Lots of people can take a great picture. Maybe even you. But it’s the true photographer that can balance color, composition, light and more — and also manage to capture the spirit of his or her subject. That’s never more important than when shooting a family, siblings, newborn, etc. We went in search of the best NYC family photographers and found pros for different styles, specialties, and budgets—but all of them create work you’ll cherish for years.
For a Fun Family Shoot & More
Nadia Leon specializes in capturing your kid or family in relaxed and fun moments. (No stiff poses or weird lighting here.) Nadia is happy to come to you, or meet you at a location of your choosing. A $400, 90-minute Family Shoot (which includes the opportunity to change outfits and settings) gets you 20 to 30 professionally-retouched photos in an online gallery for download. Turnaround is five business days. Leon also does maternity, engagement and wedding photo sessions in a similar style. During the pandemic, Nadia also launched the Front Steps Project in Queens, photographing families in front of their homes from six feet away. Her mission was to capture the joyful moments of life, even as everyone faced challenges. Her work from that project can be found here.
Online: nadialeonphotography.com
For Editorial Photographer Who Also Does Portraits: Julie Hassett Sutton
Brooklyn-based photographer Julie Hassett Sutton has worked with The Wall Street Journal and the organization Global Kids (for whom she photographed a visit from Michelle Obama!). And yes, you can also snag a sitting with her. You can choose a 30-minute ($150) or 60-minute ($300) session that can be done in your home or at a location of your choosing.
917-747-7765
Online: photosforyour.life
To Capture the Little Details: Deer Baby
Deer Baby is all about storytelling. Their photographers will document your new arrival with natural shots with a candid feel — and they'll do it in NYC and Nashville. The Deer Baby shutterbugs frequently shoot in a subject's home, but they're happy to head out to the park, the streets or any location of your choosing. Got a fuzzy member of the family? Deer Baby loves including pets. Starting rate is $550.
Online: deerbabyphoto.com
For the Out of the Ordinary: Stylish Hip Kids
For a truly uncommon snap of the clan, check out Stylish Hip Kids, the studio of photographer Mariliana Arvelo. The Venezuelan native shoots both outdoors and in, as well as at her Brooklyn HQ, and her work is fun, filled with color and energy, and the essence of her subjects. (Sometimes, she even adds some fun illustrated accents in post-production.) Starting rate is $400 for a mini-session.
Online: stylishhipkids.com
For A Photog Who's Shot for Goop, Cup of Jo & Parents: Ana Gambuto
Ana Gambuto will literally get down on your kid's level to get that perfect shot. (See her website for video of a shoot and the resulting pics to see what we mean.) She describes her style as polished but authentic, bright and full of life, and tells clients to drop any assumptions they might have about family photo shoots. "Mine are fast-paced, and a bit of a cardio workout. You've got to let your kids take the lead to get those real smiles!" She works in NYC and the Hamptons. Hour-long sessions are $925 and include all the high-res JPGs.
Online: anagambuto.com
For the Classic Central Park Shoot: Ruby Photography
Yes, Samantha Ruby does all kinds of photo shoots, but she's got a knack for a great Central Park family portrait. (Check out her site to see what we mean.) Sessions last 45 minutes to an hour and cost $750 for 35 images. She works throughout the city and will travel 90 minutes to you as well.
Online: rubyphotographynyc.com
For Capturing Moments Big and Small: Michelle Rose
With a degree in art photography, Michelle Rose brings years of experience to portrait and family shoots. Her mission: Capture your family's most joyful moments with beautifully styled photos. You can book her for maternity, newborn, family, cake smash shoots and more. Scheduling is easy— just head to her website to set up a consultation and, once a date is locked in, she'll share her very helpful photoshoot and outfit guides to help you best prepare for the session. After the photoshoot, Michelle will share a private album for you to peruse. You can take a peek at Michelle's work on her Instagram account to get a sense of her style. Packages start at $1,180.
Online: michellerosephoto.com
For When You're Not Sure Your Kid Will Smile for a Photo: Shoott
Every parent knows the struggle of trying to take a family photo and your children refuse to smile. Introducing, Shoott, a totally risk-free photography service. To set up a session, pick a date and select a location from one of 30 locations in and around NYC. (Bonus: there's no fee for booking.) Meet up with a professional photographer for a 30-minute photo session, and afterward, you'll get 40 lightly edited shots from which to select your faves. Only pay for the photos you love.(Shoott photos are $30 each, $15 per photo when you buy 10 or more or $295 for all 40.)
Book right here in NYC, or in any city in the U.S.
Online: shoott.com
For a Low-Cost, Last-Minute Photo Shoot: Snapped
Yes, now you can order up a professional photo shoot on demand. Created with the goal of making it easy to find qualified and experienced photographers on short notice (in as little as two hours!), Snapped promises high quality shots and fast delivery from a small team of vetted photographers. It's relatively low risk, and definitely low cost. A 45-minute Snapped session will set you back just $179, soup to nuts. As a bonus, if your little one is under the weather or you have a schedule conflict, you can reschedule or cancel with no fee. Plus, you'll get all your photos within 24-hours so you don't have to wait. Have we tried it? Not yet. Do we want to? You betcha!
Online: snapped.us
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