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Step House Hotel Wedding | Carlow | Holst Photography Ireland

Step House Hotel Wedding Story

Step House Hotel Wedding

The day started with Sophie’s preparation of the Step House Hotel.

Preparations

When I got there the final touches on makeup and hair with being done.

The bridal suite had large lovely windows allowing through gorgeous natural light allowing me to shoot with limited flash.

I started as usual with all the detail shots of the dress and shoes and flowers and the lovely ornate ring.

I got word that Eric was at the local pub with his family and some of the groomsmen so I headed over for a quick photo session with them. I got a few nice shots of the groom and the lads along with the family.

By the time I got back to the bridal suite, Sophie was just about ready to get into her address and make the final adjustments before heading over to Boris house for their support ceremony.

At the ceremony

The ceremony took place in Borris House just across the street from the Step House, which made for a stress-free transit across.

Vows were exchanged in the intimate setting of the beautiful stone walled room with some natural light trickling through the windows near the front of the room.

There were lots of laughs which helped ease the nerves and made for some really natural photos.

Photo session

With the conclusion of the ceremony, guests greeted the couple to congratulate them. The light was perfect for their photo session, I’m a big fan of cloudy days during my work, it makes for a beautiful soft diffused light, making everyone look soft and open-eyed.

We started with the bridal party and some of their own first newly wedding photos.

There is a lovely bridge in the town that they wanted to use for some of their photos, so we made our way there to continue the session.

The views of Co. Carlow were just beautiful from there.

The Reception

Back at the Step House hotel, we continued with cake shots and photos of the guests mingling. It was a nice mix of friends and family. I always blend in pretty well with the crowd and get chatting to people once they hear my accent. Most guess Australia first :) South Africa is usually the last on the list of guesses :(

The details that Sophie & Eric focussed on making their day special, was lovely. Even the ones with their original wedding date (29-03-2018), but as you guessed they pushed the date forward when they realized they were expecting a baby.

The Speeches

For the speeches, I usually set up a flash off to the side that I trigger remotely so I can light the speakers while I get to move around capturing from different angles the main table and expressions of the audience.

The First Dance

Their First Dance was lovely. It was a conclusion to a beautiful day. I captured the first few dances, using some backlighting as I normally do, allowing to create a lovely glow around everyone, which is a nice addition to the ambient light in the room. I finished up and made my way home.

Slideshow Video

Suppliers

Hair & Makeup: Lorraine Carraher, Hollywood Beauty
Wedding band: Tongue in Chic
Venue: Step House Hotel

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Categories: Step House Hotel Weddings, Wedding Stories ~ Tags: Carlow Wedding Photography ~

Superbly chill and excellent photographer for your special day

14/07/2024

Viv was exactly the photographer we needed for our wedding! He was there to take some of the typical organised photos while performing excellent ninja photography – capturing those truly authentic moments without people knowing. He also encouraged certain photo ops which greatly suited our style and we’re delighted he suggested them. He’s such a brilliant guy and made us feel very comfortable

Martin Laura

Fantastic Photographer!

11/02/2024

Review of Professional Wedding Photographer Ireland

We booked Viv for our wedding in December having seen some samples of his work online. From our first enquiry he was so helpful and the communication was top notch. On the day, Viv was wonderful! He got the job done but wasn’t ‘in your face’. He was excellent with all the guests and put everyone at ease, capturing all the little details. We had our photos only 2 weeks after our wedding date. We are beyond thrilled with the final product. Would definitely recommend Holst Photography for your special occasion.

Rebecca ONeill

Fantastic photography by a fantastic person!

23/04/2023

We got married on NYE 2022 at Rathsallagh House in Wicklow and were lucky enough to have had Viv with us on our big day. All through the planning process, Viv was responsive, efficient and personable. He made each step simple and was so helpful. On our big day, Viv emanated a sense of calm and fun that was infectious and helped put the whole wedding party and all our guests at ease. Viv is such a friendly and talented guy and we were thrilled with the beautiful shots of our day. Even when the light faded, he was armed with spotlights and a sense of adventure that resulted in super unique and fun photos that told a seamless story of our wedding. The turn-around time on the photos and the lovely albums afterwards was second to none! Thanks for everything, Viv. Jen & Sean

Jen McCarthy

Excellent experience

03/11/2022

Viv photographed our wedding on 18/08/2022 at Barberstown Castle. Viv was easy to deal with and professional. We got our photos back within a few weeks of our wedding and Viv had our album and Thank You cards ready to go very promptly. We are thrilled with the quality of our photos, album and cards. We would highly recommend Viv to any couple.

Sophie and Seán

Wedding Experience

21/08/2022

We had the most perfect experience with Viv on our wedding day! Like many, we had to move our wedding several times due to Covid. Viv was always accommodating and easy to work with. We were thrilled with how he captured so many beautiful pictures. My husband is not a big fan of a camera, yet Viv had him smiling away and feeling relaxed 😊 I would highly recommend Viv as your wedding photographer. He is professional, calming, creative, and great fun. Thanks again, Viv, for capturing our day.

Ciara & John

Natural photography that captured all our special moments

05/12/2021

Before our wedding day, we knew we made the right choice in selecting Viv. Having done an engagement photo session with Viv, it was great to see his work, which we loved, but it was really reassuring to know how easy-going and professional Viv is as a person and a photographer. He was so happy to listen to our ideas and implement his own on the day and his work speaks for itself. Many of our guests complimented how nice Viv was to them all. After seeing our wedding photos, we didn’t even realize he had captured so many of them, he blends in that easily. His style of natural, unforced photography is perfect to capture any wedding day.

Lorna & Stephen

Brilliant Stunning Shots & Professional Service !!

15/11/2021

We had Viv as our wedding photographer 2 weeks ago and he was fantastic. Due to covid restrictions, we had to change our date 3 times, Viv was so understanding and helpful throughout. We opted for the day package until dinner call which was perfect for us. Viv was so professional and put everyone at ease, got some fantastic shots, and captured the mood and emotions for the day, memories forever. We received the gallery of photos 10 days after our wedding day brilliant service. Thank you, Viv!

Lisa & Alan

To put it simply it was a pleasure having Viv as our wedding photographer

11/10/2021

Viv spent the day with us capturing our wedding, he did a fantastic job and we are delighted with the photos. We were at ease with Viv, he captured the special moments expertly throughout the day unintrusively, he helped guide us through getting the best shots to capture it all.

Anne-Marie

Thank you Viv! We love our photos

01/09/2020

Viv is a wonderful photographer (and a lovely person too)! From the moment he met us at the Civil Registration Office in Dublin he was constantly taking photos, ensuring we have a complete and candid capture of the day’s events. Our wedding was impacted by COVID and it was not safe or possible for family and friends to fly in. Viv went above and beyond, ensuring that our guests calling in via video chat could see during the ceremony and incorporating the tablet into the photographs, and even standing in as one of our witnesses! Viv made a wonderful suggestion on where to take photographs after the ceremony (Grand Canal Dock). We love that our photos incorporate both industrial and natural elements with pops of colour. Kai and I are grateful for Viv’s care and attention to detail that resulted in some truly unique photos that we will treasure forever (we particularly love the ones with the black and white background). Viv is quick to respond via email and extremely accommodating and flexible. We highly recommend Viv!

Arianna & Kai

Lovely Photos

03/08/2020

From start to finish Viv was great. Viv did everything we asked for and made us and our guests feel so comfortable and the results show that. Would highly recommend

Niall and Niamh

A true professional!!

31/01/2020

Viv, from the moment Ronan and I met with you to discuss our wedding day, we knew we were booking a true professional.

You just blended in with all of our family and friends and made everyone feel so relaxed & at ease.

You had listened to everything we wanted from our day and that reflected in our album.

You told our story so beautifully, that it takes us right back to 6th September every time we look at the album (which is every day since) also our parents were overjoyed with their photo albums too.

We would just like to say a huge thank you and we look forward to working with you in the future

Tracy & Ronan Campbell

06.09.2019

Response from Holst Photography

Ah that’s brilliant Tracy & Ronan. More than happy to help, it was an amazing day with laughs all round. Thanks again :)

Fantastic to Work With

As a wedding planner, I have worked with Viv over the past 15 months and he is nothing but professional, courteous, and a pleasure to work with.

Reviews we have received from both our past and future wedding couples are second to none with couples sending us their photos afterward just to show how beautiful they are.

I will always recommend Holst Photography as one of our top suppliers for any occasion!

Katie Seville – Finnstown Castle Hotel Wedding Director.

Katie Seville

The Best Photography in Ireland!!!

28/01/2020

Holst Photography was amazing! My wife and I traveled from Newfoundland, Canada to Dublin, Ireland for our wedding and had planned everything from home online. Dealing with Viv through email was extremely easy and his services were detailed and clear.

Once our day came Viv was great! Everything went smoothly and he was such a nice and down-to-earth guy. We had such a great time during our photoshoot. Everything was quite relaxed but professional. Viv has an amazing eye for detail and has a way of capturing every detail in each photo!

The pictures were very nice and the prices for his packages were great as well, with no pressure from Viv to upgrade or buy more.

Would recommend Holst Photography to everyone in or traveling to Ireland.

Peter & Katie

Ah thanks a million Katie & Peter, I hope you’re well over there in Canada. Just to let you know also your Wedding at Ardgillan Castle is up on the blog, feel free to share it.

We LOVE our wedding photos!!!

24/01/2020

We chose Holst Photography after meeting Viv at a wedding fair. We were impressed with his style of photography and we felt at ease straight away with him.

Viv is extremely relaxed, personable, and has an excellent eye for detail.

He was always very responsive to any of our queries before and during our wedding.

As a photographer, Viv has the ability to capture moments that are truly sentimental to the occasion. His photography captured the true whirlwind of emotions that surrounded our wedding day.

It goes without saying, we will definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a photographer.

Breda and Eric Praud

Thanks so much for your kind words Breda and Eric. It means a lot to me that my work is regarded so kindly. I’m thrilled to have been trusted with your wedding day as photographer. Glad I could deliver photos that you can look back on. All the best Viv

Absolutely Thrilled!

23/01/2020

My husband and our families are thrilled with our photos! Viv got all the basics and then went beyond to get some amazing shots. As a fellow professional photographer, I really appreciate Viv’s ability to combine his technical skills with his creativity. Viv was a pleasure to work with and I can’t rave about his work enough!

