Kim & Graeme, St Mirin's Cathedral, Paisley, and the Glynhill Hotel

Kim and Graeme were married at the St Mirin Cathedral in Paisley, after renovations last year, this cathedral is as beautiful as ever, a perfect place to get married and a lovely place for photographs, rain or shine.

As the car turned the corner and came to a stop, we caught a glimpse of Kim through the side window, she was just gorgeous and the Imperial from MET Wedding cars, was the perfect chariot for this princess!

After the ceremony, we stopped at Robertson park for some special photos with the bride and groom. It is always nice to get time with the bride and groom alone, no matter how short, they just seem to relax when not under the pressure of the whole family watching them! After the speeches and the meal, we also had the opportunity to take this beautiful evening photo Kim and Graeme when they were even more relaxed - don't you think its beautiful?

There are photographers who have left the wedding business, claiming it to be too stressful, too much work for not enough reward. This was certainly not the case today, what a joy, such lovely people, a beautiful venue for a ceremony and an absolutely stunning smiling happy bride! It is such a pleasure to be involved in wedding days like these!

Kim, Graeme, you were a pleasure to work with, enjoy the honeymoon and I hope you like these sample images.

Thank you also to MET Wedding cars, and especially to Neil who is ever helpful and always the perfect gentleman! 

Sandy

sandy@specialdaymemories.co.uk

www.specialdaymemories.co.uk

0141 884 2250

Colette and Sandy, St. Andrews Cathedral and the Old Fruitmarket

I was very excited to photograph Colette and Sandy's wedding, not only was Colette the winner of our Royal Concert Hall competition last year, but she and Sandy were getting married at St Andrews Cathedral and then on to the Old Fruitmarket, stopping at Glasgow Green for photographs! Nothing could be a more iconic, historic Glasgow wedding!

And the day did not disappoint. The sun split the sky, warmest day of the year by far, a lovely summer's day. St Andrews Cathedral is simply stunning, so beautiful since the renovations, and the memorial garden adds that wonderful mixture that you find in Glasgow; the modern architecture nestling sympathetically within the grounds of  ancient historical buildings. The Old Fruitmarket is also lovingly restored and now adds a very different function space to the Merchant City.  A great venue for a wedding reception.

Glasgow Green was Colette and Sandy's local park and so was a special place for the couple. On this fine summer's day, it was full of local colour, as they say!  It also provided us with some more stunning backgrounds and lovely much needed shade, allowing some more fun and personal images.

It was great to see Sandy put on his shades, take his jacket off, and relax. Colette was beautiful, bubbly and full of fun, just as she always seems
to be.

Colette and Sandy, thank you both so much for allowing me to share your special day.

Sandy

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk
www.facebook.com/sandrakeddiephotography

0141 884 2250

Amanda & Jason, Piersland House Hotel, Troon



As I have mentioned previously, I am not doing many weddings this year. But I was really looking forward to being part of Amanda and Jason's special day. It is always lovely to work with an adventurous couple who really want photographs. I know we need to get pictures of family groups and the bridal party. We also need to get traditional "couple" shots. Anything else is really what the couple wants. And they wanted photographs!

We had a wonderful day at the Piersland House Hotel in Troon. The weather was a bit erratic - Scotland, seaside, what do you expect - with bright sunshine, heavy showers and blowing gales, at one point all at the same time!. So what did Amanda and Jason decide to do? Play it safe and go indoors? No ... we got out the umbrellas for the showers and then after the meal we went down to the beach and joined the kite surfers! Fantastic, and they were rewarded with some great images. Amanda, Jason, congratulations again, please enjoy this sample, I hope it reminds of your wonderful, wild day.

Sandra

www.specialdaymemories.co.uk

sandy@specialdaymemories.co.uk

0141 884 2250

City Centre photography

Part of my plan for this year is to extend myself and my photographic ability, and last week I spent a wonderfully creative evening out in the City Centre of Glasgow with my good friend and colleague Stephen Sinclair and our lovely model, Caroline. 

We took some amazing shots of Caroline in and around Merchant City, starting off under the arches of the City Chambers building.

Glasgow is a beautiful city, with some fantastic architecture and the evening lights only emphasise the strong lines of the stonework. Caroline's gorgeous pose looked stunning, creating very sexy lines against the dark grey stonework of the city, giving me some great fashion shots.

