Whenever a precious, little, package is entrusted into my careful care, it brings me sheer and utter joy. Newborn photography requires patience, training, and an understanding of newborn safety. As any parent knows, children grow up faster than we can blink, and it’s exactly why newborns should be photographed between four and twelve days new; every moment, every memory is precious and should be rendered with care. Newborn photography is one of the most challenging genres of photography and because I’m a person that loves a good challenge, I enjoy each and every single aspect of this lucrative and enjoyable genre.

 

Why Do I love It?

 

There is nothing more fulfilling than capturing the memories I freeze—the tiny toes, the little fingers, and the smiles on parents’ faces as they watch their precious bundles of joy photographed just days into their new lives. I love the tedious positioning and the long hours as well as the dressing up and the dressing down.

 

Dads personally make me feel warm because they have a different kind of love for their children. Mothers have been with their child for nine months, they’ve bonded with them, lived together as a team. Dads always beam in a very different way than mothers. They’ve just met their babies for the first time. Their smiles shine brightly; they can’t wait to play with their gift, a little piece of them they never knew they had inside of them. Parents view their children as their greatest success and I love bearing witness to such a beautiful thing. 

 

Photography is something I have a passion for--I spend many nights working instead of dreaming and editing instead of resting; however I love what I do and without love and drive, no one would ever be able to succeed and our evolution would be stunted. Newborn photography may seem easy to an onlooker, but it’s one of the most difficult types of photography; getting the baby in the proper position while being extra cautious of their tender little limbs is very meticulous and detailed. Knowledge is key when it comes to this type of work and my years of experience working with different kids of all ages help greatly in my journey to perfect and learn. 

 

Finally, I just enjoy working with people. I love working with you and your family. I value the experience that we share when we take photos. We all wish we could bottle up those moments that make us remember we’re the best version of ourselves we can be, and having a photograph is a moment that truly does last forever. Whether it’s your engagement, your mother’s seventy fifth birthday or the birth of your first child, capturing these moments makes them radiate forever. Moments like these are intimate; these photographs are something you want to share with your family and having a stranger behind the camera can make it slightly stressful. I wipe that away. I love to talk to you, I want to hear the story behind your smile and for the next few hours as we take pictures together I want to be apart of that special experience. I like to make my clients feel as comfortable as possible. Nobody wants to take a picture with an awkward smile, (we aren’t at the DMV here.) because we can’t relax. My studio is a stress-free zone where you and your family can feel free to be you. Nothing shines more in a portrait than the people in them being who they really are despite the fact that they are dressed up in their Sunday best. 

 

Why is styling so important? 

 

No two people are alike, which is why I work closely with every individual to figure out their theme and color palette. In order to accomplish this, I provide styling with all of my sessions. The more time you invest into your session, the better you will look and feel in your pictures thus making the final product all the better. Whether you are coming in for a steamy boudoir, glitzy glamour, or a scholarly senior session you will enjoy complimentary** hair and make-up beforehand. Getting pampered before your session is a little extra step I take to make sure your experience is extraordinary.

 

**Hair and Make-up are also available as an upgrade. 

 

About Me: 

 

I’m Christina Marotto and I want to welcome you to my online portfolio. My love affair with photography started when I was a kid when I fiddled with any film camera I could get my little hands on. Finally, I found myself in a high school photography class, shooting with an old Nikon D90 film camera; I would drag my father around everywhere taking pictures of anything and everything. I knew I found my passion, my one true love right then and there. Photography was my heart and soul and I knew I hard to pursue it; however, as with every journey, there is a road to travel with bumps along the way. 

 

The Math Degree: 

 

Soon it was time for college and my father, much like most fathers, wanted what was best for me and encouraged me to follow a more "stable" option at his alma mater. I started a four-year program at Fordham University where I graduated with a degree in Mathematics. Knowing well enough I couldn’t leave my love of art behind, I minored in fine arts and studied photography my entire college career; I couldn’t leave my passion behind. 

 

Like most millennials, it took me some time to find my niche after I graduated. I pursued jobs in retail, public relations, and the corporate world that gave me no real gratification. A short time after we found out that my touchstone, the strongest person I’ve ever known, my father, had “The Big C." Cancer is terrifying and my father was immortal, just had to be. He was going to live forever, I believed it, my family believed it, heck he believed it! But when mortality comes knocking on the door, it knocks hard and leaves no one 100% intact. 

 

How I got where I am? 

 

My father was my biggest champion whether I realized it all of the time. He pushed for me to think big and fight hard and he made me the strong person I am today. I would be nothing without him rooting for me, calling me out on my stubbornness, guiding me through adolescence and into adulthood. 

 

I remember very clearly one day while in college, I needed stuff so I drove to a local store. I sat there in the parking lot on the phone with my father; we talked about my life and what I was going to do with a degree in Math. I told him I wanted to go to graduate school and get a Masters Degree, but I was worried that it might be too difficult. Admittedly, I was nervous telling him about my insecurities, but my worries were for naught as he calmly replied, “You can do whatever you choose, but remember you can change your mind. Nothing is set in stone and no path is chosen until you chose it.” I felt a sigh of relief envelope me. My father’s greatest advice to me was that it’s okay to change your mind. If you don’t like what you’re doing, go out and change it. There is always room for improvement; nothing is ever set in stone. He gave me the courage I needed to be who I am, but most importantly he gave me respect and approval and that’s all that a daughter can really ask for when it comes to the strongest man in her world. 

 

As the cancer progressed, the days seemed longer and harsher. I found myself at odds with my sisters while my mom and dad lived at the hospital; we wanted it to get better, we prayed all day and all night but the more the cancer spread, the worse it became and we only knew it would be a matter of time. On June 30th, 2008 my father, Frank Marotto Jr. passed away after a long battle with cancer. 

 

Why a lady bug? 

 

My father was truly a remarkable person; he poured himself into his work to support his family. After he passed, my sister saw ladybugs everywhere and before long so did my other sister and mother. As a firm believer in signs I just knew that my father was watching over us. In life we stuck to him like a ladybug would stick to your clothes on a summer day and in death we knew he stuck to us. My father's death kicked my butt, it was one of the cruelest and detrimental moments of my life. I was not the same person without him. I missed the person I spent every weekend with skiing. I missed the constant encouragement. I missed being told I was going to be okay despite feeling otherwise. I missed my best friend. 

 

At this point the man who claimed to be "immortal" was in fact mortal and I knew I had to pick myself up and kick my butt into high gear. I wanted to do something that would make me happy and my mom encouraged me to find my way back to photography. 

 

She found the old Olympus DSLR my father had bought me a few years back and encouraged me to shoot family and friends. In 2010 I shot a few engagement sessions and even a wedding for a friend. I quickly learned that my true passion was working with people not just shooting events. 

 

What do I love most? 

 

My mom is my rock. She has been there every step of the way encouraging me to keeping fighting to get where I want to be. She is truly the strongest woman I will ever know. My sisters continue to support my goals and me. In fact, my youngest sister even puts up with my dressing, posing, and practicing with my adorable niece. Along with my mother and sisters, there are my niece and nephew who moved in with us shortly after my father’s death. They are typical teenagers, going through the motions of adolescence. These people look after me and I for them. We don’t get to choose our family and I value mine. In the end, they’re the only ones who’ll be there through it all. 

 

Volunteering is also very important to me. Giving your time to a worthy cause even for just a few hours a week makes a difference. I’m an avid skier that has been away from the slopes from far too long. I am addicted to travel and my camera is my constant companion. I really love travel photography and one day when I have the time to edit personal projects, I hope to be able to display them, maybe even sell them. 

 

Through the support of family and friends, I decided it was time to make my dreams a reality. In July of 2012, as a birthday present, I decided it was time to make my business "NYS official," becoming Christina Marotto Photography, INC. Sometimes it takes a while to remember what you truly love, but getting there is the best part.