Winter 2020

DANCING IN THE RAIN
PAUL DOHERTY PHOTOGRAPHY
TODAY is your wedding
day, you wake up, jump out
of bed, tear open the curtains
only to find the child of
Prague you have had out for
the week prior has done feck
all. The rain is battering the by Paul Doherty
window, the wind is blowing
a gale and the day you have been meticulously
organising down to the smallest detail now has
a spanner thrown into the works. Welcome to
County Donegal!
Everyone asks me “Have you ever had very
bad weather for a wedding?” And the answer
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is of course, probably twice a month so I have
to know what to do and how to handle it so
that you get the most phenomenal photographs
possible. So that spanner in the works is just
another excuse to flourish on your special
day using whatever mother nature has thrown
your way. The best piece of advice I can
offer couples is to take advantage of the day
whatever the weather - rain, hail or snow -
make the most of it.
Before every wedding I sit down with the
couple and make a game plan for the day
considering all possibilities; Plan A (a quare
day for drying), Plan B (lashing down from the
heavens), and Plan C (when it would blow the
head off ya). Plan A might consist of going to a
dramatic seascape, beach or mountainous area.
Plan B could be a forest which would provide
shelter, or you could throw up an umbrella for
some dazzling rain shots or find a cosy corner
in the hotel. Plan C - the aim of the game is
to keep the veil attached we find somewhere
with a bit of shelter and a nice pub nearby so
we can dash out in between showers. If there
is anywhere special that you have in mind I
always try to help create your ideal photographs
whatever the weather. Some of the most
outstanding photographs I have ever taken have
been plan B or C days.
Luckily Donegal offers great diversity in
landscapes whether you are at the top of
An Grianán Aileach with views as far as the
eye can see or if you are on a cliff edge at
Portnablagh with a raging Atlantic Ocean and
dark gloomy clouds looming overhead, we
really are spoilt for choice in this rugged corner
of Ireland. Another famous characteristic about
Donegal is the abundance of little country
pubs, that would be more than happy to see a
wedding party coming through the door (such
as the Ole Glenn Bar or Biddy’s of Barnes) and
if you’re not into the pub scene why not pop in
to cute little coffee shops or restaurants like The
Rusty Oven in Dunfanaghy for example.
The main thing to consider is to get a
photographer that has experience with all
weather conditions who can advise you to make
the most of the circumstances to get the finest
photographs of your special day. The other
thing to remember is to bring an attitude of
adventure to the day and be ready for anything
so that you can be dancing in the rain!
By Paul Doherty | www.pauldoherty.ie