Evelyn's Six Month Milestone Session at our Saratoga Springs Studio | Saratoga Springs NY Photographer

I always have such a special time with our Baby Plan families.  I love getting to watch their little ones grow all the way through their first birthday (and beyond!), and little miss Evvie is no exception.  I'm so lucky that she comes to see me at the studio every few months for her milestone portraits!

I first met Evvie's family when her mama was pregnant, and we did a maternity session, Fresh 48 session and lifestyle newborn session.  She came to the Saratoga studio for her Christmas portraits, and I got to see her for her 6-month portraits right before my maternity leave began! 

It's been amazing watching this baby girl grow and change, develop a personality, hit her milestones, and hearing all about her first year.  I'm already looking forward to her 9-month portraits this summer!

We used our boho floral hoops for a fancy set-up at the end of her session.  How sweet is she?!?!

An Airy Studio Maternity Session in Saratoga Springs | Saratoga Springs NY Maternity Photographer

Jessica's maternity session was extra special because of the timing. 

Her original due date was only one day before my due date, and she wound up delivering her baby girl early, just a few days after her gallery reveal appointment!  I received a text from her one morning saying, "Well, I won the 'whose baby will be born first' contest!"  I was as shocked as she was, and then just a few days later we found ourselves at the hospital getting ready to welcome our little boy early, too! 

I am so happy that we slowed down to capture these moments for this family at the very end of their journey to parenthood.  These maternity sessions are so full of anticipation and excitement, and it's always amazing to celebrate this time as a couple waits to welcome their baby to their family.

Isn't she absolutely radiant?  I love these backlit images that give her such an ethereal quality.

Jessica loved being able to choose a few lace dress options from our studio closet of gowns, and they were perfect on her to show off that lovely baby bump.  

Are you expecting a little one this year?  Plan ahead to do your maternity session before week 36.  You never know if your baby will arrive early, and you wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to celebrate your pregnancy with a maternity session!

Product Feature - Birthday Invitations and Thank You Cards | Saratoga Springs NY Cake Smash Photographer

Everyone is used to seeing our custom designed birth announcements and holiday cards, but did you know that we offer THANK YOU CARDS and PARTY INVITATIONS, too?   

These are perfect for your cake smash photos, and they make the cutest little mailers!  Friends & family will love receiving your little one's birthday portraits in the mail with a special note from you, plus it takes one more thing off of your to do list after the birthday party!

Just like all of our other custom cards, these thank you notes include personalized envelopes with your return address printed on the back.  All you need is a stamp and an address label for the front, and you're done!  Simple & sweet!

Planning your cake smash session?  Aim to do the shoot 4-6 weeks before the birthday party, and that way we'll have plenty of time to edit the images, do your gallery reveal, design your cards, and get them to you in time to send out right away!

A Soft & Cuddly Milestone Session for Abigail | Saratoga Springs NY Milestone Photographer

Look who is all grown up!  Abigail came to me for her  n e w b o r n  s e s s i o n  last summer, and I was lucky enough to see her again to celebrate her 8 month milestone this spring!  This little sweetheart is sitting up, smiling all the time, and super playful.  A week after she came to the Attleboro studio she started crawling!  I'm already looking forward to her cake smash this summer, and I bet she'll be walking (or running after her big brother!) by then!

I am officially obsessed with the way her sparkly blue eyes just POP with the gray and white in these images, and I seriously just want to kiss those cheeks of hers!  Such an adorable little cutie!  

Wild hair, don't care!

This is one of my favorite set ups ever.  I love how classic and simple it is with the bone seamless paper, that dusty rose blanket, and the cutest baby you ever did see.  I just melt when I look at these sweet photos -- this baby girl clearly LOVES the camera!

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Love this session?

Check out another milestone session with this pretty teepee and a beautiful baby girl, here on the blog!

Baby Starr | Grayson's Second Month

Oh my goodness, Grayson!  How are you two months old already?!?!  Time is truly flying by, and I can’t believe how fast you’re growing and changing every day.

I look back at your one month photos (and your newborn photos!) and I find it hard to believe you were that tiny…. or maybe it’s hard to believe that you’re so big already?  Where did the itty bitty 5 lb 15 oz baby go that curled up on my chest with wide cheekbones, a narrow chin, and loose skin hanging around his knees?  In his place is a long baby with the cutest cheeks who loves to exercise those leg muscles and “stand up” when I lay him on my chest, straightening those little legs to lift his body in the air.  Oh, and the most adorable chunky thighs that I can no longer wrap my fingers around!

