Susie Swanson SDM Photography

I totally loved Emelie and Jame's wedding. The only guests were the couples parents who didn't actually know the wedding was taking place that day. They were sent on a treasure hunt which ended by them boarding a plane, not knowing why or where they were going! When they arrived at the airport they were met by a taxi and whisked off to a 5 star location, there they were greeted by champagne and invitations to the wedding. I was hired to photograph the deception and It was fun to be a part of and a great start to the wedding day!

My style is very unobtrusive & relaxed with a natural feel and above all else I would describe my work as honest.

I am very proud I have been in business for over 15 years in a very competitive market but most of all I am so happy people trust me to capture such an important day in their lives and honoured to be a part of it all and witness so many happy times.

The best advice I have is to hire a professional when it comes to your photos. You will only appreciate the importance of the photographs once the wedding is over. They preserve everything, the cake, the flowers, the dress and most importantly the memories. It is a big risk and mistake to leave such an important task to an amateur. I have never heard anyone regret hiring a professional photographer but sadly I hear all to often that people regret taking the cheep or free option.

I love the relaxed simple weddings. One couple married on a beach special to them in a skeleton of a boat wreak. It was tiny wedding but one of the nicest ones I have had the pleasure of photographing. Tiny details also really stand out to me like sentimental items being incorporated into the day or amazing thoughtful gifts given to the bride from the groom on the morning of the wedding but more so the notes they leave would often have me crying behind my camera!

This is a hard question for me. The photographs I love are the ones that happen by chance and not staged or planned. As long as the images capture the joy and emotions of the day then those images are priceless. Don't get hung up on a big list of must have photos because when you are busy making sure they are captured there could be amazing images being missed. But one image that is fun and often overlooked is the confetti shot! Some weddings guests don't think to take confetti so it might be an idea to supply it for them so you know you have enough for a spectacular shot with tons of confetti!

Umbrellas and a laid back bride! Rain shouldn't put a dampener on your wedding day. Don't worry about the little things you can't control. The best and most fun images I have taken are under umbrellas. One bride that will always stay in my memory was a bride called Fiona. She married on 07/07/07 and it turned out to be the worst day of the summer that year. It lashed of rain and I wasn't up for going outside but she insisted she wanted photos in the garden. So the umbrellas came out and a guest had to hold one above me while I worked. As Fiona & Jim walked back up the garden they threw the umbrellas away. With the rain pouring down they smiled and enjoyed the rain. Not all brides would do this though and its the couple who call the shots, if its raining and they want to stay inside, we stay inside, no problem.

I was always into Art from a young age, really only excelling in those subjects at school. After achieving a place at Grey's College of Art in Aberdeen I decided instead to study Photography at Aberdeen College. After that I started doing photography in my local area for 4 years part time then full time and I guess the rest is history!