They say the camera never lies…

.. which in theory is true; however, that not to say that the final image always tells the true story, of what all was involved in creating what the camera recorded.

So it’s what goes on before that final capture, that I going to talk about here today – as we are just back from shooting Danielle & Ryan’s converted stables…

.. near Killyleagh in County Down.

So it when I’m back in the studio and looking that the series of captures…

.. which lead up to the final image…

.. like this…

.. which is usually all the world will ever see – I often smile and think to myself: If they only but knew !!

Or even knew, that we had in fact, received a little help today…

.. from the Love Bug 🙂

So why is Marie looking so puzzled…

.. as the camera never lies, because Danielle really did look this stunning here…

.. as did her home…

.. after a few minor tweaks…

.. which you can clearly see here.

So the camera doesn’t really lie as such – it’s just what goes on around it…

.. and what the Love Bug, who is called Oscar, did…

.. that meant we ended up with some great images today, of this beautiful home in the heart of County Down.

Smiling from behind the camera,
Marie & me 🙂
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Adding the finishing touches…

.. to the final images…

.. produced at Doonbeg this weekend…

.. where we ended-up shooting the marquee…

.. after the sun had gone down…

.. and then their new reception area…

.. to created this image…

.. of Ray hard at work a guest sitting in front of the roaring fire, enjoying a glass of Brandy 🙂

So it’s home tomorrow after 20 great days on the road…

.. to add the finishing touches to all the images on this amazing trip.

Cheers, from Marie & me.
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Great to see…

.. things are booming in Doonbeg Golf & Spa Resort – as we shoot various stills and rooms – between two weddings that are currently being held here.

Today we focused on attention to detail…

.. and that personal touch…

.. which one would naturally expect to receive on the their wedding day, here in the West of Ireland.

So cheers…

..from Marie & me.
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Back to Ireland…

.. so decided to take a quick snap of Le Mont Saint-Michel on this beautiful sunny morning…

.. alongside the hundreds of others who were snapping it too

The strike here in France means we will be cutting it fine on fuel, as it’s been a long drive…

.. however, we should be fine as we are now close to Cherbourg.

It’s been a great trip – so a big thanks to all those involved in helping us create images like these…

.. as it’s now over to Doonbeg Golf & Spa Resort in County Clare for the next part

La Petite Maison.

Shooting today at Pierre Emmanuel & Amy de Leusse’s stone-built​ 18th-century cottage called La Petite Maison…

.. which is nestled in the heart of the Gers countryside, on the edge of the charming village Saint-Orens-Pouy-Petit near Condom.

The storyline:

Amy (20’s) is English (from London) but moved to Paris a few years ago where she works as an Art PR.
She and Pierre Emanuelle, who is French, only got married last week !!

Amy knew about the little house before it came on the market – it was a huge financial step for her to buy it !!
She had to present a business plan to the Bank to secure the mortgage – but she loved the little place so much she was determined to make it her own.

Anyway, the weather has changed so a lot more lighting was required…

.. to create that ‘sunny’ look…

.. that one would expect to see…

.. both inside…

.. and out…

.. as this is France we are talking about here – not Ireland 🙂

So we both had to work surprisingly hard on this one, even though it was, in theory, sitting up perfect.
Still, very pleased with the end results – which is all that anyone will really ever see or even remember – and so fingers crossed for a good result on the editorial front – and hopefully we will all see it in print next year.

Anyway, that was day 10 for Marie & me, on this amazing road trip.
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Spot the difference.

On Day 7 – our last day’s shooting in the South of France – we shot another project for Liz Gibney…

.. this time, a very elegant and stylish villa near the French Riviera village of Saint-Paul de Vence…

.. which they had worked on.

It was for the most part, sitting up perfect…

.. so really just needed to be lit…

.. after Marie & Liz had tweaked a few things to suit the camera.

So it was like ‘spot the difference’ on day 7 – and then on day 8 we packed-up and heading North, to the beautiful rural Armagnac region of France.

