Erin and Charlie - Blackrock Castle Wedding Photographer /  by Jan

Erin and Charlie’s wedding day was a big day. With a crazy and wild reception at The Angler’s, a venue I’m almost a regular at, this day started off however in unfamiliar territories. For this stunning wedding, I found myself at the Blackrock Castle Observatory – a new venue for me. The castle itself is, of course, such icon of Cork that it even features as the city’s coat of arms. Now that makes this location truly special to be at such a historically important site!

A Wild Afterparty

Dancing and partying at The Angler’s.

Starting off the wedding, Erin and Charlie paid tribute to their own history with a table dedicated to the loves that weren’t with us anymore. Wedding pictures surrounded by roses and candles made a beautiful gesture to past romances in the families.

And family always plays such a pivotal role on a wedding day – as a photographer I get to capture these moments. Even just a brother adjusting the jacket of a groom and doing last minute checks carries a special kind of emotion.

A few more shots of the family and friends and the bride arrived in a fancy wedding car – this luxurious entrance was a last minute surprise from the bride’s friends and it certainly added an extra bit of extravagance to the occasion. Although with its classic vintage style it blended in beautifully with the muted greens and rustic décor of the wedding. We had to come back to it later on in the day for the couple photos.

Blackrock Castle Observatory Wedding Ceremony

Some traditions look great on camera, and one of these is the confetti toss (remember, throw the confetti up!). It always captures the joy of the newly married couple as they realise that this is the start of their new life together.

After the ceremony we took the group photos of friends and family, followed by the couple shoot. With an all-access pass we were able to go to the roof and all sorts of other corners of the castle that usually aren’t accessible to the public. I love that about my job!

Blackrock Castle Observatory Wedding Couple Photo Shoot

5-star Google Review

“Jannik photographed our wedding on the 3rd May 2024 and we cannot thank him enough for being so accommodating and easy going, everyone was so complimentary of him and we were all blown away by how easy he made everything. The photos were beyond incredible, and every single one showed the spirit of the day. Jannik is an absolute gentleman who goes above and beyond to capture even the smallest details, thank you again Jan you are a star! 🌟”
— Erin

With these gorgeous couple photos done, the wedding then entered the next chapter; the reception. The reception was being held at The Angler’s, a familiar place for me to photograph at. I have photographed full weddings there, 2nd wedding days, receptions, family reunions and birthdays there. It’s an amazing spot for it and I am always able to come back with some gorgeous photos!

Wedding Reception and Afterparty at The Angler’s

If you would like to book me for your wedding, I only have one spot left for next year but I am taking bookings for 2026 as well. You can say hi to me here!

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