Welcome & Congratulations

Let’s plan your proposal together!

Now that you’re on the calendar, there are some decisions to be made. Look through the steps below, and a few days before your date, we’ll touch base again to finalise all the details.

STEP 1: The Location

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your location. First, is it somewhere you both feel is special? Maybe where you met, or someplace you’ve always dreamed of seeing. Second, can you make a plan to go there without it seeming too obvious? And finally, come up with a secondary location in case the weather and timing won’t work out.

My favourite locations include:

The Cliffs of Moher (Hags Head)

Doolin Pier

Lahinch Beach

Spanish Point Beach

Kilkee Cliffs

Quin Abbey

Dromoland Castle

Cratloe Woods

STEP 2: The Plan

So how are we going to go about this? There are a couple of options -

Option 1:

The “couple’s session”. Suggest getting photos together or if she suggests it, go along with the plan! This way she knows to get all dressed up, make-up, and is able to have some input on when and where.

Option 2:

The “surprise proposal”.

I’ll arrive first and text you a spot to go to. I’ll pretend to do my own thing (or hide if there’s a good place) and wait for your signal. It could be scratching your head, or taking a selfie. Make sure your back is to me if possible.

Option 3:

The “volunteer proposal”

I’ll be doing my own thing, photographing the landscape, etc. and I’ll approach you with a story about making content for the area and ask if I could take a few photos of you both. You can say “yes” and that will let me direct her to turn around and be right there to capture all the reactions.

STEP 3: The Proposal

The day before your proposal, I’ll touch base and we’ll make some final plans based on the weather or how your schedule is going.

On the day, I’ll arrive first and send you a photo of where I am and what I’m wearing.

That morning, please send me a photo of what you are wearing so I know who to look for.

And then we’ll put the plan in motion.

After you’ve asked the question and she’s said yes, I’ll back away and give you a few moments to be alone. When you’re ready, let me know and we’ll take a few engagement photos. We’ll make sure to get a photo of the two of you smiling, of the ring, and a few sweet moments.

STEP 4: Engagement Photos

After you’ve asked the question and she’s said yes, I’ll back away and give you a few moments to be alone. When you’re ready, let me know and we’ll take a few engagement photos. We’ll make sure to get a photo of the two of you smiling, of the ring, and a few sweet moments.

Engagement photos are useful for a lot of reasons. For the memory of the moment, of course (and to have beautiful pictures in a beautiful or special location). They are also helpful for save the date and invitation cards, your wedding website, and couples photos that celebrate this stage in your relationship.

Something to think about…

If you want to add some additional time for engagement photos, I will give you a chance to freshen up, re-apply makeup or brush hair, and then we’ll have a bit of fun! There isn’t anything more romantic than having just gotten engaged and I absolutely love photographing happy people. Most women will want these - your “big moment” is the proposal, hers is all that happens after, and it’s nice to start the journey with some beautiful couple’s photos.

STEP 5: After the Session

I will have a few photos ready for you as soon as possible, either that evening or the next morning. I know this is exciting news to share! The rest of your photos will be delivered via an online gallery within the week. You’ll also receive a social media sized slideshow to share with family and friends. Your online gallery will let you download your photos, share them, and order professional prints and other beautiful photo gifts (keep that in mind for special occasions).

OTHER NOTES:

Your final balance is due on the day of the session. Cash is preferred but if you need an international payment link, let me know.
If you would like to schedule an additional couple’s session for a second day, that can be a part of your proposal package.

Tips for a couples photo session

WHAT TO WEAR:

Whatever you want
Whatever you feel good in
Whatever you want to look at in your photos
Sensible Shoes.
Layers. Warm people = happy people.
Sensible Shoes (yes, I said it twice). Nothing slippy, loose, or uncomfortable. No big or pointy heels. Something with a bit of grip.

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WHAT TO BRING:

Snacks
Water
Cash (5-10 euro for parking)
A change of clothes.
(I’m not going to promise you’ll stay clean or dry, but a change of clothes, socks & shoes will have you good as new)
Flexibility, patience and a sense of adventure!

what to expect on a couple’s photo session

This is really hard for me to explain because every single session is different. This time together… it’s about YOU. It’s about who you are, what you like doing, making memories together, and every so often being told “stop there for a second!” while I climb or crawl or do whatever it takes to get the photo.

