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Learning To Fly 📸 Wedding Photography Retreat - Ireland

@learningtoflyretreat

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💛 Wellness, friendships, healing
📸 World class mentors - elevate your craft
☕ Craic, community, coffee
☘️THE VOYAGE, DINGLE, '27
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Playing with double exposures on my Canon 35mm film camera @learningtoflyretreat earlier this month. Thanks to @jay_doherty_photography as always for putting on an amazing get together of wedding photographers and videographers. Can’t wait for the next one! ❤️ Film processing and scanning by the legends: @loupe_studio_ • #learningtoflyworkshop #countyclare #leosharpphotography by @learningtoflyretreat
☘️ Hope, charity and the ripple effect… A side effect of having a tight community and regular gatherings is the ability to raise awareness and vital funds for charity. Down the years we have raised money for Lifeline women’s shelter, Foyle Search and Rescue, Gaza go Bragh and The Lemon Tree collective.  The world is a turbulent place, possibly now more than ever, the great powers have seen to that. The current president of the US I’d see as the most vile and violent human that has ever walked the earth, possibly the worst is that his words and actions inspire many across the nations - racism , greed, misogyny, arrogance and hate are all to be celebrated…and we see the drip effect here in Ireland. Personally I cannot handle fireside conversations about Gaza, about Gervaghy, about the endless wars, Ulster race attacks - I get up and walk, for me it breeds hopelessness and a sense of panic within, it’s too much to handle.   What we can do is take action - join the marches, raise money, raise awareness and send out the ripples. That ripple effect is more powerful than any other weapon. We can inspire and share and let others amongst us and far and wide that we can affect change, that we can make a difference. We lifted 800euro for the Lemon Tree Collective this year in Clare, 2800 Euro for Gaza go Bragh last year at the unplugged event. I landed to Lifeline women’s home a few years ago on the way home from Culdaff with over 1000 euro in a jam jar thanks to you folk…talk about a reception, they laughed, then cried. This stuff makes a real difference to human lives. It keeps me sane.   ' Ease your anxiety with action' - I have that on a post-it on my office wall, I live by it Thanks to you all, thanks for dipping and giving, for inspiring others to do the same and making charity something you just do as a human being. Go raibh mile maith agat… ☘️ by @learningtoflyretreat
Dingle 5.10.27 Tickets on sale early January via priory email list Kerry here we come Link in bio... by @learningtoflyretreat
Some more of my favourite photos of the goings on @learningtoflyretreat 2026 in Spanish Point, County Clare... I've kinda peaked too soon, captions wise at least, by being all sincere in my last post about how amazing the people there make Learning to Fly are.. so just consider this a continuation of that... Any LTF'er who want a proper nosey there's a link to the full gallery over in the FB Tay Hut.... a gallery that's maybe 99% documentary, and 1% inspired by @liamkidneyphotography 's talk due to an image made in artistic collaboration with @sarahkatemurphyphotography by @learningtoflyretreat
It's been five years since I was asked to photograph my first @learningtoflyretreat by it's guru, master of ceremonies and borderline cult-leader @jay_doherty_photography I've lucky enough to have been asked back to document another three since... at least two of each were proclaimed to be the last ever, (don't worry next years has already been soft-launched - fingers crossed I make that one too...) A big change this year was the move from the LFT spiritual home of Culdaff, Donegal, to Spanish Point, County Clare... I'm sure I wasn't the only one who wondered how much the Donegal air contributed to the uniqueness of the event... being part photography education, relaxation and inspiration - somehow a drinking session with wellness at it's heart... As it turns out the magic wasn't (just) in the land, it being transferrable can only mean it's really all about the people - the ten retreat-attendees, the ten-shot drinkers, the initially shy first-timers, the seasoned professionals, newcomers to the industry, photographers with thriving businesses, those just about hanging onto the dream; all are welcomed as equals within the Learning to Fly family... with everyone having both something to learn & something to teach others - I'm now sure that the real magic lies within each individual who turns up heart on sleeve to join the fun... It's a community that truly encapsulates the saying that 'I'm not better than anyone, but nobody's better than me' and I'm genuinely proud to be able to say I am part of it... Anyway rambling over... here are a few of this years highlights - photos I can say are filled with friends old & new.... (and you're just going to have to trust me that some were taken at the Cliffs of Moher, despite them being nowhere to be seen...) And don't be surprised to see a part two as there's plenty more to share... by @learningtoflyretreat
☘️ THE VOYAGE - CLARE - 2026 🫖 I was asked in the thick of the chaos on Tuesday, did I create all this myself…my answer was ‘no, it takes a whole village of volunteers and group energy to make this work’...and there it is, the Voyage family, the friends of LTF, the Tay Hut lifers An almighty thank you for your faith, your courage, sweat, tears, borderline insanity and always your friendship on this great journey Clare was a mad dream, many folk told me no, I like that, it fans the flames. We made it happen, together, it was a classic…and I'm currently in the mode of ‘best ever’ post event elation. Wow, what a county…Clare, you beauty !  Anyone keen for 2027, coastal, rural, rugged Ireland with a solid crew of good folk and big plans ?  @katiekavphoto @sarahkatemurphyphotography @chriscopelandweddings @_awakeanddreaming_ @nonfictionlove__ by @learningtoflyretreat
