Hi, I’m David Conaty
Elopement photographer local to Scotland and surrounding isles, named by New York’s Rangefinder Magazine one of the 30 Rising Stars of wedding photography
It’s my passion to empower you. Eloping is bold, and I’m here to help you confidently regain control of your wedding plans. Together, we can craft an elopement experience that frees you up to focus on what matters: your love.
“Elope” was my simple answer to so many hard questions
like, “how do we make this fun?” and, “what’s a way to get married that’s also badass?”
We all romanticize our lives, even if we’re really more lowkey than photos portray (slowly raises hand). We can still be the heroes of our own epic. Isn’t that what this whole elopement thing is really about? Taking back control? Shifting the focus to us? Creating a day where we look and feel as epic as our fantasies?
That freedom is what inspires me.
My wife and I got married after almost 10 years together – and we waited that long because “wedding” felt synonymous with “stress.” Truthfully, we were content to stay forever-engaged just to avoid planning a wedding!
But then this concept of eloping came along, and answered all our questions.
It’s what makes me feel extra connected to my couples and their stories. It motivates me to provide them the best experience possible, with even more guidance and support than I had.
To the man who started it all and the women who make it worth it
An ode to my dad, love notes to my wife and girls
Nothing will change a man’s life faster than two things: losing his dad, and gaining twin daughters.
When my dad passed from cancer in 2016, he left me his camera, and with it, a way to stay connected with him. Before then, I hadn’t thought much about photography. Now though, it felt like a way to see life through his lens – very literally. I spent the first couple years just going out alone to photograph landscapes. It was something we used to do together, and with him gone, it gave me a peaceful place to grieve.
In those moments alone, I thought a lot about him. I was struck by how fast life passes by; by how little we can control. Then my wife became pregnant with twin girls (double the fun!), and I knew it was time to move fast on our dreams. What type of life did I want for them? What type of dad did I want to be to them?
Photography quickly transformed from a stage of grief for me, to a method of freedom for my family. I started to shoot elopements, discovering a passion for people, their connections and memories. I was hooked.
Soon enough, I was able to quit my 9-5 and move us all to the Isle of Skye, where we can spend more time together as a family.
Here, photography allows me to give them the life they deserve:
A life which is quieter, values experiences over things, and brings us closer to nature
Where you can catch me on my days off
- Chasing my twin daughters around the house (it’s how I stay fit)
- Astrophotography (on the 3 days a year Scotland has clear skies)
- My daily cacao ceremony and meditation (because staying sane nowadays requires practice)
- Consuming anything space-related (yes, I’m obsessed)
- Cooking up ideas for new places to explore on my travels
