Classic White Gown Maternity Portraits for One of My Dearest Friends

This was such a special portrait session for both of us. Katie is a long-time friend of mine from Massachusetts, and she’s that special kind of friend that can brighten any day with a text or a call. I really treasure our friendship, and I love how fate brought us together as friends. When she told me that she and her husband were expecting, I was soooooo excited for them! They waited a long time for this news, and we talked about it a lot over the years while wishing and waiting and hoping. Their little baby is proof that miracles really do happen.

Of course I told her that I would love to document all of their milestones for them, and the very first one was with maternity portraits here in the studio when she was visiting for a few days! Katie looked so gorgeous and radiant in a few of the white gowns from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and she was the very first mama to wear this beautiful new gown with the crocheted sleeves.

A fun little side note for you: Were you a loyal fan of the TV show This is Us? I was, and the moment I saw Katie in this dress I couldn’t help but tell her that she reminded me of Sally, Uncle Nicky’s hippie girlfriend in the 60s. Maybe this came to mind because I happened to be rewatching the entire series while on my maternity leave, which is when I did Katie’s portraits, but either way, this became known as The Sally Dress and I think it’s so fitting.

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Sunlight Maternity Portraits in Downtown Saratoga Springs

Heather and Lee are expecting their first baby, a little girl, and I had the honor of photographing their Downtown Saratoga Springs maternity session! As with all of my outdoor sessions, we scheduled a rain date in the hopes that we wouldn’t need it. But, we wound up having to switch to that date after all! The night of our original session, we had torrential downpour. Instead, we truly lucked out with our second date. We even got the most beautiful gorgeous golden light peeking through the trees and buildings during their session.

One of the best parts of Heather and Lee’s session was getting to explore Downtown Saratoga Springs with them. I found a few new spots I loved along Broadway and North Broadway. They turned out to be gorgeous for these new parents! Heather chose three outfits for her maternity session. This is very common with my mothers! It’s nice to switch up the fancier and casual looks, especially when doing an on-location session like this one. Honestly, I love Heather’s yellow dress that we started with! It popped perfectly against the buildings downtown.

Congratulations, Heather and Lee! I’m so excited for you and your new little girl!

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Summertime Maternity Portraits - Saratoga Springs Maternity Photographer

I love celebrating new babies’ arrivals with their families, but one of the stages that I also really enjoy is the maternity session! There is so much anticipation and excitement as couples await their little one’s arrival, counting down the days until they become new parents.

These parents-to-be joined me for some classic portraits in our white, light-filled studio. This glowing mama borrowed a few dresses from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and she looked absolutely amazing in them!

Did you know I have a client closet filled with dresses for mamas to wear during their portrait sessions? This takes all of the work out of planning outfits and wondering what to wear and how it will fit you — these dresses are neutral colors in flowy fabrics with gorgeous lace details that photograph beautifully. Just look at how perfect they are on this stunning mama!

Then we went to downtown Saratoga Springs for some outdoor portraits at sunset. This mama is having a baby boy, and she chose a blue infinity wrap dress from the client closet for her outdoor portraits. I love how this color pops in the summer sun! And check out the beautiful bokeh with the sun streaming through the trees!

Can’t wait to celebrate their sweet baby boy’s arrival with them soon!

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Maternity Portraits in our Classic Studio Gowns

I know one mama who is excited to see her maternity session blog post! This sweet mama-to-be is due in September, and she was absolutely radiant for her maternity portrait session. We started with studio portraits in our Saratoga Springs portrait studio, and Genna selected a few of her favorite gowns from our Mama Wardrobe. I especially love the boho lace off-the-shoulder gown on her! Doesn’t she look like a goddess???

Genna was excited to show off that gorgeous baby bump with some bare bump photos, too! An oversize shirt was the perfect accessory. Wondering what else looks good in bare bump photos? Cozy cardigans, lace kimono tops, swimsuit coverups, and bathrobes!

Next up were sunset portraits at the Hall of Springs with their puppy! I loved doing a mix of indoor and outdoor portraits for their maternity session, and the outdoor portraits were the perfect opportunity for their fur baby to join us.

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Inspired by this classic maternity session in our Saratoga Springs studio? Save this image or any from the post above!

A Sunset Maternity Session at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga

Summer sunsets. There is nothing more beautiful for an outdoor portrait session, and I absolutely loved getting to know Kristen & Paul during their maternity session as they start counting down the weeks to their baby girl’s arrival later this summer.

We got together at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs with their first baby with four paws, Kubo. Kubo absolutely stole the show and I can’t wait to see him with their new baby soon!

