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Charline & Romain travelled over from Brittany with their two children for a Celtic Ceremony in Brigits Garden, just outside Oughertard, Co Galway.

The west of Ireland can sometimes be unpredictable weatherwise but we had a stunning day. Blue skies and butterflies accompanied us for the ceremony in the stone circle with numerous blessings and old traditions it was a lovely afternoon. We then headed over the mountains to the town of Spiddal where the weather stayed dry but the clouds rolled in over Galway Bay giving us some moody images.

Despite the language barriers (my French leaves a lot to be desired !) we had a wonderful time together and I was delighted to hear back from them :

Hi Kevin!

Thank you very much for the link! the photos are amazing! We loved to remember these precious moments. Our trip in Ireland was exceptional and we will have great memories thank to you.

We’ll say hello to you if we’ll make a new trip in your country and I promise our English will be better!!!

Thanks thanks thanks!!!

Charline and Romain

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I was delighted to be asked to shoot Therese & Robs wedding next year in Horetown House and really excited to be asked to do an engagement shoot down in Carrigfoyle Quarry, a spot I had never visited.Having photographed the weddings of both of Robs sisters we had met before and they knew my style but it was fun to meet up for an enjoyable and relaxed walk, with a few photos thrown in !!!

“Hi Kevin,

Thank you so much for our photos, we are so delighted with them. We really enjoyed our time with you that day. It was lovely and relaxed and great to spend some time with you before our wedding next year.
Thanks Again,
Therese & Rob”
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It’s becoming more & more popular these days to have either an engagement or a pre-wedding shoot. It’s actually a great idea for both the couple and the photographer. Firstly, it gets the couple used to being relaxed in front of the camera, they get used to the photographers style and it also builds up a nice rapport between everyone which should feed over in the photos on the big day itself. It also gets the photographer used to the couple, not everyone is relaxed with public displays of affection while some couples can’t keep their hands off each other !! Generally, it makes the bride and groom photos on the day that bit easier, everyone knows what to expect and stress levels are usually non-existent. It also has the added bonus of some lovely shots of the couple which can be used perhaps on invitations, for some of the decoration on the day or maybe in a signature frame where guests sign around a favourite image from the shoot. All in all it’s a win win !! I am also so lucky with where I am based as we have a choice of parkland, woodland and expansive beaches to chose from. Martina & Steve dropped out the other morning for a few shots on the (very chilly) beach and it was a nice relaxing way to start to ease me into the wedding season. Prices for an engagement shoot start at €295 to include up to an hour of photography and all your images in full high resolution and non-watermarked.

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Among the many comments from wedding couples are “I/We hate having my/our picture taken”, “xxx is very nervous about the photos”, “we don’t want rigid poses, we like more natural shots”, “how long will the photos take, I want to spend time with my guests”.

One way to address this is to consider the increasingly popular “engagement shoot” where the couple get to meet their photographer in a relaxed atmosphere and come out the other side with a fab selection of images, but there are plenty of other real benefits as well.

Firstly, you get to know your photographer, their style, their personality, how they pose couples, how fast they “get the shot” and how they interact with you, it also benefits the photographer as they get to know you better, how you interact as a couple, if you are hands-on (literally), what aspects of the photos, if any, are you nervous about and this is a great time for them to give you any posing tips if necessary. This is invaluable preparation for the big day as it’s all done in a relaxed and easygoing manner, with no rushing and without the inconvenience of a wedding celebration going on in the background !! 🙂

When the big day comes around, both you & the photographer know exactly what to expect,  for couples who hate having the photos taken they are much more at ease, and a big plus is that it saves time on the day – anyone who gets married will tell you how fast time goes by so any extra time saved is precious.

Other benefits are of course a lovely selection of photos of yourself & your fiance, these can be used on your “save the date” cards, invitations, table settings, seating plan etc..and, if you are planning a wedding website, you have a great gallery of images at the ready. A lot of photographers also offer the option of a signature board where an image of your choice is matted behind a heavy duty mount board for your guests to sign on your wedding day and for you to frame as a keepsake.

But perhaps the biggest benefit are the moments in time captured between you & your fiance at the start of the next stage of your relationship.

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