A Day with the Kellys

I photographed Lynn and Ronan’s wedding back in 2018, so this visit has been a long time coming. We’d talked about a family shoot for a while, but a certain pandemic put it on hold. Looking back, maybe that was a good thing. Because now, with their little clan complete – Mae, Donnie, and baby Nancy (plus Sandy the dog, of course) – it felt like the perfect time to visit their forever home.

This was a day-in-the-life style shoot and honestly, it was just great craic from start to finish. Mae and Donie kept me on my toes with a constant stream of stunts and cartwheels, each trying to outdo the other. I narrowly avoided a soaking from Donnie and his trusty hose. I got a full tour of the bedrooms, ate the fluffiest pancakes I’ve ever had (and a cupcake, for balance), drank two cups of tea, and left with a shopping list of toys I need to buy. Expensive job, this family photography lark.

Everything I ate came courtesy of Lynn, who’s not just a brilliant mam but also a seriously talented baker. She’s just started a new venture called Avenue Bakes in Ballinasloe – you’ll find her on Instagram at @avenue.bakes.ballinasloe.

In the afternoon, both Lynn and Ronan’s parents popped over for a visit, which was such a lovely addition to the day. More the merrier. It felt like a real slice of family life – laughs, chats, a few cuddles with the grandkids and the kettle back on again.

Huge thanks to Lynn and Ronan for welcoming me so warmly into their home. Let’s do it again soon – I’ve no doubt Nancy will be cartwheeling across the garden in no time under Mae and Donnie’s expert guidance.

And if you’re wondering what it’s like having me around for a family shoot, I’ll let Lynn’s words do the talking:

“We had the pleasure of having Dave photograph our wedding day back in 2018, so when the opportunity arose to have a family shoot I didn’t think twice! He is an absolute gentleman, who made us all feel completely at ease in his presence. He was patient, respectful, subtle & his interactions with our crazy kids was just spot on – they had such a ball with him & he was able to really capture their personalities through his photos, all so effortlessly. They say never work with kids or animals… Dave had to do both during his visit to our house, and he managed it seamlessly! Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Dave to anyone considering a family shoot, or as their wedding photographer. We will treasure our collections for many years to come.”