The beautiful buildings at the Hall of Springs are the perfect backdrop, and I always enjoy the gorgeous white columns and the impeccable landscaping. It truly is such a lovely spot in the summer!

Seriously, how sweet are they?!?! This is my favorite portrait from their session, and I’m so happy it’s going to be hanging on their wall at home to always remember this time of sweet anticipation while waiting to meet their baby girl.

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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, and she also works with families at her Attleboro, MA studio and on location in Boston and on Cape Cod. 

The portrait studio is filled with neutrals, luxe fabrics, and 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.  

A Saratoga Springs Maternity Session

This maternity session at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio was extra special to me.

I met this sweet family when they were waiting on their first baby to arrive a little over 2 years ago. Their son was born in April 2017, and we did a few different portrait sessions in his first year. They were just so much fun to work with, and I always looked forward to catching up with them at their sessions while capturing some beautiful family portraits!

Then as we were coming up on the date for their cake smash, I wound up going to the hospital to have our own baby and I had to postpone their session. Our son Grayson was born ON THEIR SON’S FIRST BIRTHDAY! So now the two boys share a birthday, and it’s so sweet to look at Killian who is exactly one year older than Grayson and picture what our little blonde haired, blue eyed boy might be like a year from now!

When they told me that Baby #2 would be here this spring, I was so excited for them! I can’t wait to watch Killian with his baby sister, and I’m really looking forward to welcoming them into the studio soon for their daughter’s newborn portraits.

But first we enjoyed a little maternity session to document their last days as a family of three.

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Did you know that we have a studio closet filled with beautiful gowns for mamas and mamas-to-be? Book any session with Nicole Starr Photography and you’ll have access to all of the dresses in our Mama Wardrobe to help you look & feel your best in your portraits!

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Inspired by this gorgeous studio Saratoga Springs maternity session? Pin this image or any from the post above!

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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.  

A Classic Maternity Session with Saratoga Springs Maternity and Newborn Photographer

I just love it when husbands plan portrait sessions as a surprise gift for their wives! It’s extra thoughtful, and really the best gift!

Zach reached out to me to book a maternity session for his wife when she was 13 weeks pregnant. He was so excited about their little one’s upcoming arrival that he wanted to surprise Katie with portraits of her pregnancy, and we started planning this top secret session months before we would actually take their portraits to give that baby bump some time to grow. :o)

They came to our Saratoga Springs portrait studio, and basically won the award for cutest and most in love couple ever. How sweet are these two?!?!

Katie wore a few of the gowns from our Mama Wardrobe, and she was absolutely breathtaking! This mama has such a calm presence about her, and really has the sweetest personality. I’m so excited to capture her with her baby boy soon!

Enjoy a sneak peek at our beautiful new mama gowns in the studio

One of my favorite things about our maternity sessions is helping these mamas-to-be feel like radiant goddesses for their portraits. I love celebrating their baby bump and talking with them about their little one’s upcoming arrival, and getting so excited to plan their newborn session together.

However, one thing that clients always ask me is:
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR???

It’s hard. I get it! You want something that is going to photograph beautifully, and when you’re pregnant, you want an outfit with a soft & flowy fabric that is going to accentuate all of the beautiful parts of your shape that you want to show off. It sounds easy enough, but when you go searching for an outfit it turns out they are incredibly hard to find.

That is why I have a studio closet filled with gorgeous gowns for our clients — maternity clients, new mamas with their tiny babies in their arms, and even mamas with older babies and toddlers!

Melissa came to the studio with the most adorable baby bump to model a bunch of our new gowns, and I love how beautiful these classic styles are on her!

Our mama wardrobe has something for everyone.
Flowy fabrics
Lace
Cap sleeves
Strapless
Off the shoulder
Sheer
Floor length
Short
Lots of white
And so many colors, too!

We have a bunch of infinity wrap dresses like the ones below, which can be tied a million different ways to create a different style of dress every time. I love these dresses because they flatter every single body and they help mamas feel amazing and so, so beautiful!

Winter Maternity Portraits with a Red Gown

When Lorraine first reached out to plan her maternity session, we talked a lot about leaving some wiggle room in our calendars to try and align it with a snow day. After a few snowstorms that promised 7 inches of snow simply disappeared from the forecast, we decided to go with a wintery session (minus the snow!) at our original location. The end result? Absolutely lovely maternity portraits!

Lorraine & Moe brought their THREE fur babies with them. I always love incorporating dogs into our sessions, and these three were pretty amazing. Can you even believe we got a portrait with all of the dogs facing forward? No Photoshop head swaps or dog swaps necessary!

This mama-to-be looked radiant in her red gown, and it popped against the neutral and cool winter landscape.

