Louis and Laura - Glucksman Wedding Photographer /  by Jan

5-star Google Review

I’m gonna kick off this blog in a bit of a different way and start with Laura’s 5-star Google review:

“We had the absolute pleasure of working with Jan for our wedding photography last month. From start to finish, working with Jan was seamless. He captured the essence of our day perfectly and we are just delighted with the photos. We were also so impressed by the quick turnaround time. I would absolutely recommend Jan and I hope we have the opportunity to work together again in future!”
— Laura

The Glucksman Wedding Ceremony and UCC couple shoot

As a photographer, I've had the privilege of capturing many beautiful moments, but Laura and Louis's wedding at the Glucksman Art Gallery was truly something special. Nestled on the University College Cork (UCC) campus, this wasn't your typical wedding venue – and that's what made it magical. A wedding in an art gallery? That’s very cool.

The Glucksman Gallery provided a stunning backdrop for their ceremony, with its contemporary architecture and artistic surroundings creating an unforgettable setting.

There was a ring warming, an opportunity for guests to pass around the rings and fill them with love and good wishes – a beautiful ritual that symbolises the community's support for Laura and Louis's union. They also incorporated a hand binding ceremony, another deeply symbolic tradition that literally tied them together.

Ring warming

“There was a ring warming, an opportunity for guests to pass around the rings and fill them with love…”

A playful element was brought to the ceremony: their younger guests were given bells and were under strict instructions to keep quiet until the perfect moment. As Laura and Louis shared their first kiss as a married couple, the air suddenly erupted with the sound of ringing bells.

The Glucksman Gallery's entrance proved to be the perfect spot for group photos. With the stunning UCC architecture in the background, we captured some truly memorable shots of the couple as well. Laura and Louis opted for a smaller couple shoot, if you’d like to see more couple shoots in UCC you can click here.

Emergency refreshments

A little top up of food and water for the bride and groom halfway through the couple shoot.

The celebration continued at Henchy's, one of Cork's most beloved pubs – a quintessentially Irish ending to a quintessentially Cork wedding. As a photographer, I always love the moments after the formal part of the day, when everyone relaxes and truly enjoys themselves. The traditional music – a vibrant mix of guitars, violins, and accordions – created the perfect atmosphere.

Wedding Afterparty at John Henchy & Sons

Being a local wedding, with Laura hailing from Ireland, the day felt like a true celebration of Cork and its traditions. And of course, what's a pub photo session without capturing a few shots with the celebratory drinks?

Some of my favourite photographs from the day capture the pure joy and relaxed atmosphere – especially those candid moments in Henchy's that really showcase the spirit of the celebration.

If you are looking for a wedding photographer for your special day, and you’re looking for someone fun, calm and professional? Say hi to me here for my wedding packages, I’d love to hear from you!

Kai's Doljabi - Cork Family Photographer /  by Jan

Certain photo shoots are funny little windows into someone else’s lives or cultures. This was one of them. Having never been to South Korea or knowing too much about Korean culture, I got to be a part of this interesting tradition. I was invited to photograph little Kai’s doljabi.

For those unfamiliar with the ritual, Doljabi is a Korean tradition where a one-year-old child is placed in front of a carefully selected array of objects. The item the child chooses is believed to symbolise their potential future path. For example, a pencil speaks to academic success, while a stethoscope could indicate a career in medicine, and money suggests a prosperous future.

Little Kai’s mother, Yingyu, was passionate about preserving this meaningful cultural tradition. And Yingyu’s parents were there to bear witness to Kai’s choice.

We had the ceremony at Fitzgerald; a beautiful backdrop for the intimate family event, placing the special ceremony in nature. As you can tell by all of my photo shoots, I love photographing outdoors in the lush, green nature.

Dad’s delighted

Following in his dad’s footstep, Kai chose the paintbrush

When the crucial moment arrived for Kai to make his choice, he picked the paintbrush – an artist’s choice. His animator father was most delighted with this outcome, proud to have his baby following his footsteps.

Kai’s grandfather tried so hard to convince him to take the money, possibly altering his future but Kai remained resolute in his decision to be focused on his artistry instead. Haha!

Kai didn’t show the slightest interest in grandad’s €€€!

This doljabi was more than just a photoshoot - it was a celebration of culture, family, and potential. Each carefully chosen object represented not just a potential career path, but a hope, a dream for little Kai's future. The way Yingyu and John embraced this tradition while allowing their son the freedom to make his own choice was beautiful to witness and capture.

I love the diversity humanity has to offer and I love having the opportunity to capture the moments that make it special. I celebrate the things that make us different because that’s what makes us human. So from different cultures and traditions to different orientations and preferences, I’m here to embrace them all, as long as love is at the centre.

If you would like to book me for your special family event, say hi to me here!

Emmett and Sinead - Kinsale Wedding Photographer /  by Jan

I photograph a lot of weddings by myself, but more and more so, I’m photographing them with my wife Nic. Nic studied photography at Crawford College of Art & Design, so her shots are great as well and combine well with my own. Working alongside each other means we're able to capture multiple perspectives throughout the day but also that we have a nice mix of viewpoints as we go.

Garretstown Couple Shoot

Plus, it’s always helpful having a female photographer there for the more intimate shots when the bride is getting into her dress, or to have her keep an eye out for hair bobbles around the wrists during the couple shoot (women, I have learnt your pain!), while I look out for phones and keys in the pants pockets.

Emmet and Sinead's wedding in Kinsale offered plenty of opportunities for interesting shots on this gorgeously sunny morning. Each location was carefully picked as it meant something special to the couple themselves. But more of that later.

Pre-Ceremony Wedding Photos

The day started out with the usual, going over to meet the bridal party for the shots of them getting ready, having their make up applied, last minute champagne and having fun. Emmett was a sweetheart and send his future wife a bouquet of flowers that morning with a very cute card attached. I wanted to marry Emmett now!

“Emmett was a sweetheart and send his future wife a bouquet of flowers that morning with a very cute card attached.”

This is where we threw the whole day up side down. No more tradition here! Emmet and Sinead opted for a first look and couple portraits before the ceremony, not after! This is something I would definitely do again. Getting these shots done early means pristine outfits, relaxed couples, and a better time for the rest of the day as the couple can just relax after the ceremony and enjoy the company of your friends and family. I like that.

For the first look we set up on a little cliff that juts out between Garretstown and Garrylucas beach, with Emmet looking out to the ocean waiting for Sinead. We captured this beautiful moment of her coming down, her dress blowing in the wind. Sinead just looked great!

Garylucas First Look and Couple Shoot

The couple brought their camper van to the shoot, reflecting their love of travel and outdoor life. After those shots, we then went down to Garretstown beach, which looked epic that day. So empty, the tide was out so the beach seemed huge and it just made for some amazing photos that I was very happy with. Emmet was a natural in front of the camera, enjoying the attention, though occasionally we had to remind him to tone down his enthusiasm! Haha! But nonetheless his happiness was infectious.

St. John the Baptist Church hosted the ceremony. From a photographer's perspective, it's an ideal venue - light walls and plenty of natural light make for clear, crisp shots.

St. John the Baptist Church - Wedding Ceremony

The reception at Man Friday restaurant offered excellent views over Kinsale harbour. A highlight was Sinead's mother performing "I Loved Her First" - a genuine, heartfelt moment that makes wedding photography special.

It was a beautiful day, filled with all the joy that these occasions elicit. And I know Emmet and Sinead will enjoy their new life together and look back on this day as the start of something precious.

Man Friday - Wedding Reception

If you would like to book me, or us two, for your wedding, say hi to me here! I’d love to hear from you!