Louise Beattie Photography

Christmas at Glamis Castle Photographed for Invite Scotland Magazine

Louise — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:50:09 +0000

I recently had the pleasure of working on another commission for Invite Scotland Magazine, a new Scottish lifestyle magazine that is launching in March. This time I visited Glamis Castle, by Forfar, for some Christmas themed photography for a future edition. I always enjoy visiting Glamis Castle and it is somewhere we like to take visiting family and friends – the guides and displays are superb and the history of the castle is fascinating.

This time I joined one of the Christmas Storytelling tours before being taken to different parts of the castle with my own guide to photograph some of their Christmas displays. So the storytelling tour might have been aimed at the younger guests but it was superb and I thoroughly enjoyed it – definitely worth keeping in mind for next Christmas. The day started with Father Christmas arriving before heading down to the vault to be entertained by a magnificent story teller.

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This was followed by a puppeteer entertaining the Christmas guests in the Billiard Room. Much fun was had by all.

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Some of the festive displays prepared by local groups:

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The dining room set for Christmas:

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For me though the highlight was being allowed to photograph in the Queen Mother’s sitting room. The Royal Apartments, and the Queen Mother’s sitting room in particular, have always been my favourite part of the castle.

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I would like to give a huge thank you to Glamis Castle for allowing me to photograph for Invite Magazine, and all their help and hospitality. If you have not visited the castle then I really can recommend it. Look out for the launch issue of Invite Scotland Magazine in March and more photographs from Glamis Castle in a future edition of the magazine.

Lastly, I would like to wish you all a wonderful festive season and thank you for reading my posts this year,

Louise

The Cornerhouse Deli, Arbroath

Louise — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:55:59 +0000

I do enjoy my food so am always delighted when asked to photograph food, especially if it involves chocolate.

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I was already a customer of the Cornerhouse Deli in Arbroath which has a fabulous range of cheeses, hams, liquors and chocolate. Business is going well, with many customers travelling to Arbroath just to visit the Deli so the owners, Brian and Sarah, will be soon offering their products online – which is the reason they asked me to carry out some photography.

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So if you are looking for somewhere to buy fine produce or gifts with a difference pay a visit to The Cornerhouse Deli – you can find them at 255 High Street, Arbroath, and when their online site is ready I will add a link here.

A Bride and Groom’s Advice: Some Great Tips From Colin & Carolyn

Louise — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:14:23 +0000

I remember when I was planning my own wedding a few years ago, I didn’t really know where to start. Although you can find plenty of advice on the internet, in magazines and books I didn’t always find it that helpful – I sometimes felt that it was more suitable for brides living in some fantasy parallel universe!

Because of my own experiences it has always been important to me to offer as much guidance and help to my wedding clients as possible. I have both the perspective of being a bride and a professional who spends a lot of time immersed in weddings. Photographers are often the only wedding vendor who spends the whole day at a wedding – from the bride and groom getting ready through to the first dance and wedding reception. This gives us a wealth of experience that is helpful for brides and grooms.

However, I wanted to go further than that and share the thoughts of other brides and grooms too. So a big thank you to Colin and Carolyn for taking the time to share their experiences. Colin and Carolyn chose to celebrate their marriage with a Humanist Ceremony at Balbirnie House in Fife last year, and had a lovely intimate wedding with their closest family and friends.

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What is your best advice for a bride?

“Get a wedding month by month planner book (M&S have them) and keep it up to date, that way you shouldn’t miss anything. Wear your wedding shoes around the house to make sure they are comfy on the day.”

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What is your best advice for a groom?

“Do exactly as you are told! Have a list too. Get organised early, re suits, rings etc.”

What is the best advice for couples with children entering into a second marriage?

“It depends on the age of the children. Involve them as much as you can.”

What was the biggest surprise on your wedding day?

“How emotional we both were, we didn’t expect to be overwhelmed with emotion as I was.”

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Did any wedding day emergencies crop up? If so, how did you handle them?”Colin forgot his cuff links and aftershave which required a trip into town and a bridesmaid had to hunt out cuff links to then have them transferred with another guest to the venue!”

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What was your favourite photographic moment”

“Seeing the slideshow and then the completed album.” (I help my clients choose their wedding album images at projected viewings.)
What did you love most about working with Louise Beattie Photography?

“The personal service and having Louise be like a friend and not just a photographer.”

How did you tame those wedding day nerves?

“I didn’t, hence my reply about being emotional!”

Which one moment will last with you forever?

“Walking down the aisle and seeing Colin.”

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What advice was given to you that helped you get through your special day?

