Rocking your business & your baby: Planning for maternity leave as a business owner

Hey, mom-preneurs!  

This one is for you.

We’re starting a new series on the blog called “Rocking Your Business & Your Baby.”  As I enter into motherhood with the arrival of our baby boy this spring, I am excited to connect with so many other mamas out there who have learned (and are still learning!) how to balance business & babies.

I’ve been a business owner for SIX YEARS.  Think about that for a second — my very first newborn clients are going to be first graders in the fall.  Wow.

For 6 years, this business has been my baby.  It’s held my hopes and dreams, it’s connected me with so many amazing people, it’s been the big thing that I work hard on every single day.  I’ve truly loved watching it grow and evolve over time, and seeing how I have grown and changed as a business owner in that same time, too. 

And now I’m adding on a new role, the most important role of them all: MOM.
 

I know that things are going to change for me as a business owner with the arrival of our baby boy.  This little business of mine won’t be my only "baby" anymore.  Working from home will hold a whole new meaning, and my time is going to look a lot different moving forward.  I’m excited to connect with other business owners who are rocking their businesses while rocking their babies, and to share some insights with all of you as I learn as I go!

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Today we’re going to talk all about preparing for maternity leave as a business owner.  If you’re waiting on your little one to arrive — CONGRATULATIONS!  You must be so excited as you count down the months and the weeks until the day you finally get to meet your sweet little baby.  But if you’re anything like me, you might also be a little bit nervous wondering,
How in the world am I going to get everything done? 
How will I continue running a business with a baby at home? 
What will happen if I just drop off the face of the earth for a few months when the baby arrives? 
Can I even afford to take maternity leave?

I have had all of the same thoughts, worries, and concerns over these past 9+ months, so I’m sharing a little insight into a few things that helped me prepare for maternity leave with the idea that hopefully they will help you as you embark on this new adventure, too!

It’s never too early to prepare.
 

I hired a virtual assistant long before we even decided to have a baby.  Kristina started working with me a full 16 months before my due date.  I knew back then that there were so many things in my business that I could outsource to free up my time and attention that would be better spent focusing on other areas, and I found the perfect assistant to do that for me.  

We spent more than a year establishing a solid workflow where she completely took over some of the behind-the-scenes tasks that allowed me to focus on growing my business in other areas.  For example, because she took over social media and blog prep, I could streamline my marketing to bring in even more clients, and my sales to bring in even more revenue. 

Which leads me to number two…

Save, save, save. 
 

Save up as much extra income as you can before you go on maternity leave to cover your expenses so that you can enjoy some downtime at home getting to know your new baby.  You’re going to want to take time off to rest, bond, and find your groove at home as a family of 3 (or 4, or 5!).  Having the financial freedom to do that will give you one less thing to worry about.

As soon as we got pregnant, I started saving every penny because I knew that I wanted to take a few months off once our little one arrived, but we would still have bills to pay.  Actually, you’re likely going to have even MORE bills to pay than you do now because of hospital bills, baby items, formula, diapers, and all of the other expenses that come along with bringing a little 8-pound human home with you.  So plan to grow that business well before your due date so that you have enough saved up to cover at least 2-3 months of expenses during your maternity leave.

Automate your business as much as possible.
 

Preparing for my maternity leave felt a lot like what it was like to prepare to take a sick day when I was a teacher, times about 1,000!!!  I wanted my business to continue running, so I scheduled blog posts, social media posts, and newsletters that would go out automatically during the weeks I planned to take off.

This way, I can be out for a walk with my baby and a new blog post goes live.  I might be struggling through a sleepless two-day stretch, but my social media posts are still fresh and my followers see that we’re still an active business with a lot going on.  We could be visiting with the grandparents, and  a newsletter will go out advertising our summer sunset sessions.  

As a business owner, you are always marketing and reaching potential clients and past clients.  It's important to stay fresh in their minds so that they remember, "Hey, I really want to work with you!"  Automating some tasks to keep your business running even while you're taking a break will help to do that for you.

Your business can run itself if you prepare ahead of time.  IT’S A LOT OF WORK, but it’s worth it not to have to worry about a thing when all you really want to do is stay at home and marvel at how perfect your baby is. 

Block off time on your calendar, and stick to it.
 

I stopped traveling for sessions 1 month before my due date.  Since I drive back and forth between two states for sessions, I didn’t want to worry about going into labor while crossing the Berkshire Mountains, so early on in my maternity leave I planned which weekends would be my last ones in Massachusetts, and I made those dates known to all of my clients, stacking them full of sessions to save time and maximize profitability.

I also planned to stop working around week 37, so I wrapped up all of my client work by then.  All orders from sessions were completed, albums were designed, print orders were placed with my labs, and everything that I could package and deliver was sent out so that I wouldn’t have to worry about anything being left unfinished in case the baby arrived early.

I knew that I could still do behind the scenes work after week 37 (blogging, social media, newsletters), but it was important to me that all client work and obligations be done to have one less thing to worry about.

