A massive thank you to everyone who has come through our doors to be part of Happy Faces Day 2012. This year we had over 200 people visit our studio helping us raise a whopping €5,125 for the children’s charity Jack and Jill.

A special thanks to all those who helped out at the studio over the 3 days -  Sarah Brazil, Ester Murray, Ruth O’Connor, Susan, Marcella Healy and Sophie Underwood.

Over the course of this event, we recorded some video footage and put together a small movie slideshow with some moments and images of all the participants. We are delighted to be able to share this with you and for you to see how gratifying this occasion is for all those taking part.

The 3 days were long but so worth while. It is so exhilarating when everybody is feeding from the energy in the studio and there was lots of that! Over 200 enthusiastic children stood in front of the lens and they all embraced the event with gusto. Some were shy, some were all smiles but one thing was clearly evident – they all had lots of fun.

Following the great success of Happy Faces Day 2012, we are already looking forward to next year’s enjoyable event.

WIT Business Ball (WIT biz ball) at the forum, Waterford

April 26^th, 2012 saw an exciting, energetic evening at the WIT Business Ball at The Forum, Waterford.

Infokus Studios was delighted to be commissioned to capture this lively event and wonderful party atmosphere.

Based on the theme of Moulin Rouge this party acted as an enticing host, promising fun and entertainment to excited guests. And what an evening it was! The Forum was the perfect backdrop to this electrifying shoot.

Using in-camera techniques we were able to ensnare the mood of the evening by capturing the party lights and the infectious laughter and high spirits of the students at the ball. Our photographs at the WIT Business Ball (WIT biz ball) will allow the guests to remember the celebration for years.

This was a spontaneous, informal photo shoot for Infokus. For us it was all about the event dictating the photos instead of the photographs dictating the event. But we succeeded in keeping with the pace and recording the moments as they unfolded.

Here’s just a little taster of some of those fun filled, exciting moments at the WIT Business Ball (WIT biz ball) at The Forum, Waterford. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed being part of this exhilarating evening.

So on our big day we accessorize everything.  Our shoes, earrings, hair and makeup not to mention the dress.   But as people will love to have a look at the new ‘bling’ that will be rocking on your fingers, it is also important to have lovely manicured nails.  Anyone that knows me knows that I am HUGE fan of my nails been done and have rocked a French set of acrylics for about 7 years now…

Artificial nails have been a popular trend since the early 1990′s and are continuously increasing in popularity.  There are so many finishes and options of artificial nails that look like real natural beautiful nails.   From acrylic nails, gel nails, porcelain nails and silk or fibre wraps.  And with celebs rocking bigger and bolder nails, the trends are constantly changing.  Depending on how much you want to spend and how much maintenance you want to keep, you can choose from the various options available at your beauty or nail salon.  The most popular being the ‘3 week manicure and the Gel or Acrylic nails.

The 3 week manicure – this is ideal if you are someone who doesn’t like the ‘fake’ nail feel and wouldn’t be used to wearing long nails.  It is simply like nail varnish that goes on your nails, which means you don’t have to go for the classic French, you can go for a colour.  However when placed under the lights the lighting hardens and creates a beautiful shiny nail which lasts about 3 weeks before it starts to chip.  Perfect for Brides as it is enough to get you through the big day and through the honeymoon.

Gel / Acrylic Nails – This is the full blown fake nail and the most popular option for people.  A nail is glued on to your own and acrylic or a gel finish is sculptured on to the nail.  The nails appears slightly thicker ( except my nail technical has this down to an art and mine are constantly being commented on as being so thin and natural)  These are for the long run and need to be refilled every 2-3 weeks.

My FAVE nail salons:

MINT Health and Beauty Kilkenny – www.mintbeauty.ie        056 7712579                  Kilkenny/Waterford

High Maintenance Nails and Beauty                                             021 4639966                       East Cork

I hope you enjoyed my blog on the perfect nails by Dawn of glamour by Dawn

When to wean a baby

It is recommended that breastfed babies not be weaned before 6 months of age as breast milk alone should provide all of their nutrient requirements. Bottle fed babies can begin having some solid foods from the age of four months (after 17 weeks of age) if needs be but again ideally it is best to wait until they are 6 months old unless your baby is showing lots of signs of being ready to tuck into some nosh earlier!

Signs include;

* Taking a full milk feed and still appearing to be dissatisfied or waking up earlier than usual demanding to be fed

* Taking a lot of interest in everything you put in your mouth when you’re eating

How to wean a baby

Rule no 1; Get ready for lots of mess! Start by offering a spoon feed once per day at a nice quiet time. Around lunchtime or just before their afternoon nap is a good time. Make sure that they have had their usual milk feed and are not starving. To begin with just offer them 1-2 teaspoons of organic wholegrain baby rice mixed with their usual milk or a simple vegetable puree. At the beginning, bear in mind that you are just getting baby used to texture and the spoon – it’s not about shoving volumes of food in!

What to feed a baby

As mentioned above, one of the preferred first foods to offer a baby is a teaspoon of organic wholegrain baby rice mixed with breast milk or some of baby’s usual formula. More recently, a lot of people are just going straight to simple vegetable purees or introducing these a few days after trying out the baby rice first. Steamed and pureed carrot/sweet potato/broccoli/green beans/butternut squash/cauliflower/beetroot all make ideal first foods as they are naturally sweet and very wholesome. Organic and home cooked is best if you can manage it too as it will really boost your baby’s nutrient intake. Try not to offer too much fruit (max once per day) as they will quickly learn how sweet it is and develop a taste for it more so than vegetables. Good fruits to offer are steamed apple/pear/dried apricots and can be mixed with some good quality baby porridge when it comes to preparing a yummy yummy breakfast as your baby’s appetite grows.

So I hope this article on weaning has been helpful and given you a few pointers on how to get some delicious grub into your little ones gobs! Wipes – check. Bibs- check. Overalls – check!! Happy weaning!!

So with Spring upon us and lately we have been graced with some fantastic weather.  Not sure how long it is gonna last (knowing Ireland, about 5 mins) but we sure will make the most of it.  Although it’s not very hot it is still important to protect ourselves so be sure that when wearing makeup that you have some with a little SPF it.  Or mix a very light SPF with some of your primer before putting foundation on.  If not using foundation, just apply some bronzer around the frame of your face and a little under the cheekbones just to warm up the skin and bring a little of it done along the neck and decliotage.  I recently did an article for RTE Beauty on decluttering your makeup bag for Spring, so feel free to pop over to RTE.IE to look at that for some tips on doing so.

Keep your makeup nice and natural, not too much for during the day anyway.  I am not a fan of heavy makeup on any given day but especially on bright beautiful days the last thing you want is to feel like you are wearing a mask on your face.  Keep your eyes nice and bright using a natural eyeshadow.  Gold’s and a shimmery brown, outline the corners of your eyes with eyeliner and with just a few coats of mascara.  Apply some peach or pink blush, preferably cream blush to give that lovely dewy natural look.  Teamed with a little bit of lipgloss and away you go.  For night time, instead of a natural lipgloss go for a sexy red or berry lip.   Keep it natural and beautiful.  Don’t spend all your time in front of that mirror doing your makeup.  Get out there and enjoy the few minutes of sunshine that we are getting, god only knows how long it will last…

I hope you enjoyed my Spring Makeup by Dawn of glamour by Dawn. x

Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation – is a charity which provides care and support for children with severe neurological development issues, as well as offering some respite to the parents and families. This nationwide charity has a presence in every county – the families who will benefit from your participation in Happy Faces Day 2012 are living in our own area of Waterford. You can check on the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation website www.jackandjill.ie and see exactly how many families are being helped in your county.

Our Happy Faces day 2012 event is being held at our studio at the Williamstown Centre on the Dunmore Road, Waterford on Sunday April 1^st and April 2^nd. Sunday is now fully booked but spaces are still left for Monday April 2^nd. Please share this link please and let’s get this number to 200 individual portraits.

