Mandie and Bob are friends from my previous career in the NHS and it was my pleasure to provide wedding photography for their marriage at the Beardmore Hotel in Clydebank. Despite some very heavy looking clouds the weather stayed dry so we were able to get some images outside.

Best wishes to Bob and Mandie.

Bob and Mandie

Confetti

Bride and Groom

Flowergirl

It is a very good day today for Stuart Walker Photography with 1st place in both the ‘General Weekly Contest’ and ‘Wedding Weekly Contest’ held on the SWPP forum. The image contest is held every week and is themed – judging is open to forum members. Our winning images this week were “The Speeches” for Wedding photography (joint 1st place) and “Roads” for General photography. The images will be published in the society’s “Professional Imagemaker” magazine.

Here are this weeks images:

Wedding Contest Week 24 - 2010 - The Speeches

General Contest Week 24 - 2010 - Roads

Here are the previous winning entries from us:

General Contest Week 18 - 2009 - Boats

General Contest Week 6 - 2009 - Spring

General Contest Week 4 - 2009 - Black

General Contest Week 10 - 2008 - Blue

Claire and Derek married at the House for an Art Lover in Glasgow. This is a popular wedding venue and it is the second time I have provided wedding photography there. It was also the second time I had the pleasure of working with Humanist Celebrant Linda Britton.

My extraordinary run of good luck with the weather seemed to have finally deserted me, with heavy downpours timing themselves perfectly with the group photograph schedule. However, this is one of those times that separates the professional wedding photographer from the amateurs and ‘Plan B’ swung into action. With large umbrellas in hand, Claire and Derek ventured out with me to get a couple of shots. The heavens opened even more and although I thought we might all be washed away, we got back indoors relatively dry and with some shots in the bag.

With outdoors being out of bounds for the time being, we made use of an incredibly bright side room for the group shots (the first location choice unfortunately also being the bar).

Speeches were next, and as the meal began I headed off to the car park – to be greeted not only with clear skies but Claire and Derek within earshot on the balcony of the House. A good opportunity for a few last minute outdoor photographs. Perhaps there really is a patron saint of wedding photographers.

All the best to Derek and Claire.

Groom and great Window Light

House for an Art Lover Wedding Ceremony

Signing the Register

The Really Bright Room

Bride and Groom by the Window

Some Dancing Space at Last

One Last Shot

Congratulations to Theresa and Craig on their marriage. I was particularly looking forward to photographing this wedding. Having met Theresa and Craig, I knew we were going to have a great time being the first wedding group ever at this venue. They fell in love with the place, and it was easy to see why it suited them so well being perfect for them and their families to enjoy an intimate and relaxing wedding. I’m sure that Dalnair Castle Lodge will quickly establish itself as a favoured wedding venue with couples.

Here are some images from the day.

Dalnair Castle Lodge

Confetti

Bride and Groom

Nearby Doorway

On the walk back

Flowergirl on Swing

Bride's turn on the Swing

Fiona is an old friend from my home town of Aberdeen, and I was delighted to provide wedding photography for her and Sandy at the Town House on Union Street. Although I was born and raised in Aberdeen, this was the first time I had been in the venue – and I was impressed! A grand spiral staircase was the first thing to grab my attention, followed by the antique elevator and the spacious rooms replete with flags and wood panelling.

After the ceremony we went off to Johnson Gardens in the town for some more photography. The weather yet again was kind to us.

Best wishes Fiona and Sandy!

Town and County hall at the Town House

The Antique Elevator

Grand Staircase

Outside the Town House Aberdeen

Quick Kiss and Wedding Car

Flowergirls

Bride and Bridesmaid

Bride and Groom on Bridge

Johnson Gardens Wedding Photograph

Susan and Phillip married at Bruntsfield evangelical church in Edinburgh before heading off to the Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club for their reception. Good weather was on our side once again and we made full use of the hotel’s lovely grounds.

Congratulations and best wishes to Susan and Phillip.

Flowergirl and Bridesmaids preparing.

Bride getting ready

Waiting for the Ceremony

Arriving at the Hotel

Dalmahoy Hotel Edinburgh Wedding

Phillip and Susan

Groom and Groomsmen

Congratulations to Emma and James on their recent marriage at the Hilton Hotel in Dundee. The weather was dry and sunny and the venue was perfect for the intimate wedding ceremony.

James and Emma

James and Emma

Close up on James

We rely very much on our web site presence for potential clients to access our business, for existing clients to access their images and also this blog.

A few days ago there was apparently a ‘denial of service’ attack on the server hosting our site. In order to stop the server from failing under the pressure, Heart Internet blocked several ranges of IP addresses. What this meant is that many of potential visitors were unable to access our site or any other site hosted on that server. This should have prompted a concerted effort by Heart Internet to identify the specific IP address(es) involved and unblock everyone else but they are clearly in no hurry to do so. To make matters worse, they repeatedly avoided answering a very simple question: “what other solutions are there?” This major issue wasn’t even mentioned on their status page. Incompetent, uncommitted and misleading. We are still receiving reports from individuals who are unable to access the site.

I apologise if you have seen any error messages trying to access our site – I realise that it gives a very bad impression. We will be actively exploring options to moving our site to a more reliable company.

Hopefully a useful warning to other businesses thinking of using Heart Internet. Best avoided.

Fox

Stories about children-mauling foxes have been appearing in the news recently, with questions being raised about whether their nature is dangerous or not. I have even read one persons assertion that they often kill farm animals out of ‘spite’ – a notion that is ignorant and ludicrous. Spite is a human emotion and wild foxes are just that – wild. To treat them any differently than a feral cat or dog is inviting trouble. Of course if foxes really are capable of feeling spite then they are far more intelligent than any other wild animal and should therefore be a protected species! I wonder what people in other countries more accustomed to living alongside wild animals would think about the way we British are humanising these creatures in our typically over-sentimental way.

No children in sight

One thing I will add – although I have no sentimental attachment to wild animals, I am absolutely against fox hunting with dogs. The arguements proposed in support of this archaic blood sport are flimsy and only thinly veil the underlying cruelty of the ‘sport’.

Another great wedding of a lovely couple, William and Erin. Today’s marriage was held at Dalmeny Park Country House Hotel in the south of Glasgow. The hotel is a restored mansion set within beautifully kept gardens. Erin and William added their own touch to the day with the bridal party arriving in a vintage car and bus.

Everyone was really enjoying the day and were all fun to work with, perhaps helped by the weather staying mostly dry and bright.

Here are a few of my favourite shots from the day.

About to Marry

Group Shot

In the Car

The Bridal Party

Girls having Fun

Bride and Groom Kissing

Bride