Martin Cahill
Photographer / Storyteller / Husband

The evidence for my passion was there from childhood. I would always ask to take the pictures, to work the camcorder and to organise the content into short films, albums and boxes. A little later the local high-school put me on a course that dealt with media and film-making. I loved it and I can still remember being completely enthralled by the power of media to change the way we think about the world.

At that point in history a degree in media was looked on with some scepticism. I was too easily led by this idea, and the digital age had begun, so I studied Information Technology and later headed to Galway, Ireland where I received a fellowship to study a master’s degree in Business Studies.

My first professional position was in research; writing, creating and telling stories. I also founded two startup companies, but looking back I was only ever interested in their artistic merit. My interest was continually reverting back to the human story and I had a growing frustration that there was more I wanted to say that couldn’t be achieved with the written word or technology alone.

I travelled. I lived in Sydney, Australia, but before I left my parents bought me a Digital SLR camera. This was the moment when it all changed.

I was hooked, grappling with all the switches and buttons, knowing that I could achieve something that communicated, something that would live with people forever, but the digital images left me feeling a little cold so I returned home and spent time working with other photographers, learning all about the darkroom, shooting film and making prints. I was introduced to the work of photographers past & present – James Nachtwey, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Vivian Maier, W. Eugene Smith, Ansel Adams, Burtynsky, Atget … all the giants of the industry.

I was a photographer. There was no way back this time and I was blessed to meet Anita who gave me the resolve to see it through. She told me to trust those closest to me and to pursue the work I believed in.

In my heart I wanted to document human stories and then I photographed my first wedding. Weddings themselves bringing out the best of everything that makes us human. They are loaded with meaning and the very evident love between the bride & groom, family and friends. It is the most important human story of all.

Anita & I are now married. We live in in a small rural village close to Liverpool, with our sons Patrick and Joseph. We have a cat called Poppy. Most of our holidays and free time is spent in the West of Ireland. It is our spiritual home, and I am happiest when running into the ocean, the waves at my feet, contemplating the next story, the next couple I will meet, and the images we will create.