did manage to capture some lovely images for their album.

We haven't exhibited at a wedding fayre for some time so we're looking forward to The Fabulous Wedding Show at the Hilton Grosvenor Hotel, Glasgow on Sunday 22 August 2010 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

We love the buzz at wedding shows and of course it gives us the chance to display our wedding albums and images to lots of exited brides-to-be (and grooms).
As always we will have some special offers on our services on the day, for both photography and make-up artistry.
Hope to see you there and even if you're not at the booking stage stop by for a chat and to say hello.

As wedding photographers, we have a very unique perspective on the day. We see things that others might overlook. Here's a little tip that you might not have thought of...

You've picked the gown of your dreams. Everything down to the very last detail has been meticulously planned and a small fortune spent. You've run through the photo list with your photographer and want to include some lovely images of your dress before you slip it on. PLEASE please please think about what you're going to hang it on!

Nothing ruins a gorgeous image of a wedding dress hanging up like one of those standard issue white plastic contraptions (double brownie points for a black one).

Add style to your pictures by hanging your dress from something a little more worthy.

It could be as simple as purchasing a plain wooden hanger, natural or white (try John Lewis or IKEA). You could invest in a pretty embellished satin hanger (http://www.uniquecoathangers.co.uk) or even a personalised one (http://www.prettyandpersonalisedgiftboutique.co.uk).

We always give our brides a little reminder at our final meeting. It might seem very insignificant in the great scheme of things but it's all about the details!

Nicola and Jenny showed a good example:

Love is blind; friendship closes its eyes.

It was "permission to come on board" for Jenny and Chris's wedding "Doon the Watter".

They wanted a Scottish theme but something a little different.
Jenny grew up on the Isle of Arran and as a little girl loved to watch the Waverley Paddle Steamer go by.
As Jenny and Chris now live by the riverside in Glasgow they can still watch it go by and decided they would have their very own private sail with family and friends for their special day.

They chartered the steamer for a trip up to Loch Long and back and were married on the top deck as we sailed down the Clyde.
Thankfully the rain stayed away and the sun shone, if a bit windy - Jenny kept a tight hold on to her veil as we sailed along.

They chose to have a Humanist celebrant marry them with friends and family members giving special readings before they exchanged vows.
The ships along the Clyde joined in the celebrations too blowing their horns to congratulate the Bride and Groom. One crewmember shouted "don't do it" as we sailed by, which raised a laugh.
The Waverley crew did a fantastic job of welcoming everyone on board and the meal of Haggis, Neeps & Tatties (stacked in the shape of a heart) followed by steak pie or highland chicken then a trio of desserts was superb.

We arrived back in dock a little later than planned so it was a quick run (literally) round the Glasgow Science Centre for some additional photos before joining the rest of the guests at the footbridge to be piped across the river to the Crowne Plaza Hotel for the evening reception.
It certaily was a great day out.
Below are a few images and you can see some more of their wedding photos in our Wedding Gallery .

If a picture paints a thousand words....then a "thank you" is worth it's weight in gold.

As professionals our clients pay us to give a good service, whether it's photography or make-up artistry. It's no hardship to put our heart and soul into our work and to be paid for doing something we love is a bonus but when we hear a complement about our services it does give us a spring in our step.
Whether hand written or by email, a thank you means a lot and is much appreciated.

One of my recent brides sent me these kind words:

"I would like to thank you for making me and Claire look beautiful on my special day and making it extra special for me. I will be keeping your details for future use. You really did a wonderful job. Thank you so much. Elaine."

It was a pleasure Elaine - and thank you!

As a make-up artist I’ve had the privilege of working with different nationalities – British, Irish, Canadian, Chinese, Japanese, Persian, Nigerian, Asian -  and skin tones from the palest of pale to the darkest black.
I love the variety of working with different skin tones and face shapes.
One recent bride was Balgit. Although she wanted a fairly natural look, bolder and slightly stronger colours were used for her darker complexion.
She has the most striking hazel eyes that were off-set with gold and bronze shadows, black liner and a hint of golden dazzle dust. Dark chocolate lipstick and gloss complemented her colouring.
She was a joy to work with and looked stunning on her special day.

One of the things I like about being in the wedding business is seeing all the lovely brides with different looks and colour themes.
Green seems to be one of the “in” shades for summer weddings.
Some of our recent weddings have all had shades of green incorporated in the theme, from apple green to jade.
The bridesmaids at Friday’s wedding wore a lovely shade of sage green (more about the actual wedding later).
When they were first told that the bride was thinking of that colour they were a bit apprehensive, especially as one was a very fair redhead with green eyes and the other dark with hazel eyes, but the colours worked beautifully.
For their make-up trial they both decided to keep to the green shades.

 Carol Anne wanted a darker green smoky eye

Debbie, with her paler complexion went for a more subtle shade (bridesmaids don’t have to look exactly the same).

They both chose to go with a deeper shade of mulberry for their lips which set off the whole look perfectly.

When mulling over your own colour theme don’t rule out a colour choice that might be a bit more unusual or one that’s not normally “you”. It might just be the one that pulls it all together.

Today was Balgit and Gary's wedding rehearsal at Eastwood House.
Balgit and Gary kindly invited us along to have a chat with the minister and see how the ceremony would unfold.
They've written their own special promise to each other which is very personal and very moving.
Looking forward to doing the girls' make-up in the morning then a full day of photography - just hope the weather clears for the weekend as it's such a lovely venue.

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone."

- Audrey Hepburn

We spent a lovely day in Dundee today photographing Dr Victoria Boles on her graduation.
It was a very proud day for her parents to see her graduate after years of study to become a dentist.
Rather than having just the traditional graduation portrait, Victoria had the full paparazzi treatment.
It was an early start for Valerie with make-up at 7a.m. then folowing the graduation ceremony Allan set to work with some photo sessions around Caird Hall.
It was such a lovely sunny day, we drove to the Botanic Gardens for some more photos and Victoria and her boyfriend Chris took the opportunity to have some "couples" shots in the park.
Not finished yet - it was back to the campus for a champagne reception with cucumber sandwiches and strawberry tarts.
Congratulations once again to Victoria - who would ever be afraid of the dentist again!

