The life of a Portnoo stills photographer

By Harry Walsh

MARK Sheen took up photography as a hobby while he was a student in St Columba’s Comprehensive School, Glenties.

It never occurred to the young man from Portnoo that being a stills photographer on set of TV and film was an actual job, until he got an opportunity to work on a feature film titled ‘It Is In Us All’ in 2020.

“I always thought those images were screen grabs from the film. But no, they come from a photographer on set, taking still images of the action both in front of the camera and behind the scenes,” he explained.

It’s early December and Mark is currently working as a stills photographer on Obituary, which is being filmed in Ballyshannon, and Sanctuary which is based in Dublin.

Mark’s images will be used to market the two shows over the coming months, leading up to their release. They will also be used in articles and reviews, on posters and billboards and increasingly on social media campaigns.

“Generally, before filming I will communicate with the producer and the marketing team to see what images they want captured on any given day.

“A lot of the time I’m in the background photographing the cast as they are acting out the scene, and once it is completed, I will use that opportunity to grab some portraits of the cast,” he said.

“I’m sent the script beforehand so I know the storyline, the schedule and who’s filming what on any given day,” he added.

When preparing for the shoot, Mark will have an idea of what images he would like to capture, but it’s all about picking the right moment. He explains that you have to read the room, and understand when is a good time to intervene and get the ‘money shot’.

So how did you get into the film industry?

“It was after Covid – September 2020 – when I was first introduced to Eileen Rafferty whose father Jim was an art teacher in the Comp.,” Mark explained.

“She had just moved back to Maas with her husband and young family from London where she worked as a producer. Eileen, along with her husband David, gave me a breakdown of the film industry and the many different roles within it.

“As if by chance, later that year Eileen was working on ‘It Is In Us All’ which was being filmed in Dungloe for four weeks, and when she offered me a job as a director’s assistant, I accepted without hesitation.

“When I met the producers on my first day, I used that opportunity to tell them about my interest in photography. They asked me if I would like to take some photos on set, and it was then that I realised my passion for this job.

I spent three weeks on set of ‘It Is In Us All’, and loved every moment. When it came to the film being released, I was shocked and yet delighted to see that they used one of my stills for the official poster. This image, which was captured in Dungloe very quickly between set ups, was now being used all over the world in cinemas and film festivals. It was quite a surreal moment,” he smiled.

Mark’s “dream job” is the result of a lot of hard work and sacrifice.

“It’s a niche job. There’s not that many people doing it and, therefore, it was difficult starting out. I worked in the office of various productions in a bid to build up relationships and my contacts, which I do believe has paid off in the long run.

“For example, my office supervisor on ‘God’s Creatures’ – which was filmed in Killybegs back in 2021 – has now re-hired me on a TV series titled ‘Sanctuary’ three years later. This time, the role is not based in the production office, but instead, on set as stills photographer. It has come full circle,” he said.

Emily Watson and Paul Mescal (God’s Creatures), Helena Bonham Carter, Pierce Brosnan and Gabriel Byrne (Four Letters of Love), and Dominic Cooper (Cry from the Sea) are just a few of the actors who Mark has worked alongside.

“The two productions I am working on at present finish up at the end of December and I don’t know yet what 2025 will hold. There’s so many elements to pre production which have to be in place before producers hire a stills photographer, so by its very nature, this role tends to be a last minute appointment.

“All crew members are freelancers, so making a good impression every day is important. We are lucky that there’s a lot of television and film work in Ireland at present, and the demand for crew is currently high. Although, there are no guarantees in the industry, so it doesn’t suit everyone – but it works for me. I take on a number of photography jobs at home throughout the year, so I can balance the film and TV opportunities as they arise.

“I would encourage anyone thinking about a career in this industry to go for it. No matter your skill set, there will be an opportunity for you in film and TV.

“Productions require crew of all ages and various levels of experience in many different departments. A successful project will seek accountants, electricians, makeup artists, transport drivers and set decorators to name a few. There are fantastic training opportunities all over Ireland, and great incentives to hire new entrants in an industry that is growing as the years go on ” he said.

The irony of being a film stills photographer is that your images can be some of the most widely published but not many know that the job exists.

“Each working day in this industry is completely different. Meeting new people, travelling to various locations and working different times throughout the day (or night) is the norm.

“I’m doing something I really love, and I am excited to see what the next few years bring” he said.

To date, Mark Sheen has credits on: It is In Us All, Gods Creatures, The Dry, Blue Lights, Disenchanted, Four Letters of Love, Cry from the Sea, Obituary and Sanctuary.

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