Baby Girl Newborn Portraits with Pops of Color

I had the best time welcoming Baby Katelynn Carol to the studio for her newborn portraits! She brought along her parents and big brother, Cameron, to help welcome her to the world. Katelynn Carol was already 2 weeks old when she came to the studio - which is totally fine! I love photographing older newborns. There’s something special about their sweet little hands and feet, even as they start to fill up and curl up a little bit less.

Her big brother did such an amazing job in the studio and was so happy to be in front of the camera! He also loved playing with my toy wooden camera and pretending to take pictures of his family with it, and he had the biggest smile any time I turned my camera towards him to take his picture. I loved photographing him with Katelynn Carol, especially with one of my favorite props: the Moses basket!

We picked some beautiful pastel setups for this sweet girl to end the session. She looked so sweet in the different setups and some of my favorite headbands! I’m so thankful this wonderful family chose me to capture Katelynn Carol’s first days!

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Newborn and Family Portraits for Baby Everett

The spring saw a baby boom here at the studio and I thoroughly enjoyed cuddling all of the sweet newborns that came to see me for their first portrait session.

Everett was one of the little cuties that came to the studio for his newborn portrait session, and we had such a great time with this sweet boy and couldn’t stop exclaiming over how adorably perfect he was. This sleepy baby boy was a dream to photograph, and we captured one pose after another with his mamas. I loved meeting this family and documenting this special time for them as they celebrated their son’s arrival, and I know they’re going to treasure their portraits (and the beautiful heirloom album we made with them!) for a long, long time.

Wondering what to expect during your newborn session? Check out the blog post below!

This close-up of baby sleeping in a parent’s hands is always one of my favorite poses during a newborn session! I love how small they look all curled up against their parent’s hands, and it’s always so sweet with their sleepy little smiles and their head resting on their arms like this!

Do you have a sentimental item you would like to incorporate into your newborn portraits? Bring it with you! We’ve had a lot of families incorporate jewelry lately (necklaces, bracelets), and this thumbprint necklace honoring the baby’s grandfather was an extra special touch.

Right after we got Everett changed and dressed to go home, he started showing off those stunning blue eyes. Of course we couldn’t resist a few more portraits, and his blue sleeper matched his eyes perfectly!

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Elselina's Newborn Portraits with Tulips

Elselina Alice and her family are so special to me. I photographed her big brother, Willem, throughout his whole first year. We captured his newborn, fresh 48 and cake smash sessions. When their mama reached out about capturing her maternity and newborn portraits for Elselina, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I just LOVE these four.

Mama wore one of our gowns from the studio wardrobe. She looked absolutely stunning in it, too! I love knowing that my mamas have one less thing to worry about by using the client wardrobe. It’s all about making your newborn portraits a stress-free experience. Willem was the proudest big brother! He couldn’t wait to show off Elselina!

While planning their session, Elselina’s mama told me that the pineapple has become a universal symbol for families struggling with infertility. The fruit reminds women to "stand tall, wear a crown, and be sweet on the inside." It's a symbol meant to give women strength and solidarity when they are going through a difficult journey on their way to adding to their family. I love that this sweet family wanted to include pineapples to celebrate their miracle baby’s journey.

Since both Amy and her husband are Dutch, we also incorporated tulips to honor their heritage. They’re also Amy’s favorite flowers. I loved the touch of spring they brought to Elselina’s newborn portraits in the studio.

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Your Newborn Portrait Session: What to Expect

As a first-time mom, I know how overwhelming the idea of taking your brand new baby to a studio for a newborn portrait session can be. You just had a baby, you’re still recovering and you probably still feel a little sore and puffy, and you haven’t slept in what feels like months. The only place you’ve ventured out has been the pediatrician’s office, and even that felt like the big adventure for the day. And now you’re getting ready to go to the photography studio for your newborn session, and you’re not quite sure what to expect.

That’s where I can help make that all a little easier for you, mama.

