The Morgans - Family Portrait Photo Shoot and Newborn Baby Photography /  by Jan

As we’re in the winter months, my favourite outdoor spots aren’t such a viable option anymore. Not with the rain we are having, and the unpredictable weather. That doesn’t mean family photo shoots aren’t possible anymore though! It just means that I need to bring a few extra bits and pieces in the form of some lighting.

Why some extra lighting you might ask? Well, this is exactly what one of their sons was asking me as well. “To make everyone look beautiful!” I replied as I kept setting up my lighting stand and soft box. He paused, thought real hard, then responded with, “You mean handsome!”
“Well, boys and girls can both be beautiful.” He took on this information very diligently.

Today’s blog post is all about the Morgans, who basically got the ‘Everything, Please’ package. From a full family photo shoot to kids portraits, to newborn baby photography, candid photos of the children and even posed school portraits.

With a slight break in the weather, we were even able to go outside for part of the family photo shoot!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. I arrived at their lovely home, and the kids were all surprisingly excited and intrigued about this odd photographer coming by in the afternoon. Often children can be a bit timid at first. Not this bunch though! And since everyone was in such a good mood, I thought it would be best to get the following set of children portraits first.

I threw in some funny ones so the kids didn’t get bored, and had the parents sit in afterwards too. I’m really happy with these family photos. I think they’ll be great shots for them to look back on in years to come. And wouldn’t you agree that everyone in this looks handsome and beautiful in this lighting?

With the family group photos done, I moved on to smaller groups; focusing first on the three girls and then doing the newborn baby after that. Then we went outdoors for some more newborn baby photography, this time including the parents too.

At this stage, the kids were all buzzing too much, so it was a quick stop to the playground and getting all of that excitement out, before some family group shots again, and finally, the school portrait photos!

This is such a solid set of family photos, that I wished I would have had of my own childhood! I love especially how Lydia, the mother, went through the effort of co-ordinating the outfits of the four boys. It’s as if I had hired a professional costume designer!

If you enjoyed this post and want to see more family portraits, check out this summer shoot I did or for more newborn baby photography, check out the photos I took of Caelan.

And for bookings and availability, contact me here.

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

• Couples Photography in Cork

• Wedding Photography in Cork

• and more!

Visiting Ireland - Family Portrait Photo Shoot /  by Jan

It’s always great when the sun does come out and it shows off Ireland’s nature, quite literally, in the right light! And to do it on this family photo shoot was so appreciated, since this was a really special one. Taylor initially contacted me all the way from Florida, this was going to be a big trip for them as a family since they were coming over to Cork to spread a family member’s ashes. And so they decided that for this trip, they wanted some nice family portraits to remember the trip and to have some very original looking family portraits which I’m sure a lot of other Floridians don’t have hanging at home!

With the roses and other flowers in full bloom, I made sure to take full advantage of them and the pops of colour they add in these family portraits are just the cherries on top! Plus, I’ve always wanted to photograph on the Shakey Bridge in Cork and this was finally my chance. On other shoots it was either under construction or just didn’t really fit the shoot. But this was my big chance and I took it! The geometry was a great feature to incorporate into the family photos. Although lining everything up symmetrically is always easier said than done! “Just move to two inches to your left! No, that was a bit too much, just half an inch back again!”

It’s a lot of those kind of instructions! What we do for symmetry!

I always love doing family shoots like this. It’s so rare to have the whole family together in one place, never mind in whole different country. To then organize a professional photographer to do a family shoot is such a great idea!

If you would like to book a portrait shoot for your family, you can gladly contact me here. I look forward to meeting you and your family!

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

• Couple Photo Shoots in Cork

• Newborn Baby Photography in Cork

• Wedding Photography in Cork

• and more!

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!