Dublin Christening Photographer in Stillorgan, Blackrock, Ballsbridge - and beyond!
- Cara Hodge
- Jul 7
- 4 min read
UPDATED POST. July 2025
A collection of some recent Christening Portraits in Dublin. You can often find me in churches around Dundrum, Blackrock, Stillorgan, Booterstown, Ballsbridge, Monkstown, Galsthule and Dalkey Village - but I am available for Christenings right across Dublin.
As a Dublin family photographer, my Christening sessions are at the intersection of traditional child and family portraits as well as documentary style family photography that focuses on natural, unposed interactions.
Documentary family photography is perfect for milestone events, such as baptism and christenings!
Below, this baby girl looked simply gorgeous in her lace Christening dress! Fairview Parish, Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Below, wetting baby's head at the font!
Kissing a family member in the pews!
Below, a beautiful recent Christening at Church of Mary the Immaculate, Rathmines.
This was such a beautiful church with lots of decoration.
Mum and grandmother together at the pews.
Below, a Christening at at a Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Dublin. Also, a baptism at Kilmacud church, Stillorgan, Church of St. Laurence O'Toole.
Our Lady Queen Of Peace Church, Ballsbridge,Dublin.
Baptism and christening are among my very favourite celebrations to photograph.
I love documentary family photography and the baptism mass allows me to capture natural moments throughout this special ceremony. Joyful, precious moments with all the celebratory and ritualistic aspects of the mass.
Comforted by mum and dad after the wetting of baby's head.
I love to capture baby laughing with dad, sat in the pews before the christening mass...
And don't forget what the other guest's children are up to in the pews!
Baptism in Kilmacud Church, Stillorgan, Dublin
This was such a fun and light-filled baptism with baby and extended family. Starting off at the church, capturing all the key moments, including when baby had his sweet head wetted. After that, a celebration lunch at a nearby hotel. (Documentary Christening Family Photography Stillorgan)
I love the way the beads of water captured as they fall across his face! It is important to capture as many key moments as possible (Emotive Family Photography)
Taking Christening photos in dark Dublin churches: What to expect...
You can expect challenging, but often vert atmospheric light - churches tend to have very low light so I make the most of any natural light I can find, from pretty church windows to candle light. There are often big candle displays that give of lots of atmospheric, golden light.
Also, rather then using flash photography, I have a Sigma 1.4 Art lens that allows me to capture good, clean photos in low light.
Using Photoshop, I reduce the brassy warmer tones caused by the artificial light to cool off the portraits. I also love to gently de-saturate colour tones for a softer look.
Dublin Christening Photos: Choosing Colour and Black and White
For this Stillorgan baptism, I edited in both colour and Classic Black & White. Often Black and White is good for documentary Christening photos as the eye is drawn to the action in the scene - the movements, expression and gesture - without the distraction of colour. Other times, colour adds to the atmosphere, all the beautiful colours of stained glass windows and warmth of candle light!
Afterwards at the Talbot hotel Stillorgan below, I went around capturing as many of the guests as possible as they sit around the tables, each taking their turns to hold baby!
I LOVE this moment when the priest sat down, holding baby, with grandfather watching with a doting expression.
Another Christening after party at home - this time hanging out at the kids' table, below:
With a two hour Christening session, it is possible to take photos of all the guests!
Portraits of gorgeous baby boy taking a rest in his pram after the Christening!
For more Christening family photo shoots Dublin, please see the Orthodox baptism in Stony batter and Holy Cross Church Christening Dundrum, Christening in Deer Park, Dublin. Also visit my Recent Photo Shoots page.
For more milestone family occasions, I also do Dublin Communion Sessions and now, I am exciting to share my other church session... Dublin Small Weddings page.
Now, with all my family sessions, you don't have to pick and choose your favourite photos from our time together!
You get a complete gallery of edited photos with any session length you choose. Christening sessions start at an hour and extend to two hours or more of documentary Christening photography to cover the mass as well as celebrations before and after the mass.
For more information on my Dublin Christening photographer sessions, please Contact me.
Cara x
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