The Jolly Photographer 📷 Beautiful & Timeless

Gosh that's hard to separate out one. I think I can remember every wedding I've photographed like it was yesterday. There have been so many wonderful occasions at such a variety of wonderful locations. There's not one I didn't love :) From the simplest to the most glamorous affairs they are made by the wonderful couples, friends and families that have been kind enough to invite me into their day.

Honest, memorable, emotional, storytelling, caring

I think it has to be the wonderful feedback I receive from my clients. I am humbled by the responses I receive and am so grateful that each of them has chosen me to record their day.

Know that everything will be OK no matter what happens :) All of your planning, designing, calls, meetings, dress fittings, spreadsheets and so much more will come together on the day and it will be great. Trust me - I have attended weddings that were hit by gales and torrential rain, where the car broke down on the way to the church, where wine was spilled all over the dress ... the tears and upset are fleeting because you are surrounded by those that love you and all problems are fixed. (I've even been known to grab a mop and clear glass from the dance floor!) My no.2 tip is ... Ask your photographer for advice! Us photographers spend more time at weddings than any other supplier and we know them inside out :)

A beautiful memorial to a lost brother, placed so that he could be present on his big sister's special day.

Video calls and telephone calls to get to know each other and if there's a fit then we meet up in person where ever possible. I always have a venue visit with the couple to walk through the day, give any advice they want and finalise our plans. I keep in touch leading up to the day and I usually start my day (having set up any lighting needed at the venue first) with the bride or one of the couple while they get ready while my assistant is with the other half :) I am with the wedding then throughout the day. I normally take a short break during the wedding breakfast and grab a bite to eat. I stay into the night and have great fun getting into the middle of the dance floor and when my feet can't take any more I call it a day having said my goodbye's to everyone. About 4 weeks after the wedding I pay a visit to the couple and we watch the photofilm I've produced and go through the rest of the pics. Afterwards I share the online version of the photofilm and gallery of images to share with friends and relatives. There's no hard sell from me btw. If you want albums and prints then I'm happy to accommodate but there's no pressure to have them. After that I am always glad to hear how their lives are shaping and evolving together. Sometimes I later get to photograph them as a family too!

The one that makes you warm inside when you look at it. The formal portraits are put on desks or parent's mantel pieces, but the candid moments between a couple are often the ones that end up in a wallet, on a phone background or on a bedside cabinet :)

Proof that Scots wear nothing under their kilts ... that one didn't make the wedding album 🤣

They're great! Everyone comes together and the atmosphere is brilliant. We'll have a plan B for taking any formal photos indoors.

I was 9 and my school had a brilliant teacher called Mr Wilkinson who ran a photography club and encouraged me to join. My dad had been a keen enthusiast photographer and supported my keen interest and also bought me my first 'proper' camera. My folks also allowed me to convert a room into a permanent darkroom. I carried on developing (excuse the pun) my photographic skills eventually taking my first paid job in 1994 and I've never looked back :)