Using Rainey's Closet Dress Rentals for my Portrait Studio Wardrobe

Can I let you in on a little secret?  It's the way that every little girl can feel like a princess for her portrait session.  It's called Rainey's Closet.  

Every photographer (and mom!) wants to find the perfect outfit for their portrait sessions.  You want something unique, fun, and just a little bit whimsical.  Something a little bit fancier than your everyday clothing, because photo sessions are a time to have a little fun and experiment with something new!

But that can get a little expensive, especially if you're just going to wear it once, and even more so if your little girl will outgrow it in no time at all.

The solution?  Rent the perfect dress for your session!

Rainey's Closet is a boutique rental company, similar to Rent the Runway, but with couture dresses and adorable little outfits for babies, little girls, and even some items for little boys!  Their website is filled with the most popular brands that photograph so beautifully -- Tutu Du Monde, Dollcake, Nellystella, Well Dressed Wolf, Joyfolie...  The list goes on and on!

I adore this service because for about $35, you can rent the most perfect dress that will truly make your session that much more magical.  A dress that is perfect for twirling, with little hints of sparkle and lots of movement that looks amazing on camera.  

I have discovered so many gorgeous brands and gowns through this website, and it's definitely a favorite resource of mine that I recommend to all of the families I work with.  Planning a beach session this summer?  Rather than spending $30-40 on a dress at the store that you may or may not love, and one that may or may not photograph nicely, rent one from Rainey's Closet that will look STUNNING for your session and that will make your little girl feel like a princess.

I would love it if you'd use my unique referral code
when you rent from Rainey's Closet!  

It's 141372.

Many moms like to send me pictures of the outfits they are thinking of before the session, and then it's so easy to pick one of the dresses from Rainey's Closet to coordinate.  Their colors are soft with lots of neutral tones that will go well with every combination you could possibly dream up.  I have marked dozens of their dresses as favorites, and pinned even more on our wardrobe inspiration boards on Pinterest.  Stuck on outfits?  Start with Rainey's Closet and the rest will come together beautifully!  

For more wardrobe inspiration, check out these helpful links!

Pinterest: Spring Wardrobe Inspiration for Family Portrait Sessions

Pinterest: Beach Wardrobe Inspiration for Family Portrait Sessions

Blog: What to Wear for your Family Portrait Session

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

World, meet Connor.

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

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

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

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

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - A Lifestyle Newborn Session in the South End, Boston Baby Photographer

Can we please fill all of the nurseries with twinkling stars?  Pretty please?

I just loved visiting Baby Chance's family at home for a lifestyle session to celebrate their little boy's arrival.  Their South End apartment in Boston was the perfect mix of industrial and modern, with sweet little touches like the wooden doves on the wall and the light-up stars in the nursery.  We had so much fun together capturing some quiet moments at home as the new mom & dad cuddled up with their baby boy.  

Older babies may not be as easy to pose, but they sure are expressive!  Chance is the happiest baby, and he had so many smiles and giggles for us!  Just look at how joyful and handsome he is!  Even their dog, Tessie, was curious about this little baby that had come into their home.

I always love parent shots like this one when we are doing a lifestyle session at home.  Pure & simple, it shows what your life is like as a new mom.  These are true, everyday moments that you will live thousands of times, and look back on them to show your child one day how you used to cuddle him in the chair by the window, giving him gentle face massages to help him relax.  

One happy family -- though their dog is still trying to figure out if she's happy about this new addition!  

We have enjoyed so many lifestyle sessions lately!  Be sure to check out a few of our favorites on the blog for inspiration for your own newborn session at home.  

Harrison: A Lifestyle Family Session with Blogger of A Modest Life

Catherine: A Lifestyle Session in Charlestown, Boston

Charlie: A Lifestyle Session in the South End

Happy Father's Day! | Boston & Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

Happy Father's Day weekend!

This weekend, I want to give a shout out to all of the dads who are absolutely rocking this whole parenthood thing.  I meet so many amazing families every single week, and I love being able to capture these sweet moments between dads and their little ones.  These little babies are going to grow up and have such a special bond with you, unique from every other relationship in their lives.  Enjoy every second of it, because they won't be this tiny to curl up in your arms forever!

For today's post, enjoy a peek at a collection of some of our favorite images from dads celebrating their first (or second, or third!) Father's Day this year.  Happy Father's Day to all of these amazing men.  Enjoy the weekend!

A Family Session on the Charles River Esplanade - Boston Family Photographer

Ohhhh, springtime in Boston.  I truly don't believe that there is anything my photographer heart loves more.

Did you know that spring in Boston was how my photography journey first began?  When I first moved to Boston at age 22, I spent all of my free time wandering around the city for hours and hours with my camera in hand.  Spring, summer, fall, and winter.  I wanted to walk every street of that city and capture all of its beauty through my lens.  I can remember so many days spent in the Public Garden, on the Esplanade, and walking through Beacon Hill & Downtown Crossing while finding interesting little stories to capture -- a flower vendor on the sidewalk, a couple waiting outside of a bakery, a reflection in a glass window.  That's how it all started, and how I fell in love with photography!

Ruoxi's family contacted me about planning a family session to celebrate the end of their year living in Boston before moving back to Singapore.  She really wanted an album filled with gorgeous & classic Boston portraits before their big move.  I was thrilled to be able to spend a fun morning with this family on the Charles River Esplanade, right across the river from the MIT campus where the husband had studied all year.  Plus, all the trees were in full bloom, making this one of my favorite sessions in the city this year.

Big brother Lucas was so adorable, full of spunk & energy and ready for a big adventure!  His little brother Elliott was eager to do everything that his big brother was doing, and I just loved hanging out with this fun family.  

Aren't the tulips in front of the Hatch Shell the perfect backdrop?

Of course we had to wander over to the docks, my favorite spot on the Charles River.  I just love that gray-blue of the water in these images!  The wind in the boys' hair makes for some fun energy, too!

Who ever said portrait sessions are all about being serious?  A little fun & games makes it memorable!

Did you enjoy this session?  Check out these other sessions in Boston!

A Family Session on Newbury Street

A Mom & Her Girls in Beacon Hill

Looking for a family photographer in Boston?  We're now booking through October!  Use the contact tab above and let's chat!

The Branding Series - Part 2 | Discovering your brand style with Guest Blogger Refinery Original

Welcome to the second post in our Branding Series, geared towards helping creative entrepreneurs delve into the story of why they do what they do, and discover the heart behind their brand so that they can make the best first impression on their potential clients.

Did you miss the first post in our branding series featuring my favorite designer of all time, Erica Clayton of Refinery Original?  Start there!

This week we're talking all about discovering your brand.  Let's be real for a minute...

At one point, every new business owner thinks that a pretty logo and some colors makes up a brand, right?  A few years ago, I was right there with you thinking, "I just need a pretty logo and two colors."

But oooooh, how quickly we learn that your brand is about so much more than that!  Your brand is far from simple -- it is a complex, living, breathing being.  Your brand is who you are.  It is the heart & soul behind your business.  It is your story, and your carefully crafted "why".  It is the first impression you give potential clients -- do you want it to be warm, welcoming, edgy, bold, whimsical, modern, moody?  Your brand can do all of those things, and trust me -- it takes a whole lot more than a logo and some pretty colors to do that!

When I first hired Refinery Original to help me with my rebrand 18 months ago, she had me start gathering visual inspiration for an inspiration board.  I pinned it all on a secret Pinterest board, from fashion to home decor, nursery details, paint chips, and fonts.  

Today on the blog, Erica Clayton of Refinery Original is sharing her tips for creating your own inspiration board to discover the heart behind your brand!  Read all the way to the end for the link to download a PSD template to build your own inspiration board!

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The process of discovery is huge in the design process, one that is often only touched on the surface but holds more weight than any other point in the process. The goal is to capture who you are, what motivates you as a photographer and why you choose to do this day in and day out. With the everyday demands of entrepreneurship, establishing the heart behind your brand keeps you focused and gives purpose to the monotony and expectations. This is the very first step in discovering your brand. Do this and everything else will flow naturally.

Now — the pretty things! The visual elements that make up a brand identity. While heart and narrative play massively into a brand, the visual elements bring your it full circle. 

Step 1: Home

Look at the design pieces you bring into your home, after all, your home is your safe place, the unfiltered expression of who you are and contains the things that draw you in. The artwork, paint colors, furniture pieces, decorations, tile choice, wood colors, etc., your style cuts immediately to the heart of you, which in turn defines your brand. 

Step 2: Nature

Get out and adventure. Walk through the places that inspire you whether it be a garden, the beach, downtown. Wherever you find makes your heart jump in excitement, go there and take note of the colors, textures, patterns you see and the emotions you feel. Those are elements that you want to take note of when you design an inspiration board.

Step 3: Pinterest

Now that you’ve honed in on who you are, you can now peruse Pinterest. I always advise my clients to stay away from pinning other logos and inspiration boards because you begin to morph into someone else’s brand rather than creating your own. Take step 1 and step 2 and beginning pinning images that represent these things. Pin to your hearts content, documenting what each pin speaks to you. Also pin typefaces (fonts) that draw you in but the fun comes when those pins come from items like invitations. At the end of the process, you should have 50+ images that outline your brand visuals. 

Step 4: Build Your Inspiration Board

Filter through your new Pinterest board and look for commonality in your pins, colors, textures, patterns, typefaces, etc. Screenshot 12-15 that have a cohesive feel, open up Photoshop and put them in an inspiration board. If an image doesn't fit the feel of your developing brand, find another that will! Be picky when designing your inspiration board. This will act as a filter for your entire brand!

I hope that helps you narrow down your style! Do the hard work now and everything else will flow naturally.

PS. To help, I’ve included a link to a inspiration board template for you to use when building your very own inspiration board. Download and start designing a brand that’s you!

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Now, before you click into a new window and continue with your day... stop whatever you're doing and enter this giveaway!  Refinery Original is celebrating their rebrand & launch by hosting a giveaway through June 23 with over $3000 in prizes, including a full brand experience, an Ona bag, coaching sessions, Showit subscriptions, and an Instax Mini Polaroid. No purchase necessary — enter here!  www.refineryoriginal.com/celebrate

Ready to do some shopping?  Check out their perfectly designed brand experiences, geared to help you tell your story in the most beautiful way!  These website templates will set you up for success in your rebrand, with incredible savings, too!  Save now with the discount code NICOLE, too!  http://shop.refineryoriginal.com/nicole

Salt Air Sessions: Cape Cod Family Photographer

Memorial Day Weekend always signals the start of summer -- longer days, warmer weather, ice cream trucks, sprinklers, and counting down the days until summer vacation!

Looking ahead at the calendar, I am already planning a few weeks spent enjoying the lazy days of summer on Cape Cod.  This year I am excited to offer exclusive dates for our Salt Air Sessions filled with lots of seaside memories.

There are so many gorgeous beaches on the Cape -- let's make some memories together at your favorite beach!  These are perfect for milestone portraits, first birthdays, immediate family, grandparents, or extended family.  

If you don't have a beach in mind, leave it up to me!  I've been enjoying summers on the Cape for more than 20 years and have so many favorite locations that would be perfect for a fun & playful session with your family.

Your salt air session will include a pre-consultation, a one-hour session at the beach, a sneak peek on social media, and a gallery reveal appointment where we will go through all of the images from your session to create artwork for your home!  Your session will also include two 8x10 fine art prints!

Dates are filling up quickly!  At the time this post was published, these are the remaining dates for our salt air sessions this summer:
June 20, 21
July 26, 27, 28
August 8, 9, 10, 11

Ready to plan your family portrait session?  Let's chat!  These will fill up on a first come, first serve basis, and I'd love to save a date for your family.

**All beach sessions begin at 7pm to catch that perfect golden sunset, and it is best that you reserve two evenings in a row so that we have a rain date available in case the weather does not cooperate.**
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When a Photographer Forgets to Print Her Own Photos.... Or, happy second anniversary!

