Bliadhna Mhath Ur {Scottish Gaelic}

Happy New Year {English English}

The snow is still outside from before Christmas and the festive period is flying by. There's a load of old 'tosh' on the TV but I'm looking forward to Jools Holland's Hootenanny. Peace and a Happy New Year.

Great (Forgotten) Albums

My Top 30

This time last year I blogged my 100 favourite cover songs. This year I thought I'd blog my favourite "forgotten" albums. Look at any list of Great Albums and you'll see The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's", The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds", Bob Dylan "Blonde on Blonde" and Marvin Gaye "What's Going On" in the top 10. Now don't get me wrong these are indeed great albums but it's all a bit predictable.

So here's a 30 you won't find in other top 30s; in alphabetical order'ish. There's links for Spotify.com where Spotify has the album.

16 Lovers Lane (1988) : The Go-Betweens
Back In The DHSS (1985) : Half Man Half Biscuit
Coast to Coast Motel (1995) : G Love and Special Sauce
Diamond Life (1984) : Sade
Entertainment (1979) : Gang of Four
Forces of Victory (1979) : Linton Kwesi Johnson
George Best (1987) : Wedding Present
Give It Up (1972) : Bonnie Raitt
Hejira (1976) : Joni Mitchell
It's Alive (1978) : Ramones
It's Great When You're Straight (1995) : Black Grape
It's My Life (1984) : Talk Talk
Joan Armatrading (1976) : Joan Armatrading
Knife (1984) : Aztec Camera
Look Sharp (1979) : Joe Jackson
Malpractice (1975) : Dr. Feelgood
New Boots and Panties (1977) : Ian Dury and the Blockheads
Man (1996) : Neneh Cherry
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1980) : OMD
Pink Flag (1977) : Wire
Playing With a Different Sex (1981) : Au Pairs
Raincoats (1979) : Raincoats
Real Life (1978) : Magazine
Rickie Lee Jones (1979) : Rickie Lee Jones
Secondhand Daylight (1979) : Magazine
Slaughter on 10th Avenue (1974) : Mick Ronson
The B-52's (1979) : The B-52's
The Boys (1977) : The Boys
The Orange Juice (1984) : Orange Juice
You're Gonna Get It (1978) : Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers


Hope you're having a great time over the festive period.

Nollaig Chridheil {Scottish Gaelic}

Merry Christmas {English English}

It's that time of year again. Snow outside, the wee one is in bed with dreams of the morning and I'm (quietly) wrapping the last of the presents. I wish you all Peace and a Merry Christmas.

Pre Wedding Shoots

What Are They?

I didn't invent the "prewedding shoot" (if you wikipedia "Kim Mason" you'll see I haven't invented anything) nor am I the only wedding photographer offering the "pre-wedding shoot" (but as you can see I'm a wedding photographer who doesn't know how to spell/format the phrase "pre wedding shoot"). These shoots have been round for years so it's surprising to meet so many wedding couples who have no idea what they are.

The pre wedding shoot is a few hours (outdoors) of me taking relaxed/informal photographs of you and your partner. I normally use Pollok Park, Glasgow and it's an opportunity for the three of us to get to know each other. It helps to build an important familiarity between couple and photographer which in turn aids my (natural) approach wedding photography. Afterwards I produce a dvd slideshow of the shoot for you to keep. So you get some great photographs of the two of you; something not many couples already have.

I offer the pre wedding shoot inclusive of my wedding photography service.

Here's a few example images from past pre wedding shoots :

Photography Exhibition : Edinburgh

Norman Taylor : Norman's Old Shed

Norman is a Belfast-born photographer with sight loss. This exhibition is a collection of over 1000 works depicting his garden shed - a project that highlights light and dark, shades and textures, atmosphere, feelings and moods. Here's a link to Norman's website link

4 December 2009 to 15 January 2010
Mon to Fri : 09:30 - 16:30

RNIPB (Scotland)
12/14 Hillside Crescent
Edinburgh
EH7 5EA
Scotland

Tel : 0131 652 3140

Christmas Fayre : Personal Work For Sale

It's the start of the Christmas Fayre period and on Saturday December 12th my daughter's school, the Sgoil Ghaidhlig Ghlaschu (Glasgow Gaelic School), has a Fayre. This year I'll have a stall where you can buy prints of my personal work. The Fayre is in the morning from 10:00 until 12:00. If you're passing or live nearby please pop in and help support the school. All my prints will be half price; here's a few examples of the images I'll have for sale :








In the past (when I've been a stall holder at Art Fayres) I also had enquiries about Wedding and Portrait Photography. So this time I will have sample wedding and portrait albums with me as well.

Here's the address :
Glasgow Gaelic School
Woodside Campus
147 Berkeley Street
Glasgow
G3 7HP