Learning to Fly 2026... Aka The Voyage... Aka Deirdre & Sarah Go to Clare... Begins.... See you at 7.15 for Yoga... 📷 @patrickduddyphotography by @learningtoflyretreat
Kinnego Bay 2015....year 1....very humble beginnings... I didn't know 90% of the folk pictured there, I didn't really know what I was doing, I think folk could tell. This photo was on the last day, just before home time. When everyone left I stripped clean bare and ran into the sea on that empty beach. I was elated, I was in disbelief, it worked, it fkn worked....and somehow I didn't lose any money 😅 A whole new journey began right there, Kinn go Bay, Donegal, as far from the centre of the Irish wedding industry as you could ever be.A journey that would bring new faces and experience into my life. Push me to the outer extremes of joy... and pressure I used to lie that the name was a description of what we'd hoped to achieve together, we would soar to the sky, and reach a lofty destinies together...but that's not really true, me and my pal Shaun were just listening to a lot of Tom Petty at the time...same with The Voyage...Christy, you know the craic A handful of years later we would consistently sell the event out in a day, the biggest names in international wedding photography would grace our wee stage in rural Donegal, and share a late night Guinness by the fire Jeepers, I am proud, of course I am, LTF was the best event I ever went to, and I say that not in jest. In a few days time we make memories once again, new geography, new folk, new experiences, a new dawn, way out in the west shores in County Clare... by @learningtoflyretreat
My 10 intentions - THE VOYAGE 2026… Complete escape from the tangle of the real world … delete Instagram, shoot only polaroids, sit about and do nothing, read, breathe in…and breathe back out again Meet a new human and ask them to be my friend…the biggest success story of LTF is the friendships that have been bred and will last a lifetime Swim in the holy sea beside a whole heap of screaming maniacs, dive under the waves and resurface into a different world Share the magic of the Cliffs of Moher with my daughter…and other folk too Fill a diary full of ideas, stories, experiences, smiles Get lost in conversation with passionate people that don’t care too much about being just regular Cry about 3 times, but mostly laugh and a wee bit of both at the same time Miss my wife and wish she was there to share these best of times Reunite with good oul pals that I rarely see at all and create big memories  Lead and inspire, offer a helping hand and advice where needed…show the younger folk a path of resilience and self-belief I cannot wait for this, sometimes I forget the magic we create together, that sparkle that ignites when good souls share same space together for a few days…. by @learningtoflyretreat
PRE-VOYAGE dander... A few of us are taking a stroll across the Cliffs of Moher, the evening before The Voyage, 5th October. Meet up at 5:30pm at... Anchor Inn , Liscannor carpark to carpool (as the parking is limited). Come along, come solo, come with a pal, bring good outdoor clothing, a camera and a big smile on your face... by @learningtoflyretreat
ASSET OR ASSHOLE Right now I’m getting heavily prepping for The Voyage in Clare…Tuesday ahead….yikes ! I found a folder while looking for another folder - it’s called Asshole or Asset. As a bit of light relief from the heavy load of LTF 2.0 preparation I’ll take a minute and chat about this.  Me and @shaundotcoach used this epithet for years, when chatting about our behaviours and that of our counterparts in our respective daily operation, ie wedding photography for me, life coaching for him. We’d invite ourselves to ask along the way…for me at a wedding day…right now, am I being an asshole or an asset to this wedding day and these people, ie am I a fkn pollution of a human, demanding, lounging, bringing the bad vibes, being a lazy basta, half-assing or am I being an MVP, the saviour of the day, the fireman putting out the fires, bringing the good vibes, bringing a wee glass of water or a Coke for my clients along their stressful journey, bringing treats for the mum, leaving a tip for the staff, being damn grateful when a meal is provided and keeping it small and affordable for the bride and groom, and on and on…ie an asset to the day. A lot of my talks, actually every one in history have been about client service, gratitude and trying to be an ‘asset’, every talk, they’re all the same btw…I’ve heard it say ‘easier to find a new audience than create a new presentation’…or at least an audience that have very short memories and half cut of Dublin stout. I talked to a few pals about doing this made up gameshow called Asset or Asshole on stage at @docday_I was buzzing. The resounding response was ‘no’, dont do it, it’s too much, change Asshole to Ass if you really need to do it. But I ploughed on, I felt the fear, I had an idea the audience were kinda down for the cause of craic and was fairly sure they knew to expect the occasional cuss slip out from my lips. Anyway I went ahead, I got a volunteer from the audience to steer the had and the craic was 90…well for me anyway, I heartily laughed all the way home. I guess if you can’t laugh at your own craic then you’re kinda fkd. The ass-o-meter now lives round the back of my garden shed. Photos @ronanpalliser by @learningtoflyretreat
MICRO-TALKS at The Voyage ... Tuesday evening, 7:30. We have 6 speakers set for the mini stage. If anyone fancies a bit of this experience please message asap, there's room for 1 or 2. Rules...not much, just keep it 5ish minutes, bring some value, bring some entertainment, photos, slides and a sense of good cheer and courage. Do it for yourself, do it for the people... by @learningtoflyretreat

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