BIOGRAPHY
Michael McLaughlin — commercial, editorial and PR photographer, Westport, Co. Mayo.
More than 26 years of professional experience working with businesses, agencies, public bodies and editorial clients across Ireland.
Michael McLaughlin is a commercial, editorial, PR and landscape photographer based in Westport, Co. Mayo. He works across Ireland for businesses, agencies, public bodies and editorial clients on commercial campaigns, PR and press, corporate communications, tourism, construction and industrial commissions.
His client work covers sectors including pharmaceutical and life sciences, agri-food, tourism and hospitality, technology, government and the public sector, and culture and heritage. He is experienced in pharmaceutical cleanroom and GMP manufacturing environments, where confidentiality, technical precision and procedural awareness are essential, and works regularly with marketing teams, PR agencies and creative directors on long-term programmes.
Through Michael McLaughlin Studios, he provides a full range of visual media services — stills photography, corporate video production, drone photography and aerial video, construction timelapse and professional retouching — for businesses, agencies, developers, public bodies, tourism brands and editorial clients. As a licensed and insured drone pilot with Safe Pass accreditation, Michael is set up to work calmly and reliably on active construction sites, industrial facilities and other sensitive corporate environments.
His photography is widely published, with images appearing on the front pages of national newspapers and in international titles. Most recently, he received PPI 1st Place in Multimedia (2026) and PPI 1st Place in Portrait (2025).
Alongside his commercial practice, Michael's fine art photography has been selected for the Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition (2022) and the inaugural Ballinglen Arts Foundation and Museum of Art Biennial International Open Call Exhibition (2023–24), and was longlisted for the Aesthetica Art Prize 2023 with work published in 125 Contemporary Artists.
Michael is a full member of Press Photographers Ireland (PPI), an associate member and judge for the Irish Professional Photographers & Videographers Association (IPPVA), and continues to exhibit nationally and internationally.
Credentials and Memberships
- More than 26 years of professional experience
- Licensed and insured drone pilot
- Safe Pass accredited for active construction sites
- Full member of Press Photographers Ireland (PPI)
- Associate member and judge for the IPPVA
Recent Awards — Press Photographers Ireland (PPI)
- PPI 1st Place, Multimedia (2026)
- PPI Best Use of Technology (2026)
- PPI 1st Place, Portrait (2025)
- PPI 1st Place, Arts & Entertainment (2021)
- PPI Shortlisted, Nature and the Environment (2021)
IPPVA — Irish Professional Photographers & Videographers Association
- Photographer of the Year (2015)
- Commercial Photographer of the Year (2022)
- Press Photographer of the Year (2019, 2022)
- Landscape Photographer of the Year (2016, 2022)
- Creative Photographer of the Year (2022)
- Associateship (2013)
- Best Portfolio — Open Art & Creativity (2012)
- Best Portfolio — Travel & Pictorial (2012)
FEP — Federation of European Professional Photographers
- European Photographer of the Year, Finalist (2015)
- Bronze Camera, Landscape (2016)
- Bronze Camera, Nature (2022)
International Photography Prizes
- Minimalist Photography Awards — 2nd Place + Honorable Mention, Architecture (2022)
- Black & White Spider Awards — 1st Place Architectural, 1 Honorable Mention, 4 Nominations (2015); 1 Honorable Mention, 5 Nominations (2013); 5 Nominations (2012)
- PX3 Prix de la Photographie, Paris — Honorable Mentions (2015, 2016)
Exhibitions and Fine Art Selections
- Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin (2022)
- The Ballinglen Arts Foundation and Museum of Art, First Biennial International Open Call Exhibition (2023–24)
- Aesthetica Art Prize Longlist, published in 125 Contemporary Artists (2023)