This is the end of the line for this blog, though not for my career as a wedding photographer – far from it.

I’ll still be posting regularly, but on a new blog here: Blog@RogerOverall.net.

The new blog is part of a move to bring my documentary photography to a wider audience. I love photographing people living their lives. One aspect of that is weddings, but there are numerous other aspects that are worth photographing as well.

I’ve always shot commercial work, but in a different style to my weddings. Now, I’ll be photographing for my corporate clients in the same way I shoot for my wedding couples.

Weddings are still close to my heart, and I’m looking forward to shooting many, many more of them.

It’s great when I get to photograph a second or third wedding in a family. In August I got to photograph the wedding of the sister of one of my previous brides. Terrific fun catching up with the married couple, who now have a child, as well as seeing some familiar faces from two years ago.

There were some wonderful touches to the day that made for some great moments.

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

I try to keep out of the way when I’m working with a videographer at a wedding, if only to not appear in the final production. I have a body and a face that are best kept behind a camera.

It doesn’t always work out of course. They crop up everywhere with their superzoom lenses and multiple cameras. Some of them shoot from three camera positions at once, for goodness’ sakes. I mean, what chance does a fellow stand?

This week, two of my videographer buddies posted videos on their sites in which I appear. I don’t have a starring role, mind. More like a spear carrier in the background. No lines or anything.

First up was Maurice O’Carroll at Velvetine Studios. We shot our first wedding together a few months ago and enjoyed a nice chat over dinner at Barnabrow in the evening. A taster from Maurice’s film can be found here: Mes & Joe’s Video. Check out the three-minute mark to see big nose here laughing his face off at something off camera. One of the guests had accidentally set fire to something on their table. I saw it all happen, but was the wrong side to photograph it. Ironically, I’d only just moved from where I would have been able to capture the whole thing.

By the way, you can see photographs from the day by clicking here: Mes & Joe’s Photographs.

Then John Mollaghan at Moments Videos sent me an email about my cameo in one of his recently completed films; coincidentally filmed the day before my wedding shoot with Maurice.

Look out for fathead (literally) at about the three-quarters mark when you click here Kathleen & Vincent’s Video.

And you can see some of my faves from the day here: Kathleen & Vincent’s Photographs.

We’re leaving Houston tomorrow evening. It’s been a great trip, with the best part of two days still to go.

Some of the highlights:

Playing on the lawn - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Photographer, Cork, Ireland

Rhythm & Blu - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Photographer, Cork, Ireland

Underwater Urchin - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Photographer, Cork, Ireland

I’m in the States on a short break to visit family and attend a lecture by Elliott Erwitt, one of photography’s greats. More on the latter soon.

I don’t usually bring a camera on holiday trips, but I’m going through a transition with the business and with my photography, so this time I did bring one. So glad I did.

I spend a good deal of my time documenting the lives of others, which I love, but I’ve never before turned the camera on my own life. Doing so on this trip is proving rewarding and revealing. It’s helping with my development as a photographer and I’m producing photographs that my own family and descendants will enjoy in the years and decades ahead.

It means I’m taking the first serious photographs of my daughter, who is now four years old. Until now, my wife has been documenting our family life. For me, picking up a camera outside of work seemed too much like, erm, well you know, work; so I rarely did. Now, a shift in my photographic outlook means everything is there to be photographed, including the things closest to me.

Brushing Teeth - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photographer, Cork, Ireland

Cat Watching - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photographer, Cork, Ireland

Girl in Red Mustang - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photographer, Cork, Ireland

Imo

21st January 1970 – 23rd September 2007

Gone to the next room.

Perhaps the next room doesn’t exist.

Regardless, not forgotten in this life.

I’m in the middle of a three-in-a-row series of wedding shoots at the moment. Intense, but great fun. It all ends on Saturday with a big wedding where I’m booked to shoot up until the dancing.

After all that, I’ll need a holiday – which is good because I’m off to the US on Sunday morning. Time to visit Dad in Houston again. Haven’t been for almost a decade, and really looking forward to it. Apparently,our favourite diner is still there. That doesn’t bode well for the waistline.

While in Texas I’m hoping to attend a talk by Elliot Erwitt, one of the greats of documentary photography. I think I have a ticket, not sure. It’s all a bit confusing, but more on that when I get to TX.

September has been exceptionally busy so far. Six weddings and behind the scenes, we’re rebranding the business, setting up a new website, planning some really exciting documentary shoots and remodeling this blog. All of which should go live in October, just in time for the start of the wedding show season.

Oh, and we’ve just taken delivery of our new Jorgensen sample albums. They are very, very beautiful, and I’m very, very exciting about showing them.

Meanwhile, here’s another quick selection of some recent favourites – this time from a wedding in late June.

Pink Corridor - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography - Cork, Ireland

The Scream - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography - Cork, Ireland

Emerging Bride - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography - Cork, Ireland

At the Door - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography - Cork, Ireland

Wave - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography - Cork, Ireland

Waiting - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography - Cork, Ireland

Behind You - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography - Cork, Ireland

Our Shadows - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography - Cork, Ireland

Two Couples - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography - Cork, Ireland

There are some big changes ahead. There are clues on this page already, but all will be revealed shortly. Meanwhile, here are some favourites from a wedding I photographed about 6 weeks ago here in Cork.

Delight - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

Mirror Image - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

Love Is... - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

Pooh Calling - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

Grey and Wet - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

Looking In - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

Last Minute Preparations - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

Hand in Marriage - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

Smile for the Camera - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

Dance Steps - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

Fun Girls - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

Dad's Speech - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

Groom's Speech - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.net - Documentary Wedding Photography

The government in Ireland has been advised to start charging for water.

You have to wonder whether the good burghers of Co Cork should be exempt. I mean, we’re not exactly short of the stuff. It’s everywhere – on the ground, in the ground, in the air.

You can’t get away from it. It just follows you around, wherever you are. Even on wedding days.

Especially on wedding days.

And it can be quite disturbing.

Just look at this poor guy:

Wet Cat (and not Happy) - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Ireland

And that’s pretty much how I looked after the afternoon part of the day too. I’m less fierce, though.

Nevertheless, the day was tremendous fun. Some quick favourites:

In from the Wet - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Ireland

Umbrellas and Bride - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Ireland

Quiet Moment - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Ireland

Grand Entrance - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Ireland

Flash Photography - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Ireland

Joking - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Ireland

First Dance - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Ireland

I remember it raining so hard in Fiji one day, that the villagers ran out with soap for impromptu showers. I couldn’t imagine ever living somewhere where it rained quite that hard. Then I moved to Cork.

July and August in Ireland have been so wet for the past three years here, we should surely be talking of an official monsoon season.

Rain makes shooting weddings that bit more challenging. And that bit wetter. Photography is a two-handed endeavour, leaving me one hand short for umbrella operations.

On the plus side, you do get some very atmospheric images.

Here are some favourites from a wedding in July.

The couple sent me a wonderful email when they saw their pictures: “[We] watched the images [...] last week, and [we're] still playing the slideshow a week on with a glee in [our] eyes, so thanks Roger, you exceeded all expectations.”

Mirror Image - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Weather Outlook - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Pretty as a Picture - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Shoes - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Mirror Image II - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Bad Hair Day - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Laughter - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Umbrella - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Taking a Closer Look - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Joy - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Joy II- (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Hot Menu - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Mirth and Merriment - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Wet - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Tranquil Moment - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Before the Grand Entrance - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

The Grand Entrance - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Father of the Bride - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

Husband Speaking - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland

The Best Man's Speech - (c) Roger Overall 2009 - Documentary Wedding Photography, Cork, Ireland