You continue to make us laugh every single day, mostly with the strange and often loud noises that come out of your body!  This month I realized just what a loud eater you are while feeding you in the dressing room at Target for the first time — so many grunts and so much lip smacking that the other shoppers must have wondered what was behind that red dressing room door!  

I’ll also remember your second month as the month FILLED with smiles. You smile intentionally now, and your happiest time of day is in the morning after you wake up (for the second time).  We lay on the bed cooing, making silly faces, and cuddling.  In the last week or two you’ve started to love getting kisses, and when I cover your face in kisses you light up with the biggest smile.  You haven’t laughed yet, but I know that’s coming next!

You’re officially out of newborn size clothing, and filling out those 0-3 month outfits pretty quickly!  You spit up on everything (notice the bibs in these pictures?!) and have you so many outfit changes each day that we’re definitely getting good use out of all your clothes before we’ll have to pack them up when you outgrow them!  At your 2-month checkup you were 22.5 inches long and weighed 11.2 pounds.  You’ve grown 4 inches since birth, and nearly doubled your weight!

Ohhhhh, those chunky thighs!!!!  

You learned how to stick out your tongue this month.  You've started doing that mostly when I give you kisses!

This month was a big month for you as you spent a lot of time out & about around Saratoga Springs.  We went on countless walks with your new friend, Baby John, who was born only two weeks before you.  We visited Gaffney’s and took a family photo underneath the tree where Mommy & Daddy got married three years ago.  You enjoyed your first trip to the Farmer’s Market, and spent Mother’s Day walking around town looking for the baby ducklings in Congress Park.  You’re starting to love outdoor time, and it’s so nice getting to spend some time with you in the fresh air.  

This was from our first Mother's Day:

But our favorite part of the month....  you slept through the night for the first time!  It's definitely NOT consistent yet, but you're getting better and better at night and you love the new swaddle we wrap you up in so that you're nice & snug.

A few of your favorite things this month:

• Bathtime
• “Say Something” by Justin Timberlake — it literally calms you down within seconds every time you’re crying.
• Kisses
• Walks around town in your baby carrier
• Car rides

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And a few of our favorite cell phone pictures from this month!  Notice that all of a sudden you're wearing an awful lot of bibs to catch all of that spit up.  ;o)  

Cameron's Blue, Navy, and Gold Cake Smash | Saratoga Springs NY Cake Smash Photographer

Handsome little Cameron turned one, and celebrated with a cake smash at our Attleboro studio!  This little guy was full of smiles, and he LOVED the camera.  We couldn't stop laughing over his adorable little poses and how he couldn't take his eyes off of the camera!  Plus, how cute is he in his newsboy cap?

The very first day we started planning their session, Cameron's mama sent me a photo of this dress and asked, "What do you think of this for family pics?"  Ummmmm, YES!  It's perfect and it photographed so beautifully for really classic images, and she was able to coordinate the other two outfits around the white & navy color scheme by adding in some gray as well.  Don't you just love how perfectly styled they all are together?

This photo below still makes me laugh.  Cameron is an active little toddler (of course!) and he was crawling all over the bed in the studio.  The second I'd put him on mom and dad's laps, he'd be racing off to the foot of the bed before I had the chance to move back down there with my camera.  I love how he's just hanging out at the edge here -- such a daredevil!

We planned a NAVY & GOLD CAKE SMASH for the birthday boy.  We used gold beaded curtains, a balloon banner.  This was my first time making one and I'm officially in love!  You'll be seeing more of these balloon banners in our sessions now!

At first, he wasn't quite sure what to make of his cake...

But he figured it out quickly, got excited, and dug right in!

We wrapped up the session with a bathtub splash!

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Love this blog post?

Check out a different cake smash with the gold beaded curtains here, and another fun birthday session that ended in a bathtub splash here!

A lifestyle newborn session at home with Andres James | Saratoga Springs NY Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

Our lifestyle newborn sessions steal my heart every single time.  It's always such an honor to be invited into a family's home to capture their new baby, and I love watching all of the love unfold within those walls. 

These sessions are simple and sweet, without too much formal "posing" and really with just a little bit of guidance to cuddle up closer, lean in, and soak in the moment with their little ones. 

Plus, I love getting to photograph all of the different nurseries!  This nursery for Baby Andres is elegant, classic, and clean without any frills to distract from this beautiful family loving on their new baby boy.  (P.S.  Look at that chandelier!!!!!)

