Family Photoshoot
Family Photoshoots in Ireland
A family photoshoot in Ireland is a relaxed session with a professional photographer for parents, children and often grandparents, in a park, on a beach or in a castle garden, arranged through Eriora from €350.
Pricing
From €350
- Duration
- 1 hour
Starting price. The exact price depends on photographer, place, date, time and add-ons, and is stated in your proposal before you book.
Quick answers
- How much does it cost?
- Family Photoshoot starts from €350. The final price depends on the place, duration, date, time of day, travel and any add-ons such as video, and is stated in your proposal before you book.
- How long does it take?
- A typical session lasts 1 hour and you receive around 40 edited photos.
- What is included?
- Help choosing a child-friendly place and hour
- A photographer experienced with babies, toddlers and teenagers
- Games and prompts that keep children engaged
- Classic group portraits as well as candid moments
- Where does it take place?
- Popular places include Dublin: St Stephen’s Green, Merrion Square and Phoenix Park; Howth harbour and pier; Killarney National Park; Galway: Salthill promenade and beaches. Your photographer suggests the best spot for your date, the light and the crowds.
- When is the best time?
- For young children, morning is usually best.
- How does booking work?
- Send a free request with your place, date and plans. Eriora checks which photographers are available and replies with a proposal stating the photographer, the package and the exact price. Nothing is booked until you accept.
Ireland is a good country to photograph a family in. Distances are short, parks and beaches are everywhere, and the country is used to children: you will rarely be the only family with a buggy on a cliff path or a toddler chasing gulls on a pier. Many families who visit Ireland are tracing roots or travelling with several generations together, and a session is often the only time everyone is in the same place and the same photograph.
A family photoshoot is built around the children, not the landmark. Photographers who work with families here choose places with flat ground, space to run, somewhere to sit and a toilet or café not too far away. They plan the hour around naps and mealtimes, and they keep the session moving so nobody gets bored. The result is a gallery of real moments, with a few classic group portraits for the grandparents.
Family sessions start at €350 in the cities and towns, and at €450 in scenic locations such as Killarney National Park, Glendalough or the Atlantic coast. For expecting parents, see maternity photography; for a longer day across several places, vacation photography.
Where the session happens
- 01
Dublin: St Stephen’s Green, Merrion Square and Phoenix Park
Flat paths, lawns, ponds with ducks and plenty of benches, all close to cafés and toilets. Phoenix Park adds open grassland and, often, a herd of wild fallow deer. See family photoshoots in Dublin.
Best time: Morning, when children are fresh and parks are quiet.
- 02
Howth harbour and pier
Fishing boats, seals in the harbour on many days and a long flat pier, half an hour from Dublin by DART. Easy for buggies and small legs.
Best time: Late afternoon and early evening.
- 03
Killarney National Park
Muckross House gardens, Ross Castle and lakeside paths, with a jaunting car ride if the children need distracting. Sheltered and green.
Best time: Late afternoon; mornings in summer before the crowds.
- 04
Galway: Salthill promenade and beaches
A long seafront walk with sea views and sandy beaches nearby, close to the city centre. Children love the sand, parents love the light over the bay.
Best time: Evening, when the sun goes down over Galway Bay.
- 05
Kinsale harbour town
Colourful streets, a harbour and views from the old fort across the water, in a small, walkable town south of Cork.
Best time: Morning for quiet streets; golden hour at the harbour.
Typically included
- Help choosing a child-friendly place and hour
- A photographer experienced with babies, toddlers and teenagers
- Games and prompts that keep children engaged
- Classic group portraits as well as candid moments
- A weather plan with a sheltered alternative
- Edited high-resolution photographs in an online gallery
Preparation
- Book around naps and meals: a fed, rested child is the secret to good photos.
- Coordinate colours rather than matching outfits; two or three tones that go together.
- Bring snacks that do not stain, wipes and a spare top for the smallest children.
- Pack warm layers and waterproofs, and wellies if the place has grass or sand.
- Bring a favourite toy or a bubble wand; both make good props.
- Tell the photographer about any shyness, sensitivities or family members who need a chair.
Time of day
For young children, morning is usually best. For older children and teenagers, the late afternoon light is warmer. In summer the sun sets very late, so a golden-hour session can clash with bedtime; in that case a soft overcast morning or an early evening slot works well. See the best time for a photoshoot in Ireland.
Weather
Plan for showers and wind, especially on the coast, and dress children warmly. Overcast days are actually ideal for family photos: no squinting, soft even light and no harsh shadows on faces. If heavy rain sets in, the photographer will suggest a sheltered option or a later slot.
Getting there
Choose a place close to where you are staying. In Dublin many parks are walkable from the centre, and Howth is on the DART line. Elsewhere, meet at a car park so buggies and bags stay close.