Lori

Thanks a mill Lori, it was so much fun, definitely the way to go on a wedding day. If you’re in Dublin again, drop me a line and we’ll go for a Guinness or 2 together :)

Incredible photography by an amazing guy for our big day

07/12/2019

My husband and I just want to take this opportunity to thank you for your incredible work and photography on our big day. Right from the beginning and booking through yourself we had no worries at all. Every question was answered in a timely manner and every concern was put at ease. On the day you just fitted in and never stopped taking pictures and the outcome was incredible!! You truly caught some sensational photos that we will hold in our hearts forever.

Thank you so much, Viv. We will definitely recommend you to all our family and friends

Benjamin and Stephen Dallas

Thanks a Mill Ben & Stephen. It was such a fun night. The singing waiters was such a good idea and massively added to the fun. Glad to have been part of your wedding at Castleknock Hotel, thank you so much for allowing me to be part of it. :)

Amazing!!

06/11/2019

Having grown up as Viv’s neighbour, my brother-in-law trusted my instincts on Viv and his photography skills and used him for his recent wedding at Waterford Castle. Aside from the strikingly beautiful photos of the wedding, Viv surprised me with some absolutely beautiful photos of my daughters that were such a surprise to me, I was quite emotional seeing them. He captured the entire day beautifully and these added little gems of my girls playing and whilst being unaware of what he was doing show their happy little souls in all their innocence and I could not love the photos any more than I do. Thank you, Viv, for being a part of my family’s special day.

Darienne Bowe

Thanks so much for your kind words, it was an absolute pleasure to have been there to capture your wedding photos.

Captures the emotions

28/10/2018

We had Viv for our wedding photography and it was the best choice we could have made. He has a very professional yet friendly manner which ensures everyone around him is relaxed. Viv has great ideas for shots that turned out beautiful and our special day was captured in full. I have seen a lot of photos from other weddings and whats different about Viv is that he really captures the emotions of guests, the smiles and looks that we didn’t see on the day something that we will treasure. Viv was almost invisible during the ceremony and at the venue and he made the wedding party shoot short and enjoyable, again something very important in terms of not missing the reception by taking photos. Viv is skilled enough to capture the shots that you want in a short space of time. We would highly recommend Viv for wedding photography.

Vicky Nelson

Thanks Vicky, it was a lovely day and I was glad to be part of it. BTW here is a link to your Wedding in Malahide

Warm, friendly, professional & attention to detail

04/09/2018

Just amazing from the start of my best friend’s wedding. I had the pleasure of being bridesmaid Emma-jean & Chris’s wedding day 02/08/18 Viv was warm, friendly, professional & attention to detail was just brilliant!!

I cannot recommend Viv enough & top it all of a true gent. Nothing was a hassle. Love his manner & personality, he is defo in the right job as he glows at it. Thank you so much Viv for being you & amazing at what u do.

Warmest Regards, Monica x x

Monica

Thanks Monica, you’re very kind to say that, it was my pleasure!! You did a great job too at EJ & Chris’ Wedding at Cliff at Lyons

Thank you!

12/08/2018

While we were away on our honeymoon we kept commenting to each other “I hope Viv got a shot of ___” and we weren’t disappointed on any of them! Our photos look amazing and really capture the feeling of the day — as well as the majority of the guests. Viv was completely unobtrusive and efficient: our priest commented on how impressed he was by Viv’s quiet presence at the mass, and we never felt bogged down in picture-taking. We would highly recommend Viv to anyone; we’re very happy with our choice of photographers!

Julie & Greg

Hi Julie & Greg, thanks, your Wedding at Lucan Spa Hotel was a delight to photograph, glad I could help.

Amazing from start to finish

22/07/2018

We had Viv for our wedding. He was absolutely brilliant. As well as being a true professional, Viv was friendly and warm and we really enjoyed his company. He put us at ease, and we really enjoyed our photo session with him. The photos turned out amazing and we are delighted with them. They are a lovely mix of posed and natural and he caught some lovely moments. We would highly recommend Viv for any wedding!

Carol & Fiona

Carol & Fiona, you were an absolute delight to photograph at your Wedding at Kippure Estate

Best wedding photographer ever!

06/07/2018

We were lucky enough to have Viv as our photographer for our wedding in April 2018. He is a lovely man, so friendly and warm, he really made the whole experience of getting photographed on our wedding day a pleasure! He got on so well with everyone and really went above and beyond to get fantastic shots that captured the feel of the wedding, even staying later to make sure there were pictures of the dancing! He really was amazing! We were thrilled to get the pictures back so soon (in two weeks) and every single person we have shown them to has remarked on how they are absolutely fantastic. He really is the best photographer we have ever come across and we would highly recommend Viv!!

Kate & Edmond

Thanks Kate & Edmond, no problem at all, it was a lovely wedding, and the Al Pacas were a lovely surprise at your Clanard Court Wedding

Really captured the spirit of the day

27/06/2018

We just wanted to send a note to thank you for the photographs. We hadn’t looked at them until last week, I wanted to save them for a quiet time when we could enjoy them so apologies for the long delay in acknowledging them. They are really beautiful. You really captured the spirit of the day and some very touching moments in such a non-intrusive way. The pictures show the day exactly as we remember it, we’re both absolutely delighted with them.

Blathnaid & Kevin

Thanks Blathnaid & Kevin, your Wedding at Conyngham Arm Hotel was lovely and intimate, personal and very relaxed. I loved all the travel photos you had on display – not jealous one bit :)

Wonderful photos, outstanding service

06/12/2017

Viv was amazing from first contact through to finalizing the photos for us… friendly, professional, patient, creative, and great to work with.