Plus, you’re going to want to take it easy before the baby gets here!  I was in full-on nesting mode and I spent months looking forward to having a few weeks “off” to clean, organize the nursery, prepare food for after the baby arrived, and spend some extra time with just my husband.  We fit in a few extra “date days” and other little things that we wanted to do that would be so much easier without a baby in tow, so take your time to relax and enjoy that end stage of your pregnancy without working up until the end!

Have a plan in place in case your baby arrives early.

It happens.  Babies arrive whenever they are ready, and if you’re counting on your little one not making an appearance until you’ve accomplished x, y, and z…. well, you might find yourself in a sticky situation!  So be prepared to be flexible and just go with the flow.  

If you allow yourself enough time to wrap things up before your due date, hopefully you won’t have to deal with too much of a surprise and be scrambling to get things done.  But let those clients towards the end of your workload know that you’re approaching your due date and that it’s possible you might need to reschedule their appointment if the  baby arrives early, or mail their order to them if you can’t deliver it in person, or that you might wind up meeting through video chat or FaceTime if you can’t be there in person for an appointment. 

This actually wound up being a blessing in disguise since our little one arrived THREE WEEKS EARLY, as soon as I had finished up many of those loose ends with my business tasks!   I had to reschedule one gallery reveal appointment, and one cake smash session.  Thankfully those clients were incredibly understanding and knew that my due date was right around the corner back when we booked, so it was no issue marking a new date on the calendar for them.  I was even receiving messages from them "just checking in" while I was at the hospital with our baby, and I thought it was the sweetest thing that we were on their mind!

Give them enough heads up, and thank them for their flexibility.  They’ve been in your shoes before, and they will definitely understand and be accommodating!

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The most important thing is don't stress too much about stepping away from your business to focus on your family for a bit.  Your business will be there when you're ready for it, and you're going to find a whole new balance to your life as you adjust to being a mom AND being an entrepreneur.  

Do you have other topics you'd like to see in our "Rocking Your Business & Your Baby" series?  Let me know by sending an email to education@nicolestarrphotography.com.  I'd love to hear from you!

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Baby Starr | Grayson's Newborn Portraits

Grayson Alexander
April 3, 2018
 

It's hard to believe that our sweet little boy has already been with us for nearly 3 weeks!  It's been a whirlwind of one day blurring into the next, the nights coming again much too soon, and so many sweet hugs and smiles with our adorable little Grayson.

Even though I've been a newborn photographer since 2012 and I have cuddled and posed dozens and dozens and dozens of fresh little babies, it's true what they say about photographing your own newborn....  IT'S HARD.  REALLY, REALLY HARD.  

It has taken me multiple attempts in the studio to settle this little boy into a deep enough sleep that he forgets that I'm nearby, and a slumber so sound that the click of the shutter won't startle him.  Seriously, there was one afternoon where I was only able to take 28 frames because every time I pressed the shutter, he startled with the "click" and shook himself awake and right out of his pose!  

But we finally did it, and I'm excited to share some of his studio newborn portraits here on the blog!  World, meet Grayson Alexander, our newest studio assistant and the cutest little baby that has stolen our hearts and has us completely obsessed with marveling over how perfect and adorable he is.  

Every time he opens his eyes, our hearts just melt into a puddle.  He has the most soulful gaze, and he's pretty calm & mellow.  When he's awake he's happy and alert, just taking the world in!

Of course I planned a special set-up for this photographer's baby, and when I found this tiny camera prop last November I saved it just for his newborn session.  

Grayson is a VERY smiley little baby, and his little milk drunk smiles pop up all the time and just light up his face.  I can't even believe how many smiles we captured during his time in the studio!

I had so much fun choosing a few new outfits for the studio collection, like this little striped one that is classic with a hint of nautical accents.  I have the feeling I'm going to be adding lots of baby boy items to our studio closet this year as our little boy starts modeling them as he grows!

You'll be seeing a lot more of this sweet little boy on the blog!  

Baby Natalia | A Springtime Studio Newborn Session with Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

We've welcomed so many baby boys to the Saratoga Springs studio lately for their newborn sessions, so I was thrilled to meet sweet baby Natalia and to incorporate all of the pretty little florals into her newborn session.

This adorable baby girl's nursery is purple & gray, so of course we coordinated a few photos to match the decor.  I always love learning about a family's decor and style before the session so that we can create images that will blend seamlessly into your home to complement your style and make a beautiful statement hanging on your walls.  This particular image was printed onto a 16x20 canvas, and I know it's going to bring such a smile to mom & dad's faces every day when they see their sweet baby girl staring back at them on the wall!

Spring is my favorite time of year to incorporate fresh blooms into our sessions, and Natalia's mom arrived with purple tulips after seeing a similar inspiration photo on my website.  I love that we were able to create this gorgeous image for her family!

Big sister Katerina did a fabulous job taking care of her baby sister during the session.  My favorite part of working was this family was after the session when I went to their home for the gallery reveal.   Mom and dad told me that Katerina had been lining all of her dolls and stuffed animals up in front of the fireplace and pretending to take their picture for the past week -- she associated the space heater in the studio with her fireplace at home, and she knew that that was the spot where she had to take baby pictures!  

