Chasing the Light: A Private Photography Tour of Ireland with Paul

There’s a particular kind of frustration every photographer knows: the coach pulls up, you’ve got ninety seconds before the group moves on, and the light is just starting to do something magical. By the time you’ve found your composition, you’re being called back to the bus.

That’s exactly the problem a private chauffeur tour solves — and it’s one of my favourite things to do behind the wheel.

After 25 years showing people around this island, I’ve learned where the light falls best, which car parks empty out by evening, and which viewpoints most tour buses simply can’t or won’t stop at. A photography tour with Setanta isn’t a fixed itinerary with photo stops bolted on — it’s built around your camera bag from the start. Sunrise starts? We leave in the dark. Golden hour runs long? We wait it out. Need to double back because the clouds just broke? Done.

Here are a few of the spots I love bringing photographers to — all shot on past tours.

The Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

The classic for a reason. Everyone gets the postcard shot from the main path — fewer people know the angles further along the cliff walk, where you get the full sweep of the rock face and the sea stack in one frame, with a fraction of the crowd. Timing matters here more than almost anywhere else on the west coast.

Sky Road, Clifden

One of Connemara’s best-kept secrets for photographers. The loop road climbs above Clifden with the islands of Clifden Bay scattered out below, and on a clear day the light on the water changes completely every few minutes. It’s a short detour off the main Wild Atlantic Way route, which is exactly why it’s worth having a driver who knows to build it in.

Connemara’s turf bogs

Not a landmark, but one of my favourite quietly beautiful scenes — stacks of cut turf drying out against the Twelve Bens in the background. It’s a piece of working rural Ireland that most visitors drive straight past. I like stopping here because it tells a story the cliffs and castles don’t.

A hidden lake, Beara Peninsula

Up above the road on the Beara, with a local sheep for company more often than not. Views like this are the reward for the climb, and they’re rarely crowded — most people stick to the coast road and never look up into the hills.

Small coves and harbours along the coast

The little working harbours along the Wild Atlantic Way are some of the most photogenic, least photographed spots in the country — old boats, nets, and stone piers with real character. These are the stops I add in when I can see a client’s eye lighting up at something off the main route.

How a photography day works

• You set the pace. No fixed departure times dictated by a group. If you want a 5am start for sunrise, we do a 5am start.
• Flexible stops. See something from the road? We pull in. Simple as that.
• Local knowledge. Best angles, quietest times, and the small changes in weather or light worth waiting for.
• Comfort between shoots. Six-seater Mercedes V-Class, so there’s room to spread out your gear.
• Multi-day options. Chase the light across the Wild Atlantic Way, the Ring of Kerry, Connemara, or a custom route built entirely around what you want to photograph.

If you’re planning a trip to Ireland with a camera as your main travel companion, I’d love to help you make the most of the light. Get in touch and we’ll build a day — or a few days — around exactly what you want to capture.

Book your private photography tour with Setanta Chauffeur Tours →

Contact Paul directly on WhatsApp +353863409894 or by email info@setantachauffeurtours.com