I look forward to seeing your happy faces all at Happy Faces day 2012 in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation

We are bombarded everyday with TV ads and newspaper articles telling us about the latest new products that are going to have us bouncing with energy and feeling on top of the world, but it can often be difficult to wade through the buzzwords and jargon du jour! So this month I thought it might be helpful to answer a question I get asked very often – “What are probiotics?”

Probiotics is an umbrella term for the beneficial bacteria that live within our digestive systems. The word probiotic is taken from the Greek word meaning “for life” and our gut can contain up to 1 kg of these clever little fellows. “What are probiotics?” “Who should take probiotics?” I hear you ask! Well let’s look at how the body uses them. A healthy balance of good bacteria can crowd out disease causing organisms; they promote efficient digestion and help us to absorb nutrients from our food, they are involved in the formation of vitamin K and B vitamins, they influence the uptake of calcium, boost our immune system and help us to metabolize and breakdown used hormones and cholesterol…… and the list goes on!! Exciting new research is examining their role in protecting us against certain cancers namely colon cancer. Probiotics (often called acidophilus) have been successfully used in the treatment of many disorders of the digestive system including IBS, colitis and Crohn’s disease. There is also growing evidence that conditions not directly connected to the gut such as autism-related conditions, attention deficit disorders, eczema and psoriasis benefit greatly from supplementing with beneficial bacteria.

Our modern lifestyle can often take its toll on our levels of good bacteria. High levels of stress, alcohol, sugar and some prescription medications such as antibiotics and the contraceptive pill are just a few of their enemies. A few indicators that we should give these little guys a helping hand are bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence or a weak immune system. The best way to top them up is by taking a good quality supplement from your local health food store. Be aware of the many friendly bacteria drinks on the market as they can be high in sugar.

I hope you enjoyed our “What are probiotics” article this month and are now armed to go forth and multiply…….I’m talking about your beneficial bacteria of course!

By Waterford Nutritionist Jemma Kehoe

Wedding Special offers

You can now avail of our wedding photography special offer, photography packages for October 2012. For a limited time only from €1480, you can choose from a selection of packages that captures the occasion of your wedding at very affordable prices.

At Infokus Studios, we are discounting our most popular wedding photography packages for four lucky couples during October 2012.

Wedding Photography Special Offers – Photography Packages:

 Special Offer 1 – Creative Couples: 15% Discount

This Includes:

• A pre-wedding / engagement / family shoot with Keith and your choice of 5 pictures edited to the highest standard. These images will be available on disc ready to print and are perfect to use for your wedding invites.

• Award winning fashion and wedding photographer Keith spending 5 hours with you to capture your wedding day with the utmost care, style, and fun.

• With a choice of high quality albums, your album will include 65 stunning wedding photographs of your choice.

• Keith will design your album and liaise with you over the layout prior to ordering and assembly.

• All your wedding photography images will be available to you on disc (approx. 175-350) for you to make as many copies as you wish.

Special Offer 2 – The Storybook Collection: 20% Discount

• A pre-wedding / engagement / family shoot with Keith and your choice of 5 pictures edited to the highest standard. These images will be available on disc ready to print and are perfect to use for your wedding invites.
• Award winning fashion and wedding photographer Keith spending up 10 hours with you to capture your wedding day with the utmost care, style, and fun. This covers morning preparations to your evening festivities.

• From your choice of albums from our premium range your album will include 120 stunning wedding photographs of your choice.

• All your wedding photography images will be available to you on disc (approx. 250 -500) for you to make as many copies as you like.
• A private viewing for both your pre-wedding shoot and your wedding pictures at our luxury studio.

•  Keith’s talent at retouching is at your disposal. Enhance reality, if you desire, at no extra cost.

•  Keith will design your album and liaise with you over the layout prior to ordering and assembly.

To avail of this wedding photography special offers – photography packages contact us at Infokus Studios 051 – 850 962 or visit our website www.infokus.ie

Every bride wants to look their best on their wedding day.  It is the most photographed day in their life and the want to look the part!! I say it’s important to look yourself but just to enhance your features. Good cheekbones and emphasis on the eyes always makes for a good natural beautiful look.  You want to be able to look back on your wedding pictures in 10 years time – and not cringe so bridal makeup needs to be classic and timeless.  It is vital not to wear too much makeup; this may look great on camera but really cakey and heavy in person.  You need to find happy medium so it is important spend time considering the makeup that you will have for your big day.

For those of you that are not getting a professional and are considering doing your own makeup – be sure to test drive some products.  Longevity is imperative, you don’t want to spend your day nipping to the bathroom to powder up.   Go to some counters and get some samples, test them as early as possible in the day and see how long and how well it lasts for you.  Investing in a good primer is also a must.  If you want to go with a certain ‘look’ or ‘era’ for your makeup , then maybe go and get a lesson from a professional so that you can re create the look yourself. Glamour by Dawn is always on hand if you need!!

When doing bridal makeup, you need to understand that your make up is not going to be the same as going out on a Saturday night.  Bear in mind if you are wearing a white/ivory – your makeup will appear allot different than if you were wearing a black dress.  It is no harm to add a little more bronzer and darken up a little for the evening but for the day, you should keep everything as naturally beautiful as possible.

To me every face is different, but if you are very unsure.  Keep the eyes nice and natural; bring out your own eye colour. Different shades of brown, taupe plum. etc Again depending on the look that you are going for.  If you love a good black liquid eyeliner? – Than go for it but practice, practice, practice! Be sure to use a pinky or peachy tone on the lips, otherwise lips will be lost in the photos.

If you are hiring a professional, be sure to swan through magazines or the net at some pics so and bring along any that you like.  That way your makeup artist can work with you to recreate a look that you are both happy with.

I hope my bridal makeup advice by Makeup Artist Glamour by Dawn has being helpful

A newborn baby touches the heart of all. Their innocence and purity has a way of melting even the most cynical of us. Capturing the purity and awe-inspiring essence of a new infant is a proficiency that we at Infokus have mastered. These images stand the test of time and are forever a joy to treasure for proud parents and grandparents of these new arrivals.

One of the most obvious but probably least considered aspects of photographing a new born baby is to capture the image as soon as possible, i.e., whilst the baby is still in it’s ‘new born’ state. This gives a window of 5 to 10 days following the baby’s arrival into the world.

Therefore, although it may seem bizarre, it is necessary to pre-book the Photoshoot well in advance of the baby’s due date. This allows for scope in our diary to ensure that we can be flexible with nature and arrange the shoot around the baby’s schedule.

THE PROCESS OF NEWBORN BABY PHOTOGRAPHY AT INFOKUS:

The key to a successful shoot is to have everyone relaxed – baby and Mum & Dad. During the planning stage the following details are discussed:

• Time frame

• Style

• Safety (posing the baby or the way baby is held in camera by the parent)

• Type of pose preferred

The high standards we maintain at our studio are enhanced for our newborn baby photography session. We ensure that the baby is warm, safe and comfortable in its surroundings, enabling him, her or them to feel relaxed and happy during their photo session.

The technical side of the photo-shoot e.g. lighting & composition, is all part of our expertise. Having discussed the preferred poses in advance of the shoot with Mum & Dad, we can then set the scene to capture the perfection of the new infant during the newborn baby photography shoot.

Waterford Nutritionist Jemma Kehoe

Jemma Kehoe, Nutritionist.

Hello all and welcome to the first instalment of my monthly food and nutrition updates. A huge thank you to the talented photographer that is Keith for inviting me into his cyber world! I’m delighted to be involved and I truly hope that you will find my pieces helpful and of interest.

Firstly, allow me to introduce myself. I am Jemma Kehoe, a nutritionist born and bred in Waterford. I have huge adoration for food and always have done! My mother tells me that I spent most of childhood mealtimes asking her “What’s this Mummy? Is it good for me? Where did it come from?” Now don’t get me wrong, I was certainly no different from any other typical fussy child who didn’t even want greens on the plate, let alone contemplate eating them but I suppose I just always had a fascination with what impact food could have on our bodies. So it all started from there! I spent 3 and a half years studying with the Institute of Health Sciences in Dublin. Once qualified, I was based in a busy Doctor’s surgery until August 2011 when I had to skedaddle to take care of my first 2 little recipes! My twin girls were born healthy and well in October last year so I have been busy nourishing them since their arrival. They are quite the binge drinkers!

I firmly believe in the power of food and its ability to change every aspect of our health and wellbeing. Nobody likes having to cut out foods they love from their diet so as a nutritionist I’m here to help. I have worked in all fields of health and nutrition but I have special interest (and personal experience!) in the impact of nutrition on fertility and pregnancy. So stay tuned as each month I will be talking about specific healthy eating plans, foods to aid digestive problems, energy levels, beautiful skin and hopefully provide some inspiration for you to cook up a wholesome storm in the kitchen!

Health and happiness,

Jemma.

Happy Faces day 2012 Charity Event at Infokus Studios

About Happy Faces day 2012? 

IPPA Happy Faces day 2012 is an annual charitable event, an IPPA initiative. It aims to raise funds for that Charity by receiving donations in return for a gift of a portrait experience. The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation is the chosen charity for 2012 & 2013. This year is the seventh year of Happy Faces Day and we are trilled to say we have participated all 7 years. The first was in 2006 and we have raised much needed funds for Angel’s Quest Children’s Respite Homes, DEBRA Ireland, The Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street and the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland.

When is it and where is it? 

Infokus Studios are hosting 2 days of Happy Faces day 2012 due to high demand the first is Sunday April 1st from 10am to 6pm and Monday the 2nd of April from 9am – 6pm, if more days are required we will add more. We are hosting this at our Studio in the Williamstown Centre, Dunmore Road, Waterford.

How can we book and what do we get?

Booking can be made by calling into our studio or phoning us on 051 850962. Pre-payment is required to hold the date.  For a minimum donation of €25 euro per sitter, the client will receive a gift of a portrait mini-session and a professional quality 5×7 head-and-shoulders portrait created by the Award Winning Infokus Studios. 100% of the donation {proceeds not just profits} goes to the 2012 nominated charity, The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation.

Who can get this done and what do they wear? 

This is entirely up to you what you wear, as long as you feel good in it. Subjects can be anyone in the community who wish to have a head & shoulders individual portrait made such as children from the age of 4mts, senior citizens, pets, business peoples. The list is endless.

We look forward to meeting you all at Happy Faces day 2012

Waterford wedding photographer - Faithlegg house hotel wedding

We just received this lovely message from a wedding client whose wedding I had photographed in Crooke church and reception was held in Faithlegg house hotel. As a wedding photographer it always touches me when people take the time to write these lovely words

We just wanted to write and thank you for the amazing job you did, both on our wedding day and putting our beautiful wedding album together.  It is truly stunning and you did an outstanding job.  The wedding album speaks for itself; each photo looks wonderful and tells the story of our wedding day perfectly.  You managed to capture every special moment on the day in a very natural and not posed way and the results are amazing.  Throughout the day you worked in a very non intrusive way and managed to capture every little detail.

From our very first meeting, we knew you were the wedding photographer that we wanted on our wedding day.  You have such a warm personality, with very creative ideas and you were so professional from start to finish. You were a joy to be around and nothing was ever too much trouble.

We would have no hesitation in recommending you as a wedding photographer as you offer a great service.  So, a massive thank you for all your time & assistance with everything.

Andrea & John

Glamour By Dawn, Make up artist Kilkenny

Another new year, another new long list of happy Bride and Grooms to be organising and planning the most memorable day of their lives. Thanks to Keith for asking me to do some guest articles on his blog, so I shall be writing each month about various topics in the beauty side of things. So to briefly introduce myself, I am Dawn of Glamour By Dawn and I am makeup artist in all fields but specialise is Bridal and consider it my passion and love! I am based in Kilkenny but being a Cork native I also travel down and back an awful lot so have the pleasure of not only having South East Brides but also lovely Munster ladies too. I have also had the pleasure of working on weddings with Keith and have always been incredibly in awe of his beautiful wedding photography. So when he asked me to feature in his blog, I could not resist! Indeed if there is anything that you would like to see on the Glamour By Dawn blog, all ideas are welcome – my aim is to provide an informative read for those in the midst of planning their big day. But I hope to write about Spring /Summer makeup, tools of the trade, dos and don’ts, different bridal looks, nails etc. Makeup plays a huge part in the Brides big day. It is the one day that she gets photographed the most, the one day where she will feel the most fabulous that she will ever feel, and the one day that she will want to look back on in her pictures in years to come and remember what it felt like that day. I truly feel that for a Bride – hair , makeup and photography are absolute musts’. So I hope you enjoy the different features. Glamour By Dawn, Make up artist Kilkenny

Getting married in Ireland - Civil Weddings in Ireland vs.Traditional Weddings

Getting married in Ireland these days has changed dramatically over the last 2 years. Trends are definitely changing, taking us away from the more traditional weddings format. In my opinion this is due in no small part to the introduction of civil weddings in Ireland.  This has given rise to a totally new creativity not only in wedding photography but also in how weddings are styled and themed.

As with photography, the choice of ceremony is totally a matter of personal taste. Each ceremony captures and reflects the personalities and spirit of the principal persons involved – the bride and groom.

When getting married in Ireland regardless of the format chosen, it is important to remember that for both traditional weddings and civil weddings certain obligations must be fulfilled. However, once this is done, there is an abundance of formats and styles that the happy couple can choose from.

Since the introduction of civil weddings in Ireland in 2007, we have seen trends changing year on year in our wedding photography business. Our bookings reflect an increase of approximately 30% uptake in civil weddings.

Styles and fashions may change but the essence of a wedding ceremony remains constant. Whether it takes place in one of the many beautiful churches and their stunning surroundings or a country house hotel, the quintessential themes of love and commitment are key.

Over the past 10 years, we at Infokus Photography Studios have been fortunate to have photographed so many wonderfully memorable wedding days in locations all over Ireland, both north and south. These have ranged from traditional weddings in picturesque settings to modern, personailsed civil weddings. Such an occasion was when we worked alongside Franc of “Weddings by Franc”, soon to be aired on RTE television.

We hope that our snapshot into Getting married in Ireland – Civil Weddings in Ireland vs. Traditional Weddings has been informative. If you would like to find out more about wedding photography in either genre please feel free to contact us at Infokus Photography Studios. We invite you to visit our website and view our gallery on www.infokus.ie

Testimonial from a portrait client of Infokus photography

Below is a lovely thank you i got from a family who i done a portrait photo shoot for. Im forever gratful when someone takes the time out of there day to thank us for creating an portrait for them that will hang in there home for generations!

Hi Keith,
We would just like to say a great big thank you for making my mom’s 60th birthday present so wonderful. We were all nervous on the day but you made us relax very quickly and we had great fun doing the portrait. My Mam couldn’t stop crying when she opened it I think it is the nicest present you can give any parent. There is only one problem……. and that is that you weren’t there when she unwrapped it to catch her face on camera it was priceless. Thanks again for making this very precious time even more precious and helping us 4 amateurs to relax and look like pros by the end. lol. Will be in touch again soon.
Liz Tate

At Infokus we enter the New Year with resolutions and goals. I’m trilled to say that we achieved most of what we set out to last year but this year it’s time to raise the bar and keep pushing to allow our photography to be at the top of it’s game. Look out for our new portrait product ranges and wedding album designs which we are excited about. 2012 at Infokus is going to be an extremely exciting year.

