About Me — Kieran Hayes, Landscape Photographer
I’m Kieran Hayes, a professional commercial, fashion, and landscape
photographer based in Clonakilty, West Cork, Ireland.
How I got here
My journey with cameras started unusually. Before becoming a professional
photographer in 2012, I spent 8 years as a qualified camera repair
technician, attending multiple manufacturer training courses and working
on thousands of cameras at a component level. That technical foundation
shapes how I approach every review on this site — I understand these
cameras from the inside out, not just how they feel in hand.
West Cork — My Photography Paradise
I live in Clonakilty, West Cork with my wife and I have five children.
West Cork is quite simply one of the finest places on earth to
photograph.
Every road you turn down reveals something special and
the constantly changing light, weather and coastline means there is
always a photograph to be had no matter what the conditions.
My work is driven by a deep connection to the Irish coastline — its movement, energy and ever-changing moods. That connection is what I try to bring to every photograph I take and every workshop I run.
Photography Workshops Ireland
I’ve been running photography workshops across West Cork since 2014, completing hundreds of one-to-one and group sessions at some of Ireland’s most photogenic locations.
Over the past 12 years I’ve worked with everyone from complete beginners picking up a camera for the first time to full-time professional photographers looking to push their work further.
My workshops run across West Cork, Cork, Kerry and Waterford — and I also offer one-to-one online photography tuition sessions for anyone who can’t make it to one of my in-person workshops.
👉 View my Photography Workshops in Ireland here.
Brand Partnerships and Ambassadorships
I’m proud to work as an official brand ambassador for Formatt Hitech, Luminar Neo, Neewer and f-stop and I am partnered with photography industry leaders including SmallRig, DJI, ON1, DxO, Godox and Adobe.
I’m also a member of Nikon Professional Services, which gives me earlier access to Nikon’s latest cameras and lenses.
I regularly collaborate with manufacturers including Viltrox, Godox, 7artisans, TTArtisan, Brightin Star, Astrohori, Llano and even Nikon. Many of these companies send me pre-release products for review — so reviews on this site often appear before the general public has access to the gear.
Published Work and Recognition
My work has been published tens of thousands of times in national and international newspapers, magazines and online. You’ve probably seen it without realising — with clients including Aer Lingus, Lidl, Dunnes Stores, HSE, OPW, SuperValu, Ulster Bank, Discover Ireland, The Irish Times, Irish Independent, Irish Examiner, and hundreds of websites worldwide.
My work has also been used commercially on billboards and wall-sized prints in banks and airports.
In 2021, I was voted: – Most Innovative Irish Landscape Photographer of the Year — Irish Enterprise Awards – Landscape Photographer of the Year — Innovation and Excellence Awards Both were voted on by over 40,000 people.
My Nikon Z Camera Apps
I’m also about to release a series of seven Nikon-focused camera guide apps, covering cameras in the Nikon Z system — available soon as progressive web apps. My Unofficial Z8 Pro Guide and Z6III Guide apps are something I’m incredibly excited about.
I am currently shoot with the Nikon Z8, Z7ii and Z6iii alongside around 30 Z-mount lenses.
More About Me
I have five children and a dog, so life in Clonakilty with my wife is never dull. Between photography, workshops, YouTube content and raising a big family, there’s rarely a quiet moment.
Anyone who has watched my YouTube videos knows I don’t take myself too seriously. I love photography for its simplicity and timelessness — a great photograph doesn’t just bring you back to a moment, it teleports you there.
That’s what drives everything I do.
Thanks for stopping by — pop over to my YouTube channel and keep track of my adventures there.
See you out there,
Kieran