This might be one of my favorite shots from this session! I LOVE the excitement on their faces here!

White Lace Maternity Portraits with Saratoga Springs Maternity Photographer

Oh my goodness! These studio maternity sessions make my heart skip a beat. I love meeting couples as they are right on the edge of starting the most amazing adventure of their lives. These sessions are full of so much excitement and anticipation, and it’s always incredible to capture that on camera as they celebrate their baby’s upcoming arrival.

Plus, how gorgeous is this mama? Such a goddess!

Chanel & Jason came to our Saratoga Springs studio for a maternity session just a few weeks before meeting their baby girl. They were full of smiles telling me all about their plans for their daughter’s arrival, and they were counting down the days to being able to hold her in their arms.

Maternity sessions are a great time to do an outfit change as you showcase that beautiful baby bump. This floral dress was the perfect pop of color and it looked amazing in our all white studio.

Maternity Portraits in Upstate New York

We have had so many beautiful maternity sessions lately, and I’m excited for all of these mamas-to-be who are counting down the weeks and days to meet their babies this fall & winter! This sweet family brought me to a secluded area of their neighborhood that just so happens to have a bike trail and this incredible bridge that was perfect with all of the fall foliage surrounding it.

How beautiful are these three?!

This little cutie is going to be the best big sister!

This gorgeous mama rocked it in her gown from Pink Blush. They have so many beautiful dresses that are perfect for photo shoots (and baby showers!) and I recommend them to all the mamas I work with when they’re looking for the perfect outfit for their maternity portraits.

Lifestyle Maternity Session with Saratoga Springs NY Maternity Photographer

When Ashley & Tyler reached out to me to plan their maternity session, they knew they wanted something a little different.  Something a bit more relaxed.  Something cozy.  I suggested a lifestyle maternity session in their home with their dogs, everyone all cuddled up together on the couch, on their bed, and in the nursery.  They were so excited, and I just love how their entire session turned out!

Waiting for baby is an absolutely magical time, and I love capturing these baby bumps and mamas glowing with anticipation, eager to meet their little ones in a few short weeks.  

Ashley was truly radiant, and so eager to meet her baby girl.  I adore these quiet, backlit moments in this light-filled corner of their home.  When I saw the light streaming through the windows in this alcove, I **may** have asked Tyler to move the dog crate and an end table out of the way.  Definitely worth it for these beautiful portraits!

They designed the most beautiful nursery with stars and a moon on the navy blue walls, and the furniture was Ashley's when she was a little girl.  

All of our maternity sessions have time for an outfit change, which is a great opportunity to do two very different "looks" in your portraits.  I love the more casual tunic and leggings that Ashley chose to wear in the bedroom, and the cozy portraits that we captured of this sweet family of **three**!

Check back soon for their sweet baby girl's newborn portraits!

An Airy Studio Maternity Session in Saratoga Springs | Saratoga Springs NY Maternity Photographer

Jessica's maternity session was extra special because of the timing. 

Her original due date was only one day before my due date, and she wound up delivering her baby girl early, just a few days after her gallery reveal appointment!  I received a text from her one morning saying, "Well, I won the 'whose baby will be born first' contest!"  I was as shocked as she was, and then just a few days later we found ourselves at the hospital getting ready to welcome our little boy early, too! 

I am so happy that we slowed down to capture these moments for this family at the very end of their journey to parenthood.  These maternity sessions are so full of anticipation and excitement, and it's always amazing to celebrate this time as a couple waits to welcome their baby to their family.

Isn't she absolutely radiant?  I love these backlit images that give her such an ethereal quality.

Jessica loved being able to choose a few lace dress options from our studio closet of gowns, and they were perfect on her to show off that lovely baby bump.  

Are you expecting a little one this year?  Plan ahead to do your maternity session before week 36.  You never know if your baby will arrive early, and you wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to celebrate your pregnancy with a maternity session!

Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions | Saratoga Springs and Boston Maternity Photographer

Waiting for baby.  You spend 40+ weeks imagining what it will be like to hold your little one in your arms, dreaming up the perfect nursery, and preparing for life with a baby.  Don’t forget to take time to slow it all down and appreciate this stage you are in right now.  

Pregnancy is an absolutely beautiful time in your life — even if parts of pregnancy don’t feel all that glamorous, you are growing a tiny human inside of you and that little miracle deserves to be celebrated!  This is one of the reasons that I love our maternity sessions so much.  I love working with mamas-to-be, celebrating their bump, and helping them feel glamorous as they get excited to welcome their baby to the world in a few short months.  

All of our mamas have access to our collection of studio gowns for a little splash of something beautiful during their session, and most mothers-to-be radiate happiness and confidence when they look in the mirror and see themselves in one of these long, flowy, perfectly feminine dresses.  With their dress on and a little boost in confidence, they completely rock their session and flaunt their adorable baby bump!  

Every year I love going back through our sessions and sharing a few favorites on the blog.  Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable baby bumps from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!
 

Did you love this BEST OF 2017 blog post? 
Check out our other top posts on the blog!
 

Best of 2017 Cake Smash Sessions
Best of 2017 Family Sessions
Best of 2017 Lifestyle Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Brothers & Sisters: Candid and Fun Sibling Portraits
Best of 2017 Beach Sessions on Cape Cod
 

A Summer Maternity Session at Congress Park - Saratoga Springs NY Maternity Photographer

We've been in the middle of a baby boom lately with so many newborn sessions in both Saratoga Springs and Boston, which also means we've enjoyed even more maternity sessions than usual, too!  

Jessica & Matt joined me at Congress Park in Saratoga Springs for a sunset maternity session, and we had the park almost entirely to ourselves on a rare quiet evening downtown.  Jessica wore one of our lavender gowns from the studio collection, and she was absolutely radiant while celebrating her baby bump and counting down the weeks to her sweet little one's arrival.

This is one of my favorite shots from their session, and it's a pose that I think we'll definitely have to do more often!  I love how casual it is while showing off Jessica's beautiful baby bump and her long flowing gown.  

I can't wait to meet their sweet little baby in just a few weeks!  Check back soon for their Fresh 48 session and lifestyle newborn session here on the blog!

A Maternity Session in Congress Park, Saratoga Springs | New York Maternity Photographer

I had so much fun with all of our maternity clients this summer, and I'm excited to share Victoria & Dave's maternity session in Congress Park and Downtown Saratoga Springs with you today!

It's never easy being on the other side of the camera, but these two truly made it look natural as they cuddled up together and told me all about how excited they were for their baby boy's arrival later this summer.  

All of our outdoor maternity sessions are scheduled for the golden hour, that 1-1.5 hours before sunset when everything is bathed in a golden light.  Unfortunately on the day of Victoria's session, the forecast predicted thunderstorms right at the start of their session!  Luckily they were in the Saratoga area early and we were able to get together downtown before the rain started, which was perfect because the moment we each got back into our cars the skies opened up and a downpour began.  

It makes me love these moments captured during the calm before the storm even more, which is a bit what a maternity session is -- 9 months of anticipation before your life is turned upside down in the best of ways.

And of course, anyone that will cross Broadway with me at the Caroline Street stoplight is just so much fun to be around!  We had about 15 seconds before the crosswalk light turned red again the cars started coming again, and I love these moments that we captured in such a short time!  Thanks for truly being up for anything, Victoria and Dave!  You're going to be AMAZING parents!

Maternity Portraits in Downtown Saratoga Springs | New York Maternity Photographer

July & August are filled with newborns this year, and I'm currently waiting on this little one to make his appearance later this summer!  As we count down the days until baby, let's enjoy his mama's beautiful maternity session in Congress Park & Downtown Saratoga Springs!

Meg & Dan were SUCH a joy to work with!  We had the perfect summer evening in Congress Park, and the golden light was the perfect backdrop sparkling through the trees.  These two are absolutely adorable together, and so very much in love.  I loved hearing all about their adventures, and their plans for their baby boy's arrival!  

Congress Park is one of my favorite spots in Saratoga for maternity & family portrait sessions because there is so much variety in such a small little area.  The double staircase built by the Trasks, the gorgeous fountains and stone columns, lots of ducks for toddlers to chase around, so much variety in the greenery, fresh flowers that change with the seasons, beautifully carved stone benches -- the options really are endless for a very fun session and so much variety in your final gallery!

Looking for a family photographer or newborn photographer in Saratoga Springs?  I'd love to chat and plan the perfect session for your family.   Email me at hello (at) nicolestarrphotography.com or click the link below to get in touch!

A Greenhouse Maternity Session with Amy & Lo | Saratoga Springs Maternity Photographer

Sometimes things just come together perfectly, like these two:

Amy & Lo met at the Saratoga racetrack a few years ago on Travers Weekend, and they've been inseparable ever since.  They got married last fall, and reached out to me about planning their maternity & newborn sessions as they eagerly wait for their baby boy to arrive later this summer.

When they mentioned finding a location with a more natural feel, I suggested that we do their session in a greenhouse.  Well, as things just come together perfectly, luck would have it that Amy's family owns a local greenhouse and she grew up planting seedlings and watering the flowers right here in this building.  So of course we decided it would be the perfect location for their maternity session!  