“Enjoy every minute of it as it passes so quickly.?

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What is your best advice for keeping things on schedule when your wedding day is so busy?

“Leave even more time than you think you need and be guided by your photographer, hairdresser etc as they know!”

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Was there an extra special moment of your day that you would like to share?

” Saying our vows as we’d written them.”

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Which is your favourite photograph from your wedding?

“The group photo when the confetti was thrown. Everyone we wanted to share our day is in this photo and it captures everyone’s happiness.”

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How and where you display your wedding images in your home?

“We have them in the lounge, bedroom and hall in lovely frames.”

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I love the way that Colin & Carolyn’s personalities and humour come across in their answers. You can see images from their wedding day here their pre-wedding photography session here.

If you are planning a wedding let me know what questions you would like to ask a bride and groom in the comments section below.

If you have wedding experiences that are helpful, please share with a comment below.

Fashion Portrait Photography, Dundee

Louise — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:16:56 +0000

Today I am going to share images which are a little different to my wedding and portrait photography that you will be more familiar with. I was asked by Freedom Hairdressing of Dundee to photograph a shoot called “Anatomy of a Photoshoot” with the images to be used for their upcoming marketing. Sessions like this are a lot of fun for the photographer and the subject too.

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We had a cool location at The Spray Factory in Dundee, very different to any location I have photographed in before, and a whole afternoon to play.

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I decided to use lights for these images and this gives them a very different to feel to the photographs I normally share here.

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Hair and the concept for the photography was by Irving and the team at Freedom Hair. Clothes were sourced by stylist Sarah Hutton and included clothing from Rara Dundee and Maggies Farm. Make up was by the very talented Karen Bowen, hair was by the team at Freedom Hairdressing and the location was supplied by The Spray Factory.

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If you would like to try the fashion shoot experience, creating gorgeous and unique portraits for you and your family, give me a call on 01241 815655 or click on the button below to contact me.

Carl & Amy – A Sneak Peak

Louise — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:00:42 +0000

Carl and Amy had a fabulous wedding at St Salvator’s in St Andrews and Balbirnie House by Markinch in Fife. I am looking forward to sharing the images with them very soon but for now here is a little sneak peak of their wedding photography…

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Looking for Wedding Advice?

Louise — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:29:46 +0000

I know from planning my own wedding just over 3 years ago how daunting it can all feel, after all most of us are not used to planning weddings. If you have something you are not sure about or questions you would like answered visit The Landmark Wedding Showcase and Advice Forum this Sunday (9th October) from 1pm to 4pm and receive advice from wedding professionals. I will be there, along with many other wedding professionals, to answer any questions you may have about your wedding photography, so please don’t be shy come say hello and ask me your questions. I will also be having a special prize draw too, with a value of £300. I will reveal more on my Facebook Page tomorrow so pay a visit….

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.

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Family Portrait Photography, Forfar: The McLaren Family

Louise — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 16:14:26 +0000

It is easy to assume that portrait photography is something for the summer, especially with a studio like Louise Beattie Photography where I work on location and often outside. But this is not necessarily so and you can take some lovely portraits during the autumn and winter. The images have a different feel for sure, but there are lots of opportunities to take great photographs and easily change the look and feel of an image with accessories such as hats and scarves. These images are from a family photography session near Forfar during last autumn with the McLaren Family.

These images now make a fabulous display together on a wall in the family home.

Autumn is a great time for portrait photography, there are so many beautiful colours at this time of year which make for gorgeous backdrops to portraits. Why not contact the studio on 01241 815655 for a chat about our portrait sessions and to arrange a complimentary pre session consultation? Throughout we will take good care of you, ensuring that you are totally delighted with your portraits. From advice on how to prepare and what to wear for your photography session to guidance on how best to display and look after your beautiful portraits in your home so that they give you much happiness and pleasure for many years to come.

How to look good in photos | a day of help and advice in Dundee

Louise — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:31:37 +0000

As a photographer one of the most common phrases I hear is “I never look good in photos” or “no-one can take a good photograph of me” or some other variation. I wish I had a pound for every time I heard that!

I find it really sad that people feel that way as everyone can look good in a photograph. I usually say that it isn’t the person that doesn’t look good in a portrait or photograph but that the photographer hasn’t done a good job. In all fairness most people are referring to the photos that their family and friends take. You know the ones, there you are enjoying yourself and relaxing when you hear someone calling your name and saying “smile for the camera”. If you are anything like me, you will feel like a rabbit caught in the headlights – no wonder you don’t like how you look in the photograph!

