Classic Studio Newborn Portraits for Baby Ea

Say hello to Baby Ea! Ea’s portrait session was my last newborn session before going on maternity leave to welcome my own baby girl! Ea was the sweetest girl, wide awake for our entire session… but perfectly calm. With that attitude, every single portrait was just adorable and I’m so happy she was so relaxed in the studio. 

For her session, Ea’s parents didn’t have too many requests. We wanted to keep the timeless and classic feeling for each of her setups. One of my favorites was the teddy bear setup because I caught the cutest little smile! Baby Ea is definitely already stealing hearts!! She’s seriously so sweet. Her parents did want to include fresh flowers in her setups, and I personally loved how the purple setup came out with them. 

After their session, we had their ordering session! All of these gorgeous portraits were turned into an heirloom album and circular wooden wall art. I hope that one day Baby Ea flips through her own album of portraits, like my son does, and that they can all look back on these early days of her life with fondness and happiness! 

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Welcome Baby Nathan! Newborn Portraits with Big Brother

This blog post comes with a story about your favorite photographer, too many boxes arriving in the mail, and the big reveal of this family’s heirloom album. ;o)

This sweet family ordered an album with all of their favorite newborn portraits, and I placed the order the day before I left for a week and a half on the Cape. For me, a week and a half by the sea is like hitting the reset button, so when I came home I could barely remember what I had done before leaving for the Cape.

When I came back to my studio I had a mountain of boxes waiting for me from my different portrait labs, and opening them felt a bit like Christmas morning because I couldn’t remember what was inside of them. Blame it on the mom brain, or blame it on the salt air.

But then I got to this one box. When I opened it up I saw the gray album box inside, and I remember lifting the cover and thinking, “Who’s album is this one?” Then I saw the sky blue linen and the soft colors in Nathan’s newborn portraits, and honestly I gasped when seeing how beautiful it all was together. This family wound up choosing the most perfect linen to complement their portraits, and the finished product was truly breathtaking. That was my favorite package I opened this summer, and I definitely enjoyed watching the family unwrap it a few days later to enjoy it for themselves!

Big brother Aiden was soooooo excited about his new role as big brother, and he gave us all the smiles! We captured so many sweet portraits of these two brothers together and I love all of the family ones, too. I’ve loved watching this family grow over the past couple of years, and it’s hard to believe that just a few short years ago they were brand new parents bringing their son to my old studio for his portrait session! Check out big brother’s newborn session from almost 3 years ago here!

We used some of the same colors and layers in Nathan’s newborn portraits as we did in his big brother’s a few years ago. I’m a huge fan of blues, grays, creams, and whites in newborn portraits, and I love how seamlessly they all go together!

Nathan’s mama gave me the biggest compliment when she was sitting in the studio during their session. She looked around and told me that the studio was so relaxing to be in, and that nearly three years ago as a new mom she had felt the same way. Despite all of the crazy unknowns of motherhood and the countless things that all of us mamas have to figure out in those first few weeks with a new baby, somehow I helped her feel more comfortable at least during those couple of hours she was here for her session. That made my heart so happy to hear.

Because yes, I want to give you beautiful portraits and artwork that you’re going to enjoy for generations. But more importantly I want you to embark on this journey of motherhood (or the next chapter of it if you’re welcoming baby #2 or #3!) and feel a little more confident, a little more understood, a little more prepared to take on the crazy unknowns. I’m a mom, too. I’ve literally gone through this exact same journey, and whatever it is you’re feeling, you’re not alone. That’s why I try so hard to connect with all of the families that I work with to see how they’re doing and offer any little tidbits that might make those first few weeks at home a little easier with the new baby.

Because your newborn session is not just about the photographs. It’s also about taking your baby out of the house for maybe the first time besides the pediatrician appointment, and connecting with another mama who has been in your shoes who can help you feel a little less lost and a little less alone.

Wondering what to expect in your newborn session? I’ve done this hundreds of times and my job is to make it as easy and stress-free as possible for you as a new parent! Check out this blog post for what to expect!

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An Older Newborn Session for a Sweet Baby Girl

Tess was born in the spring when everything was closed due to covid, so we did an older newborn session for this sweet girl and I absolutely fell in love with photographing older newborns. Traditionally, newborn photographers try and do their newborn sessions in the first 2-3 weeks after the baby is born because that is when they are tiny and new, sleepy and easy to pose. But after seeing so many older babies in the studio this summer, I am excited about welcoming older babies into the studio who missed that window in the first two weeks. Because seriously, photos like this don’t happen with a 10 day old baby! Just look at that eye contact!

Tess’s mama wore a beautiful mauve gown from our studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and it perfectly complemented the mauve colors we chose for Tess’s portraits.

We also chose lavender and sage green to coordinate with the colors in the baby’s nursery. These are going to look so amazing on the walls!

A newborn baby’s body at 10 days old is so different from an infant’s body at 3 months old. The way they can hold their heads, how flexible they are, how much you can help them curl up into those cute little poses. It all changes as they start to grow, put on weight, gain muscles, and solidify their bone structure. That is why it is sooooo important to hire a newborn photographer who is comfortable posing babies and is trained in newborn safety to take good care of your little one. Read more about newborn safety in your portrait session here on the blog.

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Inspired by this pastel newborn session? Pin this image or any from the post above to plan your session!

Pretty Florals for Amelia's Studio Newborn Session

Spring has sprung here in the studio, and flowers are EVERYWHERE! I absolutely love getting to incorporate beautiful blooms into our sessions, and I was thrilled to welcome Amelia to the studio for some cute portraits with peonies.

But first, check out her adorable family portraits! This sibling pic melts my heart. What an incredible big brother!

This little miss was wide awake for part of her session, so we captured those beautiful, sparkling eyes of hers!

Newborn Portraits for Penelope James

Little miss Penelope is another one of our Baby Planners, and I am so looking forward to watching her grow this year! It feels like only a few weeks ago that we enjoyed her mama’s maternity session here at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio, and then in no time at all they were back with their baby girl!

We chose plenty of neutrals for Penelope’s newborn session — white, cream, and blush pink are always timeless favorites for baby girl sessions!

Don’t you just love this little smile that peeked out?!?!

This little sweetheart was awake almost her entire session, which is rare and usually makes newborn sessions rather tricky because newborns have more relaxed facial expressions and they are much easier to pose when they are asleep. Penelope kept looking around, wanting to take everything in with her soulful eyes. She made a few funny little faces, but so many adorable ones, too! I just adore these awake parent portraits!

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!  

Willem Todd's Studio Newborn Session for a Tiny Aviator Pilot - Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

When your daddy works in aviation, you can bet you're going to have a little bit of an aviation theme in your newborn portraits.  And in your nursery.  And probably in your first birthday, too!

Willem Todd joined me at the studio for a newborns session, and I loved the thoughtful little pilot items that his parents brought in to reflect his father's career and also their love of travel.  How cute is this sweet little pilot?

Of course, we always capture some classic and simple shots in our newborn sessions without any props where the baby can be the focus.  Grays and whites have been my favorites lately, and they were such flattering colors against Willem!  Plus, how sweet does he look in my tiny little white romper?

I've been playing with some new white-on-white setups in the studio lately, bringing in the simplest of colors so that the baby is the star and just pops against a classically simple backdrop.  I love these next two images of Willem on the beanbag, with the waterfall wrap cascading around him!

Willem's mom and dad are both Dutch, and his dad actually lived in Holland before they met!  Of course we had to incorporate these wooden clogs into their son's session as a little nod to their heritage.  Do you recognize the tiny clogs?  Take a peek at their maternity session to see where these "klompen" made their very first appearance!

I just love their family portraits!  Amy & Lo are such attentive parents already, and they are so in love with their baby boy.  When they arrived at the studio I told them to relax, sit back, close their eyes for a few minutes to catch up on some sleep.  Like all new parents, they were exhausted, but they said, "No way!  We'll just fight off sleep.  We don't want to miss a thing!"  

They were truly beaming as they held Willem and marveled over how perfect he was -- granted, they were definitely sleep deprived so some of the joy radiating off of them could have also been exhaustion, but still, joy trumps exhaustion!   ;o)  

I first met Willem Todd when he was only 22 hours old at Glens Falls Hospital for his Fresh 48 session.  Enjoy his Fresh 48 blog post here!  

Wondering if a studio newborn session is the right fit for you?  Check out these blog posts about our three types of newborn sessions to determine which is the perfect fit for your family's style & needs!

