Childhood is fleeting, and one of the best ways to freeze happy moments in time is through gorgeous photography. Smartphones and editing apps make it easy for parents to transform snapshots of little ones into art these days, but letting the pros do it on special occasions lets you jump in and be a part of the picture, too. (But don’t miss this great list of the top 5 spots for family portraits in Central Park.)
Aoommie Photography
Specializing in natural light photography, Aoommie depicts the simple beauty of children and families by highlighting precious details, such as loving glances between siblings and extra folds behind newborns’ knees. aoommiephotography.com
Bentley Waters
Waters maximizes comfort by using natural lighting and working in your preferred location. She integrates scenery into each photo, even using paved sidewalks or bathtubs as props. bentleywaters.com
Big Apple Portraits
Big Apple Portraits’ photographers are trained to photograph any age—from newborns to adults—and also offer maternity and group shoots. Sessions are half an hour long, and there’s no sitting fee. bigappleportraits.com
Classic Kids Photography, UES
Classic Kids is known for its trained consortium of photographers and its highly praised fiber based prints. Photographs are manually developed in the company’s darkrooms and only printed in black and white. classickidsphotography.com
Cynthia L. Ever Photos
Cynthia L. Ever uses Nikon cameras to create balanced mixtures of posed and candid photos. She offers a professional setup with studio lighting and backdrops but will shoot anywhere in the city. cleverphotos.com
Daniel S. Burnstein Photography
Burnstein has taken arresting photographs for Manhattan Media, Liberty Science Center, New York Press, and more. Adept at capturing kids and families in outdoor settings, he also offers photo restoration and photography tutorials. danielsburnstein.com
Donna Padowitz
Photos range from intimate close-ups of toothless grins to action shots of crawling tots. Padowitz’s photos reveal her unrehearsed, candid style, with subjects appearing in natural environments and simple clothing. donnapadowitz.com
Heather Forbes
Forbes captures the candid, silly moments shared between children and families in beautiful, naturally lit shots. Maternity sessions are available in the privacy of your own home. heatherforbes.com
Heidi Green
A former preschool teacher, Green connects with each child she photographs and captures stunning candid moments at private shoots and birthday parties. Her personality and style are genuine and refreshing. heidigreen.com
James & Canno Photography
Janette James and Lauren Canno are experienced pregnancy, newborn, and baby photgraphers who create one-of-a-kind images that capture special moments in a baby’s life. They provide in-home, on location, or in-studio sessions. jamesandcannophotography.com
Jeffrey Shaw
Shaw creates a wholesome look for families while also ensuring that portraits can be framed without glass. Plus, you can enjoy your photos wherever you go with his free client gallery iPhone app! jeffreyshaw.com
JellyBean Pictures
Jennifer Tonetti-Spellman of JellyBean Pictures avoids unnatural props when depicting your young ones. A fan of natural light and colors, she captures the innocent beauty of each little “bean” she photographs. jellybeanpics.com
Jennifer Lee
Lee’s use of old-fashioned film makes even subtle details vibrantly pop. She offers both color and black and white photographs, in addition to designer photo bags, jewelry, and more. jenniferleephotography.com
Jennifer Loomis
Over the course of nearly twenty years, Jennifer Loomis has photographed more than 2,000 pregnant women and families. She specializes in maternity photography and captures the heartfelt and transformative journey of becoming a mother. jenniferloomis.com
Jessica Leigh
Leigh is willing to shoot indoors, outdoors, or in her studio with color backdrops. One of her newest services is creating personal family photo galleries in clients’ homes. jessicaleighfoto.com
Jordan Elyse
In addition to standard portaiture, Elyse offers a new spin on play-dates that your kids -and you- will love. Gather six or more friends and Elyse will photograph the fun. jordanelyse.com
Karen Haberberg
Haberberg’s photography focuses on natural moments that capture the spirit of her clients. Her personal approach places subjects at ease, leading to more authentic portraits. karenhaberberg.com
Karilyn Sanders Photography
Karilyn Sanders specializes in photos of newborns, but she also photographs babies up to 12 months. For maternity and baby photo shoots, she’s available to travel to wherever you are. karilynsanders.com
Leshem Loft
