The Girl With the Golden Shoes – San Francisco to Castle Leslie..

This is just a very quick taste of Nikki & Ed’s wedding in Castle Leslie. Yes, Nikki did wear gold runners (sneakers) with her dress and it totally worked..

The next shot was taken on a very majestic toilet!

When Do You Start Seeing Things Differently?

I took these shots at my Parents house quite recently, during the damp, murky weather. Living on a farm, there is always somewhere to wander in all seasons. I have been looking at the same garden, fields, sheds all my life, but two months ago my brain suddenly absorbed what amazing textures and colours there are in stuff that is left to live its own life, remaining untouched. You see, my parents are not into pruning and preening hedges to perfection or painting anything when it starts to look weathered, they just let it be. I suppose what surprised me is that I never saw the beauty in this until now…

 

Add a Dash of Colour to Your Winter Wedding and Flavour With Some Zest…

I recently photographed Niamh & Colman’s wedding at Springfort Hall, a cosy country house in Cork. It was a cold, cold day to be in a dress but Niamh was a star, not to mention Colman who really nailed the shots in the 15 minutes we spent outdoors. I was delighted to find that Mallow had a great blue church, a yellow door (compliments of the Arts Centre) and this stunning rich, red drawing room in Sprinfort Hall. All of these elements allowed me to create some very vibrant, winter wedding shots..

Let’s go back to the beginning…

Back to Kenmare and Sneem…

I had intended in posting a new wedding but after meeting one of my brides, Myrna last night I decided I would delve into her wedding again because there were some beautiful shots that I had forgotten about. We sat down to choose the photographs for her and Jamie’s album while having a laugh over some incidents on the day of the wedding, the flat tyre on the wedding car being the most memorable..

FAQ: How long will the Wedding Photographs take on my Wedding Day?

“How long do the photographs normally take?” This is the question I get asked the most by wedding couples (sometimes accompanied by a worried look). I always answer their question by talking about the day as a whole rather than just the photography on its own. This approach helps people to understand that for everything to run smoothly, all aspects of the day are to be considered.

For you, I have narrowed these down to the key factors that will influence timing on the day as a whole:

One: It would be the opinion of many that a 2pm ceremony time is perfect as the day is not too long for your guests. Well what about you? Your day disappears rapidly as the Priest may give a longer that expected ceremony (normally 1 hour and ceremonies rarely start on time). It takes at at least a half hour to meet your guests as they come out of the church. Depending on the distance between the church and hotel, it may take a half hour or more to get to the reception venue. We are now at 4.30pm and you still need to allow time for the bulk of the photographs. The chances of mingling with your guests are fast diminishing to make the 5.30pm meal time. Where is the whole day going (a day you spent a year planning)? Remember that your guests have taken the day off to spend with you. Do yourself some justice and plan to have your ceremony at 1pm. An extra hour WILL make a huge difference for all invloved.

Image from http://funnyweddingphotos.net

Two: Be on time for your ceremony. This may be a no-brainer but it doesn’t happen enough. Ten minutes may be okay but remember you will also need to allow time for some shots with your Dad/Mum before  you walk up the aisle. Some time to compose yourself is also important. This is not going to happen if you know you are late.

Three: A major time consumer is how many family photographs you decide to have. I always recommend no more than six formal groups (less would be even better). This frequently gets stretched to many more, and brides & grooms find themselves with a pain in their jaw and wondering when they will be able to mingle with their guests. Be strict, don’t get carried away with these shots. I know they are important but by keeping it simple at least you will have the family groups you really want and a chance to enjoy some drinks with your other guests.

Image from http://funnyweddingphotos.net

Four: The weather. I would consider myself to be a very efficient kind of gal. No stone is left unturned in the lead up to ensure that we (myself and my assistant) know exactly how will get great shots no matter what the situation. We have a wet day and dry day plan but there is no denying that rain can slow down proceedings. Small things like having to place towels on the ground under dress trains will add minutes . Rain can be an inconvenience and cause disappointment but my mental attitude is to be prepared for anything to happen. And remember if you have booked a good (qualified & experienced) photographer, relax knowing that she/he will produce the goods no matter what the weather.

