Donegal wedding photographer - Michael and Christina - Ostan Gweedore

 I've known the Bateson family for 2 decades now and was thrilled to be shooting another family wedding for them. This time it was Michael, the youngest but most fearless of them all, marrying his childhood sweetheart Christina from the wilds of Dungiven. The Ostan Gweedore Hotel sits proud on the hill above the stunning strand of Bunbeg, home to the famous shipwreck as seen on many's an Irish postcard, and housed friends and family, old and new of the Bateson and McCaul variety.
 We had an amazing experience, a day (that turned into a weekend) filled with craic and love. The weather was it's usual brutal self, but the brave and the bold took to the beach for some dramatic photos, and a bit of horseplay. Creamy Guinness, hot whiskeys, fine wines and Major fags all helped take the edge of the cold weather!
 Christina, although self-confessed as being very camera-shy looked truely amazing and naturally beautiful  when the camera was on her; she could pose like a pro! Michael and his whole crew were a blast and it really helped to maximise the fun potential at every stop. I felt blessed to be part of their day, and will always cherish the experience.
 Bunbeg, Gweedore and the whole region - amazing part of the country, I suggest you visit as the landscape and the local hospitality are a real treat. Can't wait to return....(in a few weeks)

 

shooting Riggy Raw

Shooting photos in RAW format has taken some time to get used to, and to truth be told I was dragged into it kicking and screaming 'I don't want to, I don't want toooooooo' . Shooting Jpeg is faster, easier to work with as the file is much smaller and semi-processed for you and is fairly close to being print and internet ready straight from the cmaera. RAW however is a different kettle of fish. The files are large and cumbersome in comparison, it takes the camera longer to write them and they need converted via a RAW convertor before I even begin to spring clean them in photoshop (multiply this time by several hundred photos taken on the wedding day and what you have is a lorryload of extra work on your hands). However, the results can be beautiful, the range of tones and detail much greater, and there's a margin for error on the photographer's behalf that is very useful, i.e. over or underexposed areas canbe rescued.
Below is a photo from a wedding last week, as an example I've attached the original Jpeg and a processed RAW version side by side for comparison.

Anyway, now I've emptied my brain onto this page I must get back to the hoovering. I hope this will inspire those non-RAW shooters to give it a try, and my future brides to take comfort knowing that they are being shot in RAW format!!

Good day to you

MANY THOUSAND THANKS

Yeah, I'm one of those self proclaimed 'international wedding photographers', I work on both sides of the border! The moral today is one of thanks and spontaniety. 

I shot a beautiful wedding in Bunbeg on Friday past; Michael and Christina choose me to be part of their big day, and as a bonus booked me a room in the mighty Ostan Gweedore Hotel. In 2 minds as to whether to spend a night away from my girls I asked them to join me and decided to stay the whole weekend. It was an absolute treat to work that wedding, to share in the love and the craic, to get back stage passes to the show, and above that a total luxury to be able to down tools and join my girls in the restaurant afterwards, to fall into a massive kingsize bed just up the stairs, to walk the beach in the morning and indulge in the experience of the Gaeltacht area. 

Wedding photography is an amazing job, I love what I do. It is hard work too, and the awful truth is I spend 90% of my time at a computer and a tiny fraction with my camera in hand, but it is fulfilling, and the odd time I get a wee sneaky holiday from it.

So, to Michael and Christina, my kind hosts at The Ostan Gweedore, my beautiful girls and all the couples, recent and far back, that I've had the pleasure to spend time with  I thank thee.

 

View from our bedroom window - epic!

 Sunset at the famous Bunbeg shipwreck

I trust my daddy!

Late evening dander just a few steps from a pint of stout!

Donegal wedding photography - MOUNT ERRIGAL WEDDING FAIR 2012

A short film from the Highland Radio Wedding Fair, yesterday, the 29th January 2012. I met so many fine couples and vendors, and had a fun day of attempting to make plans for my own wedding while I was there (read that as 'eating free tapas and cake'). Massive thanks to Kevin and the good folk at Highland radio for their hospitality

The continuing adventures of ROCK THE DRESS

I would consider Saturday past, 21st January 2012, the coldest day I've felt in many, many moons. The wind was blasting an icy chill from the north west, the rain shot horizontly across the land. Where else then to go to seek shelter and shoot a 'rock the dress' photo than the very peek of a Donegal mountain just a few clicks from the north coast! My model Kazoo, being the adventurous, bordering on crazy, girl that she is once again volunteered, rigged-up and mounted the Grainnan Fort and struck a pose. The weather broke and sun peeked out for a few minutes. The wind and temperature were so extreme that all we could manage were 2 single images before the brakes were pulled and we dashed for shelter...job done in 30 seconds (hopefully!!)

Although there were 2 flashes used to light the model here, the rest was lit by mother earth. With fancy camera lenses, photoshop and various filters we can create amazing images, but nature is really in charge when it comes to fine lighting, even if it only last for minutes at a time around these parts.

