Lucky iPad winners

We've just had a draw here amongst all 2011 wedding clients for a new iPad and I am pleased to announce that the winners are John and Pamela who are getting married in Santry next August. 
Congratulations to you both..!  Your photographs will look amazing on it.

New Frame Offer

I've just introduced a new offer for a framed portrait.  Starting at €130 for a studio session and a 15x12 inch frame incorporating a 10x8 inch print, this offer will be available for a limited time only.  There are 3 sizes on offer at 2 different prices - €130 and €170.  Frames are an elegant black or white wood box type frame.  Samples are available to view in the studio.

Baby Casting Prize

Congratulations to Deirdre Merriman who won a €165 voucher for a Baby Casting & Portrait session with me through my facebook page.  Looking forward to meeting Deirdre and her boys.

iPad Competition

I got an iPad over the summer  and I'm absolutely loving it.  One thing that really stands out on it is the quality of images on the screen.  I now use it instead of a laptop to show portfolio samples when out and about meeting clients.  Now there is probably no better way of viewing your wedding photographs than on an iPad.  So I've decided to put one up as a prize for any couple who books their 2011 wedding with me before Dec 31st this year.  See my main site for details.  Best of luck..!!

iPad Competition

Liffey Valley Wedding

One of my recent weddings was celebrated in the Liffey Valley Hotel - a wonderful venue with lovely gardens.  The happy couple were Amy & Cathal who were an absolute dream to work with.  They had a fantastic day and we got some great photos too.  So hard to choose but I've posted a few below.

The Italian Job...

I’ve recently returned from Italy where I spent a week on a commercial shoot photographing a beautiful Italian villa and the surrounding countryside for a tourist website.  
Absolute fabulous location, fabulous weather and even better was that I got the use of the villa for the week...!  It was in a very rural location in Tuscany close to Volterra.  Definitely recommend it.  Anyway, thought I’d post some photos here to share.

So what sort of equipment does a photographer need these days?

I often get asked by guests with a photographic interest at weddings what sort of software and equipment I use so I’ve decided to write a short blog on it here.

Having the best professional grade equipment though is just half the package.  You also have to have the qualification, experience, the ‘eye’, post production skills and the personality to engage with people to have any hope of becoming a successful photographer.  

So, back to equipment.  Most photographers fall into the Nikon or Canon category.  I’m a Canon user and I have to say Canon gear has never once let me down.

My main equipment includes;

Canon 1Ds mark III

Canon 5D mark II

Canon G10 (always in the pocket..!)

A range of Canon and Metz flashguns 

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L USM

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM II

Canon TS-E 24 mm f/3.5L

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Canon Extender EF 2x II

Sigma 105mm Macro f/2.8 EX DG 

Manfrotto monopod and tripods

Lastolite grey card and tri-grip reflectors

A large piece of black cardboard..!

A range of Apple Mac computers including a MacPro for all the heavy duty editing.

Adobe Lightroom 2.  (I also have Aperture but I much prefer Lightroom.)

Adobe photoshop CS4

OnOne software

Photomax Pro for High Dynamic Range work

Portrait Professional

TAVE for keeping track of everything every where I go.

Then for the studio I have a range of different powered Bowens studio heads, boom arms, softboxes, umbrellas, softlite reflectors, diffusers, backgrounds, posing stools, chairs etc.. etc...

2 mobile phones and a sat nav also come in handy...

And most important of all is my trusted talented assistant, Siobhan..!