I’ve been in your shoes as a brand-new mom, and I know exactly what you’re going through. Here on the blog I’m sharing a peek into what your newborn session will look like so that you can feel prepared and a little more confident as you head in there because you’ll now know what to expect. Here we go!

Choose a photographer that has plenty of experience posing newborns.  

Let’s start with the very first & most important thing. If you haven’t chosen a photographer yet, be sure to keep this in mind because all I want is for your little one to be comfortable and safe during their session, and for you to feel at ease the entire time.

While you may have loved your wedding photographer, if they are not specially trained in the art of newborn photography then they may not be the best fit when it comes time to handle your tiny and fragile 6 to 8 pound baby.  The same thing goes for your neighbor who just bought a fancy camera and who offered to try it out on your baby. 

A photographer who has been trained in newborn posing knows how to keep the baby comfortable, how to ensure that their airways are never obstructed, and how to ensure that blood is still circulating to all of their limbs even when they are wrapped up in a swaddle.  They are careful not to overextend their wrists and ankles when posing them, and they know just the right spots on their skull that they can touch to help reposition their head. They know how to get your baby to sleep and how to calm them when they are fussy.  They understand how to read a baby’s cues when they are uncomfortable, gassy, or hungry, and they know how to react to every possible scenario.  All of that is before they even pick up their camera.

If you choose a photographer who specializes in newborn photography and posing, then you will be able to sit back and relax during your little one’s session as the photographer takes gentle care of your little one while capturing their portraits.

When you arrive at the studio…

When families come to my studio I have them take their shoes off at the door to keep the floors clean for the babies & toddlers that we have in our space.  I let parents settle in on the studio sofa and I show them where the snacks and drinks are, and if big brother or sister is there we spend a little time in the toy corner to help them get acclimated to the new space.


Parents can change into their outfits for their portraits while I swaddle the baby. Sometimes baby will need a little more milk to be topped off before the session begins, and that’s okay!  We have plenty of time and we are never in any rush when it comes to your newborn baby’s portraits.

I invite parents to choose a few swaddles, headbands, hats, and layers for their baby’s portraits.  It helps to see all of the colors lined up for you to choose your favorites.  Then I make a pile of those and I work my way through them when we are doing your baby’s individual portraits later on in the session.  

The heater is on in the studio year-round to keep it nice and toasty for your little one, so be prepared to be a little warm while you’re here.  After we finish your family portraits you can get changed back into your comfy clothes, so dress in light layers and you’ll be all set!

What to expect during your newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

First up come family portraits!

We start with mom first, and I pose baby in her hands.  Then we add in her partner and then big brother/sister join, too.  I try to move the baby as little as possible between groupings, so we’ll do a variety of portraits with mom holding the baby, add in dad and siblings, then switch to dad holding the baby and we’ll add in mom and siblings again.  

Because of the transitions and moving from one pair of hands to another, the baby is swaddled for the family portraits to help him or her stay calm and sleepy.  A sleepy baby is easy to pose, and that way we can pay more attention to things like getting big brother to look at the camera or kiss his new sister, moving mom’s hair out of her eyes, or fixing dad’s cuff on his shirt so that it falls just right in the portraits.

Then it’s baby’s turn!

After the family portraits you can sit back, relax on the couch, and help yourself to a snack.  Your baby will still be swaddled and I will start with a few classic portraits of baby in a classic neutral white/cream setup before moving on to the layers and swaddles that you selected at the beginning of the session.  

Sleepy babies are easier to pose.  However, I love it when babies are awake and we can capture some wide-eyed shots of them, but they usually wind up falling asleep with the combination of white noise, heat, and the swaddle.  We work with what we’ve got to keep baby comfortable and happy through out the session, so whether baby is awake or asleep, we will still capture beautiful portraits of them!

As the baby settles into a deeper sleep I begin re-wrapping them, gently pulling their little arms and legs out to pose them just so, moving them onto their tummy for the head-on-hands pose, and wrapping them in the womb pose where their legs are tucked up against their belly and we can see their legs, arms, and belly all curled up and cozy.  