Welcome Willem Todd - A Fresh 48 Newborn Session at Glens Falls Hospital | New York Newborn Photographer

Fresh 48 sessions steal my heart every single time!  I love being invited into the hospital to visit a family as they grow +1, and meeting their newborn babies at only a few hours old is such an honor.  

Those few days in the hospital after your baby's arrival pass in such a blur, and we slow down time for an hour.  We close the door and capture your precious new arrival and your sweet family just as you are in this moment -- messy hair, hospital blankets, and a collection of food & drinks on the hospital table.  This is your family, right now, right here.  

Just 24 hours ago that beautiful baby was inside of you, and now here he is.  Smiling, grasping your finger, nursing, and crying.  

World, meet Willem Todd.

This handsome baby boy is so perfect, and so loved.  His parents couldn't stop staring at him.  They gave him all of the best cuddles, and his proud papa loved taking photos on his cell phone to send to family overseas.

Willem's mama was born at the same hospital as him.  The maternity ward at Glens Falls Hospital is called "The Snuggery," and years ago when Amy was born she received this little T-shirt.  Her mother kept it all these years, and we put it on Amy's son to celebrate his arrival at the same hospital his mother was born at!

They bought the cutest "Hello, my name is Willem" onesie to share the news of his arrival with family and friends, and they waited to post online until I gave them their first sneak peek 24 hours later.  This was the first portrait that friends & family enjoyed of their sweet baby boy on social media -- isn't he perfect?!?!  That little mohawk just melts my heart!

Depending on the season, we only book 1-2 Fresh 48 sessions per month since we need to allow plenty of flexibility on the calendar for your baby's unpredictable arrival.  Do you think this could be the right fit for you?  Let's chat!

Camille's Studio Newborn Session with Big Sister Lydia - Boston Baby Photographer

We are in the middle of a BABY BOOM around here, and I am so excited to share all of our recent studio newborn sessions and lifestyle newborn sessions.  Let's start it off with sweet little Camille's session at our Attleboro portrait studio.  

Filled with soft fabrics and whimsical colors, this session was a dream to photograph!  I particularly loved watching Camille's big sister Lydia with her new baby sister -- so many adorable moments together!

Plus, who doesn't love baby back rolls?  Squishy newborns are my favorite! 

While I don't typically do a lot of black & whites, I just love the simplicity of this white-on-white image, and now I'm eager to do more in this style!  The little lace headband was perfect on Miss Camille.

We have a new chair in the studio.  It's a linen and whitewashed wooden chair that I have spent months searching for, and I'm so happy with how beautiful it is in sibling and parent shots for our newborn clients!  The chair arms made it the perfect spot for big sister Lydia to sit securely with her new baby sister, and I love this adorable moment shared with her mama!

Every single newborn session includes family portraits as we celebrate your baby's arrival together.  These ones were just so adorable, and I have so many favorites from this session!  Just look at how excited she is about her new baby sister!

If you loved this session, you're going to ADORE these other newborn sessions at our studio!
Emerson's Blush Pink Session

Matthew's White & Cream Studio Session

Brynley's Newborn Session with Tulips

A White & Cream Newborn Session with Matthew | Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

Ohhhhh, sweet Matthew.  There is nothing I love more than a brand new baby, all squishy & soft against a simple, clean white backdrop.

It's always an honor when a family invites me into their lives to capture their newborn baby's portraits.  What makes it even better is when they come back to me later on with Baby #2.  I first met this sweet family when their first son was born.  (Check out big brother Joey's newborn session here!)  Then when they told me that Baby #2 wouldn't be far behind, I was thrilled to plan their next session with them!

One of the things that left me awe-struck was just how much big brother Joey and baby brother Matthew look like each other.  Heads full of dark, soft newborn hair.  The same eyes and tiny little chins.  They are so adorable and handsome, all rolled up into such a tiny bundle!

One of the (many) amazing things about working with families who return to the studio with each baby is witnessing the tiny changes that only I would notice in their family & parent images.  The way that their expressions change from surprise/awe/wonder with the first baby, and settle into an easier, contented joy with the second baby.  You can see it in the way they relax their eyes, their face, their shoulders.  In the way that they are 1,000% more comfortable and natural holding the baby the second time around.  It's like, "Yeah, we're parents now.  We've done this before.  We've got this!"  I love watching that transition!

There is just so much love in these family portraits, and it's multiplied when we bring big brother in to get to know his baby brother!  Family portraits with a toddler and newborn are always tricky, but so, so worth it!

