This shoot made us hungry!

We were asked to be part of an exciting project in aid of the Irish Hospice Foundation - a cookbook which has recipes from all the top restaurants around the country. So, we found ourselves spending a day around some gorgeous venues in Dublin in the company of some of Ireland's top chefs and their work, what a delight!

The Cellar Bar in The Merrion Hotel was first up and the level of perfection was amazing, down to angle of the signature pattern on the plates.

One Pico in Molesworth Place were looking for some images to capture the ambience as well as the French cuisine.


The staff were so helpful and delightfully French! Pity it was too early in the day to sample the dishes though!

Dax was one of those hidden treasures, with a cosy fire and subtle lighting, the atmosphere was delightful (and the coffee amazing!).
At Pearl Brasserie the fresh and smoked salmon tartar was presented so beautifully, the vinagrette looked like it was a pattern on the plate!
We finished on a sweet note with the challenge of a rapidly melting desert at Bang Cafe!


The book is in the final design stages at the moment and will be out in time for the Christmas market, keep an eye out for it!

Latest Portraiture Slideshow

2009 has been a challenging year for everyone it seems. But above all, it is our friends and family which are what really count. At our studio, we are priviledged to meet some amazing people and families who are looking for something that little bit different. Their family and relationships are really important to them and we have created some great heirlooms for them in our studios in Fashion City, Dublin and downtown Kitchener, Ontario. This short clip shows a sample of some of our work from the past few months. To find out more email us in Canada or Ireland

Award Winning Wedding Photography

We've just put together our latest collection of wedding images in a slideshow to give some ideas on what we can do! This is only a small selection of our work and includes everything from those small details of the day, the candid moments, stunning bridal portraits, fun shots of the bridal party and everything in between!

To find out more email us in Canada or Ireland

The Borths Family Portrait at our Kitchener Studio

While it might be cold outside, in our Canadian studio things are really hotting up! Our gallery at Conestoga Mall in Waterloo has created huge interest and we are having lots of fun shooting new clients.

On Wednesday evening we invited the Borths to the studio for their family shoot. At the consultation Rose had asked for something really relaxed so we had already discussed clothes that would work best. On the day, Sebastian had a flu thing going on but braved it through regardless. Katy positively revelled in the occasion. She's a gymnast, so throughout the session we were treated to a fantastic display, which we caught on 'film' to spice up the session. It will be fabulous for her to look back on in years to come.

One of the priviledges of our job is being allowed a 'snapshot' of other people's lives. One thing that really came across with the Borths family was the special relationship that Rick and Rose have with their children, so we made sure we captured this.

All in all, the evening was great fun. We laughed our way through and enjoyed the session immensely.

Rose said "These have got to be the most beautiful family pictures I have ever seen. Gordon and Grainne are professional, artistic and innovative. The sitting was a blast and nothing was left to chance. They made what could have been ordinary, extraordinary! I would/will highly recommend them to everyone I know".

We've got some great offers going on throughout February. To find out more email us in Canada or Ireland.

Joanne & Chris's Wedding at the Slieve Russell Hotel

Joanne & Chris suggested stopping off at Drumlane Abbey on the way back to the hotel and what a treat it was! With a stunning view over the countryside as well as some amazing ruins with towers, arches and doorways to use as photography backdrops it was something so unique.

The winter light was just perfect and whilst the bridal party were freezing, they all had a lot of fun before heading back to the Slieve Russell Hotel for some mulled wine and traditional Irish music!

Lynn & Conor's Wedding Barberstown Castle

December 20th was one of those typical Irish winter days - very cold, a bit wet and pretty dull! But that didn't stop Lynn & Conor from having an amazing wedding day and some stunning wedding photographs!
We grabbed five minutes outside to capture the gorgeous old castle at Barberstown and in between shots I had to tear down the drive after a runaway umbrella! The banquet hall looked really stunning decked out with for Christmas and judging by the buzz at the drinks, it was going to be a great night!

Just back from London, England

Had an action-packed few days at the SWPP Photographic Convention. With so many workshops and lectures to choose from we had a fantastic time being inspired by professional photographers from around the world. It's always great to step away from the business for a few days to see what trends are developing in the industry, what new products are on the market we can offer our clients and what beautiful images are being created in the photographic world. Now it's back to Ireland where both of us are in the finals in numerous sections of the Irish Professional Photographers Association (IPPA) Annual Awards at Carton House, Kildare on Sunday 20th. Fingers crossed!!!

Spring Weddings and the Wind

What a day it was! Sue and Eric were married on March 29th at St David's Church in Naas. I'd
never been to the church before and it is a little gem hidden behind the Main Street. It has a fabulous old tower at the doorway which made for some very interesting 'fish-eye' shots of the couple! With daffodils adorning the garden at the front it was a stunning location. Our main challenge was the wind and cold but Sue and Eric were really on for just kicking back and enjoying their day regardless! I loved capturing this shot which summed up the day for me and provide the front cover of the couple's thank you card to all their guests.

Seven Grandchildren

Our largest group yet into the new studio in Kitchener was a treat - seven grandchildren from three different families.  Their mums decided to get them together as a surprise gift for the grandparents on their 50th wedding anniversary.  The shoot was a lot of fun - each of the children (although some are really young adults) had their own personality and we got lots of great shots of them as a group, together with brothers and sisters and some fun shots of each of them on their own.  We're sure it will make an amazing gift! 

Still Winter in Ontario

Travelling over and back between Ireland and Ontario is a lot of fun. This time whilst Spring has arrived in Dublin, the snow is still falling constantly and winter seems never ending. It's been the longest winter in years with record snowfalls recorded. However, once there is a break in the storms, there are some amazing photo opportunities to be found in the surrounding area. All our shoots here have been in the new studio in downtown Kitchener which is in an old grungy converted box factory building which works really well. The image shows the only remaining covered bridge in Ontario, known locally as the 'Kissing Bridge'.

Canadian Loan Collection

The Annual PPOC Image Competition showcases the best in Canadian Photographic Imaging. We are delighted to have one of our wedding images accepted into the prestigous 2007 Loan Collection.

Welcome to our new blog

March 2008 is the start of 'Art and Soul', a new name for the union of two established studios : Grainne Duggan Photography, based in Dublin, Ireland and Watermark Photography, based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. There is a lot happening with us - new studios at both locations, lots of fantastic shoots planned throughout the year. We are looking forward to keeping you posted on some of our new work and whatever else is going on!