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Micro Wedding Edinburgh - A Beautifully Small Wedding
Drew & Diana had planned a big wedding in June but with that on hold they decided to have a micro wedding in Edinburgh as soon as the lockdown lifted.
The beautiful thing about micro weddings is they are simple and you can enjoy the day with your absolute closest people.
June 2020
Remember when weddings were stopped and we had to hide away at home! It’s such a distant memory now.
When Drew & Diana originally got in touch they were planning a big wedding party but two days after the strict restrictions of spring 2020 were lifted for weddings, they wed in the tiniest ceremony, in a strangely silent Edinburgh with just 6 guests.
It was the weirdest wedding but so beautiful. The city chambers moved it’s registrar’s to a garden on the Royal Mile. I had to shoot from the garden next door but to be out and see a wedding was such a joy!
I remember how the chairs were meticulously spaced out for the ceremony and one of the guest’s left the garden so I could take a couple of pictures of them. Edinburgh was closed so we explored the silent streets and then they headed off and had a little picnic to celebrate.
Over the next year I watched the restrictions change, there were different rules at every wedding. Gradually people were allowed to get closer again and eventually they were allowed to dance and then I watched as people just started to forget about the virus and just get on with life as normal. Fingers crossed we don’t see anything like it again.
“Ali photographed our wedding beautifully. We were one of this few people to get married just after the Covid restrictions were lifted.
She took a tiny group of 8 people and directed us into the most perfect places and positions for the most fun, sweet, touching photos.
She was an absolute joy to have around and work with. She was particularly good with our 8 year old twins (who can be a bit of a handful).
I would recommend Ali without hesitation, an excellent photographer and a fantastic, fun person to have around.
Look no further. You've found the right person.”
- Drew & Diana Long
Family Photo Shoot Elie
This family photo shoot in Elie was taken at dusk. We explored the ‘Lady Janet Anstruther’s Tower’. The shoot is full of adventure and I love the lovely dusk atmosphere.
Elie
Elie is one of the many beautiful towns which make up the stunning East Neuk of Fife.
Elie has lots of lovely walks including the Elie chain walk to the west and this walk to the east.
It’s also worth a visit on a nice day as the beach is gloriously big and sandy and there are some lovely pubs too.
Dusk Light
Scott and Jaimie moved from Canada to Kirkcaldy when Scott got a contract with the Fife Flyers Ice Hockey team.
This was the second family photo shoot I’d done with them and for both shoots they wanted a photo shoot to capture the beautiful Scottish landscape.
It was the first time I’ve done a family shoot at dusk but it was really nice to capture the photos as the night started to draw in and they cosied in together.
Max
This was my second shoot with Max and we enjoyed messing around and he thought it was great fun playing silly games with me.
Jaimie’s Words
It turns out Max just thought I was his friend which was a lovely thing to hear :-)
“We can’t say enough good things about Ali. Not only is she an amazing photographer, but she is also a wonderful person who makes you feel at ease while having your photos taken. She takes the experience of having your photos taken and turns it into an adventure. Our children loved her, our three year old actually asked why she wasn’t in the photos with us We absolutely love our photos and will always cherish them.” - Jaimie Aarssen
The Tower
The path we took was from the east side of Elie.
We walked along the path to explore the little tower called ‘Lady Janet Anstruther's Tower’.
The tower was bulit in the 1770’s as a changing room for Lady Anstruther.
She would use the tower for for her sea swims. It’s basically an ancient beach hut!
Kid Fun & Cuddles
As we explored the tower Jaimie and Scott hugged and played with Gracie and Max.
The tower also made a great for pirate ship lookout.
As the night drew in, Gracie cuddled into her mum and Max carried on exploring the lighthouse and rockpools.
This was a beautiful shoot and one I hope they will treasure as the kids grow up.
If you like this family photo shoot in Elie and you’re interested in your own shoot you can book one in or buy a gift voucher. All the information is over on my family page.
Dunfermline Photography
I grew up exploring Dunfermline and Edinburgh and I took them for granted. Dunfermline is so undervalaued, nowadays Pittencrieff Park is one of my top places for photo shoots so click here to see why.
Dunfermline
Dunfermline is such an under appreciated town, it was once the home of Kings.
I grew up with the story on King Malcolm III offering shipwrecked Margaret (Saint Margaret Of Scotland) shelter in Dunfermline. She created a new church which became Dunfermline Abbey which is where Robert The Bruce is buried and his name is round it’s spire.
I also loved the story of Andrew Carnegie sneaking into the gardens of Pittencrieff House to play and later returning as a rich tycoon to buy the house and grounds and gift them to the people of Dunfermline.
The colourful ancient buildings of Abbot House and Pittencrieff house are so fun for photos. Personally I wish every building was this colourful!
“The Glen” Pittencrieff Park
I love this park!
It’s my favourite place to photograph people enjoying themselves as there are so many brilliant places to explore.
Kids love to explore the paths, feed squirrels, follow the peacocks or play in the playparks.
It’s full of beautiful plants, historic buildings and a river which runs down the dark moody valley called Dunfermline Glen.
Dunfermline CITY CHambers Weddings
The Dunfermline City Chambers is the prettiest registry office I have photographed in. It’s a far cry from the boring office like rooms of many other registry offices.
