Three Generations - An Extended Family Session with Boston Family Photographer

Want to hear about two awesome grandparents?

These grandparents live just miles from all of their kids and grandkids. Their house and yard are literally designed to welcome everyone there to spend time together. From kid-sized coat hooks on the wall, a snack drawer filled with all of the kids’ favorite things, a custom “tree house” in the back yard with bunk beds for each grandchild, a zipline through the trees, a giant tree swing, and so many more fun things, these kids are going to treasure these memories of hanging out at their grandparents’ house.

We got together for an extended family portrait session in their own back yard, a place that is so special to all of them and that the grandparents have meticulously maintained with gorgeous landscaping. There were so many beautiful spots for portraits, and plenty of vibrant colors from all of the flowering plants.

Everyone had a blast!

Our extended family sessions are relaxed but fast-paced (because kids are fast-paced!). They are filled with games, tickles, lots of running around, and so many hugs.

This is their tree house. Amazing, right?!

This was such a fun family session, and I’m so grateful that we were able to capture these memories for them in their favorite spot!

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Inspired by this family session? Pin this image or any from the post above!

Fall in New England: Fall Family Portraits at Monument Square in Charlestown with Boston Family Photographer

Joanna & I have known each other for EIGHT years -- honestly, even typing that I have no idea how so many years have passed since we first met moving boxes into an apartment one summer!  We were roommates in Boston in our twenties, and we enjoyed so many adventures together with the other girls that we lived with. 

Now she's on a whole new kind of adventure with her husband and their handsome little toddler in Charlestown.  When she suggested a family portrait session at Monument Square in Charlestown, I was so excited to get to explore this beautiful location in their neighborhood that they visit every night with their son Holden to tire him out before bedtime.  

She wanted a perfectly New England vibe, with sweaters, flannel, beautiful foliage, and a hint of glamour with a gold sequined skirt from Rent the Runway that looked AMAZING on her!

Holden, of course, was such a little flirt and he loved posing on my tiny wooden stool and smiling for the camera.  How adorable is he with those rolled cuffs peeking out of his sweater?!?!

One thing about toddlers during portrait sessions is that they are always in the "Energizer Bunny Mode".  We went up and down the hill, chasing Holden all around the monument as he was on the lookout for all of the puppies out for their evening stroll.  This little boy is obsessed with puppies, and they were the only thing that made him slow down and smile -- so cute!

I just LOVE this family shot of Joanna, Matt, and Holden all together at the base of the monument.  Thank you for such a wonderful session!  

A Peek at our Sweater Weather Family Portrait Sessions - Saratoga Springs, NY Family Photographer

We may have spent most of the summer at the beach, but that means we're spending the fall surrounded by beautiful foliage at local parks!  I'm falling back in love with my 85mm lens with the gorgeous soft backgrounds that it's creating in our outdoor portraits this fall.  The greens, yellows, oranges, and reds are so dreamy, and I am loving all of these fall family sessions in Saratoga Springs and in Boston!

We enjoyed two days of Sweater Weather sessions at Congress Park in Saratoga Springs, and at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline.  I got to catch up with so many families that have visited me at the studio over the years, and I loved seeing how their children had grown and developed these amazing personalities!  I also loved getting to meet many new families for the first time, and it was so much fun getting to create these memories with them at the park.

Plus, we had GORGEOUS weather on both days!  Perfectly clear skies, lots of sunshine, and enough warmth to avoid the jackets and scarves!

These fall portraits were our last big "HURRAH" for outdoor sessions until the spring, and I am so excited to share these beautiful portraits with these lovely families.  They're going to have the best holiday cards this year, don't you think?

As we move indoors for the cooler months, the calendar is filling up with maternity, newborn, Fresh 48, milestone, and birthday sessions.  We're now booking through March 2018, and I would love to see your little ones in the studio this winter!  Please email hello@nicolestarrphotography.com and let's plan your baby's next portrait session.

Family Portraits with Twins at Rexhame Beach | Boston Family Photographer

Another beautiful family portrait session at Rexhame Beach in Marshfield!  I just love this expanse of beach, and it's a new favorite spot for our sessions in the summer and fall.  

I have been photographing Finley & Bella since they were teeny-tiny 4-pound newborns.  These girls have come to me every few months for portraits, and I have loved watching them grow into happy, playful toddlers!  At the same time, I have such a hard time believing that they are growing up so quickly and that they're already running around and starting to talk!

This little ticklish moment below is my absolute favorite portrait of them -- those chunky little toddler legs peeking out from their dresses, their smiles, the nose wrinkles, and the way they stick their tongues between their teeth.  Perfection.  This one shot makes me fall so in love with this stage of toddlerhood!

The girls were all about the TICKLES.  They loved tickling each other and receiving tickles from mom and dad.  Bella even started tickling herself and cracking up, which of course sent all of us into peals of laughter!

Beautiful Finley.  We couldn't tear her away from the water, and later in the evening she sat down in the waves and let them wash right over her!  Once she was wet, she was happy and kept going back to get even more soaked.  Thankfully we captured a lot of photos BEFORE she was wet & sandy!

Bella wasn't as much a fan of the water, and every time her mom tried to lower her toes into the waves she would pick her legs up the second the water came near.  She loved the sand, though -- give her some sand to sift through her fingers and a few rocks to collect, and she was a happy girl!

Watch Finley & Bella grow!  Check out a few of their other sessions in the links below:

Chasing Chickens at a Rustic Photo Session

Sometimes, you just have to chase the chickens... Brinn's late-fall photo session at a local farm had a few unexpected visitors sharing the frame with her in her images -- chickens!  The chickens were wandering all over the farm the day we were there, and five-year old Brinn loved it!  She went chasing after them, calling out to them to "Come back this way, Chicken", trying to lead them towards seeds and worms to eat.  It was absolutely hilarious, and her mom and I couldn't stop giggling while watching this determined little girl try to herd the chickens during her photo shoot.

One of the things I love most about returning to a location for my sessions is finding new ways to photograph families there.  As a photographer, I know that there are a million different ways to look at any one place or thing.  I love it when, with a little bit of imagination, I can create completely new images at a much-loved location to complement a family's personality.

Brinn is a sweet little girl filled with so much personality, curiosity, and wonder.  I love these sweet images we captured here that showcase her cowgirl boots and her charming little expressions.

Ready for a little more sass?  Give the girl a dance floor in front of a barn door, and she will bring the party!

Finally, it's hard to believe it was late fall when these photos were taken.  The vibrant green grass seems to hint at summer or spring, as does the white fluffy dandelion puff!  I just love how sweet, innocent, and magical this next photo is, and the way those little puffs trail across the image as they float away across the farm.

I absolutely loved capturing this spunky girl's sparkling personality on camera, and I just know her mom is going to treasure her keepsake box of images for many years.

Making Spirits Bright | Our Studio Holiday Sessions

Fa la la la laaaaaa, la la la laaaaaa. As I type this post, my studio smells like a Christmas tree, tiny lights are twinkling behind me, a peppermint marshmallow candle glows on the table, and Ella Fitzgerald is singing Christmas carols on Pandora.   There are presents to be wrapped, cookies to be baked, and cards to be mailed.  And there's definitely a mug of hot chocolate waiting for me somewhere.  It's mid-December, and our holiday cheer is officially at 100%.

I love the holiday season.  Could you tell?  ;o)   The lights, the traditions, the scents, the cozy foods, the gatherings with friends & family.  There is nothing better than those first few weeks of December when the world is a truly magical place.  These are the weeks when everyone is talking about their elves, Santa, and flying reindeer.  The tree in your living room inspired breathtaking wonder, and the colorful lights in your neighborhood fill your evenings with cheer.  The magic of childhood is more tangible than ever.  That same magic that I adore capturing all throughout the year is on full display this month, and I feel so, so lucky to be able to preserve that for the families that I work with.

We hosted our first in-studio holiday sessions, and I had so much fun creating the perfect dreamy set up for our little ones.  We turned the studio into a winter wonderland, a soft cloud-like space where children sat beneath golden stars and told me all about their wishes for Santa and what their elves had been up to lately.  There were giggles, jingle bells, Christmas jammies, candy canes, and songs.

Our holiday sessions were short and sweet, and allowed just enough time for a simple rustic set up, too!  After all, I acquired a vintage sled from another photographer over the summer, and I couldn't let a holiday season pass without using it for some adorable photos!

Wishing you all a magical holiday season!  Take the time to slow down, create memories, and start a new tradition with your family.

Create magic, and inspire wonder.  After all, that's what childhood is all about!

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!!

boston baby photographer fall family photos

boston baby photographer fall family photos, arnold arboretum

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.

boston baby photographer fall family photos, arnold arboretum

boston baby photographer fall family photos maternity photos

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!

A Colorful Family Photo Session at Powisset Farm

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."  

~L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

(Session was photographed in October, and published in November.  ;-)  )

When this family reached out to me for their yearly photo session, I immediately knew the perfect location with beautiful fall colors where their little girl would have room to run & explore.

Powisset Farm in Dover is becoming one of my new favorite locations.  After an incredibly fun & beautiful family session there this summer, I was eager to visit the community farm again with the change of seasons.  Driving along the road that leads to the farm was so breathtaking that I the moment the family jumped out of their car, we headed over to the quiet country road for a few quick photos to start our session together.  The vibrant colors, the falling leaves, the sparkling light -- backdrops don't come any more gorgeous than New England in the fall!

Chiara is three, and anyone that has a three year old knows that children this age have a lot of personality.  I love working with these little ones during our photo sessions and capturing their bright spirits on camera.  At this age, children need lots of space to run and play, so outdoor locations are always ideal.  While we always start with family photos, the moment I have the children by themselves they get excited, chatty, inquisitive, and playful.  Did you know that sometimes the best way to get amazing photos of your children is actually to give them a little room and let them warm up to the photographer by themselves?  It works every time!  Just look at that smile!  ;o)

And then it's right back to cuddles with mommy and daddy, which to a three year old are pretty much the best thing ever.  I just love it when moms and dads get in the picture with their little ones and show them some love.    

Thank you for such an amazing session together!  You're going to love a new gallery wall in your home with these portraits to enjoy every day!

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!

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!

Organic Motherhood Sessions

Celebrating Motherhood Event

with Nicole Starr Photography & Little Lovage Club

Come join us at the Little Lovage Club in the South End for a day of pampering, photos, and love.  This unique event has been designed just for the mothers and their children as we gather together to celebrate YOU.

You are amazing.  You are strong.  You are wonder woman.  You are beautiful.  You have the hardest and the most rewarding job in the world.  You are raising these tiny humans filled with compassion & love, and you are doing a spectacular job. You deserve this.

We believe that moms are beautiful.  We believe that the love that a mother shares with her babies is the most breathtaking thing in the world.  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.

We believe that these moments should be enjoyed and shared with your children over the next many, many years.  Rather than always hiding behind the camera, it is your turn to step in front of it and capture this amazing love you share together. Document it, cherish it, and show it to your children when they are grown.

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What is the Celebrating Motherhood Event?

On October 18, join us at the Little Lovage Club for a day of pampering, enjoying the little luxuries in life, and an organic motherhood session with your little one(s) with Nicole Starr Photography.

Arrive early and treat yourself to our complimentary hair & makeup services to make you feel and look your best.  Sip on a mimosa from our mimosa bar and enjoy a sweet treat while your little one is off being entertained by one of our fabulous babysitters.  It's time for mama to have a little me-time!

Then enjoy a 20-minute photo session focused on capturing that sweet love and the special bond you share with your little ones.  Soft fabrics, neutral colors, and beautiful spots to cuddle up together will be the perfect backdrop to let your love shine in the photographs.

After the session you'll have access to a digital gallery of 10 final images, and you'll select your 5 favorites to download, print, and enjoy in your home.  Additional images, print products, albums, and keepsake boxes are available and samples will be at the LLC that day for you to enjoy.

Every mom will also receive a beautiful gift bag with a little treat inside just for you!

Are you ready to feel beautiful?

Do you want gorgeous keepsake photographs that showcase your love for your children?

Treat yourself.  You deserve this.

Reserve your spot now: http://littlelovageclub.com/schedule/mini-photo-sessions/

*Please plan to arrive 40-60 minutes before your scheduled session to allow sufficient time for hair & makeup. **Please note that in the schedule, photoshoots for babies 0-6 months are designated from 10am-12pm.  Please reserve this time block only for babies this age.  Thank you.

Photography: Nicole Starr Photography Venue & Event Planning: Little Lovage Club Makeup: Follain Hair: Tiffany Cantin Babysitters: Sensible Sitters Gift Bags: Alli Russell Other Sponsors: MV Breastfeeding Support

The B Family {A fun and playful backyard family session}

We started planning this session back in the middle of a snowy, New England winter.  Dreaming of sunnier days while staring out the window at the 8-foot high snow banks, we knew that warmer days meant fun family time outside.  While planning our session, I usually recommend a number of locations to the families that I photograph, and I am always open to their suggestions, as well. The B family requested that we do their session in their backyard since it held so much meaning for them being the spot where they gathered, played, laughed, and celebrated together.  It turned out to be the PERFECT location with so many little areas that made for the best photo spots -- rustic sheds, a textured wooden wall, a little gate, winding paths, the perfect tree branches, and more!

Max told me he wanted to show me his favorite spot in the yard, so we climbed through the forsythia bushes to this quiet little space.  

Rebecca LOVED being in front of the camera, and she gave me so many natural smiles!  

Welcome Emily & Nicholas, a sweet newborn session with twins {Boston Newborn Photography}

This session was so, so special -- to me & to the family. The past year has been one big love affair with newborn photography. The more newborns I cuddled with, posed, snuggled up in wraps, put the cutest little headbands on, and captured on camera, the more I knew that I was completely hooked.

New poses, new set ups, new lighting. Everything about newborn photography has just called to me and I have adored every second of it... But there was still one new thing that I was so excited to try out with these little babies -- photographing TWINS!  I have an identical twin sister, so I know what it's like to grow up with someone and to always have someone there right next to you. I wanted to capture this on camera from the very beginning. This momma contacted me and was so excited about our session -- her babies arrived early, and they wound up being my last session of 2014. What a way to end the year!

This moment right here went straight to my heart and is one that this photographer will remember forever. We wrapped Emily & Nicholas up together in this soft brown wrap, and they just settled into each other's curves and angles, finding the comfortable position they'd been in for the past 9 months with their limbs tangled up together. I watched them in a quiet room as their chests rose and fell together, sharing the same breaths. It was AMAZING. Truly incredible to watch. I am so, so happy that I captured this sweet moment on camera for their family.

Welcome to the world, Emily & Nicholas.