Dunluce Castle had been on my dream list for years, and it finally happened thanks to Vanessa and Terry, who agreed to a dawn session on the rugged Northern Coast of Ireland. So, at the crack of dawn—well, more like the ass-crack of dawn—I dragged myself out of bed and drove an hour north from Belfast in complete darkness. The day before had been all gloomy skies and drizzle, but I held onto hope for a dry morning.
The entire drive was shrouded in thick, moody fog—the kind that belongs in a Pride and Prejudice scene. Jet lag? Forgotten. When I arrived, I did a quick scout of the area before retreating to the warmth of my car to wait for the couple. The second they pulled up, it felt like greeting old friends, even though we had only ever chatted over Instagram.
Vanessa stepped out in a simple yet effortlessly chic mauve linen dress. In hindsight, we may have dressed a little differently had we fully grasped just how freaking cold it would be. Terry, in his sleek black turtleneck, was probably the warmest of us—or at least he faked it well. Meanwhile, I was bundled in a coat and still freezing my buns off. The cold quickly became an afterthought as we ran through the fields, with a literal castle looming behind us. Talk about a fairytale moment.
Dunluce Castle History
Dunluce Castle, built by the 2nd Earl of Ulster in the 13th century, now stands in stunning ruins atop the cliffs of the Antrim Coast in Nortern Ireland. If it looks familiar, that’s because it was a filming location for Game of Thrones and is rumored to have inspired Cair Paravel in The Chronicles of Narnia. Whether you’re a fantasy lover or simply obsessed with castles, this place radiates a magic that made Vanessa and Terry’s love story feel even more cinematic.
By the time the sun had fully risen, our shoes were soaked through, and our faces were numb—but I had just lived out a dream. And better yet, I got to capture two people whose love was as wild and breathtaking as the Irish coast itself.
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