An engaged couple stand on a wooden stairway in a room with a grand piano, large painting, and window with red curtains during their Howth Castle private engagement photoshoot

A Secret Proposal at Howth Cliffs & a Private Hour at Howth Castle: Joseph & Shannon’s Engagement Shoot

There’s something about Howth that makes it perfect for a secret proposal — the cliffs, the sea air, and views dramatic enough to distract even the most observant partner. That’s exactly why Joseph chose it to propose to Shannon.

Joseph and Shannon, a couple from New York, got in touch a few months before their trip to Ireland. Joseph had one plan: propose to Shannon somewhere unforgettable, with zero chance of her seeing it coming. We hopped on a quick video call beforehand to plan the timing, positioning and the subtle signal that would let me know the moment was close.

On the day, I arrived early and blended into the cliff walk like any other visitor with a camera — completely unnoticed. When Joseph got down on one knee overlooking Howth Head and the Irish Sea, I was already in position, capturing every second: the shock on Shannon’s face, the first hug, the tears, and the ring.

Once the “yes” was in and the adrenaline settled, we moved straight into a relaxed engagement shoot right there on the cliffs — walking, talking, laughing, just enjoying being newly engaged. Howth’s coastline did most of the work; my job was simply to stay out of the way and capture it.

  • secret proposal on Howth cliffs Dublin
  • A man kneels on one knee proposing to a surprised woman outdoors on a grassy hillside overlooking the sea.
  • A person kneels and holds hands with another person on a rocky cliff overlooking the sea under a partly cloudy sky.
  • A couple embraces and smiles on a rocky cliff overlooking the sea under a partly cloudy sky.
  • Two people walk along a green, coastal hillside with the sea and distant mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
  • A couple snogs on a grassy cliff overlooking the sea, with a lighthouse visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
  • A couple stand close together on a grassy hillside with the sea, cliffs, and a lighthouse visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
  • A couple stands on a grassy cliffside overlooking the sea, with the man hugging the woman from behind as they both look content.
  • A couple stand close together on a grassy hillside overlooking the sea, with a lighthouse visible in the distance under a cloudy sky.
  • A couple walks hand in hand up a grassy hillside overlooking the sea, with distant hills and a lighthouse visible under a cloudy sky.
  • Two people hold hands in the foreground, overlooking a coastal cliff with a lighthouse and buildings by the sea in the distance.

From the Cliffs to the Castle

Here’s where Joseph’s plan for the day got even better. Alongside the cliffside proposal, he’d booked something brand new I’m offering this year: one hour of completely private, exclusive access to Howth Castle, arranged in partnership with the castle itself.

We left the cliffs and drove the short distance to the castle grounds, where the doors opened just for the two of them. No other visitors, no tour groups — just Joseph, Shannon, and 800 years of history as the backdrop for the rest of their shoot.

Why the Castle Access Is Worth Adding

Having now run several full sessions there, it adds a completely different dimension. A few reasons it’s worth considering:

  • Total privacy. The castle and its private garden are closed off just for your hour, so there’s no dodging tourists or waiting for a gap in the crowd — every shot is genuinely yours.
  • Beautiful, authentic interiors. The rooms are original and full of character, with big windows that flood the space with soft natural light for portraits that feel timeless rather than staged.
  • Outdoor grounds too. The courtyards and gardens add a lovely change of colour and texture from the interior shots, and being partly sheltered, they’re a great option even if the weather isn’t fully cooperating.
  • A built-in rainy-day plan B. Irish weather can turn quickly, and having sheltered indoor space with those big windows means a shoot doesn’t need to be cancelled or rescheduled if the rain rolls in.
  • Flexible for any occasion. It’s not just for proposals — the same private hour works just as well for a vow renewal, or simply as a stand-alone couple or engagement shoot.

This exclusive access is arranged directly through me in partnership with Howth Castle, and the special partnership rate is only available when booked this way.

