Headshots of Mom and Daughter. Nina Drapacz Photography

This session took place on the top floor of a west village apartment. A few flights of stairs within the apartment lead to this amazing rooftop space, which mom admitted, they rarely use. It was perfect for the photo session with sweeping views of the west village. The time was 5 pm, perfect low soft light. Mom warned me in advance that her daughter, a teenager, didn’t smile easliy…I told her not to worry. The session was for headshots of each of them. Shortly after we started, mom out of sight, she smiled, lauighed and helped me come up with brilliant ideas!

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!

Candlewood Lake with three sisters by Nina Drapacz Photography

Each year we pick a new location. This was the most unique for me as the girls literally stood on a raft mid session. I was afraid they would definitely fall over. Each year the family tradition is dad carrying all three on his shoulders and images of the girls laying down, just faces . I have a session tomorrow with them and wonder if dad can support all three yet again on his shoulders this year!

Family Photography Session by Nina Drapacz Photography

I photographed her older sister as a newborn. She slept the entire time. This beautiful newborn wanted to see what was happening and stayed awake for most of her session. Intermintent dozing in some of these images..

I absolutely loved her room and placing her in the mini crib was such a great idea!

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.

Photography in an Apartment's Common Room. Nina Drapacz Photography

Initally I was asked to photograph this beautiful toddler with her parents in their apartment. We felt the common room was more spacious and according to mom, more organized and clean. I went up to see it first. It was perfect except for some very orange over head spot lights. We tried everything to turn them off without success. Working around this I took the family closer to the window as much as I could but the layout of the room and the furnishings were so tempting I had to use them! Look at the reflection on the conference table! Photoshop and some black and white conversions helped with the ambient light issue and allowed me to be creative with the space..

Newborn Session at Home. Nina Drapacz Photography

When I came into the family’s home, her parent’s were trying everything they could to get this big sister to wear something that wasn’t the gift for her newborn brother she had put on right before I arrived. Somehow she squeezed into an outfit their nanny had just brought for the new baby. Nothing could be done at this point to persude her to change so we went with it…trucks and all.

The images from that morning are truly fun and interactive. Posing wasn’t an option and much to my delight, not desired. When a family wants me to capture their dynamic, the photographs become part of their personal narrative and more creative which is not only a gift for them but a gift for me as a photographer.

Central Park in the Fall of 2020. Nina Drapacz Photography

I had the pleasure of photographing this family when the little girl was a newborn. As I walked to meet the family, I was walking next to the children and their nanny for many blocks before realizing these were the children for the session! One had a mask and the other was just a few weeks old the last time I saw her. After struggling up a hill with my equipment and them with a double stroller, we found this bench… empty! Perfect!

The rest is history in the making of these images…. they were wonderful!

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.

Opening at the Museum of the City of New York! Nina Drapacz Photography

It is an honor to have my image of a masked dad and son biking over Ward’s Bridge in the first outdoor exhibition at The Museum of the City of New York. “New York Responds” focuses on elements of life in New York City during covid-19 .

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!

Mitzvah Photography at Temple Emanu-El by Nina Drapacz Photography

What makes this so special is having a photographic relationship with this wonderful family since she was just 4 years old! I was so excited to be the photographer for her important day. We started with images in Tribecca months before …Synagogue photographs (thank you Temple Emanuel for allowing photography during the service) followed by reception also in Tribecca! I did not want to do conventional images in Temple Emanuel, especially considering how nervous everyone was before the ceremony . Her little brother was the perfect family member to create the more relaxed mood that we all needed!

A Boy and his Dog in New Jersey by Nina Drapacz

The sweetest boy with awesome hair, which was expertly cut moments before this session. Apparently one hair at a time ….His dog had a range of expressions that were priceless when they were together!

A Girl and Her Horse in Bridgehampton by Nina Drapacz Photography

I traveled to the Hamptons to photograph this gorgeous girl whom I have photographed since she was 2 years old. The goal of the session was headshots at the stable and then some images with the horses. It was scheduled the last day before she got braces so no time to redo… We started with the her with the horse, a mistake. The horse stepped on her toe as she led him out to the area we decided would be the best backdrop. The shoot was over after these images and just a handful more! It was too painful to continue and the toe expanded and throbbed for days!

Staple Street Location Shoot by Nina Drapacz Photography

It was a hot August day with an amazing family I have had the privilege of photographing since the girls were babies! The heat made it hard for everyone including the photographer. Eventually “we” all began to relax and enjoy this session, which shows in the images. Love the mom and older daughter too deep in conversation to notice dad and the younger one jumping off the ledge…

Birthday in the Hampton's by Nina Drapacz Photography

It was all about the mermaid outfit! The birthday girl had a good time with the balloons and scarves before the guests arrived… which for me, creatively, was the best part!

A Family in Central Park by Nina Drapacz Photography

I have photographed this family since the children were infants! To see how they change from year to year is a treat! The siblings are a close knit team, they actually don’t mind sitting close and even hugging each other! The funniest part was at the end when the parents were sneaking in a kiss and youngest stood there wondering why I shifted focus on them and not her!

Bris Photography by Nina Drapacz Photography

Some beautiful moments captured at this Bris, which is almost always a very emotional event for the parents. This baby is surrounded by so much love from his parents, grandparents and big sister. Luckily the mohel was fast and the baby stopped crying as soon as his diaper was secured. Whew!

Fall Fun in Central Park by Nina Drapacz Photography

Yearly tradition for dad- after swinging each daughter one by one, he holds all three at once. Admits this may possibly be the last year since they are getting too big !