Patrick Duddy Photography

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Belfast, Northern Ireland
Patrick Duddy Photography

I'm a Derry/Donegal-based photographer documenting weddings, families, and events in a relaxed and candid way to give clients a fuss-free experience.

Documentary Wedding - Family - Commercial Photography

02/11/2026

You've probably notices I share surprisingly few photos from the couple portraits and family photos part of a wedding day. Partly because not all my couples choose to have them, but also because I’m usually far more drawn to sharing all the little moments that happen in between; but it's probably right I give a bit more balance....

Noel & Kelly did make time for a few portraits earlier in the year, though, and it was as simple as a little detour to the old church in Dunlewy and a quick stop in front of Errigal on the way from their ceremony at Acres Chapel in Burtonport to their reception An Chúirt Hotel & Health Club | Donegal

The stop gave myself and SG Video Production the chance to capture a few portraits of the two of them, along with their bridal party in some pretty special surroundings before it was straight back into documentary mode for the rest of the day.

So here's a few shots from that session

31/10/2026

I've only ever had positive experiences at An Grianan Hotel - they do what they do so well....

29/10/2026

A wee sunny spring wedding day moment...

Natasha & Gavin were married in the beautiful intimate wedding sized room in Guildhall - which come with access to the rest of the building too!

After finishing upstairs I delayed my walk down to see what happened when Tasha passed under the stained glass windows on the stairs - a decision that i think paid off with this shoot....

27/10/2026

It’s amazing how much one little facial expression can convey...

While saying his vows, Adam simply lifted his eyes to look at John, and smiled.... in that little moment, you could see nothing but love and happiness.

It wasn’t a grand gesture, a headline moments of the day, or one of Adam's huge laughs... it was just a split second that could have easily went unnoticed... a small moment in front of all their families & friends yet just them at the same time...

It's the kind of moment I love capturing at weddings - they happen naturally with no prompting or planning.... those wee glances, nervous smiles, and reassuring touches...

If you love the idea of your day captured in all its real, unposed moments, I’d love to hear about your plans...

26/10/2026

One of the things I love about taking a documentary approach to photographing a wedding day is the wee mini stories that can be told in a series of photos.... like chapters in a books, or scenes in a movie they stand alone while also contributing to the overall story...

Just like these from Emma & Damien's Diamond Coast Hotel wedding.... one of Emma's brothers was, unexpectedly, not able to make it home for the big day - so he sent on a poem for his sister, which is being read to her hear by another of her brothers... their reactions tell you how it went down!!

It wasn't planned as something that would be photographed - I just happened to be in the room where it happened... (hands up if you're now badly internal rapping internally to Hamilton!)...

With moments like these I have two trains of thought happening at the same time - get the photos that are needed to capture the memory, but at same time do it in a way where I don't interupt what's happening by my presence - it's a fine line to walk and a wee part of Emma's feedbacj reassured me that i managed it that day...

'I smiled throughout when looking through our gallery, they are everything I wanted and more... on our day I genuinely couldn't tell where you were at times, it was as if you weren't there! I wouldn't have changed a thing, you are amazing!'

Giving me a shout if you're getting married & want photos all about your day, not a day all about the photos!!

23/10/2026

Existential question time...

What actually counts as a wedding photo?

Does it need to have a bride and/or groom in it? Does it need to be of a full person? Does there even need to be a person in it? Then what about those fancy flat lays of rings, perfume and invitations?

In that case what about a photo to show that moment you finally get to ditch the fancy wedding shoes your mum and dad insisted you wear for thejr wedding in favour of your favourite Lightning McQueen Crocs?

I'll happily defend the hill that a wedding photo is ANY photo taken on a wedding day. (I know the actual saying is die in the hill but i'm not stubborn....)

Although I suppose the bigger question is are we actually talking about wedding photography or photos of your wedding day? Are they really the same thing?

One's really a genre, the other one's a record of a day... and somewhere in the middle there's all the weird little details, the happy accidents and the moments that weren't planned but end up meaning everything.

So now I'm curious do you think a photo has to look like a wedding photo to count as one?

Or am I just massively overthinking the whole thing!!

(Full disclosure - I'd chose the crocs over the pointy shoes every single time)

22/10/2026

I've recently had the need to hook up some older harddrives & while doing so had a wee nosey back through previous weddings...

It''s made me realise how many photos worth sharing I have...

Some from the big headline moments we all expect to see at weddings, others document more personal or unique moments of a bride & groom day - which js very much the case here where Marc looks on as Marie unwrapped her childhood hero Bosco, a surprise wedding day gift from her parents at their Redcastle Hotel & Spa wedding...

Expect to see a few more relatively random shots over the next while!

19/10/2026

As well as documenting the recent Learning To Fly 📸 Wedding Photography Retreat - Ireland retreat, I was doing my best to soak up some of the incredible knowledge shared by the amazing speakers, including the always insightful and practical Katie Kavanagh

Among Katie’s pearls of wisdom and good old-fashioned common sense was a reminder that, as photographers, we have a real treasure trove of images featuring the wonderful suppliers our couples put so much thought into bringing on board to help make their day special.

This is especially true when you take a documentary approach like mine... these shots were taken on a day wirh no couple shot so I was there throughout capturing all the fun...

Consider this the start of a wee series celebrating some of the amazing people I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside over the years!

First up, we have Caolan McBride aka Caolan Mc Bride entertaining Adam and John’s guests at An Grianan Hotel

Don’t be surprised to see a few more moments from this wedding popping up… John & Adam's guests were thoroughly entertained throughout, including a particularly personal touch for Adam’s family that I don't think I'll see too often!!

18/10/2026

A few shots from a sunny wander along Inishowen Head this afternoon.... with a couple where I might have leant a bit too far into the decision to embrace the lens flare that my wee fujifilm throws up under certain conditions!

17/10/2026

Alma Marie coming to visit Derry was the perfect excuse for mum Angie Angie Pereira & dad Declan to get the whole family together, Barney & Bella included....

Documenting the gathering in a few photos seemed only right... and I meet up with them in Brooke Park this afternoon in what turned out to be as sunny an autumn day to do just that...

Here's a preview of some of the fun....

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Belfast

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http://www.patrickduddy.com/

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