  • A man and woman stand by a window in a sunlit room; nearby, a table holds books, a framed photo, and a bust during their Howth Castle private engagement photoshoot.
  • A woman sits by a window holding a man’s hand as he stands beside her in a sunlit, ornate corridor with wooden floors.
  • Woman in a beige jumper and white skirt sits by a window, looking outside with a thoughtful expression, her hand resting on her knee.
  • A man stands behind a seated woman on a pink sofa in a vintage-style living room with framed art and pink chairs.
  • A man and woman sit close together on a window seat, facing each other and smiling, with natural light coming through the large windows.
  • A couple sits closely together on a window seat, holding hands and looking at each other in a softly lit room.
  • Two people dance in an empty wood-panelled room with large windows and a fireplace, sunlight streaming in and highlighting their movement.
  • Two people dance together in a spacious wooden room with large windows, bookshelves, and a fireplace.
  • A couple stands closely together by a sunlit window in a dimly lit room, facing each other with gentle expressions.
  • A couple stands in front of a window, embracing closely; the woman rests her head on the man’s chest with her eyes closed. The image is in black and white.
  • A man kisses a woman’s forehead as she rests her hand on his chest, both wearing knitted jumpers and standing near a window.
  • A man and woman in vintage-style clothing stand side by side in a corridor of an old, elegant house with green walls and large windows.
  • Two people stand close together near a tall window in an old, worn interior with wooden floors and a staircase visible in the foreground.
  • A couple stands close together by a tall window in an old, dimly lit stairwell with peeling walls and natural light streaming in at Howth Castle Dublin.
  • A woman and man stand close together in a dimly lit corner near a window, holding hands and looking at each other.
  • A couple stands holding hands in an old, dimly lit building near a staircase, looking up towards the light from a window.
  • Two people stand close together in silhouette beneath an ornate archway, with light streaming through a window behind them.
  • A couple stands together at the bottom of a wooden staircase near a large window in a traditionally decorated room with a piano and grandfather clock.
  • A gold ring with a rectangular clear gemstone rests on a white piano key, with black keys and part of the wooden piano visible in the background.
  • An engaged couple stand on a wooden stairway in a room with a grand piano, large painting, and window with red curtains during their Howth Castle private engagement photoshoot
  • A man and a woman hold hands whilst standing on stone steps outside a building covered in greenery, with a wooden bench nearby.
  • A man and a woman sit on outdoor stone steps, holding hands and smiling at each other, surrounded by greenery.
  • A couple stands under a stone archway in a lush garden, holding hands and looking at each other, with a building visible in the background.
  • A man and woman walk arm in arm through a stone archway surrounded by greenery and plants, smiling at each other.
  • A couple stand together on a garden path, with the man embracing the woman from behind. Purple flowers are blurred in the foreground, and green foliage surrounds them.
  • A couple stands together in a garden courtyard, viewed through a window with multiple panes. Greenery and flowers surround the stone path and lawn.
  • A couple stands closely together under a stone archway surrounded by greenery and flowers in a garden setting.
  • A couple walks arm in arm on the lawn in front of a large stone building with castle-like features and greenery.
  • A man and woman holding hands run across the grass in front of a large stone castle on a cloudy day.
  • Two people are holding hands outdoors. One person is wearing a ring and a knitted jumper; the background is a grassy area with a building visible.
  • A woman and a man hold hands and walk on grass in front of a large stone building with multiple windows and towers, under a cloudy sky.
  • A person stands behind another, hugging them with both arms. The front person wears a knitted jumper and rings, showing a butterfly hand tattoo. Both pairs of hands are visible.
  • A man and woman stand on grass in a field. The woman leans her head on the man’s shoulder and they hold hands. Both wear casual clothes. Trees and open land are in the background.
  • A couple stands outside a stone building, kissing. The woman wears a white skirt and beige jumper; the man wears olive trousers and a tan jumper. Greenery surrounds the entrance behind them.
  • A couple sits closely on a window seat, facing a large window with white frames. Soft daylight filters in, and a lit lamp stands to the right.
  • A couple stands close together, smiling at the camera in front of an old stone building with greenery and a gravel ground.

Day Two: A Dublin City Session

Joseph and Shannon weren’t quite done. Rather than heading straight home with just the coastal and castle images, they added a 90-minute session in Dublin city the following day — a completely different look and feel to round out the trip.

