How to Know if a Lifestyle Newborn Session is the Right Fit for You - Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

Are you thinking you'd love to celebrate your newborn baby's arrival with some family portraits at home?  Then a lifestyle session might be the right fit for you!  If you've been wondering which style of newborn session is best for your family, read on to learn more about our lifestyle sessions to see if this one feels like it was designed with you in mind!

I offer three types of newborn sessions -- studio sessions, lifestyle sessions in your home, and Fresh 48 sessions at the hospital.  Each one tells a different story, and gives you a different style of images.  Some families choose to do just one session, others do a combination of two (typically Fresh 48 and then either lifestyle or studio), and still others do all three!

Fresh 48 sessions are natural, raw, and filled with emotion.  They are a peek into your first hours meeting your newborn baby, and they are filled with some of the most magical moments I ever have the pleasure of photographing.  Sure, the hospital decorating choices might leave a little to be desired, and you're going to be exhausted because you just delivered a baby the day before, but these are moments you will never get back and you will always cherish.  Check out our blog post about why you might want to consider hiring a Fresh 48 photographer.

Studio sessions are a bit more posed, and we'll capture family portraits on a clean background, positioning the baby so that we can perfectly see everyone's face.  We do a few setups on the beanbag with blankets and wraps, and also use simple bowls, baskets, and crates to tuck your baby into for some classic shots.  If you're looking for "froggy pose" or "taco pose", this type of session is probably the best fit for you!  Check out our blog post about studio sessions to see if this might be the right fit for you!

But today is all about LIFESTYLE newborn sessions in your home!

1.  You have lots of natural light in your home.

Photographs are made with light -- you need light to create an image, and it's incredibly hard to do that in a home with tiny windows and dark rooms.  I always bring my flash to supplement the light if necessary, but if your home has a room or two that receives good natural light, we'll shoot there!  We typically look at the master bedroom, nursery, and living room, though I've been known to shoot in the hallway, on the porch, and in the kitchen if there's a great bit of light coming through!

2.  You prefer a more relaxed, natural, unposed style of family images.

Lifestyle sessions are a relaxed and intimate peek into your lives with a new baby at home.  I won't pose you, but I will guide you -- sit together on the bed, move in close, look down at your baby girl.  I will ask you questions to loosen you up, and I will encourage you to relax and feel comfortable in front of the camera.  I won't tell you how to hold the baby in your arms -- you'll do that however is naturally comfortable for you!  I may tell you to lean in close, bring the baby closer to your face, or to look over at your husband for a quick second -- but that's it in terms of "posing"!

3.  You're not looking for "froggy pose" or a baby in a bucket.

At home, a swaddle is our best friend and most of the images of your baby will be wrapped up snugly so that they sleep.  We may capture a few portraits of the baby in just a diaper on the master bed, or in a classic white onesie in the family portraits.  But we won't be positioning them into any particular poses, and we'll really treat it as very natural and unposed.

4.  You may not be in your forever home yet, but it’s important to you that your baby see where they came home from the hospital.

Many young families are in apartments or condos, and they're not in the home yet that their child will grow up in and remember for the rest of their life.  Still, how amazing to be able to one day show your child beautifully captured images of the first home that they came home to?  Let them see the apartment that you were in as newlyweds and as new parents, let them see what your life looked like when you went from 2 to 3.  

5.  You love portraits filled with emotion.

Photographs are a moment frozen in time, a moment that you will never get back but that you can always relive by looking through your favorite images.  That look that a new dad has when holding his newborn son?  It truly is priceless.  

6.  You want your pets to be involved in the portrait session.

Your fur-baby was your first baby, and so many families would love to capture their ENTIRE family together, including their pets.  Lifestyle sessions are the perfect way to include your dogs or cats in your session, and I am always up for the challenge of dog-wrangling to capture a shot of your baby with your favorite animal.

7.  You’re just as comfortable cuddling up on the sofa as you are on the master bed.

Your home is a living & breathing space filled with personality.  It tells your family's story, and it tells your story as a couple and the adventures you've enjoyed together.  It makes sense to tell the beginning of the next chapter of your story in your home, and that means we'll do your photographs in the rooms that you spend the most time -- the master bedroom, the living room, and the nursery.  You're going to spend so much time rocking your baby to sleep and getting to know your little one on the master bed, and I love capturing a family cuddling in close on the bed for some unposed shots together.  

8.  You put lots of thought & care into decorating the nursery.  You’d love to remember it exactly as it is, and share it with your baby years from now so that they can see their first bedroom.