I debated for awhile on the title of this post.  I wasn't sure if I should make it more about celebrating our second wedding anniversary, or keep it photography-related and tell you how it took me almost TWO YEARS to design & print our wedding album.

So I chose to do both.

You see, I'm just like you and every other person who has countless files of digital images from their own lives.  Tiny JPEGs sitting in a folder on their hard drive, rarely seen and never enjoyed.  And just like you, I had no time to print them.  

But wait, you're a photographer!  Your job is to print photos!

That's true.  I spend my weeks designing albums for other families, ordering boxes & boxes of prints from my photo lab, wrapping up custom birth announcements, and receiving more photo shipments in the mail than I can possibly count.  The UPS guy knows me by name, and I recognize the sound of the delivery truck pulling into my driveway like a dog recognizes their owner's car coming down the street.  

Yet it took me more than a year and a half to finally sit down and design our wedding album after our perfect wedding day in 2015.  Why?  Time.  Indecision.  Distractions.  Procrastination.  Not wanting to begin the task of narrowing down the hundreds and hundreds of photos in our gallery to choose a few favorites to feature in our album.  You know, all the same reasons it takes you forever to print your own photos, right?  

But I finally did it.  And now we have a leather-bound keepsake of our beautiful day surrounded by our closest family & friends on a brick patio with twinkly lights and rustling leaves overhead.  It is so perfect, and as Jeff & I celebrate our second wedding anniversary today, you can bet we'll be flipping through the pages of our wedding album to relive the day we said "I do."  

A huge thank you to Hope Taylor Photography for capturing our day so beautifully.  P.S.  I know you didn't offer albums to your clients two years ago, but I'm so happy that you do now because this is definitely a task that all newlyweds should leave to their photographer so that they can enjoy their heirloom albums right away!  

Print your photos, friends!  #printsnotpixels

Luca James | A Lifestyle Newborn Session at Home with Boston Lifestyle Photographer

I will never grow tired of being invited into a new family's home to capture the quiet moments that naturally unfold as they welcome their baby into their family.  Lifestyle newborn sessions are truly magical, and it's always such an honor to be invited into a family's home to cuddle with their new baby and to celebrate this new chapter of their story.  

World, meet Luca James.

He is clearly the coolest baby ever because he has robot sheets.  And also, look at how tiny this little guy is!  Luca couldn't wait to meet his mother, and he arrived early, which meant we got to enjoy his teeny tiny newborn freshness even sooner than planned!

This little corner of Lisa's home was filled with so much beautiful light.  I always love finding spots in families' homes that have gorgeous light and that truly tell their story.  Lisa has done a lot of traveling, and the walls were filled with pictures from her travels and photos of friends.  She has had such an adventurous life, and Luca James is her next big adventure!    

Grandma was visiting, and I couldn't resist snapping a three-generation portrait!  Luca was pretty happy about it, too -- do you see his little wink here?

We've had so many lifestyle newborn sessions lately, and it truly makes my heart happy to capture these intimate moments at home!  Check out a few more favorites here on the blog:

Harrison: A Lifestyle Family Session with Blogger of A Modest Life

Catherine: A Lifestyle Session in Charlestown, Boston

Charlie: A Lifestyle Session in the South End

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!

The Branding Series - Part 1 | Thoughts on rebranding & an interview with designer Erica Clayton of Refinery Original

Ohhhh, this post has been a long time coming!  

If you've been following along with our bimonthly business newsletters & blog posts, you know by now that I truly love sharing lessons I've learned along the way as a creative entrepreneur & baby photographer.  Today's blog post is extra special, and it's truly an inside look at one of the  best changes I have ever implemented in the past 5 years of business!

Only one and a half years ago, I had a website that didn't work, a generic logo from Etsy, packaging that didn't match anything else, and no other client touchpoints to really "wow" the families that I worked with.  That sounds pretty awful, right?
 

At the end of 2015, I knew that I needed professional help to not only define my brand, but elevate my brand's visual presence to the luxury & boutique feel that I was moving towards in my business.  With the broken website that I hadn't managed to fix on my own after more than a year of a malfunctioning landing page (because let's face it, coding and web design is so NOT my forte, but it is a definite strength for other individuals!),  I knew that it was time to seek a web designer & branding specialist to help me out!  

In January of 2016, I started working with Erica Clayton of Refinery Original.  We worked together to do a complete rebrand of my business.  I knew that my website & brand was not truly reflecting who I am and the service I wanted to provide to the families that I work with, but I felt completely stuck.  Honestly, I didn't even know where to begin!  

Erica sent me an incredibly detailed questionnaire, and we had a few FaceTime calls to get started and get to know each other.  This woman must have the most incredible intuition and be truly amazing at reading people and their goals, because somehow she was able to take me from being lost in a sea of ideas to narrowing it down the create the most perfect vision that would direct me in my business... and all of that happened in about 3 weeks!  

I spent hours on Pinterest searching for anything that inspired me -- fabrics, kitchens, quotes, clothing, fonts, paint colors, jewelry, home decor.  I sent her links to web layouts that inspired me, and pages upon pages of content for the website.  Through all of that mess of ideas (as you know, us creative spirits can be a bit messy sometimes!), Erica was able to see the threads of consistency that wove them all together -- a little bit of whimsy, a touch of femininity, the innocence of childhood, just a hint of sparkle, and a whole lot of emphasis on STORYTELLING.  What she came up with blew me away, and I remember thinking, "Wow, so THAT is what Nicole Starr Photography should look like!" the very first time she sent me my inspiration board, below:

But still, after the inspiration board I remember thinking, "Now how exactly is that going to be translated into everything I do in my business?  What does that look like?"  She figured it all out, and it was such a smooth process as she created my logo, website, and collateral pieces.  She frequently paused to ask me for more info on this part or that part, images for this section, or to really dig deeper into the heart and the WHY behind another part of the brand.

I loved the entire process, and I had never been as proud of anything I've done with my business as I was when it was officially #NSPLaunchDay.  Finally, I was able to present the heart behind Nicole Starr Photography to the world in a way that I knew truly represented who I am, why I do what I do, and the type of experience I always aim to deliver to the families that I work with.

Back in January of 2016, I thought then that launching was the best part.  But I discovered that, as cheesy as it sounds, the best truly was yet to come!  

It's been one and a half years since I launched my new brand, and I am so pleased to say that it is now ever stronger than it was when we launched -- and I looooooved it back then, but I love it even more now that I've been able to grow into it!  That's what you want, right?  To create a business that represents who you are in such a way that you'll be able to grow into it for years to come!  

Ever since we launched I've carried the design elements that Erica dreamt up for me into my newsletter, my social media pages, my product offerings, and my packaging.  My album designs and birth announcements even show those elements that represent my business, right down to having the same two recognizable fonts on every piece of written material that ever goes out from me.  Everything goes together so beautifully, and it's now so much easier to create something new since I already know my fonts, colors, and layouts that work together for the best first impression!  

Rebranding professionally truly has made my life as a business owner so much easier.  I have created countless pieces of printed & digital marketing materials, and I now consider every little detail from the size, colors, and font, right down to what kind of paper they are printed on. 

Over the past 18 months, I have been at multiple events where I had potential clients comment on the look & feel of my marketing materials, be left breathless when going through my products (that is seriously such a compliment and I am so honored when that happens!), and others even tell me later on that the reason that sealed the deal and they decided to book me was because of how professionally I had presented everything to them.  Every time that happens I write Erica a quick little note to thank her again for her services, because I know that I never would have been able to do this on my own!

So today, I wanted to welcome Erica Clayton of Refinery Original to the blog as our guest blogger.  We are going to start a series of blog posts this summer focused on discovering & defining your brand, and Erica is here to get us started!  Check back in every two weeks for the next post in our series, or sign up for the newsletter to have the post delivered directly to your inbox!

So now, please meet Erica, my favorite designer who has a big heart for helping creative entrepreneurs make an incredible first impression!  (P.S.  She's also a member of The Rising Tide Society, one of the ways in which we first connected!)

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I’m Erica Clayton, the designer behind Refinery Original. We are a husband + wife team, he’s the visionary with the big dreams and plans to get there and I am the designer that takes the vision for our business and our clients’ businesses and bring them into a cohesive brand.  Or rather, he’s the brains, I’m the beauty. Our ultimate goal is to support, educate and CELEBRATE creative entrepreneurs. 

 

Tell us about you and your family:

We were married young, he was 22, I was 21 and we quickly grew our family over the last 10 years {we celebrate our 10 year anniversary in a couple weeks!!!}. We have 5 incredible kids — our girls, Noah (8), Shea (6) and Tatum (5) and our boys — Diesel (3) and Lincoln (1). People think we’re crazy for having so many but I wouldn’t have it any other way! They may drive us crazy sometimes but it’s worth every minute, even with every fight, every fit and every failure, there is always a victory in the end. We, as parents especially, and them as our kids, simply have to persevere {perseverance is a huge part of our family mission statement}. 

As a family, we are avid roadtrippers, like drive across the country in 3 days roadtrippers. A few summers ago, we conquered a 48 state road trip in 3 weeks. If you ever get the opportunity, do it. The sights and differences in topography are incredible. We also love adventure {hence roadtripping} and we try and make a new adventure happen every couple weeks. It’s a time for building our relationship as a family and our legacy as parents. Those times of motivation when hiking up a 700 foot waterfall with our then 5 and 3 year old and seeing their faces when they reach the top and feel like they conquered the world — that is when character is built and they view victory as attainable.

We are coffee connoisseurs, our current favorite is Kicking Horse Cliff Hanger {buy it on Amazon, it’s robust flavor is unrivaled}. More than the flavor, we enjoy coffee because of the feelings and emotions that are derived from a cup of coffee, comfort, warmth, nostalgia, safety, all the good feels in one cup. Also, Sunday dinners are our favorite, they include opening our home to our friends and family for a home cooked meal {I love cooking!} all in an effort to create a safe haven and opportunity for fellowship. Through our 10 years of marriage, we have found that all good conversation and growth happens over food or a cup of coffee, combine the two and you’re in for a sweet, satisfying time.

Tell us about your business, and your favorite types of client experiences:

I could talk about our family for days because I just love them so much and they are fun in abundance but let’s get down to business {to defeat the Huns — Mulan fans?}. We started branding and website design 7 years ago. After years of navigating the entrepreneurial world, we honed in on our target audience, nailed down our services and watched our business grow in ways we only dreamed of. Working with creative entrepreneurs not only made the design aspect of our business fun because I had beautiful images to work with but it made the nitty gritty business side of our company enjoyable because creatives appreciate the time and effort that goes into creating a brand. It’s not something slapped together, it takes thought, precision, and craft to take someone’s visions, dreams and goals and bring them into a visual reality. 

The client experience is the bread and butter of everyone’s business. It is in a sense, free marketing. Make the client experience something that leaves your client with jaw dropped — you can double down on the fact that they’ll be sharing your name with everyone they know. My absolute favorite part of the client experience is the feelings that rise up in your client. #1 goal — leave them with all the good feelings and they’ll never forget your experience. Brand visuals, gifts, collateral all go into creating that unforgettable client experience but the greatest component of your client experience is YOU. The way you interact with them, the communication, the support, the joy, that is the definition of your brand. 

You truly have a magical way of connecting with your clients & tapping into who they really are to represent that in their websites and branding.  How do you do that?:

When designing alongside my clients, we dive deeper than just the pretty things they think they want. We go into their goals, the dreams they have, the legacy they want to leave. We get to the root of their story. Your story is where it all began, what drives you, what will keep you motivated when the trials of business come. It’s your why and the most important step when developing your brand. Establish your why and everything else will follow. 

I have included a short tutorial, The Refining Process, for you that will walk you through. These 3 simple steps will help you narrow down your why, your ideal client and how you’ll deliver your why to your ideal client. So — we go into their why and evolve from there, sorting through aesthetics, creating content that makes an impact and tells a story, curating a cohesive portfolio and choosing collateral piece that only further enhance the client experience. From your first touch point to the last and even years beyond, your brand should be strong and cohesive, always delivering a story. 

What advice do you have for photographers or business owners who are looking to get started with developing a brand for the first time?

There is so much that goes into developing and designing a brand but when it comes down to it, telling a story is the greatest thing you can do. People are consumers, they consume content. You want your content/your story to be one they can’t get enough of. Outline your story, make a plan of deliverance and put it into motion. 

You don’t need a completely custom website design to build a strong brand and honestly, if you are just starting out, your money can be spent better elsewhere {like marketing} BUT you do need a logo and website and it is ALWAYS better if it is aesthetically pleasing! 

With creative entrepreneurs in mind, I have designed prebuilt brands and websites that can be customized for your business. This alleviates the need for a $5000+ budget and puts a powerful, beautiful tool in the hands of those with more conservative budgets. On June 2, Refinery Original will be launching 7 new brand experiences, from the logo to website to collateral, all cohesive, all gorgeous. Follow along with us for more details about our launch {it’s going to be a big one!} and if you sign up for our newsletter, you’ll get first access to our designs with an exclusive subscriber discount.

I’ll close with this, establish who you are in your business, how best your business can serve others and how you can deliver an incredible experience and you are set with the essentials of a growing business. 

REFINERY ORIGINAL

www.refineryoriginal.com

Instagram: @refineryoriginal

Facebook: Refinery Original

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I would love for you to have an amazing experience digging into the heart & soul behind your brand, and to work with a designer who will help you make the very best first impression with your potential clients.   Just because we're photographers & business owners, doesn't mean we're good at web design and branding and every other task that we take on as creative entrepreneurs.  

Take my advice, and hire a professional who surpasses all of your expectations!  If you're thinking of working with Erica, please let her know that I sent you!  Be sure to follow her page for info on the exciting new templates she is launching on June 2, too!

The next post in our Branding Series is coming on Monday, June 5!  Check back then to learn all about discovering your branding style!

A Studio Newborn Session with Tulips - Boston Newborn Photographer

You know how some things were just meant to be, and certain paths were meant to lead people together?  I 100% believe in that, and it rang true with sweet little Brynley Marie's newborn session at our Attleboro portrait studio.

Right before her session I headed to the florist to pick up some fresh blooms for Brynley's session.  After a streak of one newborn boy after another, I was excited to bring some pretty florals in for a baby girl.  I knew I wanted tulips, and there were only two colors there that day: pink or yellow.  I went with the pink, and I'm so glad I did!  Read on to hear the full story.  

When Brynley's mother walked into the studio and saw the little setup with our pink tulips, I turned around right as I heard her exclaim, "Oh my god, pink tulips!" 

Although we had never talked about this in our pre-consultation, the fates aligned as Jill told me the story of pink tulips in her life.  When Jill (baby Brynley's mother) was born, her aunt brought her a bouquet of pink tulips in the hospital.  Every year after that, her mother gave her pink tulips on her birthday.  When Brynley was born, the excited new grandmother brought pink tulips into the hospital to welcome her granddaughter into the world.  And then at her newborn portrait session, I coincidentally also had pink tulips for this sweet baby girl!

Truly, it couldn't have been more perfect!

We didn't stop with just tulips!  This springtime baby enjoyed lots of beautiful florals in her session, and I am in LOOOOOOOVE with the portraits that we created in the studio.  Brynley was nice and sleepy, which allowed us to capture these sweet poses all curled up and dreamlike.

Capturing portraits of the new mommy & daddy is always one of my favorite parts of our newborn sessions.  It's so magical to be able to see yourself through someone else's eyes, capturing the swirl of emotions that you're feeling during your first days as a family of three.  These are portraits that you're going to come back to year after year, when your baby no longer curls up in your arms or comes to you asking you to kiss their boo-boo.  

Many years from now when they are all grown up, your baby will have a baby of their own.  And you know what they'll want to see, hear, and know?  What life was like for YOU as a new parent when you welcomed them into your family.  They will want to connect with you and share in this life-changing experience with you.  These family portraits are the very beginning of their story, and they are worth capturing every single time.  

I tell all of the moms & dads that I work with -- get in the picture.  You will never, ever regret it.

Check out a few of our recent studio newborn sessions!  

Killian's Cream & Gray Newborn Session

Blake Vivian's Nautical Newborn Session

We are now booking newborns at our Saratoga Springs & Attleboro studios, and the best time to book is during your second trimester.  Be sure to reserve your spot early as we do fill up quickly!

Welcome home, Harrison! A Lifestyle Newborn Session with "A Modest Life" - Boston Newborn Photographer

Oh my goodness, these lifestyle sessions have my whole heart!

Our Spokesmama, Robyn Racheotes of www.amodestlife.com, invited me into her home to celebrate the arrival of her second son, Harrison.  Robyn's Instagram account is filled with beautiful images of her home -- lots of airy light, nautical details, the most perfectly styled shelves, and lots and lots of stripes.  When she mentioned that she'd love to do a lifestyle newborn session at home, I was thrilled to join them in this cozy & beautiful space to capture so many moments together!

Aren't newborn cuddles the best?  Robyn & Pete were so in love with their little boy!

This family loves spending their free time at the beach on Cape Cod, so of course it was important to capture all of those beachy details in the nursery.  Aren't these board books the cutest?!?!

Newborn sessions with a toddler at home always keep me on my toes as a photographer -- we have to act quick to capture the perfect shots with an active toddler who is just getting used to the idea of not being the baby of the family anymore.  Nicholas was so excited about his baby brother.  He wanted to cuddle & kiss the baby at full speed, the same way that toddlers explore their whole world.  The moments that we capture with a toddler are always short & sweet, but they perfectly portray this stage that they're in while welcoming their new sibling home!

