2020 Weddings – A Year in Review
So 2020, eh? Who could have seen that one coming.
It was a year none of us will ever forget; wildfires, protests, lockdowns, face masks, and the sudden disappearance of everything we once thought of as “normal.” Yet within all the chaos, there were also moments of beauty, progress, and connection. For me, 2020 was about family, resilience, and finding new ways to tell stories through my camera.
On a personal note, the biggest highlight of the year was welcoming our second little boy, Josh, in November. He arrived happy, healthy and ready to complete our family bubble at home with Annie and Max. Sharing lockdown life with a newborn wasn’t easy, but it gave us a rhythm, focus, and a reminder of what really matters.
Weddings in a Changed World
Professionally, 2020 was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. I was one of the lucky Irish wedding photographers who still got to cover a handful of weddings — some that felt “normal” at the beginning of the year, and others that were very much defined by Covid restrictions.
What stood out most was how couples adapted. Time and again I heard the same reflection: “I can’t imagine this day with 150 guests.” Smaller weddings meant something different — more intimate, more emotional, more about the people who mattered most. Every guest present played a part in that close circle, and the energy was unforgettable.
For a documentary wedding photographer, these moments were a gift. Raw, unscripted, and full of meaning. Weddings stripped back to their essence — two people getting married, surrounded by love.
Recognition and Awards
Ironically, in a year where I took fewer photos than ever, I also received more recognition than ever before. Highlights included:
2nd place – Irish Documentary Wedding Photographer of the Year
Finalist – Irish Creative Wedding Photographer of the Year (IPPVA)
Top 10 in Ireland – This is Reportage
Top 20 in Europe – Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA)
Top 25 in the World – Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA)
Awards have never been the main goal, but they’re a reminder that staying true to my documentary approach connects with people, both couples and peers alike.
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
As I look back, I’m grateful. 2020 pushed me as a photographer and reminded me that the big, lavish productions aren’t the only way to celebrate love. Intimate weddings, smaller groups, and raw emotions created some of the most powerful images I’ve ever had the privilege to capture.
Like everyone else, I was happy to see the back of 2020, but it also taught me lessons I’ll carry forward: that weddings don’t have to be huge to be meaningful, that documentary photography is about finding beauty in the truth of the moment, and that even in the toughest of years, there’s always something worth remembering.
Below is a selection of my favourite wedding photographs from 2020, alongside a short film version of the same.
