I can’t believe how quickly this ‘Summer’ has passed.
But here I was on Saturday morning, sitting having my cup of coffee at my folks
house in Rogart trying to wake myself up for the long day ahead.

I was due to meet Robyn and the girls around 9am at Ospisdale House near Dornoch.
The plan was to begin the day with some preparation shots of the bridal party getting ready…
and getting ready they certainly were!!

High Spirits

The girls were all in good form and you could tell they were all excited and eagerly
looking forward to the day ahead – when I say excited, I may mean slightly tipsy!!
The drinks were certainly flowing and I was finding it hard to resist offers to join them in their
early celebratory antics. But ever the professional… eherm…, I continued on trying to look for wee moments
that would make a great image.

Biscuits

It didn’t take long to find some great focal points to shoot.
One was Robyn and Paul’s pet dog Biscuits – a cute wee terrier type dog (excuse my canine ignorance) who was
wearing a wee bow-tie and collar for the occasion. I think he enjoyed wandering round the large, stately house
and but for a few “anyone seen biscuits?!” was on guard for the duration.

As the morning wore on, the drinks continued to flow and the atmosphere
continued to be light and jovial with no signs of nerves from the bride or her bridesmaids.
Not even Liz – Mother of the Bride was showing any signs of nerves -
if anything, she was taking it all in her stride!

It was getting close to the arrival of the groom as the make-up was being applied and the
final blasts from the hairspray can were being fired.

Finally Robyn and the girls were all ready and it was time to put on the dresses, slip on the shoes
and ‘head for the aisles’. Robyn had her dress made by Freja Designer Dressmaking
- an award-winning boutique company based in Edinburgh.
Being a bloke, I’m no expert on dresses, but I’d say Robyn’s was a very elegant number with lace blah,
blah, well, just look at the photo!!

The Service

Paul & Robyn had hired out a marquee for the service – which for me was great as there was plenty of
natural light flooding in for shooting in. It was quite strange shooting a wedding where I knew
alot of the family – basically, although not related to the Bride or Groom, Robyn’s step-father
is my cousin – Jeremy and so there were Uncles & Aunties and cousins and second cousins
within the wedding party.

Not only that, but my Dad was the minister who was conducting the ceremony and so in keeping
with tradition, my mother (Minister Wife) was also present.

Anyway, that didn’t deter me from doing my job and so I continued.

Group Shots

The ceremony was soon over and everyone wandered back to the House for a
champagne reception. Now it was time to really get going.

I took out my list of who’s who for family shots and then began the ever-gruelling job of trying
to locate people whilst keeping others near at hand for the group shots.
It’s times like this that I can see why alot of Photographers bring assistants to weddings
to help them out…but hey!!, I got there in the end with the help of Robyn & Paul and
some frantic running about.

Mac

Mac is Robyn’s brother and my second cousin and was one of the stars of the day, well, apart from
the bride & groom obviously, oh and maybe just pipped into 3rd place by biscuits the dog.
So, I was told to get some shots of Mac in his kilt – well, that was a ‘given’ anyway but he was
also accompanied by another lad Hamish who was of a similar age and so i knew I would get some
good shots during the day of the two wee ‘clansmen’.

Evening Reception

Soon it was time to move location to the Carnegie Hall at
Clashmore for the evening reception. By this time my new shoes
which stupidly I bought that week and didn’t break-in were starting
to break in to me – my toes to be precise and the thought of
finally getting to have a seat and a much needed drink were looming
ever closer.
However, I still had to capture the first dance. Before the
newlyweds set-off for the hall, they were treated to a champagne
send-off from wee Mac & Hamish with the help of the driver -
Mackie who was splendidly dressed in his chauffeur outfit.

First Dance

Arriving somewhat later than maybe expected given the short 3 mile journey, the happy couple
arrived  with a piff, paff, puff from the wee car that had taken them from Ospisdale.
Whilst trying to capture them arriving, I managed to get a shot that made the car seem to be
travelling somewhat faster than it was – oh the joys of slow shutter speed – this gave me one of my
favourite shots of the day which I am calling ‘Speedy Gonzalez’…

At last, the final dance was upon us and with Robyn’s Grandad on the accordian, it was a
fitting end to a hopefully great day for Mr & Mrs MacDonald.

Now I was finally was able to switch off the camera, sit down and relax with a loveley can of cider in hand.
Oh, what a day – people who say Wedding Photographers have a licence to print money maybe say
that without realising just how much work is involved in photographing a wedding…

Believe you me, it ain’t a walk in the park!!!

It truly is an inspirational landscape and I strongly advise anyone travelling in the Highlands to check it out – you will not be dissapointed!!

This is a photograph taken by Colin Campbell of Glen Affric in Autumn.

Glen Affric in Autumn
by Andy Allan

Amongst the hills and waters deep
There is a land that does not sleep
A land where silence echoes wide
A land where stags and beasts abide

Where whispers run through jaggy heads
And feathered snowballs petals shed
A grass that feeds on glistening sun
Where streaks of lights between them run

Autumn air and weathered leaves
With golden greens and chilling breeze
Still a brightness yonder sees
Glorofied by yellow trees

Misty drizzle wraps the Glens
Hiding mountains now and then
Enveloping pine trees tall
And moistening the heathers small

And through the mist there stands a deer
Like a ghost it does appear
Motionless but yet aware
To dangers that could cause a scare

And in this land of nature pure
Where urban hearts are re-assured
That beauty can be oh so near
And yet so very far.

Thanks to Colin for the use of his photo!

At last, you can begin to see what Andy Allan is all about. Watch this space as AAVA 2011 takes shape!