He took some great group shots for us so that we can remember the wonderful friends and family who celebrated the day with us, and got some great character shots too, with our grooms-maids, using the gorgeous venue as a backdrop. He’s produced pictures that we’ll cherish, was easy-going and very low-stress, was quick and efficient around getting family groups organized and set up, and he managed to capture some lovely, candid images in the evening as people started to relax more.

Great service, fast and efficient responses to queries, very pleasant to work with, and great at putting you at ease, especially when you’re the kind of person who tends to pull an awkward face whenever a camera is pointed at you!

Highly recommended!

Scott McEntee-Rattigan

Thank you Michael & Scott for the lovely words. It really was my pleasure to be part of your special day. I was made to feel part of the gang so it went a long way to keep my creativity flowing. Thanks again for inviting me to document your wedding for you.

Delighted with our wedding photographer

13/07/2017

As a married couple, we are happy to say that choosing Holst Photography was spot on. Viv brought an extra vibe to the day.

He was very professional. His patience and calmness helped the day go very smoothly. Viv stayed with us until the dinner and was willing to take a few suggestions as well as he gave some excellent suggestions himself. Very easy to work with and relaxed. We would definitely recommend Holst Photography.

Anna and Jason

Thank you so much for your kind words, Anna & Jason. It was an absolute pleasure to work with a lovely couple such as you. Congrats again

Great wedding photographer!

13/06/2017

We had a great experience with Viv as our wedding photographer at Clontarf Castle. He was very flexible when working with us and brought lots of great ideas. It really felt like we could just go about our day and trust that Viv would take beautiful photos to document it – no stress! The photos turned out beautifully, and they were completed promptly as well. Overall we loved working with Viv and would absolutely recommend him to others looking for a wedding photographer!

Danielle

Thanks Danielle & Marco for your kind words. It was lovely to be part of your day with you. Thanks again for allowing me to be part of it. V

Excellent Photographer

30/05/2017

My wife and I had a fantastic experience with Viv, as he shot our wedding photos. He was very friendly and made the whole experience fun. He had several ideas for poses, and the photos turned out marvelous. My wife and I decided to have a destination wedding in Ireland, with just the two of us. We had Viv also video us as we said our vows to each other. My wife initially was unsure if she wanted to say the vows in front of a stranger, but Viv made the experience so relaxing that we both felt very at ease and comfortable. He even offered to create a slideshow with music for us, at no additional charge. I would highly recommend this photographer! :)

Christopher Sires

Thanks Chris & Mikayla, you guys were great in front of the camera. I had a lovely time meeting you guys and glad I could create some nice photos of your elopement wedding in Dublin.

Fantastic!!

17/02/2017

Viv did an amazing job on our wedding day. From the time he arrived at my home in the morning, he was very relaxed and professional. I really liked that he was able to get on with the photography without intruding on the proceedings and yet managed to capture amazing shots of our day. His experience is clear, he doesn’t need to stick to cookie-cutter unnatural poses. Viv has a fantastic ability to assess his surroundings and create unique pictures. If you are looking for a photographer who is easygoing, creative, and produces high-quality photos, I would wholeheartedly recommend that you book Viv !!

Shelley Coe

Thanks Shelley, that’s very sweet of you to say. Your Wedding at Lord Bagenal Hotel was just lovely.

Perfect photos, fantastic service!

We had seen Viv at work at a friend’s wedding in 2012 and were very impressed with both his manner and the quality of their photos, so when we subsequently got engaged we knew that choosing the photographer was an easy and straightforward decision to make. Viv was, as expected, excellent on the day – relaxed, friendly but always professional. He has a wonderful manner and our guests commented on it. We are so pleased with the resulting photos, they look fantastic! From start to finish, from initial contact to the day itself and then the follow-up, the service that Viv provides is top quality. Massive thanks once again!

Shona Keeshan

Thanks Shona, your Wedding at Cloughjordan House was amazing, I can see why it’s such a favourite venue.

Warm, Professional, AMAZING!

12/01/2017

Viv handled the photography for our June wedding and it was absolutely stunning! Everyone who has seen the photos has been blown away! I cannot tell you how happy we are with the quality of the pictures but also with Viv himself. He was fun, low-key, professional and kept us at ease the entire day. I tend to be very uncomfortable in front of cameras but Viv made it so easy that I actually enjoyed myself and was sad to be done with the pictures!

We got married in Ireland while living in California and Viv was always very easy to communicate with. He responded promptly and was always available. If you are looking for an amazing photographer who will keep your day fun and relaxed, hire Viv!

Amaryllis Austin

You’re welcome Amaryllis. I’m glad the process went easy trying to organise your Dromoland Castle Wedding. Also loved the photos we were able to get of your engagement session at Powerscourt

Thank You

03/01/2017

Viv did a fantastic job. Viv is so relaxed and professional and easy to work with. We both felt at ease with him throughout the day. He did an amazing job on our album and captured some great photos. We would be happy to recommend Viv. We wish Viv every success in the future.

Catraoine & Paul

Thanks Catraoine, yourWedding at Mount Wolseley great to be part of.

