Our New Brand & Website #NSPLaunchDay

The day is finally here to unveil our beautiful new website & brand!  I am head over heels in love with how everything has come together to create a beautiful, airy, whimsical & pure storytelling look and feel.  

I have spent so many months digging deep into the heart behind my business, into finding the true story behind why I do what I do and how this best serves the families that I work with.  At conferences, in workshops, and in every business article written for creative entrepreneurs they tell you to find the WHY behind your brand.  Friends, I've found it.

I've realized that I've always had a fascination with stories (read more about this on the "Meet Nicole" section of our website!).  Everyone has a story to tell, and everyone's story is worth celebrating.  Being invited into my clients' lives to capture these stories and preserve these memories is such an honor, and I've worked hard to show this throughout my website.

So, how did this all happen?

I first connected with Erica at The Refinery in the fall when I was looking for a designer to help me with a full rebrand and website design.  I had heard amazing things about her, and I loved the clean lines and simplicity of her work.  After a few FaceTime coffee dates to share our ideas for the rebrand, we set a date to begin working on the content!

It all started with pinning pretty & sparkly images on Pinterest, and then turning them into an inspiration board for my brand.  This board represents the look, feel, focus, color scheme, and fonts of the new Nicole Starr Photography.  Three weeks ago, this was just a dream.  A pretty little collection of images.  Today, I can clearly see how it all comes together in my website, logo, and collateral materials.

From there, we pulled together all of my favorite elements to create a truly stunning logo that represents everything pure, magical, and airy about my website.  We went through a few different versions of the logo, and my friends and other creative colleagues lent their opinions to help me find the one that best represented my business.  

Here is the gorgeous logo that we settled on for the primary logo.  I love the stars, the soft colors, and the whimsical script paired with a timeless and classic serif font below.

Then came the web design!  But first, I had to decide what I wanted to include on my new website.  This was the difficult part.  I spent hours upon hours sketching ideas, writing content, and editing everything to perfection before sending it all off to Erica to work her magic.

I have been dreaming big ever since returning from the Creative at Heart conference last November, and there were so many new changes I wanted to implement and start offering to the families that I work with.  Among those were Fresh 48 sessions, a Baby Registry, and a SpokesMama program.  All of these are to better help you tell your story.  I'll be featuring each of these this week on social media through "In the Spotlight" posts sharing a little bit about each one.  In the meantime, be sure to check them out here on the website because I am oh-so-excited about each and every one.

Erica is a genius at web design, and before I knew it she had turned all of these big ideas into a beautiful, cohesive, and stunning website!  I woke up one morning and saw that she had sent me the first draft of the website in the middle of the night (there was a slight time difference with me on the East coast and her on the West coast).  My first response?  "OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!  It's so beautiful!"  

I was speechless and couldn't even believe that this beautiful webpage featuring images of so many stunning families was mine!  She took this dream and turned it into something concrete and oh-so-beautiful.  I'm still in awe.

I started this business 4 years ago as a creative outlet, and it has turned into something so much more beautiful & powerful than I ever imagined.  There have been so many milestone markers along the way that have made me feel like this dream is really going to BE something. Every single one has felt like a celebration to me.  Including this one, the latest one.

The first time I saw my images printed.  
The first time I published a blog post.  
The first time I held my business cards in my hands.  
The first time I hung a 16x20 canvas of my work.  
The first time I reached a $1000 sale.  
The first time I took my time to develop a real packaging style.
The first time I hosted a family in my studio.  
That time when I left my teaching job after 6+ years in the classroom to pursue my dream.  
The first time I hosted a beginners photography workshop.
The first time I followed a family through their entire baby's first year of photos.
That time I was asked to go to NYC for the NDSS photo shoots.
The first time another photographer hired me for her family's portraits.  

And now... the first time that my vision and my dream has truly been brought to life thanks to the amazing work of The Refinery.  

To all of my creative friends: if you're thinking of hiring a web designer to bring you to the next level of your business, just do it.  It's truly the best decision I've made for my business and I know that it's going to serve the families that I work with so much better.

To all of the families that have followed me on this journey and been so incredibly supportive: thank you.  Your stories mean the world to me, and your family's images are the best thing on this new website of mine.  I can't wait to capture more magical moments for your family, and I look forward to helping you tell many more stories that you & your children will cherish for a lifetime.

One last thing...  To thank you for being so amazing, we're hosting a giveaway on our Facebook page.  Be sure to enter the contest before Friday at noon!  You can view all of the details on our Facebook page.

A Playful Outdoor Fall Photo Session at Larz Anderson Park

This is what happens when you bring two brothers outside for a photo session on a chilly November day: Giggles, laughter, wrestling, running across the park to warm up, and SO.MUCH.FUN.  Nathan & Noah were an absolute blast to capture on camera, and I am so happy that we fit in a last-minute photo session for these boys in time for their family's holiday cards.

These two arrived to Larz Anderson Park ready to play, and the beauty of our laid-back sessions is that playing is always an option.  It's even encouraged!  I always aim to capture the real you -- your real smiles, your real laugh, and the real way that you elbow your brother in the ribs when you think no one's looking.   ;o)  After all, these are the moments their mom will remember in 20 years, and these are the ones I want her to treasure right now.

I love the smirk in this photo below!

This next photo was captured after the boys were jumping off the wall, and I'm pretty sure they were trying to fly.  Any mom of boys knows that this is just how your photo sessions go.  So, like any mom of boys, this mom was worried about what we did or didn't capture during our session together.  Of course, I told her that it's not all of the crazy moments that we capture -- though we do get a few of those, too!  It's the millisecond in between, and knowing right when to click that shutter button to capture the photo of her boys that she will have on the wall for the next 20 years.

This one right here.  That's the one.

Are you a parent living in Newton, Brookline, Brighton, JP, Roslindale, West Roxbury, Chestnut Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods?  Check out Macaroni Kid -- Newton-Brookline!  The boys' mother, Ali, runs this weekly e-newsletter and website bringing you a list of local family-friendly events.  There is so much amazing information for families on their website, including DIY projects, recipes, local events & festivals, shopping guides, crafts for your kids, and coupons for some special savings for your family!

Macaroni Kid is also on Facebook, so be sure to follow their page for daily updates for family fun!

Macaroni Kid featured Nicole Starr Photography earlier this fall after hearing about our photo sessions for National Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  Check out the featured post here.

A Musical First Birthday Cake Smash

Her name is Melody.  She loves music, singing, and dancing.  Of course we were going to do a musical themed cake smash for her first birthday photo session!

There are about a million and one reasons why I love cake smash sessions.  Cute babies, cake & creativity top the list.  I had this idea for a backdrop of floating hearts created from sheet music, and it came out just as beautiful as I had imagined it would.  I love when that happens!

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It wasn't long before Melody knocked the entire cake right off of the cake stand.  Let the smashing begin!  She really got into it -- just check out her toes in these next few photos!  I just love it when the babies get so into the smashing that it is all they can focus on.  So sweet!

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The end of the smash always gives us the most comical reactions from the babies -- "What do you mean that cake's all gone?  And you want to wash me?  No way!!!"

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Want to see the birthday girl in action?   Check out this adorable video clip!  I'm pretty certain that Melody LOVED her birthday cake!!

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Happy birthday, baby girl!

View the rest of Melody's birthday session & family photos here.

The Arnold Arboretum for Rustic Family Photos

A first birthday is such an amazing time, especially the first birthday of your very first baby!  You're celebrating your first year of parenthood, your first year as a family of three, and 365 days of this amazing little one that has changed your lives for the better.

This family reached out to me to capture their daughter's first birthday photos, and as always we combined Melody's session with a beautiful family session to capture the love and the amazing bonds shared between this sweet little family of three (almost four -- baby #2 is on the way!).  We headed to the Arnold Arboretum to a nice secluded area near Peters Hill for the most gorgeous fall photos.

This baby girl is so, so loved!!

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boston baby photographer fall family photos

boston baby photographer fall family photos, arnold arboretum

boston baby photographer fall family photos

We enjoyed gorgeous fall colors and sparkling sunlight at Peters Hill in the Arnold Arboretum.  I always try to find unique areas for my sessions, and when we revisit a location with a new family, my goal is to discover amazing little spots that we have not captured on camera before.  This little area of the woods was perfect for that with so many gorgeous areas bathed in the most amazing light.  I absolutely love this spot for amazing rustic photos nestled off in the woods.  Melody was quite intrigued by the pine needles carpeting the ground.

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boston baby photographer fall family photos

boston baby photographer fall family photos

boston baby photographer fall family photos

Afterwards, we headed back to the studio for the rest of Melody's session, including her first birthday cake smash!  Be sure to check out her musical cake smash here.  It was so much fun, and she really got into her cake!

Happy Birthday, baby girl!

Fall Portrait Session at Cushing Park in Framingham

Some of the best families to work with are the ones that just LOVE documenting their family's life. These are the families that see the value in capturing their love, their growth, and their memories every year.  They understand that childhood is fleeting, and that the curiosity, the magic, and the wonder is something that should be cherished.  They realize that you have to let the kids be little, because before long they'll be grown and may not smile for your camera.  They know that snuggles, laughter, and hugs are the best memories, and they enjoy reliving those moments by placing them prominently on their walls to bring a smile to their face every single day.

The S family has come to me for three sessions in two years, and I just love visiting them and seeing their walls filled with the memories that we created together during their sessions.  This latest session was pure magic, a beautiful fall family session at Cushing Park in Framingham, MA.  The light was sparkling, little Stephen's curiosity was at its peak, and we had such a playful afternoon together.

Enjoy your beautiful memories!

The little scientist is hard at work observing and classifying pinecones in the "enchanted forest" that we wandered into during our session.  When a cluster of pine trees becomes a forest, and when pinecones are the most fascinating thing you've encountered... that is when childhood is magical.I just love this playful photo of Stephen & his dad, a piggy back ride with a great loud monster's "ROAR" right as I clicked the shutter.  

Thank you for such a wonderful session!  I look forward to capturing many more memories with your beautiful family.

Looking for tips to rock your family's portrait session?  Check out our 6 tips for an amazing session with babies and young children here!

Celebrating Motherhood Event | Organic Mother & Baby Sessions

We believe that moms are beautiful.

We believe that motherhood is the most difficult but rewarding job in the world, and that the love you share with your babies is so incredibly breathtaking.  We believe that you deserve to be pampered, you deserve to feel gorgeous, and you deserve to have stunning memories captured on camera with your little ones.

This is what is at the heart of our Celebrating Motherhood photo sessions.  The idea that moms are incredible women who have embarked on such a beautiful journey with their little ones.  The idea that the laughs, cuddles, hugs, and kisses are all moments that deserve to be remembered.  The idea that motherhood deserves to be CELEBRATED.

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But you know what I hear all the time as a photographer that makes me so sad?  Moms that tell me they only want photos of their kids, they don't want to be in the pictures, and -- the worst one of all -- that they "hate" themselves in photographs.

Alright moms, listen up:  YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, STRONG, SMART & AMAZING.  Sure, the spit up on your shoulder may be the latest accessory, you're still trying to lose the baby weight, and a messy bun and yoga pants are how you get "dolled up" on a Friday night.   But you know what?  You're still beautiful.  You are Wonder Woman.  You are raising these tiny humans filled with compassion & love, and you are doing a spectacular job.

And THAT is why we created the Celebrating Motherhood photo sessions.  Eighteen mothers enjoyed a day out to relax, be pampered, sip on champagne, and have a little down-time while babysitters took care of their children.  Then we took gorgeous photos of the moms looking and feeling glamorous with their babies.

Years from now, your children will be able to look back at these photos and they will know how much they were loved, how much they were cuddled, and how their mom realized their bond was so special that she captured it in photographs and preserved it forever.  They'll look back and see you for the Wonder Woman that you truly are.  Enjoy!

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Congratulations to the newest mother who came to our sessions.  This glowing mama became a mom only 6 days earlier!  

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Location & Event Collaboration: Little Lovage Club

Hair: Tiffany Cantin

Makeup: Sarah Adams for Follain

Childcare: Sensible Sitters

Swag Bags: Alli Russell of LPDTRA

Additional Collaborators: MV Breastfeeding Support

We had such an incredible team that day to keep the children happy, the mothers calm, and everything flowing smoothly.  A huge thank you to everyone that made this day possible.  We truly couldn't have done it without you!

A few behind the scenes photos of Tiffany & Sarah in action, pampering the moms for their glamorous sessions with their babies.  Tiffany and Sarah were the first welcoming faces that the moms saw when they came in for their sessions, and these two immediately made them all feel comfortable, relaxed, and beautiful.

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A Dreamy Session with Newborn Twins | Albany & Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

Sometimes miracles come in pairs.

Finley Grace & Bella James

I love photographing newborns.  Absolutely adore it.  But when you bring newborn twins to me?  Oh my gosh, I'm in heaven!

After arriving one month early and spending some time in the NICU, I was so excited to finally snuggle with these baby girls in the studio.  They are just the sweetest little things, and I adored our session together.  Creamy, dreamy, whimsical & soft are my favorite types of sessions, and this one was no exception!  I love the soft, neutral colors that allow the babies to be the focus of the session, the way we had the most perfect light streaming through the studio windows to illuminate these new parents and their love, and the most peaceful little girls that slept the entire time.

I adore the stunning mama and baby portrait, below.  I recently came across a motherhood quote, and when I read it this photograph immediately came to mind.

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  

She never existed before.  

The woman existed, but the mother, never.  

A mother is something absolutely new."  ~Rajneesh

Love this fun shot of the babies in their daddy's arms!  They won't be that tiny forever, and it's amazing to see and look back on.

The best compliment that you can give a photographer is to have an emotional connection to the portraits that we take and the moments that we capture.  The photo below is the one that brought tears to their mom's eyes during our reveal session.  I just LOVE that a photograph can do that, and I'm truly honored that the photographs I take of your children mean so much.  <3  

And we'll finish with my favorite shot of Finley & Bella, two little twins all snuggled up together.  I love how they just curl up together and mold their limbs together into one tiny little space.  

Check out other newborn twin sessions here, here & here.

Love the clean and organic look of these photographs?  Me too!  View Lucy's clean and simple newborn session.

A Beacon Hill Family Session

Sometimes, I find myself so caught up in capturing the newborns, the sitters, the crawlers, toddlers, and pre-schoolers that I forget how amazing sessions are with older children.  I actually LOVE these sessions with teens and pre-teens.  I feel so lucky to be able to capture these amazing young adults on camera, learn a little about their lives, listen to their big dreams, and have such a fabulous time exploring and capturing beautiful photographs together!

Meet Chloe & Hannah.

We got together in Beacon Hill for a beautiful sunset session with these gorgeous girls and their mom.  The four of us wandered through the Public Garden and walked the streets of Beacon Hill while soaking in those last sparkling rays of summer sunshine.  I loved listening to their stories about traveling around the globe, adding Morocco to my list of must-see travel destinations.

I introduced them to the famous Acorn Street, the most photographed street in America nestled among the brick homes and cobblestones of Beacon Hill.  They loved how quaint it was, and this portrait became a framed 16x20 that is waiting to find a place in their home.

This blue store front was one of my favorite spots that we found to photograph by.  How absolutely gorgeous do Hannah & Chloe look against the blue, the sparkling glass, and the bright pops of color in the background?  I just love this section of the city, and I'm so happy we chose to do their session downtown!

Would you love to see another senior-style session?  Check out Simi's ballet-inspired session in the woods here!

Making New Memories in Vintage Dresses | A Motherhood Session

Arlene is a dear, dear friend of mine.  We've known each other for years -- before marriage & babies & houses & PhDs & photography businesses.  I've loved capturing her little girls on camera, and I always adore the sweet moments we photograph when we get together. Sometimes, you just have to call your friend up to come over, get dolled up, and do a pretty motherhood session in the studio with her daughters.  And that's exactly what we did last Monday morning.

There is so much love bundled into these photographs, and there is such a history of love stories in each one, too!  Arlene's husband is a genealogist and is always sharing stories about their long lines of ancestors.  What I love about these photographs is the history in their outfits.  Arlene is wearing her wedding dress from their celebration in the Dominican Republic.  Little Daniela is wearing the dress that Arlene wore to her own parents' wedding when she was a little girl.  And her big sister, Alice, is wearing the dress she wore last weekend to Arlene's brother's wedding.  So much love, so much history, and so many stories in those sweet white dresses.

Alice & Daniela.

Looking at a photo of the girls from our last session together, I've concluded that this is their signature "sister hug".  Dani looks like she's used to dealing with her big sister's too-tight squeezes, and I just love the expression on her little face!

I've known Alice since she was a teeny-tiny baby in the hospital, welcoming her to the world with a "1st birthday" cake on her first day in our lives.  Watching her grow, and watching Arlene as a mom, has been such a joy.  That's what the heart behind our "Celebrating Motherhood" sessions is all about -- the magic of motherhood, and those gorgeous memories that moms make with their little ones.

Can't you just tell how much Dani loved the camera?  Such a little doll!

A Rustic & Magical Session | Boston Child Photographer

We did a family session for this sweet girl's family last spring -- mom and dad, her older brothers, grandma and grandpa, her aunt and uncle, and her little cousin.  It was such a fun session, and we captured so many gorgeous photos for a stunning wall gallery in their home.

But sometimes, you just want to focus on one child at a time.

When Maddie's mom learned about my Simply Baby sessions, and she was so excited to get together with her little girl for a short & sweet session focusing just on her little one.  We planned the perfect rustic session, and I was thrilled to be able to use the beautiful twine lanterns that Jeff and I decorated with above our wedding ceremony last June.

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Maddie is a funny little girl.  She loves laughing, pretty dresses, twirling, and of course, the Frozen song.  (I'm pretty sure "Let it go" played on repeat in my back pocket for most of her session.)  This little sweetheart was a little shy at first, but the moment her mom stepped away she opened right up and showed me the most playful and spirited personality.  I absolutely adored our session together, and I love the whimsical photos that we captured!

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I love the energy in this photo!  What a fun capture!

We walked to the "enchanted forest" and played hide & seek among the tall oak trees.

My favorite photo is this one here, hand on the hip, a breeze in her hair, and a little sass in her expression.  I love it!

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To complete the magical set up, I set up a pretty little lace teepee for part of Maddie's shoot.  These backlit photos of her inside are so beautiful, and they show her expressive and playful spirit!  I love her little profile shot in the last one.

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Check out another magical toddler session here -- with glitter, crowns, and sparkly dresses!

A Sparkly Birthday Cake Smash {Maria}

There's something so magical about celebrating your little one's first birthday. I'm not talking about the parties, the decorations, the gifts.  I'm talking about reaching that monumental milestone that marks your first year as a family of three.  365 days of weathering the ups and downs while getting to know who this little baby of yours is.  12 months of parenting success.   Victory.

I love it when families come to me for their baby's first birthday session, and I always make it a point to snap some gorgeous memories of the whole family together.  Think about your little one's first year.  You have a million photos of your baby, a couple of your partner with the baby... and you're not in any of the pictures, right?  Jump in the frame and show your baby that you were there, that you were loving and happy and present.

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Doesn't Maria have the most amazing sparkling eyes?  I could photograph her sweet & soulful expression all day!  And this little blue romper of hers?  I'm in love with it!  It was the perfect outfit for her one-year session.

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boston saratoga photographer

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boston saratoga photographer

Maria's mom wanted to celebrate her daughter's first year with a little *SPARKLE*.  Of course, I was thrilled about her pink and gold themed cake smash and was so excited to pull together the most gorgeous set up for her baby girl.  Sparkle and NSP go hand in hand, as you well know.  ;o)  Enjoy a few of my favorites from her sparkly cake smash session!

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This little miss LOVED clapping her hands together, and I'm pretty certain that half of the photos from her session have her cheering herself on and looking to us to continue the applause.  Such a little cutie!

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Happy Birthday, Miss Maria!  And congratulations to her amazing parents on their first victorious year as a family of three.

Did you love Maria's girly-girl session?  Check out another sparkly cake smash photo shoot here!

Want to learn more about our birthday sessions?  Read about our first year & cake smash sessions.

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A Whimsical Pink & Teal Birthday

Look who's turning one! I had such a fabulous time planning Anna's cake smash with her mom.  Some families come to me and say, "I'm not the creative type.  I trust you.  I'm sure you'll come up with an amazing set."  Other families come to me in the planning stages and tell me a few ideas, we share inspiration photos, bounce ideas off of each other, and then I finish the final details in planning their session!

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Anna's mom knew that she wanted to do a cake smash birthday session outdoors, which I was very excited about.  She wanted something girly, soft, and whimsical for her daughter.  She loved inspiration photos that I sent her with pinks and teals, and fell in love with these tissue paper balls upon first glance.  That plus the perfect location (Larz Anderson Park in Brookline) with the most incredible light sparkling through the trees in the distance meant that we had the set up for a STUNNING cake smash!

I love seeing the cute little outfits that parents find on Etsy for the children's sessions.  This ruffled and lacy teal diaper cover was no exception, and it was just perfect with those pearl beads!

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Anna was so full of personality and I loved capturing her at this age.  The first birthday is such a milestone, and your little baby is growing into quite the little person!  Those rolls on the legs, her excited new clapping skills, and those teeth poking through are just a few of the things you'll want to remember about this age.

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While a little dainty at first, Anna quickly got all into her cake and was loving every single frosting-covered bite!  Her big brother Mikey wasn't one to just sit on the sidelines and watch his sister enjoy that whole cake to herself, so he jumped in.  These next photos weave together perfectly to tell such a comical story of Anna realizing that Mikey loved her birthday cake...

And just like that, Anna is all done!

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See the rest of this family's beautiful session at Larz Anderson Park by clicking here.

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Did you love this cake smash?

Check out another sparkly cake smash session here.

Is your baby turning 1 soon?  Let's chat and plan their birthday session!  

Email me by clicking on the >>CONTACT<< tab above.

A Sunlit Family Session | Boston Family Photographer

Every time I go to Larz Anderson Park, I fall in love with a new hidden little area of their gorgeous, expansive park.  It truly is the perfect little place for photo shoots because no two sessions will ever be the same!  This time when I met the S family at the park, I was determined not to replicate any photos or locations I had used previously with another recent family session.  Looking at what we captured together with mom, dad, Mikey, and Anna, I'd say it was a success!

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I absolutely adore this photo of everyone cuddling together beneath a backlit tree.  When we do family sessions, the children are the priority and we keep it playful, fun, and light.  During our time together, Mikey and I talked about superheroes and ran through the trees where he found this perfect little spot for his family.  Tickles, laughter, and natural smiles.  What a fun session!

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During our ordering appointment, mom and dad both fell in love with this photo of their little loves on my vintage quilt!  This is one of my favorite props, a flea market score at the Brimfield Antique Fair last summer.  It comes with me to nearly every summertime session for that fun pop of color, cuddly, and vintage.

This 16x20 canvas is now bringing smiles and cheer to the entryway of their home.  Imagine down the stairs and seeing this every morning?  That's sure to start your day off right!

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Another thing that I love about regular family sessions is capturing your children's milestones!  Anna is just learning to take her first (assisted) steps, and now her family will forever be able to remember that when she is running around at full-speed in just a few short months.

Love their photos?  Check out the rest of their session with Anna's beautiful cake smash photos here in this post!

A Little Fox & Woodsy Newborn Baby Session {Boston Baby Photographer}

Andrew Stephen

March 17, 2015

9 pounds, 3 ounces

21 inches

Little Baby Andrew is not exactly "little"... all 9.3 pounds of him filled up my baskets, my newborn hats, and his mommy & daddy's arms.  This sweetheart was such a cutie with his head full of hair and his sparkling blue eyes, and I had such a fabulous time with his mom and dad in the studio during his session.  We got so many adorable little photos of him and I'm thrilled to share them here.  This first one of him in his daddy's strong arms will just melt your heart...

This handsome little guy was born on St. Patrick's Day, so it was only fitting that we get some proper green photos for this Irish babe.  LOVE how these turned out!

When I first talked with his mom to plan his session, I knew right away that we were going to get along fabulously.  She was so easy-going and excited about his session, and she had so many great ideas for his photos.  I love it when parents have ideas and themes they'd like top incorporate into their shoots!  She told me that she and her husband are "woodsy" and that they had had a rustic wedding with their closest family and friends.  After hearing about a sweet little fox set that someone had made for her baby boy, I knew just the set up to design for their little fox.  What do you think of the new nest?  You'll be able to see the first photo over on The Loving Nest's new website, an NSP partner.  Check them out!

Congratulations to Lindsay & Chris on their sweet little boy's arrival.  He is absolutely perfect!

A Natural & Neutral Newborn Session {Theodore Peter}

First of all, do you notice something new about this post?  Look very closely and you just might spy it...   :o)

Carli & Nick were just the sweetest when we met for their son's newborn session.  Their baby boy was born in the last days of February, right in the middle of all of that snow that came to us here in Boston.  I was so happy to spend a morning with them getting to know their little boy.  Typical newborn sessions are 2-3 hours, giving us plenty of time to chat and get to know one another.  What stood out to me with these new parents were their easy-going attitudes and how they took their first week of parenting in stride.  It was such a calm and relaxed session, and their little man was such a sleeper -- he snoozed straight through our session together!

Welcome to the world, Theodore Peter!  Thank you so much to the new mommy & daddy for welcoming me into their home to capture their beautiful first memories as a family of three.

......... So, did you notice something different about this post?  Leave your comment below if you think you found it!

A Birthday Arrival: Alice Olivia {Boston Newborn Portraits}

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 2:15pm

Boston, Massachusetts

Alice Olivia was an early birthday gift to her mama, arriving just two days before her 30th birthday.  This little girl's arrival was long-awaited and much-celebrated.  From an early conversation shared in a coffee shop last January to a hazy February afternoon in the city when Arlene and Chris shared their news with friends, and all the moments in between when baby Alice accompanied her mom on her own labor of love (her doctoral dissertation!), this little girl's arrival has been eagerly anticipated by everyone involved.

For weeks, friends and family anxiously kept their phones nearby waiting for news.  Every lapse in response time we got from Alice's parents we figured surely meant that they were in the hospital delivering the baby.  Just days before Alice arrived, I joked with Arlene that she should have her baby on Tuesday to coincide with my day off.  And wouldn't you know, Alice decided to make her grand entrance into the world just in time for her mama's grad school friends to visit on their free day last week.  Isabel and I rushed off to the hospital on Wednesday, knowing that a 22-hour old baby was waiting for us in her bassinet.  We had a tradition to uphold of celebrating the newest baby's first day of life!  With our cameras, a toddler, a birthday cake, elephant plates, a pink bundle of tissue paper, and a candle in tow we found our way to room 663.

It was magical.

First glimpse...

Watching three-year old Nico with Alice Olivia was like déjà vu.  It felt like only yesterday Arlene and I were rushing to the hospital to celebrate his arrival into the world with a birthday cake and blowing out a candle, and here he was with his blonde curls looking into the crib and giving the little baby girl sweet kisses covered in his goldfish crumbs.  

Alice's parents kept everyone guessing about her name right up until the end, giving little hints here and there but nothing concrete.  But here's the thing -- they didn't give "normal" hints.  Oh, no.  They told us that her middle name was bilingual and was 4 syllables in English but 3 in Spanish.  That her first name was a family name but was a little hard to pronounce in Spanish.  That her initials were "very cool".  That there were two A's in her names, and many letters from her middle name were in her first and last names, too.  Ooooh, the hints kept getting more and more complicated and as much as we all guessed and analyzed, compared and discarded, we also didn't really want to know the name and wanted the surprise factor, too.  In the end, Alice Olivia is a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl.

A huge congratulations to Arlene and Chris.  Alice is lucky to have such amazing parents.  I can't wait to run over to their house and cuddle up with that little baby girl.  And I'm really looking forward to capturing her on camera.  :o)  This was my first experience with hospital photos, and I'm quite excited with how they turned out.  What do you think?

These last two photos just kill me.  She's just so sweet and new.  Don't you just melt looking at them?

She is so loved already.

Bienvenida al mundo, Alice Olivia.