A&F - The Anglers Wedding Photographer /  by Jan

I had the immense pleasure of witnessing the unique love story between Adrian and Fadzai unfold on their special day. With Ireland’s unreliable weather, most of my weddings take place indoors, but Adrian and Fadzai took a chance, and it paid off. Located at The Anglers, the wedding had a beautiful, bohemian air filled with light and love.

The couple played with tradition, keeping some elements intact while also creating their own, special variations for others. Which brings me to the things I loved the most…

1) Starting Out Together at The Kingsley Hotel

I thought it was so unique that the couple had decided to get ready together, and it was so much fun to photograph the pre-wedding preparations with them together. When I met them at The Kingsley Hotel, where they were preparing, I sensed an air of excitement and unity. The traditional concept of the bride and groom getting ready separately was beautifully replaced by their joint anticipation, culminating in a heart-warming walk down the aisle hand in hand. This departure from convention created a sense of togetherness that set the tone for the day.

2) UCC - A Love Story Captured

The couple opted for family photos and a couple shoot to take place prior to the ceremony, at the University College Cork, the very place where their love story began. Taking the photos before the ceremony felt less rushed and allowed for a more relaxed and natural flow. The architecture of UCC never fails to provided a picturesque backdrop, each building telling a chapter of their journey. From the iconic structures to the intimate chapel which we used for the couple shoot, even if they didn’t tie the knot there. These photos resonated with the depth of their relationship.

After UCC, the couple dropped in at the pub they used to frequent as students for a quick toast to the new chapter.

Cissie Youngs

After UCC, the couple dropped in at the pub they used to frequent as students for a quick toast to the new chapter.

3) The Charm of The Anglers Bar & Restaurant

I really enjoyed the outdoor setting at The Anglers as it offered the perfect lighting and created a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere. Even though certain traditions were put aside, others were embraced. The guests were given the chance to bestow their blessings upon the union with the ring warming; and there was a lighting of candles to honour departed loved ones.

Thoughtful arrangements emphasised the natural beauty of The Anglers, making it feel like the grand celebration it was. From the bouquet toss (a fun interval in any wedding) to the speeches, every moment was a blend of significance and warmth.

The evening culminated in capturing a few awesome shots of the women – the high spirits of the day giving inspiration to act and pose spontaneously without needing any direction from me. This marked a happy end to an eventful day, reflecting the easy joy that filled the celebration.

5-star Google Review

Adrian and Fadzai's wedding was a tapestry of unconventional yet deeply meaningful snapshots. I am delighted that I got to document these cherished moments, and they clearly had a great time too, leaving me this amazing 5-star Google review:

“What can I say, Jan was absolutely brilliant to work with from beginning to end for our wedding day!
He was so professional, organised and helpful as we planned the photo shoot and party photos. When the day came we were a bit nervous about being the centre of attention but Jan made the photo shoot so relaxed, easy and a lot of fun, we ended up really enjoying it!
The photos in the end were SO SO beautiful. Going through them was like reliving our wedding day all over again as he captured so many natural happy moments of us and also of friends and family!
Thank you so much Jan for the amazing photos, we are absolutely delighted and looking through them gives us that warm fuzzy feeling every time! :)”

If you would like me to be your wedding photographer in Cork, you can contact me here for my wedding packages and availability. I’d love to hear from you!

More wedding photography at The Anglers Bar & Restaurant:

Ringing Bells - Cork City Couples Shoot /  by Jan

One of the reasons I love living in Ireland is that it’s such a treasure trove of beautiful spots for romantic moments, and luckily, Cork’s city centre is no different. When Tommy approached me about proposing to Christine, and following it up with a city couple shoot in Cork, I knew immediately where to go.

I met the happy couple at Bell's Field, located beside St Patrick's Hill right in the heart of Cork City centre. This spot was meaningful to them because Tommy's grandmother had been christened at St Mary’s and St Anne’s church which you can see in the background of this proposal. After capturing these gorgeous photos of them together in the field, we set off for the iconic Shandon Bells tower.

The Shandon Bells are a landmark of Cork City located in one of the historic parts of town. We took the tour up the tower, which allows you to view the famous eight bells contained within, and even have a go at playing them yourself. Earmuffs are needed for part of the climb up the tower, as the bells can be deafening if someone is playing them from below!

Earmuffs!

“Earmuffs are needed for part of the climb up the tower, as the bells can be deafening…”

After surviving the bells, we emerged onto the top balcony of the tower, which provides stunning panoramic views of the city. We were able to get some shots of Christine and Tommy with Cork City as their backdrop. The tower boasts the famous four-faced clock, known as "the four-faced liar" due to the winds changing the time when the tower was first built.

To top off our tower tour, we admired the uniquely-shaped salmon wind vane atop the Shandon Bells. This nod to Cork's history of salmon farming makes the tower even more distinctive. I loved this special engagement photo session at the Shandon Bells, and I know Christine and Tommy will cherish these memories for many years to come.

If you would like to do a similar engagement photo shoot in Cork city or an urban couples photo shoot in Cork city, contact me here. I’d love to hear from you!

I am also available for wedding photography in County Cork.

Christina and Sean - Honeymoon Shoot at Blarney Castle /  by Jan

I treated Christina and Sean to a honeymoon couple shoot at the gorgeous Blarney Castle and Gardens, one of my favourite places to do a couple shoot. Why? Besides the iconic Blarney castle, the gardens also offer so many sweet nooks for special and happy vacation couple photos. It’s also a hop, skip and jump away from the docking point for cruise ships in Cobh. So obviously that’s where we went for Christina and Sean’s honeymoon shoot.

Christina and Sean came from America on a cruise, stopping at Cork for just one short day; so I was determined to make sure they saw the best bits the city has to offer.

Honeymoon Love

After some photos around Blarney Castle, we had to spend some time at Blarney House for the sheer fairy tale factor the house has to offer. And then – to the gardens!

The gardens are a beautiful array of different types of plant life; some of it classical Irish fare, and some corners seeming almost tropical; all of it dense and lush with trees that dwarfed the couple. It’s really just nature showing off.

Christina and Sean had actually been married for a while already before finally getting this opportunity to go on their honeymoon, but they seem just as happy and delighted with each other as if they’d just walked down the aisle.

They took much delight in the poison garden. Some of the plants are so deadly that they’re found in medieval cages. The garden boasts Lily of the Valley, which featured in Breaking Bad, as well as Woflsbane from Harry Potter. There are also less severe plants among them, like tobacco, tea and rhubarb.

The Witch of Blarney is said to come alive and cause mayhem after dark, but luckily the gardens close at 6 so no one need fear. And then there’s the Blarney Stone, which must be kissed for the gift of eloquence and persuasiveness.

We also checked out the wishing steps, which promise to grant your wish within the year if you are able to walk down and back up them with your eyes closed while thinking of your wish.

Of course, Ireland will have its way, and the day started out chilly, before moving on to drizzly and damp. But there’s nothing a cute umbrella won’t fix! The canopies of trees also shielded us from the showers. By the end of the shoot, the rain had left us and we were boiling hot and we headed back to the castle for some pics in the sun.

After the shoot I took them around the town, stopping for lunch at The Muskerry Arms Bar where they serve some traditional Irish food; I had the cabbage, ham and potatoes – mmm!

If you would like to book me as your couple photographer at a beautiful location like Blarney Castle, feel free to say hi and contact me here. I am also available for wedding photography.