Best of 2023 Milestone & Cake Smash Portrait Sessions in Saratoga Springs

I have been a baby photographer for more than a decade now, and there is still something so special about welcoming these tiny little babies into our Saratoga Springs portrait studio to capture their portraits. I adore the baby phase, and I know all too well just how quickly it passes. That’s one of the reasons that I feel like our milestone portraits are just so classically “baby”. Timeless and simple, with a focus on the little moments that I know their parents are going to treasure looking back on years from now — the way they grab their toes, their puffy little hands pushing up on the floor, those tiny feet, their elbow dimples, and their gummy smiles and first teeth peeking out when they belly laugh. I’m a mama to two little ones, and there are so many stages that pull at my heartstrings, which is why I love slowing down time with my camera and documenting these moments before they’re gone.

2023 was a beautiful year in our studio, and I loved welcoming so many babies (and Collective Membership families!) into our studio for their milestone and birthday sessions. We did cake smashes, tub splashes, tummy time, rolling over, and everything in between!

Enjoy a peek at some of my favorite moments captured in 2023 of our older babies, and then go back and check out our Best of 2023 Newborns and Best of 2023 Family Sessions, too!

Just look at how adorable these milestone babies are! We typically do milestone sessions between 6-11 months old when babies are sitting up, playing with their toes, and learning to crawl. I just love this happy baby stage!

2023 saw some really beautiful cake smash themes in our Saratoga Springs baby photography studio. I loved creating unique backdrops for each session, and our new giant metal ONE letters were a popular with our families this year. My favorite new addition to the studio was a new pre-cake smash setup with a vintage wooden high chair and an adorable wooden cake with candles. So classic & beautiful, and it wound up being a favorite setup for nearly every single family, too!

And of course, every cake smash finished with a splash in our baby-sized clawfoot tub! The bubble bath always brought out the best smiles in the birthday babies!

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Did these portraits brighten your day? Maybe inspire you for your own little one’s upcoming session? I’d love to chat and create some beautiful portraits for your baby!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Cake Smash with White and Gold Backdrop

Sofia is one! We celebrated this sweet girl’s first birthday with a gorgeous cake smash in my Saratoga Springs studio this year. I’ve done Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star setups before but they’re always fun to create and I love to find new ways to make them unique to each baby in the studio. For Sofia’s session, we focused on a light and airy feeling in her setup. I’m a huge sucker for any setup with gold stars, and that was a great place to start for her backdrop! The end results are so timeless and just perfect for this little birthday star! 

Before we dove into her cake though, Sofia and her family met with me in Congress Park – one of my favorite Saratoga Springs parks. We managed to find the last flowering bush in the park. It wound up being the perfect spot for their new family portraits! Sofia and her big sister Ella were fantastic for me. We had a blast! Mom and dad played along with the girls, and everyone looked absolutely amazing. It was the best way to kick off their session. 

When the portraits were done, we headed to the studio and Sofia got to get into her cake. She looked adorable with a simple headband and ivory outfit for the smash. This little girl loved when she got to play with the wooden spoon and cake. It was adorable! Our session ended with her little bubble bath – a favorite among the babies in the studio. She was so cute and happy the entire time for us. It was truly a dream cake smash session!

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Baby Starr: Adelaide's First Birthday Cake Smash with Giant Floral ONE Letters

Our sweet girl is officially ONE, and it’s hard to believe that we’ve had her in our lives for a whole year now. Time truly did fly by at warp speed, and I feel like we just brought her home from the hospital and our son was cuddling her on the couch and saying in his tiny little voice, “Hi, Adelaide. Hi, honey. I love you!”

For Adelaide’s first birthday portraits, I wanted to do a classic floral cake smash with a twist. I purchased these 3-foot tall 3D metal letters and filled them with greenery, blush, and peach florals, with a few pops of anemones. I absolutely love how it turned out (and I can’t wait to use these letters in so many more cake smashes — check out another one here with BALLOONS inside the letters!).

This backdrop was truly a labor of love. The letters were handmade by an artisan in the Ukraine, and shipping took a few extra weeks to arrive. I needed a truly ridiculous amount of garlands to fill them with, and then I had so much fun adjusting the peach and white peonies, pink hydrangeas, white roses, and anemones to get them **just right** in the final setup.

It was all worth it, and our girl LOVED her cake smash!

Big brother Grayson wanted to help me in the studio. He has always loved being a part of sessions, and this one was no exception because it involved his baby sister and CAKE. He brings out the biggest smiles in her, and some of my very favorite portraits from this session are the ones where she is grinning and laughing at her big brother just over my shoulder.

I was sooooo happy when she leaned into her cake to take a big bite out of it! And I just adore those itty bitty fingers holding on to the frosting on the side of the cake.

Just look at how Grayson is making Adelaide smile in the one below! I love the bond that these two are developing.

Of course, baby girl absolutely loved her bathtub splash at the end. She didn’t want to get out of the tub when it was over! We had so much fun doing this session, and I can’t wait to frame a few portraits and add them to an album for our ONE YEAR OLD daughter!

A Celebration of Adelaide's First Year: My Favorite Baby Portraits

Our sweet baby girl turns ONE this week, and I can’t even believe that a whole 365 days have gone by since her arrival. Adelaide is an absolute ray of sunshine that brings so much joy to our lives, and we love this girl to pieces!

Of course I’ve gotten all sentimental going back through her portraits from the past year, marveling at how quickly she has grown, and ooooohhhh-ing and aaaaahhhh-ing over her perfect, tiny little features.

As a second time parent, this first year with our daughter feels a lot different than the first year with our son felt. We know a lot more about parenting, so we are wayyyyyy more relaxed about a lot of the baby stuff. We’re constantly juggling work-life-kids in a truly impossible balance, but we’re being very intentional about slowing down and really savoring these moments because they are sooooo sweet and we’re fully aware of just how fast they go by.

Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite portraits from her first year. I may not have used by big camera as much around the house for our day-to-day lives as I did during my son’s first year, so all of our lifestyle photos are on my phone and are getting turned into a photo album soon, but these are some of my faves from her arrival, sessions that I trusted other photographers to capture, and my studio!

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Our sweet little Adelaide was born 6 days ahead of her due date thanks to a scheduled induction. We had a smooth, easy delivery, and I’ll never forget how empowering I felt in that room with the all-female team supporting me (& Jeff) — our midwife, a pregnant nurse, and one other nurse who also happened to be there for Grayson’s arrival, too. It was an incredible moment of being surrounded by these amazing, encouraging women, and such a special way to welcome our girl to the world.

Then began all of her mini newborn sessions back home in our studio! I found it incredibly challenging to summon the energy to do her newborn portraits while recovering, taking care of her, and making sure to give enough love and attention to our son, the new big brother! Thankfully, I knew ahead of time that I wanted to prioritize the family portraits this time around, and in order to do that, I would need to hire a photographer for a full session. We went to a dream photographer on my bucket list, Saren Cassotto Photography in Connecticut. She captured the sweetest family portraits for us, and some of my favorites of Adelaide solo, too!

By Saren Cassotto Photography

By Saren Cassotto Photography

By Saren Cassotto Photography

I did finally make it into my studio with our girl, and I prioritized simple and timeless portraits with soft textures, and baby’s breath as a special nod to both my & my mother’s wedding day.

This girl’s bright blue eyes melt my heart!

Oh my goodness, I just loved this simple Christmas setup, and the rattan baby doll stroller was the perfect prop for this joyful Christmas portrait!

I started a tradition of gingerbread house portraits when Grayson was a baby, and it continued for a few years. Now it’s Adelaide’s turn! Hers will hang on the wall besides Grayson’s first year gingerbread house portrait every holiday season.

There is something so timeless about a simple, all-white setup, white outfits, and zero distractions. I love this look for documenting her first year!

I wanted to capture some cuddly mommy-and-me portraits before she turned one. Allie T. Photography captured this bond perfectly, and I love these so much!

By Allie T. Photography

We did monthly milestone portraits on this floral blanket, just like I did for Graysons first year. I can’t believe we’re all done with these milestones!

Happy birthday to our little ray of sunshine, and the happiest, smiliest baby that we are so lucky to call our own. We love you, sweet Adelaide!

Timeless Milestone Portraits in our Saratoga Springs Studio

‌I’ve been photographing this family since before Carter was even born, and they are just the sweetest! Their son Bennett was born on the exact same day as my baby girl, and now we have an extra special connection with our littlest ones. I loved welcoming them into the studio for his milestone portraits, and we captured so many happy portraits of this smiley baby boy. 

Big brother Carter was incredibly interested in the session, and he asked to have his turn in front of the camera again and again, so we were able to capture plenty of individual portraits showing his spunky personality, too! I’m all about making sure your little ones feel included - and if it means a few extra portraits for mom and dad, even better! 

For Bennett’s setup, we chose to use the white studio floor, the bed, and some fun chunky blankets. I just LOVE how they photograph. They’re a great pop of color against all of the neutrals for your baby. Mom and dad also chose some super sweet outfits for Bennett - including the sweet grey sweater he wore at the end. He looked so grown up!! 

I hope that these portraits are well-loved in their home as both boys grow!

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Family portraits at Empire Plaza in Albany

When your baby turns one, it’s definitely time for updated family portraits - and that’s exactly what Luke’s family planned! Luke recently turned one and he and his parents celebrated with family portraits at the same spot his parents were married at a few years earlier: Empire Plaza in Albany, NY. It was a beautiful spot for their portraits! We had a gorgeous sunset the day of their session that worked in our favor. The sunset gave us beautiful light, and the light color of the building reflected so much of it back on these three. It made my job so easy!

Luke started walking just a few weeks before our session and he was so excited to be showing off all over the New York State museum grounds. I can’t believe how big he his now - I still picture him as that little baby in his newborn portraits a year ago!! He’s such a fun handful now and I know his parents are excited to be watching him grow and change.

I love that the Underwood family wanted their portraits at the place they were married - it’s such a special way to see how your family changes over time, and honor a place that means a lot to you. I’m always open to sentimental locations for your portraits, especially if they’re as beautiful as this spot in Albany!

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Nicole's Maternity Leave

Can you believe it's June already?!?!

Our sweet little baby girl is almost here, and Jeff, Grayson, and I are so excited to meet our newest family member that we’ve been dreaming about and planning for during these past nearly-40 weeks!  The nursery is just about ready, our hospital bags are packed, and we are counting down the days and just waiting to welcome our new baby into the world in the next few weeks.

Of course, I’ve been busy behind the scenes to start preparing for maternity leave!  For a business owner, taking a break is a pretty big deal.  Luckily I learned a lot before & during my 2018 maternity leave when Grayson was born, and getting ready for time away from the business for baby #2 is a whole lot easier.

So, let’s get into the details!

When is it happening?  

It’s been a busy spring as I’ve been fitting everything in before the baby arrives. I have finished my last sessions, and I’m currently wrapping up client appointments and orders now so that everything is all set before our baby arrives. With Grayson, I was induced 3 weeks early and it was quite a surprise as first-time parents, so this time I’m making sure to leave even more time as a buffer before our little one’s due date just in case an early delivery happens again.

I will be on maternity leave for June, July, and August. My email auto-responder will be on for the whole summer as we spend time bonding as a family of four.

How do I reach you?

Email is best!  I imagine that the first few weeks I won’t be logging in much, but eventually I will be checking in every couple of days to stay on top of my inbox and get back to any urgent messages and new inquiries for fall portrait sessions.  

When you send me an email, you’ll receive an auto reply with more information about timelines and maternity leave, and I want you to know that I truly appreciate your patience as we spend time putting our family first. I will definitely get back to your message to help you plan your session, just know that it will take a little longer than usual while I’m juggling a baby and a preschooler at home.
 

When are you taking sessions again?

The fall calendar is filling up!  I am currently booking sessions for September 2022 through next winter. If you’re hoping for outdoor family portraits this fall, be sure to reach out early to get that on the calendar because dates are extremely limited. I also have studio availability this fall, so plan ahead for your cake smash, newborn portraits, maternity, or milestone session.

Wait a minute… why do I see new posts on social media? 

There are so many amazing tools out there for business owners to plan ahead and automate their businesses, so although I might be rocking our baby to sleep, my blog & social media accounts will still be churning out new content! 

With the help of my incredible virtual assistant, I’ve been prepping plenty of sessions, new blog posts, educational posts, and so much more to stay fresh online even while I’m on maternity leave. 

The best part?  I imagine I’ll be taking LOTS of photos of our two little ones, and I can’t wait to start sharing those with you, too!  Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on all of the baby cuteness!

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So, that's the plan!  I can't wait to get back into our sessions this fall and to celebrate all of your babies' milestones with your family.  I am so excited for September already -- we have a bunch of birthday babies on the calendar for their cake smashes, and it's going to be such a fun month with all of those birthday sessions to look forward to!

Plus, it’ll be November before we know it, and that means holiday portraits are right around the corner! Be on the lookout for our holiday event announcement coming this summer!

Family Portraits with Teenagers in Chatham - Cape Cod Family Photographer

Inspiration for what to wear for your beach family photos!

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Newborn Portraits with Hot Air Balloons

We are in the middle of a baby boom here at the studio, and I am loving all of these cuddly little newborns coming in for their first portrait session! Sweet little Luke’s family welcomed him over the summer and we captured the most adorable newborn portraits in my Saratoga Springs portrait studio. The local hot air balloon festival has always been significant for this family, so we made sure to incorporate hot air balloons into one of his setups and these are just the most adorable photos!

Every newborn portrait session starts with family photos. I love capturing the first family portrait with the new baby, and these are such special memories to look back on as your little one grows. Are you going to remember how tiny they were, and how their head fit perfectly in the crook of your arm? Or how their five little fingers wrapped perfectly around one of yours? That’s what we do in these family portraits. Slow down time to preserve the memories that. you never want to forget.

Goshhhh, this backlit parent pose is one of my new favorite images to capture during all of our sessions lately!

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Newborn Portraits with an Elephant Theme

If you’ve worked with me, you know that I am passionate about printing your photos and enjoying them in your home. That is why every family I work with enjoys a design appointment in their home where we go through your gallery, choose your favorites to print, and look at your walls to see how you would like to showcase your portraits and what the perfect size will be!

This family knew they wanted to create a gallery wall of wooden wall art pieces in their living room, combining portraits from both the maternity & newborn sessions. Look how beautifully it all came together with their baby boy as the focal point!

Curious about our artwork options? Learn more here!

Close-up shots like this one that showcase your newborn baby’s perfect little features are always some of my favorites to capture during a studio newborn session! I just love the way you can see Julian’s fluffy hair and how it forms a tiny little mohawk on the top!

This gorgeous white dress from our studio’s Mama Wardrobe has been very popular lately! Lots of mamas have chosen to wear this in their family portraits, and I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of the beautiful details on this dress. From the trim on the neckline to the lace and ruffle on the sleeves, it’s perfect for family portraits!

Julian’s nursery theme is elephants, and his parents brought a few little items to incorporate into his session. Someone crocheted this adorable elephant lovie for him, and the swaddle with little elephants marching across was the perfect layering blanket for portraits, too!

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Welcome Baby Nathan! Newborn Portraits with Big Brother

This blog post comes with a story about your favorite photographer, too many boxes arriving in the mail, and the big reveal of this family’s heirloom album. ;o)

This sweet family ordered an album with all of their favorite newborn portraits, and I placed the order the day before I left for a week and a half on the Cape. For me, a week and a half by the sea is like hitting the reset button, so when I came home I could barely remember what I had done before leaving for the Cape.

When I came back to my studio I had a mountain of boxes waiting for me from my different portrait labs, and opening them felt a bit like Christmas morning because I couldn’t remember what was inside of them. Blame it on the mom brain, or blame it on the salt air.

But then I got to this one box. When I opened it up I saw the gray album box inside, and I remember lifting the cover and thinking, “Who’s album is this one?” Then I saw the sky blue linen and the soft colors in Nathan’s newborn portraits, and honestly I gasped when seeing how beautiful it all was together. This family wound up choosing the most perfect linen to complement their portraits, and the finished product was truly breathtaking. That was my favorite package I opened this summer, and I definitely enjoyed watching the family unwrap it a few days later to enjoy it for themselves!

Big brother Aiden was soooooo excited about his new role as big brother, and he gave us all the smiles! We captured so many sweet portraits of these two brothers together and I love all of the family ones, too. I’ve loved watching this family grow over the past couple of years, and it’s hard to believe that just a few short years ago they were brand new parents bringing their son to my old studio for his portrait session! Check out big brother’s newborn session from almost 3 years ago here!

We used some of the same colors and layers in Nathan’s newborn portraits as we did in his big brother’s a few years ago. I’m a huge fan of blues, grays, creams, and whites in newborn portraits, and I love how seamlessly they all go together!

Nathan’s mama gave me the biggest compliment when she was sitting in the studio during their session. She looked around and told me that the studio was so relaxing to be in, and that nearly three years ago as a new mom she had felt the same way. Despite all of the crazy unknowns of motherhood and the countless things that all of us mamas have to figure out in those first few weeks with a new baby, somehow I helped her feel more comfortable at least during those couple of hours she was here for her session. That made my heart so happy to hear.

Because yes, I want to give you beautiful portraits and artwork that you’re going to enjoy for generations. But more importantly I want you to embark on this journey of motherhood (or the next chapter of it if you’re welcoming baby #2 or #3!) and feel a little more confident, a little more understood, a little more prepared to take on the crazy unknowns. I’m a mom, too. I’ve literally gone through this exact same journey, and whatever it is you’re feeling, you’re not alone. That’s why I try so hard to connect with all of the families that I work with to see how they’re doing and offer any little tidbits that might make those first few weeks at home a little easier with the new baby.

Because your newborn session is not just about the photographs. It’s also about taking your baby out of the house for maybe the first time besides the pediatrician appointment, and connecting with another mama who has been in your shoes who can help you feel a little less lost and a little less alone.

Wondering what to expect in your newborn session? I’ve done this hundreds of times and my job is to make it as easy and stress-free as possible for you as a new parent! Check out this blog post for what to expect!

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Classic Newborn Portraits with Shades of Blue

I love it when families come back to my studio with their second babies for their newborn sessions, and I truly love watching their families grow. From bringing their first baby home to watching that little one become a big brother or sister, it really is such an honor to be invited into their lives to document these moments for them.

This sweet family joined me at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio with Baby Colton to capture his newborn portraits. We captured a variety of family portraits to complement their photos from daughter Elliana’s newborn session two years ago, and I love the variety and the joy that their toddler brings to these family portraits. Just look at her adorable little grin and how proud she is to be a big sister in these images!

Wondering what to expect during your newborn session? I’m here to walk you through every step of the way and make it an easy & enjoyable experience for you and your family. Check out the blog post below to learn what to expect!

We used classic blues and grays for Colton’s individual portraits, and this sleepy boy was such a gem. He even wore one of our new one-piece rompers, and I love how it turned out.

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Tips for Photographers: How to make your studio space welcoming and comfortable for your clients

Recently a new mom was in the studio for her newborn session. She was sitting on the couch nursing her two-week old daughter, and her toddler was playing with toys in the corner while her husband hung out and helped hand her a few things from the diaper bag. We were in between setups and we had just finished the family portraits, and she looked around and said:

“Your studio is just so welcoming and cozy!
I feel so comfortable here. You’ve really thought of everything!”

In that moment I was so happy to receive that compliment, and I told her how much those kind words meant to me. You see, I had only moved into my new studio less than 3 months before her session. We had installed new floors, painted the walls, assembled furniture, hung artwork, and organized all of the things. I had worked my butt off to create a space that was calming, welcoming, and versatile while maximizing every inch of space.

It is really important to me that my studio is a space where new parents feel like they can relax. So much about those first few weeks (months, or even the first couple of years!) is a swirling sea of unknowns. But when they step into my studio I want them to feel like they can take a deep breath and let the space soothe them, allowing them to enjoy our session together and enjoy watching their baby at their first portrait session.

So, how do you replicate that in your studio?

What are the things you can keep in mind to create a space that is just as welcoming and cozy?

First, get into the mind of a mom. Whether you are a mom or you’re not a mom, surely you know other moms and you can ask them what would make their lives a little easier. This will vary for every stage of parents that you have in your studio, and newborn parents will need different things than first birthday parents, who will need different things from toddler parents and school-age parents. But start to think what would make them feel more relaxed and at ease when they come to your studio.

Let’s start with right when they walk in the door.

A designated place to hang their coat, leave the baby carrier, and drop their diaper bag and shoes.

A comfy couch to rest on, ideally in a spill-proof and wipeable fabric so they don’t have to worry about their little one making a mess on it.

I write their little one’s name on a chalkboard sign by the entrance, and it makes them smile knowing that I personalized it just for their baby! Right away they feel welcomed and special.

Then show them around and let them settle in. Thoughtful little touches make a BIG difference!

Show them where the snacks are. Speaking of snacks, if you don’t have snacks for families this is an easy place to start! I have a little three-tier cart filled with kid-friendly snacks like goldfish, raisins, and chocolate chip cookies. My studio is peanut-free and tree nut free, and I make sure all of our snacks are, too. I also have water bottles and juice boxes on the cart, and paper towels, baby wipes, and tissues, too.

Coffee & tea! I have a little Keurig machine in the studio with cute little mugs and coffee pods. I make sure to plug it in and warm up the water ahead of time, and I always make sure parents know they can help themselves to some coffee.

A bathroom. Show them where it is, and make sure it’s well-stocked before they arrive.

Do you have a place for them to get changed? What about hooks up high to hang long dresses so they don’t reach the floor? I’ve turned a corner into a changing nook by hanging curtains on a track from the ceiling, If you want to maximize your little studio space, this would be perfect for you! Be sure to put a full-length mirror in there, too, and open the curtains when it’s not in use to make the space appear bigger.

Is mom nursing? Have a Boppy pillow handy to offer her. Bottle feeding? Keeping a bottle warmer in the studio is a great idea! When she’s feeding the baby, try and read the vibe she’s giving off, and if it seems like she might want a little privacy then make an excuse to sneak out for a few minutes to give her some quiet moments with her little one. This is especially important for nursing moms, and some brand new first-time moms can be a little anxious about feeding the baby in public and getting everything in just the right position, and this might be her first time nursing the baby outside of the comfort of her home where she can be walking around without a shirt all day. Other moms don’t care whatsoever and are completely comfortable around anyone else in the room, it just varies from mom to mom! So just read the vibe and give her space if you think she might appreciate it.

Big brother or sister? You want to have ways to keep them entertained. I ask about their interests ahead of time and I try to keep toys in the play corner that will occupy them. I have board books, blocks, little horses in a stable, cars, trains, and some manipulative activities and puzzles to keep them busy. I bring in new toys from my son’s toy stash based on their interests. One little tip: avoid crayons or markers, especially if you don’t want to have to worry about their drawings accidentally ending up on the walls!

Display samples of all of the products you offer, showcasing different types of sessions and portraits. Let them see your newborns, cake smashes, outdoor family portraits, and more! This gives them inspiration for upcoming sessions, and they’ll know without even asking what types of portraits you offer!

Get them involved and let them select a few items for their session! Have your wraps, headbands, and little outfits displayed in a way that clients can look through them and choose a few favorites. This helps them be more invested in the session and more excited about creating personalized portraits!

Create an overall feeling of warmth and space.

Even if you have a small studio space, there are still ways you can create a welcoming atmosphere for your clients. I use a cohesive color palette throughout to make everything flow together seamlessly. Those colors fit my brand, so for me it’s all white, cream, muted gold/champagne, and natural unfinished wood. This helps the space feel airy, even though it’s in a basement with low ceilings.

Wipe everything down with a lightly-scented sanitizing wipe before the session, but make sure there is not an overpowering smell in the studio when they arrive. You want it to be clean and fresh, but not so much that it’s all they remember about their session. You don’t want them going home complaining about the photographer’s studio that stinks like too much lemon lysol. ;o)

Create space. Try not to have anything crowded around the seating area/couch so that families have space for their bags, toys, clothes, and room to move around. You don’t want them to feel like they are tripping over everything when they stand up to get a snack.

Turn on all the lights when you can so that it’s not dark, and make sure to keep the temperature comfortable! Keep a space heater in there, and also fans or AC for the warmer months.

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Did you notice that I haven’t said a thing about props? Having a studio isn’t all about having, storing, and displaying your prop collection. A studio is a space where you can welcome your clients. It is a space they come to for their portrait session, and while yes, props are important, they are not the ONLY thing to think about when you are setting up your studio.

You want to be the photographer who keeps the client’s comfort and needs in mind first.

Make sure you are welcoming them into your studio, helping them feel comfortable, and doing everything possible to give them an extraordinary experience. Then those will be the clients who can’t stop raving about how wonderful you are, who are eager to come back for another session, and who tell all their friends about you.

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Download our freebie checklist!

Now it’s time to refresh your studio space! Download this checklist to help you create a client-focused studio that is just as welcoming & cozy!

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Henry's Newborn Portraits with Adorable Big Sister

I always love capturing family portraits during our studio newborn sessions. I love seeing how tiny the baby is in his parents’ arms, and the happy cuddles as everyone cozies up with the new baby. It’s always exciting when there is a big brother or sister and we can capture those adorable interactions, too!

Choosing what to wear is so important for studio newborn sessions. Neutral colors help the baby be the star of the show, and they are also classic so that they look amazing on your walls for years to come! More outfit tips here on the blog.

Henry’s newborn session at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio was absolutely perfect. We captured the cutest family photos and plenty of individual portraits of their baby boy, too. Just a few years ago we were photographing Emma’s newborn session, and now here she is with a baby brother!

Want to know what my favorite part about this session was? Big sister Emma.

She was sooooo excited to be in photos with her baby brother, and even more excited when I placed him into her arms (for the very first time ever!). The joy on her face was unforgettable, and she kept giggling and looking to mom and dad with the proudest smile. It was so sweet!

Her first time holding her brother! Just look at that huge smile!

This pose of baby in dad’s hands is always a parent favorite!!

Sleepy little yawns are always fun to capture on camera! Especially in tiny striped outfits like this one!

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Love these classic newborn portraits? Pin this image or any from the post above for inspiration!

A Letter to All Moms: Please Get in the Picture!!

Dear Mamas,

Get in the picture. Stop hiding behind the camera and step in front of it with your babies. Hand your camera over to your partner, your friend, your neighbor, ANYONE walking by on the street, and ask them to please take a picture of you and your kids together.

You already know that these years go by too quickly. You already know that your children are only this little for a little while. I don’t need to remind you of any of that.

But 20 years from now when your kids are looking back at old family photos, you don’t want them to ask you, “Wait, mom, where were you? Why aren’t you in any pictures with us?”

And 30 years from now when your kids are becoming parents to little ones of their own, they’re going to want to see YOU in the same stage that they are going through. They’re going to want to see you pregnant, you as a brand new mom, you as an exhausted but ridiculously happy toddler mama. They’ll want to see you getting your hands messy and baking with your family, you running into the waves with your kids at the beach, and you cheering them on at their first sports game or recital or play. They’ll just want to see YOU in the pictures.

During Grayson’s first year, I was always the one taking the pictures. As he was about to turn one I realized that I barely had any photos of the two of us together except from our Fresh 48 session at the hospital, a few photos I prioritized on my first Mother’s Day, and some cell phone photos.

So I did three things.

• I started handing my camera off to my husband and asked him to take some photos of us just doing regular stuff together. A lot of photos were blurry or my head was cut off, but hey, at least I was in the picture!

• I started using a tripod and capturing more of our everyday moments at home. Cuddling up together after nap, learning to walk, playing on the kitchen floor. The simple motherhood moments that I knew I wanted to remember forever.

• And I booked two professional portrait sessions — one family session, and one mommy & me session. Those two photos at the top of this blog post? They are two of my most treasured photos, and both of them are hanging up in our house so that I can enjoy them every single day and remember how perfectly Grayson fit in my arms!

You can do those same three things.

Hand your camera off to anyone and ask them to take a few photos of you snuggling your kids. It can be on a special day like a holiday, but it can also be on some random Tuesday out in your garden.

Set your camera up on a tripod (or a chair, or a stack of books, or on the floor!) and set the timer, then jump in and start loving on your kids. Or capture some moments of you guys doing an activity together that you love, and just set your camera off to the side to do the work while you’re busy with the kids!

Find a professional photographer whose style you love, and talk with them about what you’re looking for in your portrait session. Talk with them about meaningful locations, things your kids do that you want to remember forever, and that dream shot that would make you so happy hanging on your walls. Be open and tell them what you want, and they will make it their mission to bring that to life for you.

So mamas, please get in the picture! You’ll only regret the photos you didn’t take, and you’ll never look back and wish you had taken fewer.

With love,
Nicole
(and Grayson, who will appreciate this many years from now!

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Quarantines & Newborn Photos | A Free Guide to Capturing Your Newborn Photos at Home During Social Isolation

Congratulations on your little one’s arrival! 

I created this FREE guide to help families affected by social isolationdue to the global pandemic. I know how special this time is for yourfamily as you welcome your new baby home, and I’m sure you wereimagining the most adorable newborn portraits of your little one.Just because our studio is closed right now does not mean youcan’t capture these moments while your baby is still so tiny!

I’ve filled this guide with tips and inspiration to help you capture this fleeting newborn stage at home with whatever camera you have available -- a phone, point and shoot, or a DSLR!

I look forward to celebrating with your family when it is safe to gather again, and I can’t wait to meet your brand new baby and capture some beautiful portraits for you.In the meantime, enjoy those newborn cuddles, and I can’t wait to see what you capture!

Click on the link below to download your PDF!

Get your free Quarantines & Newborn Sessions Guide here!

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Are you a photographer looking to share a similar guide with your clients? We’ve added a customizable PSD template to our shop! Go check it out!

Grayson Turns Two! A School Bus Cake Smash for My Little Guy

My sweet little boy turned TWO this month, and I still can’t believe it!

We celebrated with his favorite thing of all time — SCHOOL BUSES! Grayson is absolutely obsessed with school buses, and he points out every single bus we pass when we’re in the car. The hardest thing about the quarantine for him? There are no school buses on the roads, and he never gets to go out in the car, either! He’ll be so excited when he starts spotting them all over town in the fall again!

Grayson wore the cutest little outfit with suspenders and a bowtie, and I couldn’t even believe how much he smiled for the camera. Normally he’s hesitant around the camera, but he brought all of the grins and laughs this day. He dug right into his cake, which is the first time that has ever happened with him! I did three cake smashes for him last year (perks of being a photographer’s kid!) and he didn’t like the cake for any of them. But this time, he got out some big chunks, picked up the whole cake, and got a little bit messy!

This sweet boy is so full of personality, and it really shows! He loves being silly and making others laugh, and he really let that shine for his portraits. Love him so much!

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Grayson's Two Year Studio Portraits | Saratoga Springs Child Photographer

How did my sweet little boy turn TWO already?!?! The past two years have absolutely flown by, and while I thought Year 1 was fast, Year 2 sped by at warp speed!!

I remember that I captured so many studio portraits of Grayson during his first year. We did portraits every month, sometimes two or three times! But now in the second year it was such a challenge to find the time to bring this active toddler into the studio for portraits. I’m so glad that I captured these classic portraits just days before his second birthday. They showcase his sweet and curious personality, his wispy blonde hair, and those cute little toddler toes on feet that have become so strong from all of the walking and running he has learned to do this year!

A few things I always want to remember about my sweet boy at two years old.

• Grayson is obsessed with trucks and cars. He can identify every type of construction truck, mail truck, ambulance, police car, firetruck, school bus, city bus, and more. He could spend all day playing with his little trucks, driving them over roads we’ve made from cardboard, digging around in sand with his excavators, and pushing choo-choo trains on imaginary railroad tracks.

• He is OBSESSED with buses, especially school buses, and he points them out every time we’re in the car.

• He loves hugs and cuddles, especially “mama huds” (and yes, he says HUG as HUD, and it’s so cute!).

• He thinks that all eggs have baby dinosaurs inside. On Easter, he exclaimed “What’s hatching?? Baby dinosaur!” for every easter egg that he opened up. Sadly, there were no dinosaurs inside! Even when we’re baking, he’ll get so excited to crack an egg in the bowl, shout “Baby dinosaurrrr!!!!,” and then look in the bowl and see it’s just an egg and say, “Oh, no dinosaur. Just water.” And he’s always so disappointed!

• He gets so excited to FaceTime family and friends, and he always wants to hold the phone or put the phone in his fire truck to take it for a ride around the house.

• Somehow he learned all of his letters already, and he talks about “ABCs” all day long!

• He is currently obsessed with eating Cheerios with almond milk, and he’ll have multiple bowls for breakfast, and then try to have the same for lunch, too!

• He loves it when Grandma comes over to play with him, and he does a happy dance at the top of the stairs every time she walks in the door.

• He loves going for walks when he can just ride along in the stroller. He settles in, looks around, and gets into his happy place. He gets really quiet and relaxed, and every time I bend down to check on him he says “Grayson happy.”

• And my favorite thing? Whenever I say “I love you,” he always responds with “So much” and it just melts my heart!

I love you. So much.

You know, I started doing children’s portraits many years before I had a child of my own. I knew that one day I wanted to have beautiful portraits of my own little one, and I am so grateful that I’ll have these timeless photos of our sweet little toddler forever. Now it’s time to figure out which ones to print and hang in our home, and which ones to go into his yearly album!

What's the difference between a mini session and a regular session? | 2019 Fall Mini Sessions with Saratoga Springs & Boston Family Photographer

Summer & fall are our most popular seasons for family portraits, and every fall my inbox is flooded with families looking for family portraits for their holiday cards and gifts. Trust me, I get it! It’s such a beautiful time of year in the Northeast, and everyone adores the fall foliage and the vibrant colors that we’re lucky enough to enjoy for just a couple of weeks a year. It’s the perfect season for your family portrait session!

One of the most frequently asked questions that I get from families is, “What is the difference between a mini session and a regular session?” So today, I want to clear that up for you and also give you the details about our availability this fall!

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Let’s start with what is included with each session.

Full Length Family Portrait Session
-client prep guide and wardrobe guide filled with inspiration for your session
-pre-session consultation and design appointment at the studio or on a video call
-complimentary use of studio wardrobe for mamas and babies
-location of your choice within 20 miles of 12866
-up to 1 hour of shooting time
-includes immediate family up to 5 people ($25 per additional person)
-gallery reveal appointment after the session to select your favorite images for holiday cards, wall art, gifts, albums, and digitals

Investment: $225 session fee plus your choice of products after the session.
Many different collections are available to fit all budgets.

Mini Family Session
-welcome email and wardrobe guide filled with inspiration for your session
-one specific location chosen by the photographer
-15-20 minutes of shooting time
-includes immediate family up to 5 people
-images delivered via online gallery within two weeks of the session
-5 digital images available for download, with the option to add on additional images, cards, artwork, gifts, and albums

Investment: $275 - $375 depending on location and session type

Mini sessions are perfect for families that are looking for just a couple of beautiful portraits for their holiday cards and gifts, and maybe one or two for the wall. These sessions are short & sweet, and do not require much of a time commitment.

Our regular (full length) portrait sessions are my personal favorite because I love the opportunity to really get to know the families before & during our session, and then visiting with them after the session for their gallery reveal appointment to plan how they want to enjoy their portraits at home and as gifts. These sessions are longer and allow for more variety in the location and in posing, and we also have plenty of time for the kids to warm up to me and the location when they arrive because we are not pressed for time. If the kids need a break for a snack or a quick cuddle, no problem!

The full length sessions also include more help with wardrobe, including access to the studio closet and my help with finding the perfect outfits for your whole family! So many moms (and sometimes dads!) worry about how to coordinate outfits for the whole family. This is probably your first or second time doing this, but me? I’ve done this literally hundreds of times with all of the families I photograph each year. I’m happy to help make this easier for you so that your session is stress-free and that you adore your family portraits!

Full length sessions are perfect if you’re including Grandma & Grandpa and all of the grandkids because we will capture plenty of variety with all of the different groupings of people.

You also want to consider your plans for your images after the session. Do you want one framed family portrait on the wall? Or a couple for your holiday cards and gifts? Maybe a mini session is right for you!

Are you looking for a gallery wall in the living room, a few more in the office, and a couple in the hallway? Do you dream of turning the pages of one of our gorgeous linen albums filled with beautiful portraits of your family having fun? Definitely go with the full length session.

Here’s a peek at a sampling of images from a mini session and from a full-length session. This is not the entire gallery, it’s just to give you an idea of the variety in images included with each type of session.

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Let’s talk about timing.

I’ve been photographing families since 2012, and every year I hear families tell me how they really want to take their portraits in the fall when the foliage is so pretty. REMEMBER, IT’S THE MOST POPULAR TIME OF YEAR FOR PORTRAITS. DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE!!

I stop photographing outdoors before Halloween, so plan ahead! By November, most of the leaves have fallen down and been raked up, and the temperature is usually too cool for little ones to be comfortable outside in just a light sweater. This is why we plan our sessions early in the season.

You want to book your session for September or early October if…

September is when we enjoy the beautiful days of early fall. It’s still warm outside, the sunlight is perfectly golden, and the trees aren’t quite so vibrant yet. If you’re planning on decorating your home with your family portraits, think of the color scheme inside your home. If you have a more neutral style or lots of cool colors (gray, blue), then maybe vibrant orange and red won’t coordinate so well like you would get from a late October session. However, a September session lends itself to more neutral tones and would look perfect on your walls! September (and early October) is also perfect for families who have little ones under age 2 who might be too cold outside in late October when the weather has cooled off. If it’s a family with just the parents and a baby, I’d recommend planning for a session earlier in the fall so keep everyone happy!

And mid to late October might be a better fit for you if…

If color makes your heart do a little happy dance, then you definitely want to plan your family portraits for October! The trees are bursting with reds, oranges, and yellows, and the whole landscape looks like the sunset. These sessions are always some of my favorites every year, and I love when the leaves have fallen down and the kids can have fun throwing leaves in the air and jumping in piles of leaves to hear the ::crunch::. Mid to late October sessions are especially great for older kids, or very easy-going little ones who might not mind the slight chill in the air.

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We’re opening our 2019 fall calendar on Friday, August 23!!!

This is when we’ll begin filling the mini session dates as well as our full length session dates. Our newsletter subscribers will have first dibs on their date & time of choice, and our calendar is already halfway full with previous clients already!

If you’re not on our mailing list, be sure to join so that you can receive early access to our fall session dates! There’s one for our Massachusetts families, and one for our Saratoga Springs/Albany families!

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Did you find this blog post helpful? Then you are going to love this next one that is filled with tips on what to wear for your family portrait session this fall!

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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.  Nicole also works with families year round at her Attleboro, MA portrait studio, and on location May through October in Boston and on Cape Cod.  Nicole has a clean and classic style, and the studio is filled with neutrals and luxe fabrics.  We use very minimal props to keep the focus on your perfect little baby.  Our sessions are relaxed and fun, and we’ll enjoy an hour together (or up to 3 hours for a newborn session!) laughing, cuddling, and capturing authentic smiles and belly laughs with your little ones.  

Baby Starr | A Llama Cake Smash for Grayson

Jeff and I have shared an inside joke about llamas for as long as I can remember. I think it was one of the very first weekends that we were dating when we were walking around downtown Saratoga Springs, and we saw a llama standing on the sidewalk poking its head into the windows of a bar and leaning over a table inside of the restaurant. Ever since we have spent years worth of scavenger hunts with a bonus llama category that would give us extra points.

Our family knew the llama story, so Grayson received a few gifts this year that were llama related. He has a llama for his crib, and his favorite books are the Llama Llama series — he gets so animated every time we open these books and he puts his hand down to stop turning the page so that he can really enjoy what he sees, pointing and babbling to the llamas in front of him.

So it was only natural that we did a llama cake smash with our little guy! (Who, by the way, I still can’t believe is ONE!! Where did this year disappear to?!?!)

This adorable llama cake lasted all of 25 seconds because our son is in a fun new stage of “I must knock everything over!!” The cake fell upside down off the cake stand TWICE within the first 3 minutes of his cake smash. He’s a talented little smasher!

There he is contemplating the very best way to get the cake off of the cake stand!

I will never grow tired of photographing little baby feet! His feet are already turning into muscular and lean toddler feet, and he’s losing the squishy padding that he used to have beneath his toes. Stop growing up so fast, baby boy!

The sad face was when I took away his wooden spoon! This boy loves to feed himself and he is obsessed with spoons!

Of course we finished up with a bathtub splash, and Grayson LOVED tubby time! His favorite song for bath time is “Splish Splash (I was taking a bath)”, so once it came on he was giggling and splashing all over the place.

My sweet boy! I love you so much, and I can’t believe that we just finished your first birthday cake smash! Where did this year go?!?!