I want this photo session to be less about posing for pictures, and more about doing something fun, a morning or afternoon or evening for you to set aside the rest of the world and explore, laugh, connect. I want our time together to be a highlight in your memories, because I promise, it will be for me.'

I’ll make sure we both know where we’re going & when we’ll be there and off we go… Here’s what to expect:

Lots of walking - the views are worth it!
And you’ll be so busy getting from place to place that you’ll have no energy left to worry about the camera.
Lots of talking.
I want to know all about you, how you met, what life is like right now, what annoys you or makes you laugh - I want to hear all about your story, and hopefully I can tell a little bit of it too.
Occasional periods of sitting or standing
As we’re walking, you’ll end up in some pretty special places, when I see a good spot, I’ll ask you to ‘just stand there and look around” while I do the rest.
Simple, easy, silly, and sometimes sweet suggestions.
Once we get into the flow of things, I’ll give you some easy prompts like… cuddle up and keep warm, or fix his hair (it gets windy) or I might even let you kiss 😉. But I’ll follow your lead, if you’re romantic… I’m totally there for it. But fair warning, I’m more say something ridiculous than romantic - and that works too.

Hi!

Photo by Deirdre Rusk Photography

I wanted to take a few minutes to tell you a bit more about me. Since we’re going to be spending some time together, I’d like it to feel like we’re already friends. Here’s what you need to know about me:

I talk a lot.
Like, a lot. And I laugh a lot and I have almost no control over what I say when I’m also holding a camera.
I might appear clumsy, I might even trip over my own feet. But don’t worry… I recover well.
There is nowhere I won’t go and nothing I won’t do to get the very best pictures possible & to make sure that you are safe.
I’m a mom of three kids and so I might be a bit of a “mother hen” when it comes to places like the Cliffs of Moher or crumbling ruins, but I promise, it’s not that I don’t trust you - it’s that I have to calm my own beating heart.
I will absolutely, genuinely, 100%, completely love spending time with you. And I hope you’ll feel the same about me!

What To Do With Your Beautiful Photos

Enjoy them Online

Your gallery will be available online for a year, so you can sign in and look through them any time you want.
Share Them with Others

Your gallery has an icon that will let you send the gallery to your family and friends, or straight to Facebook and Instagram. You can even select a fes specific photos and email them to whoever you’d like.
Save Them

Download your photos to your computer, an external hard drive, a usb and/or your cloud storage
Print Them

Photo are meant to be printed, to be held, framed, looked through, even stored in a box to be discovered by your grandkids. Print your favourites, print them all!
Frame Them

Make them a part of your every day lives. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but they are worth seeing and enjoying for years to come.
Tell the Story

Photo albums are my absolute favourite way to enjoy my photos. Seeing them all together brings back all the best memories. And watching my children look through them over and over… well, it’s the best.

Stay In Touch

You don’t know it yet, but we are already friends. And I want to know what happens next in your story. I want to get a cup of tea with you (or a pint) next time you’re in Ireland. I want to hear how life is going, and what your plans are. Getting Christmas cards from you means more than I can say, and the staying in touch email… priceless.

Follow me on facebook or instagram, and I’ll follow you right back!

Tips for enjoying your time in Ireland

- Take your time, and use google maps.
- Check your side mirrors to stay centred in the lane.
- Remember that the driver is always in the middle of the road.
- Give yourself extra time, the windy, bumpy, narrow roads can feel twice as long to drive as the map says.
- If someone is tailgating you, pull to the side and let them pass. Enjoy the views!
- Sweaters, hats, pottery and… your pictures!
- Saturday markets have local craftsmen
- Bunratty has great shopping
- Most gas stations also have a deli with excellent food. Have a chicken roll, everyone does!
- Coffee is a fancy drink. Real men (and everyone else) drinks tea. Strong, black tea with milk (and sugar too).
- Cafés are open at 9:00 or 10:00 and close by 5:00. Restaurants open around 5:00 and close around 10:00
- Dealz has the cheapest snacks, Lidl & Aldi are next. Tesco and Dunnes are supermarkets and SuperValue usually has American food.
- There is almost no ranch dressing, splenda, or regular yellow mustard
- The weather is 100% unpredictable. Layers are your friend.
- Bring waterproof/resistant shoes if you’ll be spending time outside. Or buy cheap wellies at Penneys or Dunnes.
- In the summer, the sun rises around 4:00-5:00 and sets around 10:00. In the winter it’s up at 9:00 and dark by 4:00
- The Autumn is the best time of the year!