Carberry Tower Wedding Video

Caberry Tower Wedding Film

Carberry Tower just outside Musselburgh is a beautiful venue and this was my first time shooting a wedding video there which was just a pleasure.

I shoot my cinematic wedding videos all over Scotland which often involves a lot of travelling which can be fun but also during the height of the wedding season quite exhausting, Carberry Tower is super convenient being a very short trip from my house.

I found that the staff at Carberry Tower were excellent – very helpful which always makes my job shooting wedding videos much easier.

I arrived on the day and started capturing my cinematic establishing shots as I always do a good couple of hours before the ceremony to make sure I’m not rushed having plenty of time of time to find all the best shots.

Directly below you will find the highlights film from Leanne & Christopher’s wedding video at Carberry Tower, you can also view it at the very bottom of this post.  All images are frame exports from the wedding video.

If you are interested in having a wedding video at Carberry Tower just get in touch to check my availability – mail@inspirevideo.co.uk  www.inspirevideo.co.uk

 

 

Cinematic & discreet wedding video by Inspire Video

http://www.inspirevideo.co.uk

Peebles Hydro Hotel Wedding Video – Ruth & Calum

It was an absolute pleasure to film Ruth & Callum’s wedding video at St Pauls Church in Galashiels and Peebles Hydro Hotel.

You can view their wedding highlight video directly below and at the very bottom of this blog post.  The images are frame exports from the wedding video.

If you are looking for a videographer for you wedding at Peebles Hydro Hotel or St Pauls Church in Galashiels please get in touch to check my availability.  www.inspirevideo.co.uk

 

Hen Night Idea Edinburgh – Music Video!

Ideas for Hen nights and Stag nights tend to not be very original.  I think with people’s lives being ever more public with social media services like facebook, twitter and instagram the pressure to come up with original ideas is just getting stronger.  A group of girls definitely had a fantastic idea for a hen night when they decided it would be great fun to spend a few hours in the evening before their meal shooting a music video.  They contacted a few videographers in Edinburgh to find out who was available and to get some quotes.  I was one of the Edinburgh based videographers they contacted and after seeing the quality of my work and listening to some of my ideas were very happy to proceed with myself.

I have to say I was really excited to get involved as shooting a music video for a hen do sounded like such a fun idea!

Suzanne ‘the hen’ was bursting with enthusiasm and loved performing, she really had the lip syncing nailed.  We all brought ideas to the table and I encouraged anyone who had something they wanted to try to speak up as it would be much more fun for them the more input they had.

Take a look at the resulting video directly below, maybe a music video could be the perfect idea for your Hen do or Stag do in Edinburgh, Glasgow or anywhere in Scotland.

Get in touch for a chat and a quote – mail@inspirevideo.co.uk 07962070448

Below are a collection of frame exports from the Hen Do music video

http://www.inspirevideo.co.uk

mail@inspirevideo.co.uk

07962070448

Cinechopper University Review

I recently started getting into aerial video and when I ever get into anything I seriously get into it.  I devoured hours and hours of content on YouTube relating to flying multi-rotor UAV’s and shooting aerial video.

I am going to get my qualification very soon to fly my quadcopter commercially which is just incredibly exciting.  I want to make sure I know as much about this stuff as possible and when I stumbled across a website called ‘Cinechopper University’ I thought it sounded fantastic.  It was created by a seasoned professional aerial videographer who has shot lots of professional content.

I’ll give you an idea of where I was after around 6 weeks of purchasing a DJI Phantom 2.  I had already watched many hours of free content online, attached the Zenmuse 3 axis gimble,added FPV, upgraded antenna’s, added iOSD mini for telemetry, replaced the receiver for an upgraded transmitter – a Futaba 14SG which I had programmed myself (including exponential controls), upgraded props, started using a transmitter tray and been out shooting almost every day to practice.  It was after learning and doing all this I decided to try a Cinechopper University membership.

Some of the tutorials available on cinechopper university

I have to say I was quite disappointed – everything is a bit too brief for my liking – I think the label of university was the problem, it raised my expectations too much.  Maybe ‘school’ or just ‘tutorials’ would have been more appropriate to the amount of info provided.  You do after all go to university with a solid education already in place and come out extremely well-educated – well beyond what you started with.