Made our wedding day

11/07/2016

Thank you so much Viv for giving us the unique wedding photos that we dreamed of! From the moment we met Viv he was professional, friendly, and knew his business inside out. We knew which photos we did/didn’t want and Viv respected our wishes but also gave us some great ideas. He remained in the background and got some great shots of our guests just enjoying the moment. Nothing was too much trouble and he had great patience with the kids, ensuring they enjoyed the photos too! Our photos turned out perfectly and thanks to Viv we have plenty of memories to treasure forever. I would highly recommend Viv to any bride and groom, in fact, I have already, and wish him every success in the future.

Sinead and Adam

Thanks, Sinead and Adam, really glad to have been part of your beautiful wedding day

Delighted!!

26/11/2015

Viv, thank you so much for our album! The moments you capture are beautiful and really “in the moment”. You were so calm and patient and helpful on the day but also afterward when we struggled to make our final choices. Thanks for capturing those special happy moments and for doing such a great job on the Slideshow, Vimeo, album, cards, and canvas. Wishing you every success in the future, we would be happy to recommend you.

Denise Hayes

Thanks Denise, you’re very kind to say that, it was my pleasure!! Congrats again on tying the knot here is a link to your Wedding at Farnham Estate

Looks fantastic

06/09/2015

Really appreciate your patience on this and more importantly your wonderful easy-going and relaxed way with us and our guests on the day. We’ve had nothing but brilliant feedback from all our guests who interacted with you.

Brona

You’re welcome Brona, it was great to be part of your big day, it was really exciting photographing my first Wedding at Castle Durrow

Thank you

09/06/2015

Thank you for doing such a great job as our wedding photographer.

You were so friendly, calm, in control, and discreet and were exactly what we wanted.

Thanks for making it the most enjoyable experience. More than happy to recommend you, in fact, we already have!

Jennifer & Marc

Thanks Jennifer & Marc, I hope you had a wonderful time away after the big day. Here is a link to your Wedding at Farnham Estate

Highly recommended

21/05/2015

Viv was great to work with on the day.

Our wedding was an international Irish – American wedding at Cabra Castle in co. Cavan and he couldn’t have done a better job!

The photos were stunning!

I can highly recommend him and his work, you will not be disappointed!!

Ian Crawford

Thanks Ian. I’m delighted to have photographed your Wedding at Cabra Castle

Book this guy!!!!

07/05/2015

Viv was the photographer on our wedding day on Feb 7th, and we are so glad he was.

From the first time we met him at a wedding fair to when he was leaving after spending the day taking some truly beautiful photos at our wedding, he gave off the most wonderful, positive vibes.

I’m not one for getting my picture taken, and generally find the whole thing awkward, but Viv made the whole experience relaxing and fun.

He took the shots we wanted and captured great candid shots. We collected our album a couple of days ago, and the pictures and the way it was laid out really brought back the day to us.

Thank you so much, Viv.

Jean & Owen

Thanks Jean & Owen. Glad I could give you some lovely photos of your Wedding at Hotel Kilkenny

Excellent Photographer for a wedding

15/11/2014

Viv was the photographer for our wedding on October 25th and did a superb job. He got the shots that we wanted and we are delighted with the results. He was very patient and professional with all the guests (including kids) and was, most importantly, very easy-going and someone you can get on with.

See you again if we ever need a photographer.

Ross & Níamh Reynolds

Thanks Ross, you were such a lovely couple to work with. Here is a link with your Trudder Lodge Wedding

Massive thank you

09/11/2014

We just wanted to say a massive thank you for the amazing photos we received.

It was very hard to find someone we entrusted enough to provide the critical process of capturing our wedding!

Extremely professional and very talented.

We would highly recommend our photos are proof!

Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Dodd.

Leanne & Enda Dodd

Thanks Leanne & Enda, I’m delighted Orla convinced you to book me for your Wedding at Dunboyne Castle

Beautiful wedding book album

30/09/2014

Thank you for our beautiful wedding book album.

We love it and all the other photos we will have many happy memories in years to come.

Orla

Thanks Orla, you’re very kind. Just to let you know I have setup a new site to deal specifically with album orders, here is a link to Ordering Albums Online

Excellent photographer

12/05/2014

We decided to hire Viv as a photographer for our wedding after some initial interviews with possible candidates, as we found him, after seeing his portfolio, to be an artist in the field as well as a most pleasant person.

Even so, we were impressed with what he accomplished. He captured and highlighted our precious moments in the most creative ways.

On the wedding day, he was clearly in charge of the situation as a photographer.

We trusted him and he delivered!

His pictures have given us even more than we hoped for and will be with us till the end. We could not have hoped for more. Besides he followed through with all agreements made and was dependable, positive, and helpful throughout the planning process, always interested in our opinions and wishes.

He is, indeed, highly recommended!

Magdalena and Oyvind K. Nilsen

Thanks Oyvind, It was great to be your and Magda’s photographer for your Clontarf Castle Wedding

Very impressed

04/05/2014

We booked the combo package with Viv and Paul from Crystal Clear Video. I found them from a video clip that I found on Facebook. I contacted Viv and was very impressed with his prompt and professional response. After our first meeting with him, we came away delighted that we had found our photographer. We had gone to a couple of wedding fairs and had met many photographers, but Viv really stood out. His work on not only weddings but portraits and family shots was incredible. Viv has a lovely manner and is very easy going, not at all pushy, is open to ideas, and has no problem taking fun shots which were very important to us as we didn’t want all formal photos! We met then with Paul and straight away you could see how well both Viv and Paul work together, two very easy going talented guys.