Presenting Dr Victoria Boles

The proud family

Fellow graduates

Couple shots in the park

As any bride-to-be will know there are so many things to think about when organising a wedding and so much choice with it - dress, venue, photography, hair and make-up styles.
Many will have a special notebook or scrapbook to jot down all their ideas or a folder to keep magazine clippings and samples of fabric/invitations etc.
One bride-to-be has taken it a step further and set up her own website called Wedding Ideas & Inspiration where she shares some great ideas and findings with others.
The website not only looks good, it's a great testament to the hard work and planning that goes into a wedding.
A must-read for anyone planning their Big Day - keep up to date at www.wedding-inspiration.com.

We’ve been playing around with some of the images from Penny and Gavin's photo-shoot to see how we would design a poster – one interpretation below.

It’s always exciting for us when our wedding couples have something a bit different in mind – make-up style – dress – venue.
Penny and Gavin have chosen a venue that’s a little bit different – the Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT).
They love vintage film and regularly attend the theatre so what better venue for their own special “love story”.
To run with their theme they thought of having a cinema poster (starring themselves) to display outside the theatre on their wedding day so we arranged a photo shoot with them at the GFT.
Penny decided she wanted to combine the shoot with her make-up and hair trial so we met at their place early in the morning, Valerie make-up kit in hand.
It was a vintage 50s theme of course with a touch of evening glamour – smoky grey eyes, rosy cheeks and red lips. Her A-line frock and pearls completed the look.
We had great fun shooting at the venue and we’re looking forward to the big day in September.
Below are some of the images we captured on the day.

As wedding suppliers we love all things wedding related and it’s always good when we come across something a little bit different that we can recommend to our clients.
One supplier with a difference is StarWeds - an exciting and unique service for contemporary couples who don't need any more toasters or towel bales. 
StarWeds provide a personalised wedding website to which the couple's friends and family can contribute money as a wedding gift.  It makes asking for money that little bit more professional.
They also provide beautiful, customised invitation inserts which direct the guests to their site.  
You can find more information at http://www.starweds.co.uk  and if you would like to view a sample of a personalised wedding website, then visit http://www.starweds.co.uk/sample.

Nicola and Tony were married on 22 May 2010.

In an earlier blog we gave a sneak preview of Nicola and her bridesmaid's make-up and now we'd like to share some of the wedding images.

Their wedding had been planned within the year and as Tony is a professional football player they had to fit in with the football season.

Their wedding day was one of the hottest days of the year with the sun shining all day (not always the best for photography).
It was so hot that the church doors and windows had to be kept open.

Nicola looked stunning on her wedding day in a beautiful white gown with diamante detailing and veil studded with crystals.
Her theme was pink and white;  her bridesmaid wore a lovely coral pink gown and Nicola carried a bouquet of beautiful pink roses studded with diamante and bound with pink beading.
Tony and the guys were in grey Morning Suits with pink rose buttonholes to complement the theme.

The day however was tinged with sadness.
Nicola contacted us a few days before the wedding to say that Tony's mum, who had been suffering from cancer, had taken a turn for the worse and would be in hospital on the wedding day.
His dad had also had a heart attack and had to go through a major heart operation so neither of them would be able to attend the wedding.
They wanted to stop off at the hospital after the ceremony to visit with them and just wanted to check that this would be ok for timings etc.
Of course we told them to take as long as they needed.

Following the ceremony we went to King's Park with the rest of the bridal party and took some shots while we waited for Nicola and Tony.
The flowering Cherry Trees were in bloom and had just started to fall leaving a carpet of pink blossom.
They smiled through the day and we managed to get some lovely shots before we headed off to the reception.

Below is a selection from the day.
You can see more on our Wedding Gallery .

The Dress

The shoes

The church

The blessing

The Flower Girls

In the park

In the park

The kiss

In the park

Under the shady tree

Cutting the cake

Mr & Mrs

No two brides are ever the same - dress, shoes, hair style and of course make-up.
The aim of every bride is to look their stunning best on their special day and this means different looks for different brides.
Many brides like a dewy natural glow with minimal make-up in pastel shades but for others this just isn't them.
In recent months I've found that smoky eyes are the "in" thing ranging from subtle to strong.
Silver/grey, smoky plum, smoky bronze, deep chocolate brown and smoky green are all shades I've used for recent brides and all look lovely.
For girls who's usual make-up is a smoky eye the thought of wearing anything less on their wedding day can make them feel that they have to compromise on what they like - not so.
A smoky eye look can be toned down a notch for a soft bridal look and many of my brides are delighted and relieved when I suggest that they stick with a style they love.
Of course many will still want a very natural look - the way the world sees them and as a make-up artist it's a pleasure for me to give them just that but with an evened out dewy complexion and eyes that just "pop".
Don't feel that you have to compromise on the way you like to look just because it's your wedding day - be who you are and show your intended the face he loves at its glowing best.

Another scorcher of a day.
Valerie spent the afternoon in a nicely cool kitchen going over the make-up trial for a bride, mum and 2 bridesmaids.
No two brides are ever the same (which is a good thing!).
This was full-on glamour for the bride - full cover foundation, smoky grey eyes and muted red lips.
The bridesmaids had very particular make-up likes too and the bride was happy to let them have the look they were confortable with so we went for dark smoky brown eyes and dark lips for one and a more subtle golden bronze for the other.
Mum went for lilac/deep purple eyes and bright pink lips.
Happy they were all pleased with their look and they did look fab.

No rest for the wicked though - brushes washed, pencils sharpened and kit arranged for Penny's trial tomorrow.
We're photographing Penny and Gavin's wedding in September. It will be another unusual venue - the Glasgow Film Theatre.
Penny and Gavin love vintage films and 40's/50's vintage will be the wedding theme.
They wanted a poster to display outside the theatre on their wedding day so we've arranged a shoot at the GFT.
Penny liked the idea of combining the shoot with her make-up trial so that she's all glammed up (retro 50's style of course). Looking forward to it.