Big sister wasn't so sure about this new little baby, just like most toddlers are, but she got nice and close and loved looking at him through his crib.

I adore this parent portrait -- don't they look so well-rested with two under 2?!?!  And I love how tiny Andres is all curled up in their arms.

A close-up of this sweet baby boy with his head full of hair and those perfect little lips...

Toddlers always make these sessions so much fun!  We laugh, play games, share lots of tickles, and really get them giggling.  With a new baby at home that needs so much attention, they love getting to be the star of the show for a little bit during their portrait session, and sweet little Aria was full of so much personality and really enjoyed getting playful with us!

Did you love this session?  Check out these gorgeous nurseries:

A Rustic Woodland Nursery

A Floral Nursery Inspired by Little  Unicorn Designs

Product feature - Welcome Home Baby Blair | A Lifestyle Session in Our Linen Storybook Album

Now that we have a little one of our own, our keepsake albums are even more special to me.  I truly love being able to hold all of our favorite memories in my hands, flipping through the pages of a beautifully bound book and feeling the linen cover beneath my fingers as I trace the debossed words on the cover.

These are such beautiful keepsakes, and our albums stole my heart long ago.  Today we're showcasing this beautiful lifestyle newborn session in our Sand linen storybook album.

Album details:
8x8 Storybook Album
Linen color: Sand
Font color: Rose Gold

One of my favorite behind-the-scenes tasks as a business owner is album design.  I truly enjoy weaving together all of your favorite photos across the pages of a book to tell your story, trying different combinations and layouts to get it just right while showcasing your beautiful family.

These albums are perfect for our lifestyle sessions because the sessions are true STORYTELLING sessions.  You might not hang every portrait on the wall, and that's okay!  But the moments are ones that you're not going to want to forget, and it's so special to be able to preserve them and relive them through the pages of your family's album.

There are 5 beautiful linen cover options to choose from so you'll be able to find the perfect shade to suit your style.  A few of the most classic ones are Tundra (a smooth dark gray), Sand (the beachy beige shown here), and Tusk (a creamy white). 

Plus we can deboss your baby's name & birthdate on the cover, or your family name & the year for a family session!  The debossing options are silver, gold, and rose gold -- the album in this blog post is done in rose gold, which is one of my favorite combinations with the sand linen.

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Curious about our other keepsake products?  We truly believe that you'll enjoy your memories more when they are printed -- check out a few of our options here!

The Wooden Keepsake Box
Heirloom Wooden Wall Art
Accordion Albums
Birth Announcements
Thank You Cards
The Storybook Album

Boho Cake Smash with Floral Hoops | Saratoga Springs, NY Cake Smash Photographer

Luiza traveled to our Attleboro studio all the way from Cape Cod to celebrate her first birthday with a cake smash session, and I had so much fun with this happy, smiley birthday girl and her sweet family!

She enjoyed lots of cuddles with her brother, mom, and dad in the studio, and she didn't stop smiling and laughing the entire time!  

For her cake smash, we used a new backdrop of floral hoops for a boho feel, with pops of light pink per mom's request.  I absolutely love how this backdrop came together for Luiza's session -- check out a DIY tutorial to make your own on the blog!

We have SO MANY BIRTHDAY BABIES on the calendar for this summer.  Have you booked your cake smash session yet?  Be sure to reach out with at least one month before your baby's birthday to ensure a spot on the calendar for your little one's birthday session!
 

Grandma, Mommy & Me! A Light and Airy Studio Session with Ryder | Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

Way back in the fall, one very excited grandmother reached out to me and told me how much she would love to gift a portrait session to her daughter & grandson for the holidays.  She adored her grandson with his big personality and the beautiful way that he has brought so much light & joy into their world, and she was so excited to celebrate with his very first photo session.

When I met Ryder, I knew exactly what she was talking about.

This little sweetheart met me just outside of the studio, ran down the hallway, and let me scoop him up into the biggest hug ever.  He came right inside and was ready to laugh, play, jump on the bed, and just be all around adorable.

Mom and Grandma (Mimi) jumped in for a few shots, too, but really it was handsome Ryder that stole the show.

Seriously, look at how comfortable he was in front of the camera!  You wouldn't even know that this was his first time working with a photographer!

I am so happy that this sweet family joined me for their portrait session at our Attleboro studio, and I just know that they're going to LOVE these memories for years to come.  One day, Ryder will be big & grown, and they'll look back and remember how he curled right up in their arms and let them scoop him up into the coziest hugs.

