Popular
Essence Photography
Photographers Newry, Down, Ulster
About Essence Photography
Hi, I’m Karen, potentially your Wedding Photographer, Wife, Mummy, step-mum and photo and travel obsessive!!!!
And recently awarded photographer of the year at The Northern Ireland Wedding Awards!!! I was absolutely delighted!!!
I’m based in Hilltown Co.Down just outside Newry (from Rostrevor but moved up over the hill) but cover all of Northern Ireland and the south with County Louth, Monaghan, Cavan and Meath along with Down and Armagh being my most popular hangouts. With 15 years of experience, I’ve had the privilege of photographing countless love stories, each one as unique as the couple.
I specialize in modern classic wedding photography — blending timeless elegance with a touch of drama, creativity, and a whole lot of heart.
My approach is all about balancing the beautiful candid moments with carefully crafted, dramatic shots that elevate your wedding photos to art.
Weddings are wild, wonderful days — full of love, nerves, stories, and the kind of moments you’ll be talking about for years. I’m there to catch it all: the big laughs, the quiet looks, the chaos, and those gorgeous portraits.
Recent Recognition:
- Photographer of the year winner at The Northern Ireland Wedding Awards 2026
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Photographer of the Year runner up (2nd place) at the Northern Ireland Wedding Awards 2025.
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Accredited Licentiate Member of the Professional Photographers Association of Northern Ireland (as of January 2025).
Photos
Video Highlights
Reviews
5.0 · 28 reviews- 24-08-2026
Karen recently photographed my wedding, on 6th August in the Hillgrove Hotel. From the moment she arrived she made me feel at ease and was so friendly and knew exactly what she was doing. My 4 year old daughter had a melt down in the room whilst we were getting ready, and while I wanted the ground to swallow me up with embarrassment Karen quickly reassured me that she had seen it 1 million times before and it was completely normal. She then took it upon herself to take my daughter into the next room and quietly sort her out, I couldn’t believe it and was so thankful for the help. She had a real mummy feel to her. She made sure I had pictures with everyone I wanted before she left and to top it off she had some my photos on her page the very next day, what a turn a round! Overall Karen was very friendly to deal with. Though the extra touch with my daughter would be enough in itself for me to recommend her to the next bride.
- 29-01-2026
I couldn’t agree more with what your other beautiful brides said! Karen you are an exception….so easy to work with, you have the ability to take on a task that means so much to your clients with grace, capability and confidence. You have this availability and ease that allows us (your brides) to relax knowing we are in good hands and that the photos you sweat,blood and tears over will be captured and displayed beautifully! Thanks again for taking our day and capturing it all so beautifully! Nothing was too much! I think you buttoned me into my dress and reminded me to breathe on more than one occasion! For that I’m eternally grateful and I’ll always recommend you! Enjoy the lull in your busy work life and brace yourself again for wedding season 2026! xx Joanna & Mark
- 29-01-2026
Hey Karen, we just wanted to say a huge thank you to you & Lexie for our beautiful photos & videos. You captured perfectly the joy & love we felt on our wedding day. From start to finish you made us both feel so comfortable. It was an emotional & beautiful day it was everything we could have dreamed it would be. You are so talented we can see how much you enjoy your job & it shows. We will definately be recommending you to family & friends xx Claire & Ronan
- 29-01-2026
I honestly cannot recommend Essence Photography by Karen Clerkin Mooney enough. She has been part of our family’s biggest moments from the very beginning — from taking my daughter’s very first photos 8/9 years ago, right through to capturing our wedding in September. Having someone who already knew us, our family and our story made the whole experience so special and completely stress-free. On our wedding day she was calm, professional, kind and so naturally talented. She captured every emotion beautifully — the big moments and the quiet, in-between ones we’ll treasure forever. The photos are absolutely stunning and tell the story of our day perfectly. So many people have commented on how natural and timeless they are. What really sets her apart is how much she genuinely cares. She goes above and beyond every single time, and it truly shows in her work. We wouldn’t trust anyone else with our memories and will continue to come back to her for years to come. Thank you for everything Lots of love The Cunninghams xx
- 29-01-2026
I could not recommend Karen enough! Karen is amazing, and I mean AMAZING at her job! Karen did our wedding/baby’s christening an I could not be happier with the photos she got. I am not someone who likes their picture taken, I didn’t want to spend my day with a sore face from forced smiling and Karen was so understanding and made this completely possible for me. We got every single shot I could have asked for, my face was sore from laughing because Karen had us in knots all day, she was the best craic! So much of the day that I missed was caught and it was so great to be able to look back on these moments and see all our guests genuinely enjoying themselves. Cannot thank Karen enough for all she do for our little family that day Emma & Luke
- 29-01-2026
