At home
Getting dressed
Everyone is already at home, the christening gown is still freshly ironed and the light from the windows is enough. Some people want the whole day from the start, and it begins here.
Little Stories by Zitoli
Christening photos
The ceremony in church and the family who are all there that day
I photograph the ceremony from one side of the nave while you watch your child. Outside on the church steps, I bring the family together before everyone scatters, and we do the baby's portrait before the rite, while the baby is still rested.
What the session includes
A christening photography session brings together the ceremony in church, the baby's portrait and the photos with the family. We decide when I start and how long I stay on the day once you set the date.
The day has moments that come up in every family: getting dressed at home, arriving at church, the rite, the photos on the church steps, the reception. Which of these are part of the session is up to you. Some people call me for just the ceremony, and some want the whole day from the start, when the baby is dressed in the bedroom and everyone is already at home.
I'm Alessia Zitoli and I photograph newborns and families in the studio in Trani. At a christening I bring the same way of working: I stay behind what's happening, and I only ask people for anything once the ceremony is over.
The day of the christening, in order
The date is set by the parish priest. Within that day the moments come up in every family, and which ones are part of the session is up to you.
Before the guests arrive
The baby's portrait
Better before the rite, if the baby has slept and eaten: after the ceremony the baby is tired, having been passed from arm to arm the whole time, and it shows on the face.
In church
The rite
I stay to the side and move very little, out of the line of sight of the people watching. The rest is decided by the parish priest: every church has its own rules, and they come before my photos.
On the church steps
The whole family
As soon as the ceremony ends. It's the only moment of the day when everyone is in the same place, dressed up, and it helps if someone says so out loud before the final blessing.
Straight after
The grandparents with their grandchild
Right after the group photo we do the close portraits, starting with the grandparents: during the ceremony they sit at the back and can't see much.
At the reception
The rest of the day
We decide when I start and how long I stay when you set the date.
These windows come from experience, not fixed rules: if your baby already has a few extra days, write to me anyway and we will see what we can do.
In church: how I move during the ceremony
I stay to the side and move very little, out of the line of sight of the people watching. The rest is decided by the parish priest: every church has its own rules, and they come before my photos.
I ask about the rules myself
Before things begin I ask the parish priest how close I can get to the font, which side I can stand on and whether I can move during the rite. Some let me do as I please, others give me a fixed spot: either way, it works.
Whatever light there is, no flash
Flash wakes the baby up, and some parishes don't allow it anyway. Without it, the colour of the photos stays true to the church: the tall windows and the white of the christening gown catching the light on its own.
When I move
I move at the moments when the whole church is already moving: when the congregation stands up, when the group approaches the font. In the middle of the rite I stay where I am, so the guests can watch the ceremony.
The christening font
The water on the baby's head lasts a few seconds and happens only once. I choose beforehand the spot from which the parish priest's hand and the baby's face can be seen together, and I get there while the group is approaching.
The white gown and the candle
After the water come the white gown and the candle lit from the paschal candle. These are brief gestures, and anyone at the back of the nave barely sees them: I photograph them close up, staying still where I am.
The portrait before or after
Better before, if the baby has slept and eaten. After the ceremony the baby is tired: having been passed from arm to arm throughout the rite, and it shows on the face.
We meet in church before the guests arrive, or at home while you're dressing the baby. Everything is still quiet, the christening gown is still freshly ironed and the light from the windows is enough.
If the day is already full, the portrait can be done in the studio on another day, with the gown on and all the time it needs. It's also the photograph that ends up with the grandparents, who sit at the back during the ceremony and can't see much.
The whole family
I take the photo of the whole family on the church steps, as soon as the ceremony ends. It's the only moment of the day when everyone is in the same place and dressed up: grandparents, godparents, aunts and uncles, cousins.
I choose the spot while you're still inside. It's usually the church doorway, with the group in the shade and the light coming from the side: in full sun everyone squints, so we put the sun behind us.
It helps if someone says so out loud before the final blessing, the godfather or an uncle: then everyone stays outside for a moment for the photo. As soon as the first few people reach the cars, getting everyone back together becomes hard work.
Straight after that we do the close portraits, starting with the grandparents holding the baby. During the ceremony I stay still: the group photos are taken outside, at the end.
If there's an older brother or sister, they join the group while they're moving. The best expressions come when people forget about the camera, and with children that happens sooner if I let them move around.
Photos from a christening
The ceremony in church, the baby's portrait and the whole family. These are different sessions from each other: some people want just the church, some also want the table setting and the cake.
What the day includes
Message me the date of the christening and I'll send you the quote for your day, with the items listed separately.
The first item is the session, meaning the hours I spend with you. The second is the products you choose afterwards: albums and prints are decided by looking at which images hold up at a large size.
What changes the most is what point of the day I start from: just the ceremony is a different commitment from a day that starts with getting dressed. Tell me where you'd like me to start.
Request informationWhen to book
As soon as you have the date from the parish priest. Message me the day and time of the ceremony: I'll tell you straight away whether I'm free and how to book it.
I also need the name of the church, because that determines how I move: a narrow nave with the font at the far end is photographed one way, a large church with the font at the entrance is photographed another way.
If the christening falls in the very first days of the baby's life, we can combine it with the newborn session, which takes place from 10 to 15 days after the birth. It's rare, and when it happens it's worth talking about it straight away.
If you don't have the date yet and you're just lining up what needs to be done, message me the month you're expecting. My contact details are on the contact page, and longer answers are in the guides.
Before and after the christening
Before the christening there's usually already been one session, and afterwards another one comes along. These are the nearby stages, with the window in which they're done.
Frequently asked questions
Does the parish priest allow photos during the christening?
The rules are set by the parish priest, and I ask him before the rite begins. One useful thing to check when you set the time: whether there are other babies in the same ceremony. With more than one family in front of the font, there's less space, and I move to the side.
How do I ask for a quote for the christening?
Message me the date, or just the month if the parish priest hasn't given you the day yet. What matters most for the quote is how much of the day I photograph: just the ceremony in church is a different commitment from a day that starts at home with getting dressed. Albums and prints are added later, once you've seen the photos.
How long does the christening photography session last?
As long as the part of the day you choose. For the length of just the ceremony, what matters is how your parish celebrates it: a christening held within Sunday Mass takes much longer than one celebrated on its own in the afternoon. Tell me how it's done at your parish and I'll tell you what time to what time I'll be in church.
If the baby cries during the rite, are the photos ruined?
No. The water is cold and it all lands on the baby's head at once: the baby reacts, and it's one of the few genuine expressions of the day. Nobody will ask you to calm the baby down for the photo. I carry on from where I am, and the frame also keeps the hands of whoever is holding the baby and the faces of both of you.
Do you also work outside Trani?
Yes, the ceremony is photographed in your own parish. The studio is at Via Umberto 230 in Trani, Bari is half an hour by car and Barletta, Bisceglie, Andria, Molfetta and Corato are closer still. Message me the name of the church when you set the date: I arrive with enough time to speak to the parish priest before you go in.
Can I just have the portrait, without the ceremony?
Yes, the portrait can be done in the studio with the gown you bring along. If we do it before the christening, the photograph is ready in time for the favours and the album. If we do it afterwards, the baby has grown a few weeks older, the gown already fits differently and the baby sits up straighter when held.
Does the christening already have a date?
Message me the month it falls in, even if the parish priest hasn't given you the exact day yet. I'll tell you if that period is free and send you the quote, along with the things to ask at the parish when you set the time.
Tell me what you need
I answer personally. If you prefer, message me directly on WhatsApp: it is the fastest way.