Real Wedding – Craig and Mairead

Published on May 15, 2010 in Uncategorized. 4 Comments Tags: , , , , .

After posting yesterday’s real wedding, I had a look back through my past weddings that I’ve yet to blog about and realised that I actually have an awful lot to catch up on!
So here goes!

Craig and Mairead got married on an absolute scorcher of a day back in September last year. It was a ridiculously good day for September in all honesty. While it was 8 months ago, I can distinctly remember thinking to myself – “wearing a tshirt under my shirt was a bad idea.” Still, it’s not good to complain and how on earth could I?

From the moment I arrived at Mairead’s parents home there was to be no talk of taking photograpghs. Instead all they wanted to know was how many sausages and rashers of bacon I wanted. With the smell, I could have ate whatever they put in front of me.

Mairead was a truly stunning bride – her dress was fabulous. A line of buttons streamed down the back which had her poor sister (and this photographer) busy fiddling with for quite some time. We got there in the end though and didn’t she look fab!

The ceremony was lovely and I loved how instead of the usual walk down the aisle to what is normally quite reserved music, they had the band, The Gospel Project, up the tempo and they did a little jig :) It was one of those youtube moments but alas I was too busy taking photographs to capture any video.

We stopped off at Belvedere House for the family portraits, after which I normally finish with some ‘Bride and Groom time’. I ask the bride and groom to just take a few minutes alone to take a walk alone with each other. The good thing about this method is that I can keep myself busy by trying to get the angles I’m after, they look totally natural as they aren’t being told how to stand and it also gives them that little bit of quite time that I think all couples should get on their day. It’s probably the only moment in the day that they’ll be alone with each other.

Pic-a-mix welcomed the guests – (and me) horray! And you could even put them in your own little “Craig and Mairead” bag, and wipe your mouth with your own little “Craig and Mairead” napkin, and set your drink on your own little “Craig and Mairead” coaster. They really had thought of everything.
The Bloomfield hotel was gorgeous. They had the main room littered in candles. And I mean absolutely covered in them. The tables were beautiful, named after their foreign visits and bags filled with pressies awaited the kids. Lucky little sods.

Normally I eat out in the hotel bar or away from the guests but Craig and Mairead wouldn’t take no for an answer and I was sat next to a great bunch of their friends who kept me highly entertained. Too entertained probably as I recall at one point almost missing the cutting of the cake as I was kept chatting. Don’t worry. I didn’t.

The band by the way, Weightless Astronauts, were top notch and I’ve just added them to my list of recommendations. It didn’t take long for them to have the floor filled and my work was done. If you can call it that.

To Craig and Mairead a massive thank you for allowing me to share your day. Thanks for the bacon, the sausages, toast, tea, sweets, massive feed, lots of coffee and a great, great time.

To see some more pictures from their day click on any one of the images above or click right here to enter the slideshow.

Real Wedding – Sinead and John

Published on May 13, 2010 in Uncategorized. 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

This is a bit of an oldie and something I meant to post quite sometime ago. It’s the wedding of Sinead and John which took place in Castle Durrow last December. Just like Elaine and Michael’s wedding day, it was one of those days that was bitterly cold but the air was still and the sun was out. A real beautiful winters day.

I really love shooting weddings in Castle Durrow. It’s a gorgeous place at any time of the year but when the frost is on the ground and it’s cosy and warm inside and decorated for Christmas the place just becomes that little bit nicer.

Sinead and John were both getting ready in the castle so it made my life that little bit easier. I could flit in and out between the two of them but I have to say that John was mega organised, being suited and booted before I arrived and all he seemed to be doing was driving around in Sinead’s fathers beautiful vintage cars – apprently he had jobs to do. Any excuse I say.

The girls however seemed to be taking things all a bit more leisurely in the bridal suite. Champagne, hair and makeup were pretty much top of the agenda and they put ticks in all the boxes.

They had a lovely ceremony in Abbeyleix and it was nice to hear some singing from the guests for a change, although some choose to belt it our a lot more than others – you know who you are ;)

Later that night with dinner ate and speeches made everyone gathered at the back of the hotel to launch paper lanterns into the night sky. As the snow started to fall I began to think that maybe getting these things to take-off was being a little optimistic but persistence paid off and up they went.