If baby wakes up we read their cues to see if they are hungry or if they need a new diaper.  We usually need to take a break to feed baby during the session, and you can be ready to nurse or give a bottle during the session.  


Let’s talk about the messy stuff.  Pee & poop & spit up — it happens!  Everything in the studio is washable (including the couch!) and everything gets cleaned after every session anyways, so don’t worry too much about it.  I’m a mom and I’ve seen it all!  Plus, if you’re a first time parent I can usually give you some tips to make all of that messy stuff a little easier for you guys at home, too!  

After we have captured a variety of portraits of your little one, we are all done!  You have time to change & dress your baby, and if you need to feed them again before getting in the car you can absolutely do that, too.

After the session

If you’re comfortable with a sneak peek on social media, I usually share that 3-4 days after your session.  Then we will get together about 2 weeks later for your ordering appointment! 

We’ll design your birth announcements, choose your favorite family and baby portraits to hang on your walls, and select your favorite images for an album or a collection box.  This is always my favorite part when families fall in love with the images we created of their new baby!  

Once I send everything to print you’ll get it back between 2-6 weeks — certain products take closer to the 4-6 week mark, but prints, albums, and cards are always ready much, much sooner.  When everything is ready I will either come drop it off or put it in the mail to you, and you’ll start enjoying your images right away at home!

Any questions?  I’d be happy to chat with you about your little one’s portrait session. 
Click on the button below and let’s connect!

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Blush Pink Newborn Portraits with Adorable Big Sister

Baby Sienna was as sweet as can be! She joined me at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for her newborn session along with big sister Gianna, who I have been photographing since SHE was a little baby. I absolutely loved watching these two sisters together and capturing their very first portraits as a family of four. We used a lot of creams and blush pink to go along with Gianna’s previous sessions so that everything will coordinate beautifully on their gallery wall in the living room, and I just love how it all turned out!

Plus, I am officially in love with the white room we’ve built into the corner of the new studio. The light coming through the curtains is beyond magical and it is so soft and perfect in portraits. Don’t you just love these family portraits?!?! Mama looked amazing in the white lace dress from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and she chose the most adorable looks for big sister, too!

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Simple and Sweet Newborn Portraits for Baby Erin

Are you ready for something really sweet to start your day? Just look at adorable baby Erin! I love these simple newborn portraits that we captured for her family, and I can’t stop staring at how absolutely perfect this little cutie is.

I always love starting our newborn sessions in a white onesie on a white blanket to capture those natural newborn movements. The way they curl up their fingers and move their little bodies in slow motion. Their sleep little yawns with their mouths stretched wide open. The tiny finger wrinkles and flaky skin on their wrists. There is so much perfection in their itty bitty bodies, and I love capturing this newness on camera!

Of course, it wouldn’t be a newborn session without a few wraps and an expertly swaddled baby! I love how squishy and flexible they are at this stage, curling right up just like they did in their mama’s belly!

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Newborn Portraits for Eloise with Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

There’s nothing I love more than family portraits in neutral colors where the focus is on the family, the love, and all of that sweet emotion! Just look at those smiles, those cuddles, and the cute little kisses. This is one that will hang on the wall for many years!

This sweet mama brought her second daughter to our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for her newborn session, and I absolutely loved capturing these portraits for their family. It’s hard to believe that exactly two years ago we were documenting their first daughter’s arrival, and now here she is a big sister!

Eloise was absolutely perfect in every way. We captured a variety of portraits with blush pink and cream to match her big sister’s newborn portraits, and we incorporated a hint of greenery, too! I love the layering and textures it provides, don’t you?

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Lavender and Sage Newborn Portraits with Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

Sweet little Rohen is finally here, and she was the smiliest newborn I’ve had in the studio in awhile! This adorable baby girl’s arrival was much anticipated, and I loved celebrating with her family with some beautiful portraits. We turned all of their favorites into an heirloom album, and I know they’re going to turn those pages hundreds of times with their daughter to relive these days as she grows.

We chose cream, sage green, and lavender to match the nursery decor. This was my first time using these new eucalyptus branches in newborn portraits, and I’m in love with how it turned out!

I mean, can we talk about that SMILE?!?!?!?! Melts your heart, doesn’t it?!

Mom and dad rocked the outfit selection, thanks to these tips on what to wear to your newborn session!

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Adorable Newborn Portraits for Baby Aadvik

Little Baby Aadvik was so sweet and cuddly, and I absolutely adored his newborn portrait session at our Saratoga Springs studio. He slept like a dream and we captured so many adorable portraits for his family, including some really beautiful family portraits and mom/baby and dad/baby shots!

But cute little baby feet like these are always some of my favorite images from our sessions!

Aadvik’s parents were so calm and relaxed the entire session, and I’m convinced that’s why this sweet boy was so easy for us! He was especially cuddly with his mama, and he even had the cutest little newborn snore while he slept!

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The Sweetest Newborn Portraits with Big Sister

Miss Olivia Grace wins the award for best hair on a newborn. Just look at her!

This little sweetie joined us for a newborn portrait session at our Saratoga Springs studio, and she was showered in love by her big sister. They were so cute together, and we captured so many beautiful portraits of these sisters together. I love that this family will have artwork showcasing this special bond for the rest of their lives!

Big sister Scarlett was so excited to be in portraits with her baby sister, and she gave all the best smiles! My favorite part about this one, though, is that little curl!

I LOVED mama’s dress that she chose for the family portraits! I always recommend light colors, especially white or cream, and the detail on this one was perfect for their portraits.

So much excitement and love in one picture!

We had so much fun incorporating some spring florals into Olivia’s newborn portraits. As always, my favorite dainty newborn headbands come from Polka Dot Poppy!

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Ravi's Newborn Portraits with a Beautiful Wedding Sari

Ravi’s newborn portrait session at our Saratoga Springs studio was extra special because his mama brought her wedding sari to use in the session! Scroll to the end to see this sweet baby boy’s portraits on the beautifully embroidered red and gold sari as a nod to his family’s heritage and to his parents’ story together!

We started this new Baby Planner’s session with family portraits, and I love all of the sweet cuddles we captured with the proud parents. So many (come on, it’s more like ALL!!!) new moms and dads are tired and exhausted when they bring their babies home, but I promise you that they never in a million years regret stepping in front of the camera to capture these snuggles with their new babies.

These are the portraits that I want my clients to look back on in 5 years, 10 years, 30 years and remember exactly what the weight of your baby on your chest felt like, how their tiny chest moved up and down with each breath, and the sound of those little squeaks as they settled into your arms to get comfortable. This is why I always encourage parents to step in front of the camera. The exhaustion will fade, but you’ll always be so glad you captured these memories.

Ravi’s birth announcements were also holiday cards, so we made sure to capture a few classic holiday portraits of their baby boy.

And finally, the beautiful wedding sari!

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Newborn Portraits for Johnathan James with Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

Unposed, squishy little babies are my favorite way to begin our newborn sessions! If you’ve been following the blog for awhile, you’ve noticed that we begin most of our newborn sessions with the baby in a white onesie, just relaxing and stretching on a white blanket. I let the baby lead the way, and we capture their little personality and those tiny newborn reflexes. It’s so adorable!

Johnathan’s parents chose beautiful light gray colors for their outfits, and I absolutely adored the lace detail on mom’s shirt. These outfits photographed so well in the family portraits, and really made the white swaddle pop against their colors. I always recommend LIGHT, MUTED colors for family portraits, and this look was new and refreshing. I loved it!

More stretches! Johnathan loved to stretch!

Those tiny newborn fingers peeking out just melt my heart every single time. I photograph fresh, brand new babies all the time, but these newborn details will never get old to me!

