Exploring Ireland

I feel so blessed to have recently returned from an amazing trip to Ireland with my grandparents (pictured below). It was a trip of exploration - we had a rough idea of some things we wanted to do and see, but most of the time we just drove (stick shift, opposite side of the road, narrow lanes, in km/hr!) and pulled off the road whenever we saw something of interest. Ireland had been #1 on my list of countries to visit ever since I watched the movie P.S. I Love You and saw the lush, rolling fields full of wildflowers. As an outdoor / natural light photographer, I am in love with all things green and growing under the sun. Ireland truly was a photographer's dream - every backdrop as gorgeous and photo-worthy as the next. 

While exploring the country, I encountered some of the kindest people I've ever met - especially the owners of the B&Bs where we slept! Asking for directions or meeting a stranger had never been such a pleasant experience. Aside from the wonderful people, Ireland had wonderful food AND music! The musicianship we found in pubs late at night would blow you away! I never knew I'd enjoy a fiddle and "button accordion" as much as I did.

Most enjoyably for me, I got to take some great photos. I'm not a landscape photographer by any stretch, but I did enjoy capturing the gorgeous sights (which I believe will never be as breathtaking as they were in person). And finally, I was blessed to expand my wedding portfolio and capture some images I truly love, which you can find on my Facebook page! Hope you enjoy just a few images below from my trip (it was hard to choose which to share)!

Beach wedding off the coast of Dublin, Ireland. Photo by Claire Diana Photography.

Chasing Light in the Forest

This session is unlike any I've done before, because it was solely for me, based on ideas and concepts I'd always wanted to try out. Every now and then I think it's necessary to take a break from the "norm" and test yourself to create something new and different. A couple months ago, I had new camera gear and ideas flowing left and right, so I asked my beautiful friend Sam to help me. I had always wanted to try a whimsical session in the forest when the light was peaking through the trees, and Sam and I were blessed to find the perfect setting at the perfect time. She also happened to have the perfect dress to go with the umbrella I had just purchased (I'm obsessed with all things white). I love how the images turned out. Their perfections and imperfections. The fact that every single one of them, no matter how much they stray from typical "rules" of photography, makes me smile.