Christening photographer in Poland: how to plan the photographs

Before you book a photographer, talk to the priest who will baptise your child. Each parish sets its own rules for photography, and they can differ even between priests in the same parish.

When you register the christening at the parish office (*kancelaria parafialna*), ask:

• Can a photographer work during the rite, and may they move around the church or must they stay in one place?
• Can they come close to the font or the altar, and if so, at which moments?
• Are there any formalities for the photographer, such as letting the parish know in advance or a short word with the priest before the service?
• Will the baptism take place during Mass or as a separate rite? This decides how long the photographer works inside.
• Are several children being baptised that day? At a shared christening the photographer needs to know where your family will stand.

If your Polish is limited, bring a Polish-speaking friend or prepare the questions in writing. Pass the priest’s answer on to your photographer.

A typical christening day in Poland has a few parts, and it is worth deciding in advance which of them you want photographed.

1. Outside the church. The family gathers a little before the ceremony. A good time for the godparents with the candle and white garment, grandparents with the baby, and details. The photographer arrives early to check the interior and the light.
2. The rite in church. A baptism outside Mass is usually shorter than one during Mass. The length depends on the parish and the number of children, so ask at the parish office.
3. Short portraits. After the ceremony, before guests drive off to lunch, the photographer takes family portraits outside the church or in a nearby park. A quarter of an hour is enough, but it has to be planned.
4. The reception (*przyjęcie*). A meal at a restaurant or at home. The photographer can stay for the guests arriving, the cake and a group photo at the table, then leave.

A package from PLN 1,200 roughly covers the ceremony and a short session, about two hours in total. If you want the whole reception or getting ready at home, say so in your request and the proposal will allow for the longer time.

Allow for travel. When the church and the restaurant are in different parts of town, as often happens in Warsaw or Krakow, the drive can take a real share of the photographer’s time.

A Roman Catholic baptism has a few fixed elements. A photographer who knows them takes position early.

• The welcome and the sign of the cross. The priest, parents and godparents trace a cross on the baby’s forehead.
• The pouring of water. The central moment, over in a few seconds. Ideally the photographer sees the priest’s hand, the baby’s head and the face of the person holding the child at the same time.
• The anointing with chrism. A short, close gesture that works well as a close-up.
• The white garment. Usually the godmother puts it on, which makes a good photo of her with the baby.
• The candle lit from the Easter candle. The godfather lights it, and the flame throws warm light on the faces.
• A group photo with the priest at the end, if he agrees.

If your family belongs to a Greek Catholic or Orthodox parish, the rite looks different: the child is often immersed in water, and chrismation follows straight after baptism. The order depends on the parish and the priest, so ask for a short outline and pass it on to your photographer.

Ask for the reactions too: a grandmother wiping away a tear, an older sibling peering into the font.

In many churches flash during the liturgy is unwelcome or not allowed, and even where it is permitted it distracts people at prayer and wakes the baby. A good photographer for a baptism in church works with the light that is there.

What that means in practice:

• Fast lenses and a camera that copes with low light. Photos from a dark interior may show some grain, but they stay sharp and natural in colour.
• A place near a window. If the font is in a side chapel, the light can be harder than in the nave. A photographer who arrives early will find out where to stand.
• Time of day. A midday christening in a church with large windows gives very different light from an evening Mass in November. If you can choose the hour, ask the photographer which suits the photos better.
• Artificial light. Church bulbs vary in colour, and warm yellow light mixes with daylight. The photographer evens out the colours in editing.

Do not judge a photographer by sunny outdoor sessions. Ask to see a full gallery from a christening, communion or wedding in a dark church.

Detail shots usually happen before church or at the reception. Put everything in one bag beforehand.

What to prepare:

• The christening gown or outfit. If the family has a gown worn by older children or grandparents, tell the photographer.
• The baptismal candle with its decoration, before it is lit.
• A medal, small cross or rosary, a common gift from godparents in Poland.
• The invitation, an icon or a family keepsake, if they mean something to you.

Adults look best in calm, plain colours: navy, beige, grey, muted green. The baby’s white garment then becomes the brightest point in the frame. Avoid large patterns, logos and neon shades, which in a dim church reflect colour onto faces.

A tight collar in a cold church can spoil the baby’s mood halfway through, so bring a neutral blanket and a spare outfit. Our guide on what to wear for a photoshoot has more on colours for the whole family.

The church photos are reportage. Family portraits are taken separately, usually just after you come out of church.

Agree a list in advance:

• the baby with the parents,
• the baby with the godparents,
• grandparents from both sides,
• siblings with the baby,
• one photo of all the guests.

With many guests, choose one family member to gather each group. The photographer does not know anyone by name, and in a mixed family where relatives speak different languages, a cousin calling “now Dad’s side” works far better.

After an hour in church a baby is often tired and hungry, so start with the shots that include the baby and leave adult groups for the end.

For calmer portraits, you can book a separate family session on another day, at home or in a park. If the christening falls in the first weeks of life, have a look at our guide to a newborn session at home.

Prepare a short note so the photographer does not have to guess in church:

1. The church address and time, and whether the baptism is during Mass.
2. The rite: Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic or Orthodox, and the language of the service.
3. The parish’s answer about photography: where the photographer may stand and what is not allowed.
4. Who is who: the names of the godparents, grandparents and anyone you especially want photographed.
5. The plan after church: where the portraits will be, the restaurant address and how long the photographer should stay.
6. Family situations worth knowing about, for example divorced grandparents who should not be placed side by side.
7. The baby’s rhythm: when they eat and sleep, so the portraits fall at a good moment.

Services in Polish parishes are usually held in Polish. If some of your guests do not speak Polish, or you would simply find it easier, you can ask for an English-speaking photographer. Photographers’ languages are listed on their profiles, and availability depends on the date.

Christenings happen all year, but in spring and summer, the First Communion and wedding season, free weekend dates are harder to find. Get in touch once the parish confirms the date and time.

Through Kadrova it works like this:

• You send a free, no-obligation availability request with the date, town, time of the ceremony and what you would like photographed.
• We check which photographers with experience of church ceremonies are free, and reply personally.
• You receive a proposal naming the photographer, the package and the price. Payment terms, such as a deposit (*zadatek*), are stated in the proposal.
• The booking is confirmed when you accept.

Photographers are independent professionals who set their own package and price from PLN 1,200 upwards and issue their own invoice or bill. The price depends on the city, the day, the length of coverage and add-ons such as photos from the reception. You will find every session type on our pricing page, and ideas for family photos around the country on family photography in Poland. The delivery time is stated in your proposal.