Jason Byrne in Vicar St

Universal Studios asked me to take some shots of Jason Byrne the comedian in Vicar St for his new live DVD. I had only ever seen him on his TV show Anonymous and had no idea of how funny he is. A really cool, down to earth guy, a pleasure to work with, no problem with me shooting him everywhere, apart from the toilet, I did try!
The show was amazing, he was absolutely on fire, so quick and one of the funniest comedians I have ever seen. The energy level was off the scale. It's no wonder he has just become the biggest selling act in the history of The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 24,000 tickets!
I bumped into PJ Gallagher backstage after the show, another very funny comedian and lovely guy. Jason and PJ used to work together in the same factory. That must have been a fun place to work.











PJ kindly offered me a lift home, but we had to stop and change a flat tyre on the way. Or rather PJ did, I was busy, taking photos!

My New Headshot

It's a bit like a plumber who never fixes that leaking tap at home. I haven't updated my own headshot for a couple of years now and was in danger of being one of those photographers who look about 20 years older in real life!

I always think you can tell a lot about a photographer from their own headshots. The choice of background, type of pose, use of Photoshop, soft focus (oh dear), camera as prop (oh very dear), etc, speaks volumes about their style and tastes.

I hate having my photo taken. It throws up so many issues with me about self image, I have an idea in my head about how I look and then I see the reality and it's so depressing. 
I wanted to do something a bit different and hopefully interesting, so I set up the camera on a tripod in the studio and used the 10 second timer and took the shot myself. 

So what does my new headshot say about me? Mmmm.

Speaking at WPPI in Vegas

This is the BIG one.
I am absolutely delighted to have been asked to give a Masterclass on portrait photography at WPPI in Vegas next year.
This is the biggest professional photography convention in the world with over 9000 photographers attending.
I have seen some of the best speakers there in the past and I can't believe I'm going to be one of them!
Now all I have to do is think of something to say!!!

Diffusion Fashion Shoot

Just finished my first fashion shoot for years! It is an editorial shoot for Diffusion a beautiful fashion boutique in Clontarf run by Kate Gleeson.
I teamed up with top fashion stylist Tanya Grimson and together we came up with the idea of doing something high fashion with an edge. Tanya and I used to work together on magazine shoots when we were both just starting out, so it was great to work with her again. She is now one of the top stylists in the country and so busy, I was lucky to get her.
The shoot is going to be published in the Weekend magazine of The Irish Independent, which has a circulation of over half a million, so it's a nice calling card to say I'm back!

The Team. From L to R
Tanya Grimson (Stylist), De McKernan (Billy's assistant), Billy Orr (Hair & Make-Up), Anne Hobson (Tanya's assiatant), Me, and in front, our very own supermodel Karen Fitzpatrick