Love this session?  Check out a few other favorite studio newborn sessions on the blog with our Best of 2017 blog post!

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

Meet Tyler Francis. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Floral Crowns and Teepees | A Milestone Session for Everleigh | Saratoga Springs NY Baby Photographer

Usually we go for a super simply & classic look in our milestone sessions here at our Saratoga Springs baby photography studio, but sometimes it's fun to add a little bit of flair & whimsy.  That's exactly what we did for little miss Everleigh, who joined me for her 8 month milestone session.  

In planning her session, I told her mama that I had everything available at the studio for her baby girl, including outfits.  She showed up with just her baby & a diaper bag, and left the rest to me!  We used a beautiful floral crown with a simple diaper cover from the studio closet, and later a blush pink and lace romper and a fluffy beige tutu -- also from the studio closet!

And Everleigh was one happy little girl!  She loved sitting up, crawling, and showing off her clapping skills, and she giggled the entire time!  I was excited to use our boho teepee (check out this DIY tutorial to make your own -- it's one of the most popular and most pinned post on our blog!) with the perfect pink and peach floral crown.  

The studio bed is another favorite for our milestone sessions, and Everleigh loved having a soft space to cozy up on and crawl around!  Plus, the moment she had those pearls in her hand she was smiling, laughing, and shaking them all over the place!

Thinking of a milestone session for your growing baby?  Let's chat!  

Creating an Email Newsletter List: A Game-Changer for Your Business

Hey, photographers!
 

You’ve been working so hard on building up your business, connecting with new families, and improving your art AND your business sense.  You have all of these big plans for sessions this spring and summer, and you’re eager to put them into place and get started.

All you need to do is some marketing. 

BAM!  It sounds so easy, right?  But you and I know that it’s never as simple as it sounds, and that some of the platforms that we rely on for marketing our businesses actually seem to penalize small business owners, making it nearly impossible for us to connect with potential ideal clients.  

We see it all the time in Facebook groups for business owners — people complain that no one is seeing our social media posts anymore, the algorithms don’t work in our favor, and everything is constantly changing so that people barely even notice business pages in their newsfeed these days.  

Social media has become a “pay to play” game, and honestly, sometimes when you pay to sponsor a post it doesn’t even get you the results you want!  You can have thousands of followers, and if you’re lucky your post will get seen by a few dozen or a few hundred people.  

There has got to be a better way.  And there is.

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Let’s talk about reaching your clients.  

You don’t own your likes and followers on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.  If those platforms disappeared tomorrow, what would happen to your business?  Would you have a way to connect with your audience?  Or would you be starting from scratch again, building it up from nothing?

Today we’re going to talk about the importance of building an email list for your business.  If you’re not already collecting email addresses, this is something that you really should put on your to do list this week and start prioritizing.  Once you have a client’s (or potential client’s) email address, you are guaranteed to always have a way to reach them.  Most people check their inbox every single day, and that is the perfect way to stay fresh in their minds with an occasional message or newsletter letting them know what’s new in your business.

Now, I don't recommend overwhelming them with multiple messages a week, but sending one or two a month is a good way to stay fresh in their minds and let them know what's new, what's coming up, and what they don't want to miss out on.

I use Mailchimp to organize my clients into different email lists.  You can sort them and create new groups by location, type of client, when the babies’ birthdays are — the possibilities are endless depending on how you would like to target your marketing efforts!  Then you’re able to create beautiful, professional newsletters that will be delivered straight to their inbox, reminding them of everything that’s going on in your business and encouraging them to book another session with you.

I’ll be honest with you — sometimes even those emails get filtered into the Spam folder, or they simply get clicked on and deleted.  It happens.  But the bigger you build your list, the greater the chance of reaching more of your potential clients. 

Mailchimp even gives you feedback on each campaign that you send out telling you how many people opened your email, who they were, and what they clicked on.  This is invaluable in helping to guide you with targeted suggestions to keep improving every newsletter so that it is more user-friendly and more engaging. 

So, what are you waiting for?  This service is free (and I am not getting paid to promote it — I just love the platform!), and it’s perfect for a business owner like you.  Ramp up those marketing efforts this spring and create an email list that will help you to reach even more potential clients -- keep doing your thing on social media, too, but add in this one extra platform and you'll see a big difference in no time!

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Did you miss this recent blog post for photographers?
Learn all about reaching your ideal clients through VIP Client Groups on Facebook!

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Product Feature | Our Custom Birth Announcements are included with every newborn session

You've waited 9+ months for your little one to arrive, and now it's time to celebrate!  So many new moms & dads are excited to announce their baby's arrival to the world and start sharing adorable photos of their little bundle of joy.

You could do that with a blurry, poorly lit photo on Facebook and a quick caption.

Or, imagine your loved ones opening up a thick linen envelope and sliding out a beautiful birth announcement that prominently features your baby's name, birthdate, birth stats, and a collection of your favorite professional portraits on thick, luxe paper. 

This card will make it to their fridge and stay there for months, putting a smile on their face every day.  Grandma will probably frame hers, and you'll tuck one away into your baby book and save another in a box with your little one's hospital bracelet and coming home outfit.

While technology is amazing and it lets us share our lives immediately and with so many people at once, there is something truly special about sending "snail mail" and a beautifully postmarked envelope to announce your baby's arrival.  I've even had parents order custom stamps from the post office to match their birth announcements, truly taking this post-baby task to a whole new, beautiful level!

Every single newborn session comes with a set of 25 custom birth announcements, including the envelopes with your address printed on the back.  That takes one more thing off of your to do list, because my job is all about making your life easier when you are home with a newborn baby.

During your gallery reveal appointment we will choose your images for the announcements and review what you want written on them.  Most families include the baby's name, birthdate, birth stats, and a signature.  Some families leave room to write a little note or thank you, and others fill the space with all of their favorite portraits.

I design the announcements and send you a proof of the design, and once you approve the design it's time to send them to print!  It's really that easy!

Then you'll receive your beautifully packaged announcements, and all you have to do is add addresses and a stamp before sharing with friends and family. 

Be prepared for your phone to be buzzing with lots of congratulatory messages from everyone exclaiming about how beautiful your little one is and how much they love these birth announcements -- because they won't soon be forgotten!

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Curious about our other keepsake products?  We truly believe that you'll enjoy your memories more when they are printed -- check out a few of our options here!

The Wooden Keepsake Box
Heirloom Wooden Wall Art
Accordion Albums
Birth Announcements
Thank You Cards
The Storybook Album

DIY Floral Hoops Tutorial for Photography Backdrops

Our DIY tutorials have always been some of our most popular blog posts, and after many requests to share a DIY on our new floral hoops, here it is! 

These props have been very popular this spring and I've seen many photographers adapt it to their style with colors and textures that make it unique. 

The options truly are endless -- artificial flowers, dried flowers, felt flowers.  Sparkly glitter-covered greenery, eucalyptus leaves, Spanish moss.  Light and airy colors or deep rich tones for the fall and winter.  

Have fun gathering your supplies, and make a few sets so that you can rotate them out with each season!

Supplies needed:

Embroidery hoops from the craft store
Hot glue gun
Glue sticks
Your favorite artificial flowers
Greenery
Fishing wire
Scotch tape

1.  Separate each embroidery hoop so that you have twice as many hoops — the inner and the outer circles can each make their own floral hoop.  I find that mixing a variety of sizes gives the best effect for your backdrop — I used 9”, 10” and 12” hoops.

2.  Trim the blooms off of your artificial flowers.  I use sharp scissors and cut the blossoms off of the flowers, and also a few of the leaves to mix in.  I also trim down the greenery/vines so that I can weave that along the edges of the hoops, too. 

3.  Try a few different combinations of blooms and greenery, mixing and matching colors and sizes.  I love layering a larger bloom with some smaller, dainty blossoms such as baby’s breath with peonies.  Decide how you want your greenery to drape on the frame as well.

4.  Get your glue gun ready and go to town, pressing your blooms into the edge of the hoop with the hot glue to hold it in place. 

5.  Attach fishing line at the top of your hoop.  I used clear Scotch tape to hold it in place so that it wouldn’t slide around the circle due to the weight of the flowers at the bottom. 

6.  Hang your hoops!   You can hang them from a backdrop stand, or you can use blue painter’s tape and hang them directly on the wall or backdrop.  To avoid shadows while photographing, try to leave as little space between the hoops and the backdrop/wall as possible.

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Check out a few of our most popular (and most-pinned on Pinterest!) DIY tutorials below:

DIY Paper Flower Backdrop

DIY Shabby Chic Teepee 

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Welcome Baby James | A Neutral Newborn Session with Boston Newborn Photographer

I love watching families grow, and it's always such an honor when parents come back to me with Baby #2 for their newborn session.  

Meet James Christos.

I first met this sweet family when big brother Lucas was born two years ago, and I was thrilled to hear that they were expecting their second baby boy this spring!  We planned their newborn session at our Attleboro portrait studio, and when I asked mom what she was looking for she told me -- "VANILLA."

Whites, creams, and neutrals.  "Vanilla" is my thing, and the simplicity of it goes perfectly with our classic newborn sessions!

James wasn't a huge fan of sleeping, and we were able to get some adorable wide-eyed baby poses with him all wrapped up.  He loved being snug in our wraps, and they kept him nice and calm throughout the session while he looked around at everything going on around him.  

When he finally did fall asleep, it was pure magic!  This sweet baby boy was so cuddly and flexible, and he curled right up into the same positions that he was in in the womb.  I just love how peaceful he is while sleeping!

Curious about our newborn sessions?  Check out this helpful post to see if a studio newborn session is the right fit for your family!  (We have THREE types of newborn sessions, and there's the perfect style for everyone between our studio, lifestyle, and Fresh 48 sessions!)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gianna's Pink and White Milestone Session | A Milestone Session at the Nicole Starr Photography Studio

I first met sweet little Gianna for her Christmas photos last fall, and I fell in love with this sweet little girl with those big, sparkly eyes.  She came back for her 6-month milestone session, and we planned the perfect boho floral session for this happy baby girl!  Her mama showed me photos of her nursery, and we coordinated the colors to match perfectly with her blush and cream decor.

