Client Interview with Pauline Dennigan

Please take a moment to read this before working with Pauline Dennigan

How long have you been a Photographer and what qualifications do you have?

"I have been a Photographer for fourteen years, six as a press and public relations photographer and eight as a wedding and portrait photographer. The transition from one to the other was easy in some ways and not so easy in other ways. Press photography is all about waiting, waiting and some more waiting for the definitive moment to happen. This philosophy worked, and still does work really well at weddings. Just imagine you are standing at the door of the church about to walk up the aisle with your Dad. He turns to kiss you before you take the first step towards your Fiancé. This is where my waiting and anticipation skills produce some amazing shots.

Back to the not so easy part! Photographing weddings is not for the faint hearted! There is no room to mess up, regardless of time constraints or weather, which often can be an issue. Over many hundreds of weddings I am now a master at keeping calm and carrying on!

My formal qualifications are a Diploma in Photography, Kevin St. DIT. I am a licensed and insured member of the Irish Professional Photographers Association and I have received 8 Gold Awards from these guys for my wedding and portrait work. To keep my learning fresh I attend courses at home and abroad every year."

Who do you work with exactly?

"I work with wedding couples, new borns, children, families, business people and models."

What sets you apart from other Photographers?

"I am laser focused on producing excellent work for you. I listen to you very carefully to make sure I am hearing who you are, and what you need from me, as your photographer. I then use my experience to produce the best possible results. In the case of weddings, this sometimes means doing some ground work in advance, like checking out the best locations for photographs. As weddings have so many elements to get right, I have an assistant who acts as my second brain and looks after anything you may need throughout the day."

Are your services and products affordable?

"Yes! For weddings I start off at 1,500 euro up to 3,900 euro."

What kind of backup do you have, if any of your equipment malfunctions on the day?

I carry two of every type of lens , camera and battery, in my bag and on my shoulder ready to activate at a moments notice!

Who do you work best with?

"Very simply, if you appreciate good photography then I am the photographer for you. This goes across the board from family portraits, business portraits to weddings. I appreciate it when you enter into the spirit of having your photograph taken. I really enjoy it when you don't always want to conform to tradition, when you are forthright in telling me your dislikes, ideas and your expectations.It's all about putting the maximum effort into the shoot from both sides to get some amazing results."

Who is NOT going to benefit from working with Dennigan Photography?

"Without exception, people who feel they should just have a photographer present at their wedding/event because that is what everyone else does. Some people may feel that a wedding album will end up in a dusty box under their bed. Yes, this may happen, but your album is a family heirloom. Your children and grandchildren will pull this dusty box from under your bed some day, and revel in seeing who you were before they came along."

I have some difficult relationships going on in my family but I would like them to be together in the family photographs. How do you work around this?

First of all, you and I plan the family shots you would like. We then chat about the positioning of your family members within the shot to ensure that both parties are included but not necessarily standing together. I have a way of keeping the situation bright and breezy and I can always sense that both parties are happy to have been included in the shot with no major drama involved.

How long do you keep the digital files after the event?

I keep your files backed up indefinitely, so if you find the need to order prints or albums a few years after the event then I will have them here for you.

Do you provide images on dvd packages?

Yes I do. These files are always in Jpeg format and ready to print. Albums and prints can also be ordered outside of the dvd package at any time after the event.

What other products/services do you provide?

I provide custom framing, parent albums, any size print (the sky is the limit!), vouchers and engagement sessions for my wedding couples.

Do you take credit cards? Do you have a payment plan?

"Yes, I take all major credit cards and cheques. Payment plans are available to wedding couples only."

That sounds like everything I've been looking for. What happens next to get started?

"You can call me on 086 345 4620 or email info@denniganphotography.ie so we can check availability, organise a consultation and have a look at my work in the flesh. If you are abroad or would like to secure your date before meeting me, please email or call me on the above contact details and I can take a deposit."