Ryan - Outdoor Baby Photographer /  by Jan

I think my style is quite clearly defined – I absolutely love photographing outdoors and taking very organic photos that have a lot of life in them. Nothing too staged, nothing too rigid. And that is the same philosophy I apply to my newborn baby photography packages as well.

At home or outdoors

My two main categories are; baby photo shoots at home, or outdoors. After that, parents can chose if they want a regular sized shoot of 30 photos or a larger one of 50 photos. Then they chose print packages as well.

50 photo package

This blog post is a perfect representation of a 50 photo newborn shoot, taken in Fitzgerald’s Park in Cork city. This is one of my regular locations for baby and family photo shoots. Being so close to the city centre it is easy to get to, but also the flora is so diverse within the park that I can make it look like so many different locations. Plus, we have other extras to play with, like the benches, the logs, different trees, the Shakey Bridge, and the playground. All within a small footprint that is easy to navigate with a pram. I find it to be a perfect location!

In this shoot of little Ryan, I used the autumn colours and the falling leaves to full effect. Really emphasizing that we were in the autumn season. We were also lucky that day with beautiful sunshine which was so radiant that it allowed Ryan to be barefoot the whole time so we could see his cute little baby feet. The sunshine was also visually such a gorgeous addition to the photos.

With the bigger newborn photography package of 50 photos being booked, we didn’t just go on the Shakey Bridge, but also walked down the footpath to get some lovely father and son photos at the bottom of the Thomas Davis Bridge. I love these photos. I think they fall into a striking balance of being beautifully scenic while being some cute photos of the ‘boys’.

Action shots

With Ryan already being half a year old and a big boy at this stage, we were also able to do some action shots, like tummy time, mom & dad ‘throwing’ him in the air and some assisted walking on one of the logs.

If you would like to book a shoot like this for yourself, you can say hi to me here. Or if you prefer to do a shoot at home, this is something I also do, either an indoor baby shoot or an outdoor baby shoot.

Gift Cards for Newborn Baby Photography

Also, gift cards are available if you would like to gift these to friends or family, do contact me here for them.

I look forward to hearing from you!

L&S - Proposal Photography /  by Jan

If it isn’t clear by my numerous Ballycotton blog posts, Ballycotton is one of my favourite spots for a photo shoot! And this shoot was a very special one that has to top the list. It was stressful, secretive, blustering but incredibly emotional and beautiful as well. This was such a complex situation.

Liz and Steph were visiting from America and it was Liz’s plan to propose to her partner, Steph, in Ireland. Their friend Katrina was with them for a short part of the journey, and under the guise of being a hobby photographer and friend of Katrina’s, I was able to tag along to Ballycotton to shoot this special proposal.

I met them in Ballycotton, pretending to see an old friend I hadn’t seen in years and meeting two friendly people. The picturesque coastal town would provide the perfect backdrop for what was to be an unforgettable moment in Liz and Steph’s lives.

We made our hellos and I eventually let them down to the rocky beach next to the harbour with the famous lighthouse in the background. The anticipation in the air was palpable. From Liz anyway. I took a couple of shots of the couple, capturing their genuine smiles and the love between them. And then gave Liz the nod to do her thing. Liz, barely able to contain her excitement and eager for her moment, got down on one knee and proposed to the very surprised Steph. She said yes!

Now freed from the constraints of the "hobby photographer", I was able to fully embrace my role as their engagement photographer. Much to Steph’s shock!

I guided them to different spots along Ballycotton, capturing the beauty of the moment as the sun was setting. It was a blustery and wild evening, with such soft lighting. It was gorgeous. This isn’t usually the time of day I would photograph but I love the feeling and the vibe of these photos. And Steph’s lovely ginger hair is such a beautiful contrast to the cloudy and stormy sky.

Another successful proposal done!

LGBTQIA+ Friendly Photographer

I also want to take this opportunity to say that in my eyes, love is love, and it should be celebrated. Throughout my career as a photographer, I've been approached by LGBTQIA+ couples who seem concerned that I might not photograph them. I'm a big supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights and want everyone I photograph to feel comfortable and safe, no matter who they are or what they're family setup might be.

So if you’re looking for a photographer who is willing to create that safe space, say hi to me here!

5-star Google Review

“Jan went above and beyond for my proposal by putting his acting skills to the test along with getting some beautiful shots of the big question. Jan’s communication was top notch throughout the months of communication leading up to the day. He never missed a beat when plans changed and made the day very special for my and my now fiancée. I would recommend Jan in a heart beat for anyone’s special moments. Thank you!!!!”
— Liz

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!