The promise I’ve made to myself is to set aside at least one day per month where I can go and photograph something new and challenging. Doing this will keep the fire for what I love burning inside me and my creative juices flowing. Another is to keep my fitness level up, one which I’m sure most will identify with. So I look forward to hearing from you this year and hope that 2012 will be a prosperous one for us all.

We will have exciting guest writers on our blog each month ranging from Makeup artists sharing there hints and tips on the latest trends to Health and fitness tips from personal trainers to nutritionists. We will have a professional choreographer showing couples how to pull off the first dance with finesse and much more.

Our new blogs will include images and video to walk you through the tutorials……… and all for free!! Please if you have any suggestions or guest speakers you’d like to see on the Infokus blog please let us know and we will try our best to get them.

Christmas themed photo shoot styled by Tommy Hilfiger Waterford

With only 19 days till Christmas where has the time gone? It may sound like a cliché but it seems as if Christmas arrives earlier every year! It is the time of year, in the true spirit of Christmas, where Infokus Photography joins forces with another successful local business to create our annual team shoot. This Christmas we have worked in collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger Waterford to create this stunning fantasy portrait which will be sure to get you in the festive cheer!

Little Rosa aged 2 has a big imagination and mum was looking for a fantasy portrait that would capture her thoughts giving us adults a snapshot inside her colorful world. We decided on using a night skyline to create a sense of magical adventure. It is important to have a plan in place before the shoot begins to ensure we capture the right sort of images that lend themselves to the overall feel. Tommy Hilfiger Waterford supplied all the clothes for this shoot and their fantastic styling worked well to tie in colours of the purple sky and red car.

It was a pleasure working with Rosa and her mum who are delighted with the end result as we are. I’d like to thank Tommy Hilfiger Waterford for their input this year and I look forward to working with you again in the future. If you are interested in our Fantasy Portrait range please don’t hesitate in get in touch here at Infokus Studios where we can discuss your ideas and advise you on something special for you and your children. You can also purchase a fantasy portrait gift voucher making a lovely Christmas gift that can be looked back on a treasured for many more Christmases to come! I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Christmas themed photo shoot styled by Tommy Hilfiger Waterford

Wedding Photography Testimonial at Faithlegg Hotel Waterford

We just had to send you a little thank you note. We just collected our Wedding album from you and we’re just over the moon with how fantastic it is!

After our very first meeting with you, both myself and Phillip knew we had found who we had been looking for to do our Wedding photography at faithlegg hotel waterford. It was important for us to have someone that not only took gorgeous photos, but who listened to what we wanted, and that we got on really well with. That’s exactly what we got with you Keith.

You are an absolute joy to be around, and so professional and creative. From our meeting a few days before the wedding, to go through details and ideas, up to last week collecting our album, everything has been so easy and fuss free and so much fun!! Dancing in the corn fields with my new hubbie is right up top the list of memories that will stay with me forever.

The wedding album speaks for itself. It’s just stunning, telling the story of our wonderful Wedding Day. All of the special and romantic moments are captured perfectly. It means so much to us that you took the time to get to know us as a couple. We were so relaxed and happy on the day, it really shows in the photos. They’re so natural. Every time I look at them, the pure happiness I felt that day comes flooding back (teary eyes always follow.

We’ll treasure our album for years to come; you’ve given us so many happy memories. Im so glad we had you with us on our special day; we can’t thank you enough for everything!

Hope we’ll stay in touch hun,

Love Laura and Phillip x x x

Family photography hints and tips for your family portrait!

So you’ve been meaning to get some family photography taken now for god knows how long, you know, the kind where everyone has their eyes open and no one’s head is missing! If you have decided to finally make your move you won’t regret it. Here at Infokus Studios we will make this a fun and memorable time for you and your family. You will come away with beautiful photographs that will tell the story of your family for years to come and will grow more valuable as the years go by. Here are some tips to help make family portrait perfect.

Tip 1.Coordinate clothing for your family portrait

It is vital in a family portrait that all members are properly coordinated with color and a style of clothing that will enhance the type of family photography you want displayed in your home. You can imagine what it would look like if everyone just came in his or her “favorite” outfit, without considering the portrait as a whole.

Without careful consideration outfits can become a distraction to the real reason for the portrait, a beautiful image of you and your loved ones. For a more timeless portrait we advise sticking to neutral colors. Wearing black, white or cream will keep everyone even and draw all the attention to the faces!
Tip 2.Makeup for your family portrait

Top Irish make up artist Yvonne Maher has supplied a few simple hints and tips to help your girls achieve the perfect look for your family photography Photoshoot!

Try to stay out of the sun (or use sun beds!!) before your photo shoot to avoid patches of red blotchy skin and tan lines. If you are very pale and want a sun kissed glow, apply a light fake tan or a moisturizer with an added tint about two days before hand.

Choosing the right foundation is key to achieving a flawless finish. If you need some help with this, go to any make up counter and they can help you choose the right foundation for you skin tone. If you are age 45 or over, the rule is to use a foundation that is one shade. This prevents shading on your natural fine lines and creates a youthful appearance. If you are younger than 45 there’s no need to go to extremes. Choose a foundation that is about one shade darker than your natural skin tone. With family photography we want to avoid shine, so choosing a matte foundation would be best. For the men in your family make sure

Dads have a clean shave and avoid after shave moisturizers before the shoot as they leave the skin pink and shiny!

Tip 3.Have fun!

Think about the details of the day. What do you what to come across in your family portrait? The best thing to do is to have fun and be relaxed allowing your genuine family qualities to shine through. Trust in your photographer as you can’t change their eye and here at Infokus Studios we will be 100% committed to capturing amazing family photography that will show the uniqueness of your family. So sit back, relax and be you!

Family photography hints and tips for your family portrait!

Family photography hints and tips for your family portrait!

Family photography hints and tips for your family portrait!

Family photography hints and tips for your family portrait!

Wedding Photography Testimonial at Faithleg House Waterford

If like us, your wedding day is the most important of your life you will want to ensure that all of your precious moments are captured in a way that will help you relive your great memories long after the day itself has passed. The choice of wedding photographer is key to this. We researched far and wide before deciding to trust Keith of Infokus with this very important task. From the moment we first met him, Keith’s professionalism, enthusiasm and genuine interest in helping make our memories so special assured us that we made the right choice when we choose Infokus. Keith’s preparation and attention to detail was a great comfort to us. When the day itself arrived, Keith had become an essential part of it all for us. His presence and good humour helped turn a great occasion into a truly fantastic one. When we met afterwards to decide on the album content, Keith really came into his own. Our pictures were really special. They were composed and organised in a manner that told the story of our day in a way that we could only have dreamed of. We thoroughly recommend Keith as a wedding photographer to anyone who’s looking for something more than the ordinary.

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

On Sunday evening my phone rang and I was asked by Urban Hype Hair salon if was I free the following morning to photograph Belle Amie, the girl band finalists from 2010’s X Factor. You don’t have to guess my answer! I quickly rearranged my schedule and arrived at Hype hair salon at 8.30am to photograph the band having their hair done and then meeting their fans.

This was a fly on the wall shoot and my job was to capture the mood in the hair salon that morning. As you can see the place was buzzing with clients as well as school kids who passed by and popped in for a look. The guys at Urban Hype Hair salon put on a very fancy breakfast for us all that was cooked and preperared by Chef and Culinary Coach David Kelly… Yummy!!

The décor of this Salon is very futuristic with a stainless steel floor upstairs and graffitied walls The salon bursts with colour and everything about it is ahead of its time. With the salon’s interior design forming the backdrop to my images the very talented and stunning Belle Amie began the shoot. Fans were there taking photos whislt the sylitsts buzzed around the girls. Two lucky fans got to meet there pop idols once they had performed! It was a brilliant show to end a fun packed shoot and I really wish the girls all the success they deserve. Not only are they very talented singers but genuinely nice people who make time for everyone they meet.

Please scroll through our selection of images below and feel free to leave your comments. A massive thanks to Urban Hype Hair salon and the beautiful Belle Amie

All images are copyright of Infokus Studios, written permission must be sought to Infokus and Hype Salons for usage!!

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

Belle Amie at Urban Hype Hair Salon

National grandparents day at Infokus - Its a Generation Celebration

In recognition of National Grandparents Day, the Irish Professional Photographers Association (IPPA) in conjunction with Friends of the Elderly and their sponsors, Cadbury’s Roses have just held a nationwide competition via the Sunday Times      and  online at http://www.grandparentsoftheyear.com/ to find the Grandparent of the Year 2011.

Part of he overall prize for this competition will include a superb photographic Portrait of the winner and their extended family of at least three generations. Each of the 26 County finalists will also receive a Generations Portrait Voucher, redeemable through any of the 60 participating IPPA professional photographers.

Friends of the Elderly  national Coordinator Allison Murphy says “Friends of the Elderly is a volunteer based Irish charity that aims to alleviate social isolation and loneliness amongst older people in Ireland through friendship. The average age of our Elderly friends is 76 years and within our total membership women out number men by three to one. We try to help socially, emotionally and in many other ways.”

Of course, every family believes that theirs are Grandparents of the Year on National grandparents day, every year and IPPA photographers nationwide want every family to share in celebrating their generations by bringing all their loved-ones together. Because above all we need love!

The IPPA participating professionals are inviting you to a Generations Family Portrait session to celebrate Grandparents Day 2011. The Gift, which is valued at around €200, includes a portrait session with the photographer of your choice and also includes one gift-sized portrait for your grandparents who are celebrating National Grandparents Day.

Your Generations Family Portrait Gift is available as a downloadable Voucher from www.irishphotographers.com . Full details of the gift, some terms & conditions and a comprehensive nationwide list of participating professional photographers are also available.

Your Generations Family Portrait Gift does not have to be used on Sunday next – it is valid for portrait sessions completed by November 25^th but you can confirm your appointment by contacting your local IPPA participating member on the IPPA website and of coarse us at Infokus Studios on 051 850962

“Reminiscing over old family photography always reminds me of how important it is to celebrate together as a family” says Gareth Byrne FIPPA, President of the Irish Professional Photographers Association. “it seems that despite the downturn, there are some luxuries families will allow themselves and a portrait with generations including their grandparents is one of them, as we cannot wait until later to capture the memories created today”

We are all very excited at Infokus and look forward to inviting you to National Grandparents Day. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS CALL US ON 051 850962

Yvonne Maher, make up artist to top Irish models and celebrities shares a few make up tips to help you choose the right look for you for your portrait.

Yvonne Maher, make up artist to top Irish models and celebrities shares a few make up tips to help you choose the right look for you for your portrait.

First things first, you need to decide what type of a look you want to achieve. Do you want a natural day time look? Or would you like a stronger more dramatic look?

Here’s a few a few simple Make up tips by top Irish Make up artist Yvonne Maher to remember to help you achieve the perfect look for the perfect portrait!

Flawless skin…  by Make up Artist Yvonne Maher

• Try to stay out of the sun (or sun beds!!) before your photo shoot to avoid patches of red blotchy skin and tan lines. If you are very pale and want a sun kissed glow, apply a light fake tan or a moisturizer with an added tint about two days before hand.
• Choosing the right foundation is key to achieving a flawless finish. If you need some help with this, go to any make up counter and they can help you choose the right foundation for you skin tone. If you are age 45 or over, the rule is to use a foundation that is one shade. This prevents shading on your natural fine lines and creates a youthful appearance. If you are younger than 45 there’s no need to go to extremes. Choose a foundation that is about one shade darker than your natural skin tone. With portrait photography we want to avoid shine, so choosing a matte foundation would be best.

As a professional make up working on TV3 and RTE my one “must have” item is a pressed powder. It neutralizes skin tone keeping shine clear and creates a natural soft canvas look, which is picture perfect!

Bright eyes… by Make up Artist Yvonne Maher

• When people think of eyes the forget about their eyebrows. Your eyebrows define your face and make such a huge difference if they are properly groomed. I recommend getting eyebrows professionally shaped as it opens up and brightens the eye. If your brows are fair use a brow pencil to define and fill in gaps.
• A great tip for bigger eyes is to use white eyeliner on the inner bottom lid. Keep eye make up matte and use an eye pencil to define the upper eyelid and lower lash line. Apply a light base colour under your brow line; this will highlight your gorgeous newly groomed eyebrows! Don’t use bright colors, they might be on trend today but they will date! Remember the 80’s and all that blue eye shadow?!! Use plenty of mascara. False lashes can be used, depending n what type of a look you decided to go for.

For luscious lips … by Make up Artist Yvonne Maher

• Always use a lip liner, it will give the impression of a fuller lips, but make sure you blend it well to avoid the lined effect. For family portraits I find its best to keep lips neutral.

Maybe the most important of these make up tips is to choose between your eyes and mouth. The biggest mistake people make when putting on make up is that they highlight both. It’s simple to pick, just think, what is it that most people comment on? Do you have Angelina Jolie lips or Kate Bosworth eyes?

And not forgetting then men in our portraits! Dads should have a clean shave and avoid after shave moisturizers before the shoot as they leave the skin pink and shiny. If they allow us, pressed powder is perfect for evening their skin tone and getting rid of shine!

A big thank you to Yvonne Maher, one of Ireland most in demand make up artists, from all the team at Infokus.

Maternity photography, newborn photography and baby photography create memories of one of the most important journeys for a family, and we are proud to make that journey with you so often. We regularly meet with a couple to photograph their wedding, and years later see them again with new additions, recording an ever-growing family portrait.

Pregnancy is the first step in a great journey, and the particular beauty that comes with maternity speaks for itself. Every mother has her own personal style, and we create maternity photography with a dignity and beauty that reflects the importance of this momentous occasion for a family.

There is no feeling quite like that of holding your newborn child in your arms, and we are honoured to have the opportunity to record and preserve that moment for you. Our studio is kept warm and hazard-free, a safe and comfortable environment for families with young children, especially important since newborn photography is usually taken at between six and ten days old.

When families bring babies to be photographed, we take great care. We use small beanbags as supports for delicate backs and to make sure the baby is safe, and the parents are always nearby to ensure that the little one is comfortable and secure. Capturing that perfect moment, that one expression when their entire personality shines through, is one thing that makes baby photography so worthwhile. It creates a keepsake of your family at a magical time, a keepsake that lasts forever.

It is always a joy to record these milestone occasions, and we at Infokus Studios have made this journey with you for ten years now. We look forward to the communion, confirmation and debs photos for the families we see today for maternity photography, newborn photography and baby photography.

Maternity photography, newborn photography and baby photography at Infokus Studios

Maternity photography, newborn photography and baby photography at Infokus Studios

Maternity photography, newborn photography and baby photography at Infokus Studios

Maternity photography, newborn photography and baby photography at Infokus Studios

Maternity photography, newborn photography and baby photography at Infokus Studios

Maternity photography, newborn photography and baby photography at Infokus Studios

Maternity photography, newborn photography and baby photography at Infokus Studios

Maternity photography, newborn photography and baby photography at Infokus Studios

The image combines three different looks which preview next season’s collection by Redlane Boutique, Colm Morrissey and Yvonne Maher combine skills to create an amazing image with Infokus. The hair and make up were built around the outfits to exenterate the clothes and to create an overall sense of the seasons changing leaving behind the bright floral colours of summer and arriving at the rich and deeper tones of autumn. We decided to use poses that reflect a doll or mannequin. We experimented using the idea of a hanging doll and the final composition shows Veronika hanging from the trees in an enchanted forest.

Make up artist Yvonne Maher created a classic dolls face by using round red cheeks and an exaggerated mouth to make a frown. She contrasted this by using small love heart lips to create a second funkier doll. The other doll had a almost ethereal quality that blended well into the forest using elaborate eyelashes and diamante lips.

