I wonder how our parents grew up without cell phones regularly. Maybe it’s just because I am a mom, AND I live in NYC – but I rarely leave the house without a photo op presenting itself.
I mean BE HONEST:
– how many pics of your kids do you snap to get the perfect one for Instagram?
– how many times do you go out of the way to walk a few more blocks to get that shot in front of a famous spot in NYC?
– do you freak out when you battery is dying and your service just isn’t uploading that pic?? GAH!
– do know you freak out when you think you lose it too. Or leave it at home? OH THE ANXIETY! I MIGHT MISS ALL THE CALLS OF NO ONE! Oh crap – I can’t tell Facebook how mad I am at this cabby that just almost ran up on the curb and hit me? DAMNIT! I missed grabbing a snapshot of the R train bum dressed up in rainbow crochet and drunk passed out on the floor covered in his own pee? **Sigh**
I know that I take a million photos with my cell (ahem – see Instagram) – but it’s the holidays – and well, nothing says ‘holidays’ like a good-ole family photo shoot. Yes – I’m talking using an actual photographer, and actually dressing up instead of just snapping funny pics of Maximo in his diaper. How does one even DO a family photo shoot nowadays? Well things have come a long ways from the Olan Mills and JC Penney fake fireplace backdrop.
How To Set Up Your Family Photo Shoot
You can actually PICK/HIRE a photographer to come to you! We LOVE LOVE LOVE Carlos Alayo Photography. He has lots of experience shooting kids for real advertising gigs (among many other types of photography as well) – so we knew he would have great ideas on how pose, where to stand, how to just – be a family and capture the moment. Don’t believe me? See the AMAZING shots below!
Pick a location. Hmmmmm well Maximo LOVES carousels – we all know that! So what better than Jane’s Carousel at Brooklyn Bridge Park?
The day of the shoot it started raining and there was literally a CLOUD hiding the city – what a dreary day! But it actually made the photos brighter and gave that wintery feel without actually being cold out. It couldn’t have worked out better.
We had SO MUCH FUN we teamed up with Carlos Alayo Photography to offer up a:
Photo Contest for Kids – and a chance to win your OWN Holiday Photo Shoot!
Rules:
1. Must follow @citymomsecrets and @carlosalayophotography on Instagram
2. Upload cute family photo or photo of your kid(s) with the hashtag #CarlosAlayoHoliday and tag @carlosalayophotography and @citymomsecrets.
3. Describe why Carlos should come and photograph YOUR family for the holidays – and where in NYC would be your dream location.
4. Get a second entry by Reposting my giveway photo on Instagram with the hashtag #CarlosAlayoHoliday and tagging @carlosalayophotography and @citymomsecrets.
5. Follow @alayophoto and @citymomsecrets on Twitter and tweet out ‘I just entered to win a HOLIDAY PHOTO SHOOT with @alayoPhoto thanks to @citymomsecrets – you can too! http://bit.ly/185QK4Q’
5. We’ll be watching the #hashtag closely and will pick a winner in NEXT WEEK! (Wednesday November 27th) Right in time for the holidays – and in time to get those cards out!
What you WIN:
Looking for more kids holiday events?
6 Reasons to Visit the Queens County Farm Museum
The Holiday Train Show at the NY Botanical Garden
Watch for more upcoming posts – or check out the Mommy Nearest App for my weekend events guides!
Pictures are wonderful! Jane’s Carousel is awesome. It had been at Idora Park in Youngstown (when there was a great amusement park in the city) it is a beautiful carousel!
Thanks Michelle! Wait this carousel was in Youngstown? I never knew that! so cool!
Yes. Idora park was built in the 1920-30’s. It was quite the park, too. The one roller coaster was the best around. There was a huge fire there in the mid-1980’s that closed the park. The carousel was going to be divided up and sold until “Jane’s Carousel” bought the entire thing to keep together. I was only at Idora park once before we moved there. I was probably 5-6. I won a talent show – singing Delta Dawn! LOL…add this to useless knowledge I have stored!
LOL @ Delta Dawn! I’m so sad I never got to go – we usually went to Conneaut Lake Park 🙂
love these girlfriend!!!
cant’ wait to see all of them!
I wish i lived there, she could get me a great little photo shoot in NYC!!
xo
ummm aren’t you coming up?!?!? 🙂 you better enter to win just in case! 🙂 they would be BEAUTIFUL!!!!