On the day Viv and Paul arrived on time and the fun we had during the whole day with them was great, it added to our day, the photos were amazing, very natural and it was great fun taking them. Both Viv and Paul worked seamlessly together and I think had as much fun on the day as we did. We had a large wedding party and everyone thought the lads were great. We would have no hesitations recommending both Viv and Paul, they are both such lovely guys and the work they do is amazing.

I can’t finish without mentioning the video they produced for us for, after the speeches, it was emotional, to say the least, but such a novel idea, we loved it. We got many comments on how unique it was and great for everyone at the wedding to see the wedding pictures that same day as not everyone at the wedding would normally get a chance to see some of the shots from earlier in the day. The background music on the video was so fitting, we just love it and it’s an amazing keepsake we now have.

Words cannot express our thanks to both Viv and Paul, they were perfect.

Rachelle & Cormac

Thanks a mill Rachalle that very kind, it was an absolute pleasure. BTW here is a link to view your Wedding at Knightsbrook hotel

Amazing wedding photographer

02/05/2014

Just wanted to share what a fabulous addition to our wedding day Viv was!

From the first moment, he was amazingly confident and helpful with getting us sorted for what we wanted.

On the day, he was like another member of the family, blending in seamlessly with everyone but still managing to get the photos we needed – both our families fell in love with him!

Finally, after the big day, he quickly got our photos online for us to look at and then had our albums sorted really fast. We were thrilled to bits with the final results – we have a gorgeous album to look back on capturing all the wonderful moments of our day.

Really can’t recommend Viv enough and can’t thank him enough for how much he helped us.

Kiran & Vicky Pankhania

Thanks, Vicky. I was delighted to have been hired to photograph your wedding for you. BTW here is a link to your Wedding at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel

Wonderful photographer

04/12/2013

We just wanted to say a big thank you to our wonderful photographer Viv!!

From start to finish He was so approachable and made us feel comfortable behind the camera! He captured so many emotional moments throughout the day that We will cherish forever. We couldn’t have been happier. On top of all that Viv was a true gentleman!

He got the shots he wanted whilst maintaining a cool and calm demeanor.

I would highly recommend Viv for any occasion!

Emma and Eric Kavanagh

Thanks so much Eric, before I forget here is a link to your Barberstown Castle Wedding

Natural and relaxed

04/10/2013

From the initial planning stages of our wedding, Viv talked us through his various packages and what we could expect from Holst Photography on our big day. When the day itself arrived, Viv was on time, conscious of the Bride’s nerves and full of suggestions and ideas of how to capture every special moment. Viv was great with all of our guests, easily chatting and making friends with people (including children and in-laws!) which made for more natural and relaxed pictures. We had a wonderful day and feel that it couldn’t have been captured in more a natural and vibrant way by any other photographer. We love our photo albums and haven’t stopped showing them off! We would highly recommend Viv Van Der Holst to anyone who is negotiating the potential minefield of wedding planning! Viv is the best! Thanks again!!

Dave & Kayt

Thanks so much for the kind review, here’s a link to your Wedding at Seafield Hotel

Extremely relaxed & professional

04/09/2013

We would both like to thank you for all you have done in helping make our wedding day such a memorable one. Theresa and I had spoken to several photographers before meeting up with you and as soon as we finished our cup of tea, we knew we had found the right photographer.

From that first meeting right up until our wedding day you were extremely professional in all your dealings with us and the manner in which you kept in contact with us to let us know what was going on was very much appreciated, we were especially pleased with your ideas on the day and the way in which you were so creative with the finished wedding album. I know Theresa said this to you before, but she asked me to thank you again for your cool relaxed manner on the day, Theresa reckons that because you are such a calm person you really put her at ease and that’s what helped her get up the aisle {I think I need to thank you for that too ha ha}.

Our wedding album and parent albums look fantastic and we really can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for us, the day has come and gone but those pictures will last forever.

Darren & Theresa Byrne

Thanks guys, glad I could help document your Lexlip House Wedding

Consummate professional

04/07/2013

Viv! The short answer: Absolutely brilliant,

Friendly and a consummate professional and a great artist to boot! The long answer: I selected Viv from his photography portfolio. His style is a combination of a gorgeous, clean design aesthetic that pays attention to lines and texture and an uncanny ability to capture authentic moments. What really won me over was when I Skyped him from America. You have to have a connection to your wedding photographer. Viv will get the shots you want and then he will find shots during that day that will make you fall in love all over again. Be completely honest with what you want but be sure to give Viv the ability to seek additional shots. He will go the extra mile for you. Thank you again, Viv! I will cherish these photos and the memories. If I’m ever in Ireland again or see you in the states, dinner, and a drink :) View the blog post from Jenny & Pasquale’s Wedding

Jennifer & Pasquale

Hey Pasquale, awesome mate, anytime!! Was a pleasure to photograph your Wedding at Dromoland Castle. All the best!

Wonderful memories

04/11/2012

We would like to say a massive heartfelt THANK YOU to Viv for all your hard work. Your professionalism from start to finish helped capture some wonderful memories of our special day and we had great fun working with you. You made us feel so at ease when being photographed which was great as we felt under no pressure at all you just went with the flow and captured our day exactly as we asked. Thank you also for the wonderful work you put into putting our wedding albums together, working with us, and advising us every step of the way. We would and will be recommending you to friends family and anyone who will be looking for a photographer in the future. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for everything and we hope we get to work with you again sometime in the future. Best wishes and good luck in the future.