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!  

Connor's Lifestyle Newborn Session - Boston South Shore Lifestyle Photographer

World, meet Connor.

This sweet little boy has the most soulful eyes I have ever seen on a newborn. He was wide awake during his lifestyle newborn session at home, and his curiosity got the best of him as he wanted to see everything that was going on around him.  I'm so glad, because it allowed us to capture so many beautiful wide-eyed shots of this handsome baby boy!

Baby toes are my favorite!  Especially when framed by a white crib in a nursery with such delicious & airy light streaming in.  

The family's fur baby, Mack, joined in on the fun.  I always love when we can incorporate pets into our lifestyle sessions at home because they are such an important member of your family.  While most dogs take some time to adjust to a new baby at home, we always try a little extra hard to get a few shots of the two together.  Those will definitely be the images you are so happy to have many years from now when your baby and your dog are the best of friends.

Decor & style is such a huge part of our lifestyle sessions, though they of course take a back seat to the emotions that are bubbling over as your family grows from 2 to 3 (or from 3 to 4!).  I love that these sessions take place right in your home, and they show so much of your family's personality as we capture the space that you first brought your baby home to.  The banister on the staircase in this family's home made the perfect frame to shoot through for a few cozy moments in the living room.  

Nautical + Springtime Portraits for a Baby Girl | Saratoga Springs & Boston Newborn Photographer

Blake Vivian came to our Attleboro studio for her newborn portrait session when she was only 5 days old.  With such a gorgeous name, I knew I wanted to do some perfectly soft & feminine set ups for this little girl.  And of course, I couldn't resist bringing in a few nautical elements for this family that loves their time at the beach on Cape Cod so much!

This baby girl was such a little charmer, and she loved being cuddled by her mom, dad, and grandmother.  She slept like a dream when she was all wrapped up in our swaddles, and I love the sweet little springtime images we were able to capture of her on our new Lavender Fields backdrop from Photographer Rising.  

This image below is going to hang as a stunning 24x36 canvas above her crib in the nursery -- what a gorgeous way to make a statement in the bedroom that was so lovingly created for her!

And now our nautical images.  I just love baby girls in blue, and this combination of seaside colors was perfect for Blake.  

I've been enjoying more backlit portraits in the studio lately, and I have to say that I am a HUGE fan of these bright & airy images.  We did a series of backlit images at the beginning of Blake's session with her mom, dad, and grandma.  Everyone is so radiant and peaceful -- I just love it!  These are definitely going to become a staple at all of our studio sessions moving forward.

Are you expecting a little one in 2017?  

We are now booking through the spring and summer, and we'd love to see you for a Studio Newborn Session, Lifestyle Newborn Session at home, or a Fresh 48 session in the hospital!  

I'm also so excited about our new maternity session collections, and I would love to talk with you about celebrating this time of anticipation!  
Please email hello@nicolestarrphotography.com and let's chat!

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!

A Springtime Newborn Session for a Sweet Baby Boy: Albany Newborn Baby Photographer

Lucas Benjamin
March 16, 2016
8 pounds, 6 ounces, 21 inches

Every time a family walks into the photography studio with their brand new baby, I feel so excited and honored to capture these sweet moments for them.   New moms & dads have had their world turned upside down and inside out with the arrival of their little miracle baby, and they are adjusting to all sorts of new schedules and routines, but for a few hours we slow it all down and just soak in the newness of their tiny little one.  We celebrate this amazing little life and capture all of the tiny details.

Every newborn session is filled with lots of cuddles, and Lucas's session was no exception.  This little boy was such a sweetheart and I loved capturing his tiny newborn goodness from the other side of my lens.  His parents both enjoyed the delivery of his wall art and fine art album yesterday, making today the perfect day to showcase his studio newborn session with a blog post!

This little boy was such a good sleeper, and he was in dreamland for most of our session!  I just love these beautiful images that we were able to capture of this sleepy little baby during his newborn session.  When his mom told me that she wanted some springtime colors for her springtime baby, I was so happy to pull out my favorite vintage quilt for his set up.

These sleepy little photos below are some of my favorites, and I just love how tiny and cozy Lucas is all tucked into his little bed.  Plus, doesn't he have the most handsome and adorable profile in the second image?  Those little lips and that tiny bump of a nose, plus his mini mohawk.... ahhhhhh!!!  Doesn't it melt your heart?!?!