First we check whether I’m available on your date — just use the contact form or email info@djd.ie. To proceed, I send you a booking form to complete, along with a non-refundable booking fee to secure your date. Once I have both, it’s officially in the calendar and I’ll confirm in writing.

No — I can’t hold dates on promises or expressions of interest. A date is only reserved once I receive both a completed booking form and the booking fee. If several enquiries come in for the same date, bookings are strictly first-come, first-served. It keeps things fair for everyone.

No problem. You can book a base option to start and upgrade to any other option any time before the wedding.

Your balance is due on or before the day of your wedding. Most couples pay by online transfer beforehand, which is my preferred method rather than cash. Instalments in advance are also fine if that’s easier.

Not a problem at all. Every year I have couples living as far away as Australia. We simply arrange a video call over Zoom instead of meeting face to face. The booking form is completed online and the booking fee is paid by bank transfer. Next time you’re visiting Ireland before the wedding, we can meet up if you’d like.

Yes. My insurance company requires it.

I start two hours before I need to leave for the ceremony — so I provide two hours of prep coverage, which is plenty of time to capture the bridal and/or groom preparations. Weddings differ, so if that needs tweaking we’ll simply look at it. For evening coverage through to the first dance, my cut-off is 10pm; most first dances start before then.

Yes — and it’s recommended for larger weddings (120+ guests) or when the day’s format calls for it. Advance notice is essential, ideally a few months ahead. To keep things consistent, I work with a small, trusted group of photographers who share my style and use comparable lenses, and I personally edit their RAW files so the finished collection has the same look and feel throughout.

Despite what you’ll read on wedding blogs written by non-photographers, for an experienced professional it makes little difference — we know how to assess any location and make it work beautifully. That said, to put your mind at ease, I usually do a site visit beforehand so everything is perfectly planned.

I generally get lucky with the weather, but rain happens, so we always plan for it. If outdoor photos aren’t possible we’ll use your church, registry office, or reception venue, and I’ll work with you beforehand on a solid ‘Plan B’. When choosing venues, it’s worth considering their suitability for indoor photos — good natural light and variety matter, and surprisingly many top Irish hotels aren’t ideal for it.

Yes, of course — but these need proper planning and precise execution. Fire, hairspray, sharp pointy sticks and drunken guests aren’t always a great combination! Let’s discuss it well in advance so I can explain how and when it needs to be set up and managed to make sure it works.

Completely up to you — whether it’s 10 minutes or over an hour, I adapt to your schedule. Most couples allocate 20–40 minutes, but it varies with the venue, photo spots, walking distances and whether indoor shots are included. Things like golf buggies for easier movement can help. We’ll talk all of this through beforehand so the timing works perfectly.

Most couples I work with feel exactly the same — there’s no need to worry. My relaxed, natural approach means your session feels easy and enjoyable: you’ll be walking, talking and laughing, hardly noticing the camera. An engagement session is a great way to see how effortless it can be. I also recommend taking this time away from guests for a more intimate, relaxed experience — often the only time you’ll have alone together on the day.

Yes — I just don’t tend to show them on my portfolio or blog. I ask for a formal family shot list in advance, as it speeds things up greatly. We’ll agree where to take them (church or reception venue, say) and I’ll ask groomsmen or family to help round everyone up. I prefer to have this done quickly, within 15–20 minutes at most.

For the formal family photos, yes. Beyond that, no — I shoot the day as it unfolds, and a long shot list turns photography into a box-ticking exercise that kills creativity while you chase ‘the list’ instead of capturing what’s actually happening. Do let me know in advance of anything of particular interest, though, so I can be ready to capture it in my own style.

Yes — always.

I use Leica (the Rolls-Royce of cameras and lenses) alongside professional-grade Sony cameras and lenses.

I work in a free-flowing documentary manner. I don’t take you away for ages for endless posed photos, and I won’t dominate or take over your day — I go with the flow and stay out of the way of things.

Account for time to greet guests after the ceremony, travel between locations, and your photo sessions. Be generous with timing — it’s easy to underestimate how much travel, mingling and guests wanting your attention will take. For family group photos, keep it simple: they take longer than expected (someone always goes missing!), so fewer combinations mean less waiting and more time to enjoy your day. We’ll discuss all of this in advance.

Schedule: staying on time is key. Overrunning by more than 30–40 minutes squeezes your couple and family photos and eats into guest time — and hotels often need to stick to dinner schedules.

Receiving line: consider skipping it — it usually takes longer than expected.

Speeches: have them before or after the meal, not between courses. Keep them concise — fathers around 5 minutes each, groom and best man around 10.

Videographer: choose one whose style complements your photographer’s, and budget properly or skip it. I can recommend excellent ones for mid- to high-end budgets.

Bridesmaids: choose carefully — surround yourself with people who enhance your day, not complicate it.

I love winter weddings, but they bring shorter daylight, colder weather and the likelihood of grey skies — in December the natural light can disappear as early as 3pm. To make the most of it, consider an earlier ceremony or skipping the receiving line. Planning ahead matters: Christmas weddings are popular in Ireland, with top venues and photographers booking up 18–24 months ahead, so let’s talk timelines early.

Wedding blogs and Facebook groups are often full of misleading advice. Blogs are usually written for SEO rather than by professionals, and groups can be a minefield of conflicting opinions from strangers with very different budgets and standards. For reliable advice, turn to your wedding planner — or your photographer or videographer. We’re with you throughout the day, and the experience of hundreds of weddings gives us real insight into what works.

Yes! My packages are the same as standard, with the addition of travel and reasonable accommodation costs (and car hire where needed). With bases in both Kenya and the Netherlands, I frequently photograph weddings for expats and locals, which makes nearby countries like Belgium, Germany and France especially convenient — and I’m familiar with destinations like Iceland, Italy (the Dolomites, Venice) and Majorca. If you’re planning one, let’s discuss how I can make it seamless. More on destination weddings →

I work to a maximum 8-week turnaround, though often they’re ready much sooner. The time of year and how busy things are will determine exactly how quickly.

By law, copyright always stays with the photographer — but you have the right to use your photos privately in any way you like. Make as many prints as you wish, as large as you wish, send them to friends, hang them on your wall, and so on.

Absolutely — it’s your album, so you decide which photos go in. I’ll create an initial design for you to review online and suggest changes to, and we’ll work through it together until everyone’s happy. It then goes to the manufacturer and is generally ready within about six weeks.

No — I specialise purely in photography. However, I know some awesome videographers I can highly recommend.