Bringing Home Baby | Luke's Lifestyle Newborn Session in Saratoga Springs with Nicole Starr Photography

Are you ready to see the most adorable baby boy, with an absolutely dreamy nursery that was designed especially for his family?

Meet Luke.  

His parents are head over heels in love with this handsome little boy, and we celebrated his arrival with a lifestyle newborn portrait session at home in Saratoga Springs, NY.

This was the first lifestyle session I've done where the crib was hand-built by the family.  Luke's dad wanted to build his son's first bed, so he bought all of the tools and the wood, and he learned how to build a rustic, barn door style crib for his baby boy's nursery!

The nursery was decorated with a hand-painted mural of a farm scene, which was perfect for this family since Luke's mother works at a farm in VT.  When you look closely at the walls, you'll see a big red barn, fields of carrots, an airplane flying overhead that will have Luke's name written on the banner, and a little dog peeking out from behind the glider that looks just like this family's fur baby, Toga.  

Speaking of Toga, this is their dog!  This 3-year old puppy was one of the most camera-friendly dogs I have ever encountered on a photo shoot.  He always wanted to be in the shot, and would come and position himself right in the middle of everyone and turn towards the camera (most dogs turn away from the camera, haha!). 

I've got the feeling that Luke & Toga are going to be the best of friends as they grow up together.  What a lucky little boy!

Wondering if a lifestyle newborn session is the right fit for your family?

A Simply Baby Milestone Session with Elena, 7 months

Sweet little Elena flew all the way across the country for her milestone session at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio! 

Elena's mama wanted to capture these portraits before her teeth grew in, and we fit her in just in time as her first tooth was starting to come in right around the same time as her session.  Teething was no problem for this happy little girl, and she was an absolute dream during her session -- filled with personality, sparkling eyes, and so much curiosity!

I love our Milestone Sessions because the babies get to be the star of the show.  We don't need a lot of props and clutter because I believe that your baby is absolutely perfect, and I want their personality to shine through in their portraits. 

We use our simple white wood backdrop, our fluffy white bed, and our cream colored couch for most of these milestone sessions.  Sometimes we'll use bump blankets or scarves for a hint of color, or my natural wood or woven props like baskets, benches, stools, and crates to give baby something to sit on or climb on.  The soft furry rug is always a favorite and babies love sitting on it, the soft texture calming them down immediately.  But that's it!  We keep it simple so that your baby can truly shine.

Our baby milestone sessions are all about the details.  The ones that you don't want to forget 15 years from now. 

The little dimples on their elbows. 

Those rolls on their baby thighs. 

The way your baby played with her toes for hours and hours. 

The way she turned her head just so to look at you, with her tiny little chin turning up towards your face.

The way her fine baby hair curled at the nape of her neck, just barely brushing her collar in soft wisps.

One of my favorite milestones to capture in baby's first year is when they're sitting up on their own unassisted.  This is usually between months 6-9.  But another favorite is around months 3-4 when they're rocking tummy time, smiling, and holding their head up on their own! 

Check out Quinn's 3 month session here on the blog for an entirely different stage of milestones, and then let's plan your baby's next portraits here at the studio!

An in-home lifestyle newborn session for Baby Ricky | Albany Lifestyle Newborn Photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Bring me all of your babies!  Or, let me come to you and photograph them at home with one of our lifestyle newborn sessions!   ;o)

Meet Ricky Eugene.

His parents created the most beautiful nursery to welcome him home, and I had such a great time cozying up with them on a snowy winter day in Albany for his newborn session. 

Our lifestyle sessions are a relaxed peek into your life at home as you get to know your newborn.  We often shoot these sessions in the nursery and master bedroom, where you will spend most of your time with your brand new baby.  I love all of the care & details that go into the babies' rooms during the 9+ months you are waiting for your little one to arrive, and it's so special to be able to capture that space for families to show their children many years from now, telling them, "THIS is the space we created just for you.  THIS was your first bedroom in your very first home.  THIS is how much we loved you."

They had the most beautiful windows and natural light pouring into the master bedroom, which made for some gorgeous backlit portraits of mom & dad with the baby.  And of course, their fur baby wanted to join in on the fun, too!

These tiny little details area always my favorite.  Just look at those itty bitty fingers, and the sweet curve of his cheeks!  Doesn't he just melt your heart?

Wondering if a lifestyle newborn session is the right fit for you?  If you're not sure if you like the relaxed session at home, or props in the studio, check out this helpful blog post to help you decide!
 

Quinn's 3 Month Milestone Session | Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

I love watching our Baby Plan babies grow!  Quinn Madlina first visited me in the studio a few months ago for her newborn session, and then she came back for her three-month milestone portraits!
 

This sweet baby girl is such a beauty, and I loved seeing how much she had grown!  She's getting so strong and really rocked her tummy time, but her favorite and most comfortable spot was laying on her back and looking up at her daddy, who got all the best smiles from his little girl! 

We used the same headband from her newborn session and a soft pink blanket that was so beautiful on her.

Of course, I love all of the creams & whites with our milestone babies because they are so classically beautiful and simple.  Quinn cozied up in one of our handmade knit rompers, and her tiny new earrings stole the show with just a hint of sparkle in her ears.

Milestone sessions are the perfect opportunity to capture a few seasonal portraits, and we used a nice holiday plaid for Quinn to celebrate the season!

Milestone sessions are best around 3-4 months (tummy time & back), 6-10 months (sitting up unassisted, clapping, smiling, and crawling), and of course the birthday cake smash between 10-13 months!

The Modern Day Brag Book - Our Mini Accordion Albums Make the Perfect Gifts for Grandparents!

Look at how adorable this little accordion album is!  Every time I pull it out to show families, they oooohhhhh and aaaahhhhh, and they are so excited to hold it in their hands and unfold the pages, watching the images spread out before them.  

Our mini accordion albums are a petite album, and they are perfect gifts for grandparents!  These miniature brag books fit right in Grandma's pocketbook, and opened up they are a beautiful display on an end table, mantle, or shelf.

At 3x3", they hold eleven of your favorite images from your session.  Though they're petite, they make a BIG impact!

These sweet little albums are available with all of our sessions in sets of 3, giving you multiple copies to share with family, or to keep one for yourself!

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

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

Our Fine Art Linen Album
Our Custom Image Cover Album
Our Keepsake Wooden Box

Best of 2017 Family Sessions with Saratoga Springs and Boston Family Photographer

Oh. My. Goodness!  This is one of the most fun blog posts I publish all year because it is FILLED with laughter, tickles, mama cuddles, splashing in the ocean, little kids flying in daddy’s arms, and all of my favorite moments that unfolded during our family portrait sessions in the past 12 months.  

Every year I love going back through our sessions and sharing a few favorites on the blog.  This year was unlike any other, and it was filled with more smiling families than I can even begin to count.  I had so much fun getting to know (and reuniting with some of my very favorite!) families in Saratoga Springs, Boston, and Cape Cod.  

Our family sessions are very popular during the warmer months from May through October, and we see a few families at the studio during the winter and spring, too.  I love spending time outside during our family photo shoots.  The best location is always somewhere where we have a lot of space to let the kids roam and play — a park, a field, or a beach are always a lot of fun and photograph beautifully.  You know that I’m a coastal girl at heart, so our sessions at the beach are always my favorites and I have so many beaches that I love on the Cape — if you’re looking for the perfect spot for your family’s photo session on Cape Cod, just ask! 
 

Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable family sessions from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Best of 2017 Cake Smash Sessions
Best of 2017 Lifestyle Sessions
Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions
Best of 2017 Beach Sessions on Cape Cod
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Brothers & Sisters: Candid and Fun Sibling Portraits

2017 Best of Siblings - You've Got a Friend in Me | Saratoga Springs NY Family Photographer

We’re continuing with our BEST OF 2017 blog post series, and today we’re sharing a peek into some of our favorite sibling images from last year. 
 

Brothers & sisters share a special relationship that is part friend, part soulmate.  They know how to make each other laugh and how to cheer each other up.  They know how to tattle on each other to mom & dad, and how to push each other’s buttons and annoy them the most. 

But at the end of the day, they love curling up together and just enjoying each other’s company.

