Damian 'The BIG Dog' McGillicuddy...Lord of Kerry.

Those who know Damian McGillicuddy personally, will know that he has a secret passion in his life that has always run in parallel to his love of photography, the noble art of the Marquis of Queensbury (for those who don't know that’s boxing!) 

Now a phrase often banded around in boxing circles is “pound for pound", being the term used to describe the very best within the noble art, irrespective of weight class. It wouldn't be a misuse of this term if used to describe McGillicuddy and his impact on his chosen profession, namely photography.

Since leaving art school in 1986 Damian has dedicated his entire professional life to photography, with no "years out" or "career changes” and this is a career which has seen him amass the following awards & distinctions:

Damian also became the 68th Master Photographer Fellow in the World, and is currently theONLY Photographer to have 5 UK Master Photographer of the Year Awards and 7 Society Photographer of the Year Awards, and has won individual Photographer of the Year in the following categories;

  • Wedding
  • Glamour
  • Child
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Contemporary Portraiture
  • Traditional Portraiture
  • Environmental Portraiture

In 2010 Damian became the 1st photographer ever to be presented with a Double Masters Award for services to photography in the categories of Wedding and Portrait & Fashion and Glamour.  In 2011 Damian was also awarded the rank of Master Craftsman by the Guild of Photographers, an honour he is very proud of to be in such esteemed company.  2012 saw the honour role augmented by the SWPP as Damian became one of only three inaugural Grand Masters of the Societies

April 2013 announced as Olympus UK's principal photographer and educator... a very proud day.

Add to the above 7 International Fellowships, including an Honorary Fellowship awarded in the 2000 Millennium Celebrations for Services to Photography, and you should by now get the picture, (no pun intended), as to where Damian is as a professional photographer.             

Sometimes referred to as "The BIG Dog", (it's a long story but one he will happily share with whoever wants to hear), he has also been called many other things throughout his career, and some of those are even printable! More often than not in the photographic press he’s referred to as the “Magician” or the “Lighting Wizard”, terms of endearment that best describes his ability to create beautifully lit fashion, beauty and portrait imagery simply anywhere... ...under any circumstance!

A worldwide advocate of “Strobism”, (Minimal Kit - Maximum Effect), Damian is well known for teaming any & all portable lighting with his own, personally designed Damian McGillicuddy Lighting Modifiers. These are a range of collapsible, highly portable light modifiers & light shaping tools designed by the man himself!

McGillicuddy and his close knit team are based at their fully-functional studio in Chester, Cheshire, where they offer the entire range of photographic services. (for Studio Services call +44 01244380881) However, you are just as likely to find them out on location somewhere in the world, or taking time assisting other photographers by sharing his knowledge through one of his many photographer-focused training workshops.