The ceremony room has stunning vaulted ceilings, historic artworks a grand staircase to lead you up to it.
Outside the building has beautifully detailed turrets and an incredible clock tower with four faces which is prominent when you look at the Dunfermline skyline.
Dunfermline Abbey and the Dunfermline City Chambers are right next to the park.
There are also some other churches close by including St. Leonard’s Church and the Catholic St. Margaret’s Memorial Church.
The Glen Pavilion is within the park and is a popular place for Dunfermline Weddings. It has lots of different spaces you can book for an event.
If you want to find out more about my wedding photography, please click the button below.
Dunfermline Abbey
The abbey is the most prominent building on the Dunfermline skyline with it’s distinctive tower and spire.
It is one of Scotland’s most important cultural sites and in the grounds you can also see the ruins of Dunfermline Palace.
The abbey looks different depending on the angle you look at it from, so it is fun to capture in photographs from around Dunfermline
The abbey is Church of Scotland and maintained by Historic Scotland and you can find out more about getting married there by visiting their website.
Pittencrieff House
Pittencrieff House is bright orange and I love using it as a backdrop for photos especially in the autumn.
It has a massive lawn at the front perfect for babies to crawl on or for a picnic or for flying a kite.
Next to the house you’ll also find the hot houses, formal gardens and routes off to Dunfermline Glen.
Beautiful Paths To Explore
Pittencrieff park is always changing and the gardens around Pittencrieff house are full of seasonal planting which is brilliant to explore during shoots.
I think this is why I love it so much as with the house and the planting, I can guarantee to get some lovely colours in your photos, but I can also get some moody dark photos too if desired by exploring the more natural woodland areas.
Graduation Photographs Dunfermline
Rachel’s gran gifted Rachel a graduation shoot to celebrate her COVID affected graduation so we explored various parts of the park.
Rachel wanted photos to reflect her personality as-well as some more traditional photos.
Dogs Photo Shoots In Dunfermline
You can’t visit the park without seeing dogs and it’s a great place to explore for a dog photo shoot.
Often people ask if they can bring dogs along to family shoots and yes, you can, but you can also book a specific dog photo shoot if you really want some special dog photos.
Peacocks & Squirrels
When I was a child the park was filled with the distinctive noise of Peacocks and they are the symbol of the park with the Peacock Cafe named after them.
They have been absent for a long time but recently they have bred new birds and it’s lovely to see them parading around happily exploring the park.
The squirrels are also great fun and are very friendly and fun for kids to watch and feed.
The Moody Forest Maternity Photo Shoot
When Magda & Javier wanted a moody outdoor flamenco maternity photo shoot we chose the Glen and loved exploring the dark moody greens of the darker forest areas.
To see more from their shoot, click the button.
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.
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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. 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.
If you want to see another South Queensferry Wedding, please check out this wedding at Orocco Pier, this one is from way back in 2014 when I had just started my business and holds some special memories.
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.”
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 photography can be a bit dull and lifeless as everyone stands woodenly in front of a white screen. It’s not a photo which reflects the joy of your University experience of captures the stunning city of Edinburgh where you have lived for the past few years. I want you to have photographs which you look back at and reflect on your life studying and living in Edinburgh. I want to capture the story of your graduation day and your experiences in the city.
These alternative graduation photo shoots are usually set around the University of Edinburgh or Heriot-Watt and capture a bit of your story and the places that you have experienced. If you are an overseas student and love the hills and lochs of Scotland we can have a chat about organising an extended shoot.
I charge a fixed rate for the shoot, so if you want you can share the shoot with a small group of friends, you’ll be able to get individual portraits, group photos of you all together and some pictures with your parents. I’ll allocate time for you to explore the city to.
After your graduation shoot, I’ll deliver you a beautiful gallery of 50+ images which you can download, share and print. It’s a fantastic way to invest in recording an important part of your life in a way which is completely personal to you.
These images are more than graduation photographs, they tell the story of the adventure of living or visiting another country. When they are framed or displayed in an album on your wall, your kids or grandkids will look at them and ask you about your time Scotland. You will be able to show them the castle, the mountains, your student accommodation or maybe your favourite pub.
We’ll have a chat before your shoot to make sure the shoot is personalised and covers the places in Edinburgh which are really important to you.
Li, an Edinburgh University graduate from Hong Kong couldn't make his graduation ceremony so he chose to have some candid photos around the places he had explored during his time residing in the capital. We captured some pics around the architecture teaching areas on Minto street and the Edinburgh College of Art. We visited some of his favourite historic buildings which he had studied as part of his architecture degree.
Karina and her friends, also from Hong Kong, booked me on their graduation day to get some photographs before their ceremony while they had their robes. They chose to get some photographs around the iconic library building, McEwan Hall, Old College and the meadows.
Zuhri and Nisah asked for images of iconic Scotland to take home as a souvenir, there was only one place to go. We did an extended shoot and spent a day travelling up to Glen Coe, stopping at various beauty spots en-route including Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, Stirling Castle and the Forth Rail Bridge.
All inclusive shoots from £250, for more information about alternative graduation photography, please get in touch alijayphotography@gmail.com or 07885930579.
Fair Trade Sari Photo Albums
Fair Trade Sari covered photo albums a beautiful gift for friends who love colour.