There isn’t really anything here that you can’t find for free on YouTube – and in much greater detail.  If you are literally just getting started and haven’t watched anything already it’s probably worth getting the month membership, watching the videos one evening and then cancelling it.  It will give you a nice overview of the things you will most likely want to learn about in more detail – which you can do for free elsewhere.

If you’re interested in learning more you can visit cinechopper university here – http://cinechopperuniversity.com/

Graupner Props and the DJI Phantom – An Odyssey

Part 1 of 2

I have literally looked at every possible avenue of upgrade in an attempt to squeeze the absolute pinnacle of filming performance from the DJI Phantom 2.

One alteration that seems to be fairly common when it comes to Phantom mods is replacement props – often opting for a less flexible material like carbon fibre. I had no idea it would prove to be the most time-consuming and frustrating upgrade I have tried.

I have been pretty happy with the results using the stock DJI self tightening props although it would seem I can still get some rolling shutter jello on the GoPro in high wind – whether a harder prop will cause less vibration in higher winds or while pushing the speed of the Phantom to the limit is something I intend to find out.

I watched a video on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6z04r2OZtE) showing a comparison between a few different props on the Phantom and the difference in vibrations caused. The best in the test were the 3 bladed 9-5” E Props from Graupner. Made from a reinforced plastic they have much less flex and actually give less flight time than the stock props, like the tester though I was interested in how they perform for filming.

I live in the UK and unfortunately they don’t seem to be a widely stocked item, the only retailer I could find who stocked them was based in America. After waiting six days they arrived and my excitement was immediately replaced with a deep disappointment when I realised they are sold individually and not in pairs – cue a prompt second order.

In the mean time I was figuring out how best to mount the two Graupner props I had to the DJI motors. I watched a tutorial on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJMrGobdsVg) and followed their instructions. I ran into problem number one. The M6 nyloc nuts are commonly threaded in the standard clockwise direction but you also need counter-clockwise versions for two of the four motors – these are not readily available anywhere in the would it would seem.

I then purchased some of the nuts designed for the original Phantom that didn’t have stock self tightening props. The issue with these and the Graupner props is their movement stops before reasonable contact is made with the prop. In the YouTube video they used a rubber washer between the motor and the prop and I decided it would maybe be more balanced if I used a metal washer so purchased a bag of steel M6 washers. They had to go on between the prop and the nut and I then discovered that even though the nut will now fully tighten against the prop the prop would still move when some reasonable pressure was applied. In all fairness it isn’t likely that kind of pressure would ever occur in the air and if you did crash that movement may save both prop and motor.

I wanted to tighten the bolt more to be safe. The trouble with these Graupner props is the hub is wide than the stock DJI’s which means you can’t fit the little tool DJI provide you with to grip the motors with due to the shape. I was advised by my girlfriends Dad who is a very handy man to file the tool which would allow it to slip on with the Graupners in place. Pictured below is the result of some vigorous filing.

It worked fantastically! Here comes a massive word of warning however… Do not over tighten the bolts on your DJI motors – or any motors I would imagine.

I kept tightening, checking and tightening until I completely removed the threaded part of the motor. I can say with only metal making contact with the props you will never get it tight to the point of not being able to move the prop at all – you will damage the metal on the motor first.

Bloody disaster. I ordered a replacement motor which I’m sure will be a fun experience to fit involving some soldering work.

For now though having started the process of trying some new props it has taken nearly three weeks and I’m still waiting on the second two Graupner props and the replacement motor to arrive. It really is proving to be quite an unexpected ordeal and I’m left thinking – is this upgrade really going to be worth it? I’ll let you know in Part 2 of this blog.

Middleton Hall Wedding Photography

Working as a wedding photographer at Middleton Hall in Northumberland was an absolute pleasure.  I was truly blessed with a fantastic couple to compliment my first experience doing wedding photography at Middleton Hall.

It was late in the year however at the end of December and the one thing that didn’t work out was the weather.  I rained heavily all day which was a real shame as the grounds are so beautiful and provide many fantastic photographic opportunities.

Middleton Hall is perfect for wedding photography even on a rainy day, the interior is beautiful with loads of great opportunities for fantastic shots.

Please enjoy this selection of the wedding photographs from the album I put together from my first wedding at Middleton Hall.  Please note this is not the complete album.

I started the wedding day at Middleton Hall by photographing some nice detail shots.

The rooms in Middleton Hall are large and light which allowed for some great shots as everyone got prepared in the morning.

