Anastasia Rae Photography

Anastasia Rae Photography Sam Sykula, owner and lead photographer of Anastasia Rae Photography, specializes in lifestyle memoir photography.

Six months later and somehow this still feels like yesterday. These never made it to a permanent place on my feed, becau...
04/04/2026

Six months later and somehow this still feels like yesterday. These never made it to a permanent place on my feed, because well, you already know how I am with posting. But this moment has lived quietly in me ever since.

Getting to photograph my brother and sister-in-law, stepping into parenthood, welcoming their twins, was something I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully put into words. It felt like being trusted with something sacred. Like I was able to give a piece of myself to them, and to these two tiny lives who mean so much to me.

They were so small. So new. And already, so connected.

I keep thinking about the way they would find each other without trying. The way their hands would reach, instinctively, like they already knew. Like even then, they understood they belong together. It was a kind of bond that makes you pause, that makes everything else go quiet for a second because you know you’re witnessing some thing special.

Watching two of my favorite people become parents, soft, in love, completely changed, was its own magic.
We don’t live close, which means you don’t see them here as often as I wish. But I carry these moments with me, and I hold onto the hope of documenting their story again and again as they grow.

Even if each time feels a little like letting go.

Had to sneak this post in before the snow melts and everyone forgets how magical it was. Stepping into this quiet world,...
03/11/2026

Had to sneak this post in before the snow melts and everyone forgets how magical it was.
Stepping into this quiet world, fresh snow, unbelievable light and that kind of peaceful stillness that only happens right after a snowfall. The kind where everything slows down and the only thing that really exists is the two of you.
Just love, quiet giggles, and footprints in untouched snow

Walking into a home where everyone is simply being.No rushing. No performing. Just slow moments, quiet smiles, and a new...
03/08/2026

Walking into a home where everyone is simply being.
No rushing. No performing. Just slow moments, quiet smiles, and a new little life settling into the rhythm of the family.
This sweet family welcomed their second baby with so much calm and presence. The kind of presence that makes my job easy. Where I can step back, become a quiet observer, and document the love exactly as it unfolds.
These are the moments that matter. The tiny stretches, the sibling curiosity, the way everyone instinctively gathers close.
Welcome to the world, little one. You are already so deeply loved.

Step 1: Side-eye Santa 👀Step 2: “Maybe he’s okay…”Step 3: Besties by the end ❤️First meetings don’t have to be perfect t...
02/16/2026

Step 1: Side-eye Santa 👀
Step 2: “Maybe he’s okay…”
Step 3: Besties by the end ❤️
First meetings don’t have to be perfect to be magical.

I often wish your kiddos would stay this little, just like you ❤️ seeing your babies grow from one session to the next m...
02/13/2026

I often wish your kiddos would stay this little, just like you ❤️ seeing your babies grow from one session to the next makes me look at my kids and realize it’s going just as fast. That we all experience this together. It is such an incredible honor for me to give you something that means a lot to you now, but will mean even more to you later.

Your baby won’t remember their first experience with Santa.But you will.
02/11/2026

Your baby won’t remember their first experience with Santa.
But you will.

One of the quiet gifts of this work is watching families grow with me. New babies become toddlers. Toddlers become wide ...
02/09/2026

One of the quiet gifts of this work is watching families grow with me. New babies become toddlers. Toddlers become wide eyed believers. Each Christmas, those sweet faces, just a little taller, a little braver, a little more themselves. The magic isn’t just Santa. It’s the trust, the familiarity, the coming back ❤️ and year after year, that feels like the greatest honor.

Sometimes littles are afraid of the big guy. But that doesn’t mean an experience full of tears and forever trauma for yo...
01/31/2026

Sometimes littles are afraid of the big guy. But that doesn’t mean an experience full of tears and forever trauma for your little. Instead, we take the time and have the patience to build a slow relationship over time, sometimes over years. The magic is built through trust and respect with your child. You’ll get beautiful photos, real memories and stories to tell.

The joy. The love in your family. That’s what I’m here for ❤️
01/05/2026

The joy. The love in your family. That’s what I’m here for ❤️

I did okay for a little while there with posting 😂 you’ll have to stick with me through some more holiday before I am re...
01/02/2026

I did okay for a little while there with posting 😂 you’ll have to stick with me through some more holiday before I am ready to embrace the new year and everything to come.

I will say that I am incredibly grateful…. And emotional every time I get to reflect on a session with you ❤️

While my Signature Sessions are an abbreviated version of my work, I never want them to feel “mini”.They aren’t rushed.T...
12/21/2025

While my Signature Sessions are an abbreviated version of my work, I never want them to feel “mini”.

They aren’t rushed.
They aren’t “just a few quick shots.”
And I never want you walking away feeling like we barely scratched the surface.
Even in a shorter window, my goal is always the same: variety, connection, and real, documentary moments that feel like you. The kind that tell the truth of this season, not just what everyone looked like.
How do we make that happen?
Part of it is intention. I cap how short these sessions can be, because anything less wouldn’t allow space for real moments to unfold.
And part of it is how you show up.
If you arrive ready to simply be with your people, everything softens. Play happens. Stories happen. The in-between reveals itself.
And if you’re nervous? Lean into your kids. They are infinitely better at being themselves than we are, and they’ll lead the way every time.
Shorter doesn’t have to mean smaller.
It just means we’re paying close attention.

Address

Sparta, NJ
07871

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13475387123

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