2017 was filled with family sessions, newborn sessions, and cake smashes where the siblings truly stole the show and made for some memorable moments captured on camera.  Digging into their baby brother or sister’s birthday cake, the sweetest newborn cuddles, and tickle fights on the beach were just a few of the top sibling moments of the year!  

Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable sibling moments from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable family sessions from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Best of 2017 Cake Smash Sessions
Best of 2017 Lifestyle Sessions
Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Beach Sessions on Cape Cod
Best of 2017 Family Sessions

Welcome home, Trudie Jean | An in-home session with Boston Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

Can we start off by giving a little shout-out to old fashioned names that are wildly unique and hold lots of meaning for the family?  

Meet Trudie Jean. 

This sweet baby girl was named after her grandmother, and she was an absolute dream to work with during her lifestyle newborn session at home in Boston.  She's all cheeks with a peaches and cream complexion, and she has the finest blonde hair, all coming together to make up one really adorable baby girl.

I love being invited into a family's home to take a peek into their life at home with a newborn, and it's always so magical to just let the little moments unfold as they cuddle up with their brand new baby.

Even their fur baby wanted to join in on the celebration!  It can always be tricky to get dogs to cooperate during our photo shoots, and often they're especially hesitant or skittish around newborn babies.  However, we always try to encourage pets to get in for a few shots, and the results are worth it!

I loved their Jenny Lind-style crib so much!  It was perfect in their gender neutral, woodland nursery.

We had a baby boom here at Nicole Starr Photography in January!  Be on the lookout for so many more adorable newborn sessions coming to the blog soon.  In the meantime, check out a few other recent favorite newborn sessions here:

Best of 2017 Lifestyle Newborn Sessions

Vivian Jane: A Saratoga Springs Newborn Portrait Session

John Aldrich: A Lifestyle Newborn Session in Boston

We're hiring! Join the Nicole Starr Photography team as an associate photographer!

I am so excited to share with you that we're growing our team!  Nicole Starr Photography is hiring an associate baby photographer to be a part of our Massachusetts team in 2018. 

This independent contractor position will begin in March 2018, and the associate photographer will shoot under the Nicole Starr Photography brand. 

Applicants may have their own baby photography business, and this is even encouraged!  We need help covering a few more sessions each month, both at our Attleboro studio and on-location for the occasional lifestyle newborn session or Fresh 48 hospital newborn session.  

If you are interested in this position, or if you have a friend that may be interested, please read the guidelines below.

Thank you, and we cannot wait to hear from you!

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What we are looking for:

-Someone with a natural eye and passion for newborn & baby photography

-Experience shooting in a light & airy style, and the ability to draw out a family or baby's personality through portraits.   You should be open and flexible to learning to shoot in a manner that complements the signature Nicole Starr Photography "look".  

-Someone who loves to learn and is open to feedback on their work

-The ability to work and problem solve independently

-Stellar organization skills, and very reliable. 

-A great personality, and the ability to put young families, children, and babies at ease during a portrait session

-A working knowledge of your DSLR camera, and familiarity with shooting in manual

-Someone with their own gear — a full-frame camera is a must, and Nikon gear is a plus

-Experience with studio lighting, as well as extensive experience shooting in natural lighting situations (ex: hospital rooms for Fresh 48 sessions)

-Occasional weekend and weekday availability, as well as flexibility in your schedule to accommodate the occasional Fresh 48 hospital newborn session

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Important information:

-This is an independent contractor position.  You will be working & shooting under the Nicole Starr Photography brand, and representing Nicole Starr Photography during these sessions. 

-This is an ideal position for someone with their own business.

-You should be available for 1-3 sessions per month on an as-needed basis, with the opportunity to increase the number of sessions per month.  Sessions are in the Boston area, as well as at our Attleboro studio.  We'll discuss your schedule & availability, and only schedule sessions on the days that you are available.

-Payment will be a per-session rate based on experience and session type.  Payment is $100+ per session.

-You will be responsible for setting up for studio sessions, or driving to on-location sessions.  You will interact with the clients during the shoot to put them at ease, and will digitally deliver all unedited, RAW images to Nicole Starr Photography after the session.  Nicole Starr Photography will handle all of the behind-the-scenes parts of the business, including scheduling, editing, and delivering the images to the clients.  

