Beautiful Moms with their New Baby. Nina Drapacz Photography

These gorgeous moms were ready to go when I arrived. The baby had just finished her bottle and wide awake but very calm and curious. She was an ideal newborn, both when she was awake and when she was sleeping.. I was able to do a large variety of photos of her and her parents. Not a peep in two hours and she was adorable! Each mom had something from their childhood, they hoped to include in the session. A baby blanket from one parent and stuffed animals from the other,. As if it could get better, she smiled in her chair at the finale!

Newborn Baby with her Sister. Nina Drapacz Photography

She wasn’t actually a newborn, but one month old. Mom said she sleeps during the day and is up at night so we planned on getting the newborn look. That day she did not sleep much but the session was wonderful! It was actaully great timing with her older 2 year old sister as she was not as overwhelmed with the new baby as she was when the baby first came home. I love these sweet captures!

Newborn Session at home by Nina Drapacz Photography

The family’s second baby. Mom wanted beautiful sleeping baby portraits like she had for her first son, which were done a day after birth at the hospital. Since Covid, hospitals were not allowing photographers so this session was done a week later at home. The baby was about 4 days old, his cord was still intact. He would not sleep. Mom had a list of images she wanted and they all invloved a sleeping baby…

After 2 hours, dad was able to get him to sleep and finally, we got those images. I like both the awake ones and the sleeping ones!

Three Girls under 5! Nina Drapacz Photography

Mom and dad contacted me together on speaker phone to photograph their newest daugher, only 8 days old. They had recently moved to their new home and were concerned there was not enough furniture or that it may look too empty. I reassured them that minimal is always best! When I walked in I found a beautiful apartment with amazing light warmly decorated with many options. The two beautiful older sisters, I was warned, both wanted to hold the baby as much as possible. What a gift for the photographer for those hard to get sibling moments! All three girls were such a pleasure to photograph. We all had fun!

A Studio Session On Location. Nina Drapacz Photography

She’s 8 months old and just started sitting on her own. I brought a simple piece of black vevet, the rest was a matter of capturing her personality. I love photographing babies in their natural surroundings at home but i felt like the simple black background provided the viewer with less distraction and more focus on the facial expressions.

Indoor Newborn Session During Covid. Nina Drapacz Photography

I was contacted by a new mom who had just delivered a week before to schedule my first indoor session during this time. I came wearing two masks. The parents couldn’t have be more chill or easier to work with! Their space had wonderful light and good locations to put newborns. The bonus was a sweet beautiful baby who slept the entire session!

Charlie is Two Months Old! Nina Drapacz Photography

My granddaughter Charlie. I try to take my camera everytime I see her. My son tells me to just relax and not to feel the need to photograph her everytime. There is such a joy in capturing her evolving personality and to know she is my grandchild!

Newborn Brother to These Two Boys. Nina Drapacz Photography

This family has had newborn sessions at Mount Sinai Hospital for their first two sons but Covid made this impossible with the third. It’s a family who had always lived in New York City until Covid made it impossible to function with their growing family. Both parents have high power jobs and were forced to work remotely with two young boys at home. Childcare was closed so their only work option was to take turns working and caring for the kids. This schedule began to take its toll and they decided they needed to move out. Comfortable in Dobbs Ferry now, the new addition arrived. Everyone is satisfied with their decision.

This outdoor socially distant session with the masked photographer was relaxed and fun. Fighting over who was going to hold the baby was the big deal.

Newborn Socially Distant Session on Long Island. Nina Drapacz Photography

This mom was organized enough to book me before her baby was born according to her due date. Births, being unpredictable, she came a week early. Mom wanted the photo session as soon after birth as possible. Six days later and 91 degrees at 6pm…

An additional treat were two sets of grandparents, whom were all living with the new mom and dad during those first few weeks. A first grandchild on both sides. One can only imagine how they will dote on her!



Socially Distant Newborn Session in Central Park. Nina Drapacz Photography

Two years ago I photographed this newborn’s older brother in his home. The parents had given birth mid pandemic so the same indoor session was not safe with their second son. They met me with their toddler and two week old baby at the entrance to the park. The entire session was in the cool shade. We able to get his older brother to hold his little hand… apparently a first!

Social Distance Sessions by Nina Drapacz Photography

Safe photography from over 6 feet away with a masked photographer! I’ve been asked to photograph many famlilies and studio session outdoors. With children home wihout camp and social activites, families have found time to schedule annual photo shoots, new births, first birthdays and even professional headshots for new jobs. I travel to the Hamptons, New Jersey, Westchester and Connecticut where many families have been living since Covid. The sessions are relaxed in backyards and beaches or here in the splendor of New York City’s various parks.

