Behind the Scenes at Rockin' NDSS Studios

December 16, 2015 nicolestarrphotography@gmail.com

UPDATE: Our Rockin' NDSS Studios project has been featured in an article on The Mighty! Check it out here.

Last week's photo shoot at the National Down Syndrome Society in NYC was so much fun! It was a heart-warming, eye-opening, incredibly collaborative experience that left us all with full hearts, happy souls, and tired bodies. Overall, it was a huge success and I am truly honored to have played a small part in making this dream become a reality!

You can read my full blog post by clicking here to learn more about these extra special photo sessions, what we're going to do with the photos next spring, and see every single one of our lovely & talented models who rock that extra chromosome.

Here I am sharing many of our behind-the-scenes photos from our two days at the NDSS offices. We turned their staff's offices into dressing rooms, their hallways into makeup studios and hair salons, and their conference room into a photo studio. A little imagination goes a long way, and this amazing team of organizers, hair stylists, makeup artists, moms, dads, grandparents, cousins, siblings, models, and photographers truly showed what amazing things can happen when we all work together.

Enjoy a peek into our #rockinNDSSstudios adventure!

Three photographers excited for sessions to begin: me, Sherri Harnisch and Wendy Zook.

Joey, our Slash model out on the streets of New York City! He really mastered the hard-core rocker look, tattoos (sleeves) and all!!

Lady Gaga and Joan Jett in the makeup studio!

A little bit of windblown fan action on our very own Mariah Carey!

Sibling love!

Katelynn celebrated her 5th birthday by coming to our photo session as Scary Spice! What a cutie!

Kelly Clarkson and her twin sister. As a twin myself, you know I always have a special place in my heart for twins on camera!

Wendy really got our little Pat Benatar to rock out. We had a full-on dance party in the studio to Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" to get this little one in the spirit, and it truly worked! Her photos are phenomenal!

Our Usher had all the moves once we put on his favorite song.

Isn't she the most adorable Tina Turner? I love the missing front teeth!

Our Buddy Holly was a little uncertain about the camera at first. His sisters started a dance party with his guitar, and before we knew it, he was rocking out all by himself. We couldn't resist a few fun photos of his whole family's jam session first, though!

Sara's presidential duties at the NDSS also include custom makeup application. This little guy was an amazing band member for KISS!

Fist bump with Bob Dylan!

Rock on!

Mason didn't want to have all the fun by himself, so he pulled his big sister out onto the dance floor at the end of the session.

More KISS band members and their family's dance party!

Oh my goodness. This Elvis impersonator was seriously impressive. Mickey owns multiple costumes, he performs all around town, and he is REALLY, REALLY GOOD at what he does. I loved watching him when he was totally "in the zone" as Elvis during his shoot with Wendy.

Teaching his sister and father how to groove.

The sweetest sisters!

Runaway baby! Johnny Cash and June Carter.

Grace was our youngest model, only 11 weeks old. I insisted that we capture a few images with her gorgeous mama, and I am sure she is going to treasure these forever! (Don't worry -- we'll send you a copy of the photos, Celine!)

Thank you, thank you, thank you! From the bottom of our hearts.

A huge thank you to every single person that made this event possible, turning it from a dream into a reality. It was a labor of love, and these two days spent sharing stories, making new friends, and bringing dreams to life were so incredibly worth it. This was most definitely the most rewarding professional experience of my year, and it's all because of the incredible individuals that came together to make it happen.

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Now that you've had a behind the scenes look at our NYC experience, don't forget to check out our full blog post here on the Nicole Starr Photography page, too!

To see more of this journey, visit blog posts by fellow photographers Wendy Zook Photography and Sherri Harnisch - Picture Taker.

Rock Star Sessions with the National Down Syndrome Society in NYC

December 16, 2015 nicolestarrphotography@gmail.com

UPDATE: Our Rockin' NDSS Studios project has been featured in an article on The Mighty! Check it out here.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just that little "extra".

Oh my goodness! My heart is so full right now! I am wrapping up 2015 with what has truly become one of the highlights of my year -- and this has been an amazing year already, so that's saying something!

I've spent the past week going through my photos and reliving the brief but incredibly satisfying two days I spent in New York City doing photo shoots for the National Down Syndrome Society. It was an amazing experience, and I'm still so overwhelmed with all of the smiles, laughter, and bonding that we fit into the little hallways and makeshift dressing rooms and studios of the NDSS offices.

