Family Photography

Forest Adventure - Midleton Family Photographer /  by Jan

Family Photoshoot

Daniel initially contacted me, he wanted to book a family shoot as a mother’s day present for his wife Shona. Now that’s a great present, one that will always be remembered! Kids grow up so fast and it’s great to pause every now and then and capture the whole family together.

What An Adventure!

Daniel chose the bigger family package that I offer with around 45 photos, and I think this shoot perfectly shows the variety of shots I am able to get with that package. At the beginning of the photo shoot, I usually start with the well behaved posed family photos. Everyone is on their best behaviour.

As we continue the shoot, I am able to capture more candid shots of the kids having fun and let’s just compare a posed group photo from the beginning of the shoot, to one I took at the end. The first one you would send to family members, maybe make some postcards of and the next one is one you would have on your fridge door. Such different vibes.

Couple Shoot

The great thing with the bigger family package is that we can also squeeze in a small couple shoot for the parents, who are sometimes left behind a little in a photo shoot when it’s usually the kids who the focus is on (pun intended). Although Harry was itching to be a part of this too!

It’s always so much fun to photograph the kids having fun and running around. I give them some directions at times, like smelling all the flowers. But then other times, they just surprise you with what they get up to and they’re suddenly climbing the wall ruins. Haha!

I think we all did a great job of getting the balance just right of having loads of fun candid moments, while still having loads of lovely posed group photos that you would frame and put up in the house.

Midleton Location

These woods, near Midleton, have quickly become a favourite of mine. It’s disorientating because they’re so close to the ocean, they’re filled with sea air. It’s so odd being able to smell the ocean in the middle of the woods. At least to me. But I love how wild this forest looks. It’s not immaculately looked after, and that gives it so much character and its own kind of beauty.

Hi!

I’d love to come back here again, so if you would like to do a similar kind of family shoot with me, say hi to me here. I’d love to hear from you!

Kai's Doljabi - Cork Family Photographer /  by Jan

Certain photo shoots are funny little windows into someone else’s lives or cultures. This was one of them. Having never been to South Korea or knowing too much about Korean culture, I got to be a part of this interesting tradition. I was invited to photograph little Kai’s doljabi.

For those unfamiliar with the ritual, Doljabi is a Korean tradition where a one-year-old child is placed in front of a carefully selected array of objects. The item the child chooses is believed to symbolise their potential future path. For example, a pencil speaks to academic success, while a stethoscope could indicate a career in medicine, and money suggests a prosperous future.

Little Kai’s mother, Yingyu, was passionate about preserving this meaningful cultural tradition. And Yingyu’s parents were there to bear witness to Kai’s choice.

We had the ceremony at Fitzgerald; a beautiful backdrop for the intimate family event, placing the special ceremony in nature. As you can tell by all of my photo shoots, I love photographing outdoors in the lush, green nature.

Dad’s delighted

Following in his dad’s footstep, Kai chose the paintbrush

When the crucial moment arrived for Kai to make his choice, he picked the paintbrush – an artist’s choice. His animator father was most delighted with this outcome, proud to have his baby following his footsteps.

Kai’s grandfather tried so hard to convince him to take the money, possibly altering his future but Kai remained resolute in his decision to be focused on his artistry instead. Haha!

Kai didn’t show the slightest interest in grandad’s €€€!

This doljabi was more than just a photoshoot - it was a celebration of culture, family, and potential. Each carefully chosen object represented not just a potential career path, but a hope, a dream for little Kai's future. The way Yingyu and John embraced this tradition while allowing their son the freedom to make his own choice was beautiful to witness and capture.

I love the diversity humanity has to offer and I love having the opportunity to capture the moments that make it special. I celebrate the things that make us different because that’s what makes us human. So from different cultures and traditions to different orientations and preferences, I’m here to embrace them all, as long as love is at the centre.

If you would like to book me for your special family event, say hi to me here!

A Fun Family Portrait Shoot /  by Jan

5-star Google Review

“Jannik and his partner were perfect and professional. He emailed in a timely manner given I’m from the states and unsure of any good location to take photos. My husband is from farran and he suggested a couple of places near by. The rain was near, kids were cold, but the photos didn’t give any of that vibe. Photos of the group, kids and individual family appear flawless. He returned the photos edited in a fast manner with a clickable link because only two of my husband family live in Ireland, so this makes it easier for all. Overall amazing!”
— Sonia

Family photo shoots are something I do a lot of, they’re really fun. Sometimes it might be a celebration of a newborn joining the family, sometimes it’s to just celebrate the milestones which don’t have set occasions. And sometimes it’s to celebrate that everyone is together for first time in a long time.

So for this family reunion, I headed just outside of Cork city to the gorgeous Kilcrea Friary. With its ancient Franciscan friary and rolling green hills, this location is the perfect blend of Irish heritage and natural beauty. Plus, it was also near the family home. Handy!

I love doing these extended family shoots; they offer the perfect excuse for all those uncles, aunts, nieces, and nephews to gather and enjoy some quality time together. In this case, families from all corners of the world came together for the first time in a long while.

Photographing such a large number of people can be at first feel overwhelming. In this case it was 17 people in total, 10 adults and 7 children. But my approach to these family shoots is to make it easy and fun. First starting off with the full family as a group photo, I then break up the groups into smaller subdivisions and family units. We even get some couple shots in there, which are particularly special; so many people find the moment to be reminiscent of their wedding day – a time where the focus was simply on them as a couple.

And to finish it off with a high, I staged a race with the kids and let them run wild. They took it very seriously and it led to these adorable pictures. Not to be outdone, the adults had their turn too, to my surprise. It’s those spontaneous moments that can be so much fun on a shoot like this!

If you would like to book me for your family reunion or would like a regular family photo shoot, say hi to me here!