A Lifestyle Newborn Session at Home in Troy with NY Baby Photographer

Welcome home, Kiara! I had the joy of capturing Kiara’s lifestyle newborn session at their Troy NY home. Mom and Dad recently moved into their home after spending many months designing and customizing their dream home, and it was the most perfect spot for Baby Kiara’s first portrait session. 

One of the reasons that I love photographing lifestyle newborn sessions is that I adore the idea of looking back through an album with your baby, showing them the nursery that you lovingly decorated for them, talking to them about how you loved to cozy up with them and snuggle on the couch, and letting them see what their house (and their family!) looked like when they were smaller.

Lifestyle newborn sessions offer a relaxed and intimate peek into your lives at home with your new baby. Unlike my studio sessions, we focus on capturing organic moments in the comfort of your own space, allowing you to fully embrace the beauty of those early days as a new parent. There’s no need to worry about packing up all of the baby essentials, dealing with the stress of a car ride, or managing a baby’s schedule on the go. Instead, you can simply relax in your own home while I capture the soft, everyday moments that make this time so special.

One of the greatest perks of a lifestyle session is that it provides a comfortable setting for not just the newborn, but for siblings and even pets. Toddlers and older children often feel more at ease in their own environment, which allows them to be themselves in front of the camera, resulting in more relaxed images. With the familiar surroundings of home, the entire family can truly relax and enjoy the experience, making the session feel less like a photo shoot and more like a special moment captured in time. Although Kiara didn’t have any siblings to worry about, her parents were able to fully relax into being in their beautiful new home with their darling new baby. It was a gorgeous and easy experience for them and her because of it all!

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Simple Steps to Prepare Your Home for a Lifestyle Newborn Photography Session

Welcoming a newborn into your home is a special occasion, and capturing those precious early moments through a lifestyle newborn portrait session is a beautiful way to preserve your family’s early days and memories. Newborn sessions shouldn’t be stressful - whether they’re in our studio or at home, and by following a few simple steps, you can quickly prepare your home for your session!

Declutter the main rooms that you’ll be photographing in.

For most families, that’s the nursery, master bedroom, and living room. Keep in mind that the entire room does not need to be clutter-free, because let’s face it, life with a newborn comes with a whole lot of STUFF (burp cloths, bottles, diapers, bouncers, and so. much. laundry.). Simply move any distracting items to a corner behind where the photographer will stand, or shove them in a laundry basket in the bathroom or hidden in a closet for the session. I recommend keeping nightstands clear of clutter, as well as surfaces that you can see when looking into the main part of the room from the doorway.

Turn off all of the lights in your home.

Most lights create a warm yellow glow and can cause uneven color casting in your portraits. Instead, your photographer will use natural light or boost the natural light with a bounced strobe (flash) to create the natural light look. Turn off the overhead lights, lamps, sconces, cabinet lights, etc. Trust me - one light source is the best way to go! 

Keep your favorite and sentimental items on display in the nursery.

Have a favorite blanket that grandma made for the baby? Maybe an ultrasound photo in a frame? Or a drawing that your toddler made for their new sibling? Proudly display those in the background of your photographs!

Open all of the curtains to let the light in.

No explanation necessary on that one! Brighten up the house, and enjoy the sunshine!

Dress comfortably.

Lifestyle newborn sessions are a relaxed peek into your lives at home with your new baby. Dress in soft, light colored neutrals that you can move around in. Decide if you want to be barefoot in photos, and discuss this with your partner so you’re both on the same page (believe it or not, some partners have strong opinions about their feet in photos – trust me!). 

Use soft, light-colored bedding.

Minimize bold patterns and bright colors so that we can keep the focus on the baby and on your family’s sweet moments of connection when everyone is cuddled up on the bed. A solid white comforter or other light colored blanket/bedding will do the trick!

Set the thermostat to at least 75 degrees, warmer if you’re planning on getting unwrapped/bare skin portraits of your little one.

Babies prefer to be warm. When I work in the studio, it’s warm - so I encourage you to do the same at home. It might be toasty, but if bare skin portraits are important to you, then crank up the heat!

Communicate with your photographer ahead of time.

Send your photographer photos of the rooms you’d like to photograph in, trust their expertise, and let them guide you to capture natural, beautiful moments celebrating your new baby’s arrival in your home. Lifestyle newborn photographers work in many homes, in many situations, and with many families. Trust the one you’ve selected to take care of capturing the moments that matter most to you. 

As you reflect on these portraits in the years to come, you’ll cherish the memories of those early days with your baby—the soft, glowing light filling your home, the nursery you carefully designed with love, and the pure joy of welcoming your little one into your arms. When you share these memories with them, you’ll be able to show them their very first room and remind them of the warmth, love, and excitement that surrounded them from day one.

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Studio newborn portraits for twin brothers | Saratoga Springs portrait studio

Enzo and Ethan joined me in my Saratoga Springs portrait studio for their newborn portraits and they are simply the sweetest! They’re simply adorable and I was so happy to have twins in my studio to start the year. Fun fact about me: I’m an identical twin! I’ve had the joy of photographing many sets of twins since starting my business back in 2012. Each set is special and I always enjoy my time capturing parents with their babies. Enzo and Ethan were sleepy, happy to curl up with each other or their parents the entire time we were together. 

Every pair of twins that I photograph always brings me back to my very first newborn session with twins. There was a magical moment when they were wrapped up together, and as they lay there their breaths synced and their tiny little chests rose and fell as one. Now I watch for that in every session with twins, and it’s truly incredible to see that deep connection in the babies who are so used to always having their partner there beside them.

While I love photographing newborn twins, it can be challenging too! One of the challenges of a newborn session with twins is keeping them straight and making sure that we capture the same amount of portraits (and the same/similar setups) of each baby, and then knowing in editing who is who. With boy/girl twins or twins where there is a pound or more difference between the babies, it’s not very hard to remember who is who, but when they are identical or nearly the same weight, it’s much trickier! 

One of the tricks I’ve developed is to keep post-it notes with their names and start a new setup with the name label in the photos, and then edit that out later. Another trick is to use certain colors on each baby, like we did with Enzo and Ethan, which are the same colors their parents use at home for the boys. Whatever you’re doing at home can absolutely be brought into the studio. This is definitely fun too, because it means your final portraits will fit in perfectly in your space after your session! 

Welcome to the world, Enzo and Ethan. You are so loved and as a twin myself, I have to say you’re pretty lucky too! 

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Welcome Baby Henry: An Adorable Newborn Session in Saratoga Springs

Welcome home, Baby Henry! This sweet little guy arrived right around the holidays and I welcomed him and his parents to my Saratoga Springs studio for their newborn portraits. Henry’s parents wanted to keep their session simple and neutral, so we used a few pops of sage and muted teal to bring just a little color into the setups without taking away from their precious new little boy! Of course, because of the holidays, we planned a setup with Christmas ornaments to celebrate his first Christmas. I think it was adorable and the perfect nod to the holidays! 

As with all of my newborn sessions, we create setups for your little love to sleep and curl up in. After their portraits alone, it’s time for family portraits. Whether it’s new parents with their first baby, or a full studio with big siblings, it’s always a special time in my studio. Watching Henry and his parents was no different. They are so in love with their little boy and it makes me emotional as a mother and photographer to capture these sweet moments in the studio. 

I love that families adore their candid family portraits, and without fail always choose their sweet interactions looking down at their baby as some of their favorite portraits from their session. There’s something so magical and awe-inspiring as you look at their expressions of wonder and joy looking down at their brand new baby, and it’s an honor to be invited in to document this on camera for them. I always recommend at least one more traditional portrait with everyone looking at the camera (that’s what the grandparents love to see!), but those candid ones will tug at every mama and dada’s heartstrings, now and many years from now!

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Welcome Home: Cozy Lifestyle Newborn Session in Clifton Park

Welcome home, Baby Sofia! To officially welcome the newest member of the family, we planned a cozy lifestyle newborn session in their Clifton Park home. Our session took place in her beautifully styled boho inspired nursery and her parents’ gorgeous master bedroom. It was the perfect, low-stress session to document Sofia’s first days at home! 

One of the reasons I love lifestyle newborn sessions so much is that we are able to capture your family in the spaces that mean the most to you. Not only that, but being at home allows everyone to feel a little more at ease. Sofia’s big brother, Luca, was able to play with his toys while I started the session with Sofia and her parents. He was able to join us when he was ready - confident and in control, being at home with all of his favorite things. It allows the session to flow more freely and I find that younger siblings often have an easier time with the session overall. Luca was absolutely adorable when he came to join us - wanting to hold and cuddle with Sofia. Sibling portraits always tug at my heart, and this sweet family’s were no different! 

Sofia’s nursery was just gorgeous with the most beautiful boho accents and finishes. My favorite was the hand-embroidered name swaddle on the crib! Being able to capture all of those special touches that your family painstakingly chooses for your little one is also another perk of a lifestyle session! Whether it’s a sweet personalized blanket, handmade artwork, or a family heirloom, we can plan portraits around those special touches while I’m at your home.