Valerie is delighted to have successfully completed her Diploma in Professional Beauty Make-up.

Her Diploma will take pride of place in the office among her other certificates.

Valerie is a great believer in lifelong learning.
Having previously completed several training courses in make-up artistry and trained with some of the best in the business, she saw the Diploma as an opportunity to continue her studies in a subject she loves.

 The course concentrated heavily on the business/professional side of make-up artistry, covering aspects of health & safety, legal requirements for running a business and professional ethics.

Of course make-up artistry is a practical skill and in addition to the written assignments Valerie was assessed on her make-up knowledge and skills.

She had to demonstrate her ability to design different make-up looks on models of different age groups and give a full explanation of the method of application and why she had chosen the colours and products used.

"Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world."
— Marilyn Monroe

It was Jenny's wedding make-up trial today - Jenny and her two bridesmaids (should have been three but one is in Australia).
I won't give too much away just now but the colour theme is royal blue and ivory and we kept the look quite natural. Jenny is blond, one bridesmaid is blond with blue eyes and the other is dark haired with brown eyes.
We used the same goldy/bronze shadows for both but slightly stronger for the darker haired bridesmaid.

Jenny and Chris are getting married on 2 July 2010 and we will be photographing their wedding on the day too.
We're really excited about this one as it's quite an unusual venue. Hush hush at the moment but we'll bring you an update after the event.

Today was Nicola and Tony’s wedding day.
It was a beautiful sunny day for them and what a handsome couple they make.
We’re editing the photos just now and will bring you a full report later but meantime I thought I’d share some make-up images with you.

It was a 10 a.m. start for make-up at the Holiday Inn East Kilbride where Nicola stayed over the night before.
I had a last minute text from Nicola saying she didn't get to sleep til 5 in the morning as there had been a noisy wedding party from the night before and did I have some eye brightning drops in my kit.

Nicola, her bridesmaid and mum were ready and waiting and the hairdresser had started.  
Nicola greeted us bare-faced with her rollers in – but still looked stunning even with 3 hours sleep.

Nicola’s colour theme was pink, white and silver so at her trial she opted for smoky grey eyes and nude pink lips.
We included some false lashes to add a touch of glamour.

Hair was up with light curls studded with diamantes and finished with a gorgeous sparkling tiara.

What a beautiful bride she makes.

Nicola’s sister Anne Marie was the bridesmaid and she wore a beautiful coral pink gown.

Anne Marie has a totally different colouring from Nicola and we gave her a more natural make-up look with taupe and bronze for the eyes and coral pink lips.

Products used include:

• Estee Lauder Doublewear foundation
• Smashbox and Chantecaille eyeshadows
• CD Mascara (waterproof)
• Bobbi Brown Blush
• Illamasqua lip gloss

Hair by Naomi Kay

Some corporate work for Allan today.

Allan was called on by Dalkia Utilities to take some photos of a their first apprentice in Scotland to receive his Certificate of Completion in Engineering.
The award was presented to Craig by a representative of SEMTA - Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies. Semta supports UK businesses in achieving global competitiveness through investment in skills.

Congratulations!

Allan and I are just back from a relaxing short break in Majorca.
This is our second visit to the lovely quiet resort of Cala san Vicente - beautiful beaches, friendly locals, good food and sun (6 days out of 7).
Thankfully the ash clouds were kind to us. We managed to get away ok but we did start to panic a little in case we couldn't make it home as planned as we have Nicola and Tony's wedding to photograph this Saturday and Nicola and the girls' make-up to do.
We'll be doing some last minute prep tomorrow before their big day - in between the washing. 
I spoke with Nicola today so she knows we're not stranded abroad.
Just thought I'd post a couple of pics Allan took while away (you won't see me in my bikini though!)

We are delighted to offer you a new style coffee table album.
Our Bellissimo  and Artemis albums are without a doubt the “top of the range” in contemporary albums, but for those on a tighter budget, we wanted to offer our clients an album of quality but without the price tag.

The quality of some coffee table books is not quite up to what we’d envisage for a wedding album - they always tend to feel a bit less substantial.
The new Infinity however offers a very acceptable compromise.
The pages are printed in the finest quality paper superior to more flimsy counterparts and bound using the latest side stitching technology giving strength and durability unsurpassed by all others.

The unique hinged pages allow continuous designs to be displayed across the "lay flat" pages with virtually no image loss in the centre (similar to the Bellissimo).
We’d be delighted to show you the quality of our display album which we’ve made up with images from our recent “Rock the Frock” photo-shoot.

Our 10 x 10 inch album starts at £650 for a half-day photo-shoot and includes 10 double page spreads (20 sides).

Today's Bride was Jill - a beautiful brunette.
Jill lives in Edinburgh but was getting ready at her mum's house in Lanark.
Jill booked our make-up artistry services back in November last year but we've kept in touch over the last month or so just so she was reassured I hadn't forgotten her.
It was Jill, her two bridesmaids Karen and Lynn and her mum for make-up.
The hairdresser was there when I arrived at 8 o'clock this morning but it was a very chilled out start to the day.
I was forced to eat some delicious caramel shortcake and I just couldn't refuse the champagne and strawberries (I wasn't driving!)
The girls wanted quite a natural look as they don't usually wear a lot of make-up so we chose pinks, pale rose and wine shades.
Jill wore a pale ivory gown and the bridesmaids were in peacock blue.

Jill very kindly allowed Allan to take some photos of her before they left in the limo for the wedding in Fettes College in Edinburgh. Thankfully the sun was shining for them and Jill looked so happy on her special day.

"The world's favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May."
- Edwin Way Teale

“Big is beautiful”. It’s here at last –the Traditional Apertura.
Until now, our main albums have been the digital or storybook albums that are extremely popular with today's bride and groom.
However, some couples do prefer the more traditional style album – chosen images adhered to the page with a matted overlay.
We've taken note but our search for the perfect album that meets our high standards has proved a difficult task.

