2025 — A Year on the Road as a Wedding Photographer in Ireland
2025 was a proper year.
Not just busy — meaningful.
It’s the year that really cemented why I still love being a wedding photographer in Cork and Kerry, and why I’ll never take it lightly that couples invite me into one of the most important days of their lives.
This year took me everywhere.
From weddings at home in Cork and Kerry, to Galway, Clare, Tipperary and Waterford — right across Ireland. Every county, every venue, every couple slightly different. And that’s what keeps it real.
Being a wedding photographer in Ireland means you don’t just photograph a wedding — you photograph people, families, moments that won’t ever happen again.
And in 2025, I felt that more than ever.
Weddings Aren’t Just Pretty Days — They’re Real Life
Some weddings in 2025 were pure craic.
Laughing in corners, couples who didn’t take themselves too seriously, families that felt like old friends by the end of the night.
Others were heavier.
There are days where you’re photographing someone knowing they might not be here in a few weeks’ time. You feel it. Everyone does. And you still have a job to do — quietly, respectfully.
That’s something you don’t learn from styled shoots or trends.
You only learn it by being there — year after year.
That’s what documentary wedding photography in Ireland really is. Not posing. Not perfection. Just showing up and telling the story as it unfolds.
Leaving Ireland for the First Time — A Wedding in Lanzarote
2025 also marked a first for me — leaving Ireland to photograph a wedding abroad.
I’ve done weddings in the UK plenty of times, but hopping across Europe for one? That was new territory. Flying to Lanzarote for a destination wedding was a completely different animal altogether.
Clear skies. Not a cloud in sight. Absolutely zero shade. Heat coming at you from every angle. And humidity sitting close to 100% — the kind of heat where you’re sweating while standing still.
I trained for it for months — genuinely — because photographing a full wedding day in that kind of heat isn’t something you just wing. But it was unreal. Different pace. Different light. Different energy. Everything felt turned up a notch.
The couple were absolute legends too — my kind of people. Totally relaxed, up for anything, and more focused on enjoying the day than worrying about timelines or poses. It made the whole experience even better.
That one wedding alone opened my eyes to destination wedding photography in a big way, and it’s something I’d love to do more of going forward — sunburn optional.
Cork, Kerry & Everywhere In Between
Most years, the bulk of my weddings are in Cork and Kerry — and 2025 was no different.
But this year felt wider.
West Cork coastlines.
Kerry mountains.
City weddings.
Small, intimate days.
Big family celebrations.
And for once — the weather behaved itself.
Anyone who’s planned an Irish wedding knows how rare that is.
Usually seven out of ten weddings involve rain. This year? We were lucky. A proper summer, good light, and couples able to relax into the day.
That always shows in the photos.
How People Find Me
This is a question I get asked a lot — “How do people usually find you?”
The honest answer? Mostly the old-fashioned way. Word of mouth is still king.
I don’t do wedding fairs. I’m not signed up to any of those websites that promote photographers. I might run the odd ad on social media from time to time, but that’s about as wild as it gets.
Most couples find me through the website. They read the blog posts. They scroll through real weddings. They check the Google reviews. They see consistent work, honest feedback, and a clear, fair pricing system. No smoke. No confusion. No hard sell.
And then there’s the biggest one of all — recommendations. A friend. A sister. A cousin. Someone who says, “You should have a look at this photographer — he was brilliant.”
That will always beat any ad, any trend, or any shiny brochure. If couples take the time to read the reviews, look through the work, and get a feel for how I photograph a day — then they’re usually my kind of people.
It’s simple really. Do good work. Treat people right. Be honest. And let the work speak for itself.
Curious to see more? View the portfolio or check availability here.
Looking Ahead to 2026 & 2027
If 2025 proved anything, it’s that people still want honesty.
They want real photography.
They want someone who’s been there before and knows when to step back.
If you’re planning a wedding in Cork, Kerry, Limerick or anywhere in Ireland — or even abroad — and you want your day documented without pressure or performance, that’s exactly what I do.
The One Thing That Still Matters — Family Photos
One of the last weddings I photographed this year threw up something I honestly wasn’t expecting.
Just after the ceremony, the videographer turned to me and asked,
“Are we doing family formal photos?”
I said, of course — straight after the ceremony like always.
It takes a few minutes, it’s organised, everyone’s already there.
He looked relieved and said,
“You’re one of the last few that still do them.”
That genuinely stopped me for a second.
I asked him what he meant. I thought family photos were just part of a wedding day — always have been. He told me that more and more photographers now either don’t do them at all, or actually write into their contracts that they won’t photograph family formals.
From a videographer’s point of view, they need those moments too.
And from a family’s point of view? They’re priceless.
Weddings move fast. You might take thousands of images on the day, but those formal family photos are often the ones that end up framed, passed down, or looked at years later when someone isn’t around anymore.
They’re traditional, yes — but traditions exist for a reason.
They don’t take long. They don’t ruin the flow. And they matter.
For me, they’ve always been part of the job. And after hearing that conversation, they’ll stay that way.
Why Couples Choose JOD Photography
Couples don’t find me at wedding fairs.
I don’t shout the loudest.
I don’t do gimmicks.
People find me online. They look through the work. They read the stories. They see consistency.
And then they get in touch.
What I hear again and again:
“We didn’t want to pose.”
“We just wanted the day captured naturally.”
“You felt like part of the day, not someone directing it.”
That’s not an accident. That’s years of experience, trust, and letting weddings unfold as they’re meant to.
Explore More — Cork, Kerry, Limerick & Weddings Across Ireland
If you’re planning a wedding, elopement, or engagement shoot and you want modern wedding photography in Ireland with a natural documentary style, here are the best places to start. These pages cover everything from intimate weddings to destination weddings, with real advice, real stories, and photos that feel like you.
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FAQ
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