More Than a Photographer: Meet Patrick Ryan Photography
Paddy is one of those people who brings an energy with him that you can’t miss.
He’s got a fantastic eye for photography and a real talent for capturing the moments that couples will look back on for years to come. But what makes him stand out is the way he approaches a wedding.
He’s fun, friendly, relaxed and, quite frankly, has the energy of a Duracell Bunny!
There’s always something happening when Paddy is around, and somehow he manages to be everywhere at once without making couples feel like they’re being constantly photographed.
He knows when to step in, when to step back and, most importantly, how to capture the genuine moments as they happen.
Because those are often the photographs that mean the most.
The big moments are important, of course, but sometimes it’s the little things — a glance across the room, a laugh with your bridesmaids, your parents watching you walk down the aisle or a moment with your friends that you didn’t even realise was captured — that become the photographs you treasure forever.
You’re Going to Be Together All Day!
Something we always tell couples is to think about who they want beside them on their wedding day.
Your photographer isn’t going to disappear after the ceremony. They’re going to be around for hours, helping guide you through photographs, capturing the action and interacting with you, your family and your friends.
So why not have someone you can have a laugh with?
Someone who makes you feel comfortable?
Someone who can keep the energy up when the nerves kick in?
Someone who feels more like a friend than a supplier?
That’s Paddy.
He has a brilliant way of making people feel at ease, and before long, the camera becomes the last thing you’re thinking about.
The Perfect Pair
Here at The Heritage Hotel, we’re also lucky to see some fantastic wedding suppliers working together time and time again.
Our Wedding Manager, Angela, has seen plenty of weddings over the years, and there’s one pairing she particularly loves.
Patrick Ryan Photography and Brendan Brophy of Brophy Videography.
According to Angela, they’re the perfect pair.
They have the same energy, the same fun-loving personalities and work incredibly well together. They bounce off each other, know how to keep the day moving and, most importantly, keep the focus exactly where it should be — on the wedding couple.
As Angela puts it, they won’t just be your photographer and videographer.
They might just become your new friends for life!
And that’s exactly the kind of team we love seeing at The Heritage Hotel.
When your photographer and videographer work seamlessly together, it means you can relax, enjoy yourselves and trust that the memories are being captured without you having to worry about a thing.
Capturing Memories That Last
Years from now, your photographs will bring your wedding day back to life.
You’ll remember the people who were there, the laughs you shared, the moments you didn’t see and all those little details that made your day uniquely yours.
That’s the real magic of great wedding photography.
And with Paddy behind the camera, you’re in very safe hands.
He brings the experience, the creativity, the eye for a great photograph — and a whole lot of energy and personality along with it!
We absolutely love working with Patrick Ryan Photography, and we’re delighted to have him as one of the fantastic local wedding suppliers we get to work alongside.
So, when you’re choosing your wedding photographer, remember you’re choosing someone who will be with you for much of your
wedding day.
We Caught Up With Paddy…
Tell us a little about Patrick Ryan Photography and how you got started in wedding photography.
Patrick Ryan Photography has grown from a love of photography into a business that is very much about the entire wedding experience, not just taking photographs.
Over the years, I’ve realised that my role on a wedding day goes far beyond having a camera in my hand. I see myself as someone who helps orchestrate the day — keeping things moving, making sure people know where they need to be, dealing with little problems before they become big ones, and making sure the couple can actually enjoy their day.
Of course, the end goal is beautiful photographs, but I want the couple to look back and remember that having me there was a really enjoyable part of the day too.
hat do you love most about photographing weddings? Is it the people, the emotion, the creativity, or a bit of everything?
It really is a bit of everything, but for me it’s probably the people.
Every wedding is completely different because every group of people is different. I love the energy, the characters, the relationships and all the unexpected moments that happen throughout the day. No two weddings are ever the same.
There’s also a huge amount of satisfaction in knowing that I’m not just documenting the day — I’m helping create an environment where people can relax, have fun and enjoy themselves. When you combine that with the creativity of photography and the emotion of a wedding, that’s what makes it so enjoyable.
What should couples look for when choosing their wedding photographer? What goes beyond simply liking the photographs?
The starting point should be that couples must like your style. But I think couples should look much further than that.
You’re potentially spending 10 or 12 hours with this person on one of the biggest days of your life. You want somebody who is professional, organised, confident and capable of handling pressure.
All of these things while letting the couple enjoy family and friends and not worry about any aspect of the day.
The photographs are incredibly important, but so is the person taking them.
How important do you think it is for couples to get along with their photographer? After all, you’re with them for most of the wedding day!
I think it’s hugely important.
You spend more time with your photographer on your wedding day than you probably realise. If you don’t get along with them, you’re going to feel that.
I want my couples to feel that they have someone beside them who they can trust, have a laugh with and rely on. But I also understand that I’m not there to be in their space all day. I’m there when I’m needed, and I know when to step back and let them enjoy the moment.