Then came the first dance – no normal first dance at that either.

I think someone’s been watching a lot of Strictly..

And the happy couple take their well earned plaudits. Bravo!

A massive thank you to Sinead and John who were just a dream to shoot and made me feel so incredibly welcome and have allowed me to share a little snippet of their day with you.

To see the rest of the slideshow click here on on any of the image above. Enjoy.

Heavy Rain and one incredible sunset!

Published on May 1, 2010 in Uncategorized. 2 Comments

Just a short little post before I pop off to bed..

This afternoon (Friday 30th April) an incredibly large grey cloud slowly covered Dublin, remained there for a bit and then emptied it’s entire load on top of us. This was proper rain. Real shower head stuff. I grabbed the camera quickly and videoed what I could from the balcony.

Just a couple of hours later and the sun peaked through the clouds to light up that massive cloud in firey red glow. It really was quite spectacular.

The remains of the downpour slowly evaporate

Croke Park and a church tower in East Wall stand out against the strong evening sun.

I honestly have never seen the sky so red, yet so dark all at once. It was just incredible and lasted for just a few brief seconds.

Good night…

Nij and Tara revisited! – Real Wedding

Published on April 26, 2010 in Uncategorized. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

Way back in September last year I put a post on my site titled “Nij and Tara – Live!”. That post was put up just a couple of days after they tied the knot down in Glengarriff, Co. Cork and the post was to show a little video that I made for them as a surprise.

The post is here is you want to see it – Nij and Tara – Live!

However, I never got around to showing off any shots from their wedding – until now! How time flies!

Anyway – I wanted to post this slideshow to show just a ‘small’ sample from their day – if you think this is a lot you should have seen their book!

When I look back on this slideshow it really makes me smile and have a bit of a giggle. We all just just had an incredible day that was full of non-stop laughter.

The only word I can use to describe the reception as is ‘bonkers’. The band – who I must get the name of from Nij and Tara – were, let’s just say, not your typical wedding bad. I have a video lying about somewhere that I must upload and share at some point – I have never seen a bodhrán played quite like it.

Until then, on with the show.

Click on any of the pictures below to enter the complete slideshow.


99′s for everyone!

Published on April 16, 2010 in Uncategorized. 5 Comments Tags: , , , .

This is a short and sweet post. Very sweet actually. I shot a wedding today and the the bride and groom had thought of the most unique idea to welcome guests as they came out of the church. An Ice Cream van! And what a day they got for it! It was a scorcher!

I chanced my luck at getting into the van as I knew it’d be the perfect opportunity to get big smiling faces of practically every guest as they lined up to get their 99. It was no bother though and I was made welcome on board Harry’s Ices.

I must say, Aideen and Rob (Bride and Groom) waited very patiently in the blistering sun allowing all their guests to get served before them. They had hands to shake and pictures to pose for but they got their chance eventually.

“Look’s good Rob! Make that two.. “

One very happy couple.

Rob has the right idea!

About a minute after this was taken I was tucking into my very own 99 and I have to say – it was to die for. Harry is the man! (even though it’s run by Jim..)

Note to all future bride and grooms – you too can have Harry pull up outside your church – go to www.harrysices.com to book them now! Please!

Congrats folks on an absolutely super day. It was a joy to photograph!  Now then, I must take a look at the stuffing cupcake’s in mouths shots :)

Self-back patting?

Published on April 16, 2010 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

While going through Nicola and Philip’s wedding slideshow one last time today I gave myself a little pat on the back. I have shown a shot from their wedding before with the two of them walking on a beach. However, on reflection, I think I like this one even more.

I’m so happy with this shot. As all photographers out there will know, shooting into the sun ain’t easy, especially when trying to focus on moving targets. In this shot the sun was low on the horizon and wedding party were having a nice gentle stroll across the beach so I had to act quick to get the shots I was after. This is one of those shots I just couldn’t be happier with.

When I can share more from their day I’ll definitely do so :)