★★★★★
Great photographer, would highly recommend. Totally put us at ease and my daughters wedding photos were amazing.
Angela Fitton
★★★★★
James! So much more than a vendor and photographer.
Elaine WalshCastlemartyr Resort Wedding Photographer | Natural, Story-First Coverage in East Cork
Castlemartyr Resort Wedding Photography
Looking for a Castlemartyr wedding photographer who keeps things calm, keeps the day moving, and actually knows the estate? You’ve found me.
Castlemartyr has a quiet kind of magic — tree-lined drives, a still lake (swans permitting), ancient castle ruins, and interiors with light that flatters skin and fabric beautifully. It’s five-star without the fuss. And being in East Cork means beaches and country lanes are only minutes away if we want a quick scenic detour.
I photograph weddings in a documentary, story-first way. Real moments over forced smiles. We’ll take a few strong portraits when the light is right — but I won’t keep you away from your guests or the craic for long.
Quick Links
Why Castlemartyr Works (and Photographs Beautifully)
Massive variety on one estate. Manor house elegance, 800-year-old castle ruins, woodland paths, a reflective lake, and sweeping lawns — all without needing transport.
Historic bones, modern finish. A 17th-century country house beside medieval remains gives texture and depth in every direction — rain or shine.
Space to breathe. With over 200 acres, there’s always a quiet pocket for five minutes as newlyweds — and a few natural portraits before heading back to the party.
Wedding Photography Collections · Cork & Munster
Choose the coverage that feels right for your day.
Weddings don’t all run to the same timetable, and I don’t think photography should feel like it does either. These collections give you a starting point, from a smaller celebration to the full story of the day. Whichever you choose, I’ll photograph it in the same relaxed, natural way.
Collections start from€600See Intimate ↓
Travel Included in MunsterAnd I photograph weddings right across Ireland too, for a small travel fee
Sneak PeeksOften the very next day, a first look at your photographs
4–6 Week DeliveryPromised within 4–6 weeks and, as my reviews say, almost always far sooner
Private Online GalleryUnlimited high-resolution downloads while your gallery is live
Intimate
Small celebrations
Small, simple and meaningful.
For elopements, civil ceremonies and smaller weddings where you don’t need a full day of photography, but still want the important people, moments and atmosphere remembered properly.
Collections start from€600
- 150+ professionally edited photographsThe people, the moments and the atmosphere of your day
- Relaxed, natural storytellingYour celebration as it genuinely unfolds
- Private online galleryView, share and download in one place
- Unlimited high-resolution downloadsWhile your gallery is live
- Gallery available online for 3 months
Moments
Part-day coverage
The heart of the day.
For couples who want the excitement beforehand, the ceremony and everything that happens afterwards, without needing photography into the evening.
- 300–400 professionally edited photographsThe main story of your day, beautifully told
- Relaxed documentary coverageReal moments, just as they happen
- Folio presentation box with USBYour photographs, presented properly
- 50 professionally printed 6×4 photographsTo hold, share and frame
- Private online galleryWith unlimited high-resolution downloads while your gallery is live
- Gallery available online for 3 months
Most popularMemories
Full-day coverage
The complete wedding story.
From the nerves and excitement in the morning to the dance floor that night. This is for couples who want the whole day remembered naturally, without turning the wedding into a photoshoot.
- 500+ professionally edited photographsFrom preparations right through to the evening
- Natural documentary storytellingThe whole day remembered naturally
- Folio presentation box with USBYour photographs, presented properly
- 50 professionally printed 6×4 photographsTo hold, share and frame
- Private online galleryWith unlimited high-resolution downloads while your gallery is live
- Gallery available online for 6 months
The album collections
Your wedding story, made to be held.
Forever
Full day + heirloom album
Your wedding story, made to be held.
Everything you need from the wedding day, finished with a proper handcrafted album. Not something that lives on a screen, but something you can sit down with, pick up and keep.
Your handcrafted 30 × 30cm / 12 × 12" album, shown here with the acrylic cover- 500+ professionally edited photographsThe whole day, from preparations to the dance floor
- Handcrafted 30 × 30cm / 12 × 12" wedding albumMade to sit down with, pick up and keep
- Up to 80 photographs designed into the albumYour story, laid out page by page
- Your choice of beautiful album finishesIncluding my favourite, the Acrylic Prestige
- USB included with your wedding album
- Private online galleryWith unlimited high-resolution downloads while live
- Gallery available online for 6 months
Eternity
The complete album collection
One story. More than one home.
The complete wedding-day collection with your own handcrafted album and additional parent albums, so the story of the day isn’t kept in just one home.
Your handcrafted album and parent albums, shown here in linen finishes- 500+ professionally edited photographsThe whole day, from preparations to the dance floor
- Handcrafted 30 × 30cm / 12 × 12" wedding albumMade to sit down with, pick up and keep
- Handcrafted parent albums includedFor the people who will want to turn the pages and relive the day with you
- Up to 80 photographs designed into the albumYour story, laid out page by page
- Your choice of beautiful album finishesIncluding my favourite, the Acrylic Prestige
- USB included with your wedding album
- Private online galleryWith unlimited high-resolution downloads while live
- Gallery available online for 6 months
Moments & Memories
Presented to be picked up.
Both collections arrive in a Folio presentation box with your USB, alongside 50 professionally printed 6×4 photographs. The kind of thing you can put on a table, hand to a parent or slip into a frame.
