Celebrating 40 Years - An extended family portrait session on Cape Cod

Extended family sessions are always so much fun. While some may think that they are complicated & logistically challenging (You want me to get HOW MANY people looking at the camera at the same time?!?! And smiling, too?!?!), I actually really enjoy them!

I look at every extended family session as a beautiful opportunity to enjoy a peek into this whole family’s life together. It’s like being invited to their Thanksgiving table when everyone is so excited to be around one another, inside jokes are flying, and the kids are off having a blast at the kids’ table. Stories circle around the group, and the grandparents are always up for some tickles for the grandkids.

My favorite part is looking at the two grandparents and thinking that everyone is here because the two of them fell in love.

And that’s exactly what this family portrait session on Cape Cod felt like. This couple was celebrating 40 years of marriage, and 40 years of family vacations in Harwich. Their daughters and their grandchildren all got together for family portraits, and it was SO. MUCH. FUN.

We always start off with the kids to capture a few individual & sibling portraits, and the kids love running along the beach, telling me stories, and singing songs to get comfortable in front of the camera. These kids absolutely rocked it and I love how cute they were!

Did I mention how much fun we have during our sessions? Dancing, running, twirling, piggy back rides. All of your favorite things about childhood, captured in your portraits.

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Love this extended family session on the Cape? Pin this image or any from the post above for inspiration!

Seaside Smiles - family portraits at their beach house | cape cod family photographer

This summer was all about finding inspiration in new places on Cape Cod for our family portrait sessions.

For the first time ever I brought families to cute little downtowns with shingled buildings, a handful of new beaches, and I was even lucky enough to photograph this family’s portrait session at their waterfront beach house!

I love that the white trim, gray shingles, rocking chairs, blue hydrangeas, and Lilly Pulitzer print dresses all scream CAPE COD IN THE SUMMERTIME!! But even more meaningful was that they will get to enjoy these portraits up on their walls, bringing them right back to those warm summer memories on Cape Cod.

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Inspired by this Cape Cod beach session? Pin this image or any from the post above!

Outfit ideas for your photo session at the beach

Our Cape Cod family sessions at the beach should be fun, relaxing, and sandy… just like a day spent dipping your toes in the water and collecting seashells!

However, one of the biggest worries that mamas always tell me is that they have NO IDEA WHAT TO WEAR. That’s where I come in. This might be your first time planning coordinating outfits for a family photo shoot, but lucky for you I have done this hundreds of times and I have a few simple tricks to make it easier for you.

Plus, once you have a few outfits in mind you can always email them to me to get a second opinion on which ones will photograph best together!

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White looks amazing in the summer.

Everyone looks a little more sun-kissed when they wear white, and it really pops against the scenery at the beach. When in doubt, wear white.

SHADES OF BLUE

Pull inspiration from the colors at the beach. Many shades of blue look incredible by the seashore. I especially love light blue, chambray blue, and other muted shades of blue. Navy blue is classic, too!

HINT: Avoid any overly saturated, super bright blues because it just looks a little unnatural at the beach. Notice how most of the blues in this blog post have a touch of gray in them. That’s perfect.

Use colors you would find in nature.

Think of a sunset at the beach, and plan your colors accordingly. Blues, beiges, white, light pink, lavender, mint green, aqua. These all look incredible at the beach. A faded red also looks really nice (like those classic Nantucket red shorts that are everywhere in New England in the summertime).

PLAID

It’s super classic, and very summery. Also, gingham is very in this year, too!

How to style lots of family members?

If you stick to the tips above, it’ll actually be really easy. When in doubt, tell everyone to wear shades of muted blue with neutrals like white, cream, and khaki. That’s the easiest option when working with extended family and trying to coordinate 3-4 households for a large group portrait.

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Inspired for your session? Pin this image or any from the post above for your session!

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About Nicole Starr Photography 

Nicole Starr specializes in newborn, baby & family photography and has been serving families in New York and Massachusetts since 2012.  She has a portrait studio in Saratoga Springs, NY for families in the Capital Region, and she also works with families at her Attleboro, MA studio and on location in Boston and on Cape Cod. 

Having spent more than 20 summers on Cape Cod, this area truly feels like home when we get together for family photo sessions at the beach. Trust Nicole to capture your family beautifully while having fun out in the salt air!

Family Portraits at Low Tide on Cape Cod

Now that everyone is back to school, it's time to look back longingly at the beach days of summer, don't you think?

And what better way to do that than with a family that I once did the whole "back to school" thing with?  I've known this family for years, and their oldest daughter Jenna was a student in my first grade class back when I was a teacher in Massachusetts.  Now she's entering 8th grade!!  

We got together at Corporation Beach in Dennis on a perfect low-tide evening this summer and we had so much fun doing portraits together in the sea grass, on the jetty, and just exploring the parts of the beach that are normally covered in water!

Jenna & Annabelle warmed right up to the camera and they wanted to tell me all about their summer and their school year.  They were absolutely goofy to get the other one to smile, and we laughed so much during their session.  

Enjoy those summer memories as you move back into the school year routine!

Playful Family Portraits on Cape Cod | Cape Cod Family Photographer

Because I'm not ready for summer to be over yet, let's keep sharing more of our Salt Air portrait sessions from Cape Cod beaches on the blog!  

I absolutely adored Kara's family.  They kicked off my beach season this July and we had such an amazing time at Corporation Beach in Dennis.  Her kids have the biggest personalities they cracked all of us up with their dancing, their jokes, and their silly faces.  

No one wants to go take awkward family photos where you have to pose a certain way and be very still -- instead, we embrace the chaos, the hugs, the laughter, and the natural moments that unfold with your family.  These sessions really are SO MUCH FUN.

Cole is a riot.  He's a ball of energy, and he loves being the "clown" and making everybody laugh.  But when you catch his serious side, it's pure magic.  What a sweetheart!

Riley is the wisest little four-year old, and she seems to be years beyond her age.  Plus, she gives the best cuddles with both of her parents!

We were right in between high tide and low tide, and I love how the water came up into the seagrass.  This was definitely my favorite spot on the beach, and I'm so happy we captured a few playful portraits here of the whole family!

At the end of their session we captured the last rays of sunlight right as the sun was going down -- I am obsessed with the golden light and the magical feel of this portrait!  

Relaxed Family Portraits at Popponesset Beach in New Seabury | Cape Cod Family Photographer

I just love this family!  I've been following them on their journey of parenthood since before Lizzie was even born -- from maternity portraits to newborn sessions & cake smashes, we have captured so many memories together over the years!

This was our first time doing an outdoor session with the kids, and Lizzie & Gavin had so much fun running around Popponesset Beach and playing in the sand.  It was an overcast evening, which made for the perfect misty backdrop for this family's memory-making session.  Plus, the beach was almost empty and we had the entire stretch of sand to ourselves!

Our family sessions at the beach on Cape Cod are always playful and relaxed.  See a lifeguard chair?  Climb it!  Want to run on the board walk?  Go ahead!  Fan of collecting rocks?  Have at it!  Kids can be themselves -- curious explorers who can't help but laugh and chase each other, and we capture so many real memories for your family!

The first time I ever met Kate she had just gotten engaged, and now she's a mom of two amazing little kids with such big personalities!  I really do love getting to develop these amazing lasting relationships with the families that I work with while watching their kids (and families!) grow!

Gavin loved the sand, and of course he figured out that if he threw himself face-first into the sand we would all start laughing.  So it happened again and again, and we got the best smiles out of him!  Such a carefree and fearless kid!

As the weather cools off, I'm already feeling nostalgic for our beach sessions!  Thankfully we'll continue beach sessions on Cape Cod through October, so there is still time for some salt air memories!  Plus, beach portraits on your holiday cards are so refreshing.  Email us to book your session today!  

Kirsten & Dave: An Anniversary Session in the Outer Banks

This summer I fell in love with the Outer Banks.  Specifically, Hatteras Island and the little village of Avon.  

In July my husband and I went on vacation with his sister and her husband.  They happened to be celebrating their five-year anniversary, so of course that was the perfect opportunity for us to plan a sunset session at the Avon Pier!  I mean, just look at that pier.  Who wouldn't want to shoot there?!?!

Kirsten and I were roommates, and we first met 8 years ago when we started sharing an apartment in the Boston area with a few other girls.  The four of us quickly came to call ourselves the "Stepford wives" because we all loved baking, family dinners, house decorating, hosting, and wine nights at home.  Now we joke that I was Kirsten's wife long before I ever married her brother, Jeff.  ;o)  

But back to Kirsten & Dave.  Kirsten & Dave are the absolute sweetest couple, and they are so perfect together.  At one point in the evening I commented how natural they were in front of the camera, and she told me, "Of course!  Tell me to make out with my husband and we're all good!"  They cuddled up together, told jokes, and just made it an easy and relaxing evening for the four of us at the beach.

Jeff was there, too, and he definitely photobombed us a time or two while taking his job as assistant/camera gear pack-mule very seriously.

When I told Kirsten I had the perfect dress for her session, I was thrilled that she was as excited as I was to try out a few styles of this infinity wrap dress.  The color was perfect with the sand & surf, and it looked amazing on her.  I am officially hooked on the classic style that a long gown gives to any session, and you will definitely be seeing more dresses like this in our sessions!

Happy 5 years, Kirsten & Dave!  Thanks for an incredible vacation together!

Sweater Weather at the Beach

Let's go to the beach... in November... in New England. It sounds crazy, right?

When I first talked with Melissa, we had a vision for classic neutral tones, a soft sea haze, chunky textures on nice warm sweaters, and an incredibly fun family session.  Our session date finally arrived, and here we were a week into November.  Normally we might have had a snow flurry by now, and certainly it  would be normal to expect frigid temperatures.

But we lucked out.  Big time.

We enjoyed a gorgeous afternoon at Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, a cloudy 60-degrees day that was absolutely perfect for getting our feet sandy and running along the beach in our boots.

Marseille was a wild spirit on the beach, and I just adore how the wind coming in off the ocean picked up her hair and blew it in the breeze.  These candids are a few of my favorites.

Morrison was such a little boy, digging in the sand & flinging it around.  Sandy fingers and sandy toes mean you did the beach just right.  ;o)

And then there's Madrid.  She's an amazing big sister, corralling her two little siblings together for adorable photos.  Her favorite part of the beach was running off by herself and drawing in the sand.  What a creative little spirit.  

I brought this colorful blanket with me for some cuddly photos, and I love how much fun the kids had with it!  It really brought so much laughter, life, and personality to the photos right at the end of our session.

Peek-a-boo!

Surf's Up! A Birthday Cake Smash Session

When planning any photo session, I always love talking with my clients to learn about their lives, their interests, and what they REALLY want out of their session.  For Jason's 1st birthday, his mom knew one thing -- she wanted a pineapple cake.  Pineapple was what she craved most during her pregnancy, and she always joked that her baby boy was made of pineapple.

I loved the idea of a tropical cake for her little one, and we used a beachy vintage surfer theme for the backdrop.  This summer I have gotten into hand-painting backdrops for our sessions, and I am absolutely loving it!  This was a simpler set-up, and the photos were adorable.  Little Jason was more interested in the dots on the floor than his cake, though.  A few weeks later at his birthday party, his mom and dad learned that it's not that he doesn't LIKE cake.  Not at all.  He just LOVES chocolate cake.  (Ours was vanilla.)

First birthday sessions are more than just a cake smash.  They are a celebration of your first year together as a whole family, and I always love capturing this evolving love on camera with some gorgeous family shots.  Jason was such an active little boy, and he loved the camera.  He was absolutely fascinated by it, and constantly had his eyes on me to see what I was doing with that big black square in front of my eyes.  So much curiosity!

There are a few of my favorite family shots of Nancy and Fabricio with their little boy.  I love it when families can just play, laugh, and love in the park by my studio and we capture these amazing moments of them together.

Did you love this birthday session?  Click on the "Contact" tab above and let's plan your baby's first year session!

Want to see more like it?

Check out other recent cake smashes here and here.

Cape Cod Family Photo Session at Lighthouse Beach in Chatham

For just a couple of minutes, let's pretend that the snowbanks aren't overtaking the windowsills, and that our heat isn't cranked up high.  Let's go back to the beach...  Who's with me? To escape the snowy roads of Boston, I'm going back through this fun family session from last summer.  We met up early in the morning in Chatham at Lighthouse Beach, and it felt like we had our own little stretch of the beach to ourselves.  Over by the water a group was gathering for a sunrise yoga session, so we went off behind the dunes and created our own little playspace.  It was perfect for these three brothers -- lots of room to run, play soccer, fly airplanes, and dig in the sand!

I love it when grandparents join us for the photo sessions!  They play such an important role in a family's life, and it's so special when we can capture that on camera.  These lucky boys get to see their grandmother every single day in their home.  She was thrilled to have a photo of her with her grandsons!

I mean, really, how much fun is this little guy having?!?!  I love laughter on camera.  :)

We had such a fun time together!  It makes me eager for more beach sessions this summer... or maybe it's just the snow out my window that makes me crave summer?  Either way, I can't wait for that warm weather and that gorgeous golden sunlight.  It just makes everyone ready to capture some gorgeous family memories on camera!

Low Tide & Laughter

"If you once get the sand of the Cape in your shoes, you shall return."

Last week I packed my gear bag with some flip flops and an extra towel and I headed to the tip of the Cape to one of the most beautiful Cape Cod beaches I have ever been to.  I reached Eastham a few hours before sundown (perfect for that "golden hour" of light!).  It was low tide, and this family of six and I headed down a sandy path and through some sea grass to the wide expanse of sand that was filled with tide pools and crevices left by the receding water.  The setting was perfect, the light was dream-like, and this family was ready for some fun.  Cue the dance party!

Ella, Charlie, Lulu and Jack burst into a spontaneous dance party on the dock!

These siblings were a blast to work with.  Each had a unique personality ranging from bubbly and effervescent to quiet and studious.  The beach was a natural playground for them, a sandy and salty paradise.  Our session was filled with slithering eels, digging through the sand for pebbles, making sketches in the wet sand, relay races, and lots and lots of laughter.

Jack was lost in a book when I arrived, and when we went to the beach I coaxed some details out of him about his chapter book and he decided to teach me about all sorts of new kid tv shows that I didn't know about... I guess I need to brush up on the titles at least so I know if what they're mentioning is a show, a song, a book, or a group!

Charlie wore a grin the entire time -- literally every single picture I have of him, he has this huge smile stretching across his face from ear to ear.  He spent a lot of time getting lost in his own little sandy world, creating tunnels, dams, and pictures in the sand.

Ella loved the camera and was very relaxed and playful with her brothers and sister.  I got some great action shots of her on the beach... she was in her element!

Lulu was the youngest, but not to be outdone by her three older siblings, she fit right in with her sense of humor.  Lulu was a bubbly riot, knocking out one joke after another and a number of one-liners that were just too funny and had us all in stitches.

This family was such a joy to photograph!  Plus, I discovered a gorgeous new beach!  The dog days of summer don't get much better than that!

Summer's Spontaneity

"Loadin' up and living right,

Fast cars on a summer night,

Breeze is warm and the music's right

This endless summer.

Boogie boards and diggin' holes.

Sand castles and fishin' poles.

What a way to save our soulds

This endless summer."  

(Aaron Lewis, "Endless Summer")

A last-minute phone call, a few bags and coolers thrown into the car, and a spontaneous trip to the Shore.  When I got that "What are you doing next Tuesday through Thursday?" message from a friend, I just knew I had to drop everything and meet her on Long Beach Island.  She brought the kids.  I brought my camera.

Below, one of my favorite pictures of Wendy and Zack.  Love the retro vibe to these beach photos!

It was a relaxing mid-week getaway.  The house we stayed in was one of those perfect beach cottages, only a block away from the beach and filled with that comforting feel of sand under your feet on the hardwood floors.  When I was a kid, we had this little placard that read, "If you once get the sand of the Cape in your shoes, you will return."  Same thing here.... there's just something about the beach that has you coming back for more!  We definitely had some sandy beach babies with us this week!!

And, what would a trip to the beach be without a stop for ice cream?

I absolutely love the story board below.  Zack went to town on his dish of ice cream, and he was oh-so-disappointed when he reached bottom.  Clearly he wouldn't accept that there was no more ice cream in his dish, and he kept searching for more.  His expression in the last photo just kills me!  :o)

Beautiful Addison Caroline was with us, too, celebrating her two-month birthday. I haven't seen her since I did her newborn shots at 2 weeks, and this beach babe has grown so much already!

Two-year old Hailey spent the whole week looking out for little baby Addie.  So adorable!

Such a wonderful trip!  Now if only our endless summer really were endless!!

Shutter Session: Liam

When his mom told me how much Liam loved the water, I didn't believe her at first.  There were stories of Liam teaching himself to blow bubbles in the bathtub, his first trip to the beach, and how his first word even had to do with water - DUCK.   She also told me how much he loves loves loves to eat sand.  Well, after our photo shoot at Lake Cochituate last week, I believe her.

The mischievous little guy after eating a mouthful of sand.... because really, a sandy goatee is irresistible for a photograph!

The second Liam changed into his swimming gear (which, by the way, makes him look like a handsome little surfer dude!), he knew what was coming.  As we approached the water, his feet started running even though his mom was carrying him in her arms.  He knew where he wanted to go.  And we let him head right into the sand and the water.

An expression of pure ecstasy in the shots above. If you give a one-year-old boy some sand, he will certainly find a way to cover himself in it.

Liam was a blast to photograph.  I rolled up my jeans and got into the lake to get just the right angle of this little boy in his sandy element.  He was fascinated by the water -- this water boy, as his mom told me, even loves getting the water poured on him during bath time!  Here, a few of my favorite water shots...

Somehow, we did manage to get some dry pics of Liam on land, too.  I love his sparkling eyes in this one, and his cute little one-year-old teeth peeking out!

And of course, he made a toy out of the pine needles that covered the ground.  I'm starting to see a pattern in all his toys created from nature.  ;o)

Love the lens effect on this image, above.  Completely loving my new 50mm lens!!

Such a fun little guy!