A moment not to be missed is the first time the Father of the Bride lays eyes on his daughter in her wedding dress.  I captured a small sequence of shots and left them to some privacy to enjoy a moment before the ceremony.

The ceremony was beautiful set in Middleton Hall’s main hall and using a range of lenses I was able to discreetly move around and capture a nice variety of shots from intimate close-ups to ultra-wide shots of the whole room.  With the huge Christmas tree Middleton Hall certainly looks great at Christmas!

The very talented Eddie Miller who was entertaining everyone after the ceremony with an acoustic set.

We were really up against the clock when it came to capturing some images of just the Bride and Groom.  We tried a couple of different rooms with some more traditional shots before trying something a little more fun!

Photographing a Bride & Groom in a bathroom may sound a bit odd but it was their suggestion!  The bath featured in the bathroom below was originally on a ship and I immediately knew it would be great fun using it for some photos.  It only took a few minutes before everyone piled in and I just started snapping away trying to capture the energy and fun everyone was having!

The big group shot was a lot of fun as everyone was just having a great time and I think you can really see it in these images.

The main hall had been set up for the evening meal and looked truly magical when it was ready with all the candles and tables set up.

I like to work in a very discreet manner and during a speech someone actually mentioned they weren’t sure where I was but I popped up from crouching on my knees between a few tables to reassure them I was still there!  That’s how discreet I am!  

We did the group shots after the meal as we had far more time and space to work with at this point and we had a great time shooting them.  This wall in the great hall at Middleton Hall was a great interior backdrop to work with.

Once the evening reception was under way I set up my off camera flashes to capture some great dancing shots.  Off camera flash looks so much better than on camera and you can do some very creative shots like the one just below.

The first dance was a lot of fun to shoot, the great hall at Middleton Hall is just such a fantastic room to work in.  I was able to capture the essential more close up shots and I nipped up the stairs to capture an nice wide shot of the whole room which worked out great.

As I mentioned it had rained all day and I decided we should use it to our advantage and nip outside to capture a dramatic shot of the bride & groom with back lit rain drops – the heavy rain that had been there was of course now just a light drizzle!  Oh well, it’s not as dramatic as it could have been but I still think it a beautiful shot!

Here is a collage of the nights partying!

I have worked at so many amazing venues over the years but Middleton Hall has instantly become one of my favourites.  I know everyone enjoyed the wedding so much and working as a photographer, Middleton Hall is a perfect venue.

If you are looking for a photographer for your wedding at Middleton Hall I’d love to hear from you!  Click the link below to visit my website –

Middleton Hall Wedding Photographer

I also shoot amazing, cinematic wedding videos so if you want a wedding video at Middleton Hall just get in touch.

Middleton Hall Wedding Video

Lochside Hotel Wedding Film

Lochside Hotel Wedding Video

Winter weddings in Scotland can be problematic due to extreme weather. I’m pleased to say however that my first wedding film of 2013 went very well and the weather behaved itself perfectly!

The wedding was through in the West of Scotland in Cumnock with the ceremony at the Parish Church of St John the Evangelist and the reception at the Lochside Hotel set in picturesque surroundings. I attended the rehearsal the evening before the big day and decided on my discreet camera positions. Being a Catholic ceremony the Bride and Groom would be sat at an angle during the ceremony and stand up where they were to exchange vows. I’m not sure if all Catholic ceremonies are held this way but certainly every one I have filmed have been like this. It’s not a problem but does require a little more planning in terms of camera placement to make sure I will be getting the best angles throughout the ceremony.

I arrived nice and early – my usual three hours before the ceremony to start capturing the cinematic establishing shots to really set the scene in style. The exterior of St Johns was tricky as there wasn’t really any great angles to shoot it from, I tried my best but spent most of my time inside where it looks great and there was much more opportunity for great shots. Being the 5^th of January the Church still had Christmas decorations and a nativity scene set up which I used a little as it helps to visually tell the story of what time of year the wedding took place on. Once I had finished I got all my bulky cinematic equipment packed away and set up my cameras ready to discreetly to capture the ceremony.

