More from Orkney

A few of Kim as well.......

Orkney Shoot Images

Images of Emma from Saturday....

MPA Scottish Region Awards

What a night! I entered 11 prints, and could only enter the Most Promising categories as a new member, but 8 of them won something.

I got 2 Merits, 4 Awards of Excellence, Most Promising Avante-Garde Wedding Photographer, Most Promising Classic Wedding Photographer and Overall Most Promising Photographer.

These were the images:



Merit - Classic Portrait

Merit - Classic Portrait

Award Of Excellence - Avante Garde Wedding

Award of Excellence - Avante Garde Wedding

Award of Excellence - Avante Garde Wedding

Award of Excellence - Avante Garde Wedding

Most Promising Classic Wedding Photographer



Most Promising Avante Garde Wedding Photographer and Overall Most Promising Photographer 2007

Orkney

Had a great trip to Orkney. I did a shoot with 'bride' Emma and her friend Kim, which was great fun. I had to rearrange my plans for Sunday to attend the MPA Awards in Edinburgh, and ended up having to leave my stand unattended, with Martin Gill from Blackstairs Highlandwear kindly keeping an eye on things for me, and bringing my kit back over. Of course nobody told me that the clocks went forward on Saturday night and I missed my ferry. I then had to race across to Stromness to book on the Hamnavoe!!

Some pics from the shoot in Orkney will be added here soon.

Winner of my draw for a portrait session at the exhibition was Linzi Dowell of Tankerness.

Models Required

I currently need 2-3 male models to help out with a photoshoot in Highland dress. No size zero models please :-)

Anyone interested contact me by e-mail john@captiv8.uk.com

Another hectic weekend!

Just getting over another crazy weekend, which saw me in Orkney on Saturday, and Edinburgh on Sunday. I was attending the Wedding Exhibition in the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall and went over Saturday and set up before leaving on Sunday morning to go the Master Photographers Association Scottish Region Awards night in North Queensferry.
More details later......

Introducing my new nephew.......

Young Euan Earnshaw's first proper photo shoot last week. He got bored pretty quickly of being photographed. Obviously not taking after his dad........

Aged ten weeks and one day....

(click for bigger versions)

Scottish Trade Show

I am going to be a speaker at the SWPP/BPPA Scottish Trade Show in the Grange Manor, Grangemouth next month. Details here - Scotland Trade Show

Portland Arms Wedding Fayre 4th March

Very busy day today at the Portland Arms with many people passing through over the day. Hopefully a good few bookings as a result. Everyone seemed to do well and have a successful day.

Looks like I am going to have to change my pricing system and album selection once again, as they have been copied AGAIN! The pricing system is now appearing on another 'photographers' stand almost exactly word for word. I only changed it as the same individual copied everything I was doing before and I wanted to be different. Four of my six albums, which were also changed last year to offer something different - are now appearing on the same stand. Same manufacturers, same specific products, only much cheaper. Obviously the standard of photography is the give away but still very unimaginitive.

Rumour has it that the individual in question also ordered the mushroom soup and tartan chicken at dinner time, washed down with a pint of Miller just to be like me :-)

Ah, it's great to be popular...........

MPA Panel

I recently joined the Master Photographers Association and submitted a panel for judging at Focus in Birmingham this week. Because of time constraints I decided to go for Licentiate at this stage and work on Associateship once I had more time. I only had a few weeks from joining to get it together but with the help of my mentor Gordon McGowan I have been successful with my panel.

Gordon is not only the best wedding photographer in the country but also one of the best in the world in my opinion. If you haven't seen his work before check out his website I am very proud to have helping me.

Wedding Assistant Required

I am looking for someone to come along as an assistant at weddings. Ideally someone with an interest in photography, although no experience is necessary. Would probably suit someone doing photography at college etc. Anyone interested please e-mail me in the first instance. john@captiv8.uk.com

The job is part-time, on a very casual informal basis. It would be mostly Friday and Saturday weddings as required so the applicant would have to be available for this.

Inver Lodge Hotel Website

The Inver Lodge Hotel Website is now up and running, featuring my photography from last year. I think it looks great! If you ever get a chance to stay there or even go for a meal, it is fantastic. Amazing food, beautiful location.

Practical Photography Magazine

The March issue of Practical Photography is just out and contains a full page feature of some of my work.

