Goodbye UCC - Graduation Portrait Photo Shoot / January 19, 2022 by Jan

I remember my own graduation. A lifetime ago now, in a different country with a different language. It was an IT college. Although I’m still not really sure why they lumped us in together with the very nice, but very technical nerds. After all, I was learning something creative. Well, creativity was expressed differently in this college I guess. I hardly remember receiving my diploma, but that’s just because I have an infamously bad memory. We didn’t have the benefit of having a photographer there for the ceremony and with a room full of film makers and photographers, no one had thought to bring a single camera. Haha I don’t know why! Although I do remember that our graduation was almost instantly after our final exams. All I know is that after numerous promises that we would all go party late into the night, one last time before we all made our own paths in life, everyone’s eyes felt heavy and conversations were mute. “I need to go sleep!”

As I’m writing this, I don’t think Cara’s graduation could have been any more different than mine! Dressed in the traditional gown, looking great, with the beautiful UCC grounds as a backdrop, this was a photo shoot that basically shot itself. Also, UCC always makes me think I’m half a step into Hogwarts.

I love photographing outdoors, for portaits and couple shoots especially. And though we narrowly avoided some rain (which is why we moved indoors for the later photos), I always love the added layer that green grass and the sky and backdrop can add to a photo shoot. There’s so much more depth to it. Even for something as straightforward as a graduation portrait photo shoot.

Prints are forever

Wrapped up and seconds away from being packed up and shipped.

If you would like to book your graduation photos in Cork city or county with me, you can contact me here. Photos are available as a digital download link and with framed prints as well, like Cara had opted for.

Secret Service - Couple Photo Shoot / November 9, 2021 by Jan

“We’ll have to come back to Ireland again in the future, so you can propose to me!”

Kelsey only had to wait a couple of minutes for her dream to come true.

This photo shoot made me feel like a spy! Secret Instagram messages, code words, mapped out targets... Was I overreacting by feeling way too secretive and borderline guilty? 100%, yes. I quickly came to the realization that I, just a regular Cork Photographer, was not made for the secret life! Hats off to any legitimate spies out there.

A couple of months ago Bryant contacted me via Instagram, all the way over from Arkansas, USA. He and his girlfriend were planning a trip to Ireland and Bryant, being an opportunistic person, chose this holiday to finally propose to her. What did he want from me? He wanted me to secretly photograph the proposal and do a couple shoot with them afterwards.

After some suggestions for locations around Cork city and even further abroad in Ireland, we settled with the Blarney Castle. “I really like the idea of Blarney Castle I think she’d lose her shit hahaha” were the exact words. Well shit was most definitely lost!

I sent Bryant some photos of the Blarney Castle grounds, different spots and backgrounds where he could pop the important question. Since everything had to be done in secret and without her noticing, we decided on using a wicker basket with a bouquet of flowers in it as an “X marks the spot” kind of marker. Since Nic Flanagan, the second photographer who joined me on this shoot, and I would be hiding in the bushes, far away with telephoto lenses, their positioning had to be exact so that we could get the iconic photo of the proposal with the castle in the background. At the same time, we planned it in a way that they did have some leeway with it, after all, it’s the proposal that comes first in this situation and not the photo shoot.

On the special day, Nic and I arrived a little earlier, checked our positions and made sure all the angles lined up as expected. But no setting up yet, as Kelsey and Bryant would be walking straight past this spot to the castle in about 20 minutes. They would continue on their tour of the castle and while checking that out, we finally got to set up the wicker basket with the lovely bouquet of flowers by @gypsywhatever, then sent Bryant a coded message, letting him know that he could come back for the proposal at any time he felt comfortable.

It felt like forever until they finally came walking down the path again. I was stressed out! I was worried Bryant might have misunderstood where he was supposed to go to. That he might be frantically looking in another part of the grounds or already proposed but in the wrong spot. Wedding photography is a piece of cake compared to this! Haha!