The only album on the market that came near the mark in our opinion was sourced from New Zealand - a beautiful album, but we felt the 2-3 months our clients would need to wait for their album wasn't acceptable.
Now the award winning suppliers who provide our luxurious Bellissimo, Artemis and Classico albums (here in Scotland) have introduced the Apertura.

As promised, here is an update on our latest Rock the Frock session.
Trash the dress/Cherish the dress photo-shoots have become increasingly popular since their introduction from the States.
Some love the idea and others shudder at the thought of having their dream (and very expensive) wedding gown trailed through mud, soaked in the sea or torn clambering over a tractor or whatever.
We wanted to update our Trash the Dress theme taking it towards a more contemporary/fashion style photo session.
It's a time to relax as a married couple - no worries about keeping guests waiting or dinner being served.
Naomi and Paul were married in Miami - a small family affair.
Naomi loved the thought of wearing her wedding dress again and no wonder - a stunning gown and a gorgeous figure to go with it.
Our search for a suitable location took us through Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ayrshire and we found some lovely venues on route that we'll keep note of. 
We had our shortlist; a friend of a friend's son is head chef at the Malmaison in Edinburgh so we went along to the one in Glasgow to have a look. The moody, stylish atmosphere was just what we were looking for so we arranged the date for 11 April 2010.
We met up with Naomi and Paul at their home, Valerie make-up kit in hand. Naomi and Valerie decided on a soft smoky look in keeping with the theme.
Then it was off to the Malmaison (with some strange looks from the neighbours as we left).
Luckily the Malmaison was very quiet and we virtually had the run of the place.
Only a few guests walked by and offered their congratulations!
Naomi and Paul were super to work with and we're happy with the results.
As a thank you Naomi and Paul were given a CD with their images for them to print and share with family and friends.
A big Thank You also to the staff at the Malmason for allowing us to photograph there and for treating us so well.

Here are a few images of the day. More can be seen in our RTF Gallery.

We had a great day out today with Naomi and Paul at their Rock the Frock photo-shoot at the Malmaison, Glasgow.
Although the weather had taken a turn for the better we had arranged an indoor setting just in case.
We're working on the images and we'll post details soon. 

The Kinnears will soon be celebrating their Ruby Wedding Anniversary.
Their family arranged a portrait session with children and grandchildren as a gift for their special day.
We took some family group shots then some couple and grandchildren photos.
Thumbs up for colour coordination!

March was a busy month - 2 wedding fayres, model make-overs, some family photo shoots, wedding supplier photo shoots, several make-up trials, and Donna and Richard's wedding at Moorpark House.
We've been looking forward to sharing some images of their wedding but waited until the Bride and Groom had first viewing.
Donna and Richard live in the south of England.
Richard is originally from Ireland and Donna was coming home to Motherwell to be married in St Mary's Church.
We'd met with Donna and her mum and sister to discuss her plans but we didn't actually meet Richard until the wedding day.
We started off at the church taking some casual shots of the groom and his men and the guests as they arrived.
It was a windy day and cold but thankfully it stayed dry.
Donna was fashionably late by about 10 minutes but looked stunning as she stepped out of the car.
Unfortunately the minister didn't allow photography during the service so we couldn't capture the exchange of rings.
We had planned to go back in for a re-take but time was short (we had an hour's journey ahead of us to Moorpark House) so Donna and Richard decided we should just move on to Moorpark for the rest of the photos.
It was a long journey but this stunning venue is well worth the effort.
They were a super couple to work with and everyone was so nice.
We wish them a very happy married life together.

Here are a few images of the day. More will be uploaded to the gallery shortly.

Richard is a keen rugby player.

Signing the register in the vestry.

The new Mr & Mrs

Donna at Moorpark House

Moorpark Entrance

At the stained glass window

Beautiful stained glass window.

On the staircase.

In the Drawing Room.

Ladies who lunch.

Tables dressed in blue organza and spring flowers.

The happy couple.

Moorpark House.

We've been working on a few images from an outdoor shoot with Lexi in London.
On-location shoots are so different from studio shoots.
Both are great in their own way and each have pros and cons.
The studio is a more controlled setting - lighting can be adjusted to suit; you can pose your models and take time directing the shot; you have one-to-one contact with your model.
On the other hand on-location lighting conditions can change by the minute (as well as the weather) but you can incorporate a greater variety of backgrounds, spur of the moment/candid shots and a real buzz out in public.
Allan enjoys the challenges of both.

Allan's on a high - just back from a trip to Silverstone for an all-day event where Allan got to drive a Ferrari.
It was a birthday treat for him and he had a ball.
His team came first.
Of course now he wants one.
Maybe if we get some bookings for a few more weddings he can have his wish (lol!!).

Here's Allan driving the Ferrari:

Here's the winning team (Allan's the one in the middle at the front):

"Our wisdom comes from our experience, and our experience comes from our foolishness."

                     - Sacha Guitry

We've long awaited the arrival of this luxurious leather album and we're excited that our own sample album using images from a recent wedding is with the printers as we speak.

Until now, our main albums have been the digital or storybook albums that are extremely popular with today's bride and groom.
However, some couples do prefer the more traditional style album.
We've taken note but our search for the perfect album that meets our high standards has proved a difficult task.

The only album on the market that came near the mark was sourced from New Zealand - a beautiful album, but we felt the 2-3 months our clients would need to wait for their album wasn't acceptable.
Now the award winning suppliers who provide our luxurious Bellissimo, Artemis and Classico albums (here in Scotland!) have introduced the Apertura.

The Apertura album is at the top of the tree when it comes to the ultimate in luxury and quality. The Apertura is a matted overlay album sized 14x14 inches with a maximum of 20 spreads (40 pages) holding up to 80 images. The album cover is constructed using the finest genuine leather sourced from one of the most highly respected tanneries in the country.