Rachel & Andy Traynor

That’s very kind of you Andy, you’re more than welcome mate. Glad I could help

Didn't even know he was there

04/09/2012

Great guy, great photos – highly recommended

Viv took our photos in July, and everyone at the wedding was impressed with him. When taking photos, Viv managed to get great shots and made everyone feel at ease. Often, you didn’t even know he was there. When we got the photos, we were really impressed with the shot selection, and the variety of angles – we now have an absolutely first-class set of photos to remember our special day.

Jodie & Chris

Warm and Professional

04/08/2012

We would like to thank you for your services to us,

We got the combined package of wedding photography & video. From the moment we contacted them they were very warm & professional. They made us feel at ease on our big day, Viv & Paul work so well together we hardly noticed they were there, but looking back at the photos & video they were there every single moment to capture all of the greatest & happiest memories of our lives.

When we received our wedding photo album & parent albums the presentation & detail was to perfection also with the wedding video. We were so excited & we could not wait to show them to everybody.

It is unbelievable how much everybody loved them & said it was the best wedding album they’ve ever seen! To hear those comments from family and friends makes us very proud & it is all down to you guys you have both exceeded our expectations beyond all expectations. We would be more than happy to recommend you to anybody who is looking for Quality, Profession & Perfection.

From a very happy Bride and Groom, View the blog post from Sarah & Anthony’s Wedding

Sarah & Anthony Cleary

Lovely to have been part of your Wedding at Hamlet Court Hotel

Thank You so much

To all “Brides and grooms to be”

We cannot recommend Viv of Holst Photography highly enough!

We would like to say a huge “Thank you” once again to Viv, who was our photographer on the day. Viv is a lovely man, polite friendly, and professional in every way. We hired Viv through a recommendation and are delighted we did so! We hardly knew he was there and yet he captured every magical moment of our day! Whilst on honeymoon we were able to access our photos online which is a fantastic service as we had a short wedding day, having left the country that evening, our day was a little rushed so being able to access our pics while away was brilliant as it brought back moments we barely knew existed in all the wonderful mayhem! So thank you for that Viv! We received so many compliments about our photos and would recommend Holst Photography to any bride and groom for their special day! :D

Leigh and Anthony Byrne

Thanks so much Anthony, I’m glad I was able to capture your Tulfarris Hotel Wedding the way you had imagined it.

Quality Results with Friendly Service!

04/07/2012

First and foremost, it has become blatantly obvious to us that there is a huge difference between what some people call “wedding photographers” and what are quite clearly professionals. At a time when so many friends are getting married, we have never been happier with our photographs. Not only was Viv extremely accommodating but also provided a friendly, down-to-earth service. We, as a couple on a pressure-filled day, were put totally at ease and breezed through our photo session. The icing on the cake although was the quality of the pictures in our album, a process Viv involved us in the whole time. For a lifetime investment, this has to be one of our best!

Gavin & Jenny McGee

Thanks Jen & Gavin, you guys are awesome, thanks for inviting me to be part of your Cabra Castle Wedding

Very comfortable

04/06/2012

Viv made us feel very comfortable from the moment we meet and on our special day. We were very impressed with the album.

Thank you again for a great day.

Adriano and Lisa Prete

Tnx, :)

Really fun photos

04/01/2012

Viv took some amazing photos at our wedding … he was efficient, professional but very relaxed and it certainly showed in every photo he took. Viv takes the right photos & doesn’t waste time taking numerous photos in different poses, only a professional photographer knows how to do this.

He tried out some really fun photos, but also some photos which we used for family and framed photos. I would highly recommend Viv for any photography service you require.

Patricia & Ken

No problem at all, so much fun at your Trim Castle Hotel Wedding

Made everything extremely easy

04/12/2011

To all brides/grooms to be …

I can honestly say that with Viv, the photography at your wedding will be one section of the whole thing that you will not have to worry about.

Viv made everything extremely easy from when we first met to the very end. He listened to everything we said, gave his input, and blended in with all the guests on the wedding day with stunning results in the photos.

I would highly recommend Viv and will definitely be using him in the future for portraits or family shots.

Sarah & Gareth

Brilliant, I’m glad I exceeded your expectations for your Barberstown Castle Wedding

Ultimate professional

Colm and I got married in Oct, we were extremely impressed with Viv. He is the ultimate professional and nothing was too much trouble.

The photos went without a hitch, we barely knew Viv was there clicking away!

We are delighted with our photos, they are very special.

We would highly recommend him to anyone!

Sharon & Colm

Thanks Sharon & Colm, your Tulfarris House Wedding was just beautiful.

Highly recommend Viv

Paddy and I got married in September and we had Viv photograph our wedding. He was amazing and did a brilliant job, the photos were fantastic and we would highly recommend him.

Thanks, Viv!!!!