Twinkle lights are quickly becoming my favorite item to add to our backdrops, and I love how they lend a little bit of magic to our studio sessions!

Of course, it wouldn't be a milestone session without capturing all of the little details!  Baby feet, chunky baby thighs, and those little finger & elbow dimples are some of those fleeting hallmarks of infancy, and I love celebrating them in our milestone portraits!

The classic white bed is always a favorite set-up during these sessions, and I loved showcasing this beautiful little girl in the simplest set-up.  She's such a little doll, and she rocked tummy time!  

Curious about our milestone sessions?  Learn more about our Baby Plan to document your little one's entire first year through gorgeous, professional portraits!
 

Thinking of a Fresh 48 Hospital Session? Advice from a Saratoga Springs and Boston Newborn Photographer

Our Fresh 48 hospital newborn sessions are always the ones that steal my heart and make me melt into a puddle right there in the hallway of the hospital.  

These magical newborn sessions are such a treat because families invite me into their postpartum room just hours after their baby was born to celebrate their little one’s arrival with them.  I could photograph these first moments together as a family all day, every day, and never grow tired of these sessions!
 

Our Fresh 48 sessions are completely different from all of our other sessions, and if you’ve explored our website even a little bit you know that we offer three different types of newborn sessions (studio portraits, lifestyle portraits, and Fresh 48 hospital portraits).  Some families choose to do just one session, while others do two or all three!  Today’s blog post is all about our Fresh 48 sessions so that you can see if this relaxed style of storytelling is the right fit for your family.

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A Fresh 48 session is the perfect fit for your family if…

 

You are ready to embrace the unpredictability of having a baby.

Some babies arrive early, some babies arrive late, and very few babies actually arrive “on time”.  
We will pencil your due date in on the calendar a few months before the baby arrives, and I will check in with you beginning at 38 weeks.  We’ll remain in touch right up until the baby is born through quick texts or emails.  I leave enough wiggle room in my calendar during these on-call periods to drop everything and come to the hospital within 24-48 hours after the baby’s arrival for your Fresh 48 session.

But speaking of unpredictability… these sessions are RELAXED.  We truly go with the flow.  I do ask that you let the nurses know ahead of time that we’re planning to close the door to your room for an hour, but sometimes social workers come in for a moment, or your lunch gets delivered mid-session, or an alarm goes off and a nurse needs to come in to check on everything.  That’s okay!  Embrace the unpredictability and know that I will do everything possible to help you create a calm and enjoyable environment within those four walls as you get to know your little baby in front of the camera.

You want to capture siblings meeting for the first time.
 

There is nothing more magical than watching your first baby meet your second baby.  I love being there to document these moments for families as their toddler enters the room and is curious (or sometimes not so curious!) about the tiny little baby in the bassinet. 

You value natural, unposed, beautiful, real-life moments. 

These sessions are not about planning the perfect outfits, having a full face of makeup, or making sure every hair is in place.  These sessions are about EMOTION.  We freeze this instant in your lives and celebrate the beginning of this new chapter for your family.  

You’ll look back at these images and remember the weight of your baby in your hands, the feel of them cuddled up against your chest,  the moment your firstborn sang “Happy Birthday” to the baby, and that indescribable joy you felt when looking over at your husband holding your newborn.  These moments are real, raw, and ones that you will never get back.  That’s why I want to slow down time and help you relive them again and again.  

The grandparents will be traveling to town for the arrival.
 

Everyone loves coming together and celebrating a new baby’s arrival, and grandparents are often a part of these sessions!  We make sure to spend 15 minutes with the grandparents in the hospital room to capture candid grandparent portraits and three generation portraits as you all get to know the new love of your life.

You want to remember every little detail about your newborn baby.

Their wrinkly knees, the flaky fingers, that swirl of hair atop their head, and the way their tiny mouth opened into a silent yawn.  You know that these first few days will pass in a blur of appointments, feedings, and so much sleep deprivation, but you don't want to forget a thing.

Trust me to capture your perfect miracle just as they are in this moment, showcasing their tiny newborn freshness at just a few hours old.  These are some of the most important moments of your life, and they deserve to be beautifully documented for your family.

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Intrigued?  Check out this post where new moms & dads talk about why they chose to document their baby's arrival with a Fresh 48 session!

Celebrating 6 Months | Lila's Floral & Hearts Milestone Session with Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

Lila's mom & dad wanted to celebrate her first 6 months with a perfectly whimsical & girly session filled with pretty little details, soft colors, flowers, and hearts.  Of course, they came to just the right photographer because I LOVE creating sets like that here in our Saratoga Springs studio!

This sweet baby girl was so happy to show off her new sitting skills, and she loved playing with the hearts in our little Valentine's set-up.  We also created this set-up to honor CHD awareness and her personal medical victories, and I love that we were able to incorporate something so special that meant a lot to her parents during the session.

But the very best part of Lila's session?  These SMILES!  Only her mama was able to get her to laugh like this, and this beautiful baby girl couldn't take her eyes off of her mom.  She adores her, and that shows so clearly in her expressions in these portraits!