We also used this shoot to test some new lights and lighting techniques. Stephen who is my main video camera operator when we are filming weddings, was a great help with the video light and balancing this light with off-camera flash gave us some amazing affects. I think I have created some of my best images during winter weddings in Scotland where shooting in low light is not a choice but a necessity, but a model shoot such as this gives us a great opportunity to experiment, and that we did!

Thank you Caroline and Stephen for being part of this evening and for helping produce some great shots.

For more of my art images stay in touch on www.facebook.com/sandrakeddiephotography and to see more of Stephens film work go to my Vimeo page

2013 starts with an award

At the start of a new year I like to take time to evaluate my business and make those big grown up decisions about where everything is going and how its going to flow for the next 12 months.

Following 6 very succesful years in the business of weddings, I have decided that 2013 is going to be a bit different. I have decided to make this a development year; an interesting, experimental time with lots of variation to extend my skills as a photographer and also the portfolio of my business. 

I am still going to take on a few weddings - I think I would miss those special days too much to give them up completely - but not as many as in the past years, giving myself time to create beautiful things, look after my special customers and to grow as a person and as a business.

Developing art images featuring my clients is something that I love doing and I am certainly going to do more of this, and starting this year with an award is an absoulute bonus for me. This art image, based on a well known Banksy mural, won me a Highly Commended award - the second highest award in the monthly competition. To see more of my Digital Art images for my clients go to Sandra Keddie Photography and if you want some of these great pieces of wall art, featuring You, then hurry along and give me a call...now is your opportunity!

 

Sandra Keddie xx

www.sandrakeddiephotography

Happy New Year!

So the new year has gone past with a flash and we are into February already. My studio has been so busy over the last 2 months and  with many of my brides only choosing their wedding album pictures in December I have been run off my feet designing albums and with processing studio shoots.Not that I am complaining about being busy!  The studio is a refreshing change especially at this time of year when the light is so low outside. I have been doing family sessions, new born baby sessions, product photography and some Fine Art Shoots. It has been so varied, I have just loved it!

My studio was properly completed last year and its taken a while for me to have time to promote it, but its working so well now. It's great to come out of the studio with perfectly lit (award winning!) photos. I have had many comments on how personal and relaxed it feels for clients to be welcomed into a warm and cozy studio . . . I feel it's just how a photographic studio session should be. The great thing about my studio is that it's local to Paisley centre but also only 15 minutes by car from Glasgow city centre or 10 mins by train. We offer a personal pick up service from either Gilmour Street or Hawkhead train station, then 5 minutes to our door where a lovely cup of coffee or a glass of bubbly will be waiting for you. If you come by car, easy parking is available right opposite.

 

When it comes to your shoot, this is only limited by your imagination (or mine if you like), from simple portrait sessions in the studio starting from £25, family sessions indoors or out, newborn baby, children, pets, boudoir  and fine art.

 

Here are 2 newborn baby photos from my studio sessions, but you can see more photos and keep in touch on my facebook page too, where I regularly run special offers.

Denise & Gavin - Moorpark House

Its always a pleasure to be invited back to photograph brides from the same family, not only to be able to see friendly faces, but also it is a great compliment to me and one which I take quite seriously.  While Denise and Gavin chose to get married at Moorpark House in a warm winter festive atmosphere, Denise's sister and bridesmaid, Lynn was married to Graham on a very wet summers' day in 2010. Two  quite different days, especially from a photography perspective, the dark winter days give photographers quite a challenge, but not one that I don't enjoy rising to, especially with an adventurous bride & groom like Denise & Gavin! 

Denise & Gavin were fabulous, relaxed from the start and full of fun. They really pushed the boundaries, going outside for late evening photos despite the wet and freezing conditions. This 10 minute venture gave us the opportunity to capture some really magical images reflecting the atmosphere of their special day. 

Denise looked beautiful and, like her sister, had a wonderful  playful way about her. The two girls were great together while getting ready, joking and laughing just like you imagine sisters should be, and so it was no surprise to us when we captured this portrait of Denise, showing just a hint of her wonderful mischievousness.

We have to give a special thanks to Jackie & Graham from Moorpark House who went out of their way to help us and to make sure that we could do our job swiftly and easily - thank you!

What a lovely wedding day to end our year! Denise and Gavin, I hope that you enjoyed your wedding day and these taster images.