Vivian Jane's 3 Month Milestone Portraits | Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

With the launch of our new Baby Plan & Milestone Sessions in 2018, I am so excited to see so many of my newborn clients return to the studio for their milestone portraits throughout their baby's first year!

I first met Vivian Jane during her at-home lifestyle newborn session.  Her parents mentioned then that they would be doing a traditional 100 day celebration for their daughter, and so of course we started planning her 100-day portraits!  We added a bit of sparkle to this sweet girl's session to fit the mood of the celebration, and her sweet smiles just lit up the room!

Her mama brought the cutest little knit outfit & beret, and this sweet 3 month old looked like a little French girl with that beret perched on her head just so!  The white bed is always a classic look in our milestone sessions, and I love how simply it complements this adorable baby girl.  

So, what is a good milestone to photograph?  Honestly, the first year flies so quickly and you're going to want to remember all of them!  Here are a few of my favorites to photograph during our milestone sessions:

• Tummy time
• Smiling
• Before the first teeth come in
• Celebration of the first tooth
• Discovering their toes 
• Sitting up unassisted
• Crawling
• Standing
• Walking

Baby Starr | Grayson's First Month

Sweet little Grayson is one month old!

How did that happen so quickly?!?!  If you missed his newborn portraits, check them out here.  And you can enjoy a peek into his nursery here on the blog, too!

This adorable little guy has truly brought so much joy to our lives over the past month, and I can't even begin to imagine how amazing the next year (and all of those after that!) are going to be.  Jeff and I keep saying over and over again how lucky we are to have such a perfect, happy, healthy, and mellow little baby. 

He  truly has a very chill personality, and we adore his alert time because it really showcases his relaxed mood.  It happens 2-3 times a day right now, and he spends it looking around, taking everything in with those great big eyes of his.  He's very quiet when he's studying everything around him, and he lights up with the sweetest smiles and these really cute "o" faces when he purses his lips.  

Of course, like all babies, Grayson can get a little fussy at times.  We've discovered that he calms right down with music, and we're always saying, "Alexa, play Top Pop radio."  (Which, by the way, we bought an Alexa right before he was born and it's been so amazing to have something hands-free when our hands are filled with a baby!)  Ten seconds in to a song with a good beat, he is as happy as can be!  I'm attributing that to the countless hours I spent in the car with the radio on driving back and forth between Boston & Saratoga during the pregnancy -- we have a music lover on our hands!

These photos below were taken at 10 days old, and Grayson looked so tiny in his "coming home outfit" on our bed.  It's hard to believe that just a few weeks later, he's now outgrown that adorable sweater and I'll be packing it up in a box along with his hospital bracelet and footprints!  

This month was filled with firsts for Grayson! 

His first photoshoot was a Fresh 48 session in the hospital with Lauren Kirkham Photography.  He rocked it, and we've already shown his album off to all of our family members and found a special place for it on the shelf with our other albums.  I can't stop looking at it though!

With the weather warming up, he enjoyed his first visit to an ice cream shop.  We took him to Martha's Dandee Creme in Queensbury, our favorite! 

He finally discovered that he LOVES bathtime.  We put on some lullabies and he just zones out while laying in the water.

His first trip to Target was for more diapers.  Of course. 

He slept through his first walk through Spa State Park with a new baby friend. 

To celebrate Daddy going back to work at the end of the month, G-man slept 6 hours at night for the very first time!  We're hoping that continues and becomes a nightly tradition... eventually!

And he spent lots of time with the grandparents, and his aunt and little cousin who also came over to visit! 
 

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Because our phones are now filled with baby photos, and because the very best camera you can have is whichever one is in your hand right this moment, here are a few favorite cell phone shots from Grayson's first month!  We're pretty much obsessed with his smiles, his cuddles, and all of his funny little expressions that melt our hearts when he's awake!

Baby Starr's Nursery

After months of planning, painting, and decorating, Baby Starr's nursery is finally finished!  It's a calm and serene space with blues and grays, and a hint of a "twinkle twinkle little star" theme -- because honestly, with our last name that was just a given!

This is officially my new favorite room in the house, and it was definitely a labor of love pulling it all together in the months leading up to Grayson's arrival.  The morning that we were sent to the hospital to be induced (which was a surprise 3 weeks early!), I spent an hour photographing the nursery and editing the images.  It was the calmest part of a very chaotic week, and I loved it!  For some reason, that little bit of nesting was something that ***just had to be done*** and hanging up the wooden G on the wall even made it onto Jeff's to-do list in those final hours before heading off to the hospital.

