Children's portraits in Dublin

I really enjoy photographing children and I am especially grateful to all those parents who ask me to produce memorable images of their little ones. Portrait photography is a two way communication process, particularly when you photograph young children. If you give the child In your photographs your full respect and be totally honest with them, the resulting images can be very special indeed. If you don't, that child will see right through you and that magic moment can be lost forever. Here, Elaine shows just how magical that moment can be!

Ice Cream Fundays for Down Syndrome Ireland

May and June is the time for supporters to engage in some fundraising - and to have a little fun too - for Down Syndrome Ireland, by hosting an ice cream funday party - with the support of HB.

If you can't get involved in a organizing a party yourself, then please keep an eye open for any that may be going on in your area. All funds raised will go towards supporting people with Down syndrome in Ireland.

Party packs and more information about Down Syndrome Ireland's Ice Cream fundays are available here.

Paris in the springtime

In theory, Jean-Michel runs the Café Descartes deep in the latin quarter, but everyone knows that René "Le Chat" is the real boss!

Greeted daily by all the local patrons, René has been minding his café stool for years and has become quite partial to Jean Michel's food!

I love Paris in the springtime and here are a few impressions on how you might spend a late spring day in the city of light and love.

You might begin with breakfast on the shaded terrace of a left bank cafe, watching the city wake up and come to life.

Then go for a gentle stroll along the river, hoping to spot a bargain in one of the bouquiniste stalls that line the quays.

You will be just in time to pop up to rue Jacob, stopping for tea and a macaron in Laduree and picking up a few goodies for lunch before getting on your "velo" and..

..heading for a "dejeuner sur l'herbe" (picnic), in beautiful Place de Vosges, just across the river in the Marais.

As art and beauty are everywhere, perhaps you might want to spend the afternoon by taking an art class or visiting a gallery, or even combine them both in the "Musee de l'Orangerie". This is where Monet's eight beautiful cimemascopic impressions of waterlilies fill two of the most beautiful gallery rooms in the world.

To finish your day, stroll across the romantic bridges where you and your loved one can add your inscribed padlock to the thousands that decorate the Pont des Arts and the Pont de l'Archevêché. Here, you can throw the key into the river to symbolize that your love is sealed and that you have left a little of your heart in Paris,....until you return to reclaim it!