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Beautiful and Light-Filled: Dublin Christening Photographer.

Writer: Cara HodgeCara Hodge

UPDATED POST, February 2025


Hi, I'm Cara, a Dublin family photographer that also does milestone events such as Baptism and Christening photos across Dublin.


My style is a mix of traditional family and child portraits and also, Fly On The Wall: Documentary Family Photography, that captures natural moments as they unfold through the Baptism. As well as covering the mass itself, I can also capture the day before and after the ceremony, such as preparations and also any celebrations afterwards, in a venue or in your own home and garden.


There is no need to pick and choose your favourite pictures from the photo session with me. All my family sessions, including Christening, come with a complete set of edited pictures, either in colour or classic black and white.

I offer print information so you can print your pictures, but I also do offer professional prints, framed prints and handcrafted albums.


I absolutely loved doing this Orthodox Baptism in Stonybatter Dublin. A fun-filled, light-filled baptism in this gorgeous Greek Orthodox church of the Annunciation, below.


baby baptised in a golden urn with flowers and candles
Orthodox Baptism

Below, capturing the moment when the priest poured water on baby's head. Here at Church of St Laurence O'Toole, near Stillorgan.


wetting of baby's head at baptismal font, close up of priests hand
Wetting Baby's Head

Proud dad holding his baby boy swaddled in a white blanket!


about to be christened, dad holding baby swaddled in a white blanket over the font
At the Pew

Little baby boy waiting to go to Church for a Christening at Church of St. Therese, near Deer Park, Mount Merrion, Dublin.


baby in white clothes and cap tucked into mum's winter fur coat
Swaddled, Baptism

When you're a baby, candles's are great to look at!


in church, baby dressed in white for baptism looking curiously at a candle
Candle

Lots of fun at this Orthodox Christening. Red candles and gold everywhere...


baby laughing held by mum in a church with priests and family watching by
Laughter In the Church

Getting dressed after the wetting of the baby's head!


after the wetting of the baby's head in a christening, hands wrapping baby in towel and robes
After the wetting

Drying off with mum and dad!


baby being dried after wetting at a christening with family
After the Christening

So much activity in the church at a baptism! It was wonderful to catch up with this particular family again. (I had already taken their baby photos the year before. That time it was an Autumn Family Photography session in a park in Blackrock, Dublin.)


Now, on this occasion, the whole extended family was at the church in Stonybatter to celebrate this sweet little boy's Orthodox baptism. Family and friends congregated outside the church for some family portraits before the service.


Some babies and young children shy away from the camera, however, this baby finds the camera fascinating. He is very curious! The golden glow of candles. All the flowers! The smell of incense!


When he was baptized in the urn, he did cry. However, very quickly mum and dad had him wrapped up warm in his white baptism clothes.


mum dressing baby in golden clothes after a christening with priests standing by and family
Getting dressed in white

Below, the beautiful baptism boy as the priest hands baby back to family at the pews!


priest holding baby boy and passing him to dad swaddled in a blanket
Baby with Priest

Family stroking baby's cheek in the church. It's lovely to get as many family interactions as possible with baby, friends and family.


family hugging baby in church, two young girls stroking his cheek
Much much loved

Close up of baby in his car seat. Although church's can be quite dark, where there is available light sources by candles in windows, it's possible to get clear baby portraits in lovely natural light.


close up of baby in white clothes in a car seat
Darling Boy!

After the mass, capturing friends and family - this little girl was busy colouring!


little girl looking up at camera whilst colouring in a book

Mum and dad holding baby boy at a Christening in Holy Cross Church, Dundrum.


mum and dad in church holding baby boy with friends and family sitting talking in the pews
Holy Cross Church Dundrum

Family stopping to say Hi to the Christening boy - I love his little bow tie!


grandma saying hi to chrictening boy in church at alter with bow tie
Bow tie

Hug for mum in the lovely soft light of stained glass windows at the alter of Holy Cross Church, Dundrum


mum hugging babptism boy at the alter in natural light of stained glass windows



family caressing baby's head in church

Having fun in the pews with dad before the mass!


dad turning baby boy upside down in church with family watching

Capturing this little boy in the pews!


little boy, guest at christening leaning over pews with dad and pregnant mum
Hello in Church

Below, up to mischief


little boy leaning across pews in church with mum dad, friends and family

Arriving in the church, sometimes more than one family are Christened at the same time.


buggies and family entering church for christening, smartly dressed
Entering the church

Below, capturing celebrations after a Christening mass - chasing balloons at a celebratory lunch in The Greedy Eagle Pub, Glasthule, Dublin


twin boys chasing balloons in a restuarant
Chasing balloons!

Hi, Let's celebrate together!


two young beautiful women holding glasses of champagne among balloons in restaurant
Party!

Looking smart in matching baseball jackets!


twin boys in matching baseball jacket in a restaurant
Twin boys!

Holding baby boy tight in the Orthodox church - so much gold and light!


baby held tight by mum inside a Greek Orthodox church with religious paintings hanging on walls and family milling around
Baptism Boy!


For more baptism and my Cara, Dublin Christening Photographer sessions, please see my Christening in Holy Cross Church Dublin.

My Christening pictures can be during the mass at the church as well, as before & after, preparing and celebrating this beautiful milestone occasion at home with family and friends.


Contact me to find out more about my family session packages including Christening family photos!


Have a fab week,


Cara x


baby laughing with uncle holding a lit candle, inside church at a baptism


baptism portrait with priest blessing baby



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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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