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Capturing precious moments: In home family photographer Dublin

Writer's picture: Cara HodgeCara Hodge

Heartfelt in home family photographer, right in the heart of Dublin. Although I am based in Blackrock, I travel to locations all over Dublin, including your own home and garden.


Your home and garden is more than just a backdrop, it's where your most cherished memories are made. Every room in your house can set the scene for in-home family sessions, each room telling a tale of its own. Capturing the narrative of your family's unique story.


Below, baby boy photographed in his garden at home in Blackrock with mum and two dogs.


baby boy sat between his two dogs with mum watching over, sat in blanket in the garden
Family Portrait in the Garden

In home sessions are suitable for children of all ages, adults too, as well as babies and newborns. Many people choose an in-home family photography session for parties and celebrations, for birthdays, communions, or just because.


Dublin Newborn Photographer in the Comfort of Your Home


Below, bringing home your baby for the first time. When the world stands still and your home is the bubble of love as you get to know baby for the first time!


new mum holding a newborn wrapped in a  white blanket on the sofa at home
First baby

The wonderful thing about having your newborn photos done in the relaxed, fuss free comfort of your own home is that you don't have to travel - I can come to you!

Often newborn family sessions can be scheduled around 10 am when your baby and other small kids are fresh from sleep!


The sofa or master bed can be a simple comfortable space for a baby portrait.

Window light can create the perfect illumination for a natural baby portrait. No need for stiff, awkward poses, I focus on natural interactions with your baby during Dublin in home newborn photo sessions!


mum and dad dressing baby on the bed
Dressing baby

Here is another baby portrait lying on sofa with head turned naturally towards the window light, gently illuminating his features and bringing out the catch light in hiss eyes.


baby on sofa, close up with head turned towards the window light
Baby on Sofa

Another baby portrait at home. Close up newborn portraits can bring out the soft texture of the surrounding blankets and bed linen, adding a sense of cozy softness to baby. I love the gentle creases in the white duvet to set the scene.


newborn sleeping on master bed wrapped in white blanket
Newborn on the bed at Home

Authentic In-home Documentary Family Photography Dublin: Celebrating Love and Connection.


As well as more traditional family and child portraits, my style crosses into Dublin documentary family photography. Documentary photography, also known as Reportage, is about capturing moments as they unfold naturally. This type of family photography means it is unposed and unpredicatble, which is perfect for small children and babies who don't know the meaning of posing anyway! It also makes the in home photo sessions fun as children are very comfortable at home and can be authentically themselves!


You can continue doing all the activities you normally would at home and I will follow you around with my camera!


Below, a picture of my son leaping through the air with a pillow, mid flight!


boy jumping on bed obscured by a flying pillow
Fly

The thing with ALL families is that they are perfectly imperfect. My family sessions are all about embracing the messy, chaotic, and less than perfect emotions. Embracing the stuff that happens in between the moments you are all "getting ready" for your session. Who said life is what happens when you are busy making other plans? Well, the same goes for family photography!


Documentary family photography in your own home means including grumpy little faces, and not just smiles and laughter!


boy sitting on window ledge at home in bedroom with grump face illuminated by pinnk glow in dark lights
Pink glowing lights

A Dublin Family Session At Home - but what about the LIGHT?


Worried your house is too dark, too brigh?


In home family sessions also means capturing moments in less than ideal light. It means embracing low light, high contrast light, dappled light, diffused light - all times of the day.

I make the most of natural light and avoid flash photography even when light at home is dark. Partly because my camera and Sigma lens can handle low light pretty well. Partly because natural light creates natural contrast of light and shade, perfect for dramatic family photos.


Usually this means making the most of window light!


boy jumping on bed and punching the air with delight, daylight streaming in through open door
Half Dark

Environmental Child and Family Portraits In Your Home.


Environmental child, baby & family portraits are defined by the surroundings that add character to the portrait, telling us something about the person. It's my favourite thing to photograph because I take into consideration the backdrop, or room in your home, and its character too.


Below an environmental family portrait with mum, dad, baby boy and dog. Including the room, you can see the family in their living room clearly, and in years to come, this photo will bring back memories of life at home with their new baby.


I include all family members - all siblings and extended family are welcome to drop by. I also love to include the furry members of the family (I have lost count of all the dogs I have photographed).


mum, dad on carpet kissing with newborn baby and a fluffy dog
Snug

Family Photos In the Garden


If you have a garden, or outdoor space right near your home, we can include it in the photos.


I love to do family portraits framed by a tree or flowers in the garden, and natural light is always very flattering outside. All sun light, even cloudy and overcast!


boy in toy truck about to collapse on to dad's lap with mum and baby girl watching
Tumble

A little word about wardrobe


Although I give wardrobe tips with any family session, there is no pressure to "dress up". I often find that dressing in comfortable clothes that you might naturally wear around the house works really well. After all, home is all about COMFORT and feeling at ease.


Throwback: family Portraits at Home in Blackrock, Dublin.


A toy filled den prepared for the family photos in the living room. I loved the jumble of stuffed animals, toys, and the upturned stool - the set up added so much character.


Although these family portraits in the living room are semi posed, I love how authentic expressions are as the babies are totally themselves, adding to the fun.

 Baby pulling mum's hair as family sits on chairs for a group portrait
Fun

mum & dad surrounded by toys and games in the living room surrounded by children's toys and stuffed animals
Love

Family Photography Dublin packages.


I am a professional award winning family photographer Dublin with over 12 years experience photographing adults, children and babies.


 For more about how I started my photography journey please visit "The Beginning" of it all and about Cara.


I have four main Dublin family photography sessions to choose from, aimed to cover the needs of all families, including my mini sessions, available through the year in Blackrock Dublin and Seapoint beach near Monkstown.


My lifestyle and family session packages include ALL the pictures in the gallery. No need to pick or choose, you simply get all the best edited pictures from the session, and I offer tips on how to prepare for outdoor family sessions as well as in home sessions.


Embrace the beauty of imperfection and the authenticity of real-life moments with my in-home family photography sessions in Dublin. I


CONTACT ME to start planning your session


Have a great week,


Cara x


group family portrait with mum, dad two boys surrounded by toys and stuffed animals
Family

dad lifting up baby boy into the air, at home family portrait
With dad

Also when the weather is good, we can venture outside into the garden!


mum, dad and two boys playing with toys out in the grass
Ball



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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
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