Portrait Photography

Joe and Mae - Proposal Couple Shoot /  by Jan

I’ve been photographing a lot of weddings and engagement couple shoots in 2022. It’s been great to photograph all these happy couples, in really beautiful and lovely locations!

I mean, here’s just a quick recap:

But, let’s take it back a step. Before the couples are officially married, before they are even engaged. What about photographing a proposal? Photographing the moment it all began? Insert our protagonists for today; Joe, and an unsuspecting Mae.

Joe got on to me, a few months in advance, all the way from across the pond. They were planning a holiday to Ireland. “The perfect time to propose to my girlfriend!” he thought. It shouldn’t just be anywhere in Ireland either. Somewhere striking and beautiful. Well, it’s a good thing he got onto me, because I knew exactly where and how to do this secret proposal photo shoot.

It just had to be the Blarney Castle and Gardens in Cork! The perfect spot for our American couple. It would make for some unforgettable couple photos and I’m sure it would also mightily impress their friends and family as a very impressive gesture.

So cue flowers by Petals Floral Design, a card by local artist Nadia Rice with a personal message from Joe in it, and all laid out beautifully by yours truly, in this white basket, on top of meters of lace. I was pretty chuffed with this.

Why the basket with the flowers though? Well, it’s a combination of having a nice surprise for poor, unsuspecting Mae, and for Joe to have a marker where the perfect spot would be for the photos. Remember, I have to photograph the proposal! And without being seen! So I have to find an area which isn’t too busy, where they have a nice spot for the proposal, the angle and view of the castle is banging, and I also need a spot to hide. That’s quite a few parameters that need to be filled. And as often is this case, it sounds easier than it is! Hahaha!

A lot of work goes into these shots. Here I am beforehand, studying the grounds, creating maps and drawing in pathways for Joe to study and follow on the day. All to find the magical white basket!

Not being seen and still getting a perfect shot is a really tough one. I arrived early and placed the basket in the perfect spot, and then proceeded to hide inside a large bush/tree. I actually did such a good job at hiding that Joe wasn’t sure afterwards if I had even managed to photograph the proposal at all! That’s when I emerged from the vegetation. I think next time I might just get a ghillie suit. I clearly don’t need it but it would be funny to do, just for the laughs.

This proposal photo shoot was by far the most nerve racking shoot I have had all year! After the actual proposal, I gave the couple a few minutes to enjoy the moment and for Mae to digest what had just happened. But honestly, I needed a few minutes too! Haha!

Although, I wonder what was going on in Mae’s head! First she’s been surprised by a proposal she wasn’t expecting that day, a photographer jumping out of the bushes, and is now confronted with an engagement photo shoot in a strange country. But the two were great, and we ended up having so much fun with the couple photo shoot. And I think that really shows too. They’re a great pair together and I’m certain they will be very happy together.

They were chuffed too. This is the 5-star Google review they left behind:

“Jannik was awesome! From start to finish he made me feel comfortable, especially coming from overseas to do my engagement shots in Ireland. He went above and beyond for me and my now fiancée, ensuring I knew where to locate the spot for pictures, directing non-cheesy poses, and overall getting us to calm our nerves so we could finish our session. Side-perk: he knows all about Cork and the "to-do's" around town, so don't shy away from taking some travel advice while you're with him. Thanks again - cheers Jannik!”

Maybe we can follow this up with a Ballycotton destination wedding? Something like this?

And remember, besides couples photography, I also photograph the following:

• Family Portrait Photography in Cork

• Newborn Baby Photography in Cork

• Wedding Photography in Cork

• and more!







Barry and Trish - Wedding Photo Shoot at UCC and Cork city /  by Jan

Is this one of the most unique weddings I’ve photographed yet? I think it might be!

The couple: Barry and Trish.

The briefing: “We aren’t doing a traditional wedding, we want this to be a bit different.” I scribble down, “Not a wedding” in my notepad.

The location for the (not a) wedding photography: Not just one location, not two, not even three. But basically everywhere in Cork city.

Pre-Wedding Pampering at Tom Winter’s Barbers

This wedding day already started off uniquely with a visit to Tom Winters Barbers on North Main Street, which is incidentally my first of the three favourite moments of this wedding day.

“ And to finish it off, a little drop of expensive whiskey. What a way to start your wedding day!”

The morning of a wedding can often be very stressful as anxiety and nerves fill the body. I know, I have been there myself! So is there a better way than getting pampered at this special barber beforehand? After all, this isn’t a usual barbershop, here we have warm towels wrapped around your face, a steam machine, even light massages to complete the whole pampering package and more. I was getting jealous just watching! And to finish it off, a little drop of expensive whiskey. What a way to start your wedding day!

This is also the first time I’ve ever photographed in a barbershop. Another location to add to my growing list. And I must say, the barbershop made for some great photos too.

Now, Barry isn’t getting ready for his actual wedding day, more like a wedding celebration. Because Barry and Trish actually eloped the week before in Iceland. I was contemplating getting eloped too, but my wife didn’t allow it! Haha! So for me, this is another of my favourite parts of this wedding. That they went ahead with getting eloped and resisted the pressures of having a local wedding.

Cork Wedding Photography

Remaining in Cork for the wedding photos, we had the luck of having the brother-in-law chauffeur us around the city, to all the spots in Cork that meant something special to Barry and Trish. So we ended up with these beautiful wedding photographs all over Cork, with a sneaky set of drinks at Le Chateau.

Google 5 Star review from Trish

We booked Jannik of Save The Journey as our wedding photographer in Cork and I simply could not recommend him highly enough.

From our first communication he just came across as a lovely guy and nothing was too much bother for him... From organising canvas prints for us to taking gorgeous photos on the day to sending the photos on really quickly afterwards.
Overall it was a really lovely experience working with Jannik and excellent value too compared to your "normal" wedding photography charges.

Thank you so much Jannik... you have a great career ahead of you in photography.

Sneaky Drink at Le Chateau

Photobombing

In a moment of madness, the two photobombed this group who were being photographed for the newspaper. Guess who ended up in the newspaper themselves?

Wedding Couple Shoot at The Electric on Grand Parade

And finally, we conclude with my third favourite moment of this wedding day. A simple gathering of all friends and family. I put this down as one of my favourite moments for the exact reason I was happy I didn’t end up eloping with my wife. It would have been such a shame to not be able to share that special day with all your friends and family. The wedding couple did it perfectly, get eloped in an intimate ceremony and have an unforgettable trip, come back home and share your big day with a gathering in this lovely event room at the River Lee Hotel. Perfect. A string quartet during the day, and a DJ for the night. A bar with a fantastic selection of cocktails, amazing food, plenty of room to dance and all your closest people around you. And of course, me as their wedding/event photographer.

Oh, and scattered around the room were large, canvas prints with the photos from Iceland, to share their elopement.

What a treat this day was to photograph! So many locations, so many people, so much excitement and happiness. Congratulations!

Enjoy browsing these wedding photos, but also have a look at this outdoor wedding at the Castlemartyr Hotel for a more traditional wedding.

And remember, besides professional wedding photography, I also photograph the following:

• Couples Photography in Cork

• Newborn Baby Photography in Cork

• and more!

Four Brothers - Family Portrait Photo Shoot /  by Jan

I think I’ve set a record for a family shoot with the tallest average. But seriously, look at these brothers, aren’t they just an adorable bunch?

This was a very short notice family portrait shoot, since the oldest brother, just 16 years old was heading to Latvia to play basketball for the national team. So the mom (who’s pictured in photos below and coming in at a way shorter height!) decided to get these family photos while they’re all still together.

I decided to go to my favourite spot for family portraits; Fitzgerald’s. It’s just a perfect spot for these portrait photo shoots! There are a load of different backgrounds in a small area, it’s central in the city and easy to get to, plus, everyone knows where it is!

I have been so blessed this year with amazing weather as well. I can’t believe how lucky I’ve been with sunshine! So we used that to our advantage and got these lovely, sunny family shots!

And for being teenagers, man were they easy to deal with and up for anything. I usually get on really well with teenagers and kids, but these guys were just great. I loved they’re little interactions in the photos, especially with the youngest brother. It’s moments like these that make me wish I had one or several brothers!

After some posed photos, I thought it would be a good time to head to the playground and get some action shots! They’re always nice photos to get and the prospect of some fun later on, makes the posed shots go by easier for some reason.

I’m so happy how well these family photos came out. Being faced with having to photograph three teenagers and a child, you never know how things are going to turn out, but this shoot could literally not have gone any better!

If you’d like to book a portrait photo shoot for your family, contact me here for availability.

And remember, besides family portrait photography, I also photograph the following:

• Couples Photography in Cork

• Newborn Baby Photography in Cork

• Wedding Photography in Cork

• and more!