Baptism at the Holy Resurrection Greek Orthodox

Two weeks ago I photographed a baptism at the Holy Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church in Brookville, NY.

Being a parishioner of this church, Fr. Panteleimon is my spiritual father. The church has a unique architecture with the rays of sun light illuminating the faces from various positions. It is my task to see the light and capture the story from the most interesting position. I use a mix of wide shots to capture the ambiance of the church and close-ups for intimate moments. I try to position myself discreetly near the font or other focal points without intruding.

As Greek Orthodox I am familiar with the sequence of events in a Greek Orthodox baptism. Key moments include:
– The anointing with holy oil.
– The immersion in the font.
– The cutting of hair (tonsure).
– The dressing of the child in a white garment.
– The lighting of the baptismal candles.

I typically carry three full frame camera bodies and use 4-5 prime lenses. The prime lenses allow two times more light to enter the camera sensor compared to typical zoom lenses. Greek Orthodox churches often have beautiful but dim lighting. I use natural light where possible to preserve the atmosphere.

I stay unobtrusive and avoid blocking the view of the congregation or disrupting the priest. I give particular emphasis to capturing the key moments:
a) Arrival and preparation of the family.
b) Close-ups of the font, candles, and oil.
c) The immersion of the baby in the font.
d) Expressions of the family and godparents.
e) Post-baptismal moments, such as the child dressed in white.

It is always a pleasure photographing a Baptism at the Holy Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church in Brookville, NY.

Christening photographer, Baptism photographer, Greek Orthodox photographer, Long Island photographer, NY photographer.