Timeless Milestone Portraits in our Saratoga Springs Studio

‌I’ve been photographing this family since before Carter was even born, and they are just the sweetest! Their son Bennett was born on the exact same day as my baby girl, and now we have an extra special connection with our littlest ones. I loved welcoming them into the studio for his milestone portraits, and we captured so many happy portraits of this smiley baby boy. 

Big brother Carter was incredibly interested in the session, and he asked to have his turn in front of the camera again and again, so we were able to capture plenty of individual portraits showing his spunky personality, too! I’m all about making sure your little ones feel included - and if it means a few extra portraits for mom and dad, even better! 

For Bennett’s setup, we chose to use the white studio floor, the bed, and some fun chunky blankets. I just LOVE how they photograph. They’re a great pop of color against all of the neutrals for your baby. Mom and dad also chose some super sweet outfits for Bennett - including the sweet grey sweater he wore at the end. He looked so grown up!! 

I hope that these portraits are well-loved in their home as both boys grow!

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Wide Awake Newborn Portraits - Saratoga Springs & Boston Newborn Photographer

I'm going to let you in on a little secret...

Whether it's a lifestyle newborn session at home, or a newborn session here in my Saratoga Springs studio, it's not always guaranteed that the baby will fall asleep!  

Of course, newborn sessions go much more smoothly (and quickly!) when the fresh new baby is asleep most of the time.  We're able to pose the baby into those adorable little curled up poses, wrap them in swaddles, unwrap them, and move them from one setup to another without disturbing them.  

But sometimes, babies are curious little things and they like to see everything that is going on around them -- I swear they must be wondering who this girl with the camera is!  So when we have awake babies during a newborn session, we go with the flow and capture their sparkling eyes and their powerful gaze.  And we hope that they eventually fall asleep by using the million-and-one tricks that I have up my sleeve as a newborn photographer to get tiny little babies to fall into Dreamland!

I do love it when we get those wide-eyed shots during our newborn sessions, though!  This typically happens more often during our lifestyle sessions at home, and it's a great opportunity to capture some portraits in their crib, and cuddles with mom & dad.  If we're bringing siblings in (especially toddlers) that is always much easier with an asleep newborn, though!

So many beautiful little babies!  Check back on the blog tomorrow for another post with a few of our favorite SLEEPY newborn shots from recent sessions!

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Did you know that the best time to book your newborn session is in the second or early in the third trimester?  We are now booking newborns for August, September, October, and November, and I would love to plan the perfect session with you!  

A Pink & Teal Cake Smash in our Saratoga Springs Portrait Studio

One of my FAVORITE things about our cake smash sessions is getting to become fully immersed in the creative side of things while I make each baby's custom birthday set-up.  

When we started planning her daughter's cake smash, Addison's mom told me that she loved our blush pink paper flowers (you know these flowers by now, they're the super popular ones in this post, this post, and this post -- and they're for sale here!).  I wanted to do something unique for her session, and after seeing her inspiration boards that included pops of teal & gold as well as pink, I knew exactly what we would do for a shabby chic cake smash for her baby girl!

Addison LOVED IT.  When the birthday girl first realized that the sugary confection was just for her, she gave us the most awe-filled look that said, "Really?!?!  For me?!?!?"  And then she dug right in!

I first met this sweet family from Rutland, VT a year ago when Addison was only two days old.  I visited them in the hospital for a Fresh 48 session to celebrate her arrival, and we captured some of my favorite Fresh 48 moments ever in their light-filled hospital room.  And now she came to my Saratoga Springs portrait studio one year later, all grown up with the biggest smile and the most bubbly personality.   This little girl is pure sunshine, and I loved capturing these family photos of everyone together.  They adore their baby girl, and she very clearly brings so much light into their lives.  

Thank you so much for joining me at the studio for your first birthday cake smash!  

Did you love this whimsical cake smash? Check out a few of my favorite cake smash sessions here on the blog!

A Butterfly Cake Smash in Saratoga Springs
A Cookies & Milk Cake Smash in Saratoga Springs
"I Love You to the Moon & Back" Cake Smash in Boston
 

5 Tips to Refresh Your Photography Business This Spring

Hey there, photographer friend!  

Wow, the Open Letters to a Newbie Photographer were a huge hit!  (Did you read them?  Catch Part 1 and Part 2 here!)  

After publishing those two posts, I received countless messages, emails, and even a few phone calls from friends about how much they connected with what was written there.  It was truly amazing to hear your feedback, and I find it so valuable to know that you’re finding inspiration here in between my keystrokes on the computer.  So thank you!

A few people asked me to continue writing to the newbie photographers, and I have a few ideas in mind to make this a regular series on the blog.  But today’s post is for EVERYONE, not just the newbies.

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So…  It’s the end of February, and you have officially made it to the end of the notorious “slow season” for baby photographers.  Your studio may have been a little quieter than usual, but if you followed the 12 Tips to Grow Your Baby Photography Business in the Slow Season, then you still enjoyed a productive couple of months! 

Now that spring is coming, it’s time to refresh your business.  Keep reading for a few simple ideas to get your baby photography business ready for spring!

1.  Plan ahead for Mother’s Day sessions.  

Did you know that Mother’s Day is only 11 weeks away?  In order to run an effective marketing campaign for your Mother’s Day sessions, I recommend starting to plan at least 8 weeks in advance.  This ensures you will have enough time to put all of your sign-up and ordering systems in place, gather inspiration for your set design, shop for your set, style and photograph your model sessions, plan your promotional materials, and prepare your clients. 

Now is the time to get started, so plan ahead this year so you’re not scrambling to pull something together on May 1.  

2.  Create a new backdrop with a hint of spring, just for fun.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am a huge fan of crafting.  I make more trips to A.C. Moore and Hobby Lobby than I do to the gas station.  I have countless boxes, shelves, and bags filled with cardstock, tissue paper, fishing wire, glitter, fake flowers — you name it!  

Spring is the perfect time to spend a day creating a beautiful new backdrop with some soft spring colors.  I love flowers, and they are one of the most requested backdrop items in my sessions.  Check out this helpful tutorial to make your own paper flower backdrop, or grab a bunch of faux greenery and blooms at the store this week and play around in the studio to see what you come up with.

3.  Bring some flowers into the studio.

Nothing says “Oh hello, spring!  Nice of you to finally make an appearance!” like a bouquet of fresh flowers decorating your studio.  Even better, you can incorporate these fresh blooms into your portraits! 

I’ve been known to bring real (or fake) flowers into the studio for our portrait sessions, and my husband has even caught me picking apart a bouquet he gave me to find the perfect stem to adorn some product photos.  Totally worth it!

4.  Do some spring cleaning with a destash!

Every spring I always have this strong desire to open the windows, let in some fresh air & sunshine, and declutter!  You’ve been cooped up in your studio all winter, looking at the same four walls and the same collection of props.  It gets boring, doesn’t it?  Now is the perfect time to do a destash to get rid of the props you no longer use.

Instead of just bringing them all to your nearest thrift store, you can sell your props to other local photographers and make some money back on your investment to purchase new props for the studio.  Photograph all of your props for sale.  Skip the cell phone shots and take a few extra minutes to pull out your DSLR.  Style the props, bring those photos into Photoshop for a little brightening, and then write their prices right there on the image.  

Post an album of your props in a local photography group, on your business page if you have other photographers following you, or start a separate destash group if you’ll be selling a lot of items. 

5.  Fill up your calendar with birthday babies!

Follow up with your newborn clients from last spring and talk to them about booking their baby’s birthday session with you.  Offer a returning client discount or include a special gift for them when they return to you for the birthday session.  Then, have fun styling new sets and capturing some very sweet birthday memories for these babies that you’ve held and snuggled since their very first days in the world.  

Need some inspiration for your cake smash sessions?  Join our Cake Smash Inspiration for Baby Photographers group on Facebook!

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A few more ideas to get your business ready for spring:

-Refresh your client gifts & client experience.

-Update the images on your studio walls and website.

-Step away from the computer for a coffee date with a business owner friend.

-Head outside to take some new head shots for your website & social media.

-Take a day off and just enjoy the changing weather and signs of spring where you live!

A Studio Newborn Session for a Baby Girl | Boston & Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

Introducing sweet little Dylan Grace (don't you just love her name?!).

I absolutely loved Dylan's newborn session in our Attleboro studio.  There's nothing better than cozying up with a tiny baby girl on a cold & snowy day to put me in a spectacular mood, and Dylan was the perfect little cuddlebug.  

As always with our studio newborn sessions, simplicity is key so that we can create timeless portraits and keep the focus on your precious new arrival.  I love the creams and soft textures that we used in Dylan's session, bringing in a hint of purple with gold stars to match her nursery.  

One of the things I love about talking with families before their session is learning more about their home, their style, and their decor.  A quick little conversation helps me discover the perfect elements to weave into your session to create images that you will love and beautiful artwork that you will enjoy in your home.  

When Dylan's mom mentioned a purple nursery with gold stars, I knew immediately that we had to incorporate that into her session.  I just love how her sibling portraits turned out with her proud & gentle big sister, Siena.  They're surrounded by golden stars, and it's a portrait that will look amazing in their home.

Did you know that we offer three unique types of newborn sessions?  Read more about our newborn sessions by clicking the button below, and then contact us to schedule your baby's session today!  

Newborn sessions are typically booked in the second trimester to ensure a date on the calendar, so it is never too early to look into your baby's first portraits with Nicole Starr Photography!

Welcoming Baby Michael with a Pure & Natural Newborn Session: Saratoga Springs & Boston Newborn Photographer

Spring is all about celebrating new life, and that is no exception here in the Nicole Starr Photography studio!  With so many newborns coming in for their sessions, I have felt like the luckiest girl in the world getting to cuddle with all of these sweet new babies!  

Michael was born only one day after Lucas, our last newborn session that I shared on the blog with you.  This tiny and healthy little baby arrived a few weeks before his due date, and when he came to the studio at just over 5 pounds I knew we would show how tiny he was in his photographs.  I love it when they curl up in these sleepy little poses, just like they were in the womb only a few short days ago!

You know me, and I always love the pure & natural newborn images.  Soft colors, natural textures, and classic styles that keep the focus on the baby rather than on the props.  Michael's session was no exception, and I just love how his beautiful skin shines in these images against the creamy fabrics.

However, my FAVORITE images from his session are the ones with his happy new parents.  They were excited, amazed, in awe, and impressed by this tiny human being that they brought into the world together.  Michael loved cuddling up with his mommy and daddy, and I just adore these gorgeous parent shots that we captured on camera.  They are such naturals as a new mom & dad, and the peacefulness that they brought into the room with their baby was so beautiful.   Congratulations, Vinessa & Mike!

Finally, we were so happy to capture this sweet moment of Michael in his father's police hat honoring his dedication to the Boston Police Department.  This one will be going up on a wall in their home!