Most of the items in the nursery were either handmade (the curtains), refinished vintage (the bureau was originally green!), scored during a Black Friday sale (the crib and glider chair), found during date night trips to HomeGoods (the rug, baskets, and footstool), or some of my Ikea favorites that have found their way into many rooms of our home for the past 5 years (those shelves!).

Plus there are a handful of personal touches like a watercolor painting of a photograph from a beach during the vacation where we got engaged, a Buffalo Bills hat to match daddy's for this future fan, a stuffed animal we picked out during our babymoon, and one of his first ultrasound pictures to remind us how tiny he started out!   A gallery wall will be coming soon with some of Grayson's newborn and baby photos, too!

Product Feature | Our New Heirloom Wooden Wall Art

Our Wooden Keepsake Boxes have been such a hit with our clients that I wanted to bring a complementary new product to our product line.  Everyone always exclaims how much they love the wooden products, so I searched for months to find the perfect new piece to add to our collection.

Today we're introducing the new Heirloom Wooden Wall Art.  These gorgeous new pieces of signature artwork have hand-sanded corners that show the grain of the wood, and linen fine art prints mounted directly onto the wooden block.  They hang easily on your wall with two predrilled keyholes on the back, and they have a clean and minimalist look that goes well in traditional, modern, and rustic decor.  

Your favorite portraits can be printed in rectangles, squares, and even circles.  Cluster a few together on the wall for a display, stand one up on an easel, or display a large one all on its own as a focal point on your wall.  

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Curious about our other keepsake products?  We truly believe that you'll enjoy your memories more when they are printed -- check out a few of our options here!

The Wooden Keepsake Box
Heirloom Wooden Wall Art
Accordion Albums
Birth Announcements
Thank You Cards
The Storybook Album

Rocking your business & your baby: Planning for maternity leave as a business owner

Hey, mom-preneurs!  

This one is for you.

We’re starting a new series on the blog called “Rocking Your Business & Your Baby.”  As I enter into motherhood with the arrival of our baby boy this spring, I am excited to connect with so many other mamas out there who have learned (and are still learning!) how to balance business & babies.

I’ve been a business owner for SIX YEARS.  Think about that for a second — my very first newborn clients are going to be first graders in the fall.  Wow.

For 6 years, this business has been my baby.  It’s held my hopes and dreams, it’s connected me with so many amazing people, it’s been the big thing that I work hard on every single day.  I’ve truly loved watching it grow and evolve over time, and seeing how I have grown and changed as a business owner in that same time, too. 

And now I’m adding on a new role, the most important role of them all: MOM.
 

I know that things are going to change for me as a business owner with the arrival of our baby boy.  This little business of mine won’t be my only "baby" anymore.  Working from home will hold a whole new meaning, and my time is going to look a lot different moving forward.  I’m excited to connect with other business owners who are rocking their businesses while rocking their babies, and to share some insights with all of you as I learn as I go!

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Today we’re going to talk all about preparing for maternity leave as a business owner.  If you’re waiting on your little one to arrive — CONGRATULATIONS!  You must be so excited as you count down the months and the weeks until the day you finally get to meet your sweet little baby.  But if you’re anything like me, you might also be a little bit nervous wondering,
How in the world am I going to get everything done? 
How will I continue running a business with a baby at home? 
What will happen if I just drop off the face of the earth for a few months when the baby arrives? 
Can I even afford to take maternity leave?

I have had all of the same thoughts, worries, and concerns over these past 9+ months, so I’m sharing a little insight into a few things that helped me prepare for maternity leave with the idea that hopefully they will help you as you embark on this new adventure, too!

It’s never too early to prepare.
 

I hired a virtual assistant long before we even decided to have a baby.  Kristina started working with me a full 16 months before my due date.  I knew back then that there were so many things in my business that I could outsource to free up my time and attention that would be better spent focusing on other areas, and I found the perfect assistant to do that for me.  

We spent more than a year establishing a solid workflow where she completely took over some of the behind-the-scenes tasks that allowed me to focus on growing my business in other areas.  For example, because she took over social media and blog prep, I could streamline my marketing to bring in even more clients, and my sales to bring in even more revenue. 

Which leads me to number two…

Save, save, save. 
 

Save up as much extra income as you can before you go on maternity leave to cover your expenses so that you can enjoy some downtime at home getting to know your new baby.  You’re going to want to take time off to rest, bond, and find your groove at home as a family of 3 (or 4, or 5!).  Having the financial freedom to do that will give you one less thing to worry about.

As soon as we got pregnant, I started saving every penny because I knew that I wanted to take a few months off once our little one arrived, but we would still have bills to pay.  Actually, you’re likely going to have even MORE bills to pay than you do now because of hospital bills, baby items, formula, diapers, and all of the other expenses that come along with bringing a little 8-pound human home with you.  So plan to grow that business well before your due date so that you have enough saved up to cover at least 2-3 months of expenses during your maternity leave.

Automate your business as much as possible.
 

Preparing for my maternity leave felt a lot like what it was like to prepare to take a sick day when I was a teacher, times about 1,000!!!  I wanted my business to continue running, so I scheduled blog posts, social media posts, and newsletters that would go out automatically during the weeks I planned to take off.

This way, I can be out for a walk with my baby and a new blog post goes live.  I might be struggling through a sleepless two-day stretch, but my social media posts are still fresh and my followers see that we’re still an active business with a lot going on.  We could be visiting with the grandparents, and  a newsletter will go out advertising our summer sunset sessions.  

As a business owner, you are always marketing and reaching potential clients and past clients.  It's important to stay fresh in their minds so that they remember, "Hey, I really want to work with you!"  Automating some tasks to keep your business running even while you're taking a break will help to do that for you.

Your business can run itself if you prepare ahead of time.  IT’S A LOT OF WORK, but it’s worth it not to have to worry about a thing when all you really want to do is stay at home and marvel at how perfect your baby is. 

Block off time on your calendar, and stick to it.
 

I stopped traveling for sessions 1 month before my due date.  Since I drive back and forth between two states for sessions, I didn’t want to worry about going into labor while crossing the Berkshire Mountains, so early on in my maternity leave I planned which weekends would be my last ones in Massachusetts, and I made those dates known to all of my clients, stacking them full of sessions to save time and maximize profitability.

I also planned to stop working around week 37, so I wrapped up all of my client work by then.  All orders from sessions were completed, albums were designed, print orders were placed with my labs, and everything that I could package and deliver was sent out so that I wouldn’t have to worry about anything being left unfinished in case the baby arrived early.

I knew that I could still do behind the scenes work after week 37 (blogging, social media, newsletters), but it was important to me that all client work and obligations be done to have one less thing to worry about.

Plus, you’re going to want to take it easy before the baby gets here!  I was in full-on nesting mode and I spent months looking forward to having a few weeks “off” to clean, organize the nursery, prepare food for after the baby arrived, and spend some extra time with just my husband.  We fit in a few extra “date days” and other little things that we wanted to do that would be so much easier without a baby in tow, so take your time to relax and enjoy that end stage of your pregnancy without working up until the end!

Have a plan in place in case your baby arrives early.

It happens.  Babies arrive whenever they are ready, and if you’re counting on your little one not making an appearance until you’ve accomplished x, y, and z…. well, you might find yourself in a sticky situation!  So be prepared to be flexible and just go with the flow.  

If you allow yourself enough time to wrap things up before your due date, hopefully you won’t have to deal with too much of a surprise and be scrambling to get things done.  But let those clients towards the end of your workload know that you’re approaching your due date and that it’s possible you might need to reschedule their appointment if the  baby arrives early, or mail their order to them if you can’t deliver it in person, or that you might wind up meeting through video chat or FaceTime if you can’t be there in person for an appointment. 

This actually wound up being a blessing in disguise since our little one arrived THREE WEEKS EARLY, as soon as I had finished up many of those loose ends with my business tasks!   I had to reschedule one gallery reveal appointment, and one cake smash session.  Thankfully those clients were incredibly understanding and knew that my due date was right around the corner back when we booked, so it was no issue marking a new date on the calendar for them.  I was even receiving messages from them "just checking in" while I was at the hospital with our baby, and I thought it was the sweetest thing that we were on their mind!

Give them enough heads up, and thank them for their flexibility.  They’ve been in your shoes before, and they will definitely understand and be accommodating!

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The most important thing is don't stress too much about stepping away from your business to focus on your family for a bit.  Your business will be there when you're ready for it, and you're going to find a whole new balance to your life as you adjust to being a mom AND being an entrepreneur.  

Do you have other topics you'd like to see in our "Rocking Your Business & Your Baby" series?  Let me know by sending an email to education@nicolestarrphotography.com.  I'd love to hear from you!

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Baby Starr | Grayson's Newborn Portraits

Grayson Alexander
April 3, 2018
 

It's hard to believe that our sweet little boy has already been with us for nearly 3 weeks!  It's been a whirlwind of one day blurring into the next, the nights coming again much too soon, and so many sweet hugs and smiles with our adorable little Grayson.

Even though I've been a newborn photographer since 2012 and I have cuddled and posed dozens and dozens and dozens of fresh little babies, it's true what they say about photographing your own newborn....  IT'S HARD.  REALLY, REALLY HARD.  

It has taken me multiple attempts in the studio to settle this little boy into a deep enough sleep that he forgets that I'm nearby, and a slumber so sound that the click of the shutter won't startle him.  Seriously, there was one afternoon where I was only able to take 28 frames because every time I pressed the shutter, he startled with the "click" and shook himself awake and right out of his pose!  

But we finally did it, and I'm excited to share some of his studio newborn portraits here on the blog!  World, meet Grayson Alexander, our newest studio assistant and the cutest little baby that has stolen our hearts and has us completely obsessed with marveling over how perfect and adorable he is.  

Every time he opens his eyes, our hearts just melt into a puddle.  He has the most soulful gaze, and he's pretty calm & mellow.  When he's awake he's happy and alert, just taking the world in!

Of course I planned a special set-up for this photographer's baby, and when I found this tiny camera prop last November I saved it just for his newborn session.  

Grayson is a VERY smiley little baby, and his little milk drunk smiles pop up all the time and just light up his face.  I can't even believe how many smiles we captured during his time in the studio!

I had so much fun choosing a few new outfits for the studio collection, like this little striped one that is classic with a hint of nautical accents.  I have the feeling I'm going to be adding lots of baby boy items to our studio closet this year as our little boy starts modeling them as he grows!

You'll be seeing a lot more of this sweet little boy on the blog!  

Baby Natalia | A Springtime Studio Newborn Session with Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

We've welcomed so many baby boys to the Saratoga Springs studio lately for their newborn sessions, so I was thrilled to meet sweet baby Natalia and to incorporate all of the pretty little florals into her newborn session.

This adorable baby girl's nursery is purple & gray, so of course we coordinated a few photos to match the decor.  I always love learning about a family's decor and style before the session so that we can create images that will blend seamlessly into your home to complement your style and make a beautiful statement hanging on your walls.  This particular image was printed onto a 16x20 canvas, and I know it's going to bring such a smile to mom & dad's faces every day when they see their sweet baby girl staring back at them on the wall!

Spring is my favorite time of year to incorporate fresh blooms into our sessions, and Natalia's mom arrived with purple tulips after seeing a similar inspiration photo on my website.  I love that we were able to create this gorgeous image for her family!

Big sister Katerina did a fabulous job taking care of her baby sister during the session.  My favorite part of working was this family was after the session when I went to their home for the gallery reveal.   Mom and dad told me that Katerina had been lining all of her dolls and stuffed animals up in front of the fireplace and pretending to take their picture for the past week -- she associated the space heater in the studio with her fireplace at home, and she knew that that was the spot where she had to take baby pictures!  

Love this session?  Check out a few other favorite studio newborn sessions on the blog with our Best of 2017 blog post!

Tyler Francis | A Nautical Newborn Session | Boston & Attleboro Newborn Photographer

Meet Tyler Francis. 

And make sure you read all the way to the end to see the CUTEST SIBLING PORTRAITS EVER of this sweet baby boy and his big brother!

In planning his newborn session, his mom mentioned that they have a little nautical decor in their home and that they would love a portrait or two to match.  Of course, I knew that our driftwood bowl would be perfect with a few layers of blue bump blankets, and I was excited to bring a few tiny new starfish into his session.  This sweet baby boy slept like a champ and was so cozy all wrapped up, making these portraits in the driftwood bowl some of my favorites!

Our creamy white set-ups are our most-requested ones here at the studio.  Parents love the classic look that keeps the focus on the baby, and honestly, I believe that these little ones are so perfect just as they are and that we don't need a lot of distractions with props & colors to take away from their simplicity and perfection!

Now, are you ready for some of the sweetest family portraits you ever did see?

Big brother Henry was a CHAMP, and he casually laid down and tossed his hand behind his head while posing with his baby brother.  I think this might be my favorite sibling portrait EVER!