Down the pathway they came. Kelsey oblivious to the entire situation. Gingerly she walked forward to the basket, daring almost not too touch it. This was when Bryant got to have his moment, with him eventually getting on his knee to ask the big question. Things were going perfectly, everyone stood at the right spot and even the sun came out a little. Our ‘Secret Service’ operation, hidden (almost) in the bushes with our ambush style photography had worked splendidly. They had fallen right into our photography trap!

Having a second photographer there was great. It’s not the first time that Nic and I have worked together on photo shoots. Having her there allowed us to capture the surprise proposal from two angles. It worked really well to have different sets of photos, one focusing more on the overall setting with the castle and another closing in more on the couple themselves. Plus it’s always good to have two photographers in a scenario like this, just in case another visitor walks in front of the lens or something unexpected happens.

This is the moment Kelsey realized we were there! Utterly surprised she was.

After the couple had a few minutes to themselves and Kelsey had a few moments to compose herself, we finished off the day with a couple photo shoot, so that they could make their fantastic news public to their friends and family back home!

What a memorable trip this will have been for them! Both Nic and I wish the couple all the best for their engagement and hopefully they’ll return to Ireland to have a destination wedding. I already suggested the idea, might be a bit of a stretch to get all the family members from Arkansas here. But they were such a lovely couple that I would gladly photograph their wedding in the future. Or maybe Save The Journey travels to Arkansas??

If you are looking for a wedding photographer or looking to do a couple photo shoot in Cork city or county, contact me here!

Friendly Chaos - Family Portrait Photography / October 10, 2021 by Jan

It’s days like these where I wonder to myself why I live in Cork city. Yes, it is incredibly practical from a photographer’s point of view. After all, a lot of my photo shoots are within walking distance. But with ever bigger lenses and cameras and more lighting equipment than ever, that walk is becoming a bit too sweaty nowadays.

The windows are rolled down, and the landscape is whizzing by. The way that evening sun is bathing this scenery... It is so incredibly golden today! It’s making the countryside look so beautiful and inviting. And it is quiet... I’m the only person driving on this road. No city traffic here. “I bet homes are cheaper here too.” I think to myself. Ahhh... Fresh air. It’s so quiet, have I mentioned that?

The silence wouldn’t last.

Not when I met these three chaotic monsters! I jest. They were the loveliest monsters I have ever met. Three children, aged between two and five years old. Absolute cuties, but there will be some chaos and some ups and downs that I, as a family photographer, have to be prepared for. Within chaos, there is beauty. And I had the perfect opportunity to capture that beauty and fun. There were so many beautiful corners within the garden of the family home. And since this is the children’s daily playground, they felt so at ease and relaxed. This definitely helped with them feeling very at ease with me; a complete stranger. In fact, after just a few quiet minutes at the start, they soon were excited to show me all the corners of the property; from the little stretch of forest, to the playground, to them showing off how fast they can run. Remember the days when your whole value seemed to depend on how fast you could run? Those were the days.

“Not now Bailey!” I laugh, as Bailey, the dog, is trying to play with me again in the middle of the photo shoot. He’s already brought me individual toys, several times. He’s a gorgeous dog though, one day I’ll adopt one too.

With children and their dog running around like this, you have to be on your top performance as the photographer. This kind of photography can be tougher and more demanding than photographing MMA or other sports. Kids run around in an unpredictable manner. And it doesn’t always necessarily go right all the time. Which is why I included the following bloopers into the final edit as well. My thinking was that if these photos had me howling during the editing process, I’m sure the parents can see the funny side in it too.

Bloopers:

It was also only in the editing process that I realized the effort the mother had made to dress them all in matching white dresses, a touch that really helps make these photos a little more timeless and give them that next level in quality.

And just as quickly as the mayhem began, with 750 photos waiting on me on several SD cards, it was time for me to leave again. Just in time for the five o’clock traffic. I can’t remember the last time I was stuck in this. I head home, pick up my partner, we head off to our favourite restaurant, wander home.

“Maybe the city isn’t that bad for now...” I drift off.

“We should call our future dog Declan!”

If you would like to do a family portrait shoot like this one with your family, a really natural, fun photo shoot, get in contact with me here and we can arrange a fun afternoon!