Wedding Photography

My Favourite Wedding Photography Moments, Part 1 /  by Jan

I always pinch myself on wedding days. I can’t believe I get to be a photographer and work with so many great wedding couples, like all the ones I’ve met over the years! It’s a dream come true for me.

I’ve started this series of wedding photography blog posts, an opportunity to hone in on specific moments that sometimes get lost in the other wedding blog posts about each individual wedding with the photos of the whole day.

This series is not particular order but with today’s blog post, I’m starting out strong. I absolutely love photographing the couple shoots on the wedding day! And Cork’s nature is great for it!

Nature Couple Shoots

I grew up loving nature. I spent a lot of time in the water, in the forests, hiking and climbing, exploring and having adventures. I think my upbringing really reflects in my photography. Photographing outdoors with these amazing backdrops that we are spoiled with in Ireland, make the photos so much more special. From mountains to the coast and beaches, there are so many beautiful spots in Cork for some wedding couple photography.

A nice side effect of doing the couple shoot is that it gives the couple a moment to have a breather from the rest of the wedding day. It’s in those moments that it’s beautiful to capture those intimate couple photos.

Nature Is Great but Indoors Is Cool Too

This wedding took place at the FOTA House, just outside Cork city. The couple in this case requested something different. So an indoor couple shoot it was!

My Approach – Couple Shoot Locations

When I do the couple photo shoots, I plan the locations thoroughly. I research and visit the spots beforehand, so that nothing is left to chance.

As a wedding photographer I’m looking for:

• a great location that’s easy to get to

• preferably good weather or alternatively somewhere sheltered

• the height of the sun and the sun direction

• always have a back up plan!

Besides keeping an eye on the weather report, not just temperature but wind and wind direction as well, I even research the direction and height of the sun. It’s vital information to take that into account in conjunction with the day’s programme to find the perfect time frame and spot to do the couple shoot! The light is so important!

It’s also important to be realistic with the location. A small break away from the wedding party is great, but we also don’t want to leave everyone waiting for hours, or take away from your special day and have you, the couple, missing out on fun moments.

I always do my best to find a nearby spot which is both beautiful and not difficult to get to. Especially with the bride’s dress and shoes! Talking about shoes, depending on the dress, I like to advice the bride to wear more comfortable shoes for the more adventurous couple shoots. They can then slip back into the proper wedding shoes for the party again.

Each Wedding is Unique

The great thing about weddings is that each one is unique and each wedding couple is unique. Coming from different families, different experiences and expectations, each couple has different wants and needs when it comes to their wedding. I take this very seriously as wedding photographer, and make sure to highlight the important parts and minimize or even skip the less important parts. And it’s the same when it comes to the couple shoot. Some couples might just want to be gone for a few minutes, then head back to the wedding party to not miss out on the fun, while other couples might look for a longer couples shoot at several different locations. It’s that customization of my wedding photography that I always like to emphasize to couples.

But whatever the shoot is, if it’s at an exotic location or in the hotel gardens, it’s got to look great, and I always like to think, “How would this look framed on their wall?” It has to be like a fantastic album cover, it should be striking.

Keep a look out for my next ‘Part 2’ post to find out my next favourite moment of the wedding day. Not that they are in any particular order.

Contact Me

And if you’d like to enquire about availability or my wedding packages, you can contact me here. I look forward to meeting you and to hopefully be a part of your wedding day!

Eunice and Eoin - Wedding Photo Shoot in Fitzgerald's /  by Jan

I won’t ever forget my own wedding day. I thought I’d be cool, calm and relaxed. Boy, was I wrong. I remember that morning, while getting ready and dressed, looking down at my hands and wondering why they were shaking so much? Those damn buttons! Haha!

Well, that most definitely wasn’t the case for Eoin over here! He was that cool, calm and relaxed groom that I thought I would be. No, Eoin was the cool cucumber.

But then he did also say that the whole parish were happy that Eunice finally took him off their hands!

Eunice and Eoin eloped in Cork this winter and I was lucky enough to be their couples photographer. With more celebrations coming soon, including a trip to Eunice’s home country of Mexico, the pair wanted to have some beautiful wedding couple photos on the day off their wedding. Deciding on Fitzgerald’s Park in Cork city, since it’s close to the registry office on Grattan Street that they were heading to after the couples shoot. It was a fantastic spot since it offered so many lovely corners to photograph this wedding couple photo shoot at.

I always do my best to prepare for photo shoots as much as possible. And this elopement photo shoot wasn’t any different. Fitzgerald’s Park looks so different in winter. So to really maximize the location’s potential, I even did a location scouting the week before. I did an extended lunch break, away from writing emails and editing photos, and headed down to Fitzgerald’s, photographing all the various corners. It helped tremendously!

This was such a fun shoot to do. Eunice and Eoin were in such a joyful mood. No nerves, no anxiety, just joy and full of love! It was an absolute ball.

Eunice and Eoin are one of those couples that just fit, and they will be an amazing together, you can just tell!

This is why I love photographing elopements, full wedding days and these wedding couple photo shoots! It’s exciting to know that these photos will be treasured by the wedding couple for their whole lives. To capture those moments is such a privilege.

Eoin and Eunice had a great time too and left this wonderful 5-star Google review:

“We had a fabulous wedding day photo session with Jan. We were thrilled with how our photos turned out! And Jan was so patient and friendly, giving us excellent direction on how to pose for the photos. I would absolutely recommend Jan to anyone who would like professional photography!”

If you would like me to capture your wedding day or would like to book a couples shoot, contact me here for pricing and availability. I’d love to hear from you!


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!