Read more about the difference between a studio vs. lifestyle newborn session below!  

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The Difference Between Lifestyle and Studio Newborn Photography

Choosing what kind of newborn photography is right for your family can feel like a pretty big decision. For my families, I capture either lifestyle newborn sessions in their homes or a studio newborn session in my Saratoga Springs studio. I’ve also captured Fresh 48 sessions in the hospital for families, too. All sessions are equally beautiful, culminating in gorgeous timeless portraits to celebrate your little one’s arrival. But, they are certainly different too, and this guide will help you decide which style of newborn session is the best fit for your family.  

Studio Newborn Sessions in Saratoga Springs 

Studio newborn sessions are a bit more posed, and we'll capture family portraits on a neutral background, with minimal props. I’ve carefully cultivated a studio space that is relaxing and timeless, filled with simple props and adorable outfits, headbands, and wraps for your new baby. Your baby’s safety is of the utmost importance to me, so posing is baby led and I don’t do anything that might put your little one at risk. Capturing your family together for the first time with their newest member is the highlight of these sessions. Studio newborn sessions produce gorgeous classic imagery that is perfect in any home decor for display. I have everything ready and available for you (even an outfit for Mama or big sibling, too!), so they tend to be stress-free for the families in the studio. 

Lifestyle Newborn Sessions at Home 

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. My goal is to capture our family in the most relaxed setting to them: their home.  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.  I won't be positioning them into any particular poses, and we'll really treat it as a very natural and unposed session. Lifestyle newborn sessions are also a great way to capture the space your baby is coming home to: their nursery, your living room, and special spaces you curated for them during your pregnancy. 

Still not sure which option sounds best for you? Here’s a few more questions to consider! 

We have a dog! Can he be in our session?

Definitely! Fur babies are a part of your family, and I know how important it is to include your fur baby alongside your new baby. I’ve found that pets are usually most comfortable at home, and I recommend a lifestyle session when we want to incorporate dogs into the portraits. This way they have easy access to head outside, burn off some energy, and then come back inside for portraits, and curl up in their safe space when they’re done.

My house is a mess. We can’t do lifestyle portraits there, right?

Don’t worry! Houses are meant to be lived in, and I tell all of my families that I fully expect to see dishes in the sink, burp rags on the tables, and laundry piled up somewhere. Life with a newborn is chaotic, and that naturally spills over into your home. You absolutely do not need to have everything pristine for your portrait session. Tidy up the nursery before I arrive, make the bed in the primary bedroom and clear off the nightstands, and if you have another spot in your home where you’d like to do photographs (maybe by a window that gets great light, or an interesting little nook in your home where you love the decor), tidy up that little corner. It doesn’t matter how much clutter is outside of the frame of the camera. We’ll capture you just as you are, and remove any distracting elements from the frame.

On the other hand, a lot of families love coming to the studio for exactly that reason! They know that cleaning their house is one less thing to worry about with a newborn, and I have everything in the studio to keep you comfortable and happy.

How old should my baby be for a studio or lifestyle newborn session?

We typically photograph babies in the studio around 2-3 weeks, and at home between 2-4 weeks. However, I am one of very few Saratoga Springs newborn photographers who also LOVE photographing older newborns, and I encourage families to come in with their babies that are 5-10 weeks old, too. At the older stage, your baby will be more alert and interactive, and less able to curl up in those sleepy poses, but we’ll still capture beautiful portraits celebrating your little one’s arrival into your family.

Now that you know which newborn session feels right for you, what's next?

Get in touch with your newborn photographer while you're still pregnant to schedule your newborn session. Most moms reach out during the second trimester. Newborn sessions are penciled in on the calendar based on your due date, and photographers only accept a certain number of due dates each month to give each family the flexibility in scheduling that they deserve. Then as soon as your baby arrives, tell your photographer so that they can set a date for your session!  Congratulations, this is such an exciting time! 

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Pretty Little Details: Newborn Portraits with Saratoga Springs Photographer

I loved celebrating this sweet family’s daughter’s arrival with them. We first met when they were pregnant with their son 4 years ago, and now Aadvik is a big brother! He loved holding his little sister, snuggling up and giving her hugs and kisses, and we captured the most adorable sibling portraits during their Saratoga Springs studio newborn portraits. 

To celebrate Aarya, the whole extended family joined us, including their maternal grandparents and mama’s twin sister’s family. We even captured a cousins portrait of the three little ones together! What’s extra special is that I have done newborn portraits for all three of those babies in the cousins picture. It truly filled my heart with joy and gratitude to realize how many special moments I’ve been a part of for this incredible family. 

After all of the family portraits, it was time to capture sweet Aarya. Her parents chose simple pastel colors and setups for her portraits. They felt so darling and feminine. During the session, I used a new floral combination on my rattan stroller featuring lavender plants. I was so pleased with how the garland looked wrapped around the stroller’s edge. It came together perfectly! 

I am so excited to watch Aarya and her brother Aadvik grow - and I’m so happy that Jaana reached out about capturing these truly special memories for her family! It is such an honor to watch families grow and change year to year like this. 

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What to Wear for Your Studio Portrait Session: Tips from a Saratoga Springs Photographer

When preparing for studio portraits, choosing the right outfit is important - not only for the visual impact of your portraits, but because you deserve to look and feel your best at your session! Whether you’re visiting our Saratoga Springs studio for newborn portraits or your new family session, choosing what to wear shouldn’t be stressful. That’s why I’m sharing my top tips about what to wear for your studio portrait session in our light & airy studio!

Choose light colored or neutral outfits. 

Timeless neutral outfits keep the focus on your faces & emotions rather than having the eye drawn directly to a dark or bright color before we see your faces. The lighter colors also illuminate your skin and look amazing against our all-white studio and neutral furniture. Dark colors will be the least flattering option when working with my light and airy style of photography. Don’t forget - you can always borrow outfits from both our Mama & Baby wardrobes, if you need a little help deciding what to wear. 

Delicate details and texture add interest. 

Lace, pleats, swiss dots, sweaters, woven shirts, curls in your hair, details on the sleeves, and jewelry can add even more interest and depth to your portraits. When deciding on accessories, think about how it will photograph AND if it is meaningful to you. Have a favorite necklace or a ring with sentimental value?  Wear those to your session, and you’ll tell your child the story behind the jewelry for many years as they look back at their portraits. Those are the best accessories to add interest to your portraits! 

In the winter months, avoid putting anyone in big chunky textured sweaters, as they add bulk to everyone’s frames and it’s a less flattering look! 

Put the guys in light colors too. 

I see a lot of blue or white button down shirts with the sleeves rolled for a more casual look for the dads in my studio. I’m a big fan of long sleeved henleys in a white, cream, oatmeal, or light gray. Lightweight sweaters in softer colors also look amazing and generally coordinate perfectly with other light or neutral colored outfits. If your husband prefers a button down shirt, consider rolling up the sleeves for a more casual look!

Studio Portrait Outfits for Kids

I love helping with outfits for the big brothers and sisters!  I always recommend sticking with neutrals like white, cream, gray, blue, beige, blush pink.  Clothing can have patterns on it, but nothing too loud and crazy, and definitely no words or characters/cartoon pictures.  The most classic portraits are ones where the outfits don’t compete for your attention. As for shoes, barefoot is always my favorite for the kids! We get to see their cute little toes, and not the soles of their shoes. It’s much sweeter than the dirty shoes in the picture, I promise! 

One more tip for the kids’ outfits: try their outfits on ahead of time, and make sure that they can sit comfortably and move around without getting caught up in the hem or having their pants legs ride up too high.

Whatever you wind up wearing, ultimately you want your family’s portraits to feel classic, timeless, and easy.

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Elegant Neutral Newborn Photos: Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

I love when I get the chance to welcome a new baby - and their big sibling - to my Saratoga Springs studio for newborn portraits. They’re always such special sessions and capturing the early days of those sibling bonds is something that I know parents treasure forever. I was overjoyed to welcome baby Emma and her big sister, Sophie, to the studio recently to document Emma’s arrival! 

Kathryn was the sweetest big sister the entire session. When I have big siblings in the studio, I like to find ways to involve them - from asking for their opinions on the order of photos or letting them “work” alongside me, I want them to feel seen and involved. Kathryn was a joy! She was so calm and gentle with Emma, and my favorite moment of the session happened thanks to this sweet girl. Kathryn grabbed a wooden toy camera and started pretending to take her own pictures of her little sister. Everyone caught their breath and time stood still for a moment, watching these two sweet sisters together. It’s definitely one of my favorite sibling portraits that we captured. 

Julie, the girls’ mom, chose a neutral color palette for Emma’s portraits. Light and airy colors will always steal my heart because it keeps the family members and their cozy connection as the main focus of the portraits. I love that these memories are captured in such a simple, but elegant, setup. Not to mention, neutral colors in your portraits makes it way easier to hang and display artwork in your beautiful home afterwards!! 

Thank you to this sweet family for allowing me to capture these special newborn portraits. I hope to see Emma and Kathryn in my studio again to see how their sisterly bond is growing!

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And baby makes three: Adorable and playful studio portraits with three-month old baby

Baby James is simply the sweetest little guy! Kendra and Brendan brought James into my Saratoga Springs studio for their first family portrait session as a family of three. The light & airy studio and minimal props kept the focus on this adorable family and their sweet connection with their new baby. I absolutely love the final images that we captured of these three!

I enjoy the three-month stage so much as a photographer (and a mom!), and a few times this winter I was reminded of how beautiful and fun this stage really is with my clients’ babies! In my job, I am so lucky to see newborns all the time, and then I often see babies 6-12 months old for milestone and birthday sessions. But that three-month mark? I don’t see many of them in the studio, and I wish I had the opportunity to see more babies this age! They’re always adorable, starting to show those little smiles, and enjoy being with their parents.

I recently held my neighbor’s 3-month-old baby (for an hour – I wouldn’t put her down!) and got to play with her, enjoyed her gummy smile that lit up her whole face, and watched her bounce on my legs. I told my neighbor it was the highlight of my week, and I really meant it! When my own babies were three months old, I was sleep-deprived, exhausted, and stressed. But getting to experience this fun stage with someone else’s babies has been such a joy, and I really loved every minute of it.

When Kendra brought Baby James to the studio, it was the same feeling of sweet, cozy baby time. James was all smiles and fascinated by the little rattles, mesmerized by his mama’s shiny bracelets, and he lit up when his parents were coo-ing to him. We captured the most adorable moments for his family that really showcase the awe and wonder they have for their newest addition, and I hope they treasure these portraits for many years to come.

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Fresh Start: How Branding Portraits Can Elevate Your Business in the New Year

A new year has started, and as a business owner, I know that I’m always looking for new ways to keep my business fresh and in the front of people’s minds. One of the best ways to update your brand (without a lot of effort) in the new year is to plan for new branding portraits! Not only do they give your website and social media a new look, with the right planning and Saratoga Springs branding photographer, new branding portraits can elevate your business in the new year. If you’re wondering if it’s time to refresh your branding photos, the answer is probably yes… but just in case, here’s a few more ways new photos can breathe new life into your brand for 2025! 

1.Make a memorable first impression.

You’re amazing at what you do, but does your online presence reflect that? High-quality branding portraits help you stand out and show the world your professionalism, personality, and confidence. They’re the perfect way to make a lasting first impression. Showcase what makes your brand special - and do it fast - with high quality portraits that demonstrate who you are. 

2. Enhance Your Personal Brand

Your audience wants to connect with the real you—and branding portraits can help. These photos capture your unique energy and passion, showcasing who you are and what you stand for. Let your personality shine and build trust with your ideal clients. Branding sessions should feel custom and unique - not like cookie cutter setups. Instead, they should reflect what makes you special. From the location to your outfits, everything should feel like you. 

3. Stay Consistent Across Platforms

Whether it’s Instagram, your website, or even that podcast you’ve been interviewed on, your brand should feel cohesive. Professional portraits make it easy to have a consistent look that reflects your style, helping your audience recognize and remember you. Building brand recognition with a consistent style and look is key to building a brand people remember and want to work with! 

4. Stand Out in a Crowded Market

Let’s be real—your industry might be full of talented women like you. But your story, your journey, and your personality are what make you unique. Branding portraits tailored to your vibe and message can help you stand out and attract the clients who resonate with your vision.

5. Showcase Your Professionalism

Think about all the ways you promote your business—from email campaigns to flyers and everything in between. Branding portraits give you beautiful, versatile images that make every piece of marketing feel polished and professional. You’re the real deal, and it’s time your photos showed that. High-quality portraits say, “I take my business seriously,” and that’s exactly the kind of energy that builds trust and credibility with your audience.

6. Future-Proof Your Business Image

Your business is evolving, and so are you. Starting the year with fresh portraits ensures your visuals stay in sync with your current goals and vision. Plus, they’ll serve you for years to come, giving you a timeless way to present yourself. There's no more wondering what you’ll post online, on your blog, or in your marketing materials! 

Creating a business and a brand that is visually consistent and that tells your story is one of the best ways to elevate your business this year! Now is the perfect time to book branding portraits in your office, out on the job, or with a client.

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All about our Little Loves Sessions: Children’s Personality Portraits in Saratoga Springs

As a photographer and a mother, I truly believe that every stage of childhood is worth documenting. Our children change so quickly, and it’s absolutely wild looking back at photographs from one year to the next and seeing how much they have grown. They lose their baby cheeks, dimples appear, teeth fall out and new ones come in, hair grows and haircuts change, eye color changes ever-so-slightly in the little ones, and they come more and more into their personality. I am always so excited when families book my Little Loves sessions, as these are the perfect way to capture all of these changes in your babies (and big kids, too!). 

My son, Grayson, lost his two front teeth recently. As a former first grade teacher, I remember all of my first graders running around without their two front teeth. It is such a typical sign of a first or even second grader, and logically I knew it was going to happen soon. But when those teeth finally fell out, I felt a little bit sad! I said to Grayson one night when he was snuggling me at bedtime with that gap in his teeth and his high little-boy-voice, “Please don’t change. Don’t get any taller, don’t let your adult teeth grow in, and stay just like this. Forever.” He laughed and tackled me with a hug, and I understood why my own mom used to say she wanted to put bricks on our heads to stop us from growing. It’s so fast. And those little changes, like losing a tiny tooth that measures maybe a centimeter at most, makes such a difference and is such a sign of all of the big changes to come.

That’s why I love Little Loves sessions. They are short & sweet in the studio, and the perfect opportunity to capture your child just as they are at this stage before childhood takes your breath away and changes another little thing that is really such a big thing. These portraits are classic - and are often edited in black and white for an even more timeless look. With our custom heirloom artwork, your portraits can be displayed and hung up on your walls to appreciate and love for many years to come!

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From First Smiles to First Birthdays: Best Baby Portrait Sessions of 2024 in Saratoga Springs

I’m so excited to share another one of my favorite 2024 round ups: milestone and cake smash sessions in my Saratoga Springs studio! There’s so many incredible milestones that happen in the first year of life and it’s such an honor to be the one who captures them for parents. Whether we’re capturing your baby’s milestones or their cake smash session, I aim to create classic and timeless portraits in our all-white studio with minimal purpose so the focus is on your baby. Cake smash setups are a little more elaborate, but capturing your baby’s joy and experience is always most important! 

In the first year, your little one grows and changes so much. At 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, your baby is showing off all of the amazing things they can do! I’ve captured so many sweet toothy grins, a baby enjoying tummy time, and even toddling around the studio. Milestone sessions are a chance for your little one to show off - and a little way to freeze time so you can look back on these fleeting moments for years to come. 

When your baby’s first birthday arrives, it’s time to think about a cake smash!  I create a unique backdrop that reflects your family’s/baby’s interests. This year we had families ask for lots of creative ideas, from the Adirondack Mountains to French Bulldogs! All of our birthday sessions also include classic milestone portraits with our vintage high chair and a wooden cake prop, and of course the bathtub splash at the end! The bubble bath splash always brings out all the smiles!

I love that I get to follow families as their little one grows and capture each of the milestones that happen in the first year. It’s so special to me and it’s a part of my job I will never take for granted. Thank you for another beautiful year of capturing these special milestones!

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Tiny Toes and Tender Smiles: Best Newborn Sessions of 2024 in Saratoga Springs

Welcome 2025! One of my favorite traditions here on the blog at the start of a new year is to share my “best of” blog posts from the year prior! I’m kicking things off with our best of 2024 newborns - featuring many studio newborn sessions and a few lifestyle portraits! 

Newborn sessions might just be one of my favorite things to photograph. We always capture a mix of family and sibling portraits, along with individual portraits of the baby during our sessions. If you know me, you know that keeping things simple is at the heart of what I do. I aim for simple timeless setups in my all-white studio, featuring soft muted colors for accents, natural props and accessories. The focus of your portraits should be on your new little one - and the love and awe of your family! 

Every time a family brings their new baby to the studio, I feel such an immense sense of gratitude. Trusting me with your little one is an honor I hope to never take for granted. Choosing a newborn photographer can be difficult! You want to find someone with the experience to keep your baby safe, while capturing the images you will treasure forever. You should also consider what they offer when your portraits are done. The products and artwork available to you should fit into your lifestyle and home decor. 

Capturing your newborn session is about more than just snapping a photo for me. I truly want my families to feel welcome and prepared for the process. It should be as stress-free as possible (you just had a baby!) and the end results should fit into your home beautifully so that you can enjoy your family. 

Looking back on these sweet 2024 babies, I feel so lucky that this is my job. There is no greater honor than being able to capture your baby’s first portraits - sometimes even your first family portrait - in my studio (or your home).  It is so meaningful and such a beautiful process. Thank you to all of these families for trusting me with your sweet babies!

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2024 Holiday Portraits of Grayson & Adelaide

One of the best parts of being a photographer is that I have built annual traditions around new portraits for my own two children. Each year, we capture their birthday portraits, 4th of July photos, and holiday portraits too! It’s special to me to be able to look back and really see how they grow & change. I love that I am able to watch all of that unfold year by year because of these specific traditions. 

This year, we had a big first: Grayson was missing his front teeth in portraits! (“Alexa, play ‘All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!’”). It’s hard to believe we’re already at the age of missing teeth and gummy smiles for my big guy! His sister is growing up so fast too. Even though she showed off her favorite pigtails, Adelaide looks so grown and I can hardly believe how fast time feels like it’s flying. 

We did our traditional holiday setup, plus portraits with Santa. (Check out more holiday & santa portraits of my clients here and here). I’m so happy that we captured both setups for them. I loved being able to capture their matching pajamas (who knows how much longer that will last?!) and then more cozy inspired winter outfits. Grayson and Adelaide were great sports, and I think we managed to capture some truly tender moments between them - which I know, as their mom, I’ll love for years to come. 

Like me, my children love the holidays. I wanted to share a few holiday traditions we are enjoying this year with you. Perhaps you’ll find one that you want to include in your own family! 

1. Our daily stocking calendar.

2. Cookie decorating!

3. Visiting family on Cape Cod and playing with the cousins.

4. Lots of picnic dinners under the Christmas tree.

5. Reading so many holiday books.

6. Seeing what fun little gifts Grayson picks out for everyone at his school’s holiday gift market. Last year was his first year doing this in kindergarten, and seeing the Hot Wheels car he came home with for Adelaide was too cute!

7. Visiting Santa Claus at his cottage on Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

8. The Victorian Streetwalk in downtown Saratoga.

9. Hanging up all of our friends' and family’s holiday cards.

10. Enjoying lots of Christmassy scents in our wax warmer all season long.

No matter how you celebrate the season, we’re sending you so much love. Have a beautiful holiday!

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Creating Holiday Magic: A Studio Portrait Experience with Santa Claus

The holiday season is such a wonderful and special time for me personally. I love being the magic maker in my family, and getting to extend that to my clients is such an honor, and one that I don’t take lightly! This year, for the second time, we welcomed Santa Claus to the studio for our annual portrait event! I absolutely adored having the big guy with us and truly enjoyed watching all of the little ones interact with this magical fellow.

Part of our Santa experience extended beyond the studio doors. The children each received letters from Santa and I loved being the one to create and seal them with the official “Santa Claus” wax seal. I can only imagine the absolute magic it created for our little guests. In the studio, I set to gathering everything for the gift bags, planning the cookies with Saratoga’s talented cookie artist, Kelly from Cookie Tastic and planning just the right tasks and activities and prompts for the kids to fully enjoy their visit with Santa Claus. It was important to me that this experience was more than just a chance for a photo with Santa. The portrait experience is about so much more!

This year the children helped Santa Claus polish his sleigh bells so that the reindeer could wear them on Christmas Eve. They read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and found their names on the Nice List scroll. The children also looked inside his official leatherbound book (where they were written in magical ink that only Santa and the elves can see!). Beyond that, each child had the chance to sing and laugh with Santa, too. It was so special to watch each interaction unfold right in front of our eyes. One of my other favorite parts was that each child received an official “Santa’s Helper Certificate” after helping Santa get everything ready. It was truly an unforgettable experience, and I loved seeing all of the families that joined us at the studio for this event.

Thank you to the following Saratoga Springs businesses who helped bring this magical holiday experience to life:

Cookies: Cookie Tastic
Garland: Journey Decor
Santa: Wilton Santa John

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Elegant Holiday Portraits: Our Favorite 2024 Holiday Portraits in Saratoga Springs

So many amazing families joined us for our annual Deck the Halls holiday portrait event in our Saratoga Springs studio this year and I’m thrilled to be sharing some of my favorite moments with you here on the blog. These sessions are near and dear to my heart. It’s special to see my longtime clients each holiday season, and to meet a few new families each year, too! We always have such a wonderful time in the Saratoga Springs studio - listening to holiday music and enjoying a chance to capture new portraits for these sweet families! 

This year, I leaned into creating elegant and timeless holiday setups. I wanted it to feel like Christmas without being too over the top. With that in mind, I chose plaid, flocked trees, velvet bow, a hint of gold, evergreen garland, and red berries to decorate the studio with. These simple setups allowed my families to be the center of attention. We could focus on their personalities, and their interactions - which is how I always want my family portraits to feel. I captured some sweet moments this year, including some first time holiday season smiles and lots of sweet laughs among the kids! 

Holiday portraits are one of my favorite mementos and things to display during the holiday season. I help each of our families decide how they want to showcase these priceless memories in their home after our session! One of my favorite ways is our beautiful silver snowflake ornaments and I always love our heirloom albums (the velvet is my favorite!). Being able to pull these special items out each winter always makes me smile in my own home and I hope that each of my clients feels the same way as they look back on their holiday portraits - filled with their little ones round cheeks, baby teeth, and sweet giggles. These sessions are another way to freeze time and capture the magic of the holiday season for years to come. 

Thank you to every family who trusted me to create a little holiday magic in our studio. It was so special and I’m beyond grateful to each and every one of you!

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Party of Five: Newborn Studio Session with Two Adoring Siblings

Baby Lillianna has joined the party! I had the absolute privilege of welcoming Lillianna, her big sister Annabella and big brother Antonio (and their parents, of course!) to my Saratoga Springs studio recently for her newborn portraits. Lillianna’s newborn portraits are a beautiful combination of special family portraits, incredibly sweet sibling moments, and special family heirlooms. It was perfect! 

I started Lillianna’s session with her family’s new portraits first. Her brother and sister were so sweet - they just wanted to keep snuggling up with her! In fact, Antonio was not about putting his new sister down! When I asked him if he wanted to get up so Mommy could have a turn holding Lillianna, he said he wasn’t done and wanted to keep holding her. So he did! It was so special and it’s clear he’s fascinated by his newest little sister. Don’t worry - we did eventually get a portrait of mama with her new baby girl too! 

Bethany, Lillianna’s mom, mentioned that she’d been working on a handmade blanket and asked if we could incorporate it into Lillianna’s portraits. I was thrilled to use this sweet pink and white blanket as part of her setups, and it inspired the rest of her session too! We leaned into the soft pinks, sage green, and white accents for her setups and everyone’s outfits. It created a soft and feminine vibe for this precious little girl! 

Welcome to the world, Lillianna! I’m so happy to have met you and captured these first portraits for you in the studio. You have the sweetest family and I know you are so very loved!!

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The Cuties Next Door - Group Portrait of our Adorable Neighborhood Baby Boom

Ever since our daughter was born in June 2022, our little neighborhood has experienced a baby boom! We are so lucky to be in this neighborhood that is experiencing a turnover with lots of new, young families moving in, and plenty of little ones for our children to grow up around. Now it’s walks, play dates, cookouts, trick or treating. Later it will be bus rides, school parties, dances. We continuously feel grateful that we are able to be in this season of life with some incredible families and little ones. 

In 2023 we got all of the babies together and took a group photo right in the middle of our sun-dappled street covered in autumn leaves.

We did it again this year, and now it’s officially a tradition. We were missing a few babies this year, and we added a few more over the past 12 months but, I absolutely love this little series of photos!

It is wild to see how much they’ve all grown over the past year, and how they’ve come into their personalities. We love watching the kids run up to each other on the street, shrieking each other’s names, and stopping to play. I can’t wait to see how their friendships develop as they grow! I’m so happy that each of our neighborhood families wanted to be a part of this new tradition. It feels so wonderful to watch these little ones grow up! 

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Quiet Grace: Capturing the Beauty of Intimate Maternity Portraits

Taylor and Brian’s maternity session was truly one of my favorite maternity sessions of 2024. I loved this studio session, and I felt so creatively inspired working with this couple. Taylor wanted a more intimate maternity session to embrace the beauty of her changing body as they awaited the arrival of their baby girl. We planned a more bare-bones style session with simpler outfits and flowy fabrics. Taylor and I love how it turned out!

When mamas-to-be go through pregnancy, there are so many changes in their bodies that can unearth many emotions. From feeling amazing, confused, inspired, awesome, jarred, and even exhausted - the experience can be overwhelming and so special. One of the things I love about maternity sessions is being able to embrace all of those feelings in their portraits. My goal with every session is to help mamas feel incredible and inspired by what their bodies are building and to embrace the beautiful changes as they get ready to welcome their babies. I know it can be so much, but I love when mamas like Taylor aim to document and showcase what’s so special about this journey. 

Before their ordering appointment, Taylor told me she was a little nervous to view her portraits. I was thrilled to be able to help her turn those nerves into excitement and awe.She later shared with me how grateful she was and how beautiful the session made her feel as an expecting mother. I’m so happy I got to work with you, Taylor and Brian. Thank you for trusting me with this special experience!

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