We had Karen as our wedding photographer in Markree Castle on 3rd June 2025 and we couldn’t have asked for a nicer person. I have known Karen as a fellow wedding vendor but as a bride she made me feel like a whole different person. Her attention to detail was amazing, getting all the shots that we wanted and her photos are just stunning. Karen brought her bubbly self and made us laugh the whole way through the day, capturing natural moments as well as our fabulous portraits. When she sent the photos back in record time, I loved looking at the ones that I had even forgotten were taken. Her quality of photos are so good. Karen is an all round amazing girl with such a fab personality and a highly talented photographer. We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer on our day. Love Mary & Benn
- 29-01-2026
Our day wouldn’t have been the same without Karen. I spent a lot of time researching photographers and I knew she was the right one looking at her photos of other couples. I knew I made the right choice when we did our pre-wedding photo session. Me and Conor just laughed throughout it all and she made us and our little boy so comfortable (and it really showed in our photos where she really did capture a moment in time) Our wedding was no exception- me and Conor both agree that one of our favourite moments from our wedding is getting our professional photos taken. All we did was laugh (crunchies!) and again she was able to capture that moment in time which we will look back on in years to come. Our favourite photos were the ones that we didn’t know that was being taken but she captured the love and laughter. We are so fortunate that we had her at her wedding and anyone who books her will say the same thing. Shannon & Connor
- 29-01-2026
I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding photographer than Karen. From our very first conversation, she was warm, professional, and genuinely invested in getting to know us and our vision for the day. Her communication leading up to the wedding was seamless, which made the entire process feel stress-free and exciting. On the wedding day itself, Karen went above and beyond her role as a photographer. She brought such a calming presence and made us feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. She captured every moment so naturally, from the big emotional highlights to the quiet, meaningful details we might have otherwise missed. One moment I will never forget is how she stepped in to help button my dress when I needed an extra set of hands—such a small gesture, but it meant so much and truly shows how much she cares. When we received our photos, we were absolutely blown away. Each image tells the story of our day so beautifully, and looking through them feels like reliving the wedding all over again. Karen’s talent, attention to detail, and kindness shine through in everything she does. We are beyond grateful for her and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for an incredible photographer who goes above and beyond. Connie & James
- 29-01-2026
Karen is such a lovely woman and an excellent photographer. From our first meeting, engagement photoshoot and on our big day she just put us at ease. We got married on 17th May 2025 and our photos are absolutely fabulous! Karen gathered everyone up for all the photos and knew exactly what photos needed to be taken – nothing was missed! Karen has provided us with wonderful photos and memories to cherish forever I would highly recommend Karen, she is just amazing at what she does. Love the Dorans x
- 29-01-2026
What can I say about Karen Essence photography. She’s an incredibly talented lady. Anyone having Karen for your wedding day you couldn’t get any better. Karen was amazing from start to finish for our wedding. Everyone is raving about her since. She came into both our houses and made us all feel at ease instantly. She is a true talent especially with kids. The natural photos we have are amazing. Even though the weather wasn’t on our side on our wedding day that didn’t stop Karen achieving photos I could only have dreamed off. Her attention to detail is second to none. She thought of photos that none of us would have thought of on the day. Karen isn’t just an amazing photographer she’s a fairy godmother to all brides and I can honestly say it felt like she was part of our family that day. I cannot recommend Karen enough. Thank you so much for capturing the best day of our lives. Niamh & Christopher xxx
- 29-01-2026
We chose Karen as our wedding photographer for our wedding March 2025, we’ve known Karen for many years and her talent for photography is first class. Karen not only captured our day perfectly but Karen also helped get us ready and gave tips to make our day go even more smoothly. The photos turned out amazing, people still talk about our wedding photos today! I would 100% recommend Karen, such a kind soul with so much talent and patience x Thank you so much Karen, Sarah Louise & Gerard
- 29-01-2026
We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better wedding photographer than Karen from Essence Photography . Absolutely loved our wedding pictures. Despite the rain on our wedding day she still managed to pull out all the stops and captured the most amazing photos. Her calm, positive energy made such a difference, she was absolutely amazing with the kids too. Communication from start to finish was fantastic and we were blown away by how quickly we received our photos. Extremely easy to book and organise. Karen went above and beyond and would 100% recommend her!Lots of love, Sheena & Jason
- 28-01-2026
Karen was our wedding photographer for our Christmas 2025 wedding and she was incredible. Liam and I aren’t a couple who love photographs but Karen made us feel so comfortable she knew how to direct us to get the best possible angles, she knew spending time with our guests was so important to us so she made sure we got all of the photos we wanted and still had time to enjoy our drinks reception. All her ideas were so much fun and Liam and I are so delighted with how they turned out. We had the best day and our photos capture the happiness the day brought. We cant wait to share them with family and friends. Liam and I will be booking with Karen for all our future milestones to come. Thank you so much Karen, Jennifer and Liam xo Lots of love,
- 28-01-2026