Once everything was ready for the ceremony I took my single camera outside to start capturing the guests and wedding party arriving. I work with the same type of camera as the photographers which is great for capturing nice candid footage, although I use a monopod for stability most people think I’m another photographer – in fact I quite often get people asking me take their photo! People really do act very differently to when I used to use my big professional video camera, there was no doubt about what I was doing and understandably people would turn their backs to me or just look self conscious. I have made so many wedding videos now that I have learned how to balance keeping out the way whilst still managing to capture great footage, shooting HD video with the stills camera has made my job way easier!

I mentioned above that the weather was kind but being January it was still pretty chilly! The guests didn’t hang about, they all made their way from the cars and buses into the Church pretty quickly so I had to work extra fast to make sure I captured enough footage for the wedding film. I actually captured a little more footage than usual of everyone inside the Church waiting as that’s just where they spent most of the time – I go where the action goes!

I set my extra camera’s to record as we approached the start time of the ceremony and with everything ready I made my way outside to await the arrival of the Bride. I got my first real opportunity to say hello to Tom, one of the professional photographers for the day. We both waited in the cold and right on time Ezra the Bride pulled into the Church car park in a beautiful Rolls Royce. John the second professional photographer arrived and the three of us captured shots of the Bride and Bridesmaids gathering outside the church ready for the ceremony.

I made my way to my discreet spot hidden behind a pillar from both my other cameras and most of the guests but with a great view of the Bride and Groom. I wasn’t able to capture the wedding party making their way down the aisle from my position but that’s the huge benefit of having some additional camera angles as this was captured perfectly from two cameras placed right at the back.

The ceremony went absolutely perfectly. The only potential issue was the underfloor heaters were very noisy so thank god I had the Groom and Minister wearing hidden clip-on microphones otherwise I wouldn’t have heard a word they said! They were standing right next to one and the Bride actually ran over it as she entered to avoid a Marlyn Monroe moment with her dress being lifted my the strong blast of warm air being blown upwards. Things like this really can’t be avoided but I captured the best quality sound that was possible and as a bonus I use software that can further reduce the background hum of the heaters.

The best man had been warned during the rehearsal to be very careful not to drop the rings down the heating grill as he wouldn’t be going down after them! Luckily there was no such disaster during the ceremony.

After the ceremony at the Parish Church of St John the Evangelist there were a few photos outside but with clouds in the sky looking a little ominous everyone piled into their cars and made their way to the Lochside Hotel.

Being my first Lochside Hotel wedding video I had already dropped in past earlier in the morning before going to the church to check it out in person. I was really impressed, the photos on their web site don’t really do the venue or the location justice. The views are fantastic and the hotel is clean, modern and well maintained. The room they were holding the wedding breakfast and evening reception was really nice with a big window at one end looking across the loch.

When we arrived at the Lochside Hotel everyone made their way outside to have some photos taken. One of the guests was actually a photography student and was happy to help round people up and assist John & Tom to get them posed and ready. During these occasions I love having the room to run around and capture lots of different angles of the guests having their photos taken.

The Lochside Hotel really provided some great backgrounds for the photographs and of course it’s going to look great on the wedding film too! The sun was low in the sky generating some beautiful back light to everyone. Being January once the photos were taken everyone retreated back inside the hotel to warm up and have a drink.

Inside I was able to capture lots of nice footage of guests enjoying themselves, despite being a winter wedding the whole day had a nice warm feeling to it.

The speeches went really well and I felt I managed to deal with the large candle holders and flower bouquets that obstructed my line of sight filming from the other sides of the room. To make things a bit more complicated there were a few speeches from people not at the top table but I was able to capture them perfectly having the extra coverage from my 4 cameras.

The Bride & Groom decided they wanted to leave their cake cutting till the evening reception just before their first dance so their evening guests could see it. The wedding cake was definitely the source of a lot of interest as it really was something else.

The first dance was lots of fun to film as they were dancing on one of those floors covered in little lights which look like stars. I really love those dance floors, they look fantastic on video and I think they just look really magical! My camera is amazing in low light which means I never need to use additional lighting to blast the guests but the reception room in the Lochside Hotel was well illuminated with all the different lights so it was great for the wedding film.

For me shooting a wedding film at Lochside Hotel was made all the more pleasurable due to the friendly and helpful staff. During the time at Lochside Hotel the staff were fantastic at keeping everything very well organised but also being very accommodating with any last minute changes or requests. It’s not surprising when you discover how popular they are as a wedding venue, I caught a glimpse of their calender and they are booked solid! If you are interested in having your wedding at the Lochside hotel I would start making enquiries asap. They won ‘best wedding venue’ in Scotland with the VOWS awards and in the past have also won ‘best venue co-ordinator’ and a previous ‘best wedding venue’ award.