This photo sums it up for me. It's a behind the scenes look from my dear friend, Wendy Zook Photography, and I love the emotion captured in this moment. There was so much laughter and so much connection between everyone involved. In the end, we truly are more alike than different, and I LOVED getting to know each and every person that was involved in our sessions. (Right here is when Judy told me, "Of course, sweetheart! Don't worry -- I got this!" when I showed her the Mariah Carey look we were going for in her shoot. Such a doll!)

When the National Down Syndrome Society first contacted me about joining them in NYC for an extra special photo shoot, I was speechless and so, so honored. They had this crazy dream of bringing together a bunch of individuals with Down syndrome, dressing them up as rock stars, and having two days of photo shoots to recreate famous album covers that would be used as posters at their spring gala, their biggest fundraiser of the year.

They wanted me, Wendy Zook Photography of New York, and Sherri Harnisch - Picture Taker of Nebraska to help them bring this dream to life. For two days, we worked with an incredible team of photographers, organizers, hair stylists, makeup artists, parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, and models who all came together for our amazing Rockin' NDSS Studios photo sessions.

Our models ranged from 11 weeks new to 50 years old, and came in from all across the state and the country for these once-in-a-lifetime sessions. They shared their stories, their dreams, their struggles, and their goals. They taught us about their lives, what they were working hard for, and how much fun they were having in the process. They studied hard to come prepared with the look, the moves, and the music of their idols. We watched them make new friends in the group photos, shaking hands and sharing hugs while their families rushed to share their phone numbers to set up a get together. We had dance parties in the studio, and we definitely rocked out to "Shake It Off" a time or two with our cameras snapping to loosen the models up.

It was SO.MUCH.FUN.

These photos are still a work in progress, and will be turned into posters for the NDSS Gala's fundraising auction next March. We'll get to see these life-sized rock stars on display at B.B. King's Blues Club in Times Square. I can only imagine how amazing that nightclub will look filled with all of these smiling rock stars' faces. :o) I can't wait to see it in person in March!

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And now, here are the photos you've been waiting for!

Carter as Justin Bieber

Ben as Buddy Holly

Caryn as Carole King

Carson as Janis Joplin

Auren as Usher

Emely as Beyonce

Riley as Marky Mark

Brennan as Elton John

Lucas as Kenny Chesney

Anthony, Race, Sammy & Matthew as The Beatles

Ryan as Bob Dylan

Kailani as Tina Turner

Gabriel, Taegon, Luciano & Mason as KISS

Judy as Mariah Carey

Kayla as Madonna

Francesca & Robby as June Carter and Johnny Cash

Grace as Aretha Franklin

Luke as Billy Joel

Joey as Slash

Amber as Ginger Spice

Katelynn as Scary Spice (This photo was taken on her 5th birthday!)

Elena as Joan Jett

Ameliah as Gwen Stefani

Janissa as Diana Ross

Evelyn as Pat Benatar

Christopher as Elvis Costello

This is one of a three-part perspective on the #rockinNDSSstudios experience. To see more of this journey, visit blog posts by Wendy Zook Photography and Sherri Harnisch - Picture Taker.

And, because I couldn't possibly fit all of my photos into one post, be sure to check out some of our behind-the-scenes photos and fun family moments captured that day at the #rockinNDSSstudios by continuing on to this post.

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Love the photos? View our original photo project for National Down Syndrome Awareness Month with Nicole Starr Photography right here with our local Massachusetts families.

Extraordinary Stories | Photo sessions for the Down syndrome community

October 29, 2015 nicolestarrphotography@gmail.com

As many of you who have been following my Facebook page know, October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Down syndrome is considered the most common genetic condition, and one in every 691 babies is born with Down syndrome. According to the National Down Syndrome Society (www.ndss.org), there are more than 400,000 individuals living with Down syndrome in the United States. This month I started a photo & community outreach project to connect with local families whose children have Down syndrome. My best friend’s son, Zack, was born with Down Syndrome 5 years ago. I'll never forget the night my best friend told me that her brand new baby boy had DS. I'll never forget the incredible journey of love, learning, and acceptance that this little guy's family and all of his loved ones embarked on. I'll always be SO thankful for that blessing. We count ourselves lucky to love this little boy who is blessed with an extra chromosome and lots of hugs and kisses to go around. Because of Zack, I wanted to give back to this community and bring their stories to life through my photographs.

This month I decided to offer complimentary sessions to families who have a little one with DS. When I reached out to this (not so little) community, I was amazed at the overwhelming response from families across Massachusetts and New Hampshire who got in touch with me. My inbox was flooded with the most amazing, heart-warming stories, and every single one brought happy tears. They opened their arms to me, welcoming me into their lives and sharing their stories with me. They allowed me to play with their children, capture their true personalities, and let their little ones shine in the spotlight of my camera. We shared hugs, giggles, tickles, “peek-a-boo” games and “ready, set, go” races.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just that little “extra”.

These children are not defined by Down syndrome. That extra chromosome is a blessing in disguise, helping the families to love deeper, dream bigger, and advocate more strongly. Their stories are the ones that deserve to be heard. Enjoy their stories:

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Meet Audrey (age 9)

WM nicole starr photography down syndrome sessions audrey-2

“Audrey is a very funny clever girl who has the most wonderful sense of humor. Her smile can light up a room and she has the most contagious little laugh and the BEST hugs that come with a pat on the back. Some of her favorite things to do are to sing and dance to her favorite, Taylor Swift. She also loves swimming. She could literally swing on a swingset for hours. She loves to play with her sisters and is great at bossing her dog, May, around.” ~Audrey’s mom

Boston photographer does photo sessions for local families with a child with Down syndrome

“The best part of having a sister like Audrey is the way she brings us and everyone that meets her so much happiness. I like having Audrey as a twin because it makes us unique.” ~Audrey’s twin sister

Meet Drew (age 3)

“Drew has the ability to make people fall in love with him, his outgoing personality and endless expressions. His sense of humor, curiosity and attention to detail make me smile and fall in love with him even more, if that's possible. He loves to learn, and run around and will no doubt change the outdated perceptions of what it means to have Down syndrome. I will continue to teach him to know no boundaries, and to dream bigger until he reaches the stars!

My experience in the Ds community has changed my life. Quite literally. We were given information on the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress while in the hospital after Drew was born. And they were the first organization to reach out to us when we got home. From them, we were connected with our local Ds group, the Morning Travelers, where I've met dozens, if not a hundred families, many who are close friends now. When you find a community that understands, encourages and celebrates similar life journeys, you never want to lose touch. I've been empowered to step outside my comfort zone in many ways by Drew, one being taking the Chairperson role for our local MDSC Buddy Walk! I was honored to address over 3,000 people in our community this past October, 11th and applaud all of them for being a strong community of advocates. Together with the help of the MDSC, we are bringing awareness, inclusion and opportunities to live fulfilling lives to individuals with Down syndrome in Massachusetts and across the globe.” ~Drew’s mom

WM nicole starr photography down syndrome sessions drew-2

Nicole Starr Photography | Boston photographer does photo sessions for local families with a child with Down syndrome

Meet JJ (9 months)

Cute baby with glasses and Down syndrome

JJ is a very social little boy with big, curious eyes that are made that much cuter by his new glasses. He is incredibly expressive, and we captured so many of his little faces on camera during our session together. He loves to laugh and babble, and it’s clear that he brings so much happiness to his mom, dad, and big sister every single day. This little guy is a fighter, and he had heart surgery at only 2 months old. He rocked our session together — even the tummy time, which you wouldn’t know by looking at the amazing photos that he’s not the biggest fan of. ;o)

I just love how he's talking to his little toy in the photo below. What a sweetheart!

Meet Lucy (2.5 years)

“Well, let me tell you about Lucy... She's very much "a Lucy". She's bright, hilarious, loving, and clearly the prettiest girl I've ever seen. She loves cats, music, and Frozen! She's incredibly expressive, she's speaking more lately but has about 100 signs. Sign language has been amazing for her. She shines brighter than a diamond, and that's what I would most like to capture.

