Bells, Storms & Laughter: A Visual Storytelling Photoshoot with Marisa.

Never has someone been quite as allergic to cameras as Marisa O’Mahony, freelance writer, manager of Shandon Tower & Bells, and one of my oldest & dearest friends. So when I suggested we doing a branding photo shoot together, her initial reaction was

‘Oh my God, no never, not in a million years’,

It took a little gentle persuasion and not an inconsiderable amount of emotional blackmail before she eventually acquiesced that she was in need of some headshots.

Unfortunately, my arrival coincided with that of Storm Noa! Amid gales of wind and bursts of laughter, my visions of iconic Shandon backdrops floated uncontrollably in the gusts, along with skirts & hair.

We were eventually blown indoors but luckily the historic chambers of St Anne’s church and adjoining tower made an equally atmospheric setting.

Marisa has been the hard working curator of Cork citiy's famous bells for over seven years, but her real passion lies in her creative endeavours. She is a talented wordsmith and has written a number of plays including the award winning radio drama ‘Three of a girl, four for a boy’. She has also been part of the story team at Ros na Run at TG4 since 2012.

Despite Marisa‘s concerns, the beautiful ecclesiastical lighting in the church softly highlighted her features & we ended up with some stunning portraits. We only relegated a handful to the reject bin, and those were mostly down to the storm & the resulting crazy hair!

As a photographer I enjoy the challenge of working with someone who is particular camera shy or photophobic. 

Gently guiding someone into flattering positions while getting them to forget the camera is there with my repertoire of goofy jokes is the most enjoyable part of my job, while sending them a folder of images they love is the most rewarding.

If you are interested in booking your own photoshoot, either in my visual storytelling or personal branding style, or a combination of both, then take the first step now & get in touch.

Thanks Marisa for allowing me to tread softly on your own photophobia, I’m delighted we captured some memories worth framing.

Bookings & Enquiries