Celebrating Motherhood Sessions with Boston & Saratoga Springs Portrait Photographer

It's hard to believe that we just wrapped up our THIRD year of Celebrating Motherhood sessions!  This was the first year I brought the sessions to Saratoga Springs, and my third year capturing these special moments for our Boston-area mamas.  (Check out the 2015 and 2016 sessions here!)

This year's event was extra special.  In Boston we enjoyed hair & makeup by Tiffany Cantin, HMUA of Six Bay Road Salon.  In Saratoga, Breeanna Nicholas Artistry and Laura Graver pampered our moms with hair & makeup.  

Sweet Ivie was one of our sponsors, providing lots of lovely headbands for the little girls to enjoy, while Simply Made created beautiful bandana bibs and bowties for the baby boys.  And special thanks to Crown City Bread Company for the sweet treats, and Butterfly Baby for goodies in the swag bags for the moms.  And of course, our beautiful and whimsical wardrobe was supplied by Rainey's Closet!

Now, let's get to the fun part!

Ohhhh, these moms & their babies were just the sweetest!  I always love capturing these sweet little moments between them, slowing it all down to celebrate the beauty of motherhood and of this sweet but fleeting stage of having little ones at home.  Pampering the moms with hair & makeup always makes them feel extra glamorous, and these moms were such naturals in front of the camera!  They showered their little ones in cuddles and kisses, and we captured so many beautiful moments for them to enjoy!

Waiting for baby is always such a special time filled with anticipation & love.  Laura joined us with her son, who is about to be a big brother!  He leaned in close to listen to his baby sister, and he was just the sweetest!  Plus, seriously now... how amazing does Laura look?!?!  She has such a beautiful glow about her!

Funny story behind this image below...  So often little kids lean in for a quick peck on the cheek, and they pull back before I can click the shutter.  Laura told her son to "pretend you're a zombie sucking brains out" to get him to slow down for a kiss.  I doubled over laughing, so surprised at this description.  But it worked!  

Sofia was an only child last year when she came with her mama to our motherhood sessions, and her mom was waiting on Baby #2's arrival.  This year I was so lucky to get to meet her little baby sister, Catania.  Their grandfather was there for moral support, and he truly saved the day by capturing the girls' full attention and getting them to smile for us.  They lit up the moment he walked in the room, and it's clear to see that he shares a very special bond with his granddaughters.

And the twins!  Bella and Finley have been coming to me since their newborn portraits, and I was so happy to see these girls at our Motherhood event this year.  Their mama appeared so calm & relaxed, which is definitely a feat for a mama of two little ones under two!  The girls looked like princesses in our dresses from Rainey's Closet, and we had so much fun capturing the sweetest cuddles of them with their beautiful mama.  

The last time I saw Michael and his mama, he was a tiny six-pound newborn baby!  Now he has such a big personality, filled with smiles and ready to give hugs to everyone in the room.  We had so much fun in their three-generation session, and his mother and grandmother were such a joy to capture together for their portraits!

This was Elyse's first year at our motherhood event with her son, after meeting at my DSLR workshop a few years ago.  Her little boy loved being the center of attention, and jumping on the bed was definitely his favorite part!  He curled right up into his mama's arms, enjoying lots of cuddles.  He won't always be this small, and he won't always come looking for hugs and kisses, which is why it's so important to enjoy every single one now while you can!

Heather came to our event for a three-generation session with her two little ones and her mother, and I loved capturing some sweet moments of all of them together!  Plus, their outfits were beautifully coordinated with the pops of pink and teal that went so well with her maxi dress.  Looking for more tips on how to select outfits for everyone in your family?  Check out this helpful blog post on wardrobe ideas for your session this spring!

Celebrating Motherhood Photo Event at Little Lovage Club

I love this job.  I love capturing the most amazing moments that families will cherish forever, stopping time while their children are still little and we create such beautiful memories together.  However, one thing I have noticed as a newborn and baby photographer is how infrequently moms are in front of the camera with their children.  They are always behind the camera, taking the photos of their babies, and rarely do they get the chance to feel gorgeous and amazing while jumping in the frame with their little ones.

Our Celebrating Motherhood Event aims to change that.

Last month, we had 21 moms join us at Little Lovage Club for a day of pampering and photos, treating the moms to hair & makeup, childcare, and a gorgeous photo shoot with their little ones.  This was our second motherhood event at Little Lovage Club, and it was SO. MUCH. FUN.

Just look at all of these gorgeous mamas, absolutely radiant as they get to cuddle up with their little ones.  I love that we captured these sweet moments of them together. These are the photos that they are going to pull out in 20 years and give to their grown children to display in their own homes.   These will be framed and displayed on walls, shelves, and tabletops for generations, showcasing their beautiful love.  

