sara o’connor photography
KILLARNEY MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY AND FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER
Hi I'm Sara and I'm the mother-of-three behind Sara O'Connor Photography.
I'm originally from Finland, but very, very settled here in Killarney with my Irish / Finnish family and have lived in Ireland since 2014. Well, this time around - we lived in Dublin back in 2007, when it was just hubby and I.
Photography has always been part of my life as both my parents were photographers and I spent lots of time in the studio as a kid.
It was not always a particularly conscious career choice for me; it's just something I've always done and loved since I was a child, but as I became a mom, the photographs suddenly became so so meaningful.
Not only did I want to remember every single different tiny perfect detail of how my children were through the years, but also I wanted to go back to my own motherhood and remember all the different emotions each stage brought.
I began taking portraits on their birthdays, Christmas card photos of friends' kids, a few weddings and when my youngest one was born I purposely took posed newborn photographs of her.
I keep going back to those photos and they are one of my most treasured keepsakes - only wish I had the same type of photos of my two older kids!
In 2018, as my babies were growing, I decided to start working towards my own dream of working as a family photographer. The journey has been hard work, but so incredibly enjoyable.
The more I work the more I feel a passion to create art for my customers’ home. Each photo I take, I imagine potentially as a print in your living room wall - it's a big responsibility, but at the same time huge motivation and inspiration to do my very best.
My style is simple and fresh (being a Scandinavian probably shines through ;) ) and I like to have the focus on the person or people I'm photographing without too many props.
Capturing emotion and connection between family members, the fun and then again the unique little details of babies and children often make me a little emotional while editing, so I definitely am a feeler and think it as a massive strength as a family photographer.
My a mom of now teens, my biggest regret is not getting family photos done every single year;
I barely have any photos of my children with me, when they were little and because of that portraits of motherhood have an extra special place in my heart ❤️
a few of my favourite things
I love the beach and hiking in the nature as much as I’m a city girl through and through and adore busy big city. Always happy to come home to my own cosy nest though.
In my spare time I love to read and I also love going to gym to lift heavy heavy weights - the best meditation for my busy mind. I do love knitting too, but I’ve been working on the same jumper for the past 5 years so not sure can I call it a hobby 😅
Sustainability and quality over quantity are core values for me, but I also love a bit of luxury so don’t know anything much more indulgent or better, but staying in a nice hotel with a nice breakfast.
I’m a cancer in both rising and moon star sign so very very emotional and 🥹 is my most used emoji as it describes my everyday feels the best.
My humour is a little goofy and I love to have a laugh. I wish I could be more nonchalant, but I’m way too awkward for that 😬
I’m pretty obsessed with my kids, not going to lie. I had my eldest at 25, second at 27 and youngest at 29 and stayed at home with them until my littlest one started play school. The stay-at-home years were tough like parenting any small kids, but I look back to them now as such a sweet, whimsical time. Financially a bit of a killer, but I’d do the same again in a heartbeat.
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If you think we’re a match, I would love you to get in contact so I can capture some amazing memories for you.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Love, Sara xxx
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the studio
In the heart of my photography business has always been my beautiful studio.
I opened my first photography studio in Killarney town 2008 and a bright, light and contemporary space has been the core of my simple and timeless photography from the start.
I’ve been in my current space since the beginning of 2025 and it’s right at centre of Killarney co. Kerry with its own convenient parking.
The studio is warm and inviting; every detail is thought out from a cosy sofa for you to relax on to a baby changing table to toys for sibling to play with.
As well as a white backdrop, I now have an other more intense backdrop options too such as a latte beige, chocolate brown and black backdrop papers.
I have an extensive client wardrobe for both babies and moms to choose outfits from as well as cosy blankets, wraps and other little soft furnishing to use in the photos.
All studio laundry is washed with a natural, hypoallergenic detergent as well as the studio is cleaned with natural cleaning products to ensure the space is safe for the littles customers.
The studio is kept nice and warm in the cooler months and ventilated and fresh in the summer.
I like to live seasonally so therefore I rotate my client wardrobe and backdrops and wraps too; soft wools and cosy knits for Autumn and Winter and breezy linens and cottons for Spring and Summer.
in the studio you can find:
a curated newborn and mom client wardrobe with a seasonal selection of premium fabrics in neutral and light colour
coffee, tea, water bottles and small snacks
toys and books for the older siblings during newborn photoshoots
baby changing basket with newborn nappies, baby wipes and nappy bags
a toilet with spare sanitary items for moms, q-tips and cotton pads and a toilet seat booster for toddlers
a hair straighter
steamer for clothes
two large mirrors
cosy sofa to relax whilst I mind the baby 😇
Follow me on instagram for lates images, updates and behind the scenes: @saraoconnorphotography
