Business Portraits

I have been really lucky to work with some wonderful clients and it is always a delight, when someone that you enjoy working with, commissions more photography. I first worked with Mary T. Tierney, MD of Azurite consulting two years ago, to produce images for their website and print media. Recently, when Azurite were updating their corporate identity, Mary T. asked me to produce some new business portraits, which would aim to reflect the ethos of the company and her unique personality. Here are a few examples.

One event - Two great causes

Gardenworld in Kilquade, Co. Wicklow, hosted their inaugural family garden party in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland and LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, last Sunday. 

Large crowds and a host of celebrities supported the event at this spectacular location.  LauraLynn Children’s Hospice founder Jane McKenna and CEO of Down Syndrome Ireland Pat Clarke (centre) are pictured above in the Gothic Garden along with Miss Wicklow Ciara Kelly, celebrity chef Neven Maguire, actress Sorcha Furlong and gardening expert Gerry Daly.

Among the most popular attractions on the day were demonstrations by Paulo Tullio, Neven Maguire and Gerry Daly.

While Olivia Treacy, Ciara Kelly and Sorcha Furlong added a touch of glamour to the proceedings!

Ray D'Arcy, seen here with Down Syndrome Ireland's Sandra Boland, compered a celebrity auction with all proceeds going to Lauralynn and DSI. 

Among the most popular items auctioned, were a signed pair of Kathy Taylor's boxing gloves which were won by Neven Maguire, after strong opposition from Gardenworld's Andrew King.  

A very successful fundraising day was finished out with an acoustic set by Bipolar Empire, pictured here with Lauralynn's Jane McKenna. 

It was a pleasure to be involved with everyone who was so generous on the day with their time and money for both LauraLynn Children’s Hospice and Down Syndrome Ireland. 

AIPCO Business Tourism Conference in Dublin

The Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers (AIPCO) held their first Business Tourism Conference in Dublin recently and I spent a most enjoyable day providing the photography. The event brought together conference organisers, venues, hotels, universities and convention bureaux, to examine how they can collaborate, to develop the international conference sector in Ireland.

A packed day had me photographing one to one mentor sessions, the main speakers, workshops, networking opportunities, portraits (including conference chair Jean Evans and speaker Conor Kenny in the selection below) and covering the amazing way that Teambuilding.ie managed to bond everyone together, to learn to play the blues harmonica in just over half an hour!

There was a really positive reaction to both the conference and the images. Here are some of my favourites, with my thanks to the AIPCO organising committee and the Clyde Court Hotel.

Commercial Photography - Book Cover

The latest book from Liam Croke is definitely one for the times in which we live. "I am going to be debt free", offers plenty of advice on just that! Liam is Managing Director of Harmonics Financial and his portrait on the front cover was photographed on location at their offices in Limerick. This useful book is published by Liberty Press and is available at book shops nationwide or can be downloaded for Kindle.

Corporate and Editorial Photography in Dublin

As soon as I walked into "The Black Pig" in Donnybrook, I felt like I had been transported to another country. Owner Paul Walsh describes it modestly as, "a Spanish shop for Irish people." But it is so much more than that! The atmosphere and the decor exudes the warmth of the Mediterranean and Paul's passion for his produce is infectious.

This Iberian oasis specialises in Spanish wines, olive oil and a host of other tasty food - including cured meats from Iberian Black Pigs. It was my intention that these environmental portraits would convey the atmosphere of the store and reflect Paul's expert knowledge. I was delighted when my client said that they were really happy with the results.  

Paul Walsh is a former communications specialist and opened the Black Pig last year on Morehampton Road, Dublin 4. These images were commissioned  for a feature in in eolas.

A cold spring in Paris

Paris was quieter than normal, this time! It wasn't surprising, as the wind chill was minus 15 degrees, as the north wind blew across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, at the Trocadero.

 Then as the ice started to freeze on the fountains, the lions at St. Sulpice seemed to be caught in a frozen scream. 

And when the snow started to fall, the Luxembourg Gardens took on a cool romantic hue.

Common sense soon prevailed and there was only one place to wait out the storm in the comfort and warmth!

Then as time passed, Parisian chic and elegance was replaced by more practical Aigle padded waterproofs, for a quick stroll along the chilly quays! C'est froid, oui, mais c'est Paris!

Conference Photography in Dublin

Conferences are all about communication and good conference photography aims to capture that communication in action. 

That is not easy to do! Usually, you are under pressure to be quick and discrete, working with available and mixed lighting, which may not always be ideal, as flash is seldom an option except in formal shots, photographing people who are often nervous and sometimes uncomfortable being photographed, in addition to providing general atmospheric and descriptive images, while keeping in mind the sponsors and organisers requirements to show, or not show branding, depending on how the final image will be used, while being adaptable to producing formal portraits and group shots at a moments notice and at the same time, trying to come up with creative approaches to portray the event in a way that communicates the intended message! 

Yes, it is a challenge, but it is one that I really enjoy. Capturing the interaction between delegates, the actions of a great speaker and the reactions of their audience, gives me enormous satisfaction.

No two conferences are the same! Whether it is a two hour corporate event in a hotel or a 5 day event in the Convention Centre, each has its own atmosphere and ethos. All are designed to communicate and it is my job as a conference photographer to provide a true portrayal of that communication in action.

Here are some recent examples: