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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5.  You love portraits filled with emotion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Donut Smash for Dylan's First Birthday with Union Square Donuts | Boston Baby Photographer

Who said cake smashes can only include cake?  Dylan celebrated her first birthday with donuts from Union Square Donuts in Somerville, and I'm in love!!

This donut smash was such a fun way to celebrate Dylan's first birthday, and I love that her mom came to me with a totally unique idea, inspired to try something new and give her daughter a birthday experience that was extra special to their family -- they are regular Sunday morning customers at their local donut shop, of course!

Of course, dad couldn't resist jumping in for a bite!  I always love it when babies get to happy to share their birthday smash food with family, and this is definitely a favorite moment captured from Dylan's session!

All of our birthday sessions include family portraits, and one-year olds are so much fun to play with!  Dylan's mom and dad enjoyed cuddles, tickles, and so many sweet little giggles from their birthday girl!  She was just learning to walk at the time of her session, and I am obsessed with the images of her walking with her daddy.  Her expressions are priceless!

Did you love this session?  Looking for inspiration for your cake smash?  Check out our blog post with 70+ theme ideas (including food alternatives!) for your baby's cake smash session.

A Lifestyle Newborn Session in the South End

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Beautiful In-Home Session with Twins

Let Me Call You Sweetheart: A Lifestyle Newborn Session

A Light & Airy Session at Home with Lucas

A Springtime Milestone Session for a Baby Girl in our Saratoga Springs Studio

Oh my goodness, you guys!!  Just look at Hazel!  Isn't she the cutest bright-eyed baby girl?

Baby Hazel came to the studio for a beautiful springtime session.  I am so excited to finally bring out the pastel colors, all of the flowers, and a few adorable new outfits now that winter is over and we're getting ready for lots of springtime loveliness here in our Saratoga Springs portrait studio.  

This sweet baby girl absolutely rocked her portrait session with her Sweet Ivie headbands and our Photographer Rising Lavender Fields backdrop, painted by the talented Heidi Hope.  

At seven months old, she is at one of my favorite ages to capture on camera.  The sitter stage is full of personality as babies are sitting independently, discovering their toes when laying on their backs, and not quite crawling away from the camera yet.  In a few months she'll be crawling and walking around the room, but this stage of discovery and awe is always such a fun one to capture on camera since it is so fleeting.

As I get ready for spring here in the studio, I am loving finding new ways to incorporate greenery into our sessions.  This beautiful eucalyptus garland with blush pink roses is my favorite addition to our prop closet, and I love it against the cream wall and floors.  

Plus, doesn't Hazel look amazing with the Sweet Ivie headband that coordinates so perfectly with her dress and backdrop?

We are now booking springtime sessions here at our Saratoga Springs studio!  We have plenty of outfits, headbands, diaper covers, and wraps for your baby to enjoy a fully-styled session with Nicole Starr Photography!

A Boho-inspired Cake Smash Session for Twins

Oh my goodness, I just love these little girls!  I’ve been so lucky to watch Finley & Bella grow through their entire first year, capturing all of their milestones from their newborn session to their first birthday.  Just look at them now!

It is always an honor when a family trusts me to capture their most precious gifts on camera, and when they continue to bring their babies to me as they grow — that is the very best feeling for my baby-loving and photo-loving heart.  

I have loved watching these girls together, and I can’t believe that these babies who were only FOUR POUNDS when I first held them last year are now these healthy, happy, and beautiful little girls on the brink of toddlerhood.  Aren’t they gorgeous??!?!

Family photos are always some of my favorites to capture during our birthday sessions.  Mom & dad have survived 365 days of this whole parenting thing, and they are in an entirely different place than they were when they first welcomed their girls to the world a year ago.  Plus, they are on their way to mastering the art of being parents of TWINS, which is a whole other ballgame!  

So when Finley & Bella felt more like crying during the cake smash portion of our session, you know what their parents did?  They didn’t panic.  They didn’t start crying, too.  They just rolled with it — they know that there have been so many moments over the past 12 months where their little girls expressed themselves this way, so they rolled with it. 

Besides, I happen to think that crying babies are pretty adorable and I always make sure to capture those little tears on camera when they do happen.  Just imagine pulling this photo out at their 16th birthday party or on their wedding day — classic, right?  

Happy birthday to these sweet little girls, tears and all!  

If you loved Finley & Bella’s cake smash, see how they’ve grown by checking out their newborn session, first Christmas session, and milestone session last Mother’s Day!

A Dreamy Session with Newborn Twins

Celebrating Motherhood Photo Event with Twins

Holiday Sessions with Twins

Is your baby turning one in the next few months?  Email us at hello@nicolestarrphotography.com and let’s chat about planning the perfect birthday celebration for this milestone! 

Use the contact tab above to get in touch, and you can also browse more cake smash inspiration in the “Sessions” tab above!

Do you love this boho teepee as much as I do?  Learn how to make one for your home or for your next photo session!  Our DIY teepee tutorial has become very popular over on the blog, and we'd love for you to save this to Pinterest, too!

A Light & Airy Newborn Session at Home: Lucas Matthew

Baby toes.  I am completely obsessed with baby toes.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Superhero Cake Smash: Saratoga Springs & Albany, NY Baby Photographer

It's a bird...

It's a plane...

It's... SUPERBABY ANTHONY!

I have been having so much fun designing our cake smashes lately!  It helps that the families are coming up with the most amazing themes.  (Did you see our "Where the Wild Things Are" smash?  So adorable!)  When Anthony's parents told me that they were planning a superhero bash for his first birthday party, I knew that I wanted to do an airy cityscape for his set.  That combined with his vibrant cake and the smiliest baby I've ever seen, and this is certainly topping the charts as one of my favorite cake smash sessions so far!

One of my favorite parts of Anthony's cake smash session actually happened AFTER the cake smash.  We got together at his family's home for their reveal session, and his parents fell in love with every single photo in their slideshow.  When they showed the baby the photos of himself, Anthony put on the biggest smile and erupted into the most adorable giggle.  This baby LOVES seeing photos of himself, and he stared and stared at them, taking in every detail.  Such a sweet moment, and I was so happy to be there in person to witness that!

For me, first birthdays are about more than just the baby.  They are about celebrating as a family -- you have survived your first year of parenthood, and that is a major accomplishment!  I always love capturing the love, the joy, and the celebration of parents with their babies just as their little one is about to become a toddler.  Enjoy a few sweet moments of Anthony with his parents...