Your full gallery is still waiting for you online, with unlimited high-resolution downloads while it’s live.
James’s Recommendation
Acrylic Prestige
The album I keep coming back to.
A wedding album should feel as good as the photographs inside it.
Albums are usually an extra on top of the photography price. In Forever and Eternity, yours is already part of the collection.
Forever and Eternity include a handcrafted 30 × 30cm / 12 × 12" wedding album, designed around up to 80 photographs from your day. You’ll have a choice of finishes, but if you ask me which one I’d choose, I’ll nearly always point you towards the Acrylic Prestige.
The crystal-clear acrylic cover gives the photograph real depth and the lay-flat design lets the story flow beautifully across the page. It feels substantial without being fussy, and it’s exactly the kind of album I want my couples to still be taking down from the shelf years from now.
- 30 × 30cm / 12 × 12"
- Up to 80 photographs
- Lay-flat design
- Handcrafted finish
- USB included
No long wait afterwards
See a little of it while it still feels fresh.
I aim to share a small selection of sneak peeks as soon as I can after your wedding. If I’m not photographing another wedding the following day, that can often mean the very next day.
Your complete gallery is delivered within 4–6 weeks, although, as many of my reviews mention, it’s almost always considerably sooner.
Your photographs are yours to keep
Download them. Back them up. Keep them safe.
Your private online gallery makes it easy to view, share and download your photographs in high resolution. Intimate and Moments galleries remain online for 3 months, while Memories, Forever and Eternity galleries remain online for 6 months.
You can download as often as you like while your gallery is live. Once it arrives, I always recommend downloading the complete collection and keeping at least one extra backup somewhere safe, as the online gallery isn’t intended as permanent cloud storage.
Make it yours
Enhance your collection.
Start with the collection that suits your day. Then add something only if it actually matters to you. There’s no need to squeeze your wedding into a package just because that’s how the price list was written.
01Second Photographer
Another pair of eyes on the day. Particularly useful for separate morning preparations, larger weddings and those moments happening in two places at once.
02Engagement Session
A relaxed session before the wedding, with no wedding-day timetable. A chance to get comfortable in front of the camera and come away with photographs you actually like.
03Parent Albums
Beautiful handcrafted versions of your wedding album for the people who will want to sit down, turn the pages and relive the day with you.
Something different
Your wedding doesn’t have to fit neatly into a box.
If none of these collections quite fits the way your day is planned, get in touch. I’m happy to talk it through and work out what actually makes sense for your wedding.
Drop me a line
Best photo spots I use at Castlemartyr (fast routes, no faff)
Castle ruin & archways – drama without trying. We do a quick loop so you’re not missing canapés.
Lake edge & timber bridge – reflections on still days; works in overcast too. (If wind’s up, we pivot to the sheltered side.)
Manor House stair & drawing rooms – classic portraits, zero squinting. Great rain plan, lovely window light.
Tree-lined drive – that sweeping “arriving like you own the place” feel.
Back lawns at golden hour – soft rim-light, simple posing, back to the party in ten minutes.
If you want a change of scene, Ballycotton and Garryvoe are a short run for sea air and wind-in-the-veil portraits—nice if the evening sky plays ball.
How I shoot your day (so you actually enjoy it)
Documentary first. I chase moments: hugs, side-eyes, the quiet hand squeezes.
Fast, light portraits. Two short windows: one in the afternoon, one at golden hour. Ten minutes each. You’re not stuck in a field, I promise.
Zero fuss group photos. A tidy list, a strong voice, done in 12–15 minutes.
Weather-proof plan. Interiors and covered spots mean we still get variety if Cork does its Cork thing.
Sound supplier team. Happy to coordinate with your planner, band, and videographer so no one trips over cables or each other.
Sample timeline ideas (steal what you like)
Castlemartyr-only flow
Prep in suites → ceremony on site or nearby church → confetti on the lawn → ruin + lake loop (10–12 mins) → family photos by the south lawn → drawing-room portraits if it rains → golden hour dash.
Estate + quick coastal pop
Ceremony → five minutes at the ruin → 20-minute spin to Ballycotton cliffs or Garryvoe beach → back for dinner call. Great if the forecast shows a sunset gap.
Real talk about light (and why it matters)
Overcast: brilliant for skin, sky goes soft—ruin archways sing.
Bright sun: we chase open shade, then save the drama for golden hour.
Rain: umbrellas and that glossy ground for reflections. Some of my favourite frames come from “bad” weather.
Planning notes for Castlemartyr couples
Permission & access: The resort is event-led and helpful, but we stay flexible if areas are in use. (Staff are sound when we work fast and tidy.) Venue confirms final access on the day.
One-wedding-a-day vibe: Attention feels focused—less bumping into strangers in your photos. (A common Castlemartyr selling point.)
Guest experience: It’s five-star: spa, golf, and rooms that’ll keep the parents smug.
Recent Cork favourites (for inspiration)
Bantry House – grand stairs and terraces for cinematic frames.
Fota Island Resort – manicured gardens, Chinese garden, woodland tones.
Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa – dunes, soft beach light, airy interiors.
If Castlemartyr is your base, we can weave any of these into engagement sessions or day-before strolls.
MOMENTS
Let’s Get the Craic Started
real, honest & completely unscripted
Whether you're planning a massive session in Cork, an elopement in Kerry, or a celebration somewhere further down the road, tell me everything. Share the details, the venue, the general plans, and exactly how camera-allergic you both are.