Colm Morrissey, a Loreal colour specialist, coloured Veronika’s hair with l’Oreal Inoa (amonia free). He chose a deep ‘Burgundy’ and flashes of ‘Bold Red’ to create a vibrant autumnal look. Styling the shoot, Colm used a tight corkscrew curl for a baby doll effect then a Rihanna inspired Mohican. The curls were loosened out and backcombed for a high fashion look.

The final image was put together by our fantastic digital artist Sarah Mims. It is designed to have mysterious feel which evokes a sense of fantasy. A big Thank you to the team, Catherine Keighery of Redlane Boutique, make up artist Yvonne Maher and hair stylist Colm Morrissey for what was a fantastic project to be part of.

In this months blog make up artist Yvonne Maher has provided some killer makeup  tips and tricks which will help prepare you for your wedding day photoshoot. Covering everything from weddings to portraits over the coming weeks this information will guide you to create a flawless look of perfection.

Wedding makeup

Hello all, my name is Yvonne Maher and I am a professional make up artist. I have tried to put together some useful makeup makeup tips and tricks to guide you in the right direction with your wedding makeup. The key to finding the perfect foundation is to match your skin tone so bare in mind that if your having a fake tan the colour needs to match. Be careful not to go too dark and always check the colour in natural daylight. Any make-up artist will be able to tell you the way to apply foundation correctly and this will even out any blotchiness. Concealer will get rid of any unwanted shadows that might persist after the foundation application as for all the beauty sleep you get in the lead up to your big day the night before might be a different story! Your most important product is your pressed powder it will hold your make up and keep your skin looking flawless .It may seem like more make-up than you are used to, but remember that for photographs and all-day longevity, powder is essential to set the foundation and concealer. This may be the most important of all the  makeup tips and tricks by Yvonne Maher

Use plenty of Mascara and make sure its water resistant, curl your lashes for a glamorous look and then apply two generous coats. I would also recommend going for individual false lashes it makes a huge difference. When it comes to the eyes don’t be afraid!!! It’s the one day you spend so much on your dress so why go natural on your wedding makeup? Your eyebrows shape your face so get them professionally shaped and tinted and if needed use a brow powder to redefine. You are probably wearing all one colour so it’s important to add colour to your cheeks and lips it give your make up a romantic feel and make you shine. Good luck brides, I’m sure if you follow these makeup tips and tricks you will be stunning!

Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for our makeup hints and tips for fashion and portrait photography.

By Yvonne Maher Makeup artist

Born and raised in Kilkenny, Jimmy Saunders aka DJ J Angel has spent the last 15 years living and working as a DJ in some of London’s hottest music venues. After his training at Point Blank Music College in London’s trendy Hoxton, DJ J Angel turned his hand at producing going on to make some tracks that would rock the dance floors of nightclubs across the UK and parts of Europe Australia and the US. His ambient Drum & Bass tracks inspired by artist LT J Bukem have been internationally popular being used by labels such as Ministry Of Sound and his deep house music tracks which feature a laid back, Balearic feel have been used by Café Del Mar.

Jimmy Saunders has now returned to Ireland and is on a mission to set up a new label that will showcase his Drum & Bass and Deep House music tracks as well as inviting other artists to promote their music.

The conceptual image below photographed by Infokus will frontline the new launch of this Drum & Bass Dj,s new record label. The concept inspired by Frank Miller’s Sin City is designed to have a dark eerie feel and shows Jimmy Saunders aka (DJ J Angel) in a play on crime noir as a character from the dark town.

The set and lighting of this shoot is a complex setup, as this is a compositional image where we merge the subject into a scene at the end. First off I look at the scene and see how if this person was standing there would be lit, from here I light the subject in the studio with many studio flash unit’s and dapple light in various parts of the body to created a dim street light effect, when all is this is completed we send this to our amazing digital artist Sarah Mims to blend together.

I hope you like this image i created of Drum and Bass DJ Jimmy Saunders aka (DJ J Angel) and enjoying listening to his deep house music.

June 2011 saw the wonderful wedding of Margot and Adrian at Wexfords delightful Horetown House. It really is a spectacular venue to hold a wedding and a superb opportunity for any Wexford photographer. This traditional 1692 Palladian building features a grand reception hall and is located amidst acres of farmland in the heart of Wexford rolling countryside. I had shot a fashion shoot here some months ago and was delighted when Kate the manager recommended me to this lovely couple. It really was a day to remember!

The shoot began in the morning in the grand interior of Horetown House. It was lashing rain outside so we were glad to be inside such a beautiful setting. Luck was on our side as the rain began to calm down as we were on route to the church and as the beautiful bride stepped out of the wedding car it stopped as if on queue! Once the ceremony had taken place the couple left the church and the sun had begun to shine making a perfect end to what was a beautiful service.

We then went to the charming riverside village of Foulksmills to shoot some romantic pictures of the newly weds. This was yet another dream location for a Wexford photographer with a picturesque courtyard of an 18th-century watermill. I photographed the couple in the doorway to the mill where they embraced in each other’s arms.

Margot and Adrian were a joy to work with as it was easy and instant to build a trusting relationship. They wanted a fly on the wall style series of photographs that captured their day so I focused on the interactions between them to show their real emotions throughout the day. I also tried to get a sense of the overall ambience of their wedding day by looking for details and spontaneous reactions from guests. It was also great fun capturing images of their gorgeous son Naoise with his smile that almost stole the day.

This successful shoot is thanks to a great team so I’d like to thank Margot and Adrian and wish them all the happiness for their future, Kate and her staff at Horetown House for their fantastic hospitality and to all the guests who made this a Wexford photographer dream to photograph, a truly memorable occasion.

Infokus Studios are fortunate to work with My Waterford Magazine and regularly provide photographs that appear on the front covers of magazines which are distributed throughout Waterford City and on all flights in and out of Waterford Airport.

The first cover in December was shot at Kidszone in their Santa’s grotto. This image was embracing Christmas but also designed to advertise Ellen McCarthy’s new novel ‘Silent Crossing’. My Waterford Magazine was keen to feature this local author’s book as a top tip for Santa’s gift list.Geno Kavanagh, a former postman and film extra, appearing in many Irish movies including Saving Private Ryan was transformed into his annual role of Santa Claus. Thought to be Ireland’s most genuine Santa, Geno was great fun to work with and his professional acting experience made it easy for me to capture the mood and ambience of the magazines brief.

The second image, shot at Waterford Airport, was an Aer Arann advertisement who are now providing regular flights into the UK. As the plane was landing we had 15 minuets to shoot this cover shot leaving no room for mistakes! The photograph was shot using studio lighting to retain the blue sky in the background whilst still capturing the detail of the airplane and its cabin crew. This is a very simple shot but one of my favourites as it was fun working under pressure and an exciting task to shot on a runway at Waterford Airport.

The final image shows a ‘Sex In The City’ inspired composition which was used to promote the fashion extravaganza at Waterford’s Tower Hotel. I wanted the cover to replicate a famous poster of Carrie Bradshaw and worked closely with my digital artist Sarah Mimms to design a concept that would make the viewer immediately identify to the hit TV show. The model Yvonne Cregan was a previous client of mine and I knew that she would be perfect for the job. When all the components came together we are delighted with the outcome.

A big Thanks for My Waterford Magazine, The Tower Hotel Group and the staff down at Waterford Airport.

I’m excited to post this blog as I love photographing dancers and have a huge admiration for the art form whether it be photographing Irish dance to contemporary dance or capturing the elegant poise of a ballerina. This all began almost six years ago when De Bram School of Dance, Waterford, approached me with an enquiry about creating some dance pictures for their students. Since then I’ve never looked back and have been lucky enough to photograph dancers all over the country.

Irish Dance remains a popular dance form across the country and with its traditional costume and shoes it also continues to be a charming theme for dance pictures. These commercial style portraits are just a few of the many I’ve shot in the studio.