The definition of the name 'Lucy' is 'light', and that's exactly what she is. When we found out that she had Down Syndrome, I can honestly say I was not scared. I have never feared for how her life would be. She's been through so much in her tiny little life, I have no doubt she can and will achieve whatever it is she wants to do. That extra chromosome is part of who she is and I would not give it back for the world. She is exactly the little girl I always knew she would be.” ~Lucy’s mom

Nicole Starr Photography | Boston photographer gives sessions to families with Down syndrome

Meet Maeve (8 months)

Nicole Starr Photography | Boston photographer gives photo sessions to families with Down syndrome

“I found out when I was about 6 months pregnant that there was a 99% chance Maeve would be born with Down syndrome. We found out about her having Down syndrome and the fact that she had a heart defect that would require surgery within a couple of weeks. Needless to say, that was a rough time. But we decided pretty quickly that we would do what we needed to do for her and stayed pretty positive for the rest of my pregnancy so by the time she arrived we were more excited than nervous.

She had open heart surgery when she was about 3 months old. Her first 3 months really just seemed like a lead up to the surgery day. But she did great, she was in and out of Children's in 6 days. And now that it's been months, it almost seems like it never happened. I say a lot that I wish we could go back in time to when we first found out about all of this and tell ourselves "Don't worry. You'll love her like crazy and she'll be awesome."

I guess I'm biased but Maeve really is the best baby. She's happy, super chatty, sleeps well, smiles a lot. Honestly, we don't even think about Down syndrome all the time. She may get to milestones a little later than other kids her age, but for the most part she's just like any other baby. She sleeps, eats, cries, poops, smiles, and makes us laugh every day. She just got her first 2 teeth a couple of weeks ago and in the past week she started sitting up on her own! Something new every day.” ~Maeve’s mom

Meet Liam (23 days new)

Nicole Starr Photography | Newborn baby boy with Down syndrome

“We love so many things about Liam. His beautiful eyes, that always appear so alert and attentive when he is awake, are adorned with gorgeous eyelashes. He is happy and content to be held and cuddle when he's not eating. He sometimes shows off an adorable pout that may be hard to say no to when he is older.

The first few days were a mix of a lot of different emotions. Much of Liam's arrival was a surprise. I delivered at a birthing center because we wanted an out of hospital experience. My labor moved at a rapid fire pace and only lasted 4 1/2 hours. My husband travels for work and missed Liam's birth by just 2 hours. When I first held Liam in my arms, I had a feeling he might have Down syndrome, but I didn't want to ask the midwife until my husband arrived. I learned later that the midwife noticed physical characteristics right away but decided to wait until my husband was with me to say anything. I will forever be grateful for these first few hours when I was able to meet my son, hold him, and bond with him before I knew he had Down syndrome. I knew him as Liam first, before I knew he had a disability. He was my perfect, beautiful baby boy who I loved immediately and unconditionally. Learning he had Down syndrome did not change any of this.

When my husband arrived we asked the midwife if she thought he had Down syndrome. She explained that she noticed the palmar crease, low set ears, and large space between his first and second toes. Then we discussed being transferred to the NICU to check his heart and lungs. The NICU was an incredibly hard experience as we didn't even want to be in a hospital in the first place.

We drew strength from taking one moment at a time and the love of our family. Our parents flew out immediately to be with us. They shared in our sorrow, but also rejoiced in Liam's arrival. This was so important for me. As a new mom, I so wanted people to celebrate and gawk over my beautiful new baby. I needed to see people delight in his presence. This helped get us through the 10 days in the NICU.

Right now we are still in the process of letting go of some previous expectations we had before we knew he had Down syndrome. We are making room for new ideas as we begin the journey with Liam. We are trying not to focus on Liam's limitations but all of his potential and gifts.

When I hold Liam in my arms, I just see my beautiful baby boy who is an absolute gift. Sometimes I think, "oh yeah, he also has Down syndrome." But that's never my first nor most important thought when I hold him. I hope this is always the case. First seeing Liam for the amazing person he is, while learning about and embracing all of his unique qualities including the fact that he has Down syndrome.” ~Liam’s mom

Want to learn more about Down syndrome? Check out the National Down Syndrome Society's webpage here: www.ndss.org

Do you know someone who would love this post? Share it with them! :o)

25 families contacted me this month about sessions for their little ones with DS. I'm excited to make this an ongoing project, and I've compiled a list of families that I will be in touch with for photo sessions throughout the year. Want to share your story with me? Email me at nicolestarrphotography@gmail.com. I can't wait to meet your little one and hear your heartwarming story!

Nicole Starr is a newborn, baby & family photographer in Saratoga Springs, NY.
She is a storyteller with a camera who specializes in airy images that capture the everyday magic in your family’s life.

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