Our Baby Plan is the perfect way to celebrate your baby's milestones throughout the first year!  Come to the studio for the first smiles, tummy time, sitting up, crawling, the first tooth... there are truly so many possibilities!  

Blake is ONE! A Sparkly Pink and Gold Cake Smash with Boston Baby Photographer

I love when our newborn clients come back to celebrate their first birthday at the studio!  It's hard to believe that it's been a year already since Blake's newborn session, and I truly enjoyed getting to celebrate this vibrant baby girl's first birthday with a very special cake smash session at our Attleboro baby photography studio.  

Our popular paper flower backdrop is at it again, this time with a little SPARKLE!  This drop is now for sale with our Designer Line at Baby Dream Backdrops.  Check it out here!

Blake LOVED her cake, especially once she was able to dig in with a spoon!  She surprised us all by keeping her birthday crown on the entire time (rare for a one-year old!), and she had the best time giggling away while we did her cake smash.  Isn't she adorable?!?!

Of course, I can never resist clicking the shutter on a good crying photo, and Blake ended the smash with the perfect reaction.

No birthday session with Nicole Starr Photography is complete without some family portraits!  We did some classic portraits for this Boston family, with neutral colors and a simple background to let them shine together.  This sweet little girl is so, so loved!

Oscar & Miles: Simple Studio Portraits with Brothers | A Milestone Session at the Nicole Starr Photography Studio

We have been celebrating so many baby milestones in the studio since launching our new Petite Milestone Sessions and Baby Plan for 2018!  Oscar came to the studio to celebrate his first 6 months, and his big brother Miles joined him to celebrate his second birthday! 

I saw Miles last year for his first birthday cake smash, and again in the fall for family portraits when his brother was still teeny-tiny, so it was especially nice to watch the two interact now that they've gotten to know each other for the past 6 months.  One thing is clear: little Oscar ADORES his big brother, and when he's nearby he can't take his eyes off of him!

Milestone portrait sessions at 6 months are some of my favorites.  Usually between months 6-8, babies are sitting up solidly on their own.  They have great neck strength and can rock tummy time, enjoying it just as much as they do laying on their backs and playing with their little toes.  Babies are truly perfect, and you know I don't use a lot of props to distract from this perfection.  We keep the focus on the baby and create truly timeless portraits that let your little one's personality shine!

And boy, did their personalities shine!!!  :o)  

Have you been wondering if a milestone session is right for you?  Check out more of our milestone sessions here:
 

Go Patriots! A Football Cake Smash Session with Boston Baby Photographer Nicole Starr Photography

This family LOVES the Patriots.  Their son was born in 2017 during the Super Bowl, and of course they wanted to incorporate their favorite sport into his first birthday session.  Ryan is probably the tiniest Pats fan in New England, but you can bet that be brings a lot of spirit to cheer on his family's favorite team!

We planned a football cake smash for Ryan's first birthday session at our Attleboro portrait studio.  I love getting everything ready for these sessions down to the very last detail, including this adorable Pats jersey cake topper that I designed just for his session!

Like a true rough-and-tumble football player, Ryan did not mess around when it came time to dig in.  Look at him shoving fistfuls of cake in his mouth!  We couldn't stop laughing at this cute baby boy's enthusiasm!

What does your family enjoy doing together?  Watching sports, reading books, painting, cooking, dancing, listening to music, playing make believe?  Whatever you love, we can incorporate it into your little one's session to infuse your family's interests and personality into your portraits.  Let's chat and plan your session together!

Welcome Home, Barratt | A Lifestyle Newborn Session in Saratoga Springs

These lifestyle newborn sessions steal my heart every single time.  It is such a privilege to be invited into a family's home to celebrate their little one's arrival with them, and I truly adore every moment that we spend together taking a peek into their lives at home with their brand new baby.  

World, meet Barratt.  And, start drooling over his perfectly styled nursery with just the right amount of personal touches.

This little sweetheart has two "fur-brothers" at home, and the family's dogs made themselves right at home in the nursery during our session.  I always love incorporating pets into our portraits, and lifestyle shoots are the perfect opportunity to bring the whole family together (including those four-legged family members!).

With a full head of hair and those sparkling, steel blue eyes, this little heartbreaker sure melted our hearts!  These next portraits made it onto his birth announcements and the cover of his linen keepsake album.  How cute is he?!?!

We have had SO MANY lifestyle newborn sessions lately, and they make my photographer heart so happy!  Check out a few favorites on the blog!
 

A "Little Unicorn" Inspired Floral Nursery | Boston and South Shore Lifestyle Newborn Photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Have you heard of the brand Little Unicorn?  Most likely you've seen their gorgeous watercolor muslin swaddles, blankets, and crib sheets in your newsfeed, and you've shopped their products in local baby stores. 

They are truly breathtaking, so when I walked into this nursery and found that it was perfectly decorated with Little Unicorn crib sheets, and that this mama of two had a collection of swaddles and coordinating headbands for her two little girls, I was in photographer heaven!

World, meet Blair and her big sister, Quinn.