Image from http://funnyweddingphotos.net

Five: Spontaneous or formal shots. I could make this very complicated but I have decided to keep it simple. Both spontaneous and formal shots need time. Approx 95% of my couples want both spontaneous and formal shots in their wedding albums. Spontaneous shots require the Photographer to wait, wait and wait some more for a moment to happen that is worthy of photographing. It is not simply a case of being snap happy. The one trade off however is that you are amongst family and friends as opposed to going overboard on the formal side of being photographed on your own. The more formal shots you have the more it will eat into the spontaneous opportunities.

If you have found this helpful, please add a comment. You can also ask any related questions and I will do my best to help you.

Winter Blues.. Its all in the Mind

I have had a flashing advert pop up over my email all day, with the words “say no to winter blues” by heading off on a winter holiday to the Canaries. That is just not possible for most of us and not necessary either although many don’t seem to realise the latter…

When I was in my early adult years I had a feeling of dread about winter. It’s darkness seemed to shut down the part of my mind that felt like doing anything apart from attach myself to the nearest heat source…

Having studied light for years as a Photographer I came to the conclusion that the best light was in fact, during winter. The low sun sculpts and casts shadows on whatever it is shining on. The colour of the terrain is also more saturated as a result of the low sun…

Now I can’t spend enough time outdoors during winter whether photographing or not. I am outside, rain, wind, snow or shine. I soak up (sometimes literally) all that winter has to offer me.

So your mind might think it would love a sun holiday in winter, but your body may just need to fully experience what our season has to offer. So layer up, welcome the elements and have the best cuppa you will ever experience, when you go inside…

One More Dramatic Kiss…

I am trying to meet a deadline but really wanted to share this shot with you. I mentioned Niamh & Tom in an earlier post on their rainy day wedding. Well I have just edited another one of their shots which I really love. This was shot within seconds of rain falling on us. Kerry is such a beautiful county but boy does it rain a lot. I can still say, hand on my heart, that it is THE best place in Ireland to get married…

Photogenic Kissing-The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Photograph Kisses…

Whether you are getting married or not, November is a time when we could all do with some extra hugs and kisses so why not practice some photogenic kissing…

Rule One – Do not pout like a trout! Partners lips should be just touching and not protruding or squashed against each other.

Rule Two – Do not have a collision of noses going on! Tilt your heads in opposite directions so that you fit together comfortably.

Rule Three – Feel free to use your hands around the face or neck for a more passionate embrace but without squashing your partners skin. Hands need to rest gently or risk distorting your beloved’s face.

Rule Four – Close your eyes when kissing. The rabbit caught in headlights look is not good when kissing your partner! Much more passionate when you allow yourself to be lost in the moment.

Rule Five – You don’t always have to kiss on the lips. Forehead, cheek or neck can sometimes look really good.

Now practice!

When my Wedding Photograph Plan does not go to Plan…

The landscape shots from my last post were a result of research done for Niamh & Tom’s wedding which was happening in Lispole. I felt great excitement at the potential for their shots. Visually I knew exactly what I was aiming for. Well to get to the point, none of this happened. It rained sporadically throughout the day and in fact every time I even suggested we put a toe outside the door of the church, the clouds would systematically spill down on top of us. Finally, I was given a 10 minute reprieve and this was what we got…

Oh and it wasn’t just the rain.. The tide was in with no sand left to stand on, the rocks were slippy and my feet were buried in slimy seaweed (I was hauled out by a gallant groomsman). The funny thing was that we were all happy to work with what we had and there was no disappointment to be seen on Niamh & Tom’s faces. The beach below these rocks was where Tom proposed to Niamh by writing it in the sand. They were happy regardless..

 

Some Kilts in Kerry…

A very quick post that I will add to in the coming week. Ciara and James travelled from London to get married in Tralee. James is of Scottish descent so I had not one or two, but five groomsmen (and james) dressed in kilts and furry purses (sporran)! The sporran was very handy for storing Ciara’s lip gloss…

This moment of walking down the stairs of her family home is quite exciting and scary for a Bride for many different reasons…

Ciara and James’ ceremony was held at St. John’s church, Tralee. Quite dark inside but a beautiful stone interior with pretty impressive organ…

The ceremonial proceedings are lost on a tired Charlie..

Sarah reckoned that she had emptied her tear supply before the ceremony but they continued to spill out…

The reception was held at Ballyseede Castle, Tralee. Great location for wedding photographs..

One of my favourite shots, Ciara and James entering the beautiful light filled reception room at Ballyseede Castle..