Hey, It’s HElen here; Wedding and boudoir photographer

Photography

For me, it is simply the best feeling working with people to capture authentic, special moments in their lives and tell their story through photography. I adopt a documentary-style approach, capturing the genuine hugs, belly laughs, and tears of joy as they happen. This means less time directly looking at the camera feeling awkward and more time just being your naturally wonderful selves.

When I decided to go professional, it was always my aim to be a wedding photographer. I just love everything about weddings and always have. There is something beautiful about watching two people tell the world, ‘I choose this human forever’. There is a way a couple looks at each other on their wedding day that is so unbelievably special, and being part of that and capturing it for people means I truly have the best job in the entire world!

My boudoir sessions are also very close to my heart. As a photographer, you explore many different avenues to discover what you are good at and what you enjoy. When I began working with women to photograph them looking and feeling like absolute goddesses, it made my heart sing. I enjoy creating a fun and safe space for women to embrace a side of themselves that they may have forgotten existed amidst the demands of work and home life. The incredible feedback I received from women spurred me to continue with this style of photography and truly invest in this aspect of my work.

ADVENTURE

Visiting India was my biggest adventure after becoming a mother, and it marked a turning point in my life in many ways. I left my husband and children in the UK and embarked on an incredible journey to India with my best friend. I pushed past my mum guilt and fears and went for it, and something wonderful happened. I stood in front of the Taj Mahal with my iPhone and swore to myself there and then that when I got home, I would finally buy myself a ‘proper’ camera, and that’s exactly what I did. It was in that moment, that spark, when Wild Heart Photography was truly born.

TRAVEL

Over the years, I have moved around quite a lot for work opportunities and have lived in places like Corfu and London, among others. Naturally, I have built a career around two of the most important aspects of my life: photography and travel.

I have been fortunate enough to embark on some incredible journeys, including scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, taking road trips across America, and a ghostly experience in the Pyramids of Giza.

I love exploring architecture and people-watching in bustling cities, but I equally enjoy venturing into nature to witness waterfalls, rainforests, and other natural wonders.

Travelling as a family has always been important to me, and we have begun to accumulate some amazing adventures as the Egan clan. It has been truly rewarding to watch my children learn and grow through these experiences.

Last year, we undertook a 2 week road trip from Venice to Sorrento, and I can honestly say it was one of my favourite adventures with my children to date

MUSIC

Music is my life. I love going to gigs, festivals, and even the odd rave. According to Spotify, I’m in the top 1% of listeners, with last year’s total sitting at an unbelievable 77,000 hours of music.

I have a really wide taste in music and choose what I listen to each day based on the memories and emotions I want to revisit.

If I want to immerse myself in early childhood memories of my mother and grandma, I’ll put on Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac, John Denver, The Carpenters, and Tracy Chapman. My dad, on the other hand, was obsessed with Bob Marley and reggae music—so much so that, while most people played Christmas songs on Christmas morning, our house was different. Picture this: fairy lights glowing, presents under the tree, and instead of festive carols, I was opening my gifts to Buffalo Soldier.

Fast forward to my teenage years, and it was all about 90s music, especially dance music. Throw in some Dr. Dre and garage tunes, and I’m 16 again.

Somewhere along the way, I had my emo phase, and to this day, you’ll still find me listening to Fall Out Boy, Paramore, System of a Down, and a dash of Linkin Park

Living in Corfu—my first big solo adventure—was a time of making lifelong friends, and the soundtrack to that era was definitely College Dropout by Kanye West, Vehicles & Animals by Athlete, and Original Pirate Material by The Streets.

My early 20s in London? That was all about house music, especially funky house!

Drum & Bass, though, has remained one of my absolute favorite genres. I have definitely not grown out of it, and once a year, you’ll find me at an incredible rave in the forest at Belvoir Castle.

And this barely scratches the surface! Honestly, I could talk about my love of music forever!

So, it’s safe to say that whatever you’re playing on the dance floor, I’ll be out there loving it too!

MY WEDDING

The Proposal. After becoming parents, we decided to take our first trip away together. We went to Iceland, exploring geysers, glaciers, and—of course—searching for the Northern Lights. Alas, they didn’t reveal themselves.

I’m not going to lie—after over ten years together and two children, I was secretly hoping this would be the trip where he’d finally propose. But as our last night came to an end, there was no ring and I went to bed a disappointed.

The next morning, we headed to the Blue Lagoons on the way back to the airport before our late afternoon flight. We waded into the gorgeous blue water, surrounded by snow-covered mountains. With the hot water against the cool air, the mist rose around us, creating this quiet, dreamlike atmosphere where you were unaware of others. We found a secluded corner and out of nowhere, he pulled out a ring box and presented me with the most beautiful ring—the very one I pointed out in a shop window over a year before. Of course, I said yes!

The Wedding. Back in 2007, we took a trip to Budapest to attend the Sziget Festival. The trip was really special to us and we fell in love the with the city. We visited a landmark called the Fisherman’s Bastian and it stole my heart. On my return home I was Googling the Bastian and found out that you could get married there. From that moment on I began crafting a wild dream wedding plan—one that reflected both my very mindful, very demure side and my inner wild child (also things Chris would love to of course).

After he proposed to me, it was time for me to make my proposal to him about the dream wedding I had silently been crafting away at for years and he loved it! In-fact we managed to convince 50 of our closest family and friends that they would love it too!

10 years on, that initial wedding plan came to life and we all flew out to Budapest for our wedding ceremony at the Fisherman’s Bastion—a stunning, gothic-style castle perched on a hill overlooking the city. I walked down the aisle, a beautiful stone terrace with incredible views to Live Forever by Oasis, played on guitar and violin. I wore a champagne satin Bagley & Mischka fishtail dress, my beloved Jimmy Choos but most importantly, my Grandmas Hazel’s necklace.

After the ceremony, we had our wedding breakfast and speeches in a beautiful outdoor courtyard at a nearby restaurant. Sounds pretty traditional so far, right?

Well, here’s where things took a turn…

Cue a dress change back at the hotel. This time, I slipped into a more free flowing, champagne Jenny Packham satin halter neck dress with cascading beads down the back. We then walked through the streets of Budapest with our guests to board a boat for a two-hour cruise along the Danube River. That’s where we cut our cake, blared out our wedding playlist and had our first dance to If I Had a Gun by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.

Still not that wild?

Well, after docking at Óbuda Island in the middle of the Danube, we headed straight into Sziget Festival for our reception with all of our guests! Our wedding coordinator had arranged for 20 camping chairs to be brought onto the boat, which we carried into the festival and set up near the main stage.

That night, we danced in the middle of a festival, surrounded by our closest friends and family, while Iggy Azalea, Galantis, and Macklemore performed live.

Dancing at a festival, in my wedding dress, with the people I love most—it was, without a doubt, one of the best experiences of my life!