Outdoor Spring Family Photography Dublin. Making the most of the sunshine...

Cara Hodge
May 9
3 min read

Thinking of an outdoor Spring family Photography session? Indeed, Spring is a very busy time for Dublin family photographers, including me!

You can often find me in Blackrock, Stillorgan, Booterstown, Ballsbridge, Dunlaoghaire, Monkstown and Dalkey Village - but I travel all over Dublin for my sessions.

My mini sessions (45 mins so not so mini) run through the year making the most of seasonal colour and changing natural backdrops! I do the minis in my local area - either in a Blackrock garden or the sea at Seapoint.

With the long awaited sunshine, families really look forward to photos outside. This time of year even baby's and newborns can be photographed on blankets in the park!

Below, a family session I did a couple of weeks ago in Herbert Park, Ballsbridge, Dublin for a family celebrating Eid. Although it was very sunny around midday we made the most of shade under a big tree!

I love the rim light around little girl's head as she climbs a tree. I love to get children into trees, they enjoy the challenge of climbing them and are in their element. Also I love the contrast of a pretty celebration dress and nature. It can give a fairytale like quality to the pictures!

little girl climbing tree with pink rim light in her hair — Fairy In The Tree

Below, a gentle moment with dad. Blankets are perfect for sitting family and child portraits.

dad brushing back daughter's hair from face under tree

As well as focusing on natural moments of interaction, I love to do at least some traditional family portraits. These are the ones that a family can pass down for generations. below, mum, dad, son and daughter. Although I love a smile, i don't force families into awkward "fake"smiles when they don't want to. Natural expressions win every time!

mum, dad, son and daughter beautifully dressed on a blanket under tree

I love to focus on natural movement and gesture, and often prioritize subtle gestures that feature hands. Here, I love the henna on the hands!

mum adjusting daughter's headband with henna hands

A tender moment with mum and her children in dappled light.

mum in abaya hugging her son and daughter on a blanket under tree in dappled light

My Signature Style

I focus on classic black & white family photos and vintage inspired colour.

So, what is vintage inspired colour? It's colour that is reminiscent of the past with a nostalgic quality. This was a look that was created by using the older, vintage cameras of the day, where resolution would not have been so pin-sharp as today, resulting in a timeless, slightly faded and soft quality (think Polaroid but not quite as faded!). To achieve this look colours are gently de-saturated, with blacks and whites either emphasized or softened depending on the light, selective sharpening of details, and adding warmth and rosy or peachy tint.

Every family session is different in terms of light, but you can expect a gentle colour aesthetic rather than very rich and vibrant "loud" colours!

below mum and her baby in the garden at home.

mum lifting baby into the air sitting on a blanket in the garden at home.

Baby taking first steps outside across a daisy lawn!

mum taking baby for first steps across a daisy lawn

Dublin Family Photography Sessions with Cara.

My Dublin family sessions last from 45 minutes to 2 hours and more. Often 45 minutes or 1 hour is plenty of time to capture a variety of different moments, from semi posed portraits to totally unposed documentary family photography

A lot of families focus on documentary photos for family gatherings, parties and special celebrations.

My session packages are available to look at on my FAQ page.

There is no need to pick and choose your favourite photos from our time together - all my sessions come with an edited and curated full gallery of images. It's important to me that you get the full story of the sessions, from the most emotional moments to the tiniest details!

My turn around time is 1-2 weeks for you to get your gallery - with 10 days being the average.

As well as your digital collection complete with information about Dublin professional printers, I also offer Giclee pigment printing, framed prints, books, albums and mounted print boxing. The albums are professionally printed and handcrafted in Yorkshire, UK with Folio.