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26th January 2015
06:00pm GMT

What are the most rewarding aspects?
I love the reactions from the client once they see their images and fall in love with them. It never tires to be see each individual reaction. It might sound cliché but it’s an honour to witness their journey as some women might return to me for baby bump shoots (that had originally been booked a photography session for their hen party!). I have met so many lovely people and have witnessed the different milestones in their lives through pictures.
Do you ever see your work taking you away from Ireland?
I don’t foresee myself leaving Ireland as I am deeply rooted here and my whole family unit is here. I do incorporate work with breaks away at times, like purchasing costumes and accessories, but that’s as far as I can see it going for the foreseeable future.
What is the best piece of advice that you’ve been given?
A friend of mine once said to me ‘the harder you work, the luckier you get’ and she was spot on. I feel very lucky to work in a career that I am passionate about but it’s successful due to the long hours, the late nights and enduring the disappointments and stress that comes from setting up your own business. It did not fall into my lap. I worked extremely hard to establish the business, fighting general misconceptions and building it up gradually during a recession.
What has been the one ‘pinch me’ moment of your career so far?
There are many but I do pinch myself every time I see images of models or celebrities in tabloids or publications that I have taken. The first time that this happened I was in a coffee shop and opened a magazine. I saw one of my own images and it was fantastic. I looked around the shop and smiled secretly as for me, it was a huge moment.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about what you do?
The biggest misconception are the preconceived notions about boudoir photography. It actually means dressing room in French but some people do associate boudoir photography with tasteless pictures of naked women.
I work with each client as an individual as everyone is different in terms of their comfort zone and requirements with each client. The purpose of the shoot is to ensure that each client feels beautiful, whether that’s in their lingerie or in a gorgeous cocktail dress.
Nobody sees the images, which is another misconception. Nothing goes online without written permission and that’s only from clients who are delighted enough to want to show them. There’s a lot of work behind the scenes that no-one sees. It’s easy to take a photo in today’s world by clicking camera phones but professional photography involves a lot more work and detail. We begin the process by arranging a consultation that involves understanding the client’s requirements and designing a mood board to share and explore ideas.
After the actual photography session, the real work begins. The editing is where the real magic takes place. I use photo enhancing software to edit each image. My mantra is to make the client look like a better version of themselves rather than making them unrecognizable. After this stage, I share a private gallery of images for client viewing before they choose their images for a boudoir book or prints.
What is the biggest mistake that you think people in your chosen sector make?
Not listening to what the client wants or not ensuring that the client feels that they are special! It’s important that clients feel valuable as lack of trust can tear down your relationship with them. There is nothing worse than feeling like you are on a conveyer belt or being rushed when you are nervous. Less pressure and more fun makes for better pictures at the end of the day.
Describe what you want to achieve in your career with one sentence.
To continue to thrive in this business and keep loving it as much as I do.Explore more on these topics: