Monica + Andy Newborn Collaboration. Nina Drapacz Photography

A representative from Monica + Andy reached out to me during the beginning of Covid to see if I could use Monica + Andy clothing for newborns at the hospitals where I photographed babies a day after birth. I told him that due to Covid the hospitals will now not allow photographers . He agreed to my using the clothing for my home sessions. This was the first session I did using their clothing for the baby.

Their apartment was simple with pops of color. Perfect backgrounds! Later we went to their bedroom and used this incredible green blanket and a yoda hat with a brown wrap that they had purchased for the session as they were avid Star Wars fans..

Mom, Baby and Baby Nurse by Nina Drapacz Photography

When I arrived at this newborn’s apartment, I was greeted by her mom. The baby nurse was busy getting her ready. The baby nurse was full of creative ideas for this newborn girl and with her patience and swaddling talent we were set!. I could’nt have pulled off the shelf idea without her!

Personal Branding for A New Business. Nina Drapacz Photography

I had been photographung her sister’s family for many years and we spoke a few times at parties. When Jena reached out for headshots I was so excited! We discussed her apprehension at being photographed. I made the studio experience as relaxing as possible. Almost instantly after the first grouping of images in the first outfit, she relaxed. It was a wonderful collaborative. We discussed her best angles and expressions as I showed her the images as we went along. We took it to a new level finishing the session in her home space.

Cake Smash Photo Shoot by Nina Drapacz Photography

Mom wanted it simple. Just some gold stars , one simple monotone balloon filled with glittery pieces and a cool cake with platter. In comes a gorgeous baby, my granddaughter, dressed in an adorable bubble outfit from Feltman Brothers and wearing a small birthday crown. The rest was magic!

A Birthday Gift for a Teen. Nina Drapacz Photography

Mom contacted me that her daughter was turning 13 and would absolutley LOVE a photo session! We postponed due to rain several times so when we finally decided on a new date…it rained yet again. We met anyhow and the rain stopped and started throughout but the family was full of such positive energy, they didn’t mind. We even took a trip to the Metropolitan Hospital where she was born to capture a few of these as it meant alot to her.

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!

Back to the Hamptons! Hampton Family Photography by Nina Drapacz

I photograph this wonderful family each summer and we usually concentrate at their amazing home both inside and outside. This summer cousins were visiting so after photographing at home, we walked to the beach to meet them. The golden sunlight was still vibrant even at 7:30!

Corporate Portraits in the Studio and Outdoors. Nina Drapacz Photography

I have been photographing this mom and her family for 7 years. She was changing jobs and needed a headshot. I suggested we try indoor and outdoor for two different looks. She chose these two images. They show confidence and strength.

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 Mitzvah in the Hamptons During Covid. Nina Drapacz Photography

I was scheduled to photograph the Mitzvah in June 2020 indoors in NYC. In May the mom contacted me to ask if I could do covid safe photography outdoors in East Hampton since indoor services and parties were not allowed. Yes! Just a small intimate family service to start followed by an evening of safe mitzvah fun. A temperature checker at the front entrance for additional safety and tie dyed masks, made by the mitzvah girl ,were laying in a bowl for everyone next to the disinfectant.

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..

A Newborn Session at Home and Outside. Nina Drapacz Photography

A week after birth I was contacted by this lovely family who had newborn photos done at the hosptial with their first child. Due to Covid they were unable to do the same two years later with their second son. I brought a basket and some of the same letter blocks that were used at the hospital and recreated similar images for this family as they requested. They lived across from the park and the light was fading but we trudged the gang out. It was mom’s first time out since she came home from the hospital!

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.

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!

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!

A Baptism During Covid by Nina Drapacz Photography

This is the second baptism I photographed since Covid began. When I arrived, the family wanted photographs outside the church as they were prepared to have their masks on during the ceremony inside. Once inside, the priest, a family friend who had married the parents and the grandparents, told everyone they would be safe to remove their masks as everyone had been tested negative. There were no other congregants in the entire church.

As I was leaving the baby’s father asked if I was related to a good friend of his in high school as it was the same unusual last name. It turned out he was good friends with my son. He did not recognize me with my mask and I did not recognize him since he become an adult!



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!


Greek Orthodox Baptism on the North Fork. Nina Drapacz Photography

This wonderful family contacted me to photograph their daughter’s baptism on Long Island. The ceremony was 45 minutes long. Masks were passed out at the entrance to the church along with hand sanitizer. I wore my mask as well. Some of the many traditions in a Greek Orthodox baptism include three submersions in holy water, oil and three locks of hair are cut to form a cross. The baby was certaiinly happier when it was over!



A Bat Mitzvah During Covid. Nina Drapacz Photography

The family booked me a year in advance to photograph their third mitzvah October 3rd. What was initially a family home session, a ceremony, a lunch for over 100 in their home followed by a kid’s party at night became a home session with a masked photographer and a ceremony limited to 4, followed by an out of town small overnight for just a handful of girlfriends.

The synagogue did not allow anyone to remove their masks except the mitzvah girl. The cantor and the rabbi were enclosed in plexi and far away. The rabbi disinfected his hands before beginning and she was given a small copy of a torah behind her own plexiglass screen. Her sister and grandfather participated on zoom. The family was wonderful and relaxed. They even found some humor at times.