New moms, expecting moms, moms of 4, tired moms, happy moms...  Everyone came together intent on having a relaxing, magical day with their babies.  These moms know that their kids will only be little for a little while, and they truly wanted to capture that on camera with THEMSELVES in the frame, too!  This was definitely an event that I loved, and I can't wait to organize more Celebrating Motherhood events soon.  New York mamas are already asking me about when we'll do one here in the Capital Region -- soon!  Very soon!

A few of my favorites were the three generation shoots, bringing in grandma for some playful photos with her daughter and grandchildren.  

We were so fortunate to collaborate with an amazing team who made the day run smoothly, kept the moms feeling beautiful & relaxed, and helped the children stay happy & upbeat.  A huge thank you to our incredible support team -- we could not have done it without you!

Hair Styling - Tiffany Cantin, HMUA from Six Bay Road Salon

Makeup - Sarah Adams for Follain

Childcare - Sensible Sitters

Our Amazing Hosting Venue - Little Lovage Club

Celebrating Motherhood Event | Organic Mother & Baby Sessions

We believe that moms are beautiful.

We believe that motherhood is the most difficult but rewarding job in the world, and that the love you share with your babies is so incredibly breathtaking.  We believe that you deserve to be pampered, you deserve to feel gorgeous, and you deserve to have stunning memories captured on camera with your little ones.

This is what is at the heart of our Celebrating Motherhood photo sessions.  The idea that moms are incredible women who have embarked on such a beautiful journey with their little ones.  The idea that the laughs, cuddles, hugs, and kisses are all moments that deserve to be remembered.  The idea that motherhood deserves to be CELEBRATED.

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0008

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0019

But you know what I hear all the time as a photographer that makes me so sad?  Moms that tell me they only want photos of their kids, they don't want to be in the pictures, and -- the worst one of all -- that they "hate" themselves in photographs.

Alright moms, listen up:  YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, STRONG, SMART & AMAZING.  Sure, the spit up on your shoulder may be the latest accessory, you're still trying to lose the baby weight, and a messy bun and yoga pants are how you get "dolled up" on a Friday night.   But you know what?  You're still beautiful.  You are Wonder Woman.  You are raising these tiny humans filled with compassion & love, and you are doing a spectacular job.

And THAT is why we created the Celebrating Motherhood photo sessions.  Eighteen mothers enjoyed a day out to relax, be pampered, sip on champagne, and have a little down-time while babysitters took care of their children.  Then we took gorgeous photos of the moms looking and feeling glamorous with their babies.

Years from now, your children will be able to look back at these photos and they will know how much they were loved, how much they were cuddled, and how their mom realized their bond was so special that she captured it in photographs and preserved it forever.  They'll look back and see you for the Wonder Woman that you truly are.  Enjoy!

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0005

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0002

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0020

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0018

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0012

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0024

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0003

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0021

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0009

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0016

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0026

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0025

Congratulations to the newest mother who came to our sessions.  This glowing mama became a mom only 6 days earlier!  

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0013

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0017

Organic motherhood sessions | Boston Baby Photographer_0006

Location & Event Collaboration: Little Lovage Club

Hair: Tiffany Cantin

Makeup: Sarah Adams for Follain

Childcare: Sensible Sitters

Swag Bags: Alli Russell of LPDTRA

Additional Collaborators: MV Breastfeeding Support

We had such an incredible team that day to keep the children happy, the mothers calm, and everything flowing smoothly.  A huge thank you to everyone that made this day possible.  We truly couldn't have done it without you!

A few behind the scenes photos of Tiffany & Sarah in action, pampering the moms for their glamorous sessions with their babies.  Tiffany and Sarah were the first welcoming faces that the moms saw when they came in for their sessions, and these two immediately made them all feel comfortable, relaxed, and beautiful.

behind the scenes nicole starr photography_0012

behind the scenes nicole starr photography_0006

behind the scenes nicole starr photography_0011

A Dreamy Session with Newborn Twins | Albany & Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

Sometimes miracles come in pairs.

Finley Grace & Bella James

I love photographing newborns.  Absolutely adore it.  But when you bring newborn twins to me?  Oh my gosh, I'm in heaven!

After arriving one month early and spending some time in the NICU, I was so excited to finally snuggle with these baby girls in the studio.  They are just the sweetest little things, and I adored our session together.  Creamy, dreamy, whimsical & soft are my favorite types of sessions, and this one was no exception!  I love the soft, neutral colors that allow the babies to be the focus of the session, the way we had the most perfect light streaming through the studio windows to illuminate these new parents and their love, and the most peaceful little girls that slept the entire time.

I adore the stunning mama and baby portrait, below.  I recently came across a motherhood quote, and when I read it this photograph immediately came to mind.

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  

She never existed before.  

The woman existed, but the mother, never.  

A mother is something absolutely new."  ~Rajneesh

Love this fun shot of the babies in their daddy's arms!  They won't be that tiny forever, and it's amazing to see and look back on.

The best compliment that you can give a photographer is to have an emotional connection to the portraits that we take and the moments that we capture.  The photo below is the one that brought tears to their mom's eyes during our reveal session.  I just LOVE that a photograph can do that, and I'm truly honored that the photographs I take of your children mean so much.  <3  

And we'll finish with my favorite shot of Finley & Bella, two little twins all snuggled up together.  I love how they just curl up together and mold their limbs together into one tiny little space.  

Check out other newborn twin sessions here, here & here.

Love the clean and organic look of these photographs?  Me too!  View Lucy's clean and simple newborn session.

Making New Memories in Vintage Dresses | A Motherhood Session

Arlene is a dear, dear friend of mine.  We've known each other for years -- before marriage & babies & houses & PhDs & photography businesses.  I've loved capturing her little girls on camera, and I always adore the sweet moments we photograph when we get together. Sometimes, you just have to call your friend up to come over, get dolled up, and do a pretty motherhood session in the studio with her daughters.  And that's exactly what we did last Monday morning.

There is so much love bundled into these photographs, and there is such a history of love stories in each one, too!  Arlene's husband is a genealogist and is always sharing stories about their long lines of ancestors.  What I love about these photographs is the history in their outfits.  Arlene is wearing her wedding dress from their celebration in the Dominican Republic.  Little Daniela is wearing the dress that Arlene wore to her own parents' wedding when she was a little girl.  And her big sister, Alice, is wearing the dress she wore last weekend to Arlene's brother's wedding.  So much love, so much history, and so many stories in those sweet white dresses.

Alice & Daniela.

Looking at a photo of the girls from our last session together, I've concluded that this is their signature "sister hug".  Dani looks like she's used to dealing with her big sister's too-tight squeezes, and I just love the expression on her little face!

I've known Alice since she was a teeny-tiny baby in the hospital, welcoming her to the world with a "1st birthday" cake on her first day in our lives.  Watching her grow, and watching Arlene as a mom, has been such a joy.  That's what the heart behind our "Celebrating Motherhood" sessions is all about -- the magic of motherhood, and those gorgeous memories that moms make with their little ones.

Can't you just tell how much Dani loved the camera?  Such a little doll!

Organic Motherhood Sessions

Celebrating Motherhood Event

with Nicole Starr Photography & Little Lovage Club

Come join us at the Little Lovage Club in the South End for a day of pampering, photos, and love.  This unique event has been designed just for the mothers and their children as we gather together to celebrate YOU.

You are amazing.  You are strong.  You are wonder woman.  You are beautiful.  You have the hardest and the most rewarding job in the world.  You are raising these tiny humans filled with compassion & love, and you are doing a spectacular job. You deserve this.

We believe that moms are beautiful.  We believe that the love that a mother shares with her babies is the most breathtaking thing in the world.  We believe that you deserve to be pampered, you deserve to feel gorgeous, and you deserve to have stunning memories captured on camera with your little ones.

We believe that these moments should be enjoyed and shared with your children over the next many, many years.  Rather than always hiding behind the camera, it is your turn to step in front of it and capture this amazing love you share together. Document it, cherish it, and show it to your children when they are grown.

---

What is the Celebrating Motherhood Event?

On October 18, join us at the Little Lovage Club for a day of pampering, enjoying the little luxuries in life, and an organic motherhood session with your little one(s) with Nicole Starr Photography.

Arrive early and treat yourself to our complimentary hair & makeup services to make you feel and look your best.  Sip on a mimosa from our mimosa bar and enjoy a sweet treat while your little one is off being entertained by one of our fabulous babysitters.  It's time for mama to have a little me-time!

Then enjoy a 20-minute photo session focused on capturing that sweet love and the special bond you share with your little ones.  Soft fabrics, neutral colors, and beautiful spots to cuddle up together will be the perfect backdrop to let your love shine in the photographs.

After the session you'll have access to a digital gallery of 10 final images, and you'll select your 5 favorites to download, print, and enjoy in your home.  Additional images, print products, albums, and keepsake boxes are available and samples will be at the LLC that day for you to enjoy.

Every mom will also receive a beautiful gift bag with a little treat inside just for you!

Are you ready to feel beautiful?

Do you want gorgeous keepsake photographs that showcase your love for your children?

Treat yourself.  You deserve this.

Reserve your spot now: http://littlelovageclub.com/schedule/mini-photo-sessions/

*Please plan to arrive 40-60 minutes before your scheduled session to allow sufficient time for hair & makeup. **Please note that in the schedule, photoshoots for babies 0-6 months are designated from 10am-12pm.  Please reserve this time block only for babies this age.  Thank you.

Photography: Nicole Starr Photography Venue & Event Planning: Little Lovage Club Makeup: Follain Hair: Tiffany Cantin Babysitters: Sensible Sitters Gift Bags: Alli Russell Other Sponsors: MV Breastfeeding Support