Gareth McGaughey
Wedding | Last Updated: February 12, 2021
Hi, my name is Gareth McGaughey. I’m a wedding photographer based just north of Dublin, Ireland, and I have been shooting weddings professionally since 2012.
Weddings continually fascinate me, and I love capturing the unique stories that play out at each one.
They are a study of human connections, with a wide range of emotions on display; humour, melancholy, joy – all funnelled into a few hours.
I approach weddings in a documentary fashion, capturing authentic moments organically and without direction, so couples can be completely absorbed in their big day.
I’m attracted to ‘real’ over pretty. I lean towards images that have context and a narrative that will hopefully stand the test of time.
I feel very lucky to be given the task of documenting such a big day in a couple’s life and creating a piece of history for them and future generations to look through.
Cameras
For me, the less gear the better. I don’t want to get bogged down thinking about gear on a wedding day. I always want to stay present in the moment and concentrate on what’s happening in front of me, so the less lens and gear choice in my bag the better.
I started out using Canon 5D
s for several years. Absolute workhorses that served me well, but when I first saw the Fuji X100
it really caught my eye.
The size, discreetness and retro style really appealed to me. It was my camera choice for personal use and after subsequent upgrades, I started integrating it into my wedding work.
I eventually ditched DSLR’s and I’m currently using 2 x Fujifilm X-T3
s.
The small size, lightness and the flip screen are all great for being discreet and blending in on a wedding day. Also, for me, Fuji colours are the best in the game.
Lenses
Fujinon XF 18mm f/2
– A lens Fuji shooters either love or hate. It’s a cheaper older lens but it really has been given a new lease of life on the XT3 body in terms of autofocus speed. I’m finding I’m using it more and more. Small, light and fits in my pocket.
Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4
– My most used lens. I usually have this on one body paired with the 56mm f/1.2 and the 28mm f/2 in my pocket.
Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4
– Again an older Fuji lens but it has character and it’s tack sharp. I use it mostly for some quick portraits during the reception.
Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 – Great for church ceremonies and speeches when I need some extra reach. Probably the lens that got the biggest autofocus improvement on the X-T3
.
Lights/Triggers
Godox V860II-F TTL
– My preference is to use natural light. I’m not a great lover of flash so this is only used for dancefloor action when I absolutely have to.
Bags/Straps
Billingham Hadley Large bag
– Classic design, waterproof and everything fits into it. Nice large pockets at the front for storing batteries, lens cloth, etc.
Upstrap camera straps – I use these on both bodies. I love these straps because of the shoulder grip. They never slide off my shoulders even when I’m leaning over in crazy positions to get the shot, or that time I nearly fell into a water fountain.
Hardware & Software
For editing, I use a MacBook Pro
in clamshell mode through a thunderbolt display, so I have portability if I need it.
I use a Behringer X-Touch Mini
which is actually a cheap midi music controller but works great with Lightroom.
I have my presets and my most used functions like exposure, brush, contrast and temp/tint programmed into it which speeds up editing considerably.
www.garethmcgaughey.com | @garethmcgaughey
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