nicki sebastian photography

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Ten from a recent classic winter wedding at the Metropolitan Building—and many more now featured on my portfolio site blog here!

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I’ve emerged from my editing cave to share ten snaps from this morning’s family session in Cobble Hill Park—the perfect way to start a Friday and kick off a weekend! 

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I'm going to try my darndest to be better about bringing my fancy camera out and about on family occasions. Tonight was my first step in my quest to do so—happy Halloween to you and yours!

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I first met Ana last fall as a client—we took family photos in Brooklyn shortly after they moved to NYC, and to make a short story short, we became fast friends and the last year has felt like a decade (in the best way possible). Her magnetic spirit and creative energy are undeniable, and her family is one of the most darling I've ever met. Our daughters have had countless adventures together (my little one quotes her eldest, Edie, on a daily basis), and we continue to collaborate regularly on everything from styled shoots to late-night texts debating new tatts. It's one of those friendships that's carefree and easy—so needless to say her recent morning family session on the Highline was just that, and I treasure these images just like I treasure this family in my life. 

(Many more images on my portfolio site here.)

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Ten from a recent newborn/family session with the sweetest big brother I’ve ever photographed. 

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This morning at Bakeri in Greenpoint. 

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When it comes to sweet and mellow newborns, baby Raya takes the cake! Having just entered this chaotic world merely days ago, she possessed a sense of calm that was almost otherworldly—and needless to say my baby fever is that much more pronounced after spending the morning photographing her and her darling family. It’s trios like this one that make me think I can effortlessly handle a whole brood—I not only snapped pics, but I took mental parenting notes as well!  

Can’t get enough of this gal? Feel free to visit my portfolio site for more images! 

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Took an obligatory autumn trip to an apple orchard yesterday, and I broke out my fancy camera for the occasion!

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Ten favorites from a recent Soho/West Village wedding—and many more on my website here!

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After a full spring filled with newness (of the tiny human variety), my calendar shifted to ceremonies and celebrations (of the marital variety) for a good portion of the summer, but sweet George arrived a few short weeks ago and gave me that baby fix I had been craving! After a maternity session with this incredible couple in Brooklyn Bridge Park, I eagerly anticipated meeting the little one that I had come to know only as a beautiful bump—and he was more delicious than I ever imagined. Upon arriving at their home, I was greeted with two amazingly calm new parents and an offer to hold George for a bit before we started photographing, and needless to say I accepted with (quite literally) open arms. The rest of the morning was just as blissful, and I can’t wait to watch this handsome guy grow and flourish (and capture all the milestones along the way). 

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When planning this Lower East Side family session with one of the most stylish and magnetic mamas I’ve ever met, she noted in an email that she wanted the session to be somewhat edgy with a splash of quintessential New York City grit. Without having met her in person at this point, I already knew that we would get along famously just by her adventurous taste and easygoing vibe. Turns out my instincts were spot-on, and I loved these three from the moment we met in Freeman’s Alley on a mild summer evening. The session itself was effortless, and the backdrops were some of my all-time favorites (and a fun departure from that of my home borough). In short, this shoot combined every ingredient in my Happy Photographer Stew: two design-savvy parents, one spunky toddler, that magic hour glow, and a few great murals—and needless to say I’m looking forward to cooking up more photos with them in the future!

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When the inspiring ladies behind heymama asked me to do a mother/daughter session, you can bet I jumped at the chance to work with them and capture their gorgeous spirits (and their stunning littles)! These two women are double-handedly forging a path for the next generation of aspiring women through a platform that aims to connect strong, savvy mothers across the globe so that they may “collaborate and build beautiful things for ourselves, each other and the rest of the world.” As a member myself, I’ve already had the opportunity to meet and join forces with some of the most incredible females whom I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise, and I owe these new friendships to Katya, Amri, and their brilliant concept and community. Heymama not only celebrates and empowers mamas but it gives back in countless ways—and it’s no surprise that their company is thriving and their network is growing exponentially. The mamas at the helm wholeheartedly embody their mission, and I can’t wait to witness and be a part of the exciting future that lies ahead for them!

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Red Hook has quickly become my favorite locale for sessions, and this darling Brooklyn-based family of three won my heart even quicker. We explored a two-block radius of backdrops ranging from edgy/industrial to lush/botanical with a spunky, nonstop toddler—and it was one of those shoots where an hour felt like a minute and suddenly I found myself sweaty, exhausted, and on top of the world. These three were my ideal family in the flesh—laid-back, hilarious, and totally game for anything I threw at them—and these photos (with many more here on my portfolio site) are as much a fond memory for me as I hope they are for them. 

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It all began my second year out of college—I met this incredible family as one of their daughter's kindergarten teachers, and we've stayed in touch for the past decade, all of us witnessing incredible growth and change in each other over that duration. They were guests at my wedding, I was their babysitter while trying to navigate grad school and get by on a student budget in Manhattan. Fast forward to last weekend where we met in Southampton for a seaside family session, and I've been flooded with feelings ever since. These five occupy some serious real estate in my heart, and the chance to capture their love was also a bit of a chance to thank them for keeping me around all this time. (More images on my portfolio site here!)

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Fourth try is a charm! This Central Park family session took place on an unseasonably mild and glowy summer evening last month, and I feel like we all really earned these gorgeous conditions. After rescheduling three times due to intense thunderstorms and essentially losing the family session lottery each time we gambled on a new make-up date, I knew this crew was going to be awesome just from the sheer patience and grace that was expressed in all the e-mail back-and-forth. I think you can tell from the photos (lots more on my site here) that this was one easy-going, buoyant family—and needless to say, this shoot was more than worth the wait.

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Ten from Saturday—and many, many more to come!

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It’s no secret that the Natural Exploration Area in Brooklyn is one of my favorite spots for an outdoor family session, but each time I shoot here, I encounter new tidbits and gems within this little corner of Prospect Park. Whether it’s a pocket of light or a patch of lush clover, each session is new and fresh because I see it through different eyes—the eyes of my pint-sized subjects who love to lead the way during our session. This particular family shoot was “styled and directed” by an adorable and precocious three-year-old who knew the nuances of the play area like no other, and her darling brother and parents happily followed along. When all was said and shot, I walked away with some of my favorite images and a renewed perspective on an old favorite locale. (For more images from this session, visit my portfolio site here!)