Brenda & Shane were not concerned by any of this low light nonsense. They were getting married late December and just wanted somebody to get the job done, no messing about. I loved their infectious nature and their cool laidback attitude, once we met it was clear they had strong opinions of their own and an enthusiasm for how I operated, a dynamic documentary approach, and it was just what they wanted.

The ceremony was to be held at Honan Chapel at UCC with reception following at Garyvoe Hotel, East Cork. On the day I started at Brenda’s Moms house, this is such a good way to get an idea of what people are like. Starting here lays down a blueprint for the day, it really does. Starting here gives me a clear impression of what the day will produce as it unfolds. Observing and watching what is going on, checking the characters in the family, idiosyncrasies… all these things help me to put together a set of images which will represent what happened, and by the time we got to Honan Chapel the excitement was palpable. For somebody like myself, an outsider invited along to record it, you can feel it, then I am completely in the zone.

A documentary wedding photographer works with an intense drive, there is no other way. The average wedding photographer just thinks “romance”, but in the most schmaltzy, tacky and stoic manner. It is not about this. It is about being there, recording the tone, the atmosphere, the emotion.

A glance at Brenda & Shane’s wedding pictures will tell you this, but a harder study will drive it home.

On the day I followed Brenda & Shane where ever they went, they visited Shanes Granny, they stopped off at Ballycotton, they laughed, they were excited and their energy is driven home in the resulting photographs.