one, two... miss a few...

Way back at the beginning of 2011 I gave myself the (not so challenging) challenge of my own version of the 365 project. I simplified it a little by giving myself the '365/7' task of photographing and blogging different images once a week in the hope to create a visual diary of 2011.

Initially, the reason I wanted to do it weekly was to take the weight off me a little. As well as working full-time, I was going to be shooting weddings, engagement shoots and portrait shoots at weekends! What I didn't bank on was that a week after posting my first 365/7 post my life was going to change forever... Paul and I found out that we were expecting our first baby!

So my 365/7 project started well and, okay, a few of my blog posts were a little on the 'late' side but amongst all the madness I was determined to keep it up.

Then 2011 really kicked in... we sold our house, found a new house, prepared for our new arrival, shot tons of weddings (right up until I was 8 and a half months pregnant) and I was STILL working full time...it eventually took its toll and my 356/7 project was put well and truly on the back burner.

It weighed on my mind that I hadn't been keeping up the challenge that I set myself, but on the 5th October when our beautiful daughter Marni was born, I had to admit defeat...there were just more important (and wonderful) things to take care of.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is 2011 was a crazy year and basically I've only blogged half the images to prove it. So, I wanted to make my first post of 2012 a little reflection on 2011.

2011 was such an important year for me professionally and personally. I've grown as a person in every way. Lots of great things have happened. Mainly, I'm now running my own business and after graduating with a degree in photography 10 years ago, I finally feel like I am putting my degree to good use!

However, by far the most important thing that has happened this year is I now have a little family. Like I said, it's been a helluva year!

Thanks to everyone who has supported me this year and to all the amazing couples who's weddings I have photographed and have yet to photograph and even to those I've yet to meet...I can't wait to be part of your day.

Next year I plan to photograph more weddings, more portraits, more fashion...in fact, just more! But I'm not going to get hung up on any project, I'm just going to make it happen.

So that was 2011, here's to an amazing 2012.

and last but not least, my wee family...

365/7 - week twenty nine

This weekend one of my best friends was up from London to visit me. Normally when Ynika comes to stay we head into Glasgow for a night out, do a bit of shopping, go for dinner etc. However since alcohol is off the menu for me at the moment and early nights are what now get me excited, we thought we'd make the most of the daylight hours and the good weather!

We headed up to Loch Lomond for the day and ventured out on a boat. Ynika, being a Londoner born and bred, was overwhelmed with the scenery and after several visits to Glasgow when it's normally raining or snowing, finally believes that we do get a summer.

The sky and water were so blue and gorgeous I couldn't resist adding a few more photos to this post...

Grace & Warren...woodland wedding

Back in June I ventured far into the woodlands of Dumfrieshire to photograph the wedding of Grace & Warren.

Grace and Warren's wedding is probably the most unusual wedding I've photographed to date. There were elements of tradition along with international music and dancing (Zimbabwean mbira musicians and traditional eastern European dancing), cake parades, a guest procession, children in fancy dress...all set within a beautiful mystical forest.

They had chosen the Marthrown of Mabie to get married as friends, who were traditional craftsmen, had thatched the roof of the gorgeous Celtic age roundhouse that's located there. It was set within a spot high in Mabie forest amongst a large clearing with tipis and the roundhouse as the central point... it was stunning... especially when the rain stopped!

Although the ceremony was held in the roundhouse, thanks to some 'well-timed' breaks in the cloud Grace & Warren were lucky enough to have the cake parade, cake eating! and speeches all outdoors as intended...phew!

Grace and Warren really wanted me to capture everything that was going on as much as possible, they wanted a real focus on their guests and all the effort and contributions that everyone had made for their wedding day. It meant I was one 'helluva' busy lady, but it was worth it...there was just SO much to photograph!

I love seeing how people approach their weddings so differently and make it fit who they are. Anyone else thinking of doing  things a little differently on their big day, I say go for it... then give me a call to be your photographer ;) x