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!

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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Want to save this helpful blog post? Pin this image or any from the post above!

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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?!?!

9 Tips for Surviving Life with a Newborn

I am so excited to announce our next collaboration with you!  Over the next few months we will be sharing the blog space with local moms & mompreneurs.  Our guest bloggers will share with you a peek into their personal lives, the moments they were able to laugh about, and their expertise from what they have learned on this journey called motherhood.  

I truly believe that the relationships I love to cultivate with families I work with are about more than just photos.  These relationships are about your stories, the experiences that connect us all together, and the experiences that every single one of you who comes to this blog can relate to.  

With that, I am happy to introduce you to Melanie Venuti, our first guest blogger.  Melanie is a mom to an active little toddler, with Baby #2 on the way.  Through MV Breastfeeding Support (www.mvbreastfeedingsupport.com), Melanie supports families individually through counseling as well as in group classes, sharing her expertise on breastfeeding and parenting success. Melanie is excited to share her 9 tips for surviving the first few weeks at home with your newborn.

As we left the hospital after the birth of my son, my husband encouraged me to sit in the back seat because he said "that's what you’re supposed to do!", he drove slow on the highway and kept the music low so we didn't wake the sleeping baby. Upon arriving home, we walked into the house, placed the car seat down and gazed at our new beautiful baby and each other. They let us leave the hospital and we are now responsible for this tiny human being! What now...? 

 The first six weeks of your baby’s life are a series of ups and downs. But here are some tips and ideas that may make the transition easier for you.

As a new mom, I felt like I needed to do it all to be the best mom, super mom, super woman! But who was I kidding? Boy did I wish I didn’t forbid my husband from laundry that time he washed the white and navy towels at the same time, boy do I wish my friend came over every night with grilled chicken and butternut squash, boy do I wish I took advantage of all my friends and family who said ‘what can we do for you?’. After the birth of your baby, you are responsible for caring for your baby, so allow for your friends and your family to nurture and care for you.

It's ok to mourn the loss of your old life, but laugh about it. Those moments when I would wear the nursing pillow, feed my baby, and attempt to eat my own meal while trying to weed off my dog from stealing my sandwich all at the same time, Hubby and I would look at each other, and say ‘What did we do?’. We laughed about it, and joked about what used to be and how we used to be able to do xyz! Don’t expect perfection, having a baby is a lifestyle adjustment, and you want to do the best you can.

Remember, you are also recovering from delivery and adjusting to life with a newborn, aka a tiny human who consumes your every moment. For the first week or 2, pay attention to what your body is telling you and don’t hesitate to say no to visitors.  

You have probably heard Sleep when the Baby Sleeps, but to be honest, I never found this to be realistic. I could never get into a deep enough, restful sleep during the day, and there are other things that I want to do while baby sleeps…like shower, eat a snack, and/or watch an episode of The Walking Dead. So I think Rest when the Baby Sleeps is a better and more obtainable goal.

You may not have the time to prepare the most balanced meals in the early days, so keeping some easy and healthy grab and go snacks on hand will be a huge help. Things like cheese sticks, yogurt and granola, fruits with nut butters, or other snacks that offer a protein boost will keep you energized.

After your baby is born, and you and your baby are learning to breastfeed together, sometimes it can be a little bit uncomfortable, and this is when you want to ask for help. When breastfeeding is painful, it typically means that something isn’t right with positioning, latch, engorgement, or even water retention or swelling. A Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) can help! An IBCLC has specialized skills in breastfeeding management and uses a problem solving approach and makes appropriate recommendations as needed to ensure breastfeeding success.

A newborn baby is not born with a handbook, and most certainly is not going to respond to a strict schedule early on. They are born into a world that is very different than their ‘norm’ in the womb. They have to experience things like hot and cold, gravity, lights, the sensation of being hungry, the sensation of having to poop…tough life! It takes them a bit of time to adjust and we want to be able to support that with having realistic expectations for their needs and demeanor.  It will take some trial and error to find a good balance for what works for your baby and for you.

All joking aside, a newborn baby does require quite a bit of sleep, but it may not necessarily be during the times of day that you would like to or are used to sleeping. Help your baby differentiate between day and night early on by doing things like keeping the rooms bright during the day and dim to dark at night, or changing their clothing in the morning to play clothes vs. pajamas which are for night time. I am also a HUGE fan of swaddling a baby for sleep. There is lots of research that supports swaddling being an essential to quality sleep for the first several months of baby’s life. Swaddling a baby with their arms down will help them feel safe, warm, and sleep longer.

Childbirth and new parenthood can trigger a jumble of emotions from joy to extreme fear, as well as something unexpected: depression. About 9-16% of women experience Postpartum Depression (PPD) and up to 80% of women report having some degree of Baby Blues after delivery. Baby Blues may include symptoms of anxiety, mood swings and crying spells, and almost always resolve after the first 2-3 weeks. Some women, however, experience more severe symptoms and this is characterized as Postpartum Depression. If you experience symptoms of Baby Blues or PPD, help is available so talk to your health care provider.
 

My son is now 15 months and we survived, we did it, kudos to me and Hubby! We thought we did such a great job that we are doing it again, Baby #2 arriving this summer. Having a baby is a life altering, scary, joyful, wonderfully exciting and the most fun you will ever have. Although the first few weeks are a bit overwhelming, and perhaps not quite as blissful as the movies make it out to be, you get through it, it’s just a faze, and remind yourself, this too shall pass, you're doing a great job!

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What other tips would you share with new parents about surviving life with a newborn?  We'd love to hear them and help out the new moms & dads that follow our blog.  Leave them in the comments below!  

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Our New Brand & Website #NSPLaunchDay

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

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

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

So, how did this all happen?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Musical First Birthday Cake Smash

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

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

music musical notes first birthday cake smash

pink, teal, and gray cake smash

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

music musical notes first birthday cake smash

pink, teal and gray cake smash

pink and teal cake smash session

baby cake smash birthday photo session

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

music musical notes first birthday cake smash

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

[video width="320" height="576" mp4="http://nicolestarrphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/30-3380-post/video-1446218810.mp4.mp4"][/video]

Happy birthday, baby girl!

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

The Arnold Arboretum for Rustic Family Photos

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

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

This baby girl is so, so loved!!

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!

Making New Memories in Vintage Dresses | A Motherhood Session

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

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

Alice & Daniela.

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

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

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

A Sparkly Birthday Cake Smash {Maria}

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

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

boston saratoga photographer

boston saratoga photographer

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

boston saratoga photographer

boston saratoga photographer

boston saratoga photographer

boston saratoga photographer

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

WM pink gold birthday cake smash set up

boston saratoga photographer

boston saratoga photographer

boston saratoga photographer

boston saratoga photographer

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

boston saratoga photographer

boston saratoga photographer

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

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

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

WM pink gold birthday cake

A Vintage Baby Boy's Milestone Session | Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

Lately we have been all about the BABIES here at the Nicole Starr Photography studio.  Newborns, 6 month olds, milestone sessions, birthday babes with their cake smash sessions...  With more newborns arriving each week (3 little girls were born in the last two weeks who will be making their grand debut here very soon!), I love watching these little ones grow when they come in for their Simply Baby sessions. Vincent came in for his Simply Baby session, and we did a few Tushies & Toes photographs before moving on to a more vintage look for his portraits.  This was so much fun to pull together his different set ups, all with a clean and classic look to them.  There's nothing more classic than bare baby skin, tiny toes, and a creamy backdrop.

Did you notice the skull & crossbones on his Honest company diaper?  Too cute!

Showing off the many styles of baby Vinny, we took some adorable vintage photos of this little guy.  I have had this antique rotary phone for years, and I was thrilled to finally use it in a photo shoot.  How perfect is his newsboy cap and overalls?

WM baby phone-1

And finally we captured this little cutie with a more coastal and nautical look, since his grammy lives in a coastal town.  I just love the straw hat, weathered wood, and his cute little expressions.

Did you love Vincent's session?  Click here to see Vivian's adorable Simply Baby session for more smiles, dimples, and overall baby cuteness!

Eleanor Katherine {A delicate and floral springtime newborn session}

Eleanor Katherine

April 16, 2015  |  1:28pm

6 pounds, 3 ounces  |  18 inches

I was so excited to welcome Ellie and her parents for their newborn session.  This little girl's arrival to the world was much-anticipated and long-awaited, so we were so happy to welcome this tiny little girl into the studio for the perfect springtime session.

Eleanor was a dream baby.  Her parents followed my prep packet steps exactly, and she arrived to the studio all tuckered out, slipped right into a milk coma, and was in dreamland the entire session.  This allowed us to get so many adorable set ups of their little girl, and many of the specialty shots that the parents had requested for family members.

I always love starting with the family shots, and this has become one of my favorites of showing a baby girl in her daddy's strong hands...

Look at all that hair!

Cute new wrap, you say?  Why yes, it is!  Luckily my husband, Jeff, didn't mind browsing the scarf racks with me at TJ Maxx this spring when the perfect baby wraps were on sale.  He's a keeper.  ;o)

I love how tiny she looks in this one!

Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl!

She is perfect in every way.