Ballet dance is another favourite of mine to photograph. I have been very inspired by a close friend of mine who trained as a professional ballerina and has collaborated with me in the studio to give me an understanding of how to capture a dancer’s technical lines in my dance pictures. A ballerina can create such beautiful shapes and lines with their bodies and for me as a photographer, I enjoy experimenting with the possibilities this can bring to a photograph.

I have also enjoyed turning dance pictures into fantasy portraits in collaboration with my digital artist Sarah Mims. This photograph won a gold award at this year’s Royal and Alliance IPPA Photography awards. This fun and magical portrait transformed a ballerina to an enchanted, fairytale world but these portraits can be tailor made to suit individual need. We can indeed transform Irish Dance or any other dance pictures to happen in weird and wonderful worlds so let your imagination get the better of you!

To date, the variety of dance pictures I have worked on have mainly taken place in my studio but my aspiration for the rest of this year is to start shooting dance pictures in action on location. If you have any ideas or suggestions for locations for shoots with a Ballerina or with Irish Dance students please comment below.

The team here at Infokus Studios were delighted to collaborate with Foxy Chopper Hair Salon to shoot a photograph at Horetown House which went on to bag two entries in the final five for The Irish Hairdressing Federation Photography Awards. The awards, in association with Irish Hairdressing Magazine, are judged by a panel of Industry and media expects both from Ireland and aboard and are open to any hair salon that is a member of the Irish hairdressing association.

We were given a brief and the completed image needed to reflect a photograph that would be seen on the front cover of any prestigious fashion magazine. Jodie Mc Grath of Foxy Chopper Salon was responsible for designing the concept for the hair and clothing style, ”this was an exciting project to be involved in, the brief allowed for a lot creativity yet it was technically challenging and I’m very proud of both the images”.

I choose Horetown House as the location to fit Jodie’s styling and then started to build the photography set. Horetown House is a popular venue for weddings and its Victorian infrastructure provided the perfect backdrop to our scene. I just knew this was going to be a winning formula!
The winners are chosen from hundred of entries from all over the country. The Infokus Studio and Foxy Chopper team had not one but two entries that made it through to the final five getting nominated for ‘The Editor’s Choice’ and ‘The Long Hair Down’ categories.

Please see the final photographs below. On behalf of the team here at Infokus Studios I’d like to Thank Jodie McGrath of Foxy Chopper and the team down at Horetown House for their hard work and dedication on this exciting joint project.

As a wedding photographer I shoot lots of weddings every year mainly in Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny but I’ve also shot in the UK and last year, was commissioned to shoot a wedding in Tuscany, Italy. Needless to say, every wedding I shoot has a very different brief and subsequently the weddings have a varied and diverse range of vibes. It is therefore imperative that each album I create can mirror and represent the unique memories of each special day with a photographic style that embraces the ambience of the location and personality of the guests.

People often contact me with queries to ensure they choose the wedding photographer that is right for them. The truth is that it’s a very personal choice and what works for you might not always work for the next person. However I have compiled a list of hints and tips for choosing your wedding photographer which I think will help you to make a decision that is right for you.

Tip 1: Always view a wedding photographers work before making the decision! This might seem obvious but when looking at the photographs ask yourself, is the wedding photographer displaying moments of genuine emotion? These moments are happening all the time spontaneously but a skilled photographer will be trained to spot these moments and craft them into moving photographs. The facial expressions in the photographs can be an indication of the ambience and mood captured or in some cases created by the wedding photographer.

Tip 2: I recommend viewing at least 2 or 3 wedding albums in their entirety. A good wedding album will take you on a journey and will give you an instinctive understanding for the feel of the day. You should like the variety in the images and remember that at enquiry stage, it is very easy for a photographer to show you 4 or 5 dazzling images but it is very different to capture 200 excellent images at every wedding.

Tip 3: Check to make sure that the presentation of the wedding album is of excellent quality.

Tip 4: A silly as this may sound ensure to the best of their ability that the photographer has suitable transport to make sure he/she can travel to the venue in suitable time. Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny may be close for me to travel to but occasionally the journeys to other areas in Ireland can take many hours and the roads can be unpredictable.

Tip 5: Communication is the key! Discuss with your wedding photographer what you want from them on your day. Here at Infokus Studios we always have a briefing which gives the clients and I a chance to sit and be clear on exactly what is to be covered on the day. At this point, the client has the chance to provide a list of essential shots but also to discuss photographic styles to ensure that the approach is right. Good wedding photographers will listen to what you want and try to accommodate your brief as best they can. It is also important that good wedding photographers can provide advice and ideas as often they will have an insight into how to create something special which will tailor to your needs.

Tip 6: Choose a wedding photographer that you can trust. You must be able to relate to the photographer you choose and have belief that he/she will be there for you on your big day. An experienced and committed photographer will have the ability to capture the special moments of your wedding without being invasive and by blending into the day with integrity.

I hope these Hints and Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Photographer come in handy when you’re making your decision. So whether you be from Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny or Tuscany please don’t hesitate to give me a call at Infokus Studios with your wedding enquiry.

Check out our latest shoot for the Infokus fantasy portrait range. Like lots of teenage boys, Paddy has a passion for outdoor sports and regularly spends hours practicing tricks on his BMX. As a portrait photographer, I love it when I get an exciting commission like this one that allows me to try something different.

To mark his 13th birthday, Paddy’s father wanted us to create a photograph that was different and dynamic but still contained qualities of a traditional portrait. I discussed Idea’s with Paddy and his Dad and we decided that Paddy would perform some tricks on his BMX that we could shot in the studio before being transformed into his fantasy portrait. It was inspiring to sit down with a 13 year old boy and hear the passion he has for his BMX. He also told me about his Trial Bike ( motor bike for a scrambling course) but I had to stop him there as that wasn’t going to fit in the lift to get up to the studio!!

On the day of the shoot, Paddy and I worked together to capture some action shots with him on the bike. I’d imagined an image that portrayed the energy and element of danger that comes with the territory of outdoors sports, so had a backdrop already in mind. As seen in the video link, Paddy perfected the stunt and then he had a little giggle at me when I tried it! The final shot, that see’s Paddy in mid air, was then sent to my digital artist who put all the elements together to make this fantasy seem realistic. Im now going to see how she can transform a portrait photographer J

Please check out the video to see Paddy in action with me at the portrait studio and view the finished image to see how we made his fantasy portrait a reality.

I first spotted Keith’s work on his fabulously professional website. I have been to loads of weddings and I’ve seen the Infokus usual wedding type photos and I was searching for something different. I had very specific ideas about how I wanted my wedding photos and considering they were going to capture the moments of our special day and give us memories for a lifetime, they were pretty important to us.

We arranged to meet Keith to discuss our options. From the first correspondence with Keith, he immediately won my confidence and trust (not an easy feat!!). When we met in his fabulous photography studio, he instantly made our wishes his priority, he was so funky and contempory, but yet had the experience to completely understand the perogative of the bride and knew exactly what we needed, he just got it. We didn’t need much time to decide he was going to be our wedding photographer.

From then on, Keith made it his business to ensure we got the best from him. He went out of his way to establish the sort of relationship you need with your wedding photographer, but even more than that, we became friends. On our big day Keith travelled to Wexford, and managed to do a shoot on the beach with the boys, come to my house to get all the preparations with my family and the girls, capture all of the special moments on our day without dragging us away from our guests, and made us feel so relaxed. He treated us like celebs. He had us laughing all day, he got on so well with everyone, he worked exceptionally well with our videographer (who had nothing but good things to say about our wedding photographer) and he managed to get some beautiful shots when we didn’t even know he was there. My guests even commented on how hard he worked throughout our ceremony, they said he never stopped shooting. And he did all when he had a bug and was feeling as sick as a small hospital – but we never knew on the day, he didn’t tell us until months later because he didn’t want us worrying on the day. That’s how professional he is.