Please keep an eye on our News section for availability - we can't wait to show it off!

Last week we photographed 3 lovely girls in the studio.
We've had our fingers crossed all week for good weather as we'd arranged an outdoor shoot with a family of three boys this time.
It was looking hopeful mid-week but by the end of the week we knew it wasn't going to be weather for children running about a park (and keeping clean).
Instead of postponing for what would have been a couple of months, the family decided on a studio shoot.
They were all stars and were just super to work with - not a tear, moan nor groan.
Samuel, the eldest liked helping Allan out with measuring the lighting - a budding photographer?
Some images of the day:

We were back in the studio today for a photo shoot.
We did a photo shoot for Audrey and William and their three lovely girls two years ago and they contacted us again to arrange an update as the girls grow so fast.
Last time it was a home session but this time they opted for the studio.
Allan started with the girls while I did Audrey's make-up then some family group shots.
They were super to work with.      

We always get a buzz out of wedding fayres, meeting people and hearing about their wedding plans - of course it's great when they book our services too and disappointing when we have to let people down because we're already booked.
Another great thing about them is meeting other wedding suppliers.
Today we were chatting to some great new suppliers we thought we'd add to our Links page:

THE WEDDING VOCALIST www.clairesemple.com
Claire has a beautiful voice and offers her services for wedding ceremonies whether in church, or for civil ceremonies.

L&D ENTERTAINMENT www.landdentertainment.com
Singer and DJ for your evening reception.

21cc FIREWORKS www.21ccfireworks.com
Wow your guests with an amazing display, either indoors or out. Very professional - they know their stuff.

As well as exhibiting, Valerie was the make-up artist for the dress designer's models (it was a very busy day).
Dress designer Karen from KAREN KELLY DESIGNS www.KarenKellyDesigns.com was giving a talk on the style of dress suited to each body shape.
The dresses were gorgeous and the models were fabulous to work with (not a "Prima Donna" in sight).
Allan managed to capture some fashion shots for Karen. It's a work in progress but here are a few:

Lee wore an ivory and gold gown.

The brief was a sexy/sassy look so Valerie used gold and black shades of shadow and a sheer red gloss on the lips.

Ellen wore a classic Empire Line gown in ivory with beading.

The make-up was simple golden tones.

Helen wore a 50's style 3/4 length gown in white with a beautiful blue sash.

The make-up was the traditional 50's style winged black liner but with a softer modern young look - rosy cheeks and sheer red gloss.

Fun and funkie was the theme for Penny's gown, a sweet pink long length strapless dress that would suit a young bride, bridesmaid or prom.

Make-up was in keeping with the young funkie look using cranberry, bright pinks and purple for the eyes, rosy pink cheeks and sheer pink gloss.

A soft and feminine style was worn by Moira.

Make-up was kept soft and natural with pale pinks and lilac.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams"

Eleanor Roosevelt

Today was quite a busy day.
Early afternoon we had a photo shoot with Sheena at her home.
Sheena kindly offered to help me out with a "before and after" project I'm working on.
She braved the camera bare faced for some shots before I set to work.
It was just a natural daytime look I was after for the project but Sheena likes her bold colours so we stepped it up a little for the final photo.
Many thanks for being braver than I would be.

                    Before

                   After   

After we left Sheena's it was off for a drive to scout for potential venues for our "Rock the Frock" photo sessions.
We have a few places in mind so watch this space.

Valerie is delighted to have been accepted for membership of BABTAC (British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology).

BABTAC has been the professional face of beauty and holistic therapy for over 30 years. It is the premier UK association for beauticians and therapists and is widely recognised as one of the longest standing and most influential bodies for the industry. On application, potential members’ qualifications are vetted to ensure they meet with national/international requirements, and all work to a rigorous code of ethics and accepted good practices – both in terms of the treatments and therapies they offer and the way they conduct their relationships with their clients.

The BABTAC badge is the sign of confidence. Whenever the BABTAC certificate appears, the public is assured that their therapist is a qualified professional committed to excellence in their field and their continuing development as professionals.

Having your make-up applied professionally on your wedding day is becoming one of the necessities for the bride - an affordable luxury.
So what should you look for in a make-up artist?

Training/experience
Being a professional make-up artist is more than just being good at ‘doing’ make-up.  Make-up artists will be familiar with different application techniques for various face shapes, colouring and age.
 They will know how to make the best of a person’s features with highlighting and shading and what
 colours and tones are best suited to a person’s skin. 
 The professional also needs to be familiar with how different lighting affects the look of make-up. 
 They will have invested time and money training at the hands of experts and in developing their skills. 
 Good hygiene will be standard practice to avoid spreading infection. 
 Disposable mascara  wands, spatulas for removing creams from jars and several sets of clean brushes
 will be staples in their kit.

Insurance
A must for both the make-up artist and client. Ask your make-up artist if they are fully insured for both public liability and professional indemnity. Hopefully it won’t be needed but should the worst happen you will have some form of security. Affiliation with ABT (Associated Beauty Therapists) or BABTAC (British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology) are good signs.

Portfolio
A professional will take pride in their portfolio that demonstrates his/her creative talents.
Look at make-up artists’ websites to see if they have a diverse portfolio of different make-up styles on different skin colours and age groups. They will often have a “book” with headshots of both models and ‘real’ clients.

 Kit
A bride can spend a small fortune on looking good on her special day – dress, tiara, shoes, flowers, underwear. 
Your face deserves the best too. 
 
 This is a day for top-of-the-range cosmetics brands – a treat if you normally use more basic brands and a make-up connoisseur would expect nothing less.

Rapport
Lastly, no matter how good the make-up artist, you have to feel comfortable in their hands.
On your wedding day especially you need someone you feel relaxed with. A glowing bride with a happy smile makes for a good start to the day.

"February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March."

