Times Square photographer surprises moms with candid shots of their kids, leaving them touched

Storytellers, filmmakers and behavioral scientists have long attempted to define a mother's love for her children. Yet, none have succeeded in unraveling the unique bond between moms and their little ones. Often, we encounter instances of mothers selflessly making significant sacrifices to raise their kids. To ensure their efforts don't go unnoticed, one man decided to capture this distinctive relationship through the lens of his camera. Wellington Alves, a NYC resident who goes by @smilefornewyork on TikTok, walks through the city in search of glimpses of this unmatched connection.

In a video Alves shared online, the photographer is seen taking candid shots of kids with their moms in Midtown Manhattan’s Times Square. Alves approaches pedestrians he deems perfect subjects for his heartfelt portraits. Carrying a DSLR camera and a portable photo printer, he creates lasting memories for parents, capturing the unique bond with their children. The nearly two-minute video begins with Alves photographing a young boy visiting Times Square with his mom. The boy, wearing a tracksuit and sporting dreadlocks, stands on a roadside block while his mother tries to entertain him.

The professional photographer found his subjects for the day and took the opportunity to snap the little boy’s picture discreetly. “Excuse me, I have a surprise gift for you,” he told the boy’s mom while handing her the photograph. The mother was overjoyed upon seeing her son’s beautiful portrait. “Oh! My God,” she exclaimed, cherishing the special moment. This heartwarming gesture was repeated when Alves spotted another woman sitting with her daughter at a commercial intersection in the popular tourist destination. Recognizing it as another perfect moment, he captured the instant the mom gently leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her daughter’s lips.

The sound of a shutter click echoed in the background, accompanied by a cover of "Someone You Loved." The video didn’t end there, as the photographer soon came across another mother-daughter pair standing in front of Virgil’s. The excited mom was capturing her little one’s adorable dance performance on a rare, empty street—a stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle of Times Square. In an effort to help, Alves took a beautiful picture of the little girl without their knowledge. When he finally revealed the photo to the mom and daughter, their reaction was priceless. They initially struggled to believe the kind gesture of the stranger with a camera.

Alves also captured a shot of a kid sitting on his dad’s shoulders. When the content creator handed over the portrait, the man was surprised and nearly moved to tears. He concluded his video by taking another picture of a baby cradled in her mother’s arms, capturing her precious reaction. The heartwarming video of parents’ reactions to their kids' candid portraits quickly gained attention on social media, amassing 29.4M views and nearly 3M likes. “Mothers appreciate it more because we rarely have pictures with our babies,” remarked @fw_koota. @fluffypanda61721 added, “I would cry if someone took a picture like that of my baby.”

You can follow Wellington Alves (@smilefornewyork) on TikTok for more wholesome content.