And it didn’t stop there, after the wedding Keith posted some amazing wedding pictures online to give us a taster of what was to come, he invited us down to pick our favorites (nightmare task because they were all amazing), designed and prepared the most fantastic album, and gave us a disc of all the photos of that day. He asked for our permission to use our album as part of his portfolio and that was a pure honor. Every time we show our album to people we get unbelievable compliments on it.

I couldn’t recommend Keith as a wedding photographer highly enough, he is an amazing guy, with an amazing eye and he goes that extra mile to ensure you get what you deserve on your big day. And he does it all because he truly loves his job.

Thanks so much Keith, you’ve given us memories to last a lifetime, and that, for us, is priceless. Jenny & Philip Xxx

I recently visited the beautiful Glendalough in Co Wicklow on a family day out. It was one of the first days this year the sun had come out and the excitement of spring was in the air, so off we went to enjoy the day.

It was my first time visiting Glendalough after hearing souring reviews and I was stunned at the beauty of the landscapes. I enjoyed taking these shots of a beautiful stream running up towards the Waterfall. In collage I shot landscapes and took similar images to these except on a Hasselblad film camera which I developed in the dark room. It was great to revisit landscape photography as a medium as usually I am concentrating on the people within the landscape. The colour photograph has an ethereal quality to it using a long exposure that allowed details in the water ripples to blur and become dreamy.

If you have a SLR camera of any sort long exposure’s can create really interesting effects that can be used to capture a wide array of subjects from flowing water to trailing lights of traffic. Even long grass in windy weather can create very extraordinary images. All you need is a Tripod and use the manual settings so that you can leave the shutter open for longer periods of time.

I hope you all enjoy looking at these images and have fun taking images of your own. I know for sure ill be visiting this beautiful part of the country again soon and definitely popping into the Glendalough visitors centre for more information on the many amazing landscapes this part of the world has to offer.

April started off with our first collaboration with My Waterford Magazine for their new fashion supplement. I was delighted to be asked to be part of this brilliant team which features the fabulous Teresanne O Reilly of Prima Model Agency, Waterford, and welcomes Lynda Murphy, a new editor to the magazine.

This was a really exciting and energetic fashion shoot that took place at Infokus Studios. The clothes were supplied by Orchid Boutique at the Ballinakill Shopping Centre on the Dunmore Road, Waterford. It was the first time Teresanne and I had worked together on a fashion shoot and the brief was to create images for a two page spread which features in this months My Waterford Magazine. The theme was old-school and combined a classic Hollywood look from the 50’s with a relaxed vintage-with-a-twist guise of the 70’s. We wanted the focus of the shoot to fall directly on the fashion and not on the scene so through high fashion dramatic lighting and tying in of colors, we created these fantastic images below of Teresanne of Prima model agency.

Magazine work has to be approached in a different manner to a privately commissioned shoot as each image has to fit a page or column. With this in mind we visualised the shots before the fashion shoot. Each image was very carefully planned not only for magazine placement, but to use poses which were moulded to suit and compliment the clothing.

It’s such an incredible feeling when you finish a fashion shoot and look over the images on the monitors at the studio. You see how what started as a team’s vision, has merged together to create a collection of successful images. I’m already looking forward to our next assignment!!

A big thanks to all at the My Waterford Magazine, Orchid Boutique and Teresanne of Prima model agency.

This is a collection of planned photographs that combine maternity photography, baby photography and family photography, all in one collection. Ciara had visited my studio with a series of images in her mind that she wanted to capture, to freeze in time. We chatted over a coffee and put a plan in place to capture this sequence of photographs spanning several weeks.

The first maternity portrait was designed to have a stylish feel, as Ciara is a young and beautiful mother. I wanted to capture an image that reflected this part of her pregnancy. After discussing in length with Ciara I had the picture already in my mind so that when it came to the Maternity photography shoot, we both were already in sync. Tony and Billy them came in on the set and a spontaneous moment happened between them where Tony picked up Billy to play with him and Billy’s whole face lit up with a massive smile.

The second chapter is when baby Lexi was just ten days old. I captured her innocence in this beautiful baby portrait by keeping it all very simple and purposefully staying away from fussy backgrounds and props. This subtle image is taken from just the right angle to give it that wow factor.

The last in this baby photography collection shows Lexi with her two year old brother Billy who is sleeping beside her. Capturing adorable moments with that innocent smile requires luck and patience. Little Billy had fallen asleep on a beanbag in our viewing room and Dad Tony carried him over to the studio area to rest him beside Lexi. We snuggled them both together and here is where the luck came in. Baby Lexi automatically wrapped her little hand around her big 2 year old brother….Lights, camera, action, Click Click Click!!

It was a pleasure to work with Ciara and Tony to capture this chapter in their lives and the collection of Maternity photography baby photography and family portraits will go on to remind them and their children of these special memories.

Beaches can be the ideal location to unleash a real sense of energy and freedom that helps to capture a real emotional quality in portraits. We are blessed with our Waterford Beaches, some of my favorite beaches to work on are Tramore Beach and Woodstown Beach. There are so many beautiful locations in and around Waterford that are ideal for capturing the spirit of family life. From woodlands to rustic old farmyards, this stunning scenery can provide the perfect backdrop to a family portrait.

Here is a collection of location portraits I’d like to share with you which have been taken in wonderful locations around Waterford in 2010. I very much enjoy spending time in locations to get a feel for the place and to plan my shoots to get the very best images of not just of the family but also the scenery to complement the image. I spend many a day off with my camera always searching for opportunities to capture beautiful scenery. For me photography is not just a job but also my passion, someone once said to me that when you love your work then its not a job but a hobby.

Why not take your family to the locations that are meaningful for you to create a family portrait that reflects the true essence of your family’s special times together.

Communion photography

This year’s introduction to communion season was launched with a fantastic competition ran by Beat fm. In conjunction with Infokus photography, K Sports and Hero’s Clothing Store, the lucky winners are offered a chance to choose a stylish new communion dress from k sports or a smart boy’s outfit from Hero’s before coming to my Waterford Photography Studio to shoot their own exclusive communion portraits. The winners have now been announced. I would like to congratulate them both and I look forward to working with you soon.

If you are interested in communion photography at Infokus Studios please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I love working along side children and make every effort to provide portraits that can reflect the personal qualities of your child’s special day and leave you with a memory that can be enjoyed for years to come.

Bookings are now being taken. Please call 051 850962 or mail keith@infokus.ie to book your communion photography session at Infokus Studios.

Infokus Studios are encouraging everyone to participate; from grandparents to children and
Students, teenagers to corporations and just about anyone who would like to capture a special moment
and at the same time raise vital funds to help young people living with Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland.
For further information on IPPA Happy Faces 2011 in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Association Ireland and a full list of all participating
photographers, log on to www.irishphotographers.com For further information on Cystic Fibrosis, visit
www.cfireland.ie.

We welcome you all to our Waterford Portrait Studio and look forward to seeing all those Happy Faces!!

I love working on baby portraits as I always finish feeling touched and refreshed by the simplicity of human nature.

The stylish ceremony captured the beauty and tradition of Christmas as guests embraced the brisk day driven with passion and excitement for the lovely couple.

Danielle and Neil were a dream to work with as their relaxed and fun atmosphere made it easy to capture the energy of their special day. The final images portray their warmth with a contemporary romantic feel as they take a trip on the enchanting carousel before completing a shoot in and around the historical streets of Waterford.

As a Waterford wedding photographer this was a great opportunity to combine the old with the new, to unite Waterford’s historical settings such as Reginald’s Tower with modern landmarks such as Waterford Crystal. The night ended with a fantastic celebration in the Woodlands Hotel Waterford.

I’d like to Thank Danielle and Neil for a thoroughly enjoyable day and I sincerely wish them a very happy future together…