Please take the time to watch the highlights from this Lochside Hotel wedding video below.

Lochside Hotel Wedding Film

I really look forward to shooting another wedding film at Lochside Hotel. If you’re having your wedding at Lochside Hotel and are interested in having a cinematic wedding film to remember your big day, please get in touch as I’d love to hear from you!

You can view up to date sample videos and get more information on my website here.

Cinematic Wedding Films by Inspire Video

Oslo winter break 2013

Beautiful light on the flight over.

I just got back from a short winter break in Oslo, Norway. I have most of my time off during the winter months and over the past few years I have started selecting a random European city based on the cheap flights on offer by Ryan air. Here is a very brief account of my time in Oslo and a collection of some of my favourite photos I captured across my two days in the city.

Book shop tucked out the way

The flights cost about £35 return from Edinburgh which is amazing but it actually turned out to be a much pricier break than I had expected. Once thing I had neglected to check was the location of the airport. It was listed as Oslo Torp which I foolishly assumed would be near Oslo.  It turned out to be Sandefjord Airport which is an hour and a half bus ride from Oslo which added time but more importantly extra cost to the budget trip.

Oslo’s central station

Tram stop just outside Vigeland Park

I stayed at the Gruner Apartments which were great as they had cooking facilities which meant I could avoid eating out for every meal. After visiting the nearest supermarket, I accepted that everything sounded expensive due to the Norwegian national currency the kroner, working out at around 8 kroner to the pound.  I went ahead and filled my shopping basket with some essentials for the apartment. I was in for a fright however when my little bit of food shopping came to about 450 kroner and I calculated I had spent over £50! When I heard Norway was expensive I really wasn’t prepared for just how expensive it is. After a little bit of research into the country I discovered why everything is so expensive and learned to just accept it. Thank god I wasn’t there for any longer than a few days though!

Vigeland Park

Vigeland Park

Vigeland Park

Expensiveness aside, Oslo is a beautiful city full of stunning views, adorned with interesting sculptures and very modern, stylish buildings. Walking around with my camera I was in for a treat with lots to look at and capture.

Joggers in Vigeland Park

Taken through the main gate into Vigeland Park

During my two days in Oslo I visited the Vigeland Sculpture Park, Nobel Peace Centre, Opera House, Akershus Castle, Royal Palace and the Munch Museum.

Waterfront near the Nobel Peace Centre

Waterfront near the Nobel Peace Centre

Waterfront near the Nobel Peace Centre

The Royal Palace and Akershus Castle were both closed but I still enjoyed looking at them from the outside. Standing in front of the Royal Palace there were beautiful views across the Norwegian capital and while I was there I was blessed with a gorgeous sun set. Vigeland sculpture park was fantastic and definitely warranted being my first stop, being free to enter was a huge bonus! It really piqued my curiosity to learn more about Gustav Vigeland, the artist responsible for the two hundred plus sculptures in the park.

Outside Oslo Central Station

The Nobel Peace Centre was also really interesting and I would really recommend a visit. The ground floor was dedicated to Gandhi who had never actually won a Nobel Peace prize but had been nominated several times before his assassination. The upper floor was predominantly dedicated to the European Union which won the Nobel Peace prize in 2012. It was here I learned the most from the Nobel Peace Centre and really enjoyed the exhibition.

Sculpture in central Oslo

I was aware how much I needed to be careful with my remaining kroner which had been disappearing faster than I had anticipated. I visited the Opera House which was a fantastic building and I would have loved to get the guided tour of its interior but decided not to due to the cost.  I settled instead, for exploring its roof which you can walk over allowing you to take in great views of the city. It felt like walking around on an icy, strange concrete desert in the sky!

Modern buildings near the Opera House

Modern buildings near the Opera House

I think these are funky bike racks…

Oslo Opera House

The Munch museum was definitely a highlight – I love weird art and Edvard Munch certainly created lots of it! I found it amazing to discover that his most famous painting ‘The Scream’, along with another painting had been stolen from the museum by armed robbers in 2004 and later recovered by Police and returned to the museum in 2006. They now have airport-like security at the front of the museum to help protect the contents. Just like Vigeland Park, I left really wanting to learn more about the artist and his work. Munch is a fascinating artist who produced some extremely provocative art – not the kind of stuff I would really want to hang on my wall but I really did just love it!