Sandy
www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk
www.specialdaymemories.co.uk
Find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/specialdaymemories

Emma & Gordon -The Caledonian, Edinburgh

Emma and Gordon had a wonderful celebration at The Caledonian in Edinburgh and we just loved being part of their special day. This grand old hotel is luxurious inside and the distinguished oak panelled ceremony room was no exception, with its distinguished feel it was just perfect to show off the beautiful rich colours of the bridal party. Emma looked stunning in her soft flowing wedding gown, and together with Gordon they made a gorgeous couple, blending into the magnificent Victorian surroundings with ease.  

As expected on a wintry December day, we spent a lot of time photographing indoors, but this former Railway Hotel nestles in the shadow of the historic Edinburgh Castle and so we felt it was absolutely necessary to brave the wet and cold to get this magical photograph of the Castle lighting up the skyline behind the couple. Well worth the 5 minute session outside.

Emma and Gordon, I hope that you enjoyed the rest of your evening in these wonderful surroundings and in the mean time also, these taster images.

Sandy
www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk
www.specialdaymemories.co.uk

Margo & Anthony - Kincaid House Hotel

Margo and Anthony celebrated their wedding at the Kincaid House Hotel on the 18th of August 2012.  Margo looked stunning in her wedding gown that fell gently onto the floor in small soft train. Anthony was so proud to have her by his side and they looked just wonderful together. 

Margo's two bridesmaids, her daughter and her niece, looked beautiful too, in their black dresses softened with cream sashes.

Their celebration was blessed with a warm and sunny day and so the guests relaxed outside in the gardens of the Kincaid House Hotel while we went about our business of taking photographs. Amy, the Event Manager was, as usual, very helpful and well organised, such a pleasure to deal with. 

We are spoilt for choice for photograph locations at this versatile venue and so it is always difficult to know which images to publish, but I hope you like the 3 images I have chosen here as a taster of their day. 

Margo and Anthony, I hope that you enjoy these few images while you wait for the rest. 

Sandy
www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk
www.specialdaymemories.co.uk

Katie & Allan

What a lovely happy day for Allan and Katie who celebrated their ceremony with close family and special friends.The sun shone and love was definitely in the air. It is clear that Allan and Katie were made for each other, the love and happiness that they shared was obvious and every moment they could, they would share a tender moment, a laugh or just a knowing smile.

When we left them at the Giffnok Ivy where they were booked in for their meal, we skipped away with a lovely warm feeling in our hearts

We captured this photo of Euan signing the bridal party register at the end of the cermony, a role he took very seriously! 

Allan and Katie, we have so many beautiful images, thank you for  being so relaxed with each other and making our job a pleasure on the day. Here are 2 taster images for you to enjoy while you wait for the rest.

Sandy
www.specialdaymemories.co.uk

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

Judith & Stuart, 21 July 2012, Dalmeny Park Country House Hotel

We had a lovely day celebrating Judith and Stuarts wedding day at Dalmeny Park Country House Hotel on one of our few dry warm summers days that this year has given us. Everybody relaxed outside with their drinks and although it was difficult to keep people together for the group photographs, it made for a very relaxed and sociable occasion.

Stuart looked striking in a unique green jacket and kilt to match, and Judith looked beautiful in an A-line dress covered in a soft lace and finished with silk flower on the side of her waist. Judiths bridesmaids were lovely in long black dresses and the flower girls and page boy finished off the handsome bridal party. 

We photographed Judiths sisters wedding 2 years ago and so it was lovely to see so many familiar faces again and to see the wee ones growing up. It really is an honour to be referred and recommended and I am so pleased that Judith also asked me to photograph her wedding too. 

As usual, Bill and Charlie, the Dalmeny Park Hotel event managers were absolutely wonderful and very supportive, keeping me in the loop at all times. At this point, I would also like to mention the Classic Scottish Wedding Car company who were extremely helpful on the day too, its a pleasure to work with suppliers in the industry who go out of their way to assist each other in making everything on the wedding day run smoothly. 

Judith and Stuart, I hope that you have had a wonderful honeymoon and that you enjoy these 2 taster images  while you wait for your final images to go online. 

Sandy

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

www.specialdaymemories.co.uk

and yet again, the hotel's service and support were outstanding.

Deborah & David, Coates Memorial and The Lynnhurst

6 years of photographing weddings in Paisley and finally I got to photograph a wedding in the Thomas Coates Memorial Church. What a simply beautiful building. There can be few 19th century buildings more stimulating and exciting, or more worthy of sensitive restoration than Thomas Coats Memorial Church. The attention to detail throughout the building is astonishing and the quality of craftsmanship astounding. The "cathedral" was first opened in 1894. A revival of Gothic architecture on the grandest scale, the building, designed by Hippolyte Blanc, can seat a thousand people. 