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Olivia's Newborn Portraits with her Siblings - Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

Let’s talk about how cute these brothers & sisters are together!!! Can you even believe how much adorableness fits into one photo?!?! I cannot!

I love that their mama printed this as a large wooden wall art to hang above the couch. This is going to put such a huge smile on her fave everyday to see her babies all cuddled up together!

Little Miss Olivia is surrounded by love, and we captured so many beautiful moments with her family during their studio newborn portrait session.

She had the most beautiful creamy skin, and every color looked amazing on her! I adore this pop of lavender!

I’m always adding to the flowers that we have in the studio, and I was excited to try out this new garland of gardenias. They’re perfectly fluffy and feminine, and they made such a beautiful wreath around Olivia!

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Ethaniel's Newborn Session & Family Portraits | Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

I love starting our newborn sessions with the baby dressed in a white onesie, fresh out of the carseat and laying on a white blanket.

Many babies are awake at the start of their session, and we capture such amazing expressions & eye contact! I absolutely loved how alert Ethaniel was when we began his newborn portrait session. This little cutie made so many adorable faces, and it’s hard to choose a favorite!

All of our newborn sessions include family portraits, and I love watching mom and dad snuggle up with their baby. The babies always look so tiny in their arms, and these portraits are perfect to look back on and remember just how small your little one started out, and just how perfectly they fit in your arms.

Sometimes Grandma & Grandpa join for a few quick portraits, and I always love watching them so in love with their new grandchild! Plus, we make it a point to capture a three-generation portrait when they’re there, too!

Sweet little Ethaniel slept soundly for his individual portraits, and we captured so many cozy moments for his family. I love all of the soft colors and layers, and the texture of the basket, too!

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About Nicole Starr Photography 

Nicole Starr specializes in newborn, baby & family photography and has been serving families in New York and Massachusetts since 2012.  She has a portrait studio in Saratoga Springs, NY for families in the Capital Region.  Nicole also works with families year round at her Attleboro, MA portrait studio, and on location May through October in Boston and on Cape Cod.  Nicole has a clean and classic style, and the studio is filled with neutrals and luxe fabrics.  We use very minimal props to keep the focus on your perfect little baby.  Our sessions are relaxed and fun, and we’ll enjoy an hour together (or up to 3 hours for a newborn session!) laughing, cuddling, and capturing authentic smiles and belly laughs with your little ones.  

Quinn Emerson's Watercolor and Blush Newborn Portraits

You know what we need to brighten up these chilly and long winter days?

A nice pop of springtime colors, and a whole lot of baby cuteness!

Meet Quinn.

This little sweetheart stole my heart — and her parents’ — during her newborn session here at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio. This sleepy baby girl was absolutely perfect, and I adored her smiles and cozy cuddles during her session.

Just look at those perfect and tiny newborn fingers!

My absolute favorite portraits from Quinn’s session were with this gorgeous watercolor swaddle that her mama brought to the session. It coordinated perfectly with our mint green bump layer, and the colors remind me of spring. Such a joyful combination!

Frankie's Studio Newborn Portraits

Lots of Cozy Cuddles during Aiden's Studio Newborn Session

Now that the temperature is dropping, I’m excited for lots of cozy newborn sessions in the studio! Tiny little Aiden was an absolute dream and he slept through his entire newborn session, letting us fit in parent shots and so many individual set-ups without making a peep!

During every newborn session, I always love to start with a few wrapped shots of the baby in a simple white & cream set. The baby is the star of the show, and white is so clean and classic. Plus we can transition him into a few new poses without moving him!

I mean, can you even deal with the cuteness here?!?!?! Look at how he kept his hands under his chin like that when I unwrapped him!

I have so many tiny handknit outfits, and Aiden rocked this gray sweater onesie during his portraits. Doesn’t he look so cozy all cuddled up on his back?

I can never resist a baby toes shot!