You spent weeks looking at bedding, mobiles, and curtains.  You spent days pulling everything together, arranging the trinkets on the shelves, and placing each book lovingly on the bookshelf.  You rocked in the rocker and imagined what it would be like holding your baby in your arms in that very room.  You counted down to your baby's arrival in that room, and you'll bring your baby home and into that room the day they come home from the hospital.  Your nursery is the most special place in your home, and it's truly the best possible spot to enjoy your newborn portraits.

Some families don't have a nursery -- it's a corner of the office, or another crib in their toddler's room.  That's okay!  We'll capture some of the details you lovingly put together, and of course your baby in their crib.  In this blog post, some of the nurseries in the photos were shared office spaces or off the living room in little Boston apartments, but at just the right angle you'll have nothing to distract you from your baby and the space you prepared for them!

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So, does a lifestyle session feel like it could be the right fit for you?  Let's chat and find out!  
 

Welcome Lola! A Lifestyle Newborn Portrait Session at Home | Boston Lifestyle Photographer

Honestly, I feel so lucky every time I walk into a new house for a lifestyle session!  My clients have the most beautiful homes and such unique styles, and I adore all of our lifestyle newborn sessions where we get to take a peek into their lives at home!

Meet Lola.

This little sweetheart is already so, so loved.  Her mama & daddy waited a long time for her arrival, and her big sister is over the moon excited!  Big sister Stella loved showing me the nursery, and snuggling up close to Lola in her crib.  She told me how it used to be her room when she was a baby, and her mama showed me all of the sweet little details that went into the decorations -- including a teddy bear that was hers more than 30 years ago when she was born!

When we do our lifestyle sessions, I look for beautiful pockets of natural light in your home.  This settee was in the hallway, and it was the perfect spot for this family of four to cuddle up together with their new baby girl.

Lola fit perfectly in her mama's arms, and she enjoyed so many snuggles from all of her family.  She slept through almost the entire session, but when she did open those sparkling eyes it was pure magic!

Did you love this lifestyle newborn session?  Check out a few more favorites on the blog!

Connor's Light & Airy Lifestyle Newborn Session

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star: A Dreamy Nursery

Harrison's Coastal Lifestyle Session

Sleepy Newborn Photos - Saratoga Springs & Boston Newborn Photographer

Ask any newborn photographer -- there is nothing we love more than a sleepy, cuddly newborn baby!  Those little baby yawns that come right before they slip into what we lovingly call a "milk drunk" state of sleep are the best!  

So why do photographers love sleepy newborn babies so much?  Well, they are much easier to settle into a pose without stretching or startling themselves awake.  For a baby that is just a week or two old, when they are awake they typically want to eat.  Of course, you didn't hire a newborn photographer to capture dozens of photos of your baby eating, so we like a baby to have a full belly and be nice and settled during their session.

When a newborn baby is in a deep sleep during a studio session, it's easy to move them from the beanbag to buckets and other small props to curl them up inside of.  

This also gives your photographer the chance to really slow down and zoom in on all of the details that you don't want to forget -- their perfect pout, the flaky newborn skin on their hands, their tiny toes, and that thin layer of downy newborn hair on their back.

Plus, sleepy newborn smiles are OH-SO-AMAZING!!!

But do newborn babies need to be asleep during their newborn sessions?
No, of course not!  

I actually love it when they're awake for a few shots so that we can capture their sparkly eyes and intense gaze.  Check out yesterday's blog post filled with so many of
our favorite awake newborn images from recent sessions!
 

Wide Awake Newborn Portraits - Saratoga Springs & Boston Newborn Photographer

I'm going to let you in on a little secret...

Whether it's a lifestyle newborn session at home, or a newborn session here in my Saratoga Springs studio, it's not always guaranteed that the baby will fall asleep!  

Of course, newborn sessions go much more smoothly (and quickly!) when the fresh new baby is asleep most of the time.  We're able to pose the baby into those adorable little curled up poses, wrap them in swaddles, unwrap them, and move them from one setup to another without disturbing them.  

But sometimes, babies are curious little things and they like to see everything that is going on around them -- I swear they must be wondering who this girl with the camera is!  So when we have awake babies during a newborn session, we go with the flow and capture their sparkling eyes and their powerful gaze.  And we hope that they eventually fall asleep by using the million-and-one tricks that I have up my sleeve as a newborn photographer to get tiny little babies to fall into Dreamland!

I do love it when we get those wide-eyed shots during our newborn sessions, though!  This typically happens more often during our lifestyle sessions at home, and it's a great opportunity to capture some portraits in their crib, and cuddles with mom & dad.  If we're bringing siblings in (especially toddlers) that is always much easier with an asleep newborn, though!

So many beautiful little babies!  Check back on the blog tomorrow for another post with a few of our favorite SLEEPY newborn shots from recent sessions!

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Did you know that the best time to book your newborn session is in the second or early in the third trimester?  We are now booking newborns for August, September, October, and November, and I would love to plan the perfect session with you!  

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

World, meet Connor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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 Lifestyle Newborn Session in the South End

Oh my goodness!  Going back through this family's images is the perfect way to start my day.  Lifestyle newborn sessions at home have my heart, and I love everything about these tender & intimate peeks into a family's life during their first few days at home with their baby.

Charlie's mom & dad were absolutely glowing with joy as they cuddled their baby boy, rocked him to sleep, fed him halfway through the session, and sang him a few songs that were playing on Pandora during our morning together.  They were not frazzled parents of a newborn baby, but calm & mindful, relaxed & happy.  It was such a refreshing hour together, and I loved this little peek into their lives at home!

One of my favorite things about their condo in the South End of Boston were these great big windows overlooking the city.  Windows like these are a photographer's dream, and it was the perfect backdrop for their family portraits.  

During their session they told me that the moment they saw those windows when they were house hunting, they were sold and they knew that this was their future home.  Well, the moment I saw those windows when Charlie's mom sent me a few pictures of their home in an email, I was also sold and I knew that our session would be absolutely perfect in their home!

Our lifestyle sessions are relaxed and easy as we drift from the nursery, into the living room, and into the master bedroom to capture natural and unposed moments with your baby.  They are going to spend countless hours feeding their baby on the couch, cuddling up in the master bed, and looking out the windows to show their baby boy the cars, trucks, and trees below.  This space will hold so much meaning for their family, and I love that we get to capture these moments for them in this exact same space where Charlie will grow up.

This image below was one of my favorite moments from our morning together.  While I was taking some individual portraits of baby Charlie, I noticed his parents' reflection in the bedroom mirror.  They were looking at him with so much love, awe, and admiration that I couldn't help but sneak them into the photograph, too!

If you loved Charlie's lifestyle newborn session in Boston,
check out a few of my favorite lifestyle sessions on the blog, too!

A Beautiful In-Home Session with Twins

Let Me Call You Sweetheart: A Lifestyle Newborn Session

A Light & Airy Session at Home with Lucas

Let Me Call You Sweetheart: A Lifestyle Newborn Session at Home

Every time a family invites me into their home for a lifestyle session to document this special time when they welcome their newborn baby home, I fall a little bit more in love with my beautiful role as their newborn photographer.  

I truly love these in-home newborn sessions, and each and every one holds a little bit more of my heart than the last one.  These sessions are such an intimate peek into their lives, and I love the stories that unfold during our hour or two together.  Because these sessions take place right in your home, many families feel relaxed, comfortable, and cozy, allowing us to capture natural and candid emotions in their portraits.

This family was no exception.  Baby Altan is so, so loved.  His big brother, Taylan, is already incredibly tender, gentle, and loving with his baby brother.  He wore a proud smile the entire time, and he was very eager to have his turn with the baby.  He gives the best baby kisses & hugs, and he loved telling me how excited he is to teach his baby to play with his zoo animal toys.  Oftentimes it can be so difficult for a toddler or preschooler to adjust to a new baby at home, but Taylan did a phenomenal job during our session and he was truly a little angel.  

He melted my heart when he held his brother in his arms and sang every word of this song to him:

"Let me call you sweetheart,
I'm in love with you.
Let me hear you whisper
That you love me too

Keep the love light glowing
In your eyes so true.
Let me call you sweetheart,
I'm in love with you.”

Another favorite moment from this session was watching mom & dad with their two sons.  They were absolutely glowing with happiness, and it was so beautiful seeing them celebrate their baby’s arrival together.  

If you enjoyed this lifestyle newborn session, you are going to love these ones!  

A Light & Airy Newborn Session at Home

Powerful Love: A Beautiful In-Home Newborn Session with Twins

Since we have a limited number of spots on the calendar for newborns to be able to give our clients all the time & attention they deserve, the very best time to book your newborn session is in the second trimester.  

Check out our three unique types of newborn sessions in the “Sessions” tab above, and email us at hello@nicolestarrphotography.com to plan how we will celebrate your little one’s arrival!

Think your home isn't ideal for your lifestyle newborn session?  You'll rethink that idea after reading this blog post here (Why you don't need a magazine-cover styled home to capture images worthy of a magazine cover at home).

A Nautical Newborn Session at Home: Saratoga Springs & Boston Newborn Photographer

Oh, hey there, little baby.  Aren't you just the cutest thing ever?

Meet Marcelino Patrick.

This little boy was as sweet as can be for the majority of his in-home lifestyle newborn session, and we captured so many adorable photos together!  I just love these two images above with one of the newest hats that I recently added to my collection.  Marcelino has the most perfect profile with his little button nose, and I loved showcasing that in his photos.

Marcelino's mom & dad are head over heels in love with their little boy.  I loved being able to watch them soak up his newborn smell, fawn over his tiny smiles, and cuddle up with him in the nursery that they created just for their little nautical baby boy.

One of the many things that I love to capture when clients invite me into their homes for a lifestyle newborn session is the nursery.  So much time and love goes into preparing this space for your baby's arrival, and it deserves to be documented!  

You have spent nine (plus!) months preparing for your little one's arrival, and countless hours sitting in the nursery and dreaming of what he'll be like once he is here.  This is the room where you will rock him to sleep, read him endless bedtime stories, and watch him grow into a tiny little human right before your very eyes.  This room will be the setting for so many stories in your family's tapestry -- it's worth capturing that on camera.  Plus, let's be honest here... never again will the baby's room be as clean as it is today!

Congratulations on your sweet little boy's arrival!

Thank you for inviting me to capture these beautiful moments for your family.  

A Light & Airy Newborn Session at Home: Lucas Matthew

Baby toes.  I am completely obsessed with baby toes.  

Itty bitty legs kicking, tiny little toes stretching out for the first time as they explore the space around them.  Can you think of a single things that is cuter than this?  Because I can't.

But you know what?  Big Sister Ella caring for her brand new baby brother might easily be a close second on the cuteness scale.  

We placed Lucas on Ella's lap, and she was the sweetest big sister taking care of her new baby brother, cuddling up with him and asking us about his "boo-boo" (his healing umbilical cord had her all worried, which was pretty adorable!).

Lifestyle newborn sessions are some of my FAVORITE sessions.  I love going to families' homes, getting to know them right there in their cozy space, and watching the most intimate moments unfold as they welcome their tiny little baby to their family.  Baby cuddles, feedings in the rocking chair, lullabies by the crib, and the sweetest little kisses all over their foreheads and toes.  

This session was extra special for Baby Lucas's family to invite me into their home.  Jenna & I went to college together, and I was thrilled when she asked me to capture her daughter's first birthday portraits last year.  Then when she contacted me to tell me that Baby #2 was on the way, I was so excited to celebrate with her sweet little family!  Plus, I always adore coming back to my favorite clients and seeing how their children have grown.  It is such an honor to be able to capture their little ones on camera.  This time, Ella was a little chatterbox, telling me all about her favorite toys in her big girl room and talking up a storm to her baby brother.  She is such a sweetheartl!

Welcome to the world, Lucas Matthew.  You are already so, so loved.  You are a very lucky little boy to have such an amazing family to cuddle up with each and every day.

(I had to include this last photo, just to remind new parents that our sessions are not all peaceful & quiet.  Babies cry.  Babies don't sleep all the time!  Parents cuddle them and soothe them.  It's only natural, so when this happens during YOUR newborn session, don't worry or apologize.  It only gives us more cute expressions to capture on camera.  In just a few short months, their faces won't always scrunch up like this when they are sad.  So capture it while you can!)

9 Tips for Surviving Life with a Newborn

I am so excited to announce our next collaboration with you!  Over the next few months we will be sharing the blog space with local moms & mompreneurs.  Our guest bloggers will share with you a peek into their personal lives, the moments they were able to laugh about, and their expertise from what they have learned on this journey called motherhood.  

I truly believe that the relationships I love to cultivate with families I work with are about more than just photos.  These relationships are about your stories, the experiences that connect us all together, and the experiences that every single one of you who comes to this blog can relate to.  

With that, I am happy to introduce you to Melanie Venuti, our first guest blogger.  Melanie is a mom to an active little toddler, with Baby #2 on the way.  Through MV Breastfeeding Support (www.mvbreastfeedingsupport.com), Melanie supports families individually through counseling as well as in group classes, sharing her expertise on breastfeeding and parenting success. Melanie is excited to share her 9 tips for surviving the first few weeks at home with your newborn.

As we left the hospital after the birth of my son, my husband encouraged me to sit in the back seat because he said "that's what you’re supposed to do!", he drove slow on the highway and kept the music low so we didn't wake the sleeping baby. Upon arriving home, we walked into the house, placed the car seat down and gazed at our new beautiful baby and each other. They let us leave the hospital and we are now responsible for this tiny human being! What now...? 

 The first six weeks of your baby’s life are a series of ups and downs. But here are some tips and ideas that may make the transition easier for you.

As a new mom, I felt like I needed to do it all to be the best mom, super mom, super woman! But who was I kidding? Boy did I wish I didn’t forbid my husband from laundry that time he washed the white and navy towels at the same time, boy do I wish my friend came over every night with grilled chicken and butternut squash, boy do I wish I took advantage of all my friends and family who said ‘what can we do for you?’. After the birth of your baby, you are responsible for caring for your baby, so allow for your friends and your family to nurture and care for you.

It's ok to mourn the loss of your old life, but laugh about it. Those moments when I would wear the nursing pillow, feed my baby, and attempt to eat my own meal while trying to weed off my dog from stealing my sandwich all at the same time, Hubby and I would look at each other, and say ‘What did we do?’. We laughed about it, and joked about what used to be and how we used to be able to do xyz! Don’t expect perfection, having a baby is a lifestyle adjustment, and you want to do the best you can.

Remember, you are also recovering from delivery and adjusting to life with a newborn, aka a tiny human who consumes your every moment. For the first week or 2, pay attention to what your body is telling you and don’t hesitate to say no to visitors.  

You have probably heard Sleep when the Baby Sleeps, but to be honest, I never found this to be realistic. I could never get into a deep enough, restful sleep during the day, and there are other things that I want to do while baby sleeps…like shower, eat a snack, and/or watch an episode of The Walking Dead. So I think Rest when the Baby Sleeps is a better and more obtainable goal.

You may not have the time to prepare the most balanced meals in the early days, so keeping some easy and healthy grab and go snacks on hand will be a huge help. Things like cheese sticks, yogurt and granola, fruits with nut butters, or other snacks that offer a protein boost will keep you energized.

After your baby is born, and you and your baby are learning to breastfeed together, sometimes it can be a little bit uncomfortable, and this is when you want to ask for help. When breastfeeding is painful, it typically means that something isn’t right with positioning, latch, engorgement, or even water retention or swelling. A Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) can help! An IBCLC has specialized skills in breastfeeding management and uses a problem solving approach and makes appropriate recommendations as needed to ensure breastfeeding success.

A newborn baby is not born with a handbook, and most certainly is not going to respond to a strict schedule early on. They are born into a world that is very different than their ‘norm’ in the womb. They have to experience things like hot and cold, gravity, lights, the sensation of being hungry, the sensation of having to poop…tough life! It takes them a bit of time to adjust and we want to be able to support that with having realistic expectations for their needs and demeanor.  It will take some trial and error to find a good balance for what works for your baby and for you.

All joking aside, a newborn baby does require quite a bit of sleep, but it may not necessarily be during the times of day that you would like to or are used to sleeping. Help your baby differentiate between day and night early on by doing things like keeping the rooms bright during the day and dim to dark at night, or changing their clothing in the morning to play clothes vs. pajamas which are for night time. I am also a HUGE fan of swaddling a baby for sleep. There is lots of research that supports swaddling being an essential to quality sleep for the first several months of baby’s life. Swaddling a baby with their arms down will help them feel safe, warm, and sleep longer.

Childbirth and new parenthood can trigger a jumble of emotions from joy to extreme fear, as well as something unexpected: depression. About 9-16% of women experience Postpartum Depression (PPD) and up to 80% of women report having some degree of Baby Blues after delivery. Baby Blues may include symptoms of anxiety, mood swings and crying spells, and almost always resolve after the first 2-3 weeks. Some women, however, experience more severe symptoms and this is characterized as Postpartum Depression. If you experience symptoms of Baby Blues or PPD, help is available so talk to your health care provider.
 

My son is now 15 months and we survived, we did it, kudos to me and Hubby! We thought we did such a great job that we are doing it again, Baby #2 arriving this summer. Having a baby is a life altering, scary, joyful, wonderfully exciting and the most fun you will ever have. Although the first few weeks are a bit overwhelming, and perhaps not quite as blissful as the movies make it out to be, you get through it, it’s just a faze, and remind yourself, this too shall pass, you're doing a great job!

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What other tips would you share with new parents about surviving life with a newborn?  We'd love to hear them and help out the new moms & dads that follow our blog.  Leave them in the comments below!  

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2015 Year in Review Video by Nicole Starr Photography

2015 has truly been an incredible year, and I want to thank all of you for sharing so many magical moments with me!  

Enjoy this beautiful little video of some of our favorite images from the year.  I look forward to another beautiful year of storytelling in 2016!

To every family that asked me to tell their story: thank you.
To every mom who let me cuddle her newborn baby: thank you.
To every dad that wanted to surprise his wife with a keepsake gift: thank you.
To every creative entrepreneur that connected, laughed, shared, asked, taught, and learned with me this year: thank you.

And to every single person that connected with the stories in my photographs, commented on my images, shared their own stories with me, and let these beautiful families into their hearts through the images that I shared with you: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

An Outdoor Newborn Photography Session | Albany Newborn Photographer

Welcome to the world, Lucy June.

I got to cuddle with this little cutie during her newborn session, and I didn't want to put her down!  All soft, sweet, and adorable, Lucy was a dream baby to work with.  Right in between summer and fall, we were lucky enough for a warm morning that allowed us to head outside for the beginning of her newborn session.  We captured the sweetest family photographs of mom, dad, and big sister Hazel.  I finally pulled out my vintage quilt in fall colors, and my crocheted blanket flea-market-find that went perfectly with the vibrant fall colors of her session.

I was especially impressed by Hazel.  Only two years old, she was patient and gentle with her new baby sister.  She loved giving Lucy kisses, and we captured so many sweet little moments between the two sisters.

More baby kisses!

With the weather turning cooler and the air getting crisper in the mornings, I'll be sorry to give up these outdoor newborn photography sessions for the winter.  But, for all of you expecting mamas waiting on your spring babies, let's keep this in mind!

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To see the rest of Lucy's session, head on over to this blog post.

It's filled with clean, classic, and simple images of this precious baby girl, and a little info about this evolving photographer's style!

Plus, one of my all-time FAVORITE newborn images ever is in that blog post.  Check it out!

Powerful Love: A beautiful in-home session with newborn twins

Lifestyle photography.

It's exactly what it sounds like.  A private glimpse into your life to capture those moments that happen behind closed doors.  Sometimes those moments are loud and colorful, and sometimes those moments are quiet and calm.  These are moments that are shared with your family.  They shape you and your loved ones, and they are the ones that you'll remember many years from now as some of the happiest and most fulfilling moments of your life.

A cuddle with your newborn baby.

A quiet glance over to your husband, admiring him in this new role as a father.

Reaching down to stroke the soft wisps of hair atop your baby's head.

Sitting back, looking around, and falling in love with this life you've created together.

Kati & Pete dreamed of their babies' arrival for many, many months.  They prepared a beautiful space to welcome their newborn twins home with the most thoughtful touches -- a rustic wooden wall, sweet and simple quotes, pictures from their favorite children's book, photos from their travels around the world, the cutest little elephants, and an adorable handmade mobile.  Their twin sons were born on July 21, 2015.  After spending a little extra time with the doctors and nurses, both boys finally arrived home and they were welcomed with so much love.

One of my favorite experiences of being a newborn photographer is capturing the way that new parents look at their babies.  It's a mix of awe, wonder, and overwhelming love.  It truly is the most incredible moment to capture on camera.

Birth.  Nailed it.  (Cutest onesies ever!)

boston twin photographer

Max & Owen were the sweetest little boys, and being exactly one month old (our session was held on their original due date), they were wide-eyed and wanted to take in everything going on around them.

Is there anything cuter than a little baby yawn?  No, I didn't think so either...

One of the meaningful benefits of a lifestyle newborn session in your home is that it allows us to showcase your family, your love, your personality, and YOUR HOME.  That gorgeous space you've created together that tells your story becomes a living and breathing part of your photos, and it is pure magic.  I absolutely adored this gallery wall in Kati & Pete's home, and the moment I saw it I knew we needed to use it as a backdrop for their family photos.  This wall tells their story, and now their sons will find a spot right there among all of their other memories and loved ones.

Congratulations, Kati & Pete!

What a beautiful family and a beautiful life you are creating for yourselves.

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Are you eagerly anticipating your little one's arrival?  Send me an email by clicking on the "Contact" tab and I'd love to chat with you to plan your baby's newborn session.  We'll talk and discover if a studio session or an in-home lifestyle session is the best fit for your family.

Read more about our newborn sessions here.