There are lots of little things that you can do which make the world of difference to how you look in a photograph. When I am photographing clients I use these little tips and tricks all the time, even if they do not realise what I am doing or why. A few little adjustments to the way you are standing can take pounds off a person .

I have teamed up with the fabulous Number 95 in Dundee to create a day which is perfect for anyone who wants to be able to look at a photograph of themselves and feel “I love how I look in that photo”. On Saturday September 10th I will be sharing the tips and tricks I use when photographing my clients to help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera before putting it all into practice and photographing you. In addition you will receive personalised advice from our make up artist and some pampering treatments from Number 95 to make you feel good.

If you would like to know more about this fabulous day, or know someone who this would be perfect for then please call the studio on 01241 815666 or visit the website now How To Look Good In Photos. Places are limited to just 6 so that we can make sure you get the most from this informative day.

And because every blog post by a photographer should have a photograph, here is a photograph from a recent destination wedding in Madrid which I will be writing about soon.

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Family Portrait Photography, Forfar | Kevin, Jane, Fergus and Murray

Louise — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 12:19:09 +0000

Bespoke Family Portrait Photography in Forfar and Angus

A little while ago I had the pleasure of photographing Kevin, Jane, Fergus and Murray for their family portrait photography at their home by Letham and Forfar.

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The portrait photography I offer is very much a bespoke service. Before a portrait photography session I like to visit the home and have a chat about what the family are looking for from their photography, what to expect on the day and the display options that I offer – from beautiful albums to gorgeous wall art such as framed prints, gallery wraps, box frames and acrylics. We take a look around the home and talk about where the family are thinking of displaying their finished images. As well as being able to advise on the display options and what would work well in a particular room, we also have a chat about the clothing that will be worn during the portrait session and what colours will look best when displayed. This helps the family decide exactly what they will wear for their portrait photography in advance and they can be confident that not only will they look good but their wall art will look fantastic in it’s chosen setting. Kevin and Jane have superb taste, and this combined with the fact that Jane has her own soft furnishings business meant that they did not really need much advice from me on clothing but I was able to guide them on the best way to display their images.

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I like to start family portrait photography in the families home. Photographs taken in your home have far more meaning to you than a photograph taken in an anonymous studio. There is also the added benefit that you will feel more relaxed in your home surroundings than an unfamiliar studio. The more relaxed and comfortable you are the better your images will be.

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After a few photographs in the home, everyone is feeling a lot more relaxed in front of the camera and it is time for a change of clothes and a new location. This could be your garden, a favourite place to go for a walk or a local beach. This is something that we will have talked about during the portrait photography pre consultation. I always suggest that good places for your photography have meaning to you. It could be your garden where you have fond memories of your children growing up, the path you love to take your dog for a walk along or your favourite view. If you are not too sure of where might be a good place for your photography then I can always help you with suggestions. Kevin and Jane have a beautiful garden, so after a change of clothes we moved into the garden for some more portrait photography.

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ongratulations to Fergus on his excellent exam results!

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From the garden we moved to the beautiful farmland surrounding their home. We were very lucky to have a beautiful sunny day, it rained the day before and the day after!

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Each purchase image receives a great deal of care and attention, with the display choice in mind, to show it at it’s best. A 10 x 8 print just does not do justice to a crafted image – professional photography really is at it’s best when displayed large on a wall or in a beautifully designed album.

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We finished the portrait photography session back in Kevin and Jane’s garden. Fergus and Murray are both rugby fans and play in one of the region’s teams…

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I really enjoyed my time photographing Kevin, Jane, Fergus and Murray and I know that they are thrilled with their wall displays and album. If you would like to have a chat about our family portrait photography, in Forfar or throughout Angus, how photography would look fabulous in your home give or how I help clients choose their favourite images then give me a call on 01241 815655 or contact me by clicking here.

I mentioned above that Jane has a soft furnishings business. Although I haven’t had the opportunity to use Jane’s services myself, I have spoken to people who have and she is highly recommended. So if you would like me to find out more about how she can help you let me know and I will put you in touch.

Portrait Photography in Aberdeen | Daniel & Maree

Louise — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:30:50 +0000

Now that I am finally getting back to my blogging, today I thought I would share a few portraits from Daniel and Maree’s photography session in Aberdeen. With Maree studying in Aberdeen and Daniel based in Kirkcaldy they had been wanting to have some professional portraits taken for a while. Although the weather seemed a little dull, it couldn’t have been better from a photography point of view with great skies which really add to the photographs, and the beach boulevard in Aberdeen is a great location to take photographs too.

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