Black and White Family Photographer, Dublin.

Cara Hodge
1 day ago
2 min read

UPDATED POST. August 2026

Hi, I'm Cara, a Dublin Family Photographer - photographing children, babies and newborns as well as loved up couples and small weddings.

I do local family photography sessions in Blackrock and Seapoint.

You can normally find me around Dublin locations on the South side from Ballbridge to Dalkey - but I travel all over Dublin and Wicklow.

I am an award winning family photographer and I specialise in traditional as well as relaxed and very natural child, baby and newborn portraits, both at home and on location in a favourite place outdoors.

Below, a picture of me with my French bulldog, Tony

Cara Hodge Photographer with a French bulldog called Tony

I started my family photography with mostly black and white photos of my children at home and in the garden.

(Black & white family photography. At home).

Now I always include black and white photos in my family gallery.

baby at the kitchen table with siblings gathered around

Perhaps because colour is our everyday reality - we are surrounded by colour and noise - that black and white strips away colour to the essentials of gesture and expression.

Here is a favorite of my boy under the fig tree in the garden. I love to use trees in my photography (emotive family portraits/Girl under the apple tree)

boy staring through lush leaves of a fig tree. at home natural family photography dublin — The Fig Tree

Hand edited Black and White Family Photography.

I usually don't do black and white conversions straight from colour images. Instead, I layer on different monochromatic tones to create depth and tones. When I do an at home newborns, I love to look out for good lighting spots in your home.

Below, (Natural newborn at home. In black & white)

mum and dad on master bed holding newborn baby on the bed

priest welcoming baby about to be christened at the pews

couple kissing and holding a baby scan at graduation

Sometimes props can be a way into making more emotive child & family portraits (black & white family photography with a measuring tape)

a boy leaning against a portrait if a severe duke, where the child's face matches expression in the painting. emotive, multipls ward winning child and family photographer dublin. candid, dramatic child portraits — The Duke

I've lost count of how often I used this wheelbarrow for child and family portraits over the years! I also offer Mentoring in family photography, including black and white family photography Dublin,

handsome young man with long hair pushing gorgeous girl with braided hair in a wheelbarrow. couples and surprise proposals photography Dublin — Couple in a wheelbarrow

young handsome man in hawain style patterned shirt undone showing chest with his girlfriend leaning against him. couples photo shoots by cara hodge photography in dublin — Happy

Black and White - Perfect for Documentary Family Photos.

it's fair to say I am a huge fan of black and white documentary family photography. There are times when a black and white photo is perfect for really appreciating gesture and expression.

brother laughing and chuckling at his sister lying with arms spread on carpet next to him and hair fanned out. at home natural family photographer dublin. photographing babies, newborns and children — Fearless

As well as emotive child portraits, black & white is perfect capturing intimate moments of interaction as well as special celebrations with big groups of people.

(Unscripted Documentary Family Photography)

You can also see more documentary family photography in Untamed Summer Story.

Take a look at my family galleries for more inspiration. For more info, please see my session FAQ & Frequently Asked Questions.