Deborah and David had a very wet wedding day; one of the worst days in the wettest 3 months recorded in the UK since 1923! We got very few photographs outside, even our huge umbrellas were tested to the limit as the rain came in sideways! But photographs still went ahead and we made the most of every indoor opportunity and outdoor shelter. We were forced to get a bit more creative but with Deborah and David, this was easy, they were keen to participate and eager to get good images on their wedding day. This enabled us the opportunity to create some wonderful images, like this one of Deborah in the doorway of the church. 

Deborah looked stunning, and her and David made a gorgeous couple. Lets not also forget the five bridesmaids who were sensational in electric  blue, with contrasting gerbera posies and the best man and ushers who also scrubbed up really well.!! Everyone was wonderful on the day, managing to smile and laugh despite the wet and nobody allowed the  dampness to take the shine out of the day. Thank you everyone!!

Deborah and David, I hope you enjoy these images. More coming soon!!

Sandy

www.specialdaymemories.co.uk

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

Loch Lomond Weddings

As regular readers of this blog will know, I love Loch Lomond and the surrounding area, and I really love working at the many wonderful wedding venues that the National Park has to offer. The scenery is just stunning, a really amazing sense of atmosphere, a real sense of Scottishness, if you know what I mean. Which is why I have chosen to team up with Your Wedding at Loch Lomond, a lovely website with a great list of suppliers for all beautiful brides who want that stunning loch side view. They can be found at the link below.

Sandy

Kyle & Andrew, 1 June 2012

What a lovely sunny day for Kyle and Andrew when they were married in the St James Church in Paisley. 

Kyles flower girl was full of smiles and excitement on the day and gave me this wonderful opportunity for a photograph which I just couldn't resist from showing you here.

Kyle looked absolutely stunning in her dress, with her hair falling loosely around her shoulders. Her purple bridesmaid and accent colours were beautiful indoors and outside in the sunshine. 

Together Kyle and Andrew made a very handsome couple and while Andrew was not looking forward to being photographed on his wedding day he managed to relax long enough for us to get some truly wonderful photographs of them both. Thank you Andrew.

Kyle and Andrew finished their day in the Iconic Paisley Town Hall where the decorations and atmosphere in the reception room was enough to take our breath away. 

Sandy

www.specialdaymemories.co.uk

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

Scott and Katherine, Park Circus

Scott and Katherine had a lovely wedding ceremony at the Park Circus Wedding Rooms in Glasgow. It was lovely to see Scott's face lght up when Katherine walked into the ceremony room and the depth of emotion and feelings between these two people were obvious to everyone there, especially when they read their own vows which they wrote for each other. 

Park Circus is beautiful and always lends itself to stunning images inside, on the balcony, on the landing and in the conservatory. It is also within walking distance of Kelvingrove Park where we took some lovely family photos and also some great relaxed photographs of Scott and Katherine too. 

The couple finished their celebrations in a beautifully decorated private venue room at the Marriott hotel, only a 5 minute drive away. 

Scott and Katherine, please enjoy these taster images while you wait for the rest. 

Sandy

www.specialdaymemories.co.uk

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

Louise and Craig, Kincaid House Hotel, 25 May 2012

Its been a while since I photographed at Kincaid House Hotel, and when we photographed Louise and Craig's special day, I was reminded why it still remains one of my favourite wedding venues. Tucked away in a small woodland in Milton of Campsie, this venue has a wonderful variety of opportunities for a wedding couple. Amie, the event manager was extremely well organised and the reception room looked beautiful with all the décor and style that so typically reflected Louise's unique and refreshing individuality.

Louise and Craig had their ceremony outside on this gorgeous warm and sunny day and then chose to have their evening reception in the conservatory, where they soaked in the the last rays of sunshine during their first dance. What a way to finish off a beautiful spring evening. 

During the day, we took advantage of as many opportunities for photography that this venue could give us, and after the ceremony, we started with a picture of the wedding car, a wonderful panel-van done up in beautiful cream leather on the inside, a drive down the avenue, followed by a walk into the woodland before returning to the gardens of this lovely hotel for the family formals and some fun photographs which kept both the guests and the wedding couple well entertained for the afternoon!

Louise and Craig, you were a fabulous fun couple. Here are some taster images from your special day, enjoy!!

