top of page

Surprise proposals, engagement, couples and DUBLIN SMALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER.

Writer's picture: Cara HodgeCara Hodge

UPDATED POST, February 2025


Well, I have some exciting news to share! I am now doing Dublin small wedding photography.


newly wed couple kissing passionately in front of an oil painting in an art gallery
The Married Kiss


So as well as doing much LOVED couples, surprise proposals and engagement sessions, I will also be doing small, intimate elopements and small weddings in locations all over Dublin.


Below, a kiss reflected in the mirror of a small Christmas wedding done at The National Gallery of Ireland, with a ceremony at 5 Leinster Street


bride and groom reflection kissing in a mirror at national gallery of ireland

The bride leaving the Merrion Hotel (more photos to follow) and then the wedding ceremony and cutting the cake!


below, cutting the wedding cake!


bride and groom cutting the wedding cake together
Wedding cake!


What is exactly is a small wedding or a micro wedding photo session?


A small wedding (aka micro wedding) may have all of the glitz and glam of a larger wedding but on a smaller scale. It can suit couples who really want to get married, but want to keep it small and intimate. Or who also have other commitments besides getting married, such as saving for a house or an amazing honeymoon, or a host of other things. Other people opt for a small wedding if they're in a hurry to get married, because perhaps there is a move overseas or a pregnancy on the way, and well, why not?!


Couples photo shoots and engagement photo shoots are all about CONNECTION. A kiss is no better way to show that!



newly wed couple kissing in front of gilt mirror with family and friends watching
Kiss!

Oh, and here are more kisses xxxx. The beauty of Dublin small wedding photo sessions is that fewer friends and family means more time capturing moments of intimacy and passion!


close up bride and groom kissing in a gallery
Gallery Kiss

Below, a kiss through fairy lights...


a kiss of bride and groom taken through fairy lights at table
All Lit Up

The famous tilt and kiss wedding couples photo (below)


bride and groom doing tilt and kiss in front of a huge oil painting
Tilt and Kiss

classic, in front of a window after the reception!


couple kissing on window ledge with bride holding flowers

As well as vintage inspired soft colour that feels romantic and nostalgic, I will also edit in timeless black and white. I want my wedding photos to have the ageless feel of "looks like film" wedding photos.

I feel that small, intimate weddings really suit the Looks Like Film/Old Money Aesthetic, where less is most definitely more. Think softer colour tones, smoother contrasts, and warm tones.

What really matters is the love you share - because Love really is timeless.


And...black and white often makes a wedding photo look cinematic!


newly wed couple kissing as bride with veil holds flowers in an art gallery and husband leans in to kiss her in smart suit
Cinema Wedding Kiss

Here in the warm slightly de-saturated, vintage inspired tones. As this this was a small Dublin wedding with less than 30 people, it was easy to slip into the National Portrait Gallery for couples portraits among all the beautiful art (more wedding photos to follow/ Watch This Space!)


couple kissing on a bench in gallery of art and visitors to the gallery looking at the paintings
Gallery Kiss

Cara, Small Dublin Wedding Photographer: How long do you shoot for?


Basically, as long as you need me! I currently have three main options. A mini option of two and a half hours to cover the ceremony and newly wed couples portraits, to a whole 8 hour day - more info on my sessions on my wedding page. Small wedding photo session packages start from 950 euro!

As with my regular, family and lifestyle session packages, I deliver a full gallery of all the best moments from our time together. There is no need to pick and choose your favourites.

I also have beautiful, handmade albums and fine art books available with any session.


Below, a wedding album is pretty in pink!


wedding album with pink cover
Wedding Album, handcrafted in Yorkshire.


Aside from weddings, I love to photograph LOVE in general - including all types of romantic couples sessions, including Dublin maternity photos.


Dublin Couples, engagement and Surprise proposal sessions with Cara.


With that said, this mini couples session was about making the most of half an hour in a summer meadow. Outdoor romantic sessions are about choosing a location you love and feel most comfortable in.


Couples, engagement and surprise proposals sessions are about you turning up as you are. Either very casual or else a bit more dressy (if you are feeling it!). (Seapoint Engagement Dublin, Summer Engagement, Blackrock, Dublin).


Whatever the vibe is you want to create between the both of you, I will capture these precious moments with a natural documentary approach but also include more classic portraits as well. The two of you, just as you are, no frills needed...


beautiful young woman with braids leaning against young man in white shirt showing muscles in chest by a leafy tree and end of day light
Couple In Summer

In this summer meadow, I love to make use of props readily at hand, n this case, the old wheelbarrow...again. (The wheelbarrow Summer family portraits Dublin).


The wheelbarrow is great for family photo shoots with kids small enough to fit in, but also with adults way to BIG!! After all, when couples are having fun, the expressions are light & fun-filled. It's a great way to encourage connection.

young handsome man with beard pushing his girlfriend inside a wheelbarrow across a summer field in golden light. Young beautiful woman in wheelbarrow laughing in a summer white cotton dress. summer couples photo shoot by cara hodge, natural lifestyle and family photographer dublin.
Wheelbarrow Frolicks

In my couples and family galleries, I will present a mix of color portraits as well as black & white. All my black & white pictures are carefully hand edited from scratch.


young handsome man pushing young beautiful girlfriend in a wheelbarrow. photo shoots for surprise proposals dublin. outdoor natural light, on location couples photo shoot
Ride

On a typical couples photo session, you can also expect individual portraits as well. Aside from cendid moments, there may be some portraits that involve a bit of staging. I might take into consideration the backdrop such as a beautiful, old tree ...


This couples session took place around 6pm, but as the sun sets so late in the summer, I had to embrace hard light. Although I used to freak out at the idea of harsh light, particularly dappled light, now I try to embrace dramatic contrasts. For instance, on this communion session in Donadea Forest Park in dappled light. (Outdoor Communion Photo Shoot)


girl standing in a wheelbarrow ina white sundress under the intense shade of summer trees, with long shadows marking the ground.
Pose Me

To embrace the summer light on this romantic couples session, I used a higher aperture number (around F4) and a high shutter speed to create bold forms rather than a blurred background. This also helps to give shapes to the shadows.


girl in white cotton sundress leaning back against wheelbarrow under shade of trees
Wheelbarrow Girl

At other times, to make the most of rim light, I use a wider aperture to create a softer background and to capture the summer haze.


beautiful young girl in a white summer dress with rim light around her hair next to a sunlit fig tree in the garden. outdoor and at home couples photographer dublin. including natural family photography, engagement and surprise proposals.
Aura

And more rim light, capturing light on hair, a favorite of mine!!


beautiful young profile with sun light in her hair and filtering through fig tree leaves outdoor in a meadow garden
Light, light, light

I loved that this couple chose to wear white cottons, perfect for a summer photo shoot. You can't go wrong with neutrals like white.


handsome young man in a white cotton shirt laughing by a fig tree with a house with white shutter behind. summer couples photo shoot
Happy

When I want to "break the ice", and prevent any self consciousness that might come with being photographed, I like to shoot quickly and capture all the in between moments, the natural expressions and gestures that speak volumes.


good looking young man with beard and open Hawain style flower shirt with his girlfriend on a rug under a tree in a field. couples and natural engagement and proposals photographer. on location dublin photo shoots
Chuckle

You can see more couples photo shoots with a wheelbarrow in Couples Summer Photo Shoot.


I had to include out friendly neighbors - the cows!


couple dressed in white cottons, with young woman hugging her boyfriend from behind, next to a cow with horns in a summer field. couples outdoor photo shoot dublin. also engagement and surprise proposals
Moo

Not too close here!


young beautiful woman in white cotton standing behind her boyfriend next to a cow with horns in summer field. surprise proposal photographer dublin. couples and engagement photo shoots
Well, Hello there!

Sometimes it is good to remember the faceless portraits. The focus here (below( is on their hands grasping. A couples romantic gallery will be a mix of all the best moments, as varied as possible.


detail of handsome man's arm as he pulls his girlfriend out of a wheelbarrow in a summer field
Pull

My couples, engagement and surprise proposals sessions can be done on location all around Dublin and the surrounding areas. Outdoor sessions can make the most of seasonal colour and can be as simple as taking a walk across a landscape you love. I will work step by step with you to make your session as memorable and meaningful as possible.


There are three steps to telling your story.


Three Steps to Telling Your Story. Couples, engagement & surprise proposals Dublin.

Journey starts here Decide on a location you love. We can take a walk together and let the story unfold naturally. Dress up or down.

Click! Romance A few prompts here and there to help you relax. Close ups of the two of you together along with you in the wider landscape. Natural couples & engagement photo shoot Dublin...

Print Print Print Your edited engagement or maternity pictures in a professional online gallery. Options for handcrafted albums in a variety of luxury covers and mounted print boxes

Couples sessions can also to be to celebrate a pregnancy, when love blossoms to start a family! (Maternity with daschunds Blackrock Dublin). I love to photograph all the states of maternity, across all three trimesters.


pregnanct couple holding daschund dogs in a park with trees and golden hour light
Maternity In Pink

Please also see my Frequently Asked Questions page that covers popular Q & A.


I look forward to taking your couples and small wedding photos soon, just contact me to ask any questions or book your couples or small wedding photo session!


Have a great week :)


Cara xx

135 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


carahodgephotographer.com

Cara Hodge Photography Blackrock Dublin

Cara Hodge is an internationally awarded, professional lifestyle, family & newborn photographer Dublin. Member of ClickPro & This is Reportage: Family

Photo shoots in a favorite place, indoor & outdoor, all natural light.

Natural newborn at home portraits & maternity, including documentary style.

Featured portfolio in Iconic Artist Magazine, Milan, Italy.

Winner of the lifestyle category of International Child Photo Competition, best of black & white, 2018. twice 2nd place, 3rd, multiple Honorable Mention & Nominee in lifestyle, fine art portrait & street, (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020).

5th place International Documentary Family Awards, "Nothing is Better Than Real Life", (2020).

 

Silver & Bronze award in Portrait, 1839 Photography Awards (2024).

Featured in Dark Room UK, Fantastically Flawed, Lemonade & Lenses, Mozi Magazine, ClickPro, Bored Panda, Design You Trust, 121 Clicks, My Modern Met, Iconic Artist, PhotoVOGUE & The Times, UK.

cara hodge photographer is a professional member of click pro elite
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
bottom of page