hi, I’m Derry.
& I hate posing for photos.
The usual reaction I’m met with when introducing myself to someone new is - ‘Sorry, what?’
I’ve been called everything, from Debby, to Zoe, and even Derek. So if you get my name wrong, I won’t take it personally. I get a surprising number of phone-calls from Ireland asking about local photography queries. It’s understandable. Strangely, I was actually given the name ‘Derry’ by my dad - who a bit obsessed with Stephen King. So if you’re partial to a good horror, you may recognise me as that made-up place in Maine with the child-eating clown - scary.
What gets me going?
If you couldn’t already tell, I love a good horror movie. Any day of the week. My Spotify playlist mainly consists of old emo bangers, a weird blend of acoustics you could cry to, a bit of country, and Maroon 5 - they’ll never get old. For someone who’s only a mere 5ft 1, I can put away chocolate like there’s a world shortage. I should probably be on a show called ‘extreme list-makers’. I own way too many houseplants for someone who couldn’t even keep a cactus alive. Sometimes I forget my car has a soft-top while I’m singing offensively. And I take fancy-dress way too seriously.
I’m a hopeless romantic. I think that’s why I’ve gravitated towards weddings. There’s just something about a wedding day that’s different to anything else. I adore being part of the happiest day of someone’s life.
I’m that friend who has to take a photo of everyone and everything. Need a memory from 3.07pm, 15th March 2005? - I got you!
I absolutely love to travel. The last few years of travelling have taken me to Maine, New York, Chicago, Vegas, LA, San Fransisco, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, France, Switzerland and more. And I can’t wait to get myself back on a plane!
I’ve added some photos of my favourite places from my travels below - just in case you fancy a scroll.
where did it all begin?
Since before I can remember! My first digital camera was gifted to me as a birthday present when I was pretty young. It wasn’t anything fancy but it did the job. Before that I spent the 90s snapping away on disposables. I started messing around on Photoshop in my early teens, and then gained some more knowledge during a work experience role at a photography studio.
At university I studied Media, Photography and Film Production, which really helped me figure out my way around camera bodies, lenses and styles. But you never truly learn until you’re thrown into the real world. My first wedding wasn’t long after, when I was approached by an old acquaintance to shoot their big day.
From summer 2016 to 2018 I spent months at a time working in Maine, USA , teaching different age groups photography and a little bit of film production. Maine always feels like a second home to me. I would move there in a heartbeat. Soon after I snagged my first destination wedding - New York City.
Interesting in discussing your big day with me?