We started in Merrion Square, one of Dublin’s prettiest Georgian squares, with its tree-lined paths, park benches and those famous coloured front doors as a backdrop. From there we worked our way on foot through the city centre — weaving through Georgian streets, past Trinity College and down toward the river Liffey boardwalk.

We finished, fittingly, in Temple Bar — all cobblestones, colourful pub fronts and that unmistakable Dublin energy — and wrapped the session the only way you really can in that part of town: with a customary pint of Guinness. It’s a nice bit of tradition to build into a session, and it makes for a genuinely different set of images from the quiet cliffs and grand castle rooms earlier in the trip.

  • A couple stands close together in the middle of an empty street lined with brick buildings, with a church visible in the distance under a cloudy sky.
  • A blurred couple stands close together, kissing in the middle of an empty city street lined with brick buildings and a church in the background.
  • A man and woman hold hands while standing on the steps in front of a black door with an arched window above it, outside a stone building.
  • A man and woman stand close together and smile outside a stone building with columns, near a black metal fence.
  • A man rides a bicycle past two people standing against a wall, holding hands and smiling, in a black and white photo.
  • A couple snogs while standing on a sunlit path in a park surrounded by lush green trees and foliage.
  • A couple stands close together in a park, surrounded by trees and greenery, with sunlight filtering through the leaves.
  • A man and woman walk hand in hand on a cobbled path in front of a large stone structure with greenery and trees around them.
  • A couple stands holding hands in front of Kennedy’s pub, with a large Guinness-themed mural and historic portraits displayed on the wall beside them.
  • People walk towards a large historic building with a central bell tower, surrounded by trees and a grassy lawn on a cloudy day.
  • A man and woman stand close together between large stone columns, with a domed building in the background under a blue sky.
  • A man and woman stand in front of a brick building with pink shutters and a sign that reads “TAMBURY.” The woman holds a small dog, and both look at the camera.
  • A man and woman hold hands while walking down a cobbled street in a lively city area with shops and people in the background.
  • A couple stands close together on a riverside walkway, with a white footbridge and city buildings in the background.
  • Two people stand holding hands against a stone wall whilst two blurred figures walk past in the foreground.
  • A man and a woman stand holding hands against a textured stone wall, illuminated by a shaft of sunlight in an otherwise dimly lit space.
  • Two people sit inside The Quays Bar, seen through a window with tiled green and brown exterior, each with a pint of beer on the table between them.
  • A man and woman sit by a window at The Quays Bar, each holding a pint of dark beer and smiling, with the street scene reflected in the glass.
  • Two people clink glasses of Guinness beer together, seated indoors by a window.

An Easy Couple to Fall For

Joseph and Shannon were an absolute pleasure — relaxed, easy-going, and completely over the moon with their engagement. In the end, they went home with an incredible spread of images from a single trip: cliffside views over Howth Head, an 800-year-old Irish castle all to themselves, and the streets, squares and pubs of Dublin city. Three completely different settings, three completely different moods, and one continuous story of the day they got engaged. It was one epic experience for all of us, and I loved every minute of working with these two.

If a trip like theirs — or a session like this — is something you’d love, get in touch. I’d be delighted to help you plan something just as memorable, whether that’s a single shoot or a multi-day story that takes in the coast, a castle and the city.

Enquire about a Howth Castle experience →

FAQ

Can I propose inside Howth Castle instead of outdoors? Yes — the private hour includes both the interior rooms and the outdoor grounds, so you can propose wherever feels right, or move inside if the weather turns.

Is the Howth Castle experience only for proposals? No. It works just as well for a general engagement shoot, a vow renewal, or any couple shoot where you want a unique, private setting.

How do I book exclusive access to Howth Castle? The one-hour private access is arranged directly through me in partnership with Howth Castle, and the special partnership rate is only available when booked this way.

Can you combine a Howth shoot with a Dublin city session? Yes — many couples add a separate session in Dublin city (Merrion Square, the Georgian streets and Temple Bar are a favourite route) to get a mix of coastal, castle and city images from the same trip. Or you can go a bit further and take in the beautiful Wicklow mountains.

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