Dublin Family Portraits with a Vintage Feel, 2025.
- Cara Hodge
- Feb 14
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 20
UPDATED/February 2025
Hi, I'm Cara, a Dublin family photographer, photographing families, children and babies on location around Dublin. This can be a location you love outdoors, and event venue such as a hotel, or in the comfort of your own home and garden.
I do a lot of popular mini family sessions through the year, making the most of seasonal colour, in my local area of Blackrock and Seapoint beach, near Monkstown.
I have done many sessions with small kids and babies, but last year I've also done more romantic couples sessions, including a small wedding at the National portrait Gallery of Ireland!
I wrote this last February 2024. So fun to look back at this time last year!
Hi everyone, we are already mid February and it's time for my second blog of 2024. The days and weeks are already running away with me.
I have been spending a lot of time revising my website in terms of my "brand". That is to say, a website reflecting the photography I most want to create for my Dublin families.
SO...
As well as timeless black and white family photography, I have been revising my colour palette for my colour photos to create softer vintage inspired family photos.
Below, a wedding I did at the National Gallery Of Ireland.
In home session in Blackrock over Christmas. It was warm enough to do sitting family portraits on a blanket in the garden.
Below, a favourite of my daughter in a wheelbarrow wearing a pretty white cotton dress!
What is "vintage" inspired family photography?
One definition: "denoting something from the past of high quality, especially something representing the best of its kind."
Photography that is vintage inspired is reminiscent of "times gone by". An image can be considered "timeless" when it is hard to pinpoint the date it was taken/period of history, because there is something about the image that transcends time. This makes it classic, timeless, iconic
This picture of my daughter (below) has a feeling of timelessness. For a start, her plain white cotton dress is not from a particular trend, her hair in braids is reminiscent of a country side look that won't go out of fashion. Further, she is in a genuinely old battered wheelbarrow beneath an even older tree!
Creating a vintage-style photo.
A lot is in the wardrobe! Avoid clothes that scream "Now" or "this season's latest trend" in terms of fashion.
I give out wardrobe tips to all my families, although it is most important to feel comfortable and relaxed on the session!
Below, examples of relaxed, timeless clothes that could be from any era. White cotton, and white in general will never go out of fashion!
Below, the long boho skirts in lace and satin have a timeless style.
Below, more white cotton. Edited in black and white it is easier to see the pop of white that is so timeless for sunny day family and baby portraits.
Classic black and denim for this couple on a mini couples shoot in a Blackrock garden.
Long "pilgrim style" dresses have a timeless feel.
Neutrals work well for a timeless feel - white, black, navy, grey. Also, for a Dublin outdoor family photo shoot, the colours of nature work well - blue, green, brown, beige. Essentially all "earth toned" colours can give an honest-to-goodness, rustic vibe. Think all shades of brown through to burnt oranges and khaki greens.
Texture is great to consider on photo sessions. Wool, suede, leather, sheepskin - any natural or traditional weave is going to look classic. Also, don't forget denim! Either faded, distressed, or new - denim is a versatile classic.
Below, denim compliments the sea and sky - blue on blue for timeless vibes.
These little boys in their matching iconic baseball jackets.
Creating a Timeless Feel in a Natural Dublin Setting
Aside from this, choosing natural landscapes including flowers, plants and trees can add to a timeless landscape feel.
Below, autumn colour is always a classic time of the year for Dublin family photos!
Pop of red for leaves and gloves, complimenting wardrobe and nature's colours will appear harmonious.
Props can also be used that create a feel of timelessness . The rusty wheelbarrow in my garden has been a feature in many of my own child portraits. I have used blankets, soft toys and more unusual props such as vintage style teacups in family portraits.
As with the wardrobe, traditional furniture or interior spaces can help create a timeless and evocative photo.
Below, historical houses, museums and art galleries provide timeless backdrops, below, at an art gallery for newly wed portraits.
Also perfect for other romantic style couple shoots, including maternity portraits to evoke nostalgia.
Below, making use of architectural space, shot fro below to show off the grandeur of the gallery ceiling and staircase.
A "looks like film" vintage inspired colour edit for family galleries.
The "Old Money" look is a really good starting point for creating muted pictures. Here is a link to the Old Money Edit I have been getting inspiration from.
How to create it.
Lower on contrast to create a matter effect but increasing the blacks for boldness, whilst lowering also the saturation so as to get a more muted look. Also, increasing warmth and playing with tint (adding to the pinks and reds) helps to get a warmer, rosier vintage inspired look. After all, antique or vintage photography back in the day meant that colors were naturally less saturated. Also adding selective sharpening, both of fine details & overall sharpening because older pictures have what I like to call plenty of "dust n scratches".
For example, this recent fave of baby girl taking her first steps across a daisy lawn. The grass is gently de-saturated. I love how now the white of her dress pops more along with the daisies, whereas before the bright green grass might have stood out more.
Below, a softer, warmer colour edit for a birthday party in a Dublin home and garden. Again, a softer de-saturated look that allows the focus to be on the kiss but where the pretty flowers are still popping!
And here is a fave of my daughter (below). The added warmth but softened colours add a summery glow.
At the same time on working on my new color editing style, I have spruced up my Feminine Portraits, Debs & Graduation page, for relaxed and formal occasions of older children, teenagers and young adults.
Ahh!, I loved loved this outdoor mini session with baby boy. His little dungarees (heart melt). Again a less saturated look and slightly warmed up tones...
Old favourite. Black & white timeless family photography
Sharing two NEW black & white child portraits here (below) to this old blog post.
I like to use "looks like film" Replichrome actions for my black & whites.
Imperfections such as highlights and light leaks add a vintage feel.
In old times, pictures naturally had more noise and grain. "Noise" can happen naturally when a picture is taken in bright or challenging light such as midday/no shade. Although I lean more to black & whites that are neither too cool or too warm, a warmer black and white, sepia tones DEFINITELY carries an antique vibe
I love these two sisters hugging in front of a tent in the garden. I am working on a documentary family portrait story but this is more of a straight up portrait.
I love how a black & white really brings expression and emotion to the fore. Certain expressions and gestures have a timeless, emotive feel. These expressions can bring a sense of nostalgia to child and family portraits.
Looks Like Film: Family pictures, through careful editing and attention to detail, create child portrait photography that could be from any era. I love to have some timeless black & white conversions in my family & lifestyle galleries, and they are always a favorite.
I love to print my personal pictures on gorgeous mat at the professional Copper House Printers I use here in Dublin! There is something about the Giclee pigment printing on mat that makes a special picture look so luxurious, so I always recommend it.
Now all my Dublin family portraits come with a full gallery of edited photos, and there is no need to pick out your favourites, you get a complete gallery of the session.
As well as a digital collection, albums, books, prints and framed prints are available separately.
Contact me for your family, child, baby or natural newborn photography with a vintage timeless feel.
Have a wonderful week, Cara x
Comments