SWPP Convention 2008

Great news! Been invited back to next years convention in London as a speaker! God knows what I am going to talk about, but I've been asked to do a Masterclass on one of the days! Better get thinking!

Tuesday 13th February Barcaldine Castle

After returning home late Sunday night, it was off south again on Monday afternoon. Drove to Fort William and stayed there overnight, before moving on to Barcaldine Castle, near Oban in the morning. Rachel Headon and Andy Heald, from West Sussex were getting married in this amazing Castle. The bride got ready at Barcaldine House before arriving at the castle for a 4pm wedding. I wish the wedding had been an hour earlier as we could have had some amazing shots, but I was very pleased with what we got in the time before the light faded. Back up the road tonight for yet another wedding, this time in Thurso!

Sunday 11th Drumossie Hotel Wedding fayre

Drove from Cupar to Inverness overnight to attend a wedding fayre at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness

The fayre went really well, with loads of interest and a few bookings on the day, with many enquiries to follow up.

I finished the day off shooting some images for Bellisima Brides, Inverness, who had two models wearing their dresses during the day. Rachel kindly stayed back and modelled one of the dresses for a few shots around the hotel. It was fun and we got some pretty decent shots in the limited time available.

Saturday 10th February

Todays wedding was at Craigsanquhar House, Cupar, Fife. Lisa Hodgson and Darren Sivewright, both of Drumoig, Leuchars were married in the beautiful country mansion.

Friday 9th February

Wedding of Susan Dunnett and Matthew Tucker, both of Macleod Road, Wick.

The bride got ready at her mothers home on Thurso Road, before leaving for Mackays Hotel, for the ceremony. The couple then went back to Susan's mums house for some pictures before returning to the hotel. Flowers by Amandas in Wick, Cars by CFD.

Immediately after this wedding I had to drive to Perth in preparation for tomorrow.

Four Weddings and a Fayre.

Just completed 4 weddings, a wedding fayre and 1200 miles in 6 days. Been in Wick, Perth, Cupar, Inverness, Fort William, Oban and Thurso since Friday. What a week! More info to follow on these once I get to grips with all the images.

4th Feb Wedding Exhibition

The Wedding Exhibition at The Spa Pavilion, Strathpeffer. A good event, which generated a lot of interest. Well done to Margaret McAtier who put the event on.

2nd February Urquhart Castle

Today we went to Urquhart Castle, on Loch Ness. It was an unbelieveable day for the time of year, warm and beautiful blue skies. Today Natalie was modelling along with Ruth with the same suppliers for dresses and flowers.

Here are a few of todays images:

1st Feb Carbisdale Castle

Found out a month ago through DWF that David Beckstead and Kevin Kramer were coming to Scotland to shoot a wedding at Skibo Castle. They were looking for some fun on their spare days so we arranged to visit a couple of castles with models and wedding dresses. First up was Carbisdale Castle today. We were joined by 2 other photographers and had some great fun. Models were Natalie and Jenna. Dresses were supplied by Avorio Bridal (Fochabers) and flowers by Amandas Flower Shop (Wick). We had a good day. It's an unusual sort of place with lots of statues and art about. Here are a few images:

New Caithness Photographic website

The Caithness Photographic website has been neglected for some time now, so I've had it re-designed and it is now up and running. There are quite a few changes from the previous version, and I hope it looks much better! I will be changing the images fairly regularly.
www.caithnessphotographic.com

16th January Back to Reality

It's been a crazy week, and it's back home now. I had an amazing week and have made some wonderful new friends from all over the world. I went to talks by Michael Redford(USA), Patricia Fernandez (Eng), Martin & Ryan Schembri (Aus), Tony Corbell (USA), David Anthony Williams (Aus), Gordon McGowan (Scot), Doug Gordon (USA), Peter Prior (Eng), Dino Cappalletti (Italy), and Jerry Ghionis (Aus). Some of which were quite brilliant. I took part in a private shoot with Martin Schembri, as well as inpromptu shoot at 2am in the bar with Ryan Schembri, Sean Kelly (USA) and David Beckstead (USA). The trade show was great also, and my clever tactic of leaving my wallet in the hotel safe the first 2 occasions I visited worked well, and meant I didn't go completely mad on new equipment I didn't need!!
4600 people attended the convention apparently, and it was a wonderful event. I am going back next year, providing the hotel haven't run out of Jack Daniels.
Highlight of the week was obviously winning the award, but apart from that, there were too many special moments to mention. Unforgetable!!