How did you get into photography? Are you self-taught or formally trained?
At the local school in Macroom, the business studies and accountant teacher gave me a camera to use. I didn’t know he was going to develop the images I had taken until a few days had passed when he told me he was excited to see the images I had captured. Particularly one image I had taken of a fellow student, who was listening to a Walkman with headphones in the rain. The image I took of him was a portrait as raindrops splashed off his face. The teacher wanted to enter it into a national art competition. The competition was called Slogadh Gale Linn. The image went on to win the competition. I purchased my own camera shortly after the competition.
Describe your style in one sentence.
When I decided a few years back to pursue photography as a career, I read so many helpful articles on how to decide the type of photography you wanted to capture. Still, I am not certain. I don’t like the idea of being just one type of photographer. I love landscape photography, but I have a passion for life and portraits. I would say capturing life is my style.
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What’s been your favorite experience as a wedding photographer?
Being fairly new to the wedding photography industry, I know there will be many experiences to follow. For now, my favorite experience is just being invited to photograph someone’s special day. To be the first person to see some of these moments as they happen, to capture these moments, that excites me.
What do you love most about photographing weddings? Why do you photograph weddings in particular?
Weddings, for me, offer everything I love about photography. There are so many opportunities for portrait images at weddings.
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Do you have a favorite, must-capture moment for every wedding?
To me, seeing a father walk the bride down the aisle is a must. I also love scanning the crowd to find the reactions of guests faces. Another must have is the wedding dress shot, just before the bride walks down the aisle.
JOD Photography
What piece of advice would you give brides and grooms to ensure that they get wedding photos they love forever? (This can include tips about preparation, choosing a photographer, or anything else.)
Speak up, especially when you have done your research online, seeing so many possible wedding shots. If you have an idea of the images you want, communicate that to your photographer. A photographer won’t be able to duplicate an image exactly but they will make sure to get a version of it.
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How do you think an app like Joy can help make weddings better?
Joy brings everyone involved in the wedding, to one place. It’s the gateway to information, scheduling and wedding preparation for you and your guests. Joy makes life easier! Who doesn’t need that when planning a wedding?
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If you weren’t a wedding photographer, what would you be doing?
Crying … kidding! The truth is I would hate to think of life without photography. Getting back into photography after many years away from it was the best decision I’ve made. I am now catching up with the world of photography, it’s changed so much! For instance, editing seems to have become just as important as taking photographs. This is my first year in the scary world of wedding photography, I have a few weddings planned in the weeks and months to come in some of the most beautiful settings in Ireland.
At Joy we believe that even though a wedding lasts a day, joy lasts forever. What does that mean to you?
The dictionary explains the word joy as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness”. To me, that’s photography. I am truly at my happiest when I have my camera in my hand. When I am taking images, I feel joy, I am at peace.
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