Engagement photo shoot at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland
The stunning Cliffs of Moher - an ideal location for an engagement photo shoot or destination wedding photography session
The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland near sunset - an ideal location to say yes during an engagement photography session.
Engagement photography shoot at the Cliffs of Moher
Laura & Connor decided they wanted something very Irish for their engagement photo shoot in Ireland. Living in New York but having their destination wedding in Ireland, they asked me to choose a location for their engagement photos. Of course being from the west of Ireland; a couple photography shoot at the Cliffs of Moher was an easy choice. We scheduled this shoot a year in advance of their wedding which is taking place at an Irish Castle in Co. Galway. Often close to sunset of the best time of day for a couple photography session so we started the shoot about 2 hours before sunset.
I collected Laura & Connor at their Air B&B and so the adventure began. I was immediately impressed by the outfits they choose to wear for their engagement shoot, or as Laura says, the outfit she chose for herself & for Connor. I do agree, a woman’s touch is always needed for these decisions and I love the mix of neutral colour tones Connor is wearing as well as Laura's striking red dress.
We started the engagement photography shoot in Doolin, in Co. Clare, about a 15 minute drive to the Cliffs of Moher. We didn’t go to the main entrance at the cliffs; rather we drove and started at Hags Head. Hags head is a quite part of the cliffs and often described as being the most beautiful part of the cliffs. There is another way to get to a quite part of the cliffs via Guerin's Path which may involve less walking.
Planning a destination engagement photo shoot in Ireland
Planning for an engagement photo shoot in Ireland or an Irish destination couple photography session is quite straight forward. The two main considerations are the time of day to shoot at & of course the location. Ideally the location for an engagement photo shoot should not involve too much walking while at the same time providing enough variation in terms of location so as to provide the couple with lots of variety in their engagement photos. Time of day is an important factor, ideally you want the sun coming in across the water so for the most part, we are shooting towards the sun. The back lighting from the sun near sunset produces a golden glow & a beautiful contrasting light. An app like Sun Surveyor can give you accurate sunset times which helps to plan your trip.
All in all we spend about 2 hour on this shoot with about 300 images taken. Note: you do not need to buy tickets from the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre when accessing the cliffs via Hags Head or Guerin's Path but you may need to pay for parking/access to the cliffs at those locations. If you are considering an engagement photo shoot at a very scenic location in Ireland, reviewing the images from the shoot below at the Cliffs of Moher will give you a good idea of the beautiful images that can be created.
A typical engagement photography shoot in Ireland - what is involved?
Irish engagement photography shoots typically last for 1-2 hours and may involve visiting one or more locations. As a wedding photographer, by far the most common comments I hear from my couples before a photo shoot are “I don’t know how to pose” & “I get uncomfortable when my photos are being taken”. The first thing of importance here is that posing for the camera or static photos is something we used to do in days gone by. Natural photos with movement which portray the natural connection between a couple always look so much better. As such, the way I interact as a photographer with my couples is very important. It would not be uncommon for me to ask my couples to take a walk hand in hand, to give each other a squeeze or to cuddle up together as if nobody was around.
The results are natural looking photos of natural moments between couples. That approach relaxes couples, which in turn allows the fun element of a shoot to come about, with the result that my couples no longer feel uncomfortable in front of the camera.
Sunset photo shoot at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.
As the sun sets at the Cliffs of Moher, the light produces a beautiful golden glow.
The stunning cliffs of Moher near sunset during an engagement photo shoot. A dress is idea for a silhouette image like this so it's easy to identity the couple in shadow.
Styling; I just love the outfits Laura & Connor wore for their engagement shoot.
Starting out in Doolin in Co. Clare about 15 min drive from the cliffs, I spotted this field with round bails of hay. We hopped over the gate and I asked Laura & Connor to cuddle up next to the bail whatever way felt comfortable.
A natural & relaxed engagement shoot near the Cliffs of Moher, candid couple photography session.
Photos of the small details adding to the story during an engagement photo shoot in Ireland.
A couple engagement session like this takes about 1.5 to 2 hours including walking.
Exploring the Cliffs of Moher during an engagement photo shoot; on a shoot like this, it's best to let the couple explore the cliffs as they would without a photographer present. Visiting the cliffs for the first time is a breathtaking experience & one that should be as natural as possible so the true beauty of the location can be taken in without interruption.
Taking a moment to take in the view at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.
Getting engaged at the Cliffs of Moher.
The rolling green fields beside the Cliffs of Moher, an ideal location for an engagement photography shoot.
An evening shoot of the cliffs of Moher can be a quieter time of the day, it's also the best time to get that sunset soft glowing light.
A fun & relaxed couple photography shoot at a popular Irish location for engagement photos - the Cliffs of Moher.
The Cliffs of Moher - a stunning location for an engagement photography shoot.
Sunset engagement photography at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland
Taking in the view as the sun sets during an Irish engagement shoot.
As the sun sets of the Cliffs of Moher, the only sound to be heard of the singing of birds, such a tranquil and peaceful location.
Thank you Laura & Connor - I thoroughly enjoyed your engagement shoot & I can't wait to photograph your wedding.
Sun Surveyor app on Iphone - useful to workout sunset times at the Cliffs of Moher or periods when the sun will be coming in across the water...