Don't you agree?  I'm in love with the soft, diffused light and the beautiful flowers & greenery!  But of course, the real stars of the show are Amy, Lo, and her adorable baby bump!

They both have family in Holland, so we had to incorporate these vintage wooden shoes into their session.  I love it when families bring a beautiful & meaningful family heirloom to their sessions for us to use in their portraits!

Wondering what to wear for your maternity session?  I have a growing collection of gowns in the studio, like this slate blue one below.  These are perfect for our studio mamas, and I am always happy to let you come visit and try a few on beforehand to choose the ones that you'd like to wear during your portrait session!

Amy absolutely rocked the blue gown, and it looked incredible on her.  I love the way it showcases her baby bump and complements her hair & skin.  She's definitely radiant!

Maternity sessions are best done between weeks 28-36.  If you're expecting a little one, I would love to chat with you about adding a maternity session on to your newborn package!  

Enjoy a few more recent maternity sessions on the blog:

Emily's Backlit Maternity Session in the Studio

Waiting for Baby Luca: A Studio Maternity Session

Emily: Saratoga Springs & Boston Maternity Portrait Session

The joy of motherhood comes in moments like this one.

It comes in looking down and anticipating all of the many ways that your life will be changed once your baby arrives.  Wondering who he or she will look like, what their first word will be, what their laugh will sound like, and who they will grow up to be one day.  

Maternity portrait sessions are all about the ANTICIPATION.  This is such an exciting time in your life as you wait & wonder about this tiny little person that is going to come into the world and change your life in more ways than you can possibly imagine.  

Emily came to our Saratoga Springs studio for her maternity portrait session, and we had such a wonderful afternoon together showcasing her gorgeous baby bump and celebrating this incredible time of eager anticipation.  She just radiated joy and grace, and I loved watching her glow with confidence and happiness as she tried on one gown after another from our studio wardrobe and completely rocked her maternity session.

Backlighting has become my absolute favorite element to incorporate into maternity sessions.  This style of dreamlighting is so airy and beautiful, and it gives such a gorgeous glow to the mamas.  It allowed Emily to truly shine during her session at the studio!

And this one, my favorite image from the entire session.  Though I love every single image that we captured this one stands out to me in the way she casts her gaze down with those soft curls framing her face and her hands gently holding her bump.  This one encapsulates everything that I love so much about maternity sessions, and I cannot wait to welcome more expecting mamas into the studio for their sessions in the coming months!  

Please email me at hello@nicolestarrphotography.com or use the CONTACT tab above, and let's plan your session!  These are best between weeks 30-36, and we often start planning maternity sessions during the second trimester to save a spot on the calendar for you.  

Now booking at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio, and at our Attleboro portrait studio.  Plus, if you've been dreaming of maternity portraits on the beach this summer, let's talk and plan a session on Cape Cod for sunset to show off that beautiful baby bump! 

The Arnold Arboretum for Rustic Family Photos

A first birthday is such an amazing time, especially the first birthday of your very first baby!  You're celebrating your first year of parenthood, your first year as a family of three, and 365 days of this amazing little one that has changed your lives for the better.

This family reached out to me to capture their daughter's first birthday photos, and as always we combined Melody's session with a beautiful family session to capture the love and the amazing bonds shared between this sweet little family of three (almost four -- baby #2 is on the way!).  We headed to the Arnold Arboretum to a nice secluded area near Peters Hill for the most gorgeous fall photos.

This baby girl is so, so loved!!

boston baby photographer fall family photos

boston baby photographer fall family photos, arnold arboretum

boston baby photographer fall family photos

boston baby photographer fall family photos, arnold arboretum

boston baby photographer fall family photos

We enjoyed gorgeous fall colors and sparkling sunlight at Peters Hill in the Arnold Arboretum.  I always try to find unique areas for my sessions, and when we revisit a location with a new family, my goal is to discover amazing little spots that we have not captured on camera before.  This little area of the woods was perfect for that with so many gorgeous areas bathed in the most amazing light.  I absolutely love this spot for amazing rustic photos nestled off in the woods.  Melody was quite intrigued by the pine needles carpeting the ground.

boston baby photographer fall family photos, arnold arboretum

boston baby photographer fall family photos maternity photos

boston baby photographer fall family photos

boston baby photographer fall family photos

boston baby photographer fall family photos

Afterwards, we headed back to the studio for the rest of Melody's session, including her first birthday cake smash!  Be sure to check out her musical cake smash here.  It was so much fun, and she really got into her cake!

Happy Birthday, baby girl!