I’m there to photograph the wedding, but I’m also there to oversee things, keep everything moving and make sure the day runs as smoothly as possible. My couples shouldn’t have to worry about what’s happening next or how things are running — that’s my job.
There’s a balance to getting that right. I’ll take control when something needs organising, but I’ll never make the day about me. Ultimately, I want the couple to feel like they have a friend there who just happens to be very good with a camera.
What advice would you give to couples who say they’re nervous or uncomfortable in front of the camera?
Don’t worry about it — most people say that!
My job isn’t to stand you in front of a camera and expect you to suddenly become models. I’ll guide you when I need to, give you something to do and, most importantly, keep things relaxed.
A lot of it comes down to conversation and humour. If you’re laughing and enjoying yourself, you stop thinking about the camera.
By the end of the day, most couples tell me they completely forgot I was taking photographs- just check out my google reviews.
What are the little moments you look out for during a wedding that couples might not even realise you’re capturing?
There are lots of them.
It could be a parent watching their son or daughter during the speeches, grandparents laughing with the family, a friend getting emotional, a child doing something completely unexpected, or the groom having a quiet moment just before the ceremony.
I’m constantly looking beyond the obvious photograph.
The couple are always the main focus, but there are hundreds of little stories happening around them throughout the day and this is what separates my work from the next photographers. Those are often the photographs that become really special afterwards because the couple didn’t even know they had happened.
What makes a great wedding photograph? Is it the location, the lighting, the emotion, the people — or something else?
For me, it’s emotion first.
You can have an incredible location and perfect lighting, but if there’s nothing happening in the photograph, it can still feel empty.
A great wedding photograph should make you feel something. It should bring you straight back to that moment — who was there, what was happening and how you felt.
Of course, lighting, composition, location and timing all matter, but they’re tools. The emotion and the story are what make the photograph.
Do you have any tips for couples to help their wedding photography run smoothly on the day?
The biggest thing is to trust your photographer and if you book a videographer- them too.
Give yourselves enough time and don’t try to squeeze your photography into tiny gaps between everything else. A good photographer should be able to organise this with you beforehand so that it feels like part of the day rather than something constantly interrupting it.
And don’t worry if something doesn’t go exactly to plan. Weddings rarely run perfectly — that’s normal.
A big part of my job is making sure those little things don’t become the couple’s problem. If we’re running five minutes behind, someone can’t find a buttonhole or the weather suddenly changes, we’ll manage with it.
The couple should be enjoying themselves. They shouldn’t be worrying about the running order.
What’s your favourite part of the wedding day to photograph and why?
Probably the couple portraits, because that’s where I get a little bit of time with the couple away from everything else.
It’s a chance to slow things down for a few minutes, have a laugh and create something really beautiful for them.
But I also love the reception because that’s where everything becomes completely unpredictable. The speeches, reactions, laughter, dancing and all the madness that comes with a wedding reception give you some of the most genuine photographs of the day.
You’re known for bringing plenty of energy and fun to weddings — how do you think that helps couples relax and enjoy having their photographs taken?
I think energy is contagious.
If I walked into a wedding and was quiet, awkward and constantly worried about getting the perfect photograph, people would pick up on that immediately.
I’m naturally quite energetic and I like having a craic with people. I’ll joke with them, I’ll interact with guests and I’ll get involved when I need to.
But there’s also a professional side to that. I know when to take control and when to step back.
I think that’s the combination that works — fun without being chaotic, and professional without being stiff.
Ultimately, I want people to be thinking about enjoying their wedding rather than thinking about having their photograph taken.
You work alongside Brendan Brophy from Brophy Videography regularly. What makes the two of you such a good team?
Brendan and I have worked together enough that we know exactly how the other works.
There’s a lot of trust there, and that makes a huge difference on a wedding day. We don’t get in each other’s way and we’re both focused on getting the best possible result for the couple.
We also have similar energy. We like to have fun, but we’re both very professional when it matters.
I think the biggest benefit for the couple is that they don’t have two suppliers competing for the same moments. We’re working together, communicating throughout the day and making sure both the photography and video complement each other. We always contact each other before the wedding day, discuss the timeline, weather, bride and groom requirements and ultimately make sure we are both on the same page to work towards capturing the couple’s day as a whole.
If you could give every couple one piece of advice before they walk into their wedding day, what would it be?
Enjoy it.
Seriously, that’s it.
You’ve probably spent months, sometimes years, planning this one day. Once it arrives, let go of the things you can’t control.
Don’t worry if the weather changes. Don’t worry if the timings move slightly. Don’t worry if the flowers aren’t exactly where you imagined them. Nobody will ever know.
The things you remember won’t be whether everything went perfectly. You’ll remember the people, the laughter, the emotions and the moments you shared. And if you don’t stay present during the day, you’ll ultimately feel like you should have let things happen on the day.
And that’s where I come in. My job is to take care of the photography, help orchestrate and remove stress and problems which pop up throughout the day.
14 years as a professional wedding photographer. There isn’t much I haven’t overcome — whatever the day throws at us, I’ve got it.