-If you love taking photos but you don’t love the business side of photography, this is the perfect fit for you!  You’ll just shoot, and we’ll handle the rest!

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To apply: 

Please email Nicole at hello@nicolestarrphotography.com.  Please write “Associate photographer” in the subject line, and we'll be back in touch within 2 business days with the next steps!  Thanks -- can't wait to hear from you!

Best of 2017 Beach Sessions | Cape Cod Family Photographer

Honestly, if I could live near the coast and photograph families there every day, I would be one very happy photographer!  Sandy toes, salty windswept hair, the sound of waves crashing on the shore, and always bringing home a little bit of sand in my camera bag are a few of the things that make me smile in June, July, August, and September when we head to the beach for our portrait sessions.

Our beach sessions on Cape Cod in the warmer months are some of my favorite sessions that we do all year, and I love planning these summer vacation sessions with families each spring as they begin the countdown to their trip over the Bourne & Sagamore Bridges to the Cape.  

This year was filled with so many fun families, and I spent the entire second half of July and all of early August on the Cape, heading to a different beach every night with families for their sunset session.  We photographed in Dennis, Yarmouth, Hyannis, Harwich, Falmouth, Mashpee, Eastham, Bourne, and off-Cape in Marshfield.  

2017 was also the year of SO MANY RAIN DATES!  All of the unexpected thunderstorms meant that we took advantage of the backup rain dates we had planned ahead of time for many of these beach sessions.  I was so grateful to all of the families for their flexibility in reserving two evenings of their vacation for their session just in case the weather wasn't cooperating. 

Oddly enough, in 2016 we didn't need to use a single rain date for our beach sessions, but in 2017 we used so many of them!  It all worked out in the end, and those overcast evenings at the beach resulted in the most magical moments that were enveloped in fog & mist.

One of the things I love most about our summertime portrait sessions on Cape Cod is reuniting with families that I have photographed for years, and meeting their friends that they have referred for their own family portraits! 

We have so much fun running across the sand, laughing, climbing on jetties, and exploring the coastline that the hour passes quickly and before we know it, the sun is going down and everyone is heading out for an ice cream treat before bedtime.  

This year the families were not afraid to get wet, and almost every single family ventured into the waves for a few truly beachy photos!

Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable sandy moments at the beach from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Best of 2017 Cake Smash Sessions
Best of 2017 Family Sessions
Best of 2017 Lifestyle Sessions
Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Brothers & Sisters: Candid and Fun Sibling Portraits

Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Hospital Newborn Sessions with Saratoga Springs & Boston Newborn Photographer

You know I love a good Fresh 48 session, and that there is nothing better than being invited into a family’s hospital room just hours after their precious new baby arrives to celebrate their growing family with them.  That’s why I am so excited to share a few of our favorite Fresh 48 images from 2017!

This year the most popular hospitals for these newborn sessions were Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, Saratoga Hospital, St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, and The Snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital. 

So many beautiful babies, magical moments, and the cutest sibling meetings unfolded in those hospital rooms, and they already have me looking forward to all of the hospital newborn sessions we have planned for 2018!

Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable hospital newborn sessions from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Best of 2017 Cake Smash Sessions
Best of 2017 Lifestyle Sessions
Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Beach Sessions on Cape Cod
Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions
Best of 2017 Family Sessions
Best of 2017 Brothers & Sisters: Candid and Fun Sibling Portraits

Welcome, Lillian Wynne! A Fresh 48 Session at Brigham and Women's Hospital with Boston MA Fresh 48 Photographer

Every time I get a text that says, "The baby is here!", my heart skips a beat and I get so excited to head into the hospital to celebrate this new arrival with the baby's family.

Lillian Wynne was born right on time, and this sweet baby girl was a surprise to her family, who didn't find out her gender until her arrival.  I joined them at Brigham & Women's Hospital for their Fresh 48 hospital newborn photography session in Boston. 

As we do with all of our Fresh 48 sessions, we started off with some individual portraits of Lily and plenty of detail shots of her hands, hair, and feet before moving to family portraits and meeting her big brother, James.  

This family lucked out with a large, light-filled hospital room that had two walls of windows overlooking Boston.  It was one of the best rooms I've been in at Brigham & Women's, and the light in the room that afternoon was gorgeous.  These backlit portraits against the windows are always some of my favorites during our Fresh 48 sessions!

Just look at that beautiful head of hair on sweet baby Lily!

Big brother James came to meet his baby sister for the first time, and we captured the sweetest moments of him coming to check her out in the bassinet and giving her cuddles and kisses. 

Toddlers are often unpredictable during these sessions, so we go with the flow, give them lots of encouragement, and follow their lead to make sure they are comfortable as they meet the baby who is making them a big brother or sister for the first time. 

James was clapping with a huge smile on his face in no time, and he did an amazing job!  (The cookies that his dad had as a reward might have helped just a little bit, too!)  

This is one of my favorite father-daughter portraits, and I love how tiny Lilian looks in her daddy's hands!

If you're thinking of booking a Fresh 48 session for your baby's arrival, be sure to reach out right away!  We only take on two Fresh 48 clients each month and the calendar fills up quickly.
 

Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions | Saratoga Springs and Boston Newborn Photographer

Tiny little fingers & tiny little toes.  Cozy blankets, textured wraps, and natural wood accents.  Lots of whites, creams, grays, and plenty of neutral colors with minimal props.  That’s what our studio newborn sessions are all about.

We are so lucky to have two studio locations to welcome new families for their portrait sessions.  We work with the most adorable newborns at our Saratoga Springs, NY newborn portrait studio, and Boston families in our Attleboro, MA newborn portrait studio. 

These sessions are relaxed and calm as we showcase your tiny little baby in all their newborn perfection.  They are simply amazing just the way they are, and we believe that you don’t need a lot of props or clutter in their portraits.  Just a blanket, a wrap, or a simple hand knit outfit. 
 

Timeless, classic, and clean is the style we shoot for in the studio, with a mix of candid family portraits as well as a few more posed ones with everyone looking at the camera — that’s what grandparents love to hang on their wall, after all! 

In 2017 we welcomed more newborns to the studio than ever before, and it is always such an honor when a family trusts me to capture their tiniest miracle on camera for them.  It’s a big job, and one that I love so much.  I truly have to stop and marvel at it all sometimes, completely in awe that I get to spend my days cuddling these beautiful babies and creating gorgeous artwork for their families.

Every year I love going back through our sessions and sharing a few favorites on the blog.  Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable studio newborn portraits from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Best of 2017 Cake Smash Sessions
Best of 2017 Family Sessions
Best of 2017 Lifestyle Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Brothers & Sisters: Candid and Fun Sibling Portraits
Best of 2017 Beach Sessions on Cape Cod
 

Best of 2017 Lifestyle Newborns | Saratoga Springs NY and Boston MA Newborn Photographer

If you’ve ever talked with me about our newborn sessions, you know that our lifestyle newborn sessions steal my heart every. single. time. 

I am always so honored when parents invite me into their home to capture their little one’s first days at home with their family.  Magic unfolds as they cuddle up with their brand new baby in a space that is filled with their family’s personality, a space that tells the beginning of this next chapter in their family’s story.

We typically shoot these sessions in the nursery, master bedroom, and living room.  But I’ve been known to be a chaser of light, and if I see an amazing pocket of light in your hallway, dining room, or even a corner of your bathroom, you can bet we’ll go there for some great shots!

My favorite product to showcase these sessions at home is definitely our fine art album.  These gorgeous linen-covered books are keepsakes that you will enjoy looking through with your children for the next 30 years, passing down to your kids one day when they have babies of their own.  These books take all of your images and weave them together to tell a story, YOUR STORY.  And there’s nothing better than the story of your family at home, in the place where every story begins.  

Every year I love going back through our sessions and sharing a few favorites on the blog.  Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable newborn photos at home from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Best of 2017 Cake Smash Sessions
Best of 2017 Family Sessions
Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Brothers & Sisters: Candid and Fun Sibling Portraits
Best of 2017 Beach Sessions on Cape Cod
 

6 New Ways to Connect with your Clients through a VIP Facebook Group

Hey, photographers!

It’s officially the “slow season” for portrait photographers, which is the perfect opportunity for you to spend some time working ON your business rather than always working IN your business.  These couple of months are always my favorite time of year because I get to reflect on the past year, figure out what worked & what didn’t work, make goals and plans, and dream big for the 12 months to come! 

One item you might want to add to your business to-do list this winter is to create a VIP client group on Facebook, and to invite your clients to join.  This group is separate from your business page, though you can link it on your main business page so that clients can find it easily. 

A VIP client group provides extra value to your clients.  It enhances your marketing efforts, shows your clients that you value their input, and adds to the high-end experience that your brand has become known for. 

What are a few other reasons to consider creating a VIP client group?

1. A private VIP group has more effective reach than posts on Facebook business pages, Instagram, and even your email newsletter with the way that all of the algorithms prevent people from seeing your posts and messages.

2.  It’s a great way to gather your clients together and make them feel extra special.  Come on, who wouldn’t love being a “VIP” of something really cool?

3.  This is a place to give your clients input on upcoming sessions.  Make a poll and get their opinion!  These private, informal posts will get them involved in helping you decide on a theme, pick dates for special events, and gauge their interest in a new type of session that you’ve been thinking about.

4.  Reward your VIP members by giving them first dibs on booking upcoming events and mini sessions.

5.  Offer your clients booking incentives that are only available for members of the VIP group.  This might take the form of an extra print, a mini accordion album, a product credit, or a print bonus with their session.

6.  Regular posts will help you stay at the front of their minds in between sessions.  When they don’t forget about you, they’ll remember to book their next session!  Happy clients are loyal clients, so use your VIP experience to make them happy!

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Looking for a few more ways to take advantage of the extra time you have in your business this winter?  Click on the photos below for other popular blog posts that will help you take advantage of your time and give you plenty of inspiration for the months ahead!

Elijah's Winter Wonderland Cake Smash - Saratoga Springs NY Cake Smash Photographer

First birthday sessions are always SO. MUCH. FUN!

Elijah is the smiliest one-year old, and he absolutely loved the camera.  This little guy had a short nap right before his session, but that didn't dampen his mood at all and he did such a wonderful job during family portraits, baby portraits, a cake smash, and a bathtub splash at the end!

When I first met his parents, they told me that Elijah's favorite toy is his sock monkey, so of course he had to bring that to the studio for a few portraits!  I always love incorporating a favorite toy or book into our first birthday sessions to give you a beautiful portrait to remember their first favorite plaything, and I was so happy when this adorable sock monkey came along for the session!

We planned a winter wonderland cake smash to go along with his birthday party theme.  Birch trees, twinkly lights, snow, and lots of snowflakes were a beautiful and simple way to create this theme, and I love the final effect!

At first, Elijah wasn't too impressed by his cake.  After a few tries, he really got into it, especially once we gave him a spoon to dig in!

My favorite part was how he decided to show off his standing skills mid-smash.  He braced himself against the floor and slowly (while wobbling!) raised himself up to look at us with the biggest, proudest smile on his face!

We finished Elijah's session with a bathtub splash, which is definitely my favorite way to end a cake smash at the studio.  Most babies love bath time, and this is always a fun opportunity for portraits while also washing off the sugary frosting.  We got lots of smiles from this sweet boy, and he LOVED splashing around in the tub!

Check out Miss Riley's adorable bathtub splash here on the blog, too!
 

Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions | Saratoga Springs and Boston Maternity Photographer

Waiting for baby.  You spend 40+ weeks imagining what it will be like to hold your little one in your arms, dreaming up the perfect nursery, and preparing for life with a baby.  Don’t forget to take time to slow it all down and appreciate this stage you are in right now.  

Pregnancy is an absolutely beautiful time in your life — even if parts of pregnancy don’t feel all that glamorous, you are growing a tiny human inside of you and that little miracle deserves to be celebrated!  This is one of the reasons that I love our maternity sessions so much.  I love working with mamas-to-be, celebrating their bump, and helping them feel glamorous as they get excited to welcome their baby to the world in a few short months.  

