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Weddings by The Sea - A Secret Wedding in South Queensferry
Nikki and Ian met at school when they were 5 years old and decades later they secretly eloped to South Queensferry for their wedding.
Nikki and Ian met at school when they were 5 years old and decades later they secretly eloped to South Queensferry for their wedding. From our initial conversation I could hear how passionate Nikki was to marry Ian and to have their wedding in South Queensferry, a place which she just loves.
South Queensferry Registrars Office
Nikki and Ian eloped from South Shields to have their secret ceremony at the Registry Office in the beautiful coastal town which is dwarfed by the magnificent Forth Bridge. Nikki’s only photo request was to make sure I got the bridge in the background of the pictures as she loves how it dominates the views.
The ceremony was so short and sweet and with no guests the second registrar and I stepped in to witness the marriage. Nikki says she’s loved Ian since she was 5 years old and they’ve been together for the last 14 years so they decided they just wanted to get married without much fuss. They kept their plans secret, even from their children and decided to just surprise them by sending a picture.
After the ceremony we explored some of their favourite areas of the town to capture some photographs. I’ve spent a lot of time in South Queensferry and I’d never been down Harbour Lane before, this cute little lane was introduced to me by Nikki and I can see why she loves it.
The Boathouse
After a lovely walk around South Queensferry we went to the Boathouse for a little mini wedding reception. I joined them for a wee celebratory drink before leaving them to enjoy the rest of their trip to Scotland and some fun in the Edinburgh Festival.
Discover more Scotland guides, wedding venue inspiration and real weddings from Edinburgh wedding photographer Ali Jay.
Newborn Photo Shoot with Sunshine Yoga
A gorgeous newborn photo shoot at home with Stephanie, Matt and Granny
When a new baby arrives your life is suddenly turned upside down and you are bound to your babies every need. It’s a beautiful time to get a shoot so it can be documented and remembered, as moment by moment your baby changes.
When I arrived for Jasmina’s shoot, she was needing a little clean, so I captured her having a little bath. Matt delicately washed Jasmina as she kicked so happily in the water.
I spent an hour or so with Stephanie, Matt, Jasmina and her grannies and observed all their little interactions and activities.
At home shoots are great. You don’t have the stress of getting everything ready and getting out the door and you capture your baby’s first home, their nursery and their first toys. When you look back in years to come, you’ll see their favourite toy all fluffy and new before the years of love wear it down to a fabulously floppy, loved looking rag.
Stephanie is from the Netherlands so I was offered a lovely beschuit. Giving a beschuit is a tradition in the Netherlands to celebrate the birth of a child. They are sprinkled with pink and white muisjes when a girl is born, and with blue and white muisjes when a boy is born. Muisjes are seeds from the anise plant which are covered in a sugary coating.
“The pictures are absolutely beautiful and we feel so blessed that her 7 day birthday got captured in such a wonderful way.”
Discover more Scotland guides, wedding venue inspiration and real weddings from Edinburgh wedding photographer Ali Jay.
Graduation Photography
Alternative graduation photography in Edinburgh and around Scotland, opt for something different, choose to have photographs that tell the story of where you lived whilst at university. Much more exciting than the traditional white background graduation photographs!
Graduation photos don’t have to be dull and lifeless, with everyone standing stiffly in front of a white screen. Those pictures don’t really capture the joy of your university experience or the stunning beauty of Edinburgh, where you’ve spent these amazing years. I want to give you photos that celebrate your graduation day and tell the story of your time in this beautiful city.
As standard, I suggest a 2-hour shoot to give us plenty of time to explore the city and the university, capturing all those meaningful spots. But if you want to venture further afield, we can always add extra time. You could even book a full day to cover your entire graduation day, from getting ready to celebrating after the ceremony and exploring the city. Edinburgh is a unique, ancient city, full of character and history—definitely worth recording in all its glory.
My graduation shoots are all about capturing the essence of your university life in Edinburgh. My graduation shoots are priced like my other portrait shoots so visit my vacations page to find out about my prices and what is included in my portrait packages. You can share the shoot with a few friends if you wish, or just get some lovely shots with your parents, just get in touch to find out more.
After your shoot, you’ll get a beautiful gallery with lots of storytelling images to download, share, and print. These aren’t just graduation photos—they’re a personal and meaningful record of this important part of your life. When they’re framed or in an album, your kids or grandkids will love hearing about your time in Scotland. You’ll be able to show them the castle, the mountains, your student accommodation, or even your favourite pub.
We’ll chat before your shoot to make sure it’s personalized and includes the spots in Edinburgh that mean the most to you. For example, Li, an Edinburgh University graduate from Hong Kong, couldn’t make his graduation ceremony, so we did a candid shoot around the architecture teaching areas on Minto Street and the Edinburgh College of Art. Karina and her friends, also from Hong Kong, booked me on their graduation day for some beautiful shots in their robes around the library, McEwan Hall, Old College, and the Meadows. Zuhri and Nisah wanted iconic Scottish scenery, so we spent a day in Glen Coe, capturing beauty spots like Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, Stirling Castle, and the Forth Rail Bridge.
For more info about pricing, check out my vacation portrait pages, or just get in touch at alijayphotography@gmail.com or 07885930579.
Let’s make your graduation photos a beautiful, personalised story of your time in Edinburgh and Scotland.
Discover more Scotland guides, wedding venue inspiration and real weddings from Edinburgh wedding photographer Ali Jay.
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