I’ve known Sheila since we were kids. We were both day-students at the Gaelic College and often met over bagged lunches in the cafeteria with the other 3 day students. We ended up in the same piping classes and played in the same pipe band. When a couple of guys from the Aberdeen Celtic Society came over to the College, Sheila met Calum and…the rest is history. They now live in Scotland with their two adorable freckly kids Christy and Duncan. During my trip over to Glasgow, they came into the city to pick me up and we drove out to the Whitelee Windfarm for their session. Lots of laughs followed until the moment we went for lunch and little Duncan spotted the life-sized skeleton statue in the cafe. He ate his sandwich in tears underneath the table and we bolted once the last bites were chewed.

I had a quick session with Angus, Kenneth and Calum MacKenzie following the Piper’s Ceilidh during Celtic Colours. After the finale, we beelined to South Haven to my old piping instructor’s house, and had a quick chat with her grandmother to ask if we could borrow her barn for a few photos. She thought we were a bit crazy, but laughed and said fine…as long as I would take a few photos of the boys in front of the barn on her camera. Not only are the MacKenzie boys super multitalented musicians, they’re among the funniest people I know. Like any good trio of brothers, they were pestering each other the entire session and laughing at the expense of the others (mostly Kenneth). The boys released an album, “Piob Is Fidheall” last year and it’s really great! They kindly allowed me to use a track for my year end slideshow and if you haven’t heard them play yet, make it a priority as they’re pure talent!

The annual family portrait session with the Magees has come and gone. I had to wait until now to post the photos since they are always passed out as Christmas gifts from the Magees to the rest of the family. I spent Christmas Eve with Kendyl and Callum dancing, counting elves,and decorating imaginary Christmas trees during the family get together. They are such clever kids and make me laugh my head off…not to mention it’s nice to have a few people around who humour my crazy imagination.

I made a trip out to the Ross Family home to finish off our session. December can be a bit chilly for portrait sessions, so we stuck indoors for a little bit. I believe it was my fifth or sixth session with the Ross family, and each time we meet up it’s a treat!

That’s more like it Ronin! A snuggle from his big sister led to big baby giggles yesterday! More to come in the next few days as well as another image from this session on Monday morning over on the Photographer Network blog as my photo of the week.