Posts in nyc photographer

Happy Holidays and End of year message from Elizabeth

Holiday Wedding Love

I wanted to share some holiday wedding pictures from snowy rural places, because winter is my vibe. I was born in December, and I’m a winter all the way. Give me a winter wedding any day. There’s something so lovely about winter light and the festive atmosphere of holiday weddings. And something kind of wild about going out in the snow and getting your picture taken. Snow changes the atmosphere in a magical way and cold adds a strange level of excitement, like a polar plunge.

The New Year’s Eve wedding has no snow, but make no mistake, it was the coldest. I want to say is was in the low teens. In all of these outdoor pictures, I could not feel my fingers. I had to desaturate the couples’ red faces. The brides had bare arms. But they were all troopers. The last-but-not-least wedding was so magical. It was at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts.

I also wanted to let all of you know how much you mean to me. I know that many of you are going through a lot, and I want you to know I care, and support you all.

Email Elizabeth and Say Hi

I hope this season gives you comfort, family, and lots of love and good food, and that 2026 brings you an abundance of blessings, more than you can imagine. Thank you all for entrusting me to take your pictures and to be in your life. I always love to hear from you.

wedding photography, nyc photographer, nyc wedding photographer, holiday family portraits, headshots, Destination wedding nycElizabeth SolakaDecember 22, 2025Elizabeth Solaka Photographynyc wedding photographer, New York event photographerComment

Happy Holidays 2025

Holiday season Is in full Swing

I have had the most wonderful year, and I hope you have too. I’ve been taking more family photos than ever, and my heart is full. Thank you all for entrusting me in your heirloom pictures.

My Approach to Family Photos

Here are some recent holiday family pictures I’ve taken: Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, and even a golf course in Los Angeles with furry babies. I really want to do another Hanukkah family portrait, across from (and in front of) the Plaza Hotel at Grand Army Plaza where the World’s Largest Menorah will shine bright.

There’s still time to take holiday pictures, edit, and print them up in cards or framed prints. If you’re a New Yorker, you know how we do, last minute and fast. Message me to book, but don’t wait.

Let's Book Holiday Pictures Today

See the Holiday Gallery Big

Family portraits, an art in and of itself

I used to specialize in weddings, editorial portraits, and headshots and I still definitely do those, but family photography has naturally risen to the top. I have been doing portrait photography and it’s grown through referrals. For many years I photographed the Hamilton Park Montessori school— I called photo days Blossoms because we shot during peak flowering tree season. Now, I’ve moved to Manhattan and the possibilities are truly endless. I understand the importance of family pictures, not just when your babies are small, but as they grow older as well.

Learn more About Family Photography

Thank you for a Wonderful Year, and Happy holidays, everyone!

Say Hello

children photography, central park photographer, nyc photographer, portrait photography, family picturesElizabeth KorelitzDecember 10, 2025family portraits, familyphotographernyc, newyorkfamilyphotographer

Central Park Graduation Photographer NYC: Fall Grad Photos Manhattan

Graduation photography in Central Park NYC — natural, cinematic grad portraits with iconic locations and seasonal color.

College grad poses atop Manhattan Schist in Central Park NYC

Graduate posing on rock formation in Central Park with autumn foliage.

Seasonal Portrait Tips

Grad photos for every season

The majority of pictures I take for grads are on their graduation day, or the same week. This makes perfect sense, since the excitement is palpable, the gown is pressed and ready to go, and friends and family are present. In a sense, it’s sort of an event photography session.

But a lot of other people choose fall, because their grad photos are due to yearbooks, and it’s just that back-to-school time of year that screams academia.

Whatever the season, follow these guidelines, choose relaxed over fussy. If the fake eyelashes will bother you, skip them. If the cap doesn’t suit you, just take a couple with it and then ditch it for the rest of the session. As for every photo shoot, make sure to talk to your photographer for the best light. For me, it depends on the location and season. I can make it work no matter what time of day and no matter what location.

Best Central Park Locations for Graduation Photos

Graduation portraits in Central Park combine natural scenery with iconic New York backdrops. Fall sessions are especially popular thanks to warm foliage, soft light, and cinematic textures. Where’s the best place to go? You tell me! As with all of New York, the list is endless. There are bridges, arches, water, woods, statues, monuments and landmarks, you name it. These spots are for you to explore online and bookmark. This list is also great for location scouting for wedding pictures as well.

Let's Location Scout your Grad pic session

This recent session included classic park locations like Cop Cot and the Balto statue, meaningful for a veterinary-science graduate preparing for a career in animal care.

We also started with studio-style portraits at home before heading into the park, creating a mix of polished and candid imagery. Including with dad, which may end up being the most emotionally lasting photographs.

For NYC graduation photography, it’s all about bringing out the real graduate and what makes them shine, timing, location choice, and natural interaction.