The cafe inside the Oslo Opera House

Sculpture outside the Opera House I thought looks like a cross between the entrance to the Louvre and an ice berg.

On the roof of the Oslo Opera House

I enjoyed Oslo very much and despite the high cost of everything, I would definitely recommend it as a very interesting city to explore and photograph.

Looking out from in front of the Royal Palace

Ice rink in central Oslo as the sun sets

A peaceful protest in central Oslo

The sun setting on the Norwegian countryside as the bus returns to Sandefjord Airport

Thanks for reading my blog and if you have a  trip to Oslo planned I hope you have a great time!

Inchcolm Island Wedding Video

I travel all over Scotland and the North of England to shoot cinematic wedding films, I have even shot wedding films on some of the Scottish islands. Filming on the Isle of Arran and Isle of Bute were definitely some of the best highlights I’ve had shooting weddings so far. When an enquiry came in for a wedding on Inchcolm Island my immediate thoughts were ‘Oh brilliant, another island wedding! Where is it though?’. The couple had mentioned it was on the Forth near Queensferry and I have to say I had no idea what to expect, how small was this ‘island’? I did a google search and found Inchcolm Island was actually a decent size and Inchcolm Abbey where the ceremony would be held on the island was absolutely beautiful. I was so excited for the wedding and of all my bookings for 2012 I had a feeling it was going to be extra special.

I met the couple Richard & Louisa at their house in Edinburgh for a little chat about my wedding video service and their requirements. They were really such a lovely couple and after meeting with them I was even more excited about the wedding. One thing we discussed was the logistics of getting over to Inchcolm Island on the day of the wedding. I like to arrive at the ceremony venue about 3 hours in advance of the ceremony so I can capture all my cinematic shots to set the scene in style and be set up for the ceremony before the guests arrive so I’m free to capture everyone as soon as they start to arrive. The ferry takes about forty-five minutes so it was clear I would need to get an earlier ferry to everyone else who would arrive on the island only fifteen minutes before the ceremony. It would have been a huge shame to not capture any footage of the guests before they boarded the ferry as they all met and enjoyed breakfast at a hotel in South Queensferry. On the ferry ride too there were some amazing shots to be captured including the Bride steering the ferry! I decided on this occasion to enlist the help of another videographer to capture this part of the day and once the ferry arrived with the guests I would take over and the videographer could return on the same ferry they came on.

I joined Richard, Louisa and their photographer for a little pre wedding look round Inchcolm Island and from the moment we arrived I knew it was going to be perfect for a wedding video. Inside Inchcolm Abbey it looks amazing, it’s basically a ruin but it provides a great backdrop for my cinematic establishing shots and of course for the ceremony itself.

On the day of the wedding I boarded the ferry with all my gear and set off for Inchcolm Island. When I arrived it was very windy, which made life difficult as I started to shoot. My jib which allows me to capture my most cinematic and biggest ‘wow’ shots was not enjoying these abnormally windy conditions and it took me a little longer than usual to finally get the shot. Once I’d captured my establishing shots, I got set up in Inchcolm Abbey for the ceremony. At that point, I just needed to wait for the ferry carrying the wedding party to arrive.

It was now raining as well as the wind becoming almost hurricane like,but I had brought an umbrella which was supposedly so strong it couldn’t turn inside-out. But, as I stood waiting the wind got stronger and stronger … and my invincible umbrella actually did turn inside-out! When the ferry arrived I quickly went to work filming the guests and wedding party as they made their way across the Island to Inchcolm Abbey.

Once the guests had all completed their journey, I returned to the ferry and waited on the open top deck  for the Bride who had been hidden in the captain’s cabin. I was just saying hello to Ryan who was the videographer on the Ferry when the unthinkable happened; I felt a wet slap across my face… and I realised that I’d been ‘bpmbed’ by a seagull! I had to rush down to the ferry toilet to wash the bird muck off my face as quickly as I could so I wouldn’t miss any important shots! Luckily I didn’t miss anything I captured some lovely shots of the Bride and her Dad being piped up to the Abbey.

The ceremony was beautiful and it worked so well with the multi camera set-up I use for filming ceremonies and speeches. It works well in every venue, but I think Inchcolm Abbey was just made for an epic wedding film! I had a perfect hiding spot in one of the windows which meant I was even more out-of-the-way than usual.

