A LOCAL firefighter is in the frame for a major national award — for his wedding photography.

Dad-of-two Murray McMillan, who works at the Greenock station and lives in Gourock, is thrilled to be in the running for the ‘Photographer of the Year’ accolade at the Scottish Wedding Awards.

The 44-year-old, who lives in Moorfield Road, said he had no idea his name had been put forward.

Murray said: “I was completely blown away.

“I initially thought it was a wind-up.”

Murray says he has always been interested in photography but started pursuing his passion more seriously about five years ago.

He said: “I’ve just always been interested in photography since I was a kid.

“My mum and dad always gave me a camera when we were on holiday as I loved to take pictures.

“In the last four or five years I started doing music photography and with the advent of social media, people started seeing my photos.

“I was then asked to do a wedding, which I gave a lot of consideration before I went for it.”

Murray is now very much in demand as a wedding photographer.

He said: “I like to photograph people being people, getting natural images, engaging in storytelling photography. When I work at a wedding I like to blend in with the guests as much as possible and capture images from the perspective of one of the guests.”
Murray was nominated for the award by some of the clients he has worked for.
One of the striking images which captured the attention of the judging panel was a wedding shoot in Glasgow city centre.
Murray added: “It was in Buchanan Street at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon.
“It was a special location for the couple as that was where the groom had proposed.
“It was very busy and as I was lying down trying to get a shot, people were cheering and shouting.”
Murray, who lives with his wife Alyson and daughters Eilidh, four, and Niamh, 16 months, will find out if he’s won at a ceremony in Glasgow on February 26.