We chose Karen as our Wedding Photographer and she did not disappoint , photos were amazing and we were just so happy with how they turned out. Karen was in contact before the wedding and talked through the plan of the day, this made things run very smoothly. We had a lot of kids involved in our wedding and I still don’t know how Karen managed to get the perfect pictures of them all. In the chapel again, you wouldn’t have even known she was there but caught the most stunning pictures. I cannot recommend Essence Photography enough Thanks again, Niamh & Brendan
- 28-01-2026
We had Karen capture our wedding in June 2025. What can I say, Karen was absolutely amazing to work with from start to finish, she made us all in the house that morning feel at ease and went above and beyond than her job. Everything was taken so natural, and no pressure was put on anyone to pose or stand for a million photos. Karen is absolutely amazing at her job, and I couldn’t have picked anyone better to capture our day. If anyone is looking for someone who is professional, good craic and loves a laugh, Karen is the woman for the job, she is a gem! Still to this day everyone talks about how good the photos are. Highly recommend, and I will most definitely be using Karen for upcoming events and milestones to come, xx Megan & Sean
- 14-01-2026
Karen is such a lovely woman and an excellent photographer. From our first meeting, engagement photoshoot and on our big day she just put us at ease. We got married on 17th May 2025 and our photos are absolutely fabulous! Karen gathered everyone up for all the photos and knew exactly what photos needed to be taken – nothing was missed! Karen has provided us with wonderful photos and memories to cherish forever ❤️ I would highly recommend Karen, she is just amazing at what she does. Love the Dorans x
- 14-01-2026
What can I say about Karen Essence photography. She’s an incredibly talented lady. Anyone having Karen for your wedding day you couldn’t get any better. Karen was amazing from start to finish for our wedding. Everyone is raving about her since. She came into both our houses and made us all feel at ease instantly. She is a true talent especially with kids. The natural photos we have are amazing. Even though the weather wasn’t on our side on our wedding day that didn’t stop Karen achieving photos I could only have dreamed off. Her attention to detail is second to none. She thought of photos that none of us would have thought of on the day. Karen isn’t just an amazing photographer she’s a fairy godmother to all brides and I can honestly say it felt like she was part of our family that day. I cannot recommend Karen enough. Thank you so much for capturing the best day of our lives. Niamh & Christopher Kelly xxx
- 14-01-2026
We chose Karen as our Wedding Photographer and she did not disappoint , photos were amazing and we were just so happy with how they turned out. Karen was in contact before the wedding and talked through the plan of the day, this made things run very smoothly. We had a lot of kids involved in our wedding and I still don’t know how Karen managed to get the perfect pictures of them all. In the chapel again, you wouldn’t have even known she was there but caught the most stunning pictures. I cannot recommend Essence Photography enough 👌🏼 Thanks again, Niamh & Brendan
- 14-01-2026
We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer than Karen. She was calm, organised and so easy to be around on our wedding day. She really listened to what we wanted from our photos and captured the day beautifully and naturally. We’re absolutely delighted with them.
- 14-01-2026
I honestly cannot recommend Essence Photography by Karen Clerkin Mooney enough. She has been part of our family’s biggest moments from the very beginning — from taking my daughter’s very first photos 8/9 years ago, right through to capturing our wedding in September. Having someone who already knew us, our family and our story made the whole experience so special and completely stress-free. On our wedding day she was calm, professional, kind and so naturally talented. She captured every emotion beautifully — the big moments and the quiet, in-between ones we’ll treasure forever. The photos are absolutely stunning and tell the story of our day perfectly. So many people have commented on how natural and timeless they are. What really sets her apart is how much she genuinely cares. She goes above and beyond every single time, and it truly shows in her work. We wouldn’t trust anyone else with our memories and will continue to come back to her for years to come. Thank you for everything 🤍 Lots of love The Cunningham’s xx
- 14-01-2026
We had Karen as our wedding photographer in Markree Castle on 3rd June 2025 and we couldn’t have asked for a nicer person. I have known Karen as a fellow wedding vendor but as a bride she made me feel like a whole different person. Her attention to detail was amazing, getting all the shots that we wanted and her photos are just stunning. Karen brought her bubbly self and made us laugh the whole way through the day, capturing natural moments as well as our fabulous portraits. When she sent the photos back in record time, I loved looking at the ones that I had even forgotten were taken. Her quality of photos are so good. Karen is an all round amazing girl with such a fab personality and a highly talented photographer. We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer on our day. Love Mary & Benn
- 14-01-2026
We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better wedding photographer than Karen from Essence Photography. Absolutely loved our wedding pictures. Despite the rain on our wedding day, she still managed to pull out all the stops and captured the most amazing photos. Her calm, positive energy made such a difference, she was absolutely amazing with the kids too. Communication from start to finish was fantastic and we were blown away by how quickly we received our photos. Extremely easy to book and organise. Karen went above and beyond and would 100% recommend her!