But then of course, there's this sweet little hug and the cutest little smile spreading across Henry's lips.  I just love how gentle he was with his new brother!

Wondering if a studio newborn session is the right fit for you?  Read more about them here!

Floral Crowns and Teepees | A Milestone Session for Everleigh | Saratoga Springs NY Baby Photographer

Usually we go for a super simply & classic look in our milestone sessions here at our Saratoga Springs baby photography studio, but sometimes it's fun to add a little bit of flair & whimsy.  That's exactly what we did for little miss Everleigh, who joined me for her 8 month milestone session.  

In planning her session, I told her mama that I had everything available at the studio for her baby girl, including outfits.  She showed up with just her baby & a diaper bag, and left the rest to me!  We used a beautiful floral crown with a simple diaper cover from the studio closet, and later a blush pink and lace romper and a fluffy beige tutu -- also from the studio closet!

And Everleigh was one happy little girl!  She loved sitting up, crawling, and showing off her clapping skills, and she giggled the entire time!  I was excited to use our boho teepee (check out this DIY tutorial to make your own -- it's one of the most popular and most pinned post on our blog!) with the perfect pink and peach floral crown.  

The studio bed is another favorite for our milestone sessions, and Everleigh loved having a soft space to cozy up on and crawl around!  Plus, the moment she had those pearls in her hand she was smiling, laughing, and shaking them all over the place!

Thinking of a milestone session for your growing baby?  Let's chat!  

Creating an Email Newsletter List: A Game-Changer for Your Business

Hey, photographers!
 

You’ve been working so hard on building up your business, connecting with new families, and improving your art AND your business sense.  You have all of these big plans for sessions this spring and summer, and you’re eager to put them into place and get started.

All you need to do is some marketing. 

BAM!  It sounds so easy, right?  But you and I know that it’s never as simple as it sounds, and that some of the platforms that we rely on for marketing our businesses actually seem to penalize small business owners, making it nearly impossible for us to connect with potential ideal clients.  

We see it all the time in Facebook groups for business owners — people complain that no one is seeing our social media posts anymore, the algorithms don’t work in our favor, and everything is constantly changing so that people barely even notice business pages in their newsfeed these days.  

Social media has become a “pay to play” game, and honestly, sometimes when you pay to sponsor a post it doesn’t even get you the results you want!  You can have thousands of followers, and if you’re lucky your post will get seen by a few dozen or a few hundred people.  

There has got to be a better way.  And there is.

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Let’s talk about reaching your clients.  

You don’t own your likes and followers on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.  If those platforms disappeared tomorrow, what would happen to your business?  Would you have a way to connect with your audience?  Or would you be starting from scratch again, building it up from nothing?

Today we’re going to talk about the importance of building an email list for your business.  If you’re not already collecting email addresses, this is something that you really should put on your to do list this week and start prioritizing.  Once you have a client’s (or potential client’s) email address, you are guaranteed to always have a way to reach them.  Most people check their inbox every single day, and that is the perfect way to stay fresh in their minds with an occasional message or newsletter letting them know what’s new in your business.

Now, I don't recommend overwhelming them with multiple messages a week, but sending one or two a month is a good way to stay fresh in their minds and let them know what's new, what's coming up, and what they don't want to miss out on.

I use Mailchimp to organize my clients into different email lists.  You can sort them and create new groups by location, type of client, when the babies’ birthdays are — the possibilities are endless depending on how you would like to target your marketing efforts!  Then you’re able to create beautiful, professional newsletters that will be delivered straight to their inbox, reminding them of everything that’s going on in your business and encouraging them to book another session with you.

I’ll be honest with you — sometimes even those emails get filtered into the Spam folder, or they simply get clicked on and deleted.  It happens.  But the bigger you build your list, the greater the chance of reaching more of your potential clients. 

Mailchimp even gives you feedback on each campaign that you send out telling you how many people opened your email, who they were, and what they clicked on.  This is invaluable in helping to guide you with targeted suggestions to keep improving every newsletter so that it is more user-friendly and more engaging. 

So, what are you waiting for?  This service is free (and I am not getting paid to promote it — I just love the platform!), and it’s perfect for a business owner like you.  Ramp up those marketing efforts this spring and create an email list that will help you to reach even more potential clients -- keep doing your thing on social media, too, but add in this one extra platform and you'll see a big difference in no time!

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Did you miss this recent blog post for photographers?
Learn all about reaching your ideal clients through VIP Client Groups on Facebook!

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