Tyler Francis | A Nautical Newborn Session | Boston & Attleboro Newborn Photographer

Meet Tyler Francis. 

And make sure you read all the way to the end to see the CUTEST SIBLING PORTRAITS EVER of this sweet baby boy and his big brother!

In planning his newborn session, his mom mentioned that they have a little nautical decor in their home and that they would love a portrait or two to match.  Of course, I knew that our driftwood bowl would be perfect with a few layers of blue bump blankets, and I was excited to bring a few tiny new starfish into his session.  This sweet baby boy slept like a champ and was so cozy all wrapped up, making these portraits in the driftwood bowl some of my favorites!

Our creamy white set-ups are our most-requested ones here at the studio.  Parents love the classic look that keeps the focus on the baby, and honestly, I believe that these little ones are so perfect just as they are and that we don't need a lot of distractions with props & colors to take away from their simplicity and perfection!

Now, are you ready for some of the sweetest family portraits you ever did see?

Big brother Henry was a CHAMP, and he casually laid down and tossed his hand behind his head while posing with his baby brother.  I think this might be my favorite sibling portrait EVER!

But then of course, there's this sweet little hug and the cutest little smile spreading across Henry's lips.  I just love how gentle he was with his new brother!

Wondering if a studio newborn session is the right fit for you?  Read more about them here!

A Keepsake Book for Baby Nora - Showcasing our 10x10 Linen Fine Art Album

Our fine art albums are my ALL TIME FAVORITE KEEPSAKE that we can create from our portrait sessions.  Newborn sessions, birthday sessions, family sessions, and maternity sessions -- these are such beautiful ways to display your images and to enjoy them for many, many years to come.

Personally, my home has a stack of these albums that I've designed and printed for our own personal photographs, and every year the  pile grows a little taller.  I print the same albums for my own family that I do for yours because I love them so much. 

Enjoy a peek at sweet little Nora's newborn session in our linen album!  The thick pages and sparkly linen cover were the perfect combination for this baby girl.
 

Album details:
10x10 Fine Art Album
Cameo cover with photo cut-out
Linen color: Oyster (with just a hint of sparkle!)

I truly love creating beautiful heirloom products for the families that I work with.  I want you to see & enjoy your images every single day, and I love helping families realize that printed memories are so much more powerful than little JPEGs lost on a hard drive somewhere.  
 

Check out a few of our other Signature Products that are available with all of our sessions!

Our Mini Accordion Album
Our Custom Image Cover Album
Our Keepsake Wooden Box

A Pumpkin Spice Inspired Newborn Session at our Saratoga Springs Portrait Studio - Saratoga Springs, NY Newborn Photographer

I just love everything about fall -- pumpkins, plaid, cider donuts, sweater weather, homemade chili, and so much fall baking that my kitchen smells amazing for the entire month of October.

That's exactly why I was thrilled do bring just a touch of fall into a recent newborn session at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio with sweet little Teagan.  How adorable is she all wrapped up for the sweater weather season?

Every time I'm able to catch a smile during one of our newborn sessions, I tell the parents just how lucky we were to capture that fleeting moment.  Teagan's smile is so beautiful, and she looks so happy to be all snuggled up with those sunflowers.  Did you notice the little matching headband?  That was created especially for this set-up!

Of course I am all about the creamy white pumpkins.  I've never been a huge fan of orange and red, but if you can find fall decor in neutral colors, then I am all over it!  I picked up these pumpkins at the local Sunnyside Gardens here in Saratoga Springs.  They had so many varieties of pumpkins besides just big round orange ones, and I love these petite ones that were just perfect for our newborn session props.

Are you looking to add a touch of seasonal decor to your upcoming newborn session? We've incorporated twinkle lights, greenery, and candy canes for the holidays; penguins, puffy white snow, and fuzzy hats in the winter; a hint of hearts for Valentine's Day; tulips and other dainty flowers in the springtime... the possibilities are truly endless!  Let's chat about planning a creative little set-up for your upcoming session!