Stylishly Sexy Boudoir by Sandra Keddie Photography

I am delighted to finally offer Stylish and Sexy Boudoir as part of the studio offering at Sandra Keddie Photography. Until now, I have only ever provided Boudoir photography when I have been asked to, but every time I have done so, my clients have been overwhelmed with the result. I have even been told that my Boudoir sessions are better than therapy for that "feel good" factor!

I believe that every woman is entitled to feel good about herself, and how better to do this than with a professional hair and make-up session to start, a glass of something chilled and sparkling, and images that show a side of you that you may never have seen before.

Boudoir photography, for me, is the art of the implied. Everything should be suggested, left to the imagination of the observer. That does not mean this is fakery, far from it. It involves taking you, a beautiful woman and exaggerating your best attributes with subtle lighting and a suggestive pose that is not revealing ( or not too revealing at least). Props such as chiffon, feather boas and pearls add and distract, creating an image that is stylish and sexy, never smutty or sleazy.

Whether these images are created just for you, or for that special someone, isn't it a fabulous thing to be able to keep this memory of how we are, stylish and sexy!

Ladies, I look forward to hearing from you!!

Book your Stylishly Sexy Boudoir Session now!

Sandy

sandrakeddie@btinternet.com

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

0141 884 2250

Is being a wedding photographer the best job in the world?

These beautiful images of LeeAnn were taken at Calderwood Hall, a gorgeous wedding venue near Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.

Being a photographer can be quite a hard business. I don't want any sympathy or anything, because I wouldnt swap it for all the world, I love it, but I just want to share some of the pain, the anxiety. First there is the whole business of marketing to attract customers, then there is creating a package of products that the customer likes. Not forgetting the bit about being quite a good photographer, and working on those skills to get fresh ideas. Then there is the wedding day - no pressure there, hey?

And after the wedding there is that moment when you review the images and you see that some of them are not too shabby. Then you show the customer, online, and they seem to like them but they are still small and on a screen. After the customer picks the images, the album design. I love designing albums, probably my favourite bit of the whole process. But, just like painting or any other creative art, what I think is fabulous might not appeal to my customer. Thats okay, I just take one for the team and redesign until I make my customer happier.

Then we go to print. And we wait! Right now Graphistudio, the beautiful Italian album that I offer, is taking about 6 weeks to print and deliver. So, by the time the album arrives, I am so nervous. I review for print and build quality, and then when I'm happy I look at the images properly. Did the design translate onto a page? Is it wow? Did I capture the emotions of a special day?

And then the very worst bit; presenting the album to a customer. This is cold sweat, lip biting, nails stuck into palms terror. Ok maybe that's a bit of exaggeration, but I do so want you to be happy. Actually, no, I want more than just happy, I want you to be over the moon. I want you to be absolutely delighted. I want to give you memories of a special day that will last and last, so that you can look back in years to come and remember how you felt that day.

Some people smile, some cry, some laugh and point and tell a story, some people are more private and just say a quiet thank you and go on their way. The feeling I get from making someone else happy is fabulous. Later, sometimes, I get a little thank you card or an email, and that is just the cherry on the top for me.

"Hi Sandy, Just a wee email to say thanks again. We are so happy with our album and prints and can't wait to show them to our friends and family! Steph x"

And then this is just the best job in the world and for a moment I have no stress or hassle or pressure, and I can't wait for my next wedding ...

Sandy

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

sandrakeddie@btinternet.com

0141 884 2250

"I'm just going to get a friend to take our wedding photographs ... "

In case you are wondering, in this photograph the orange multi-coloured thing is a kite surfer! This couple were so brave. We went on to the beach after their meal, before their first dance, and just had such a fantastic 20 minutes with them, got some fabulous images.





"I'm just going to get a friend to take our wedding photographs." Because your friend has a really good camera? And that photograph of the sunset he/she took on holiday last year was just fabulous? So yeah, just let them take the photographs of one of the biggest days of your life, right?

I am sure you would expect a professional photographer, whose continued survival in the business depends on people coming to me to take their photographs, to disagree. And I do. For lots of reasons. But it may surprise you to know that the main reason is not about me. Its about the loss of opportunity to capture something special, to create a moment that will be there for a grandchild or on a silver wedding anniversary. I shoot a limited number of weddings a year, and mix my wedding work with studio, landscape and fashion / model work. So this is not about me trying to up my workload. It is about making sure that a couple engage a professional photographer, a proper professional. (Of course, I am not refusing work, so if you like my style please contact me, I may be available for your special day!)

Start by going and reading comments from others. Scottish Wedding Directory has a fantastic range of articles on how to select a wedding photography professional, has a forum where brides to be can exchange information and ideas, and also has a directory of advertisers ( and yes, you will find me in there, along with at least 200 "competitors"!)

In a recent issue (SWD, October 2012) Natasha Rademehr spent a day with a professional photographer, and came up with just some reasons why you should choose a professional, rather than ask your Uncle with the good camera:

• Photographers have an artist's eye. They instinctively know which angles and poses are most flattering and will make sure you look as amazing in your pictures as you do in person.
• A broken camera is a photographer's worst nightmare - and yours if its your wedding day. But if you hire a professional, they will always have at least one back-up (tip: ask your photographer how many camera bodies they carry on a shoot. I carry 4, or rather my assistant does. tip: make sure your photographer works with an assistant.)
• You might worry about the weather on the day and how it will affect the photographs, but a pro won't. They are incredibly resourceful and will research the venue beforehand so that they can come up with a plan for both good and unfavourable weather. (I carry studio lights so if we have to we can setup indoors, this is not ideal but sometimes necessary, this is Scotland after all.)
• Most photographers do a combination of reportage-style photos (candid shots) and portraits/formals. But if the idea of posing for a photo gives you the fear, don't worry; a skilled professional will be able to gently direct you to produce shots look really natural, rather than stiff ( I regularly get asked if I can just take some relaxed informal shots like the one in a sample album. I almost always reply "that was set up, thats a pose, but it was fun!")