- 14-01-2026
I could not recommend Karen enough! Karen is amazing, and I mean AMAZING at her job! Karen did our wedding/baby’s christening an I could not be happier with the photos she got. I am not someone who likes their picture taken, I didn’t want to spend my day with a sore face from forced smiling and Karen was so understanding and made this completely possible for me. We got every single shot I could have asked for, my face was sore from laughing because Karen had us in knots all day, she was the best craic! So much of the day that I missed was caught and it was so great to be able to look back on these moments and see all our guests genuinely enjoying themselves. Cannot thank Karen enough for all she do for our little family that day 🤍
- 14-01-2026
We had Karen capture our wedding in June 2025. What can I say, Karen was absolutely amazing to work with from start to finish, she made us all in the house that morning feel at ease, and went above and beyond than her job. Everything was taken so natural, and no pressure was put on anyone to pose or stand for a million photos. Karen is absolutely amazing at her job and I couldn’t have picked anyone better to capture our day. If anyone is looking for someone who is professional, good craic and loves a laugh, Karen is the woman for the job, she is a gem! Still to this day everyone talks about how good the photos are. Highly recommend, and I will most definitely be using Karen for upcoming events and milestones to come, ❤️❤️ xx
- 14-01-2026
Massive thank you to Karen, you are a dream to have at anyone’s big day. You went above and beyond for my family and friends, from the pre wedding shoot to the wedding your service has been absolutely amazing! Let’s not fail to mention helping with things the morning of the wedding. Thank you ever so much♥️
- 14-01-2026
I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding photographer than Karen. From our very first conversation, she was warm, professional, and genuinely invested in getting to know us and our vision for the day. Her communication leading up to the wedding was seamless, which made the entire process feel stress-free and exciting. On the wedding day itself, Karen went above and beyond her role as a photographer. She brought such a calming presence and made us feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. She captured every moment so naturally, from the big emotional highlights to the quiet, meaningful details we might have otherwise missed. One moment I will never forget is how she stepped in to help button my dress when I needed an extra set of hands—such a small gesture, but it meant so much and truly shows how much she cares. When we received our photos, we were absolutely blown away. Each image tells the story of our day so beautifully, and looking through them feels like reliving the wedding all over again. Karen’s talent, attention to detail, and kindness shine through in everything she does. We are beyond grateful for her and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for an incredible photographer who goes above and beyond.
- 13-01-2026
“We couldn’t have picked a better singer for our wedding than Amy. She is a beautiful singer with such a good range and we got so many compliments on how amazing she was during the cermony and drinks recepetion. She was so easy to contact in the run up to the wedding and played every song we asked for, she even practiced ones she had never played before for us. She also helped out on the day so much by directing guests to the right place and even stayed behind a little to play for us during our private couples drinks reception before the meal. We would highly recommend Amy if you are considering a singer for your wedding. Mr & Mrs Sweeney”
- 13-01-2026
We first heard Amy sing at a wedding fayre and booked her off the back of that. We immediately knew we’d made the right choice both with how Amy responded to our queries and kept us right from the start and also how our other suppliers reacted when they heard we’d booked Amy. Both the hotel and the celebrant had worked with Amy before and assured us we were in safe hands. Amy responded to all of our emails quickly, even when she was out of the country. She sent through a comprehensive list of songs to choose from as well as letting us know she’d have a go at learning any song we wanted. We asked her to play 2 songs that were special to us that weren’t on her list and she kept us updated as she tried them out and agreed she could do them no bother. On the day itself the singing was absolutely beautiful. It made the ceremony perfect and was one of the first things all of the guests commented on. Amy was friendly and polite and a pleasure to chat to both leading up to the wedding and on the day. She was also very reasonably priced. For any couples thinking of booking Amy I wouldn’t hesitate!
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