Choosing a child-friendly place
The best family locations have three things: flat ground, room to run and a backup nearby.
City parks and squares
Dublin has the most choice: St Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square in the centre, the Iveagh Gardens tucked away behind them and Phoenix Park for open space. Cork has Fitzgerald Park by the river, Kilkenny the castle park, and Limerick the riverside around King John’s Castle.
Beaches and harbours
Howth is the easiest coastal option from Dublin, with a pier, boats and seals. Galway has Salthill, Kinsale a pretty harbour, and Dingle beaches and a lively small town. Sand and sea give children something to do, which is half the battle.
Lakes, woods and gardens
Killarney and Glendalough are calm, green and sheltered. Adare has a riverside park beside its thatched cottages, and Westport a tree-lined mall along the river.
What to avoid with small children
Cliff edges, busy roads, long walks in and places with no shelter at all. The Cliffs of Moher are spectacular but better for older children, with the photographer keeping everyone well back from the edge.
How a family session runs
- Hello and settle in. The photographer greets the children first and lets them get used to the camera.
- Group photos first. While everyone is clean and cheerful, a few classic portraits of the whole family.
- Play. Walking, swinging, racing, throwing stones in the water; the photographer captures the real moments.
- Small groups. Parents together, siblings together, grandparents with grandchildren.
- One last walk. Often the most relaxed photographs come at the very end.
The photographer keeps the pace up and the instructions simple. You do not need to keep the children still or smiling; that is the photographer’s job.
Seasons, clothes and roots trips
Seasons
- Spring: daffodils, lambs and bluebells, longer evenings from April.
- Summer: the warmest weather and very late sunsets, so mornings often suit young children better.
- Autumn: gold and red woods in October, settled weather in September, quieter landmarks.
- Winter: low light all day, Christmas lights in the cities, short sessions before the early sunset.
Clothes
- Two or three coordinating colours, such as navy, cream and mustard, rather than identical outfits.
- Avoid big logos and neon colours.
- Layers for warmth that still look good in photographs: knits, wool coats, wellies.
Tracing your roots
Many visiting families plan a session in the county their ancestors came from. A local photographer can suggest a meaningful backdrop such as the town’s main street, a harbour, a church or a stretch of family land. Mention it in your request and we will plan around it.
For more on cost, see what a photographer costs in Ireland.
Photographer availability
We confirm availability for your date personally — send a request and we will check which reviewed photographers are free for this place and session.
Find My PhotographerFrequently asked questions
What is the best age for a family photoshoot?
Any age works. Babies under six months are easiest because they stay where you put them; toddlers need a photographer who keeps things moving; older children enjoy being given little tasks. The photographer adapts the session to the youngest family member.
Can grandparents and the extended family join?
Yes. Multi-generation sessions are common in Ireland, especially for families tracing their roots. Tell us the number of people and any mobility needs so the place suits everyone.
What if my child has a meltdown?
It happens in almost every session and photographers are used to it. A break, a snack and a game usually solve it, and some of the warmest photographs come right after.
Can we do the session in an ancestral town or village?
Often, yes. Tell us the place and we will look for a photographer who works nearby, or plan the travel. A church, a graveyard or a family farm can be meaningful backdrops, with the owners’ permission.
When will we get the photos?
Usually within two to three weeks, as an online gallery you can download and share with the family.
Is the location suitable for a buggy?
We choose places with good paths when you tell us you have a buggy or a wheelchair user in the group. Cliff paths and beaches are usually not buggy-friendly, so we suggest alternatives nearby.
Where to do it
Dublin & Wicklow
Baile Átha Cliath
Dublin
From €190
Cork & Kinsale
Corcaigh
Cork
From €190
Galway & Connemara
Gaillimh
Galway
From €190
Kerry
Cill Airne
Killarney
From €450
Clare & Limerick
Luimneach
Limerick
From €190
Kilkenny & Waterford
Cill Chainnigh
Kilkenny
From €190
Kilkenny & Waterford
Port Láirge
Waterford
From €190
Mayo & the North West
Cathair na Mart
Westport
From €450
Related experiences
From €350
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Guides for planning
The Best Time for a Photoshoot in Ireland: Season, Month and Hour
Daylight from about 7.5 hours in December to more than 17 in June, showers that pass, and the hours when the famous places are empty: how to time a photoshoot in Ireland.
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How Much Does a Photographer Cost in Ireland? Prices by Session Type
Starting prices for every kind of photoshoot in Ireland, the six things that move the figure, and how to compare one quote with another.
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Planning a family photoshoot in Ireland?
Tell us who is coming, the ages of the children and where you will be. We will reply personally with a suitable photographer and a clear price.
Free request · No payment required · No obligation