I have shot a lot of weddings, coped with a couple of crises, have a bit of experience about what works and what doesn't. I will turn up prepared and ready to work all day for you, with spare equipment, endless enthusiasm and good humour, professional indemnity insurance and ideas I have discussed with you beforehand. Please, please, please choose a professional photographer, and have a wonderful day with memories that last a lifetime.

Sandy

sandrakeddie@btinternet.com

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

0141 884 2250

Digital graphic art

A long, long time ago I nearly went to art school. Instead I ended up training as an electrical engineer (which was a strange thing for a woman to do back then). In retrospect I believe I should have been an architect but ended up a photograper - if none of this makes sense please read my first blog entry with the quote by William W. Purkey.

While I adore wedding photography - and all the associated stress of knowing that if I mess up I have ruined a bride's wedding day and broken a promise - I really enjoy working with people in the studio and location, creating portraits and unique moments in time. And I have a real soft spot for taking an image and turning it into digital graphic art - its the girl that never went to art school in me. I have a pet project that I keep coming back to called "put yourself in the picture". Take a famous image, with figures in it, then substitute yourself for one of the figures, maybe a friend or loved one if there is more than one. Or play all the characters yourself. This is a fun reproduction of Banksy's flower thrower, who also reproduced it from a news image from the 1960's Paris student protests.

(with grateful thanks to my stepson, Ross).

Sandy

sandrakeddie@btinternet.com

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

Contemporary wedding images for wall art

Weddings are wonderful life events. They bring together families both far flung and familiar, friends that see each other every weekend and havent seen each other since high school, college whenever.depending on the couple that can place a strain on the photographer. Formals and family groups are important but cant go on for ages; reportage captures the day, but not everyone appreciates sometimes not being warned about the shot. It is all about providing what the couple want, while having your own style.

A mix of formal and informal, casual and formal, with the necessary amount of posing can give a lifetime of fond memories. I do not subscribe to the "just take some pictures, get what you can" school of reportage, but I do like to work with a second shooter who can capture a stolen kiss or quiet moment from a discrete distance. Neither do I like to be a bully, taking over a bride's day. For me the couple should be relaxed, happy, enjoy the photographic experience as part of the overall day and be left with images to treasure. And I believe those images should include some formal, some casual, some posed and some captured. I also like to get one or two images which will look good on a wall. not everyone will want to hang a large image in a piblic space in their home, less so if it is a stiffly posed, traditional wedding photograph.

The correct image can make for stunning wall art, a fantastic reminder of a special day, while being contemporary and adding to a home. This image, taken at Providence, near Nottingham Road, is one of my favourite examples.

Sandy

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

Vintage fashion is such fun!!!

There has been a real revival in interest in the fashions of the 1940's and 50's. I am sure we are looking back with rose tinted spectacles and seeing only what is best and most glamourous, but there was something about those times which is now seen as very special, quite sexy and cool. There is a growing trend in burlesque shows such as Club Noir in Glasgow, a fabulous night out for the adventurous among you!

I recently organised a pinup shoot with Kayleigh, as part of a makeover project. Supplying hair styling, makeup and vintage dress Kayleigh was transformed, and looked every inch the part. I love the look, and really enjoyed creating these images. Thanks to Nicola and Caroline at FairytaleFaces. And a special thank you darling and "mwah!" to Kayleigh.

Sandy xx

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

Art and Architecture



Architecture, for me, is art. It is sculpture on a large scale and can be appreciated for its beauty.

Glasgow has a fantastic heritage, which prospered greatly from the trade over all over the world. While there has been some deterioration and decay, what remains is some of Britain's grandest buildings. In the spaces that have been created from some of the old buildings being removed modern structures have emerged. I love that the Clydeside is now being invested in and the new architecture is inspirational, especially in the evening when these structures are thoughtfully lit for photographers. But the imposing buildings in and around George Square, including the City Chambers are also very impressive. Add a model and the images can be stunning.

I hope you agree.

Sandy

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

sandrakeddie@btinternet.com

Winter Weddings in Scotland

Photographers are obsessed with light and so they should be, but they do complain about it constantly; too much, not enough, in the wrong place, wrong colour. In Scotland we are blessed with beautiful long summer evenings (sometimes, one or two) and I have shot late into the evening in July under only natural light. The flip side of that is winter weddings. More and more couples are choosing to be married in December and January, for a whole host of reasons. Natural light is at a premium, with the sun setting as early as 3.30pm.  Understanding how to overcome prevailing conditions - harsh sun light, fluorescent or tungsten indoors, a heavily shadowed doorway - is what makes a competent photographer, the minmum one would expect from a paid professional contracted to provide a service. The manipulation of light is what creates that stunning image. It is that subtle alteration or addition that a dedicated artist adds.

Sandy
www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk

www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.uk