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Hello!

My name is Thomas David Kavanagh, a photographer that shoots wedding, lifestyle and commercial portraiture. I was born and bred in Dublin, Ireland but have been living in Birmingham, England for the past decade.

I have started a photography business called Saol Photography. Saol (pronounced 'Sail') is the Irish word for 'life'. I chose this as it represents how important photography is to me as well as the type of photographs I want to make.

In this blog I will share details of how my business progresses and also the projects that I am working on. Your views and comments are greatly appreciated. All of the writing and images seen in this blog are created by me and I retain the copyright. Should you wish to use any of my images, please contact me for permission.

Thank you for taking the time to visit,
Tom :-)

Saturday 29 September 2012

A letter to my son


For the longest time I looked forward to being a dad. As the eldest of four boys I've grown up used to having noisy monsters in the house. These things said I don't think you can ever be prepared for the difference it makes to you and your life. Since my beautiful Cullan came along, things that have never bothered me before terrify me and keep me awake at night. How do I keep him safe? Support him so he grows up to be a good person?

I've never been bothered flying in an aeroplane, I figure if anything goes wrong there's little I can contribute and insufficient time to worry about it. But since I became a Dad I have a knot in my stomach each time I travel without him, each time I visit hospital or some gobsh*te almost runs me over while I cross the road. What contribution have I made for him and would he even remember me if I didn't make it home?

Not the nicest of thoughts but I did come up with a form of solution. While my little monster grows into a little man, I will write him letters and share what I can. Hopefully we can read them together and he can poke fun at his sentimental old man :-) I'll share the first one here:


Dear Cullan,

I've been proud of you since the day you were born. You'll make loads of mistakes in your life but that won't change how I feel and I'll be there for you as long as is possible.

Try to avoid regret - follow your instincts but even when bad things happen they make us better.

You can be attracted to and love a man, woman or both, from any race or background. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Never give up on love - it's the most important thing in life and the one thing you never really own. When someone gives you theirs make sure you earn it.

Be respectful to everyone but respect only those that deserve it.

Work and play should be the same thing. Find something you enjoy and make that your life. There are plenty of ways to pay the rent, but very few will make you happy at the same time. You don't have to be a footballer or a rockstar for this, working in an office might be the thing that gets you up in the morning. Whatever it is, find it and be happy.

Always ask questions - they're more important than the answers. I've been accused of having no faith, but I don't think that's true. I have faith in people, not in magic or in the gods we create. The world is a wonderful place full of mysteries and things we will never understand, but that's ok. To stop questioning is to stop thinking for yourself. You have one life and it is yours to live.

Don't trust politicians - they offer empty promises in return for power. Anyone that aims to rule is clearly incapable, at some point you'll discover what power does to people.

Try to make a difference - even if it's to one person.

Aspire to be better than those before you (especially me) - at what is for you to realise.

"Do as I say not as I do" - this is a stupid rule. If I say this to you ignore it and remind me I told you this.

Hopefully by the time you read this they will have the offending items, if not - Star Wars starts at number four and ends with six.

Love,
Dad x


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