Once the ceremony was complete we went outside into the most glorious sunshine; the wind had gone and the rain had stopped – it was just perfect. I captured lots of great footage of everyone getting their photos taken and drinking some champagne.

For the group shot the photographer had everyone gather on the pier which looked fantastic and I managed to capture some nice footage of a guest using a big stick to draw a heart in the sand in front of it.

On the return ferry, spirits were really high as everyone enjoyed some musicians. One was an accordion player and a highlight had to be him playing the A-Team theme tune which got a great reaction.  Every time I hear the A-Team theme tune now I’m always reminded of a beautiful wedding I filmed at Lennoxlove House.  The Groom at that wedding is a Hollywood writer/director and was responsible for the A-Team movie in 2010 starring Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper!

Back on the mainland it was a short commute to Orocco Pier where the reception was being held. Orocco Pier is a really lovely venue and if you’re ever in South Queensferry I would recommend going there for a bite to eat – the food is excellent and the views you get of the bridges on the Forth are fantastic. It has direct access to the beach area which was used to get a few more photos of the Bride & Groom before the meal.

The Bride asked me if  I would stick around after the first dance to film a little surprise she had for the Groom. She was going to get up and sing a song she’d written especially for him! I was very happy to oblige and discreetly set up my cameras ready for the special moment. I shot it with three cameras and I’m really pleased with how it turned out. It was very emotional and touching to watch and re-watching the video it does make the eyes water a little!

Shooting a wedding video on Inchcolm Island was a real treat as was Orocco Pier but as always it’s the couple, the wedding party and all the guests who truly make a wedding fantastic and this one was definitely special.

I can’t wait to shoot another wedding film on Inchcolm Island so if you’re getting married on Inchcolm Island I’d love to hear from you!

Please watch the highlights from Richard & Louisa’s fantastic wedding below!

You can visit my website from any of the below links –

Wedding Video Inchcolm Island

Wedding Video Inchcolm Abbey

Wedding Video Orocco Pier

Wedding Video South Queensferry

Filming bands with multiple cameras, more is better!

When I was in college I had my first experiences of filming live bands as the course tutor was a member of a band and offered us opportunities to get some experience filming live music – I think he just wanted his band filmed for free by students! After college I worked with a company called Nexus on a project in association with Channel 4 which was shooting a live online music show from a club in Edinburgh. Since going full time with my business in 2009 filming Lori Watson’s band in the Scottish Borders was my first opportunity to film a band myself and I was very excited about the opportunity.

Things have changed dramatically as I now (2012) shoot with up to seven cameras but back in 2010 I was shooting with just two – Yes I’ve spent a fortune in just a few years but the results are well worth it! I still think it’s a good video even though my skills and equipment have advanced so much in that time. The thing I still go on about is sound quality, it has to be excellent. The eyes are more forgiving than the ears and although people say audio is 50% of a video I would argue it is worth more than that.

Using just two cameras I don’t believe adds enough variety, with extra camera angles the video would have been far more engaging and entertaining. Now when I’m filming bands I tend to recommend using at least four cameras.

If you are thinking about hiring me to film your band and you’re not sure about whether it’s worth the extra cost to use four cameras over one or two I would highly recommend you compare the videos below.

Below are the two different camera angles used in Lori Watson & Rule of Three’s performance

Lori Watson Camera 1

Lori Watson Camera 2

Below are the four different camera angles used in Kerri Watt’s performance

Kerri Watt Camera 1

Kerri Watt Camera 2

Kerri Watt Camera 3

Kerri Watt Camera 4

The below video is Lori Watson & Rule of Three performing at the Innerleithen Music festival in 2010, filmed with two cameras.

The below video is Kerri Watt performing at King Tuts in Glasgow in 2012, filmed with four cameras.

I find these performances an interesting comparison as the musicians are positioned on stage in almost the exact same way so they are pretty similar apart from the way they were filmed. The extra variety of camera angles used in Kerri Watt’s performance create a far more engrossing and entertaining viewing experience. I think the small extra cost in using the extra cameras really rockets the overall perceived production values of the video.

I recently filmed a band using six cameras but that’s a blog for another time!

Band filming Glasgow

Band filming Edinburgh

Band filming Scottish Borders