We pride ourselves in giving clients a quality product, whether it's our photography or make-up artistry services.
Included in our photo shoots - portraiture, boudoir, and wedding - is our minor airbrushing service.
Just like the thing, those spots and pimples appear at the most inconvenient times.
Make-up can work wonders at smoothing out imperfections but sometimes there are still tell-tale signs no matter how good the concealer and application.
The bride (or groom or any other member of the bridal party) can be assured they will always look picture perfect with our services.
We can also provide a full airbrushing service if requested - smooth wrinkles, 'clean' nails, slim thighs or 'cover' tatoos.

We also want your album to look neat and well presented so we do pay attention to the minor details.
'No smoking' signs on doors or untidy paths can spoil the look of a beautiful image.
These will all be removed/tidied up in the final editing process before they go in to your album for all to see.

We do also provide digital photographic retouching as a stand alone service.
If you have a photo that you love but perhaps you have a blemish or mark you want taken out or the background tidied up please get in touch and we can advise on what we could do to make the photo better.
Please note, for this service the image must be on digital format, high resolution and you must either own the copyright to the image or have permission from the photographer to alter the image.

Below is an example of how we can improve on a raw image.

Original image

Final airbrushed image


Image has been brightened/colour balanced, cropped to remove untidy background, skin smoothed, blemishes removed and bustline slightly enhanced.

We're just back from our first wedding fayre of the New Year.
Again we started at Hamilton Racecourse which was even bigger and better than last year.
Many thanks to those who stopped by and for the lovely comments on our work.

FreeIndex is a UK business directory which provides in-depth information to consumers. 

Unlike all other UK directories, FreeIndex is under no obligation to promote one company over another. The top listing positions on FreeIndex go to the companies that have the best ratings and reviews from their customers, helping consumers to quickly find the best local service providers as voted for by others.

We are proud to have some great reviews and ratings on FreeIndex.
If you've used our services in the past please visit our ad and let others know how we did.

What a start to the New Year.
The snow made for a lovely Christmas scene but sometimes you can have "too much of a good thing".

The car hasn't been parked in the driveway for days now but we have managed to get out and about.

We stayed with friends over the new year and Allan used the time to take some landscape shots to keep in our library.

Hopefully the snow will clear for our wedding fayre at Hamilton Racecourse in a couple of weeks time.
We'd love to see you there.

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." 

We'd like to wish one and all a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

2009 has been a busy and productive year for us - many thanks to all our clients who booked our services this year.

We look forward to working with our new clients in 2010 whether it's for bridal make-up, weddings, portraits or boudoir photo shoots.

We have some very exciting wedding venues lined up in the new year including Moorpark House, the "Waverley" paddle steamer, Crown Plaza, Eastwood House, Balbirnie House to name a few.

We will be taking a short chill-out break mid January to celebrate Valerie's BIG birthday then we're raring to go.

Again, our good wishes for the Festive Season and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Valerie & Allan xx
(The image for our Christmas card was taken during our New Year's break in Bruge (chocolate heaven!)

It's always reassuring to have someone on hand in the event of an emergency.
Allan takes health and safety very seriously and has successfully completed the HSE approved course in "Emergency First Aid at Work" run by St Andrew's First Aid.
His newly acquired certificate shows he "has demonstrated the competencies required under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) at Work Regulations 1981 - some added piece of mind when you book us for your photography!

"The Blog" seems to be the in thing so here's a flavour of what we've been up to this year.

Allan was delighted to be given three Silver Awards by the  Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers in their recent photography competition.
The categories were:

      Monochrome 

     Portrait Contemporary 

     Children.

"If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble."  ~Bob Hope

Allan took time out to attend another of the Yerbury Workshops, this time on creative wedding images.
This was a great opportunity to network with other professionals and glean some very useful hints and tips that we aim to incorporate in future wedding shoots.
Below are some of the images Allan captured on the day.
Many thanks to Trevor and Faye.

Our final exhibit of the year was at the Old Mill Hotel.
Although it was a cold day we had a good turnout.
Valerie was asked to provide the make-overs for the cat-walk models.
Below are a few images of the lovely gowns they wore.

It was a cold winter's day with a few scattered showers for Lynda and Stephen's wedding.
The day started at 11.30 am with make-up for Lynda and Susan, her Maid of Honour.
Lynda could hardly stay still with nerves and excitment, always up and down making cups of tea and tidying the room.
It was lovely to see her very proud parents' reaction when they first caught a glimpse of their daughter in her dress.
Although the ceremony was late in the day we managed to capture some outdoor shots before going back indoors out of the chill.
Below are a few of our favourites.
Our best wishes to you both.

"Where lipstick is concerned, the important thing is not the colour but to accept natures final word on where your lips end"

The majority of my work as a make-up artist involves working with brides, models and clients wanting a photo shoot so it's good when a challenge comes along.
I received a phone call a few days ago, asking if I was free on 31 Oct. I'd just had a cancellation so was happy to help out thinking it would be a make-up trial - I totally forgot it was Halloween!
Pamela was going out to a halloween party dressed as a "Dark Woodland Fairy" and wanted some help with her make-up.
She had an idea in her mind of what she wanted - green, blacks and golds.
It was good fun trying it out on myself and of course, there was a shopping trip for green lipstick and some sparkly green false lashes.
Unfortunately I didn't get to see Pamela in her full outfit but here's a couple of images of the make-up.
(Brushes are washed ready for a bridal make-up trial tomorrow!)

Allan was down in London again, this time for a photoshoot with actress/model Lexie Lambert  .
It was a hard working day trailing round the streets of London but Lexie was great to work with and they created some stunning images.

"Love is blind; friendship closes its eyes."

In any profession learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change.
At whatever level, knowledge and skills have to be built upon and challenged.
Allan was privileged today to attend a workshop run by the Yerburys, a husband and wife partnership and one of the most talented and creative photographers around - not only are they masters of their craft but nice people too.
Allan came away with new focus and is looking forward to the next Yerbury workshop in November.
Below are some images Allan captured on the day –
Artistic direction: Trevor and Faye Yerbury
Model: Aicha

It was Vivian's photo shoot today.
She decided to wear a smart suit for the session but vamped it up a little by only wearing a lacy red bra underneath and red stilletto shoes (if you've got it - flaunt it!).
Photos will be ready for her birthday in two weeks time.

