Saratoga Springs Maternity Portraits with Traditional Indian Dresses

Shreya and Alvin are expecting again! This sweet family chose to do a maternity session as part of their Collective Membership. It’s hard to believe this was actually our first session together! Shreya, Alvin, and Ariya are naturals in front of the camera! While we included maternity portraits, it was also important to me that we captured what life is like as a family of three (soon-to-be four) right now. The result was some truly sweet portraits of Shreya, Alvin, and Ariya. 

We did their session right before the holidays, and we started off with some holiday portraits for their Christmas cards. Ariya was so adorable, and I love these family portraits and her individual poses! This little girl has so much personality, and we had a lot of fun with her in the studio. She was not shy at all and loved being the center of attention with her parents. 

After we were done with the holiday portraits, it was time to move into Shreya’s maternity portraits. Shreya brought this handmade white anarkali, a traditional Indian dress that she also wore when pregnant with her firstborn. It was stunning in person and photographed so beautifully on her, and I love the simplicity of these portraits in our all white studio. Including Shreya and Alvin’s traditional Indian outfits was so special to me. I always want my families’ portraits to feel like them - including what’s important to you. 

Shreya and Alvin, thank you for trusting me with this special moment in your family’s story. I can’t wait to see you all again for our next session together! 

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Saratoga Springs Maternity Portrait Session at Sunset

Lindsay, Steve, and their son Julian are welcoming a baby girl to the family! We planned a beautiful spring maternity session at sunset in Saratoga Springs at one of my new favorite locations to document this growing family. Lindsay is absolutely glowing, so it was fun to plan portraits to celebrate her and the baby girl she’s carrying! 

When Julian was born two years ago, we did maternity and newborn portraits for him, so it was wonderful to see this beautiful family again. I love getting to be a part of all of the changes my NSP families experience - and I love that I help preserve those special moments for years to come. 

For Lindsay’s maternity portraits, we actually started in my Saratoga Springs studio. These portraits are always so simple and elegant. She chose one of my favorite white dresses from our Mama Wardrobe - with beautiful lace sleeves and textures. When we were done there, we headed to the new location I found in Saratoga Springs. It’s got a tree lined path and at golden hour, the light hits it just right to create some truly dreamy portraits! Lindsay wore one of my pink maternity gowns to the outdoor location and it was the perfect nod to their little girl. 

Julian wasn’t so keen on joining us for family portraits, but we still captured some great ones with this soon-to-be big brother. I have a million tricks and games up my sleeve, and we always manage to capture some great smiles from even the trickiest little ones. If you’ve been putting off portraits because you’re worried about your little one not cooperating, don’t be worried! I’ve been doing this for over 11 years, and I was an elementary teacher for years before that. I’ve seen everything. Literally. I fully expect kids to act like kids, and toddlers have independent little minds and they like to call the shots. We work with that, we have fun, and we capture them as they are while still getting their vibrant personalities to shine through. As you can see, it all pays off in the end! 

Congratulations again to Lindsay, Steve, and Julian! I can’t wait to meet your sweet little girl so soon! 

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Casual Maternity Portraits with Jeans and a White Tee

Stephanie and Matt are welcoming their first baby soon and reached out about studio maternity portraits. I loved the idea, especially after they began telling me about their vision. Stephanie and Matt wanted a more casual look and a dressier option, but everything would be photographed in the studio. I think their maternity session turned out so, so classic! 

Much of Stephanie and Matt’s portraits centered around their outfits. For their more casual look, they decided on jeans and a white t-shirt. I think it’s a great classic look that will stand the test of time. They both looked super relaxed, which I’m always striving for. After that look, Stephanie wanted a dressier option. She chose one of my gowns from my studio’s Mama Wardrobe and looked incredible! Both looks were stunning on my new hand-painted canvas backdrop. I love this option for a more fine art look for portraits here in the studio. I’m so happy I got to use it for Stephanie and Matt! It really added a stunning vibe to their portraits. 

After their session, I have to admit I LOVED going through their gallery with both Stephanie and Matt.They’re both so excited about this season of life and were thrilled to see their portraits come to life. I’m so happy I could help them document this special time for their growing family. 

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Autumn maternity portraits with a toddler

Andrea and Robi are expecting their second baby girl and reached out to me about family portraits in Congress Park this fall to celebrate their pregnancy! I love these two and their sweet daughter, Giuliana so much. It was a joy to see them all and hear about how things have been going for Andrea through her pregnancy.

The day that we planned to meet in Congress Park turned out to be stunning. We had the most beautiful fall colors all around us and I was just obsessed with capturing this family of three (almost four!) in them. Their little girl, Giuliana, had a great time playing in the leaves too. She looked so sweet in her little blue dress and boots. Her parents had a great time hugging and snuggling up on her, making her laugh!

Andrea brought two looks to the session - a dressier maternity gown and a casual fall ensemble. I think the mix was perfect! She picked a beautiful pink gown to start the session and it popped against the yellow trees. I always love a good maternity gown! Afterwards, she changed into a more casual outfit for the rest of her portraits. The black shirt and leggings were a great option for the fall colors around us.

I’m so excited for this sweet family and hope to meet their second little girl soon!

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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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Maternity portraits for a yoga instructor

I’m so excited for Lauren and Tim to be welcoming their first baby, a little girl named Anna Marie. This family is extra special to me because they’re actually our neighbors! They moved to Saratoga Springs from Boston last winter, and we are thrilled to be two doors down from them with their little girl on the way. We can’t wait to watch their daughter and Adelaide cross our lawns and knock on each other’s door for play dates when they get older. It was definitely emotional when Lauren reached out asking about a maternity session!

When we began to plan their session, Lauren mentioned she wanted to incorporate her daily yoga practice into the portraits. She’s a yoga instructor so it was something meaningful to her. She had this colorful pillow in her yoga studio and it was perfect for her portraits. We planned her outfit to coordinate, and I love the brilliant pop of color! We used the same yoga pillow in her newborn session (which will be on the blog soon!). It was really fun to see the continuity between the two sessions.

Another wishlist item for her maternity session was a silhouette portrait. This was so fun to capture for her, and so beautifully classic as a black and white portrait. I love when my clients help me to lay out what they want in their portriats. Finally, Lauren and Tim wanted a more casual vibe for their couples portraits and I love how this turned out with the chunky knit sweater and jeans. The lace bralette is officially one of my new favorite items to recommend for maternity portraits, and I love the look of it with the cardigan in these images! Lauren - you are absolutely glowing and I’m honored that I was able to document this special moment for you and Tim!!

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Celebrating Baby #2 - Maternity Portraits in Congress Park with Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

How beautiful is Katie?! This is my second time capturing a maternity session for her and Zach, and I’m so thrilled I was able to document another milestone for their family! Katie and Zach are one of the sweetest couples I know and their older son, Carter, is always a joy to see, too! I’ve been working with them since Katie was pregnant with Carter - for her maternity session and milestone sessions for him, too!

Now they’re expecting another little boy and Katie reached out to me about her maternity portraits. I couldn’t wait to get them on the schedule! We decided to split her session between Congress Park and the studio. It allowed us to capture a few different looks for her - and I think it worked out perfectly!! She used some of my gowns from the Mama wardrobe for the studio, which I loved. That green and white lace dress is one of my favorites and Katie looked amazing in it. Carter was all about being a brother already - hugging his mom’s belly and smiling nice and big for us.

I can’t wait to meet their newest addition. Katie and I are actually due the same week - so I’ll be thinking of her as we welcome Baby #2, too! Congratulations again, Katie, Zach, and Carter! I’m so excited for your new baby boy to enter the world!!! He is already so loved.

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Saratoga Springs Maternity Portraits with a Horse

I can’t believe I’m finally getting to share Jillian’s maternity portraits with you! When she reached out to book her portraits, she mentioned the idea of having her session at Rolling Oaks Stable with her horse. I was absolutely excited for that! What’s more classic Saratoga than portraits with a horse?!

Jillian, her husband, and I all met up at the stable for their maternity session. I couldn’t wait to meet Jillian’s horse, Zita. Zita was an absolute dream for us - even wearing a sweet floral garland while Jillian cozied up next to her. I know these two (well, three with Zita!) are excited to welcome their baby girl Gianna to the family. This sweet mama can’t wait to bring her little one out here and introduce her to the stables. What a special moment it will be for Gianna and Zita to meet one day soon!

For her session, Jillian chose to wear two of the maternity gowns I have in my mama’s wardrobe. Both looked amazing against the backdrop of the stable. I can’t wait to see which portraits they choose to display in their home as they await Gianna’s arrival. I’m so excited for this sweet family! Enjoy this absolutely dreamy Saratoga Springs maternity session featuring Zita!!

TIPS TO FEEL YOUR BEST AT YOUR MATERNITY SESSION!

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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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Stunning maternity portraits in downtown Saratoga Springs

More and more mamas have been choosing gowns from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe for their portrait sessions, and I absolutely adore how beautifully they wear these dresses! Just look at how gorgeous Lindsay was during her maternity session — she truly GLOWS and you can’t help but feel excited for her and her husband as they get ready to welcome their little baby this summer!

Check out the dresses in the Mama Wardrobe here!

This tight crop showcasing her beautiful baby bump is one of my favorite studio shots to capture, and I love how clean and classic it is with the light streaming through the white curtains behind this gorgeous mama!

After her studio maternity portraits, we headed to downtown Saratoga Springs for a few more portraits of these parents-to-be. Two outfit changes, lots of “congratulations” and horn-honking from passerby, and a handful of streets sparkling in the sunset later, and these are some of our favorite images that we created together!

I love how these portraits outside of 15 Church look like they are in their own little world as they lean into each other. They are just soooooo excited to welcome their baby this month! You wouldn’t even know that there were a few diners inside that window peeking out at them to congratulate them!

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Christmas Maternity Portraits in a Greenhouse with Poinsettias

When Amy reached out to plan a maternity session, she knew she wanted to go back to her family’s nursery where she did her first maternity session a few years ago. This place holds a special meaning for her family, and it’s a place where her children will spend countless hours growing up. Plus, it’s picture perfect!

We had a private greenhouse all to ourselves filled with poinsettias just a few weeks before Christmas. It was truly magical. We captured portraits of Amy in one of the gowns from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and her son Willem joined in for a few cuddly photos, too!

I absolutely love the colors and how the red flowers pop against the whites and the neutrals. If only I could find a way to photograph all of my sessions in a greenhouse with perfectly soft light and beautiful plants! Just gorgeous!

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Maternity Portrait Session at SPAC with Saratoga Springs Maternity & Newborn Photographer

With everything reopening in New York, we were able to capture this mama-to-be’s maternity portraits just days before her sweet little girl arrived! I absolutely loved meeting these excited new parents at SPAC in Saratoga Springs for their maternity portrait session. This little corner of Spa State Park is one of my favorite spots for portrait sessions because there is so much variety within walking distance, plus it is absolutely gorgeous at almost any time of day!

I swear this mama has Beyonce hair here! The wind was blowing just perfectly, and she looks like a goddess! She wore dresses from our studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and they fit her perfectly.

This mama is one of the essential workers who worked tirelessly during the covid pandemic to keep everybody safe. We had to document this extra special pregnancy, and her white coat & mask were the perfect way to do that!

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Winter Maternity Portraits in the Snow

Sometimes the stars align and we get the most beautiful snowfall the morning of our portrait session. That is exactly what happened for Jaana and Rathish, and I loved capturing their excitement & anticipation for their new baby during their maternity portrait session in the snow at Saratoga Spa State Park.

The pine trees were absolutely gorgeous with every branch dusted in fluffy white snow! And this mama’s red gown absolutely popped against the wintery backdrop!

Wondering what’s the trick to staying warm during a session in the snow? For Jaana, she smiled through it! And a pair of feet warmers in her boots and leggings underneath her dress helped, too! Plus, we wrapped her up in her coat every few minutes for an extra burst of warmth! The good thing about these snowy portrait sessions is that we work quickly to capture a great variety of images in a short amount of time to limit time in the cold. She was a trooper and kept saying, “Not yet! Let’s do just a few more!”

I love this one of this sweet couple!

We headed back to the studio (only two miles from the Hall of Springs!) for some indoor portraits with a gown from our studio’s Mama Wardrobe. I love the simplicity of these portraits. Doesn’t Jaana look like a goddess?

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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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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.