Congratulations to your sweet family, Robyn!  I can't wait to watch the boys grow together as they discover how awesome it is to have a brother!

Want to be inspired?  Go follow A Modest Life for your daily dose of pretty food, travel, decor, and motherhood!

Killian's Studio Newborn Session - Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

April was the month that it rained babies here at our Saratoga Springs boutique portrait studio, and I was getting phone calls from new moms every few days letting me know that their little one had arrived.  It was truly such a magical month, and I am so grateful for all of the baby cuddles that I got to enjoy, and the incredible moments I was lucky enough to capture of new moms & dads welcoming their babies into their families.

Killian came to the studio for his portrait session, and I had so much fun with his mom & dad.  They were absolutely amazing and relaxed the entire time, and we spent the three-hour session getting to know one another, learning about their jobs, the dad's tattoos (such a cool story behind those!), and a very unique baby company that makes gear that this police officer dad loves.  I always enjoy when the clients I work with make it so easy to pass a few hours together during the session, and then we get together a few weeks later for the gallery reveal and it's like old friends sharing the baby's images together.  Really, how did I luck out with such incredible clients?  

But of course, Killian was the star of the session.  He has the sweetest little lips, and soft hair that is blonde in some spots -- I see so few blonde newborns, so it's always a treat when one comes to the studio!  He absolutely loved the Huck Finn pose (below), and was super comfy in this adorable hand-knit romper that I just recently added to the studio collection.  

This sweet little boy slept so well during his session, and he was the perfect little model for us!  There were soft "oooooh, how cute!" cries the moment this bear bonnet went on, and he loved it so much that he couldn't help but give us a cute little smile!

Oftentimes parents like to bring a small sentimental item to use during their session -- a handmade blanket passed down from great grandma, a medal from a marathon mom ran while newly pregnant, an item that represents one of their careers.  Killian's dad brought his police badge & hat to use during the session -- he's with the Schenectady Police Department.  I love how we were able to capture a few images of Killian holding his dad's police badge!  

When his dad told me the significance behind his tattoos (every single item represents a family member and the story behind the entire sleeve is truly amazing!), I knew that we had to incorporate this visual family history into his portraits.  This may be one of my favorite dad & baby images we've capture so far this year!  

And of course, his mama was absolutely radiant and so happy to have her little baby boy cuddled up in her arms.  I love being able to capture these moments that show parents in their first days of parenthood, getting to know their little one.  It really is magical!  

Thank you for such an incredible session together!  I look forward to seeing Killian again this year as he grows!

If you're looking for a newborn portrait photographer, we are now booking through October 2017!  I would love to chat with you to plan your session.  Check out our three unique types of sessions through the link below, and use the contact tab to get in touch!

A Rainbow Cake Smash for Lucas | Boston Cake Smash Photographer

Sometimes our cake smash sessions are SUPER COLORFUL (like this Very Hungry Caterpillar cake smash here!).  When Lucas' mom told me that she wanted bright rainbow colors in her son's cake smash, I was thrilled to find a creative way to develop this set in a whimsical way without overpowering her sweet little boy.  Some balloons, garland, and a felt banner did the trick!  Oh, and lots and lots of sprinkles on his birthday cake!  His parents own an ice cream shop, so how could we not include sprinkles?  

This sweet little birthday boy wore the cutest striped romper from June and January, and I just love how well it coordinated with his set.  Plus, it was simple and playful, and perfect for a little baby boy.  By the way... he LOVED his cake.  

This is definitely my favorite shot as he's reaching for his first bite of cake, and I love how he is suspended in midair with those bright blue sparkling eyes looking right at me.  

Lucas' big sister, Ella, came and joined in the fun.  She was so excited to show her brother how to eat his cake like a puppy dog, and she really got into it.  There were sprinkles everywhere, and we loved every second of watching these two sweet little siblings interact.  

Of course, all of our birthday sessions also include family photos, and we had so much fun playing and laughing together to capture some fun memories for this family to enjoy.  Want to see how much Lucas has grown?  Check out his lifestyle newborn session here on the blog to see this cutie when he was only a few days old!  Even back then, his big sister was so sweet and attentive!

Photographer Education Post: Lessons Learned from a Failed Hard Drive

The unthinkable happened to me.  Every photographer’s worst nightmare:  my external hard drive bit the dust.  It was a Friday afternoon, and I had just sat down to edit my very last session after an incredibly productive week filled with too many sessions to count, travel, and lots and lots of editing.  I was in such a good mood because my to do list was dwindling right before my eyes.  I only had one thing left to cross off on the entire list, and it was to edit one final session from the week…  
 

And then my hard drive failed me.


My hard drive tipped over on its side, right on top of my desk.  It didn’t fall off the desk, it didn’t shatter, it didn’t get dropped down a flight of stairs.  It just tipped over, but it was as awful as it would have been if I had dropped it out a window.  It started emitting those dreadful clicking noises and my computer didn’t recognize it was plugged in anymore. 

I panicked.

I tried restarting it.

I yelled.  

I tried plugging it into a different computer.

I definitely screamed a few choice words.

And I was almost in tears when I called customer service.

But you know what?  Only 48 hours later and I still had no idea yet if the data recovery people would be able to salvage anything on my hard drive.  During those 48 hours I decided to be proactive and fix/save/re-do everything that I could.  So that two days after the incident, I had already resolved everything that had sent me into a tailspin when the hard drive crashed. After all that worrying, everything worked out completely fine in the end.  So what happened???

This tiny little catastrophe has forced me to look at my workflow and make a few changes.  I have figured out a much safer system for backing up my files to hopefully prevent this from ever happening again.  And honestly, I went the easiest route possible because this is the most tedious part of my workflow and one that I would rather avoid — give me all of the pretty creative things, because I just don’t have the patience to deal with technical tidbits.  

After my experience with my failed hard drive, I wanted to share a post on what to do when your hard drive ever fails you -- let's be honest, it's not IF your hard drive fails, it's WHEN.  You always think, "That will never happen to me."  But it will happen.  And I want to share with you how you can prepare your workflow now to prevent a total meltdown and loss of files, clients, and sales when this inevitably occurs.

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First I have to say, there is not one “right” or “wrong” way to do anything.  This method works for me right now, and I’m sure I will change it as time goes by.  Take what you’d like from this post, and I hope it helps you take a good, long look at your workflow to see where any gaps might be so that you always have a solid backup plan in place.

Prepare for the worst case scenario with every single session.  You never know what is going to happen — your hard drive could tip over on your desk and just stop working on a Friday afternoon like mine did!  Follow these tips to always keep your images safe! 

Tip 1:  Don’t reformat those SD cards yet!

Keep all images on your memory card until you have delivered the final gallery to your clients.  This saved me.  Luckily I still had every single recent session on my SD cards so that I could go back, transfer the RAW files again, cull, and edit.  Yes, I wasted time having to go back and do all of this work again, but I was so grateful that those images were still there.

Tip 2: Have a backup to your backup.

I own two external hard drives where I am storing all of my 2017 sessions.  Honestly, I didn’t used to do this, but a friend walked me through her storage process last year after I had spent a very, very long time worrying about what would happen if my one lonely hard drive ever malfunctioned.  So now I have two just for this year, and they are set up to mirror image one another once a week.  My problem this time was that they hadn’t mirror imaged each other yet the week this all went down, so all the work I had done that week was gone.  Clearly I need to change that setting and make it happen more often now!  Once I get my hard drive back from the manufacturer, this will be the first thing I do!

Tip 3:  And then back them all up online. 

I had been putting off setting up an online storage account that a friend kept recommending to me, and the instant my hard drive failed I was kicking myself for not doing it sooner.  But then I realized that a few of my “missing” galleries were actually saved online in Shootproof because my clients had requested online access for a few days to finalize their orders that we discussed in person.  This was a total lifesaver, and I had all of those high-res, beautifully edited JPEGs ready to download because they were backed up in Shootproof.  I plan on upgrading my account to the unlimited version, and I now upload every single gallery to Shootproof just for storage after I edit the session.  First I save them to my external drive, then I backup to the backup external drive, then I upload to Shootproof.  They are in THREE locations.  Since I do IPS, I rarely use these galleries for clients to view, but now it will serve as an online library for me in case I ever need it again.

Tip 4:  Allow yourself some grace.

You know the saying, “under promise and over deliver”?  In this industry, many of us live by this motto, and I truly believe it is so important to always wow your clients every step of the way.  

So when we tell our clients their images will be ready in two weeks, we’re really trying to set up their gallery reveal for 1-1.5 weeks from now so that they feel like we made their experience our top priority.  I do this all the time with every single client!  But sometimes you need to build in a buffer on the calendar and allow yourself a few extra days just in case you need to edit those images again, or in case you order proofs from your lab and there is a delay in shipping.  

When my hard drive crashed, I had not yet started setting up my gallery reveal appointments for the sessions I had finished editing that week.  This gave me a little breathing room when it came time to re-edit everything.  Thankfully the clients still enjoyed their gallery reveal sessions n the promised amount of time, with just as many images as they would have received the first time around.  My portrait clients will never even know that there was a glitch on my end because I was able to fix it in two days by following all of the advice I’m including in this post.  Yes, I had to give up half of my weekend to recover everything, but now it’s all done and I can breathe easy again.  Allow yourself some grace.  This way you can still over deliver to your clients and continue to wow them every step of the way, even if the unthinkable happens.  

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If you follow steps similar to those above, you should be all set if your hard drive ever does crash, malfunction, tip over, or just fail.  But if you find yourself in my situation where you are panicked, possibly yelling, and wondering how in the world you’re ever going to work through all of your sessions again, here is one other tip that sped up my re-editing process and truly saved me hours of work as I went through these sessions for the second time.  

Make culling & editing easier the second time around with 2 computer screens.

Since I had already chosen my final images the first time around, I simply opened Lightroom on my laptop, where all of the “missing” images were still able to be viewed, just not downloaded or edited.  Then I opened Lightroom on my desktop with the new RAW files and marked them one at a time based off of the file numbers that I could view on my other screen.  This cut my culling time down immensely, and I was able to re-cull all of that week’s galleries in record time.

Same thing for editing!  I had made a couple of very particular tweaks to my images because of difficult lighting or skin tones — anyone that works with newborns knows that a lot of work goes into correcting the skin tone of a baby who has jaundice!  Rather than reinvent the wheel and edit everything from scratch, I was able to view the changes in the Develop module of Lightroom on my laptop, and make those exact same changes on one image at a time on the images on my desktop.  I still had to go in and do certain tedious tasks in Photoshop, but because I had already done them once before this week, they were very fresh in my mind and they didn’t take long at all.

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So there you go!  I hope you never need these tips, but if you do, I hope you'll find them helpful!  Enjoy a few more blog posts written just for photographers here:

A Month of Content Ideas for Social Media

A Guest Blog Post by Jessi Metzger: Why Work with a Mentor?

Why I Decided to Invest in my Baby Photography Business

4 Essential Props for a Baby Photography Studio

What to Wear for Your Family Portrait Session this Spring

Do you have a portrait session coming up this spring or summer, and you're wondering what to wear?  OR, have you been putting off a portrait session because you're worried you'll never find matching outfits for everybody?  

Stop worrying, and let me help you!

Long gone are the days of matchy-matchy outfits -- come on, you know what I'm talking about!  White button down shirts and blue jeans on every member of the family, or black tops and khaki pants on every single person.  That style is incredibly dated, and it's no fun at all!  That's not how you normally dress in real life, so why should that be how you dress in your portraits?

When we plan a custom portrait session together, I want to create images for you that reflect who you truly are.  I want to show your personality, your unique style, and to give you artwork that will complement your home decor so that you can proudly hang your favorite memories over the sofa or in your hallway.  I want your portraits will blend in seamlessly and complement your space & your decor.  

This post is filled with ideas on what to wear, and you can find many more looks including easy ways to shop what you see in the images over on our Pinterest board.     Looking for even more ideas, along with some photo inspiration?  Check out this blog post from 2015 to see perfectly styled sessions with some of my favorite clients!

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Choose 2-3 colors, including a neutral color, and use a little bit of it in everybody's outfit!  Here we're selecting from shades of blue and gray to coordinate everyone's clothing.

Keep your fabrics similar!  If mom is wearing a linen sundress, then you don't want dad to be in a sweater and heavy jeans!  Actually, have you noticed that none of these inspiration boards include jeans?  Fitted dress pants look great on dads, and they definitely give your portraits a much dressier, classier look!  Try shaking things up with a look that's a little bit different from your everyday jeans, and you might just love it!  Layers also look amazing in portraits -- a vest on your son will be so adorable over a button down or a T-shirt!

While I don't recommend everyone wearing solid white, it's a nice addition to any wardrobe compilation!  Here the texture on the dress keeps it interesting, as does the pattern on the little sister's leggings.  Play with patterns and texture to give your wardrobe more personality -- the more you have, the more you will love your images!

Think of the location we're going to be shooting in, and also think of your complexion & hair color.  Choose a color palette that flatters you and that you feel comfortable and confident in.  Blush and cream doesn't suit everyone, and some women look stunning in vibrant jewel tone colors!  Go with what works for you, and let me know how I can help you pull all of the outfits together!

Be daring!  Have a little fun with patterns.  Spring is the perfect time to incorporate floral patterns into your outfits for a family portrait session, and there's nothing I love more than seeing a mom completely rocking it in her floral print dress.  If you love it, wear it!  Then choose a few colors from that design and base the other family members' outfits on those colors to coordinate.  Below, we chose the coral, gray, and white from the dress to use in everyone else's outfits.

Last but not least, if we're going to be shooting outside anywhere other than the beach, don't forget the shoes!  Your perfectly styled outfit will look just a little bit "off" when your son's everyday-wear fluorescent green light-up sneakers are paired with his gray & blue vested outfit.  Simple, neutral shoes are best to protect your feet during the session, but be sure everyone tries their shoes on and wears them around for at least 1-2 hours before the day of your session to ensure that they fit comfortably.

After all of that beautiful inspiration, are you ready to book your family portrait session?  We're now booking for the spring and summer, and I would love to capture some gorgeous memories for your family -- perfectly styled, of course!  
 

A Relaxed Newborn Session at Home in Charlestown | Boston Lifestyle Photographer

Welcome home, Catherine Grace.

Your mommy & daddy loved you long before they brought you home from the hospital, and they were beaming with pride and joy holding you in those first few days after you were born.  There are always these moments of awe that take your breath away when you look at a family that has just gone from 2 to 3, and this sweet little family was no exception.

I loved getting to visit Catherine's family at their home in Charlestown for a lifestyle newborn portrait session.  It was a warm spring day, and their home was filled with soft sunlight peeking in through the curtains, with Boston's old brick buildings just outside the windows.  Inside, the three of them cozied up together, the new mommy and daddy cuddling their fresh baby girl.  

She was a dream baby, so sleepy and calm.  We captured so many yawns and smiles from this adorable little girl during her newborn session!

She was also my most smiley newborn to date.  Normally we're lucky if we capture one smile in a session -- Catherine gave us FOUR smiles, all of them captured on camera.  With her beautiful smiles and that full head of hair, she is gorgeous!

I'm now booking lifestyle sessions through October in Saratoga Springs & Boston!  Please contact me today and let's plan your baby's welcome home session!  

A Stylized Portrait Session for Mom & Four Children - Saratoga Springs Photography Studio

Do you know what's coming up this weekend?  Our Celebrating Motherhood event in Boston!  

I am so excited to capture lots of beautiful, candid, and truly breathtaking moments shared between moms and their little ones.  I'm looking forward to pampering them with hair & makeup by Tiffany Cantin, HMUA of Six Bay Road Salon.  I can't wait to watch moms, babies & grandmas come together for three-generation memory-making.  And I'm truly looking forward to watching the REAL moments unfold...

Like this one: 

Baby Sister knows that all eyes are on her and she is the star of the show!

April came to the studio for her Celebrating Motherhood session with her four children.  She's also a photographer, but has very few portraits of her with all of her babies, and she was thrilled at the opportunity to capture them all together in this moment.  I just love the way her daughter snuggled up against her, and the way her oldest son was so serious when the camera came out, turning those soulful eyes towards me.  Her younger son was an absolute blast, so funny and full of energy.  And baby girl was just so happy, knowing that everyone in her family was going to give her cuddles, tickles, and sweets throughout the session.

The pink gown that Mia wore is an absolute favorite of mine.  I rented it just for this session, and now I'm scouring websites to find one to add to our studio collection.  It's the perfect twirling dress, don't you think?

Mom and her boys.  One day they will tower over her.  One day their voices will be deep and melodic, and she'll no longer be able to fit them on her lap.  One day they'll be scooping her up into great big hugs in their strong arms.  But today, she's enjoying every bit of their childhood while it lasts!  

This last little outtake is a favorite of mine from their session!  Are you ready for the story behind the image?  

Our Saratoga Springs studio is on the whole first floor of our home.  April's family was in the studio in the late afternoon, and I heard the front door open and close when my husband Jeff came home from work.  I called him downstairs, and he popped his head in to say hello.  Before he came in, baby sister was all over the place in typical toddler fashion.  But the moment Jeff walked into the room, she stopped, completely mesmerized.  We were able to capture the image above within seconds of him coming into the studio, and when he went to leave, the image below is what happened next!  She didn't want him to leave, and ran towards him with her arms wide open searching for a hug!  ;o)   It's definitely my favorite outtake of 2017!

Just a few spots left for this weekend's Celebrating Motherhood portrait sessions!  I'll be in Attleboro on May 6, and in Saratoga Springs on May 20.  Click below to reserve your session!

Did you love this motherhood session?  
Check out a few more recent favorites on the blog, too!

A Springtime Mommy & Me Session

Portraits of Motherhood