All of our mamas have access to our collection of studio gowns for a little splash of something beautiful during their session, and most mothers-to-be radiate happiness and confidence when they look in the mirror and see themselves in one of these long, flowy, perfectly feminine dresses.  With their dress on and a little boost in confidence, they completely rock their session and flaunt their adorable baby bump!  

Every year I love going back through our sessions and sharing a few favorites on the blog.  Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable baby bumps from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!
 

Did you love this BEST OF 2017 blog post? 
Check out our other top posts on the blog!
 

Best of 2017 Cake Smash Sessions
Best of 2017 Family Sessions
Best of 2017 Lifestyle Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Brothers & Sisters: Candid and Fun Sibling Portraits
Best of 2017 Beach Sessions on Cape Cod
 

Best of 2017 Cake Smashes with Boston & Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

Sugar, sprinkles, and lots of belly laughs!  That’s what our cake smash sessions are all about here at the studio.

Your baby’s first birthday is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event, and it deserves a little celebration!  You’ve survived 365 days of parenthood, and you’re raising an amazing, funny, and loving little child whose smile melts your heart every single day.  

I love our cake smash sessions for this very reason — we freeze time, just for an instant, and we celebrate your baby and your family as you are right this very moment.  Many of my cake smash babies I saw as newborns when they were just a few days old, and it’s always amazing to me to see how much they’ve grown in the past year.

Each birthday session is unique and includes family portraits, baby portraits, and a celebration at the end — usually with cake, but sometimes with a different food alternative (donuts, pie, cheerios, so many possibilities!).  Plus, some families like to add a bathtub splash to their session after the cake smash!

Every year I love going back through our sessions and sharing a few favorites on the blog.  Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable birthday babies from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Did you love this BEST OF 2017 post?
Check out our other top posts on the blog!
 

Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions
Best of 2017 Family Sessions
Best of 2017 Lifestyle Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Brothers & Sisters: Candid and Fun Sibling Portraits
Best of 2017 Beach Sessions on Cape Cod
 

Family Fall Portraits with Grandma and Grandpa - Boston & Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

Three generation sessions are always so much fun!  Grandma & Grandpa always bring a whole new level of excitement to our family sessions, and I love watching them interact with their grandchildren. 

In these sessions we always make sure to capture the more traditional "looking at the camera" shots (because that is what grandparents are always looking for!), and then we add in lots of playful candid moments as well!

Josslyn has been coming to me for her portraits since her first birthday, and this was the first time I watched her with her grandparents!  She loved cuddling up with them, and she was a huge fan of tickling them to make them laugh for the camera.  We definitely shared a lot of laughs during their fall family session!

Welcome Home, Vivian Jane: A Lifestyle Newborn Session with Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

Lifestyle sessions always steal my heart.  There is something so magical about being invited into a family's home to capture their quiet moments together as they welcome their brand new baby into the family, and I love visiting them in their space and documenting these moments for them to show their children one day that THIS is the space we brought you home to when you were born. 

Even if they change houses and move states, there is something so amazing about that first home that holds so many newborn memories for them.  The first cuddles, the first smiles.  So many late night feedings, and quiet moments just watching your baby breathe in and out when they're (finally!) asleep.  The walls are filled with stories, and it's always an honor to be invited into their space to capture the beginning of this new love story for their family.

Vivian Jane's house was filled with natural light, and we started off in the bedroom with a simple wrap and a knit blanket that I brought from the studio.  Her mom bought a few headbands before the session for a sweet girly touch.  

Family portraits are always my favorite during our lifestyle newborn sessions at home.  Tina & Curtis cuddled up on the bed with their baby girl, and we captured some quiet moments of the three of them together.  

Are you wondering where in your house we might capture a few portraits?  If you have a sliding door, there's a pretty good chance we'll go there for lots of natural light to flood your portraits!  I love these moments we captured in their living room that show their beautiful bond with their new daughter, and a hint at their style with their furniture and decor showing in the background. 

Check out a few recent lifestyle sessions for some at-home newborn inspiration!

John Aldrich
Connor James
How to Know if a Lifestyle Session is Right for You