Every baptism tells a story, and the Antiochian Orthodox tradition is rich with meaningful rituals. I had the honor of capturing a baby baptism at Brooklyn’s St. Nicholas Cathedral, showcasing how this ceremony differs from typical Catholic baptisms. The Orthodox practice emphasizes full immersion, along with specific rites like exorcisms and anointing with oil. This contrasts with many Catholic baptisms, which often use pouring or sprinkling. Additionally, chrismation follows the immersion in the Orthodox tradition, highlighting the immediate reception of the Holy Spirit.
During this two-hour event, I documented the entire mass, focusing on key moments that defined the occasion, from prayers to blessings. We also took posed photos before and after the ceremony, both inside the church and outside against its stunning architecture.

If you’re looking to preserve significant life events with impactful photography that captures both tradition and emotion, I’m here to help you create lasting memories.

Here are some of my favorite images from this shoot (click/tap to view full-size and un-cropped):

To see more examples of this style of photography, visit my religious ceremonies gallery >>

All images in this blog post were shot on a Nikon D850, using a variety of lenses, all individually post-processed in Adobe Lightroom.

Jinnifer Douglass is a full-time freelance photographer based in NYC, shooting both digital and film for individuals and brands such as Google, Door Dash, Make Up For Ever, Squarespace, and more! Specializing in portraits, food, and special events, she works to make every piece of your social and website content ‘Insta-worthy’ with high resolution, full-frame DSLR photography and expert Lightroom editing. Interested in chatting? Leave a comment below, or send an email to info@jinyc-photo.com!