   "Hey, I've just checked your blog
    and I am liking what I see. 
    Well done to both of you,
    you have made my day."

     x Viv

Today was a beautiful day for an outdoor photoshoot.
We'd arranged the date with Kim and her daughter Olivia several weeks ago in the hope that the weather would be kind.
They were looking for   an autumnal setting where they could wear their cosy coats and hats.
We kept our fingers crossed and after Saturday's rain - what a glorious day!
We chose Pollock Park in Glasgow for the photoshoot and after Kim had her make-over, we headed off.
The girls were fabulous and Olivia had a ball running around and posing (a model in the making).
Here are a few of our favourites.

A husband's last words should always be "OK buy it!"

As well as wedding photography, we've added Valerie's make-up portfolio slideshow to our You Tube channel.
It shows a mix of images form bridal make-up and photo shoots and covers a range of skin tones and ages.
Photography by Allan Tannock

Hope you enjoy.

We've been working on some new slideshows to exhibit to prospective clients.
Our wedding photography slideshow gives an overview of some of our work from recent weddings.
Music for the slideshow is by Ben Edom, who was playing at a recent wedding we covered. He kindly gave his permission for us to use music from his latest album.
If you'd like to hire a very talented guitarist for your wedding you can find him at www.benedom.com.

We're really getting into this techie stuff and you can now find us on You Tube!

It was Maggi's wedding day today.
Maggi called several weeks ago to ask me to do her makeup for her wedding and I was more than happy to oblige.
She decided on soft make-up with beige and blacks for her eyes and nude lips.
We used Chanteceille foundation, Illamasqua sheer lip gloss and some soft black liner brought out the lovely shape of her eyes. Her eyebrows were defined and the look was finished with some Ardell  lashes.
Her bridesmaids were in the traditional Chinese colour of red and we decided on nude eyes with some beige/taupe and strong red lips to complement the dresses.
All the girls were super to work with and looked fabulous as they left.

Today we were exhibiting at Shawlands Park Hotel.
It's a lovely venue for a wedding and there certainly was a buzz about the day.
It was lovely to meet and chat to so many on the day - some just browsing with no firm date in mind and others finalising the last minute bits and pieces.
A big thank you to Balgit & Gary for booking us for their wedding in July 2010 and Erin and Matthew for their wedding in April 2011.

This week we've been working on some photos for a who's who board.
Last year we were asked to photograph the management of a local company for their notice board.
The ladies pulled out all the stops and booked our make-up services too.
They called us back to update the board with some new personnel - always happy to oblige!

Saturday night was party night at our house.
My daughter Ruth is on her travels again!
After living and working in London for three years she’s off to Australia for a year or two.
Always one for an adventure (Antantica is the only continent she hasn’t been to - but watch this space), she’ll join her antipodean friends down under for some travelling and might even fit in some work!
On her visit home we had a surprise Aussie style party.
Australian flag bunting decked the house and thankfully we finally had some summer weather for the barbi.
Take care Ruth, have fun, keep safe and phone home.

We love photographing weddings but it was nice to get back into the studio today.
Kirsten’s boyfriend bought her a photo make-over for her birthday and she came well prepared with ideas for the shoot.
She decided on a theme “the angel and the devil in me”.
Her first outfit was a lovely ivory dress; the make-up was natural golden brown to complement her colouring.
Then it was all change into the little black number and a more glam make-up change - a smoky eye look with blacks and deep purples.
We finished the session off with a boudoir shoot (a present for David!).
The boudoir shoot was a little more revealing but we have a policy of no nudity as we don’t think it’s necessary in order to capture the allure of a woman.
Kirsten was a great model and looked stunning.
She kindly allowed us to display some of her photos on the web.
Below are a couple of our favourites (the boudoir shots can be found under our Boudoir gallery).

I thoroughly enjoy helping brides look their best on their wedding day, whether it's only the bride or the whole wedding party.
As a make-up artist it's especially exciting to work with different nationalities and ethnicities.
Jenny contacted me several months ago to ask me to do her makeup for her wedding.
She is Chinese, originally from New York, living in London and marrying her Scottish husband at Mar Hall in Glasgow.
It was a real cosmopolitan wedding with one Chinese bridesmaid and two Indian Bridesmaids (all from New York) and guests from the States, China and across the UK.
In total 5 for make-up on the day. Jenny looked glowing in her white lace gown and the maids looked very elegant in their plum coloured dresses.
Jenny's mum wanted a very natural look and wore a lovely fuchsia pink dress.
Many thanks for allowing Allan to take some photos before you set off.











 

"Love is blind, friendship closes its eyes"

This month has been all go with weddings, bridal make-up and make-up trials.

It’s been hectic, I’ve even had to arrange some evening appointments for make-up trials but we’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

We stayed local for Fiona and Gary’s wedding on 15^th August.
They were married in St Columbus Church, Uddingston and held their reception at The Moorings Hotel, Motherwell.
Despite the weather forecast it was a lovely day with lots of outdoor photo opportunities.
Fiona was radiant in her elegant gown and Gary wore his Army uniform.
They have chosen an Artemis album to display their photos and we hope they will look back on them with happy memories for many years to come.

We travelled slightly further afield the following week for Andrew and Amanda's wedding in Chirnside.
They and their son Lewis made the long journey over from New Zealand to be married at Chirnside Hall Hotel on 22 August.
Again we were lucky with the weather and Champagne and canapes were served on the lawn.
We travelled down the night before as it was an early start for make-up at 8:45.
We arranged a trial for Mandy and her sisters down in Morpeth a couple of weeks before. It also gave us a chance to chat with the couple about their day.
Mandy chose deep golden colours to complement her ivory dress, Beverly was in golden bronze shades and Alison chose a smokey black look for her Fuchsia pink outfit.

