Blandine and Laetitia are sisters, they are very close and had children a few years apart. Like their moms, their little ones have something special! I cherish these girls and was really happy and honored to take some portraits of their growing families. It was a wonderful day spent with a lively, and at times explosive young crewe!, that I hold dear in my heart! I didn’t remember there were so many marvelous shots!!
Erica, Ewan’s sister (= the groom in the previous wedding post!), has two wonderful children, Florence & George, with her husband Mark. I was delighted to take some photos of this close-knit family. Actually their photo-session turned out to be an “epic one” because of : 1) the location which was fantastic 2) so were the protagonists+ 3) we had a PROPER summer day in Scotland! The kids were cooperative during the photo shoot, and the whole setting worked in our favor. I think it was one of the best photo-shoots I’ve ever done! Thank you, Bramhalls, for trusting my photographic skills!
Hey, check this out…They are framed!
Spending time with Erica is a pleasure. I don’t say this only because she is one of my friends. I can say this because I see who she is for real: an honest, generous, adventurous and brave soul with a strong sense of duty and a caring attitude towards people. Yes, I really like her. I also enjoy spending time with her little two extensions, “King” George & “dancing princess” Florence.
It started like this : she wanted me to take picture of her kids because she had a good feeling about me. So a couple of years ago she chose me over thousands of choices. She trusted me from the beginning and this moves me almost to tears. I admire her sense of reality and pragmatism and I see the deep love and bond she has with her family. Photography allows people to create networks and to discover families ties and I had the chance to get to know a good part of her family and, trust me, they are amazing, enjoyable people.
When last night she texted me with the picture of the prints of the kids, I was delighted first with the results themselves (they are good shots) but also with a sort of pride coming from the fact of having my photos hanging on their living-room wall where all their guests can see them.
Time goes by quickly but more than a few things make us happy and will be remembered : friendship, good shots and prints!
Ewan is Scottish and Patricia is Northern Irish and they are both warm and friendly people. They were married in Prestonfield House in late June 2019. Taking the photos on their wedding day was an honor, which came with a good amount of stress (well, that’s me!). This was my 5th wedding as photographer (and the 3rd one made abroad) and I was the only shooter. Also, I hadn’t been to this venue before so it was a “whole new game” for me, but things turned out pretty well! Weather wise, summer is tricky in Scotland, but these guys picked up the perfect day: it was sunny and warm all day long and in the evening we had a pleasant breeze. I remember Patricia saying more times during the course of the day: ‘It’s the most beautiful day we could have hoped for. We don’t want it to end!’.
It was moving for me to witness their love, which is deep, concrete, simple and based on effective communication, mutual understanding and a very good friendship. Their families and friends rocked it out too!! Even though it sounds cliché, it was a beautiful day, made by awesome people and by real moments. It felt like I was spending time with amazing people rather than working on the day. And yes, I felt so privileged to have had the opportunity to capture Patricia & Ewan’s big day! I really hope I could do your memories and expectations justice with this.
Patricia & Ewan, I hope you are having the best life in Northern Ireland!
“I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose, I would always greet it in a garden” – Ruth Stout
Congrats, Ru & Ian, for your beautiful garden! I have always thought that it seems a piece of Paradise!
Sheila and I, we had decided to have a daily trip on the coast. It was early March and it was cold in Edinburgh, which means that up north, it was even worst! Actually, it was flippin’ freezing and windy! This did not prevent us from arriving safely in St Andrews, enjoying a pleasant lunch, and then driving down the coast, taking advantage of beautiful old fishing villages such as Crail, Anstruither, Pittenweem and Leven. I am grateful to have had this opportunity, and the fact that we were able to admire a part of bonnie Scotland in one of its true elements (the bad weather!), is a plus! It as a good occasion to use my Nikon F801s.
Bree was about 10 years old when I took some shots of her, back in the summer 2018. She came with her parents, we met at Lauriston Castle, which always proves to be an outstanding location! I believe that Bree not only had gorgeous skin and hair tones with beautiful eyes, but she was also very much expressive and she had something unique. It felt like she was a protagonist of a fairy tale, there was something magical about her. I also reckon that the colors in the park and of the nature at Lauriston were equally striking… I wish all the best to Bree’s family, and little Bree-girl, do not forget that you are very much cherished, and that your momma loves you to pieces!
In August 2018 I did a trip up North, with my friend Catrìona to visit one of her besties, Alix, who was living on a farm in Caithness, the very North of Scotland. Back then Alix was engaged to a member of the Sutherland clan (they are now happily married!). When they say that the further north you go, the warmer and more welcoming the people are, I must say it is true! For a deep Southern Mediterranean soul like mine, Thurso was a spot “at the end of the world”. The nature was wild, practically there were no trees, just some bush species, as nothing really grows up easily up there. The land was flat, green, with sheep everywhere and the wind was the master! The Sutherland family hosted us and it was for me a pleasure and a honor to take some shots of the first two beautiful kids of Fiona & Kenneth (Alix’s brother and sister in laws)! It was good to see in their eyes the excitement, the sense of freedom that they had, as well as their joyful nature but also the deep connection that they had with their mum and dad! Enjoy these lovely memories!
I love this one, below!
Whilst sipping my cup of coffee in the kitchen, this morning I thought about the wonderful people I have met and photographed over the last 16 years. There is something about the connection one can develop with his clients during the limited time of a photo session that seems to overpower the small talk one would expect from such a shoot. Perhaps it has to do with the fact of feeling comfortable enough to show your soul to someone for a moment and walk away less bound by the world. Or maybe it is just about showing and sharing moments with those who are the most precious to you. Back in the summer 2018, I had the chance to observe beautiful Fiona while playing and interacting with her parents and also to admire their deep bond. This family really holds a very special place in my heart and I am thankful that they really could express themselves freely in front of my camera!
On a sunny June day I took some shots of little Lola. We started at Granton Beach, then we found as strategic second location a backyard in the neighborhood! Lola was so full of live, perfectly dressed up like a young lady of the early 20th century, and Bladine was so fond of her daughter and is such a creative soul! We had fun and possibly also this allowed us to get home with some beautiful photographic memories!
Ella, Milly & Pippa are the Fyfe sisters. I had the pleasure to meet them with their parents, Lynsey and Ross, in May 2018. They are friends of friends and we spent a couple of hours together at their place. I was touched by their warm welcome and to observe the mutual love and deep respect that the members of this lovely family had one for another. The girls were simply great, the 2 oldest were really sociable and pleasantly lively. I am delighted by the outcome of this session that and warmed my heart and was uncomplicated! Thank you Lynsey & Ross and for trusting my photographic skills!
I was introduced to Erica by our mutual friend Catrìona and we became friends. She invited me to her home to take some portraits of her beautiful 16 months old Florence, her youngest daughter. Florence was not only given a beautiful name by her parents, she was also a beautiful child, self-confident and curious. She was shy but not scared and after a few minutes of a wee chat, she became pretty comfortable in front of the camera so that we could easily work together and, at the end of the shooting, there was some big eruptive laughs from her side, also thanks to her super momma’s love and help, plus the beneficial presence of a sweet and careful Ethel (their fluffy doggy!). The vibrant and powerful colors of Florence’s outfits won’t come unnoticed! Thank you Erica & Mark for trusting my artistic capabilities. Enjoy these lovely photo memories dated April 2017!
Eva was a cute, attentive, inquisitive and calm baby. She had beautiful, big, deep blue eyes and she was astoundingly cherished by her parents and family who were very much fond of her! A big Thanks to the Cooper family for posing in front of my lens! Enjoy these lovely memories dated March 2018!
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 