Leshem Loft produces traditional portraits of families, couples, and children. It also specializes in capturing the beauty of a pregnant woman’s body through tasteful and elegant photography. leshemloft.com
Le Studio NYC
Client-centered Le Studio NYC emphasizes the artistic vision of the client, whether it be black and white, sepia, or bold colors. lestudionyc.com
Lindsey Gray
With bold colors and patterns and natural settings, Gray’s photography emphasizes simplicity. Her specialty is newborn portraits, but she also excels in family, child, and maternity. lindseygrayphotography.com
Lucile Khornak
Khornak creates elegant portraits through her use of soft black and white format and natural lighting. Her eye for unpredictable moments ensures that her portraits are unique and highly personalized. theportraitspecialist.com
Mac Hartshorn
Hartshorn brings editorial styling to family photography through digital enhancement. His photography focuses on movement, emotion, and relationships—three areas that help capture the unique personalities of his subjects. hartshornportraiture.com
Mary Jane Photography
Mary Jane’s photography emphasizes fun and surprise, capturing artfully posed portraits that are relaxed and unexpected. Her eye for simplicity ensures that her subjects are the feature of every photograph. maryjanephotography.com
Michael Jurick
Natural environments and the changing light of the sun help Jurick produce effortless and vibrant portraits of families and children. jurick.net
Michael Kormos
With the help of his wife, Kormos creates unique family portraits through dramatic lighting, interesting angles, and vibrant colors. They emphasize spontaneity to capture the individual personality of each family. michaelkormos.com
Michael Scott
Combining photography and digital artwork, Scott creates unique portraits that position subjects in unexpected environments. He also specializes in natural prints and children’s fashion photography. michaelscottstudio.com
Nina Drapacz
Drapacz uses high-end digital cameras to capture great detail in her photographs. She has a special talent for capturing the fleeting expressions of her clients that display their personalities. ninadrapaczphotography.com
Phoebe Lee Photography
Lee specializes in capturing small details and freshness in her photographs of little ones. She also loves capturing relationships, whether it be the relationship between parent and child or the bond between siblings. phoebeleephotography.com
Photo Op
Photo Op operates in a studio with several options for backdrops and wardrobe. This team of professional photographers excels in everything from traditional, posed portraits to contemporary fashion shots. photoopnyc.com
Redhead Photography LLC
Specializing in exclusively newborn, baby, and child, Redhead Photography’s vintage style features soft, earthy tones and organic backdrops. redheadphotography.net
Sarah Merians
Merians specializes in event photography and family portraits. She is committed to producing not only great photographs, but also works of art that are passed down through generations. sarahmerians.com
Sarah Sloboda
Bringing traditional photography to the digital world, Sloboda excels in documentary film. She offers both photo shoots and event photography to capture spontaneous moments. sarahsloboda.com
Shutter Sisters Images
Shutter Sisters is a collaborative photo blog made up of female photogs, each with her own business and expertise. Their interests range from graphic design to natural lighting and color. shuttersistersimages@gmail.com
Sprout and the Bean
Sprout and the Bean caters to NYC/New Jersey families with newborns, toddlers, elementary school-age children, and teens. Fancy a shoot on location? The studio offers sessions in Central Park upon request. sproutandthebean.com
Stomping Ground Photo
Stomping Ground Photo is a school picture company that creates modern portraits that will be adored for years. They specialize in photographs that truly accentuate your child’s individuality. stompinggroundphoto.com
Suzanne Cohen
Inspired by New York City, Cohen utilizes the metropolis as the backdrop to her photography. Her photo shoots can occur anywhere in NYC and surrounding areas. suzannecohenphotography.com
Thaddeus Harden
From maternity portraits to dynamic family photos, Harden captures each subject’s unique personality and perspective with artistic flair. thaddeushardenphotography.com
Tiny Portraits
Tiny Portraits specializes in capturing pregnancy, from maternity photos to ultrasounds to newborn portraits. Its Before and After packages feature an ultrasound placed adjacent to a newborn shot. tinyportraits3dimaging.com
Venture Photography
Venture combines photography with digital artwork to ensure that your family portraits are unique and inspiring. They also frame and mount each photograph for the finishing touch. venturephotography.com