Due to the distance they'll travel. they chose the CD only package for their images.
They'll be able to print them or have them made into a professional album if they choose.

We wish them many happy years together.

Today I was working in Edinburgh as the make-up artist for bride-to-be Kirsty.
Kirsty’s colour theme was ivory and deep purple.
At her trial a few weeks ago we decided on rose/wine shades for Kirsty and golden tones for her bridesmaid Robyn, to contrast with her deep purple dress.
Both wanted a fairly natural look with light foundation coverage for Robyn who doesn’t normally wear much make-up and a medium coverage for Kirsty.
They were a joy to work with and a big thank you for allowing me to take some photos.

Kirsty’s make-up:
Estee Lauder Double wear foundation; Lancome translucent powder, Jane Iredale shadows in Kiss (pale pink), rose wine and supernova (a plum shade); Bobbi Brown blush in washed rose; Lipstick Queen by poppy in pink saint with matching lip liner.

Robyn’s make-up:
Bobbi Brown’s Skin Foundation; Lancome translucent powder, Jane Iredale shadow in beige frost, Urban Decay shadow in scratch and MAC shadow in deep gold; Bobbi Brown blush in washed rose; Lipstick Queen by poppy in pink saint with matching lip liner.

Brushes are now washed ready for Jenny’s trial tomorrow in Glasgow.
It’s an early start as she’s travelled up from London to visit her future in-laws and returns home later in the day.

One thing about me, I absolutely love makeup and how it can boost your confidence in the way you look – whether it’s a touch of tinted moisturiser and lip gloss or the full red carpet glamour.

I’ve loved make-up since I was a little girl playing dressing up with my mum’s rouge and lipstick  and I couldn’t wait to reach an age when I could wear it in earnest.
I think I was about 15 before I was allowed to go out with a little on as it wasn’t “the done thing”! 

I’ve learned a lot since then and developed my own style that I’m comfortable with but I do enjoy “experimenting” with looks and that’s why I love being a make-up artist.

I do admit to being a bit of a make-up snob (in the nicest possible way of course).
I mean, I like quality – the best of the best.
My professional kit as well as my own personal kit is mainly made up of the more expensive brands. I do use products from the budget or mid-range brands, those that I know work well and that I keep as staples but when I’m asked to make-up a bride for example I feel it’s such a special day that you deserves a little luxury.

I thought I’d tell you about a new addition to my kit - Chantecaille (pronounced shon-te-kie).


Chantecaille is the preeminent luxury brand for serious makeup lovers.  (The prices aren’t for the faint hearted but nothing is too good for my brides.)

Created by mother and daughter team, Sylvie and Olivia Chantecaille, this luxurious range is renowned for its natural look. Particularly the Future Skin Foundation, an innovative, oil-free gel foundation with a lightweight texture and adjustable coverage.

I’m quite excited about this range and hope it will find a permanent place in my collection.

We’re all for supporting good causes and when we were asked to take some photos of a sponsored beard-off we had no hesitation.
Ron decided that for his 60^th birthday celebration he would shave off his moustache and beard – with him for over 30 years – to raise funds for Yorkhill Hospital.
The process was relatively pain free (only one nick) until he reached for the aftershave - ooooh that hurt.

Over £300 was raised – well done Ron and Many Happy Returns hair free!

John and Julie were married in Mexico on 18^th June.
It was a very private ceremony with Julie’s mum and dad in attendance.
Not to leave everyone out they had a wonderful post wedding celebration on 4^th July at the Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn when they returned.
Julie had a second opportunity to wear her wedding dress and John is getting his money’s worth out of his kilt.
They were joined by family and friends from as far afield as Australia and we were delighted to be asked to capture their memories of this special day.
The weather was kind to us with sunny spells and the odd drizzle of rain (not quite the weather they had in Mexico).
Their photos will be presented in one of our beautiful Artemis storybook albums.
Below are a few images of the day. You can view more in our wedding gallery.

Valerie is priveledged to be asked to help out brides with their make-up on their wedding day.
It's especially nice to work with brides from far afield.
One such bride was Clodagh Martin from Ireland who was travelling across the water to be married at The Old Blacksmith's Shop in Gretna Green on 5th June.
It wasn't possible for Clodagh and her bridesmaid to have a trial before the day but Valerie gives in-depth consultations with her brides.
We emailed frequently, going over ideas and looking at styles and colours.
Her colour theme was navy and cream so we opted for soft smokey deep blue eyes set off with false lashes.
She looked lovely - a really happy bride on her day.

Congratulations Mrs Angel (what a lovely name!)

Lisa turned sweet 16 and celebrated in style on 1st May with friends and family.
We were delighted to be asked to photograph the event.
Valerie did Lisa's make-up before the limo arrived.
It was a great night and everyone was in the party spirit.
Here are a few shots of the evening.

During a trip to London we met up with Cialone for an outdoor shoot.
It was a lovely sunny day in Woolwich Arsenal.

Valerie is always keen to update her skills as a make-up artist and attended a two day training course with Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup.
This is a lovely range of mineral makeup and is included in Valerie's kit.
It is a bit different to the usual brands of makeup - the foundation is in powder form, loose and pressed and there is a technique to applying this make-up.
It was great to meet and chat with other professionals and Valerie successfully completed the course and proudly displays her Certificate in "MASTERCLASS in Special Event/Bridal Makeup" on the wall in the office.

David and Lynne were married on 7 February at the Strathaven Hotel.
The weather was cold but the light falling of snow made for a beautiful scene.
Lynne was stunning in her ivory dress but kept in mind the time of year with a beautiful ivory cape with fur-lined hood.
Her 15 year old son walked his mum down the isle, which was very moving.
Best wishes to you both.

Our first wedding fayre of the year was held at Hamilton Park Racecourse - a venue close to our hearts (this is where we had our own post wedding celebration in September 06).
We enlisted the help of the lovely Ashley, the current Miss Glasgow who we've worked with before on photoshoots..

Thanks to all for the lovely comments and a special thanks to those who booked us for their special day.