Paula O'Hara Photography

I’ve been working as a creative for 20 years now. That’s even hard for me to believe when I say it loud. First as an illustrator, then a designer, then an art editor. My interest in weddings and portraits began whilst working as a designer on bridal magazines. Around that time my children were born and everything changed. I picked up the camera again, purely to document as a mother and realised the impact photographs could have on the heart when loved ones were in the frame. Since then I’ve never looked back. With photography I felt something more than I ever felt as a designer – a fulfillment, a bliss, a heart-racing need. It’s a discovery of pure joy when you realise you can communicate a feeling or a story with images alone, and others feel it too. “I use my eyes, my camera and sensitivity to capture people and events, but truly these photographs come from the heart.” The feedback I get from my clients is what keeps me going. Nothing else. Just your heartfelt response to the images I’ve captured:

“You have such a feel for the moments that matter. I remember on the day saying to myself, “Remember how you feel right now”, trying to somehow take mental snapshots of everything. Now I don’t have to worry – as I have this gift from you; a sweet, sensitive, intuitive feel for the moments and people that mean the most to us in the world.”

So, what will your photos look like? Are you nervous about the process? What will actually mean something to you 10 years from now when you look at those photos again? As I’ve gotten older, as a mother and wife, looking back on all the stages of life I’ve photographed, these are the questions I ponder. After all these years, I’ve done the rounds. I’ve been torn in different directions. I’ve tried out all sorts of things, techniques, lighting, lenses – been frustrated, fulfilled, found my style, lost my style… got bored, got excited again… I’ve done the pretty, I’ve loved the pretty, embraced the light, embraced the dark. I’ve found on my explorations of weddings, families, life and photography in general, that’s it’s all these things that make the story. The calm, beautiful and messy moments. The planned and the unplanned. The ideal and the real. The light and the dark. Years from now, you will want to remember both. As a fashion and portrait photographer I’ve photographed all kinds of people. If you’re shy or self-conscious like me, I can tell you, it’s not always the most outwardly beautiful people who make the best photos. It’s the people who open their hearts to you and let you in. The ones that are willing to bare their joy, their pain and their gratitude for life. They are the ones that tell the best stories.