Sinead & Paddy

Tnx a mill, you’re more than welcome. :)

On the day of the wedding Viv our photographer was great he got on so well with everyone and by the time he left my parent’s house to go to the church he felt like one of the family. He was great at making me feel relaxed and told me to enjoy every minute. He really is so friendly and makes everyone feel so at ease, especially as some of the groomsmen were not so comfortable getting their photos taken. He worked so well with our Videographer and they bounced off each other and came up with some really good ideas for pictures. We got some really amazing pictures and I really enjoyed all our time taking photos as Viv had made us feel so relaxed. We cant thank him enough for the amazing pictures he took. We were 100% happy with the pictures. It was great to see the

wedding books when they were finished. They looked stunning, its put together so well and so unique. It was great that we had two parents’ books, our mothers both cried when they saw their books. Everyone who has seen our wedding book thinks it’s beautiful. Our canvas and printed

picture are beautiful. We have already recommended you to all your friends. We are so happy with everything, from the service to the finished products everything was brilliant. We cannot thank you enough for giving us wonderful memories that we will have forever and an amazing wedding book that we will treasure.

Lisa & Paul Furey

Glad to have been able to capture your Citywest Hotel Wedding for you.

Laid back approach

04/11/2011

Thank you so much, Viv, it was such a pleasure working with you on our wedding day. Your laid-back approach worked a treat and you can see in our photos how relaxed everyone is.

Our Photographs and album turned out amazing.

Berina & Diarmuid

Only a pleasure to cover your Clontarf Castle Wedding

Wonderful Wedding Album

04/05/2011

We just want to drop you a quick line to say THANK YOU so much for our wonderful wedding album.

From the first moment, we met with you to discuss what we wanted till you handed us the finished result you have been so helpful, professional & flexible.

You listened exactly to what we wanted and you delivered. Our album is absolutely everything we wanted giving us the most amazing memories of our very special day.

I have without a doubt no problem recommending you to future brides, thank you for a great job well done.

Karen & Gareth

My pleasure, brilliant Wedding at Knightsbrook Hotel

Outstanding service

04/12/2010

My husband and I used their service and the quality was exceptional.

Needless to say, our wedding book is fantastic and everyone commented on how unique it is.

Viv on the day was so professional and pleasant, I couldn’t thank Viv enough for doing such a great job, everyone commented also on how lovely he was.

All in all, I would recommend Holst photography to any future bride and groom-to-be.

We could not fault them, they offer an outstanding service to the industry.

Jennifer & Derek

Thanks so much, I’m truly glad I was there to get some lovely photos of you on your big day

Very Impressed

04/06/2010

I am very impressed with his photos and professional approach.

I would recommend him to a friend.

Marcin & Agata

Thanks so much you guys :) x x

Surpassed our expectations

19/09/2009

My husband and I had Viv as our photographer on our Wedding Day. We were blown away by the finished product.

Viv arrived at my parent’s house at 10 am that morning and didn’t leave the venue after midnight well beyond our expectations. Before our Wedding Day, Viv also brought us out for a pre-wedding photoshoot to get us both used to being in front of the camera, which again well exceeded our expectations. Overall my husband and I couldn’t have had a better photographer and our wedding album is out of this World. We recommend Viv to anyone.

Amanda & John Paul

Outstanding

04/05/2009

Thank you for capturing our precious moments so brilliantly. Your abilities to capture an interesting composition are outstanding and add to the moment captured.

Andre & Monique

My 2 dearest friends, what can I say, it was awesome to be part of the long journey :)

Brilliant photographer

01/08/2008

Viv photographed my wedding and I thought he was brilliant he took charge of deciding our photos for our wedding album and he designed it too. We were delighted with the album I have recommended him and will continue to recommend him.

He is a brilliant photographer.

Fiona & Ryan

thanks glad you love them

Very relaxed

04/07/2008

We were delighted with the results. The day was captured beautifully and there was a real understanding of all moments and emotions.

Very relaxed, great awareness, professional and unobtrusive.

The best, thanks again Viv

Peter & Niamh

Thanks mate for your trust in me getting your wedding pics right :)

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Wedding Photography Reviews

Superbly chill and excellent photographer for your special day

Fantastic Photographer!

Fantastic photography by a fantastic person!

Excellent experience

Wedding Experience

Natural photography that captured all our special moments

Brilliant Stunning Shots & Professional Service !!

To put it simply it was a pleasure having Viv as our wedding photographer

Thank you Viv! We love our photos

Lovely Photos

A true professional!!

Fantastic to Work With

The Best Photography in Ireland!!!

We LOVE our wedding photos!!!

Absolutely Thrilled!

Incredible photography by an amazing guy for our big day

Amazing!!

Captures the emotions

Warm, friendly, professional & attention to detail

Thank you!

Amazing from start to finish

Best wedding photographer ever!

Really captured the spirit of the day

Wonderful photos, outstanding service

Delighted with our wedding photographer

Great wedding photographer!

Excellent Photographer

Fantastic!!

Perfect photos, fantastic service!

Warm, Professional, AMAZING!

Thank You

Made our wedding day

Delighted!!

Looks fantastic

Thank you

Highly recommended

Book this guy!!!!

Excellent Photographer for a wedding

Massive thank you

Beautiful wedding book album

Excellent photographer

Very impressed

Amazing wedding photographer

Wonderful photographer

Natural and relaxed

Extremely relaxed & professional

Consummate professional

Wonderful memories

Didn't even know he was there

Warm and Professional

Thank You so much

Quality Results with Friendly Service!

Very comfortable

Really fun photos

Made everything extremely easy

Ultimate professional