I have had the most incredible couple of days in London and I thought I would break down this blog into two parts. After shooting Roisin and Stephen’s pre-wedding shoot at the amazing Parkanaur Manor House, and catching up with them for a coffee, I headed off to Belfast International to catch my flight on Sunday. After rushing there and checking in I looked at information board and the flight was delayed three hours until 12.25, getting me into London around 2. I wasn’t too bothered as it gave me time to do some editing in Starbucks. I was supposed to be staying with my friend, Carrie, but at that stage I thought it would be too late, so I organised a hotel near the airport instead. When I got there I jumped in the bed and the next thing the fire alarm went off. So I spent the next 1/2 standing in the car park with all the guests.
Believe it or not, Unveiled, a wedding photography event run by the British Journal of Photography (BJP) at the Hasselblad Studio was 110% worth all the drama getting over here!
Yesterday I hit Oxford Circus and one of my favourite places, the Apple store. I have been really missing my iPad since I sold it, so bought myself to a new iPad 2 which I’m now writing this blog on as a whizz to the airport on the Gatwick Express. I checked in on Facebook at the Apple store and the next thing I knew I had a message from my old housemate and friend Claire to say she only worked around the corner and that she’d pop in and see me. It’s the first time that this Facebook feature has ever helped me meet up with a friend, which is so cool and it was lovely seeing Claire again.
.jpg "Claire + Donal at Apple")
An iPhone photo of Claire and I at the Apple store.
When I got the Hasselblad Studio in Hoxton I met Jane Cardona from BJP and then a minute later, royal wedding photographer, Hugo Burnand walked in. I said “Hi Hugo nice to meet you, I’m Donal Doherty”, he said ” Yes I know I’ve been on your website!” I said “no way”, he said “yes I really have”. For a moment as I sat down bewildered, I was thinking how cool that he’s been to my site…and then it dawned on me…I wrote a blog post about coming to the event and posted to twitter so he must have picked it up in Google alerts or a Twitter search – doh. Not so cool after all, but I felt good that he has bothered to check out my site. Hugo was really down to earth and I really enjoyed how he set up and executed the photos of William and Kate that are now iconic. He also had us all in stitches with his tales of shooting Michael Jackson and others. I got chatting to Hugo after his talk and he complimented my site and a photo of Orla and Damien in the circle feature at Darinagh which made me feel awesome.
.jpg "Hugo Burnand, Jane Cardona, Donal Doherty")
Another iphone shot – this time of Hugo Burnand, Royal Wedding Photographer, Jane Cardona, British Journal of Photography and I outside the Hasselblad studio!
After the event I met up with some of my closest friends, Zita, Paul, Carrie, Richard and Giorgio for a few drinks and a lovely dinner on the banks of the Thames. I wish I could see them all more often, but no matter how long it’s been it’s always the same. At the end of the night I went back to Carrie and Richards and I had a chance to view Carrie’s stunning Queensberry wedding album. Four years on it was great to view it for the first time and there is even a photo of me laughing at the speeches as well!
If every day was like this life would be just swell!