Which means more to follow – so watch this space !!

From Marie & me on our road trip across France.
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Casa Rocca Bruna.

Today we were shooting another of Liz Gibney’s (Interior Designer) projects.

This time it’s a beautiful Boutique Guest House, Casa Rocca Bruna…

.. in Roquebrune-Cap Martin on the outskirts of Monaco.

Working closely with the owner…

.. Liz’s goal was to create a stylish individual interior…

.. with a real sense of relaxation & comfort.

She clearly achieved all that and then some…

.. what a gem !!

The stunning setting and views are clearly their USP here…

.. so our role in this shot, was to try and capture that.

Anyway, that was day 6, so a big thanks to Aidan – as seen here…

.. who is currently looking after the Guest House – for all his help today.

It really has been a fantastic working trip so far – more to follow !!

From Marie & me in sunny Monaco 🙂
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Day 5 on our road trip.

Today we were working again with Liz and Jim Gibney (who provide an interior and refurbishment service) here in the French Riviera near the village of Saint Paul-de-Vence.

People love to entertain friends in their homes – and beautiful table settings are very much a major part of creating the right ambiance for the evening !!

So one of today’s main shots was to show this…

.. as our goal here was to create a beautifully elegant, yet simple, dining shot…

.. that shows the gorgeous table ware, accessories and furniture that Liz sources and sells in her shop/studio: Coup de Foudre, in the picturesque little hilltop walled village of Saint Paul-de-Vence.

Obviously, we produced a few other images as well, while we were there – but on day 5, I think this will be the main image that we will all remember it for.

So that was day 5 on our road trip – more to follow – from Marie & me in the south of France… which I have got to say, we we absolutely love 🙂
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Jasmin

Woke up this morning to a beautiful day here in Saint Paul-de-Vence…

.. and so we decided to make the most of the good weather and the amazing view…

.. from the balcony of Janet’s villa – which we were shooting today.

The storyline:

The setting is simply out of this world – you can clearly see the stunning medieval village of St Paul De Vence from the balcony – and the villa itself was built in traditional Provençal style. Every direction you turn, there are beautiful towns and places to see and visit – from sleepy little villages in the mountains to buzzy cosmopolitan towns on the coast – bliss!!

Janet and her husband Ken toyed with all sorts of ideas about furnishing and decorating their villa – which incidentally is called Jasmin Villa because Jasmin trails over the balcony – when you throw open the shutters, the scent fills the air and is something else !!

Anyway, it was then into the main bedroom, which Marie sorted out very quickly…

.. while I lit it up to complete the dream…

.. before finally heading down to courtyard area…

.. which Marie styled to perfection…

.. as I put up netting to reduce the contrast, before we sat down to enjoy what we had just shot 🙂

So that was basically day 4 – which we would like to thank Coup de Foudre for the tablecloth and cushions – and Janet for giving us the opportunity to produce such lovely images – in what has got to be one of the most beautiful places in the world.

From Marie & me – in the French Riviera.
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Coup de Foudre

Saint Paul-de-Vence in the South of France.

We are currently working with Liz and Jim Gibney who provide a complete interior design and refurbishment service. Today’s shoot was in their very stylish shop/studio which is located in a beautiful historic building in the heart of the town.

As well as wanting great images for their new website and marketing campaign, Liz and Jim are keen to promote their business on an ongoing basis using the various forms of social networking. This certainly seems to be increasingly a major element of any current marketing campaign these days ……. the way of the future ?????

Great to work with such a pleasant and professional couple – good “craic” as well as hard work !!

When a few finishing tweaks were needed to enhance this image, Jim swung into action…

.. to re-position a chandelier and fit curtain poles, etc, as photoshoots such as this…

.. are often about ‘all hands to the deck’ !!

Anyway, a great day’s work – and very pleased with how it’s going…

.. so looking forward to capturing more of their projects later in the week.

That was day 3 from Marie & me in Saint Paul-de-Vence.
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