AINE TEAHAN, PHOTOGRAPHER

The person

My mother. She is a very kind and generous woman, who always has an aura of calm about her. She always manages to give the best advice and steer me in the right direction, without actually telling me what to do. If I’m half as good a mother as she is, I’ll be happy

The memory

Thirteen years ago, getting married to my husband, Mark Byrne, in a little chapel on top of a mountain, in Arthur’s Pass in New Zealand; just the two of us

The moment of the day

First thing in the morning, with sunlight streaming through the window, when everything seems possible

The song

F.E.A.R. by Ian Brown. The instrumental opening just gets me every time, and it always feels like I’m hearing it for the first time. I also love the video of him cycling backwards through the streets of Soho and Chinatown in London

The movie

Run Lola Run. I never tire of watching it. As well as an amazing soundtrack, I love the idea that the choices we make dictate our future — that we have some control over our lives. My mantra in life is, ‘What I believe makes me who I am’

The hero

My little seven-year-old boy, Oisin. He had a tough start in life, and still has his challenges, but he is so full of love for everyone and is so happy — I strive every day to be more like him

The book

I could read The Secret History by Donna Tartt over and over again. It’s also responsible for my husband and me meeting, so there are some very happy memories attached

The outfit

I recently discovered Fïnery London, and I’m a little addicted. I bought the perfect crisp, white shirt from the label, and it makes me feel good any time I wear it. I also love a pair of open-toe navy ankle-boots, which look great with jeans

The drink

Grifon Prosecco Raboso — it’s pink and sparkling, and really good value. It’s the perfect summer drink The accessory An intricately detailed silver ring, with a tiny black onyx stone in the middle, from the 1960s. I bought it from a market in Essaouira, Morocco, from the nicest man ever. I can’t handle pressure to buy, so I avoid those places like the plague, but this man let us browse happily for ages without any hassle The gadget I tried my best not to answer ‘my iPhone’ for this but, to be honest, I’d be lost without it. The thing I love best about it: it allows me the freedom of not being tied to a desk, as I can do so much of my work from it The pet hate Rudeness in people, especially rude drivers. There’s just no need for it. The friend I’m seriously lucky to be married to my best friend, Mark. We met years ago, when we both lived and worked in Hong Kong. We were friends for ages before anything happened. He recently started working Monday-to-Friday in London, and I think that’s made me appreciate him even more. Friday is now known as Daddy Day in our house The beauty product I recently started using Anu Night — a gorgeous, relaxing, lavender face-andneck balm, which completely de-stresses me at the end of the day. I love the fact that it’s completely natural, and it’s made by an Irish company The holiday My best friend in secondary school, Cristina, left Ireland to move to Italy with her family when we were in Third Year, and they took me with them on the most amazing trip to Puglia in the south of Italy. That trip has always stayed with me, and I think it was then that my love affair with travel and Italy began The piece of advice Cherish the little things, because one day you’ll look back and realise they were the big things The bar The Feather Boa in Central in Hong Kong. It’s a speakeasytype place that’s very hard to find, as there’s no sign outside. They make a mean strawberry daiquiri The hotel I recently got to visit Belmond La Residencia on a travel shoot for Cara magazine, and I was completely and utterly blown away. It’s a little piece of heaven tucked away among the hills of Deia on the island of Mallorca The hobby Painting. I dream of being a painter of big, bold, colourful canvases, which bring joy and happiness to people. I completely believe in the power of art and colour to heal and bring comfort The part of my body My legs. I feel very lucky to have inherited my mother’s long legs, which come in very handy, as I took up running a few years ago The celebrity The Dalai Lama. I got to hear the Dalai Lama speak when I lived in Sydney. As well as being supremely wise, what struck me was his playful sense of humour — he had everyone in stitches. One of my favourites quotes of his is: ‘If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito’ The virtue I try to always think the best of people, and be as kind as possible. You never know what’s going on in another person’s life The vice I’m afraid I have a bit of a sweet tooth, and chocolate is definitely my vice. However, I now make these chocolate crunchies with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and 70pc dark chocolate, so I still get my chocolate fix without too much of the guilt The smell Escale A Portofino by Christian Dior. It’s a really refreshing scent of bergamot and orange blossom. It brings back happy memories of living in Italy as an Erasmus student. My little boy calls it ‘summer in a bottle’ The taste It would have to be the taste of my go-to comfort meal, which is spaghetti with olive oil, garlic, chilli and prawns. It never fails me