An Edinburgh Wedding

All wedding photographers in Edinburgh like Edinburgh Castle. It’s such an iconic landmark recognised around the world. I’ve enjoyed photographing many weddings at Edinburgh Castle but last Saturday’s wedding wasn’t actually in the castle, but very close by. Helen and Robert were married on the Royal Mile and their entire day was to be very much oriented around the city’s famous historical street. The wedding ceremony was held at Lothian Chambers and then the couple were going to back to the Semplehill Suite for their drinks and canapés before enjoying a family meal in the renowned Witchery, close to Edinburgh Castle. They had particularly requested their bride and groom photographs to feature Edinburgh Castle and I of course was happy to oblige.

I started the day in the Semplehill Suite which is located in Jollie’s Close literally a stones throw away from Edinburgh Castle and right across from the Witchery. Being situated in this ancient and tiny Edinburgh close the Semplhill Suite is very unique and atmospheric with very little natural light, as you can see from the second image here taken in the bedroom. I enjoy low lighting as it can be very creative and striking which proved to be a boon later on in the afternoon.

The first photographs of the day were some detail shots and then some important photographs of Helen’s dress, or outfit to be more precise. This was a unique and exclusive Justin Alexander design and created especially for Helen. I was very honoured to be entrusted with the first official photographs of it and also given sole discretion from Helen to select the one or two that were to be supplied for media release soon after the couple were wed.

The day itself proved to be one of sunshine and showers, something which most Edinburgh wedding photographers are completely used to handling! Whilst we had got some nice sunny photos on the Royal Mile with Helen prior to departing for the ceremony, by the time she arrived at Lothian Chambers it was raining. Once she was in the building the weather didn’t really matter at there is place and a nice staircase. I got a couple of good images as she ascended the stairs with her proud father and then likewise as they made their way up the aisle.

With just a handful of close friends and family this was a very warm, intimate ceremony. When the proceedings were completed and the register signed, low and behold the rain had stopped and out came the sun. We decided to take advantage of this and do a Big Group shot in the rear courtyard of the building. On the way down however I briefly paused the couple at the top of the staircase whilst I ran down to take a photograph from below looking upwards and framing them in the ornate, spherical ceiling. There was a lot of overhead light here due to a large skylight further up and I knew this would throw the couple into a strong silhouette where it would be virtually impossible to make them out. To avoid this I overpowered the speedlite by two and half times and the result was spot on! There’s no substitute for experience!

The sun was still beaming away so we took Helen and Robert along to Johnson Terrace where I could get a few shots with Edinburgh Castle as their background. Living in Edinburgh and knowing it so well it would have been easy for me not to bother with doing my usual pre-wedding recce, however, as a professional this is something I never take for granted and yet again it proved beneficial because there is currently building work being carried out in the car park and so there are diggers, machinery, scaffolding and a host of other unsightly materials spoiling the usual castle vista. This was one reason why I chose Johnson Terrace because I knew I could utilise the steps here to give me the best possible backgrounds.

We had timed everything perfectly because upon finishing off down came the rain. So we headed back to the Semplehill Suite with the wedding car doing a slight diversion in front of Edinburgh Castle. All the group photographs and the the cake cutting ceremony, overseen by legendary Piper John MacKintosh were carried out inside as by now the rain was pouring down. My mobile studio lights were employed for the group photographs, so it meant they would all look very striking and fashionable. Due to Helen’s job we had agreed before the wedding that only a limited number of their photographs would be released and therefore the reason for not posting any of the family group photographs. So as a compensation I’m popping up at the end some cakes shots taken from Heather’s wedding the week before that demonstrates how atmospheric low lighting images can be…plus they look pretty yummy! lol