I faintly, yet intensely, remember one odd day from my childhood, sitting just outside the loft next to the staircase in my house. My dad was rummaging through an old, disordered collection of books, boxes, and faded photographs. This mess, in a sense, was the story of our family—printed pictures of a life lived well before I arrived on the scene. Wedding days, anniversaries, birthdays, parties, family members I had never met.

I remember sitting on the floor with him, listening to the somber tone of his voice as he reminisced about the moments in these photographs. In that instant, I understood the true power of a photo—a frozen piece of time, a tangible memory that lets us relive the past in ways no words ever could.

As a documentary wedding photographer l'm a big fan of the 'in-between' moments at weddings. The moments that almost seem to slip by without demanding too much attention, now don’t get me wrong I love the the confetti tunnel, the singing waiters and all the nice staged parts of the day that make it entertaining.

There’s something truly special about capturing a love story before the big day. Pre-wedding shoots offer couples a chance to create beautiful, relaxed memories together, and for me, as a photographer and videographer, they allow me to get to know my couples better. Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing Miranda & Duncan ahead of their wedding at Maryculter House. They booked my ‘Shang-a-lang’ package, which includes full-day photography and videography, and we met at the breathtaking Crathes Castle for their engagement session. With their easygoing nature, love for the outdoors, and a stunning golden hour setting, this shoot was pure magic.