Family Photography on Location by Nina Drapacz Photography

There’s nothing more rewarding than a family who is relaxed and excited about creative images. The baby had only taken half his normal nap so I needed to work quickly before his short window was up. Thanks to his big brother’s patience and his easy going parents we ended up with some memorable unique images!

Newborn Photography Under 48 hours by Nina Drapacz

I have been specializing in baby photography for close to 28 years and for the past 2 years I have begun to photograph babies in the hosptials a day after birth. It’s exciting,, exhausting and an emotional rollercoaster for parents, siblings and grandparents. I feel priveleged to be there to witness it all.

Maternity Home Session by Nina Drapac Photography

As much as I love to control the background and lighting for a maternity session in my studio, nothing is quite as beautiful as a pregnant mom and family in their own surroundings. The apartment offered wonderful available light and an assortmant of locations which allowed me to be both an observer and a participant.


Newborn at Home with the Famiily by Nina Drapacz Photography

I had seen a few images of this beautiful baby before I got to her home. She was even more spectacular in person! Her mom had a list of what she would like to be included in session, from hairbands and clothing to pillows, signs, setting and most importantly her big brother, Rascal, the dog! We accomplished all in over 2 hours, whew! While Rascal was a huge part of the shoot, I’m including the feet image where his paws are among the family feet.

Baby with His Parents in Tribecca. Nina Drapacz Photography

Four months old and quite adorable. This little one with his perfect round head and sturdy body didnt cry once until the very end, he was tired of all the entertainment! Dad had a walrus stuffed animal when he was the same age that he had saved all these years to give to his child….yep he inisited on includingit! The baby loves it!

Copy of Personal Favorite Newborn Images from Newborns Under 48 Hours. Nina Drapacz Photography

Photographing in three different hosptials, Cornell, Mt. Sinai East and Mt. Sinai West, I try to capture brand new babies as artisictally as I can which can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the baby. I feel these images are a good summary of my work in just a month, toggling between hosptials and rooms. These sessions afford me the opportunity to meet so many different families and to turn my creative energy to wonderful portraits documenting a very emotional time for everyone. The dad with the twins chose a pink shirt to take his twins babygirls home this day!

The birth stories I hear as well as the coaching I give the new parents on how to soothe their babies and even swaddle them correctly gives me the pleasure of sharing what I know from being a mom as well as reminding me of my own experiences as a new mom hours after my baby was born. With each session, I gain new perspectives and learn more about newborns and their parents and how unique each family is.

 

 

Personal Favorite Newborn Images from Newborns Under 48 Hours. Nina Drapacz Photography

Photographing in three different hosptials, Cornell, Mt. Sinai East and Mt. Sinai West, I try to capture brand new babies as artisictally as I can which can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the baby. I feel these images are a good summary of my work in just a month, toggling between hosptials and rooms. These sessions afford me the opportunity to meet so many different families and to turn my creative energy to wonderful portraits documenting a very emotional time for everyone. The dad with the twins chose a pink shirt to take his twins babygirls home this day!

The birth stories I hear as well as the coaching I give the new parents on how to soothe their babies and even swaddle them correctly gives me the pleasure of sharing what I know from being a mom as well as reminding me of my own experiences as a new mom hours after my baby was born. With each session, I gain new perspectives and learn more about newborns and their parents and how unique each family is.

 

 

A Baptism in Greenwich Village with Relatives from Around the World. Nina Drapacz Photography

The mom had found me from a recommendation on Facebook. When I arrived early at the Church of St. Josepth in Greenwich Village I met the baby's grandfather. He told me the guests were arriving from around the world that day for this special ceremony. One daughter was arriving from Australia, he and his wife came in from India, another daughter from London, relatives from the mom's side were coming from San Francisco etc. 

Needless to say the pressure was on to document this special event in the baby's life surrounded by tons of loving relatives. 

Special Delivery, Under 48 Hours by Nina Drapacz Photography

The only mom to date who said to me giving birth was easy! This was her second, so usually a bit easier however she claimed the first was easy as well. After knocking on hundreds of doors to see new moms, this mom was a first in claiming natural childbirth wasn't so painful! The first baby slept through the entire session with another photographer years ago, this one was adorable but not easy.