Welcome &
Congratulations
You are officially on the calendar!
I hope you’re excited because we are going to have an amazing experience together
Hi there!
Photo by Deirdre Rusk Photography
I wanted to take a few minutes to tell you a bit more about me. Since we’re going to be spending some time together, I’d like it to feel like we’re already friends. Here’s what you need to know about me:
I talk a lot.
Like, a lot. And I laugh a lot and I have almost no control over what I say when I’m also holding a camera.
I might appear clumsy, I might even trip over my own feet. But don’t worry… I recover well.
There is nowhere I won’t go and nothing I won’t do to get the very best pictures possible & to make sure that you are safe.
I’m a mom of three kids and so I might be a bit of a “mother hen” when it comes to places like the Cliffs of Moher or crumbling ruins, but I promise, it’s not that I don’t trust you - it’s that I have to calm my own beating heart.
I will absolutely, genuinely, 100%, completely love spending time with you. And I hope you’ll feel the same about me!
What’s Next?
Once you’ve paid the booking fee and reserved your date, we have loads of time to plan the details of your day. If you already have a place in mind, brilliant! If not, we’ll have a chat about what you love most about Ireland and what you’re hoping for as the perfect place to elope. I want to know all about what you enjoy doing most together and what you’re most excited about for your day and your photos.
If you’d like a little peek at what my couples and wedding photos look like - check out my wedding & couples portfolio
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About a month before your special day we’ll schedule a time to zoom or have a WhatsApp chat to work on all the details, what your day looks like, timing, etc. (it all depends on the time of year, the weather, your itinerary, the photos you want) and go over details.
Getting Ready
You might only want pictures of your ceremony, but think about how much fun it is to get ready with your family, friends, or even just the one you love. These are some of my favourite moments of the day, and I would love to capture them for you.
WHAT TO WEAR:
Your wedding clothes
Sensible Shoes.
Layers. (tights, undershirts, a wrap, a fur cape) Warm people = happy people.
Sensible Shoes(yes, I said it twice). Wear the nice ones but bring a back up - nothing slippy, loose, or uncomfortable. And no pointy heels. Something with a bit of grip.
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WHAT TO BRING:
Snacks
Water
Coats or cozy blankets/wraps
A change of socks.
(I’m not going to promise you’ll stay clean or dry, but clean socks will have you good as new)
Flexibility & patience
A sense of adventure!
ON THE DAY
I will meet you at the ceremony location, give you a big hug, and let things get started. If you need help or direction, just ask but other than that, I’ll let you do you.
During the ceremony I’ll be around, but will try my best to be discreet - this is your wedding after all, not a photo shoot.
After the ceremony we’ll do some family & friends pictures, short & sweet, maybe a bit silly. We’ll go over exactly what you want from this time on our zoom
Then the three of us (and anyone else you’d like) will take some beautiful, epic wedding portraits
After the ceremony & pictures, I’ll go back into documentary mode whether it’s just saying goodbye or heading to the next part of the day.
COUPLE’S PORTRAITS
What to Expect:
Some walking - the views are worth it!
And you’ll be so busy getting from place to place that you’ll have no energy left to worry about the camera.
Some talking.
I want to know all about you, how you met, what life is like right now, what annoys you or makes you laugh - I want to hear all about your story, and hopefully I can tell a little bit of it too.
Occasional periods of sitting or standing together.
As we’re walking, you’ll end up in some pretty special places, when I see a good spot, I’ll ask you to ‘just stand there and look around” while I do the rest.
Simple, easy, silly, and sometimes sweet suggestions.
Once we get into the flow of things, I’ll give you some easy prompts like… cuddle up and keep warm, or fix his hair (it gets windy) or I might even let you kiss 😉. But I’ll follow your lead, if you’re romantic… I’m totally there for it. But fair warning, I’m more say something ridiculous than romantic - and that works too.
After the Session
Good things come to those who wait.
I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to choosing the best photos, editing them just the way I want them, and creating something special to share with you. Your images will be sent to in 3-4 weeks through a link to an online gallery. This gallery is where you can see, share, and save your photos. You can also choose your favourite photos to print.
If your session included printed products, all you need to do is put them in your cart and then let me know you’re ready for me to place the order. And if you’d like to buy anything else, I have found beautiful, professional, heirloom quality print products, from wall art and lay flat albums to art prints and Christmas cards.
And if you love your photos, and had a good time,
I would so very much appreciate a review
What To Do With Your Beautiful Photos
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Enjoy them Online
Your gallery will be available online for a year, so you can sign in and look through them any time you want.
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Share Them with Others
Your gallery has an icon that will let you send the gallery to your family and friends, or straight to Facebook and Instagram. You can even select a fes specific photos and email them to whoever you’d like.
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Save Them
Download your photos to your computer, an external hard drive, a usb and/or your cloud storage
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Print Them
Photo are meant to be printed, to be held, framed, looked through, even stored in a box to be discovered by your grandkids. Print your favourites, print them all!
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Frame Them
Make them a part of your every day lives. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but they are worth seeing and enjoying for years to come.
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Tell the Story
Photo albums are my absolute favourite way to enjoy my photos. Seeing them all together brings back all the best memories. And watching my children look through them over and over… well, it’s the best.
Stay In Touch
You don’t know it yet, but we are already friends. And I want to know what happens next in your story. I want to get a cup of tea with you (or a pint) next time you’re in Ireland. I want to hear how life is going, and what your plans are. Getting Christmas cards from you means more than I can say, and the staying in touch email… priceless.
Follow me on facebook or instagram, and I’ll follow you right back!
Tips for enjoying your time in Ireland
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Take your time, and use google maps.
Check your side mirrors to stay centred in the lane.
Remember that the driver is always in the middle of the road.
Give yourself extra time, the windy, bumpy, narrow roads can feel twice as long to drive as the map says.
If someone is tailgating you, pull to the side and let them pass. Enjoy the views!
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Sweaters, hats, pottery and… your pictures!
Saturday markets have local craftsmen
Bunratty has great shopping
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Most gas stations also have a deli with excellent food. Have a chicken roll, everyone does!
Coffee is a fancy drink. Real men (and everyone else) drinks tea. Strong, black tea with milk (and sugar too).
Cafés are open at 9:00 or 10:00 and close by 5:00. Restaurants open around 5:00 and close around 10:00
Dealz has the cheapest snacks, Lidl & Aldi are next. Tesco and Dunnes are supermarkets and SuperValue usually has American food.
There is almost no ranch dressing, splenda, or regular yellow mustard
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The weather is 100% unpredictable. Layers are your friend.
Bring waterproof/resistant shoes if you’ll be spending time outside. Or buy cheap wellies at Penneys or Dunnes.
In the summer, the sun rises around 4:00-5:00 and sets around 10:00. In the winter it’s up at 9:00 and dark by 4:00
The Autumn is the best time of the year!