Portrait

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

Sandie Robertson

Sandie Robertson is a trainer and wellness coach whom I photographed several times in the past years. Gearing up for another photo shoot earlier this summer, Sandie decided to go beyond the usual headshot/portrait photos we had done in the past - the ever-brilliant I'll Be Your Mirror was asked to help with styling the session and Ingliston Country Club in Bishopton was chosen for its location. Given Sandie's background in all things equestrian (both as a show jumper and now as an equestrian confidence and performance coach) and her past career as a model it all made sense. Results below:

Photography: Kris Kesiak
Styling: I'll Be Your Mirror
Hair & Make Up: Caroline McKeirnan
Clothes: Finery, Whistles, Jaeger, ChloéJigsaw, The Kooples, Kurt Geiger

Caroline Stewart Bridal Make Up

I've worked with Caroline Stewart on numerous shoots throughout the years, she's a brilliant makeup artist and a pleasure to have around (that last bit always helps!). Caroline got in touch a couple of months ago and asked me to take some promotional images for the bridal side of her makeup business. Kirsty Low from Model Team was our face for the day and we spent a gorgeous sunny afternoon in Edinburgh taking pictures. All shot with natural light (although we did use a diffuser and a reflector throughout). Have a look below:

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Christine Bovill Album Promo

I've written about working with Christine Bovill, the chanteuse supreme, on a couple of occasions (here and here) but we actually go way back. When I was a student in the early 2000s, I used to work at this Italian coffee shop in Finnieston called Espresso. Christine may be best known for singing in French but she also has a soft spot for all things Italian and was a frequent visitor at the café as she lived nearby (she named her debut album Derby Street after all). Eventually, I quit that job, Christine moved flats and we lost touch for a decade or so until we bumped into each other at a function in the summer of 2013 (she was singing, I was taking pictures). After so many years it took us a while to figure out how we knew each other but it eventually clicked - Espresso! What followed was not only a brilliant working relationship but also a treasured friendship.

When Christine Bovill was getting ready to release her sophomore album The Sentence That I Serve, I was brought on board to oversee the whole visual side of the project - from photographing the recording process as well as the single/album covers to designing the CD packaging and finally filming the EPK. It was a lot of work but I couldn't have been happier to be involved.

EPK Video:

Recording/Rehearsals (with The Strange Blue Dreams):

Single Cover Shoot:

Album Cover Shoot: