Oliver's Newborn Session at our Saratoga Springs Portrait Studio

I want to start every newborn session in a white onesie from now on. It’s simple, classic, and pure perfection. I just LOVE these portraits of sweet little Oliver from when he first arrived at the studio. There is so much personality in this tiny little baby, and all of his newborn freshness is perfectly documented!

This sweet family came to me for their maternity session & Fresh 48 session, and I was thrilled to welcome them to our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for Oliver’s newborn portraits.

These moments when mom & dad cuddle up with their new baby at the beginning of our sessions are always some of my favorite moments to witness. It’s truly magical watching this bond unfold, and you really can watch them fall even more in love with their baby during the 20 minutes we’re doing family portraits together.

Sweet little Oliver Cody was the cuddliest little boy, and he loved being wrapped up snug in a swaddle. He fell right asleep and even had the cutest baby snore!

Baby mullet. It happens often with these fresh little babies, and it definitely deserves to be documented!

Baby smiles. These are such a gem and I always love when I happen to catch one during a newborn session!

I recently added a bunch of hand knit bump blankets to the prop closet, and I love their thick texture and how they photograph! This blue one and the white one above are a few of them — what do you think? I kind of wish I could make one in adult size!

Lots of Cozy Cuddles during Aiden's Studio Newborn Session

Now that the temperature is dropping, I’m excited for lots of cozy newborn sessions in the studio! Tiny little Aiden was an absolute dream and he slept through his entire newborn session, letting us fit in parent shots and so many individual set-ups without making a peep!

During every newborn session, I always love to start with a few wrapped shots of the baby in a simple white & cream set. The baby is the star of the show, and white is so clean and classic. Plus we can transition him into a few new poses without moving him!

I mean, can you even deal with the cuteness here?!?!?! Look at how he kept his hands under his chin like that when I unwrapped him!

I have so many tiny handknit outfits, and Aiden rocked this gray sweater onesie during his portraits. Doesn’t he look so cozy all cuddled up on his back?

I can never resist a baby toes shot!

Your New Favorite Storybook - A Peek into our Newborn Albums - Saratoga Springs NY Newborn Photographer

Did you see last month's album blog post?  Click to see why these fine art albums are my absolute favorite keepsake that we offer with our sessions, and check out this beautiful baby girl's album, too!
 

---

Today I'm excited to share another fine art album from one of our recent newborn sessions.  Declan James came to our Saratoga Springs studio and we did a classic neutral session with a few nautical elements incorporated into his portraits.  This sweet little boy loved being swaddled, and we captured so many gorgeous images of him with his proud parents. 

These albums tell such a beautiful story, and they are truly a special way to celebrate your baby's arrival.  I love how we weave all of his portraits together in an album that they will pass down to him one day when he's older!

While I love a sleepy newborn all curled up in a little pose, there's nothing I adore more than parent shots.  Look at the awe and pride on these new parents' faces as they hold their baby boy!  It's truly magical to witness.

Oh, sweet boy.  You're going to melt so many hearts with those soulful eyes of yours!

Did you know that the best time to book your newborn session is in the second trimester?  Read more about our newborn sessions here, and contact us today to start planning your baby's portrait session!  
 

Welcome, Kona - A Neutral and Minimalist Studio Newborn Session - Boston Newborn Photographer

Many years ago, I remember thinking that white, cream, and beige were "boring."  I lived in an apartment with all white walls, and I couldn't wait to get out of there so that I could paint all of my rooms different colors.

Flash forward, and nowadays there is nothing I love more than neutrals.  Give me all of the whites, creams, and grays, and my heart is happy.  Especially with our newborn sessions -- these babies are so fresh & pure, and these soft neutral colors are the perfect complement to truly showcase how beautiful these new little ones are on their own.  There is nothing to distract from their perfection!

Kona visited me at our Attleboro studio with her big sister Kailani.  Her mom requested all neutrals, because just like me, her heart goes all pitter-patter when she sees those whites & creams together.  Kona's skin was so creamy and beautiful, and her dark hair perfectly framed her face, making her pop against our simple backdrops.

This sleepy little girl wanted to see what was going on, and while she resisted sleep for awhile, she eventually gave in and closed those beautiful sparkling eyes of hers.  Not before we got some great wide-eyed shots first, though!

It's always unpredictable with toddlers and newborns, and Kailani took awhile to warm up to the idea of being in a portrait with her baby sister.  Later in the session, she decided now would be the perfect time and she walked on over and kissed Kona right on her forehead without prompting.  She's already becoming such a good big sister!

Love what you see?  Check out these neutral newborn sessions at our studio, too!
 

A Fine Art Album for Newborn Quinn Madlina | Saratoga Springs NY Newborn Photographer

Imagine curling up on the couch with your little one, pulling out their favorite book, and telling them the story of when they came into your family. 

Imagine their tiny little fingers turning the pages and pointing out "mama," "dada", and "baby", hovering over a sleeping newborn photo of your tiny little baby all wrapped up and cozy.  

Imagine passing this album down to them 30 years from now when they have children of their own, showing them just how small and how loved they were, and giving them a glimpse into your life as a new parent as they are about to embark on their own journey into parenthood.

That's why we create our Fine Art Albums.  That's why they are my FAVORITE heirloom product for families to enjoy from our sessions.  That's why I have a growing collection of them in my own home -- they are gorgeous keepsakes that will quickly become your most treasured posessions, telling your family's beautiful story through images.

The very first time I spoke on the phone with Quinn's mother, she told me right away, "We're album people.  We're definitely going to want to create an album after her newborn session."  They have albums from all of their family milestones, filling their shelves with memories.  So of course we created the most beautiful album of all to celebrate their baby girl's arrival.

The pages are printed on photo paper and are truly breathtaking -- you have to see them in person, and the quality will blow you away! 

I also give my clients durable and kid-friendly products that will fit their lifestyle.  Don't worry about keeping it in a box to keep it perfect.  The lustre coating on the pages protects against tiny fingerprints, and if your baby drools on it you can just wipe it off with a cloth without worrying about damage.  This heirloom will hold up over the years and it will stay looking as beautiful as ever as your child grows.

My favorite thing about our albums is that we weave together all of your session images to tell a story, YOUR STORY.  Just look at the excitement on these new parents' faces!  That's what you want to remember years from now as your baby grows up and doesn't fit so perfectly curled up in your hands.  

Check out a few of our other favorite albums on the blog!
 

Is a Studio Newborn Session the Right Fit for You? - Studio Newborn Photographer

With so many options in the newborn photography world, how do you know which is the right fit for you?  Today we're talking all about studio newborn portrait sessions, and how to know if that's the right style for your family.

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.

Lifestyle sessions are a relaxed, intimate peek into your lives at home in the first few weeks of bringing home your baby.  They are unposed, and we capture you just as you are in your home.  We also take care to capture all of the details of the nursery that you carefully planned for 9 months, and give you portraits that you'll be able to show your child as they grow and tell them all about the house they came home to when they were born.  Check out our blog post about lifestyle sessions to see if this might be the best fit for you!

But today, it's all about the studio sessions!  How do you know if they are the right fit for you? I get asked this question all the time by expecting parents, and here are a few things to keep in mind.  If these facts resonate with you, then a studio session is probably the best fit for you!  

1.  You love those classic family portraits against a clean background, where everyone is looking at the camera.  

In the studio we capture shots with mom & dad, siblings, and everyone alone with the baby.  If you love the more "posed" style of family portraits, book your studio session!

2.  You can't get enough of those adorable little bowls, baskets, and crates that we pose babies in!

The studio is stocked with simple, classic props that won't detract from your baby's beauty.  All of my props are natural wood, driftwood, or painted white.  Wraps and other items are all natural materials that are perfectly soft against baby's delicate skin.  If you love those shots of baby wrapped and curled up in bowls and baskets, a studio session is the right fit for you!

3.  You love those newborn poses of babies on a blanket, with their head on their hands.

Newborn photographers are trained in newborn safety, and they know how to safely position your little one in those sweet little poses that melt every parent's heart.  We use a posing beanbag in the studio covered in blankets to give your baby a safe cushion, and we know just how to prop them up and support them to get them into those curly little positions.  If you adore clean & uncluttered backgrounds, this is perfect for you too since these poses are not something that can be achieved at home on your bed.

4.  Your heart skips a beat when you see those tiny little headbands and hand-knit newborn outfits, and you love a perfectly coordinated set.

We have headbands, bonnets, basket stuffers, and perfectly sized outfits that are 1,000,000 times cuter and more classic than anything you'll find at Target.  Trust me on this one: use the cute little accents that your photographer has in the studio because they are created to be photographed, and they will look so classic on your newborn baby.

5.  You have a prop that you'd like to use.

If you have a special item that is sentimental or a family heirloom, please bring that to your session!  We typically only have time to incorporate 1-2 additional items into your baby's setups, and it's nice to not let your little one be overpowered by too many props.  But if you have something small that is related to your family (your grandmother's quilt, a bracelet you wore as a baby, an item related to mom or dad's career or how you first met), let's incorporate it into your session!  It is always so much fun to breathe a little personality into your portraits, and they're guaranteed to be images that you love for years to come.

But what would I recommend not bringing?  

Well, you know those little crocheted outfits of animals sold on Etsy?  They're typically made with low-quality yarn and the baby's skin gets irritated when rubbing up against them, plus the baby almost always overheats in those hats and diaper covers.  A sweaty baby is an unhappy baby, and we won't be able to soothe them to get the shot.  

I also wouldn't recommend bringing a shot list from Pinterest -- discuss any inspiration with your photographer ahead of time, but remember that you hired them because you trust their style and their artistic vision.  

Leave the fluffy flower headbands from the baby store at home, as well as all of those cute little newborn onesies and shoes -- they're often too large on the baby anyways, so they're swimming in sleeves that don't fit and shoes that keep falling off.  (Baby toes are adorable -- let's showcase them!)  Plus when your baby is all curled up and sleepy you can't see the text/design on the onesies very well.  Save them for visits with family and cute cell phone pictures of them in their car seat.

6.  Finally, if you love those sleepy newborn shots of the baby perfectly posed or wrapped up to show how small they are, the studio is the perfect place to capture that!  

I have dozens of wraps, blankets, and faux furs in the studio to pose your baby on, and I love finding new combinations to keep every session fresh.  At the studio it's easier to get the baby to sleep because we keep it a toasty 80 degrees with white noise in the background, allowing us to pose your baby naked, or wrapped up snugly in a swaddle to get them to sleep.  If you love those sleepy shots, a studio session is for you!

---

So, a studio newborn session feels like the right fit for you!  What's next?

Get in touch with your photographer while you're still pregnant to schedule your newborn session.  Most moms reach out during the second trimester.  Newborn sessions are penciled in on the calendar based on your due date, and photographers only accept a certain number of due dates each month to give each family the flexibility in scheduling that they deserve.  

Then as soon as your baby arrives, tell your photographer so that they can set a date for your session!  It's important that studio sessions take place (ideally) within the first two weeks of the baby's arrival, so don't delay!

Welcome Lola! A Lifestyle Newborn Portrait Session at Home | Boston Lifestyle Photographer

Honestly, I feel so lucky every time I walk into a new house for a lifestyle session!  My clients have the most beautiful homes and such unique styles, and I adore all of our lifestyle newborn sessions where we get to take a peek into their lives at home!

Meet Lola.

This little sweetheart is already so, so loved.  Her mama & daddy waited a long time for her arrival, and her big sister is over the moon excited!  Big sister Stella loved showing me the nursery, and snuggling up close to Lola in her crib.  She told me how it used to be her room when she was a baby, and her mama showed me all of the sweet little details that went into the decorations -- including a teddy bear that was hers more than 30 years ago when she was born!

