Valentina Bay

✦ Wildly romantic. Quietly rebellious. ✦
Intimate elopements & editorial bo***ir photography
New York, New Jersey and destination

12/06/2025

Most people don’t realize you can get married in New York City without stepping into City Hall the day of.

These two did. They exchanged vows at Bethesda Terrace in Central Park, where there’s almost always a musician playing, the kind of soundtrack you couldn’t plan if you tried.

We built their elopement day entirely around them, their pace, their energy, their version of joy. No lines, no fluorescent lights, no waiting room vibes. Just the city, the music, and the freedom to be exactly where they wanted to be. Because you don’t have to rush through a courthouse to make it official. You can build a day that feels personal, intentional, and completely yours, start to finish.

I wrote a page dedicated to elopements and small weddings in NYC, find the link in my bio.

11/19/2025

“Loose editorial” is being talked about a lot lately, but it’s actually been part of wedding photography for years. It’s that mix of posed moments and documentary moments, a little direction when it helps, and a lot of letting things unfold naturally. It works for big weddings, small weddings, courthouse days, and elopements.

People sometimes think an all-day elopement means constant posing, but most of the time it’s just the two of you being together… and me photographing the real moments as they happen.

These Austin courthouse photos are a good example: a blend of simple prompts, natural light, and everything that felt spontaneous in between.

If you want photos that look polished without feeling stiff, this is the approach.

11/18/2025

Hello there, if we haven’t met.

I’m Valentina Bay, a photographer focused on intimacy, connection, and the way real moments actually feel. My work is less about perfect poses and more about what happens in between: a hand reaching, hair moving in the wind, a small look that says everything.

November 13th marked ten years since I moved to the U.S. When I arrived, I was finishing my cookbook, published in Italy. Since then, I’ve lived in California, Texas, D.C., and now New Jersey and each place shaped how I see people and light.

I photograph elopements, small weddings, and bo***ir sessions for people who care more about emotion than performance. The kind of days that feel personal, a little messy, but full of truth.

Outside photography, I love sewing, baking sourdough, and pulling tarot cards. Astrology reminds me to pay attention to timing, that everything, even creativity, has its own rhythm.

This reel is a small introduction. The person behind the camera, and the work that keeps her grounded.

***irphotographer

11/17/2025

A calm, intimate small wedding in Big Bend, Texas: getting ready at home with the kids, soft light, and that easy family rhythm that makes the day feel personal from the start.
If you love at-home weddings and quiet, natural moments, this is the energy.

11/15/2025

Sometimes the best move on your wedding day is to slip away for a few minutes and take your portraits on a rooftop. No setup, no décor, just space, light, and a quiet break from everything happening downstairs.

Rooftops work beautifully for wedding portraits, elopement photos, and small-wedding moments when you want something simple but still atmospheric. Open air, clean lines, and the city behind you is usually all you need.

If you’re planning a minimal wedding or modern elopement, adding a rooftop stop into your timeline is an easy way to get portraits that feel calm, stylish, and totally uncluttered.

11/13/2025

A stylish, small wedding at the Austin courthouse. proof that simplicity can still feel intentional and beautiful.

This couple originally planned to elope but it naturally grew into a small, heartfelt celebration with their closest people:
• a relaxed getting-ready morning at
• an intimate ceremony at the courthouse
• cocktail hour back at the hotel
• and a cozy reception dinner at .

One of the bride’s best friends even flew in from Australia, bringing a veil she hand-made just for her.

Austin is full of options for couples who want something minimal, stylish, and stress-free, courthouse wedding, micro-wedding, or elopement. The city makes it easy to keep things simple without losing meaning.

10/28/2025

For this NYC bo***ir session, I stepped a little outside my comfort zone. I usually shoot in studios with at least a bed, a soft lounge area, and plenty of little corners to work with — a bathtub, a vanity, something that offers variety and storytelling through each setup. This one was smaller, which meant getting creative, being more intentional with poses, and finding beauty in simplicity. With just a small couch, a couple of chairs, and windows that covered the whole wall in golden light, we built something quiet and powerful.

We ended the session with a few breathtaking, bra-free portraits, bathed in the soft glow of sunset: natural, confident, and full of heart.

I love working with natural light for bo***ir because it captures what feels close to you: familiar, gentle, and real. To me, modern bo***ir photography isn’t about perfection or performance. It’s about seeing yourself in your own light, stunning, human, and effortlessly beautiful.

10/25/2025

✨ What to wear for your bo***ir session? If your style leans toward N**e & Barely There, sometimes the most powerful choice is almost nothing at all.
“Barely there” doesn’t mean you have to be fully n**e — it’s about suggestion, the whisper of skin, the elegance of simplicity. Think sheer mesh underwear, a thin slip draped low on your shoulders, or an open shirt that only half-closes.
This style is for those who want their session to feel raw and unfiltered, but still artful. Every pose, every frame, every shadow is intentional — so even the most revealing images feel like something you could hang on a wall, not just hide in a drawer.

👉 Want more inspiration? My full Bo***ir Style Guide is linked in bio.

10/24/2025

LGBTQ+ New York City elopement: modern, intimate, and beautifully untraditional.

No City Hall, no crowds, just two women in love, coffee in hand, and a slow morning that felt entirely their own. They got ready together, walked the streets of Manhattan, and turned an ordinary day into something unforgettable. Elopements like this remind me that there’s no single “right” way to get married, only what feels true to you.

If you’re planning an intimate wedding or LGBTQ+ elopement in New York (or anywhere in the U.S.), I’d love to tell your story in a way that feels honest, modern, and full of heart.

✨ 2026 bookings now open. Let’s create something that feels like you.

10/23/2025

✨ What to wear for your bo***ir session?
If your style leans toward Masculine & Androgynous, think sharp lines, clean cuts, and the confidence that comes from blurring the rules.
Bo***ir doesn’t have to mean lace and frills. Masculine & Androgynous is about crisp button-downs left open, tailored trousers with nothing underneath, soft binders, or lace reimagined in unexpected ways. It’s an invitation to step into whatever version of yourself feels true — boyish, fluid, or entirely your own.

💡 Note for Men & Male-Presenting Clients Bo***ir isn’t just for women. For male-presenting clients, the same principles apply: wear what makes you feel comfortable and powerful. Think boxer briefs, fitted tees, open button-downs, or even a sleek blazer with undone details. Lace and mesh aren’t off-limits either — brands like Thistle & Spire are reimagining these fabrics for all bodies. Whether you lean toward classic masculinity or want to play with fluidity, there’s space for you here.

👉 Want more inspiration? My full Bo***ir Style Guide is linked in bio.

10/22/2025

Big Bend small wedding surrounded by desert light and the people who matter most.
There’s something about the quiet out here: the stillness, the open sky, the way time slows down long enough to notice what really matters. This wedding wasn’t about the details or the schedule. It was about laughter between old friends, kids running barefoot near the ceremony site, and the sun dipping low behind the mountains while they said their vows.
If this feels like your kind of day, easy, heartfelt, and deeply personal, I’m now booking 2026 small weddings and elopements anywhere in the U.S.
Desert, mountain, or city skyline, let’s make it happen 🤍

Address

72nd St
New York, NY
11209

Website

http://www.valentinabay.com/

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