IVANA & SAM

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IVANA & SAM

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Irish Wedding Photography; couple walk towards camera after their engagement at Quin Abbey.

Engagement Photoshoot in the West of Ireland | Quin Abbey, Co. Clare.

ENGAGEMENT

02/03/2023

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Wedding and couples photography duo with an eye for simplicity and a love for documenting meaningful moments.

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A few days before their wedding in Dromoland Castle, we met Mairead and George, a lovely couple from the US, for their engagement photoshoot in Clare. This shoot was only day one of the couple’s epic three-day wedding! Day two was their rehearsal dinner at Dromoland Castle Golf Club, and day three was, of course, the main event! They chose the ideal place to host their wedding: the palatial Dromoland Castle in County Clare, Ireland. Mairead’s family history has its roots in County Clare, and the nearby Quin Abbey was on her bucket list. Quin Abbey is a historic site tucked away in the West of Ireland. This part of Ireland is home to many unique, beautiful and natural wonders… Quinn Abbey being just one such treasure in this serene corner of Ireland. American couple walk together towards Quin Abbey for their engagement photoshoot.

Engagement Shoot at Quin Abbey

As evening arrived, we met Mairead and George outside The Abbey Tavern for their engagement shoot. Although they’ve both been to Ireland many times, they were visibly excited to finally be here for their wedding! County Clare is where Mairead’s family comes from, and indeed I noticed a few family names around Quin Abbey. Having scouted around earlier, we knew the best places to take Mairead and George for their shoot. It was a serenely calm evening and the clear sky was a blessing.

Silhouette in Quin Abbey ruins of engaged couple in Co. Clare, Ireland.Engaged couple hold hands at sunset in Quin Abbey, Ireland.Americans Mairead and George get engaged in sunset at Quin Abbey in County Clare, Ireland.Couple Mairead and George hold each other at their engagement photoshoot in the sunny West of Ireland.American couple share a kiss at their engagement photoshoot in front of Quin Abbey, Ireland.

The ruins gave off a rough golden glimmer in the sunset, and the air had that unmistakeable hue of a hot summer evening. This gorgeous, long August dusk was perfect for an engagement shoot! We were delighted seeing Mairead and George enjoy making memories together.

Engaged American couple share a close moment by the ruins of Quin Abbey.Details from couple's engagement photoshoot in the Irish countryside. Engagement shoot at Quin Abbey, couple share a laugh together at golden hour.  Engagement photoshoot, couple share a moment together at golden hour in Irish countryside.Couple's portrait together at their engagement in County Clare, Ireland.

Why Have an Engagement Photoshoot (in Ireland)?

Engagement shoots are a great opportunity to get used to being in front of the camera, which will help you feel more relaxed on your wedding day. They’re are also great for developing a connection between us as your photographers. This will make shoots run smoothly and you end up with a wider collection of portraits too (with a more relaxed and casual vibe). With an engagement shoot, you’re not limited to venues, so you can choose a location that’s meaningful for you! Think of your favourite place in Ireland close to home, like a park, mountain, or the coast (like Howth!) – anything that holds special significance for you. Bear in mind, you don’t have to have been there before! Similarly, if you’ve never been to Ireland before but have always wanted to visit a special place there (like Mairead and George here), an engagement photoshoot might be the perfect reason to visit. Engagement photoshoot in the West of Ireland; before their wedding, the couple share a kiss and walk together at Quin Abbey. Engagement photoshoot; couple hold hands at sunset with a clear blue sky behind them. County Clare is replete with beautiful natural wonders, and is fed by many waters – it borders the waters Galway Bay to the north and the River Shannon to the south, and the wild Atlantic to the west. Clare is also famous for its legacy in traditional Irish music; suitably, George’s father is an accomplished musician and spent most of the rehearsal dinner playing the bodhran drum! Engagement photoshoot in the West of Ireland; couple walk towards camera with Quin Abbey in background. If you’re in this scenic part of Ireland, be sure to visit the Wild Atlantic Way’s many sights, such as: The Burren, Ballyvaughn village, Doolin village, Moher Tower (at Hag’s Head), Lahinch and of course, the Cliffs of Moher. These areas are easily accessible (especially with the town of Ennis and Shannon Airport nearby), and can certainly be driven through in one day! The couple host their engagement party at The Abbey Tavern, beside Quin Abbey in Clare, Ireland.

Check out Mairead & George’s Dromoland Castle wedding! >

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WEDDING PLANS TODAY! > BACK TO THE BLOG >
  1. Sarah Dooley says:

    These are so dreamy! I’ll be visiting Ireland in September and am adding some of these locations to our “must see” list!

    • Ivana Milchanska says:

      Thank you Sarah 🙂
      Oh excellent, I hope you have a great time! Do comment again, or get in touch, if you need any recommendations Sarah!

  2. Jen Peters says:

    Such timeless and beautiful images of their Quin Abbey engagement! And what a cool venue. How fun that they made a whole weekend out of it!

    • Ivana Milchanska says:

      Thank you! Yes, great decision on their part – they really made the most of their visit 🙂

  3. Leo says:

    This is epic! I love the location and your photos. I particularly love the black and white with their shadows…very creative!

  4. Morgane says:

    This whole shoot gives me such dreamy and romantic vibes, and I love how they could do it in a place that was meaningful to them! Thanks for sharing those!

    • Ivana Milchanska says:

      Thank you Morgane! Yes we were delighted that they had chosen a special place to them for their photoshoot. 🙂

  5. Stacy says:

    Incredible!! These photos are so beautiful!! My favorite is the black and white image with their shadows . These make me want to travel to Ireland. Anyone visiting the area should book you for a photo session at Quin Abbey!!

    • Ivana Milchanska says:

      Aw Stacy, thank you so much!
      You absolutely should visit Ireland, we have plenty of recommendations 😉

  6. Stacie says:

    These photos are so pretty! You did such a good job capturing everything, especially the sunlight in their portraits. Ireland looks like a really cool and fun place to do your engagement photos.

  7. I love that they combined their “engagement shoot” with their actual wedding trip! You definitely scouted out the ideal spots to photograph this beautiful couple. What incredible architecture and history throughout- well done!

    • Ivana Milchanska says:

      Thank you Shannon! Yes it was a great idea on their part, those three days are unforgettable.

  8. Oh my gosh, these are so beautiful and timeless! It would be such a dream to have photos taken here!

  9. […] See if an engagement shoot would befun for you too – check out theirs here! […]

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