I'd like to thank Kazoo for being the ultimate girlfriend, model, friend and soon to be wife for all her help with this project, you are truely a beautiful being !

THE JAY DOHERTY PHOTOGRAPHY  'WEDDING AWARDS'  2011

 It's been an thrilling and creative wedding year at Jay Doherty Photography. I have had the privilage of working with many wonderful characters, in some stunning and very private locations and witnessed many touching moments in time. It' s been emotional for me, at the heart of possibly the most important days of a young couple's lives, to be on the front line of all the action, the drama and the fun. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity, it is an exciting job, I get to feel the glitz and glam of a Hollywood snapper, meet many crazy and beautiful characters from near and far, eat the finest meals and get appreciated, hugged and paid for it - so I thank you good people.
At this year's 1st annual Jay Doherty Photography wedding awards I have complied a list of fine moments, people and locations that struck me as particulary awesome. For the craic, for the memories I give you.... 
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 The most rock n' roll wedding of the year - Orla Hutton and Joe Nelis. Not only did these cats bring their instruments to Prehen House for their wedding photos, they set up a spontaneous gig and shook the room. What a band, I'd pay large to go see them in action. Cathair on guitar, Joe on drums and Orla taking the lead role.

 

Most exciting shoes award (sponsored by Connell's shoe shop Limavady!!) - I was particualry blown away by Nikky Forrest's custom made white silk DM boots!! Along with Nicky I have a history and a love of DMs and these were shockingly good, had plenty of personal meaning and fun, fun, fun. Stomping up the aisle in a set of DMs?? Go on girl!

The bravest couple  - Megan and Jamie posing on the Redcastle pier, 11pm in a gale. The waves were crashing over the rocks in a generally very calm bay, they acted like it was nothing, we shot a single frame. 3 seconds after this we were sprinting back to the shelter of the Redcastle Hotel. 3 Irish coffees please!

 

The rockingest dress - I've witnessed an amazing array of wedding dresses this year, in all shapes and style but Maggie Watson's formula 1 mini dress struck me. Never was a dress more perfectly suited to a particular bride- bursting with personality, made for speed and fun!

 

The loudest bridesmaids - Caroline Montgomery, Ema McKay, Lucy Murray and Alison Cowen. Lifelong friends and mistresses of mischief Caroline and Ema led the charge into the Ballyliffen's green waters post-rainstorm and let everyone within a 3 miles radius hear them!

 

The most hungover groomsmen - Niall and Kevin Gileece. Rumour had it that these fellows propped up Limavady's Radisson Hotel til 4am the night beofre, sampling their wares to be sure it would be good enough the next day's guests. They did however hang on in there the next day and made their brother Martin proud.

 

The most picturesque independent photo location - I've chosen this as we were very lucky to be granted permision to shoot some wedding photos on the grounds of the Bellerena Estate. We spent 2 hours dandering around the lush garden and scenery of the estate, shot so many amazing photos and didn't even see the half of it. What a scoop, thanks to all involved in making this happen.

The most adventurous couple - from the road we spotted a field of wild flowers so I suggested we venture in for a spontaneous photo. Phillip and Seamus were keen, but nearing the field i noticed these flowers were perhaps 6 feet high and growing thick. Undetered, Seamus led the battled through the flowers weilding his umbarella to clear a path to the centre of the purple magic. Old school heroism!

 

Most stunning bride of 2011 - ALL OF YOU , WOOP, WOOP!!

 

The most impressive wedding cake - as a massive sweet tooth and no stranger to a dentist myself rthere could have been no other victor in this category than Nicky's 'mountain of sugar' as baked by Hunter's bakery in Limavady. They had to post a fulltime security guard to keep the weans (and me) back from it during the meal. What a treat, and the bride let everyone get stuck in after the dessert!

Braving the elements on a WINTER WEDDING

I have quite a few winter weddings booked this year and early next. A snowy wonderland can potentially make for a stunning wedding photo collection, I imagine a gorgeous bride with blushing cheeks against a backdrop of white mountaintops and snow-capped capped connifers, perhaps a handsome groom at her side, bold and protective. Oh, a spontaneous snowball fight has just broken out between the bridemaids and grooms party, flowergirls gigling making snow angels and proud father looking on rubbing his gloved hands in delight.....ahh the dream. The reality however is a plain old foundering day, goosebumps and muddy hems. How can we overcome this.... time and experience has taught me a few things. Preparation, communication, patience and speed are all vital. I have had the great fortune of working with plenty of willing couples with whom we have battled the elements in search of the perfect snapshot of their day. Imperfect weather is a reality, but it can be overcome. 

This was taken last Saturday with Orla, 2 minutes to set-up and shoot then back into the roaring fire at Prehen House - what you can't see in the photo is the pair of wellie boots beneath her wedding dress!!