These two girls are going to grow up sharing a bedroom that encourages their imaginations to run wild with so many whimsical dolls, stuffed animals, and books around them.  I've got the feeling they're going to be the best of friends!

Most toddlers are a little hesitant about bringing home a new baby, but Quinn jumped right into her role of big sister during our photo session with just a little bit of encouragement.  She shared her bed with her baby sister, learned how to hold her safely, practiced shush-ing her when she was fussy, and was oh-so-gentle with Blair the entire time. 

Her mama told me that after I left, she spent the rest of the week asking to hold the baby by herself and reminding her mother what she had to do and where she had to place her arms to keep the baby safe!  How adorable is that?!?!

These lifestyle newborn photo sessions are always so magical as we watch the love unfold for the new baby.  I truly adore watching moms and dads cuddle up with their new addition, talking to them, singing to them, and marveling at every little thing. 

With older babies, the best part is watching the babies respond to mom and dad, making amazing eye contact and calming right down with just a simple touch or the sound of their voice.

Wondering if a lifestyle newborn session is the right fit for you?  Learn more here!

FAQ's for Baby Photographers | Saratoga Springs NY and Boston MA Newborn Photographer

I’ve been a baby photographer since 2012, and I’ve had the privilege of photographing hundreds of adorable babies & children in New York & Massachusetts.  Before every session I schedule a pre-consultation with my clients, and it’s usually a simple phone call to answer any questions and give them a feel for what the session involves. 

Over the years I’ve answered the same questions dozens of times, so I thought I would compile them into a helpful FAQ post for new clients!

Have a question that I haven’t answered here?  Drop me an email to hello@nicolestarrphotography.com and I would be happy to chat with you!

What is the best age to photograph?  I’m worried my baby is too young — or too old!

Our newborn sessions typically take place during the first two weeks after a baby is born.  I usually like to see babies at the studio after day 5 because they’re getting the hang of eating by then, and if your baby had a circumcision he’ll be healed and comfortable on his belly by then.

BUT WHY SO YOUNG?  Well, during those first two weeks your baby is still getting used to life outside the womb.  They are very sleepy and flexible, allowing me to achieve many of those adorable and cozy poses with them all curled up tight.  After two weeks their limbs become more rigid and less flexible, and they are often much more alert as they begin to stretch and explore the space around them.  Baby acne usually arrives between weeks 3-4, so ideally we’ll plan your session before then. 

For milestone sessions, around months 3-4 is perfect because your little one is smiling, reacting to the world around them, and getting used to tummy time with better neck control by then.  I also love love LOVE milestone sessions between months 6-9 when your baby is sitting up unassisted.  When babies are upright they are so happy and content, and their personality just shines.  This is my favorite age to photograph!

For birthday sessions, we schedule these between months 10-13 depending on how soon before the first birthday party you would like your finished artwork!

Help!  I have no idea what I want to do with my photos!

I hear this all the time, and many families originally think, “I’ll just get the digitals and decide later on.”  But you know what happens 90% of the time when families do this?  Those JPEGs sit in a file on their computer and never get looked at.  Life gets in the way and the images never get printed for a year, two years, three years.

That’s why I make it a priority to schedule your gallery reveal and ordering appointment within two weeks of your session.  We set aside an hour together to go through your gallery, see what products there are, and find which possibilities are the very best fit for your family!  I want to help you enjoy your images & artwork right away, and to find the best way for your images to fit into your lifestyle. 

Here are a few popular possibilities for what to do with your images besides lose them on a hard drive somewhere:
-Create birth announcements, birthday party invitations, or thank you cards to mail to family & friends
-Enjoy a linen-covered album from your session, or from your baby’s entire first year!
-Decorate the walls of your nursery.  We can even plan your session style to coordinate with the nursery theme and colors.  
-Grandparents love photo gifts.  Let’s give them some beautiful new artwork!
-Hang a large family portrait in a  place that will put a smile on your face every day.

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Where do your sessions take place?

Most of our portrait sessions are in the studio.  Lifestyle newborn sessions and lifestyle family sessions take place at home — these are relaxed and generally unposed, and I don’t bring props or complicated set-ups with me.  These sessions showcase real life happening in real spaces in your home. 

I love shooting outdoors in the warmer months.  Here in the northeast, that generally means May through October, but for really young babies who are sensitive to temperature changes, I would recommend scheduling between June and September if you’re hoping to head outside.    Warm babies are happy babies, and happy babies make for great photographs!

What do you have in your studio?

Lots of simple backdrops, neutral colors, a few classic props, faux fur rugs, plenty of wraps and blankets, headbands, and handmade tiny outfits.  I do use one studio light for all of our sessions, so you’ll see a big umbrella with a light in it, too.  During our newborn sessions we turn the heat WAY up in the studio so that your little one is comfy, and it’s very toasty in there with our fake fireplace going strong.

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I’m so worried that my child is going to be fussy or cranky!  What happens then?  

Kids and babies are so unpredictable, and I am used to their changing moods.  Most babies act differently on photo day because they’re in a new space, with a new person, and they can sense that their parents are stressed or nervous.  First, I recommend that you stay calm and trust me to capture beautiful images of your baby.  Know that we will go with the flow and do everything possible to keep your baby in a cheerful mood.  If your baby senses that you are anxious, they will feed off of your anxiety, so stay calm!

