First Holy Communion Photography
A First Holy Communion is one of the proudest mornings in an Irish childhood, and one of those occasions a family really wants properly photographed. The morning is short, the day fills up with relatives and the celebration that follows, and amid all of it there is one chance to take a portrait that does the occasion justice. That is what we do at Yann Studios.
We have been photographing the children of Galway families since 1949. Many of the children we photograph in their communion outfits this spring are the children of parents we photographed in theirs years ago, and that continuity is one of the things we are proudest of.
Our approach
A communion sitting at the studio is short, easy and gentle. Most of the children come in with their parents either the morning before or the morning after the church ceremony, in the full outfit. We take the time to settle them in, get the pose and the expression right, and have everyone on their way before the day has run too long.
Children at communion age are at a particular point. Old enough to take the morning seriously, young enough to still be themselves in front of a camera if you give them a minute. We know what to do with both, and we have a fair amount of experience getting a portrait that captures both at once.
When to book
Communions are typically in May, and the slots either side of communion weekends fill quickly. The earlier you can book, the better the choice of time, especially if you are coming on a Saturday morning or a Sunday after the church.
We photograph the children in the full outfit, either in the days before the communion or in the day or two afterwards. Some parents prefer the photographs taken before, so that the dress and suit are pristine for the portrait, and the family has them to share on the day itself. Others prefer afterwards, while the day’s pride and excitement are still on the child’s face. Both work well.
The communion outfit
The communion outfit is the point of the photograph as much as the child is, and we treat it as such. The dress and veil, or the suit and tie, with the rosary or prayer book in the picture if the family wants them. We are glad to talk through what to bring when you book.
If the child has a small accessory the family wants kept in the photograph, such as a bouquet or a small gift from a grandparent, bring it along. These are often the details a family looks at and remembers years later.
In the studio
The communion sitting itself takes place at the studio. The light is right, the background is properly considered, and the result is a portrait the family can hang on a wall. The phone photographs at the church door capture the day in their own way, and those are precious. But for a portrait that is going to sit in the hall for forty years, the studio is the right place for it.
The studio is calm, properly heated and quiet, with parking at the door. A child fresh from the church arrives in good spirits, and we photograph them before any of the excitement has begun to wear off.
Family portraits on the day
A communion is one of the few occasions the wider family is together, in their best clothes, all in one place. If you would like a proper family portrait taken alongside the communion sitting, we are glad to run the two back to back. The photograph that comes out of it often becomes one the family is grateful for years later.
You can read more about family photography at Yann Studios on our family photography page.
After the session
The point of a communion portrait is that it gets printed and put on a wall. We treat the prints, framed pieces and gift sizes for grandparents as the heart of the work rather than something tacked on afterwards.
You will see the images at the studio when they are ready, and we will help you choose what is worth keeping in print. Communion is the kind of occasion where a portrait makes its way into the homes of grandparents and aunts as well as the family’s own. There is no pressure to take more than you want, and we will tell you honestly what holds up at size and what does not.
Booking
The studio is at Lakeview Point in Claregalway, fifteen minutes from the city, with free parking at the door. We photograph communion portraits for families across Galway, and regularly into Mayo and Clare.
Call us on 087 099 3990 or get in touch through our contact page. Communion dates fill the diary quickly, especially the weekends either side of the ceremonies, so the sooner the better.