Then out we went into the park, which was showing off with every warm shade of fall. The kind of day where the leaves look painted on, the sun is soft instead of bossy, and people stroll like they’ve forgotten they have anywhere else to be. As an aside autumn, Central Park to me is the most beautiful place on earth.

She climbed up onto the magnificent Manhattan schist—like every true New Yorker has done at least once—and sat with the billionaire’s row skyline standing guard behind her. She looked right at home, as if the city were a familiar friend rather than an architectural brag.

And at the end, there was one last frame: a bonus shot with her dad, our driver for the day, the silent anchor who shepherded us from spot to spot with a smile. It was a tiny moment, warm and simple, the kind you almost miss if you’re not paying attention. I never forget to take pictures with the parents if they’re around because these photos end up being the most meaningful as the years go by.

central park photographer, nyc photographer, portrait photography, headshots, portraitsElizabeth SolakaNovember 22, 2025Elizabeth Solaka Photographygrad portraits, graduation portraits, graduation photographer NYC, Central Park grad photos, NYC portrait photographer, senior portraits NYC, Manhattan graduation photos, fall portraits NYC, NYC grad photographyComment

NYC Maternity Photography | Natural Pregnancy Portraits in the City

Central Park Maternity Photography: Quiet Moments in the Middle of New York

Couple maternity photo shoot on the bow bridge in Central Park

Best NYC Locations for Maternity Photos

Maternity photography in New York City works best when it feels natural and personal. Whether photographed outdoors, at home, or in studio, the goal is relaxed portraits that reflect this transitional moment without feeling overly posed.

Let's Connect

When to Schedule Pregnancy Photos

My Approach

My full-on documentary style comes to the fore when I photograph pregnant women. I tend to use my vintage cameras with gritty film and black and white. I like to take the pictures indoors. It’s just what inspires me. Are you a mom to be? Do you want me to photograph you in a soft, but real way? Many clients choose locations meaningful to them such as neighborhoods, parks, or their own homes. Contact me! This gallery is so special to me.

When to Book

The best time for pictures is seven to eight months (28-34 weeks). With twins, maybe a little earlier. However it truly depends on you! As you can see, some of my moms decided to wait until the late 30-week period to take their pictures.

Visit the Maternity Gallery

Pregnancy photographer New York double exposure

Maternity photographer New York woman sitting on a bed in a black dress.

Maternity photographer New York woman on a couch by a window

New York maternity photographer with a couple

New York Maternity photographer woman in sunlight black and white

Maternity pictures with clothing, a nice option too

Here are some more maternity portraits, these outdoors, fully-clothed, in Central Park on the Bow Bridge, Reservoir, and on a big rock in Central Park. Some people don’t want to show their belly when they get their Maternity photos done, and that’s just fine with me! This couple simply wanted to look into the camera, mostly, and just beam with happiness and bask in the special time — all with a backdrop of some of the most special places in Central Park. Two of my favorite pictures in the gallery are the couple in front of the bathroom, more specifically the Delacorte Public Restroom. Certainly more beautiful than most restrooms, and definitely something overlooked during a photoshoot. But not with me. The other is the Ramble Stone Arch. A lot of people don’t go into Ramble for pictures, and it’s truly one of the hidden treasures of the park.

reach out

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nyc photographer, maternity photography nyc, central park photographer, portraitsElizabeth SolakaMay 7, 2025Elizabeth Solaka Photographymaternity photography nyc, pregnancy portraits new york, expecting mothers nyc, family photography nyc, motherhood portraitsComment

Think Spring Pictures

children’s pictures in spring

For years and years, I photographed the Hamilton Park Montessori school pictures in Jersey City. I lived right across the street from the school, in a charming brownstone in an historical neighborhood. I was in close contact with the school administrators as the exact date of the pictures was always a little iffy. Why? Because I took the pictures outside, and during the peak blossom season in the park.

school pictures-0294.jpg — School pictures

to order or not to order

School pictures, order now or forever hold your peace

It’s something that has sort of fallen out of fashion, those school photos with the generic backgrounds and kids with hairstyles combed so perfectly you barely recognize your own child. I for one treasure prints of my kids. In fact, I order prints of my past year’s phone and camera pictures at the end of each year as a holiday gift to myself.

My son goes to a private school, and I am told that beyond the sitting fee, hardly anyone orders prints. What? All the pictures I’ve ever taken for schools, I always require parents to order prints. I know, not fair, but they’ll thank me later.

When you miss the blossoms

For years as I’ve mentioned, I coordinated with the school to get the perfect pictures while the apple blossoms, cherry blossoms and dogwoods were blooming in all of their glory. I even called the sessions Blossoms. One year, though, we missed the boat. I don’t recall why. Maybe it was a bad year for blossoms. Maybe the school had scheduling issues. Maybe I did. But in lieu of blossoms, we purchased some potted flowers. Below you can see the results….. Enjoy!