I have so many tricks for newborns to create an environment that will lull them into a relaxed state.  You’ll see me use heat, wraps, shushing, rocking, and other little tricks to put them right to sleep.

Older babies are easily distracted and I’ll use songs, games, and toys to grab their attention.  If they start to get fussy, a quick distraction with a new toy or song will engage them and make them forget whatever it was they were fussing about in the first place!  Some babies need a break for fresh air, a walk around the studio, a favorite snack, cuddles, or a song on your phone.  That’s okay!  I am always generous with time, and if your little one needs a few extra minutes to settle in we’ll take our time.  Follow my lead, and we’re going to have a great time together!

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What if my child is sick the day of the session?

Tell me right away!  Healthy babies are happy babies, and I’m usually able to reschedule your session.  Ideally you’ll tell me as far in advance as you are able (48 hours before is perfect if you notice your little one is coming down with something), but we don’t want to force a baby through a session when you know that he’s cranky because he has a fever.

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This is kind of embarrassing, but I’m worried my baby might pee (or poop!) on something in the studio…

It wouldn't be the first time that has occurred!  Poop happens, and it’s nothing to worry about. 

We keep wipes on hand to clean everything up quickly, and everything gets washed and sanitized after the session.  Don’t be embarrassed, and please don’t apologize a million times.  I expect a little mess to happen with every session, and if we get a baby who doesn’t soil something during their session, I consider it a fluke and we were very lucky that day!

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What should my baby wear? 

For studio newborn sessions, you don’t have to bring a thing!  I have everything you need in the studio.  Your images will be classic and timeless with a simple wrap, bare skin, or one of my unique hand-knit outfits that are so tiny and perfectly sized for your baby.

For lifestyle newborn sessions, we’ll also use wraps or pretty swaddles that you have at home.  A classic white onesie is always perfect — the smaller the better.  Because newborns are so tiny, they are swimming in most newborn clothes and all that extra fabric never photographs well, so be sure to try their outfit on ahead of time to ensure that it’s snug and not too baggy.

Milestone sessions are a little bit different.  For 3-4 months we’ll generally just do a few wraps and simple rompers that I have in the studio.  If you have a snug knit outfit (so many cute options at Zara Baby!), send me a picture ahead of time.

For 6 months and up, there are so many cute options for your baby.  Check out Etsy for adorable rompers and overalls in knit fabrics.  Look for neutral colors that aren’t too busy or distracting for the most classic look.  Details like lace, pockets, stripes, texture, and embroidery are always fun, too. 

A note on headbands — babies have tiny heads.  Let’s not overwhelm them with huge puffy flower headbands.  I have petite tiebacks that are the perfect size to complement your baby’s perfect features without being too distracting.  If you’d like to bring something, the smaller the better. 

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How about those cute crocheted outfits I see at big box stores and on Etsy?

Okay, I’m going to be really honest with you here….  No.  Don’t do it.  Those crocheted turtles, foxes, and firemen outfits are never the proper size for a newborn baby.  They are always much too big and leave gaping holes when you put them on the baby, plus the crochet stitch doesn’t lie as smoothly to hug a baby’s curves like knitting does. 

Plus I have found that the yarn is usually a very poor quality that causes the poor little babies to overheat, and nearly 100% of the time when you put a baby in one of those hats and diaper covers they get itchy and hot.  They’re fussy and inconsolable within seconds.  I’m sorry to say it, but as cute as they are on the hanger they’re not that cute on a fussy, crying, sweating baby. 

Instead, we can do a tiny prop or accent in your set-up to represent that turtle, fox, fireman (or whatever other theme it is you loved!).  I’ve had babies holding their dad’s police badge, posed on a fireman’s helmet, and snuggling up with a tiny felted animal like a teddy bear or a penguin.  I’ll use the outfits we have in the studio that are high-quality fibers that allow your baby’s skin to breathe, and that are sized perfectly to their tiny bodies.  

Lillian Wynne - A Simple Newborn Session at our Attleboro Portrait Studio - Boston MA Newborn Photographer

Blush pink, cream, white, and gray.  These simple & classic colors always come together in the most beautiful way for our studio newborn sessions, and I was thrilled when Lillian's mom asked me to style her daughter's session in these tones.

This sweet baby girl's gender was a surprise.  Since this is their second child and their first daughter, of course Lily's mama was excited to incorporate some girly details into her newborn session like our adorable headbands and bows, and all of the prettiest textures.

Big brother James was so sweet with his new sister, and I love the cozy family portraits that we captured of this family of four.  Family portraits are always a favorite part of our newborn sessions as we get everyone together to cuddle up with their new addition, and adding a toddler into the mix always makes them 10X more fun with the tickles, giggles, and kisses! 

Love this classic & girly studio newborn session? 
Enjoy a few more recent studio newborn sessions here on the blog!

Emma Adele's Newborn Portraits
Kona Helen's Newborn Session
Quinn Madlina's Newborn Portraits