Sandy
Special Day Memories
Sandra Keddie Photography

Donna & James, 12 May 2012, Luss

I am sure you have heard the song that goes "on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond". One of the most stunning features of Paisley and Glasgow, apart from all the history, culture and architecture of those places is the access to the most amazing scenery, relatively close by. 30 minutes sees you in the some of the best countryside in Scotland, and some of the most spectacular has to be the national park area around Loch Lomond, with the imposing feature of Ben Lomond in the background. As a wedding venue a couple are spoiled for choice in this area, with a broad range of choice from the very picturesque Duck Bay Marina to the grand setting of Cameron House Hotel.

Donna and James chose the Lodge on Loch Lomond, in the picturesque village of Luss. This village is a photographers dream - if the weather holds fair!! As I have said before, think about your venue and imagine a wet weather day: is there somewhere to take photographs, where will your guests mingle, is there any intimate little corner to escape to? Because if the weather clags in, sometimes nobody is stepping outside...least of all a girl in a lacy white dress and veil!!

Fortunately it was definitely Donna and James's lucky day, their beautiful sunny wedding day in Luss was a pleasant surprise between 2 wild, wet and stormy days.  After their ceremony they were able to walk along the beach with their bridal party led by the pipes and drums of - wait for it, Drums and Roses!! (as seen on Britains got Talent). The bridal party looked so smart with the boys in grey and black and the girls in a stunning peppermint green, all set off by the stunning backdrop of the Ben and loch.

Photographs on the beach, on the pier, looking out onto Ben Lomond, on the wee wooden bridge, we managed to do a huge amount in the time available. Donna, James, please enjoy these taster images, with lots more to come.

Sandy
www.specialdaymemories.co.uk
www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

David and Xu, Pollok House, 27 April 2012

David and Xu chose a lovely, mostly dry, day for their wedding at Pollok House which was a small family affair with a few close friends. Although their theme was traditionally Scottish, there was no mistaking Xu's chinese influence in the decorations tastefully placed in both the ceremony and in the dining room  

Xu arrived in style in her Rolls Royce which looked fabulous parked out in front of the grand old house, where we spent a lovely afternoon taking both formal and fun photographs. However, we didn't forget how beautiful the inside of the house can be, and so when we felt a brief spatter of rain, we went into the house to take yet more photographs. What a variety this grand old mansion offers for photography!

David and Xu, you both looked fabulous on your wedding day. I hope you enjoy these taster images while you wait for the rest. 

Sandy

Special Day Memories

Sandra Keddie Photography

Kerrie and Craig, 22 April 2012

This has been my busiest April ever. And what beautiful weddings I have had. Dalmeny Park House Hotel, where Kerrie and Craig were married, still remains one of my favourite venues. The blossoms are only just coming out on the trees now, but the grounds are stunning already, and there is a great deal of variety. Dalmeny Park also has some very good wet weather alternatives, always worth thinking about when choosing a wedding venue in Scotland.

Although Kerrie's brothers were not part of the official bridal party, they were also dressed in the kilt of the day and so when Kerrie and Craig asked for this family photograph to be taken, walking across the lawn, I thought it was a great idea! Definitely one for a frame in the family home. 

Kerrie and Craigs' wee boy was also a very special part of their day and was included in most of the group photographs but even managed to work his way into our hearts by taking part in some private Bride and Groom photographs too.

I don't normally present as many as 4 photos on a blog entry, but I couldn't leave out this beautiful portrait of Kerrie, who looked absolutely stunning in her wedding gown and this one of Craig, who looked the part in full highland rig.

Kerrie and Craig, I hope that you enjoy these taster images.

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk / www.specialdaymemories.co.uk

Natasha and Joseph, Watermill Hotel, 20 April 2012

What a wonderful happy day for Natasha and Joseph, who were married in St Mathews Church in Paisley and then they had their reception at the nearby Watermill Hotel.

Although the weather was forecast for rain, we had plenty of time for a fabulous photoshoot, soaking up the architecture of Paisley and making best use of Natasha's favourite cherry blossom trees, which are in full bloom near the Town Hall.

Natasha relaxed after her ceremony and we really made the most of the time before their meal at the Watermill taking some wonderful photographs.

Marion the event manager was well organised and greeted us with her usual smile. The Ballroom was, as always, lovely and bright, and was decorated in turquoise and white to match the bridal party.

Natasha and Joseph, I hope you enjoy these taster mages and you can look forward to the rest when you get back from your honeymoon.

Sandy
www.specialdaymemories.co.uk
www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk