UPDATED, March 2025.
Hi, I'm Cara, a family portrait photographer based in Blackrock, Dublin!
It's Spring and the cherry blossom will soon be out! A great time of year for a outdoor Spring family photo session.
As of 2024, I have been focusing a lot on shorter length family sessions, from 45 minutes to one hour. I have mini seasonal sessions that run throughout the year in my local area of Blackrock, Dublin, and Seapoint Beach near Monkstown. The beauty of a mini session, is it's just enough time to capture quick family portraits, ideal for children who have little time for posing!
See recent family portraits from my mini family photo shoot below!
Cara Hodge Photography - So what to expect from a Dublin Family Portrait Session with me.
Whether its a mini or longer length session, I specialise in a mix of classic child portraits as well as capturing more candid moments with a documentary style. In general, the 45 minute mini session will cover semi posed family portraits including children and babies, and some time left over for more natural, unposed photos where I take your lead!
For more traditional family portraits, I tend to shoot quickly so that children don't get bored and fidget (after all, that's what kids do best!). I know kids love to go off and explore, so when I do more posed photos, I avoid giving too many prompts.
I might just say: I'm counting back from 3. You don't need to smile, just keep your eyes open! 3-2-1!! Once the more traditional portraits and group shots are done, I will often follow the children and let them guide me on their explorations!
It usually takes 1-2 weeks for me to choose and edit all the best moments from our time together. You receive a password protected gallery of edited photos with a personalised cover.
Capturing Joy through My Lens: The Innocence of Childhood
I am really all about capturing genuine moments and expressions that is part and parcel of the innocence of childhood.
I took some photos of my son with an old frame I found lying about. I love his beautiful, radiant smile.
My editing style leans towards classic black and white and colour with a vintage-inspired touch.
Vintage-inspired picture editing brings a timeless beauty to family photos, evoking nostalgia and warmth.
A vintage inspired approach can mean slight desaturating colours but adding warmth and tint. Look at baby's gorgeous smile here - I love to get in close and capture all the joyful details in my frame.
Dublin In Home family Portraits? Making the most of Simple Props lying about...
As well as doing sessions in outdoor locations around Dublin, I also specialise in in-home family portraits. In home sessions are super convenient - there is no need to organise a trip out - I come to you! They are perfect for smaller children, babies and newborns who have toys readily at hand.
Using natural props at home can bring the best out of your children or baby. For example, having toys in the garden (below), gave lots of opportunity for semi posed and fun family portraits in the garden in Stillorgan.
Like my mini sessions in my local area, my in-home Dublin family sessions range from 45 minutes. Still plenty of time for traditional family portraits and some more care free moments!
Family and Child Portraits - Painting with Natural Light
Light is so important to consider! Diffuse light will give you a clear portrait, whereas dramatic light, with intense light and shade, will give you a completely different vibe. Sometimes it can be fun to capture lighting effects in a portrait, such as these light spots across baby's face.
Below, much more even light under the shade of trees.
Below, shelter in a stone courtyard. Although it was midday, this stone courtyard offered shade from intense lighting conditions.
I like my newborn and Dublin family photo shoots to be fun and fuss free! I will suggest things for kids to do to interact playfully.
It might be to give a sibling a hug to capture hands and gesture! Below, an in home Communion session in Dundrum.
A communion girl twirling : I asked her to twirl around to capture her dress fanning out!
Or, I encouraged this little girl to climb a tree!
Here below, we had fun with props such as tennis balls and silk flowers! More to follow from this in home family session in Booterstown.
As well as finding me in Blackrock and Seapoint for my minis, I do many family sessions around South Dublin, including Stillorgan, Booterstown, Ballsbridge, Dunlaoghaire, Sandycove, Glasthule and Dalkey Village.
I also travel far and wide around Dublin, making the most of beach, parks and City locations.
All my Dublin family session packages come with a curated and edited gallery of photos so there is no need to choose your favourites - you get the whole collection. In addition, I offer a range of handcrafted albums and books, professional prints and framed prints.
I have four family sessions ranging from 45 minutes to 8 hour documentary family sessions where the focus is on capturing your family as naturally as possible, "a slice of life".
Please Contact me to book and visit my Frequently Asked for extra info!
Have a good week, Cara x
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