Melissa September 5th, 2011
Last year Sean suprised his girlfriend with a very romantic proposal while they were visiting Ireland. He asked me to photograph the moment and take some engagement portraits of them afterwards to send home to their friends and family.
I asked Cassie to sit down while I took a few ‘test shots’ as I was doing this Sean dropped to one knee and popped the question. I loved the flood of emotion that overcame Cassie as she said yes the best way possible- by throwing herself on him and covering him in kisses. We had a great time afterwards taking advantage of Ashford Castle’s beautiful grounds for some casual portraits. Oddly enough I never once had to ask them to smile.
The reason I am putting this up on my blog today, over a year later, is that yesterday they were married in Rhode Island. I would have so much loved to have been there to photograph these two beautiful people again but I’m sure they had and amazing day. Best wishes for the future Cassie and Sean and let me know if you ever plan to revisit the spot where it all began.
Melissa September 1st, 2011
Melissa August 30th, 2011
This has been a big year for one of my favourite venues. For years I have loved shooting weddings at Lisloughrey Lodge in Congo, Co. Mayo. It is truly a hidden gem, elegant with a modern edge and staffed by some of the most wonderful people you will ever meet…and the food- In a word, YUM! So I was a bit worried when I heard that there were big changes in the works. When I found out that the changes included being incorporated into Ashford Castle I breathed a sigh of relief as how wrong can things go when one of Irelands most loved and prestigous establishments are taking the reigns?
I was right not to worry The Lodge at Ashford as it is now known is every bit as fabulous as it was previously and the changes they have made are subtle but effective- such as changing the interior colour scheme to a brighter palette of colours.
In memory of what was and in celebration of what now is I am posting a selection of photos first from the former Lisloughrey Lodge and then later from the new Lodge at Ashford.
Best of luck to Aoife and the team and I look foward to working together!
Melissa February 2nd, 2011
A very belated happy new year! It is now one month into 2011 and while this year looks like it will be a challenging one for everyone I am quietly excited rising to the challenge. I will work hard to make sure that the work I do and what I deliver, whether it is an online slideshow or a custom wedding album, is second to none.
These days there is understandably so much emphasis place on best value but it is also important to value best quality. This is especially important when you are reviewing canidates for your wedding photographer. There is only one chance to capture the beautiful moments of your wedding so that they can be shared and relived for many years.
One thing I am changing for 2011 is the way I do my highlight slideshows. My new shows will be more dynamic and have a lot of new options. You will be able to embed the video directly on your facebook page with one click. These shows will also be playable on mobile devices such as the itouch, iphone or ipad. You will be able order the mp4 files and/or high definition dvd’s to play at home or wherever! I have put together a sample of the new slideshow:
new slideshow
I am also looking at high definition dvd proofing to enable you to see your photos at home on your computer or tv as full sized high resolution previews.
I am also impementing a new system of album proofing to make it more user friendly and you will also have the ability to embed your album design on your facebook page.
In addition to these changes I am adding new products into my line up which I will be showcasing here on my blog.
I am really excited about all of these new developments and am always searching for new ways to improve the service I provide. Please feel free to get in touch, I always welcome any feedback or suggestions.
Most importantly, best wishes for 2011- I am so looking foward to this years weddings!
Melissa November 23rd, 2010
I realise that I have been extremely bad about keeping my blog up to date and I am going to improve on that- watch this space!
In the meantime- I would really like to post a few photos from this recent wedding. On the day the bride faced unforseen difficulties and I was so impressed with the spirit in which she and her groom met the challenge and kept on smiling. I often say to brides-to-be to not get stressed over the things that may not go to plan on the day- to just let it go and enjoy and these two really did just that with great style. I want to thank them both for being so easy to work with and for including me in their special day.
Shall we dance…