When we do our lifestyle sessions, I look for beautiful pockets of natural light in your home.  This settee was in the hallway, and it was the perfect spot for this family of four to cuddle up together with their new baby girl.

Lola fit perfectly in her mama's arms, and she enjoyed so many snuggles from all of her family.  She slept through almost the entire session, but when she did open those sparkling eyes it was pure magic!

Did you love this lifestyle newborn session?  Check out a few more favorites on the blog!

Connor's Light & Airy Lifestyle Newborn Session

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star: A Dreamy Nursery

Harrison's Coastal Lifestyle Session

Abigail's Newborn Session at our Attleboro Portrait Studio | Boston Newborn Photographer

Oh, little miss Abigail.  I don't think they come any sweeter than you!

Abigail joined me at the studio for her newborn session, and we used all of the classic girly details to complement her Victorian-style nursery -- pearls, lace, silk, blush pink, the softest fabrics, and flowing wraps.  The end result?  I am in love with the beautiful images we captured of this sweet little girl!

Abigail's big brother, Oliver, was so excited to hold his baby sister.  He did a phenomenal job, cuddling her in close, singing her a song, and giving her lots of kisses on her forehead.  

I love the soft blues in their family portraits.  They live in a coastal town in Massachusetts, and these will look amazing up on the walls of their living room!  Seriously, this family portrait of the four of them can't get any more perfect -- Ollie just has the most adorable expression here!  So, so in love with this sweet family's session!

Wide Awake Newborn Portraits - Saratoga Springs & Boston Newborn Photographer

I'm going to let you in on a little secret...

Whether it's a lifestyle newborn session at home, or a newborn session here in my Saratoga Springs studio, it's not always guaranteed that the baby will fall asleep!  

Of course, newborn sessions go much more smoothly (and quickly!) when the fresh new baby is asleep most of the time.  We're able to pose the baby into those adorable little curled up poses, wrap them in swaddles, unwrap them, and move them from one setup to another without disturbing them.  

But sometimes, babies are curious little things and they like to see everything that is going on around them -- I swear they must be wondering who this girl with the camera is!  So when we have awake babies during a newborn session, we go with the flow and capture their sparkling eyes and their powerful gaze.  And we hope that they eventually fall asleep by using the million-and-one tricks that I have up my sleeve as a newborn photographer to get tiny little babies to fall into Dreamland!

I do love it when we get those wide-eyed shots during our newborn sessions, though!  This typically happens more often during our lifestyle sessions at home, and it's a great opportunity to capture some portraits in their crib, and cuddles with mom & dad.  If we're bringing siblings in (especially toddlers) that is always much easier with an asleep newborn, though!

So many beautiful little babies!  Check back on the blog tomorrow for another post with a few of our favorite SLEEPY newborn shots from recent sessions!

---

Did you know that the best time to book your newborn session is in the second or early in the third trimester?  We are now booking newborns for August, September, October, and November, and I would love to plan the perfect session with you!  

Killian's Studio Newborn Session - Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

April was the month that it rained babies here at our Saratoga Springs boutique portrait studio, and I was getting phone calls from new moms every few days letting me know that their little one had arrived.  It was truly such a magical month, and I am so grateful for all of the baby cuddles that I got to enjoy, and the incredible moments I was lucky enough to capture of new moms & dads welcoming their babies into their families.

Killian came to the studio for his portrait session, and I had so much fun with his mom & dad.  They were absolutely amazing and relaxed the entire time, and we spent the three-hour session getting to know one another, learning about their jobs, the dad's tattoos (such a cool story behind those!), and a very unique baby company that makes gear that this police officer dad loves.  I always enjoy when the clients I work with make it so easy to pass a few hours together during the session, and then we get together a few weeks later for the gallery reveal and it's like old friends sharing the baby's images together.  Really, how did I luck out with such incredible clients?  

But of course, Killian was the star of the session.  He has the sweetest little lips, and soft hair that is blonde in some spots -- I see so few blonde newborns, so it's always a treat when one comes to the studio!  He absolutely loved the Huck Finn pose (below), and was super comfy in this adorable hand-knit romper that I just recently added to the studio collection.  

This sweet little boy slept so well during his session, and he was the perfect little model for us!  There were soft "oooooh, how cute!" cries the moment this bear bonnet went on, and he loved it so much that he couldn't help but give us a cute little smile!

Oftentimes parents like to bring a small sentimental item to use during their session -- a handmade blanket passed down from great grandma, a medal from a marathon mom ran while newly pregnant, an item that represents one of their careers.  Killian's dad brought his police badge & hat to use during the session -- he's with the Schenectady Police Department.  I love how we were able to capture a few images of Killian holding his dad's police badge!  

When his dad told me the significance behind his tattoos (every single item represents a family member and the story behind the entire sleeve is truly amazing!), I knew that we had to incorporate this visual family history into his portraits.  This may be one of my favorite dad & baby images we've capture so far this year!  

And of course, his mama was absolutely radiant and so happy to have her little baby boy cuddled up in her arms.  I love being able to capture these moments that show parents in their first days of parenthood, getting to know their little one.  It really is magical!  

Thank you for such an incredible session together!  I look forward to seeing Killian again this year as he grows!

If you're looking for a newborn portrait photographer, we are now booking through October 2017!  I would love to chat with you to plan your session.  Check out our three unique types of sessions through the link below, and use the contact tab to get in touch!

Nautical + Springtime Portraits for a Baby Girl | Saratoga Springs & Boston Newborn Photographer

Blake Vivian came to our Attleboro studio for her newborn portrait session when she was only 5 days old.  With such a gorgeous name, I knew I wanted to do some perfectly soft & feminine set ups for this little girl.  And of course, I couldn't resist bringing in a few nautical elements for this family that loves their time at the beach on Cape Cod so much!

This baby girl was such a little charmer, and she loved being cuddled by her mom, dad, and grandmother.  She slept like a dream when she was all wrapped up in our swaddles, and I love the sweet little springtime images we were able to capture of her on our new Lavender Fields backdrop from Photographer Rising.  

This image below is going to hang as a stunning 24x36 canvas above her crib in the nursery -- what a gorgeous way to make a statement in the bedroom that was so lovingly created for her!

And now our nautical images.  I just love baby girls in blue, and this combination of seaside colors was perfect for Blake.  

I've been enjoying more backlit portraits in the studio lately, and I have to say that I am a HUGE fan of these bright & airy images.  We did a series of backlit images at the beginning of Blake's session with her mom, dad, and grandma.  Everyone is so radiant and peaceful -- I just love it!  These are definitely going to become a staple at all of our studio sessions moving forward.

Are you expecting a little one in 2017?  

We are now booking through the spring and summer, and we'd love to see you for a Studio Newborn Session, Lifestyle Newborn Session at home, or a Fresh 48 session in the hospital!  

I'm also so excited about our new maternity session collections, and I would love to talk with you about celebrating this time of anticipation!  
Please email hello@nicolestarrphotography.com and let's chat!

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.

Capturing Magic

Sweet little Aubrey was only six days old when I got to hold her.  Such a sweet little thing, all curled up and snugly in the adorable handmade outfits that her mother had collected for her photo shoot.  The rest of the images will be coming soon, but first I just had to share these two photographs of a simply magical moment.

We had finished our session downstairs, and I mentioned that earlier I had seen this gorgeous gable upstairs in Aubrey's big brother's bedroom where the most perfect light was coming through.  It was just what I wanted for a dramatic, high-impact shot:  architectural, clean lines, stark contrast of light and shadows, soft backlighting coming through the window.

We cleared away big brother Carter's books, opened the blinds, and  let the sunlight stream in.  The new big brother walked in at just the right moment, and I was able to convince him to crawl on up with with his little sister in her princess outfit.  Prince Carter (though he preferred "Sir Carter") hopped on up and started whispering in his baby sister's ear.

Magic.  Pure magic.

I captured magic on camera, created the most beautiful memory for this family and stopped it in time.

Now tell me, isn't this the most wonderful job in the world?