Duo

Travelling Mercies

“Travelling Mercies” is a recent album from husband and wife duo Ashton Lane, and it topped UK Official Country Artists Album Charts earlier this year. I was approached by Esther and Tim last summer to photograph and design the album packaging. The shoot took place last September in one of my favourite places, Mugdock Park. In fact, I keep meaning to do a separate blog devoted to sessions I did there over the years (and there have been many), hopefully I’ll get to it soon. Anyway, back to Ashton Lane, I always get a bit nervous when my brief for a Glasgow based shoot includes words “outdoors” and “sunny” simultaneously - I may have many tricks up my sleeve but controlling the weather isn’t one of them so all you can do is hope that you’ll get lucky. And lucky we were indeed - it was a beautiful sunny evening, perfect for what we were trying to achieve.

Behind the scenes:

GEAR
Nikon D850 + Nikkor 85mm f1.4

Seafret

Seafret are Jack Sedman and Harry Draper, two super talented guys from Northern England, who released their debut album in 2016. Last summer they were filming a video for their recent single “Monsters” and I was asked to take some promotional images for the band in between takes. It ended up being one of my favourite shoots of 2018 - very laid back, all natural and relaxed, in a great setting (ex-dynamite storage warehouse in Ayrshire with lots of weird stuff inside and in the surrounding area). I recently worked with Seafret again while they were up in Glasgow recording but for now here are some images from that first shoot last summer:

Location scouting shots:

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GEAR:
Nikon D4
Nikkor 50mm f1.4

Bare Knuckle

"Bare Knuckle" is the title of Chris Stout & Catriona McKay's new album. It was released last December to unanimous critical acclaim and the duo has just been nominated for BBC Radio 2 Folk Award 2018 (Best Duo category). I've worked with Chris and Catriona for many years but "Bare Knuckle" was definitely the first time I was involved in their project to such extent - from promotional photoshoot to album artwork and promo posters, from filming the title track's music video to covering the album launch at Queen's Hall in Edinburgh. I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to my work so being able to oversee every aspect of this album's rollout (creatively speaking at least) was truly rewarding. It's also been an absolute pleasure, sometimes a challenge (I'd never done a music video before) but above all a genuine privilege to work with artists of this calibre who also happen to be really decent human beings. 

ALBUM PROMO

ALBUM COVER

LIVE AT QUEEN'S HALL

CELTIC CONNECTIONS PROMO

Hello 2018

Had a super quiet New Year with friends in Otter Ferry and now it's back to Glasgow and back to work. Happily though, I have to say, as I always get a bit lost during the festive season - sitting on the couch, stuffing your face and doing nothing is fun for a day or two but after that, I start getting antsy. So here we are, another year over and below are some of my favourite images I took in 2017. Hope you like them too.

Govanhill Baths Editorial, January 2017

Govanhill Baths Editorial, January 2017

I’ll Be Your Mirror, February 2017

I’ll Be Your Mirror, February 2017

Laura Hurst, April 2017

Laura Hurst, April 2017

The Dolls, April 2017

The Dolls, April 2017

Caezar, May 2017

Caezar, May 2017

Rory Hutton, June 2017

Rory Hutton, June 2017

Sandie Robertson, June 2017

Sandie Robertson, June 2017

Stuart Cosgrove, July 2017

Stuart Cosgrove, July 2017

Chris Stout & Catriona McKay "Bare Knuckle" Album Cover, August 2017

Chris Stout & Catriona McKay "Bare Knuckle" Album Cover, August 2017

Nicole Caldwell, September 2017

Nicole Caldwell, September 2017

Colin Gavigan, October 2017

Colin Gavigan, October 2017

Rosie Noon, Designer photographed for Nu Blvck, November 2017

Rosie Noon, Designer photographed for Nu Blvck, November 2017

The Eves, December 2017

The Eves, December 2017

And for my own future reference more than anything else,
my favourite music of 2017 (in no particular order):

ALBUMS:

Margo Price "All American Made"

Tove Lo "Blue Lips"

Dua Lipa "Dua Lipa"

Lorde "Melodrama"

Pink "Beautiful Trauma"

Betty Who "The Valley"

Madonna "Rebel Heart Tour Live"

Stout & McKay "Bare Knuckle"

Lana Del Rey "Lust For Life"

Drake "More Life"

SONGS

Sigrid "Strangers"

Tove Lo "Disco Tits"

Dua Lipa "IDGAF"

Lorde "Green Light"

Pink "Beautiful Trauma"

Taylor Swift "Don't Blame Me"

Selena Gomez "Bad Liar"

Charli XCX "Boys"

Lana Del Rey "Love"

Fergie "Tension"