Senior Portraits for the Yearbook by Nina Drapacz Photography

Mom reached out to me in December inquiring about senior yearbook photography. She said her daughter will need them in January. Her best friend, who attends the same school, needed a session as well so we combined both sessions together . This made it fun for them and they were able to encourage each other and share ideas as well as coats!

Senior yearbook photographs must show the best possible versions of who they are as they enter a new chapter of their lives. Scouting out the perfect backdrops and working closely on the best and most genuine expressions are key. These published images will live on for friends and family to visit for decades.

Headshot for ASRT Scanner Magazine by Nina Drapacz

This is the second cover I have done for ASRT’s magazine, Scanner. The session was done on a day where the wind was 40 mph and the temperature was 38 degrees. The doctor had limited time to do the session, this was the only day. I suggested we meet at the Metropolitan Museum. I chose four locations around the front of the museum. Her smile lit her face and her confidence beamed. There was no evidence of the inclement weather. She was a pleasure to photograph!

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.

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…

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!

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 !

Wedding Photography at The New York Botanical Garden by Nina Drapacz Photography

The bride requested the rose garden, but with the weather colder than usual the roses weren’t ready so we went to the Azalea Garden which was magical! The New York Botanical Garden is 250 acres and they provided a guide and golf cart to take us to different locations. It was a breath taking experience and a pleasure to work with this amazing couple in such a setting!

Ten Going on Fifteen Fashion Shoot Birthday Celebration. Nina Drapacz Photography

When did 10 become the new 15? I came to photograph this small gathering of cousins celebrating a tenth birthday. The goal was fashion images of each girl. We started inside but we ended up outdoors - mid February and the birthday girl had on shorts! We were all surprised by the unusual weather that afternoon but no one was disappointed. Plenty of great backdrops.

Central Park Photo Seesion. Nina Drapacz Photography

One of the last warm days of winter. (yes, no jackets or sweaters and this was December!) Three beautiful children traveled in from Westchester for the yearly photo session. The red pants were a perfect choice with the greenery of Central Park. I love the "pop" of color!

Never too Late in Fall for A Hampton Session. Nina Drapacz Photography

It started as a rainy day and continued to rain and got harder by the hour as I drove out. The family had this one window of time to do the holiday shoot, having postponed due to weather several times. Not know what to expect or where to photograph in the rain since their house was under construction, I was panicked! Just as I pulled into the driveway, the rain stopped. The parents dropped the kids off and said they would be back in an hour. 

Not know when the rain would return, we started taking photos immediately and even made it to the beach a ways away. Just as we felt a drop of water we started running towards the house. The rain had begun AND the photo was complete! Yay! I was excited to capture these images and thankful for the even light. My first November taking images in the Hamptons. It was quiet and so pleasant!

Website Portraits for Village Obstetrics. Nina Drapacz Photography

I've been photographing these amazing obstetricians for over a decade. Each year they change their website photos to keep current. We all have such a great time and each year we try a different location. This year the office and Mt. Sinai inside and out plus a favorite coffee cart. The practice is like a big happy family! 

Swinging Above a Lake in September in Tuxedo, NY. Nina Drapacz Photography

This past Saturday was not warm enough to swim, especially in a huge lake! When we went to the dock to take pictures, the dad put the boys on a swing above the lake. Needless to say the boys stayed dry holding on tight and I was able to make amazing images with "natural" smiles! A win win situation.

Central Park Wedding Photography A Year Later. Nina Drapacz Photography

My good friend Michael's fiance recommended my photography to her good friends visiting from Germany. They were married a year ago, but this was their honeymoon.  I met them at the entrance to the park, her in a wedding gown, him in a stylish outfit. We were ready to explore east to west of the park, one of us in heels!

I found myself discovering new areas to photograph along the way. How the bride literally hiked, climbed rocks and walked miles in the heels, I dont know! A beautiful couple so in love! I left smiling the rest of the day!

What Happened to Spring? Portraits with Tulips on a Nice Day in NYC by Nina Drapacz

It felt like an August day this past Saturday! Lucky as its cold again and this gorgeous little toddler had to wear this fab dress sans sweater! A late walker, the mom contacted me as soon as she started to set up a shoot with her brother, whom you may recognize in many of my galleries...

Her brother chose a beautiful dandelion for his mom, and one for his sister. He enjoyed her reaction.

Magic Show At Twin's Birthday Party in Tuxedo, N.Y. during a Snowstorm! Nina Drapacz Photography

The drive upstate was tame but as the guests arrived, so did the snow. The amazing birthday party for adorable twin girls continued for three hours as the storm grew more intense. The predictions were 15 inches and the house was way up on top of a slippery mountain. After a 3 hour knuckle drive home, I uploaded these amazing images and sent to the parents and girls to enjoy on their day off of school the next day!  

Identical Twins! Rare and as Most Toddlers are, "Raring To Go!" Nina Drapacz Photography

These one year old adorable identical twins were a true and rare treat! Age one marks the transition to toddler from baby. Toddler stems from "to toddle" and these little ones were on the go as soon as they were released from the stroller. It took me about 15 minutes to distinguish one from the other, while they share the same faces their personalties were different. 

Probably getting close to the last of the color, Fall Photography. Nina Drapacz

Some solace by weeks end. With all the shock of the week, it was comforting to experience nature in NYC as its finest. 

End of Summer Beach Shoots. Nina Drapacz Photography

I recommend squeezing the last drops of golden light available when it comes to beach shoots. This family started inside and when we got to the beach, just steps away, we had about 10 minutes. This being said, once the sun set, there was a lovely soft dusk that set in, shadowless and wonderful!

These images show how much fun these sibs were having!

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Dunewood, Fire Island by Nina Drapacz Photography

I've photographed in the Hamptons all summer and finally got the chance to photograph a family in Fire Island! Its a completely different scene there. No cars, just simply wagons and bikes with a tiny grocery store and a single restaurant in the adjacent town. Super rustic and very cozy! The real beauty for children is the independence they get from being able to go places safely without parents hovering....

These children, my seventh year photographing them, were never this excited! I heard from each one all about their treks alone to the next town on their bikes! And what would a beach experience be like without a newly captured hermit crab?!