A Little Loves portrait session to celebrate turning 5 | Saratoga Springs Child and Family Photographer

There is nothing better than watching kids grow in through the lens of my camera, in my studio. I’ve been photographing Elliana multiple times a year since she was a newborn, and recently, her mom brought her in for a Little Loves session to celebrate her turning 5. This session felt extra special because five is such a huge milestone. It bridges that gap between little kid and big kid. Five is often the age you start school, lose your first tooth, start to read, and learn so many amazing new skills. I loved celebrating this milestone with her!

Elli was SO cute in my studio this year. She was all giggles and big smiles, showing off her sweet personality. Mom chose the sweetest light blue and white dress - paired with the cutest white bow - for her photos. Sometimes, with Little Loves sessions, the final images are presented in black and white - but I think the color option was perfect to celebrate Elli and her bright personality. She is so sweet! We captured so many fun little moments, which is even easier since I’ve been part of her life for the last five years. We eased right into our shoot and were able to celebrate this milestone together. 

I also loved sitting with her parents, going through the gallery together after their session, too. We’ve sat at their kitchen counter so many times over the past five years going through their galleries and choosing their favorite portraits of their two children, and this time we kept reminiscing – “Doesn’t it feel like we were just in the studio doing her newborn session?” “Remember when we did her milestone portraits with the flowers?” “How sweet was she last fall in the field with her brother?!” And now this. Five.

It is always an honor when families trust me to capture their children’s milestones year after year. I love that so many families come to me for their newborn session, fall in love with the experience, and return to me year after year with their little ones. I never take this job for granted, and I am so lucky to work with the most amazing families year after year.

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Springtime Motherhood Portraits at our Client Appreciation Event

I’ve always loved doing motherhood portraits, and this spring I decided to create a Client Appreciation Event to show all of our 2022 families just how grateful I am that they trusted me to capture their family’s milestones last year. This Client Appreciation Event could not have been more fun. I loved catching up with all of my 2022 families and seeing how all of those sweet babies had grown! It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of business and motherhood, but it was so nice to slow down and hear what was going on in everyone’s lives this spring.

Each family that I work with - whether I’m capturing newborn portraits, a milestone, cake smash, or family photos for the year - is so important to me. Family portraits are special. Honestly, they’re one of the only times moms get in the photos and I know the process can feel overwhelming. It’s always been my goal to create a stress-free and joy-filled environment for my families during their portrait sessions. It’s why I have a client closet, a snack bar, and props/outfits onsite for sessions.s I want every single one of my clients to feel special and pampered, and our Client Appreciation Event was one more easy way to do that.

The spots for our Client Appreciation Event filled up right away, and the moms have been raving about the experience. I had a blast catching up, pampering these incredible moms some more, and capturing a few photos too. I’m already excited to plan for next year’s event for our 2023 clients! Thank you to everyone who made 2022 so special - and to all of my already amazing 2023 families. I’m so thankful for each and every one of you!

One of my favorite parts of our Client Appreciation Event was the swag bags we gave everyone! All of the businesses included are local, small business owners and mamas themselves!

Swag Bag Contributors:

Cookie Tastic
Kiwi and Rose (earrings)
House of Colour Saratoga Springs
Turn a New Leaf Intuitive Massage
Kallisto Gems
The Broadway Grind

A huge thank you to our other collaborators:
Hair stylist: Jessica Lee of Sanctuary Salon in Saratoga Springs NY

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Black & white personality portraits for adorable siblings

I was so happy when Nora and Benjamin’s mom reached out to me about capturing personality portraits for them here in my Saratoga Springs studio! These sessions are always a lot of fun. They’re simple and to the point, focusing on your little ones so we can truly capture what makes them unique. During personality sessions, all portraits are done in black and white. Your kids have the chance to show off their expressions and milestones, no matter what age they’re at!

For Nora and Benjamin, we photographed each of them individually in the studio before making sure to take some portraits of them together. I hope that they’ll treasure these portraits forever because you can just see how silly and fun both of these kids are! That’s truly my goal when it comes to personality sessions!! And these are great for kids of all ages once they pass their first birthday and you may not be in the studio regularly for portraits.

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From Click to Delivery and Everything in Between - A Look into our Portrait Process

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work with a full-service photographer? Or what in the world that term even means? Today we’re delving deep into the portrait experience to give you the inside scoop about what you can expect when you hire Nicole Starr Photography for your next portrait session. From the very first click of a button all the way through product delivery, let’s dig in!

For most of my clients and potential clients, their very first impression of my business is right here through my website. And here you are — so, welcome! This is where the majority of my clients find me, and also the first place that they head after a friend shares my name with them. And like every small business owner, I love it and sooooo appreciate it when families refer their friends and can’t stop gushing about their amazing portrait experience! If you’re not sure where to get started on the website, check out our different session types on the tab at the top of this page. Look through some BLOGS for inspiration, and take a peek at the gorgeous ARTWORK options here as well. Then head over to the INVESTMENT PAGE and finally click on CONTACT and let’s chat!

After I receive your contact email, we set up a time for a quick phone call. I love this part! This is when we get to know each other a little more, and you tell me all about your baby, your family, and what you’re looking for in your portrait session. I fill you in on the portrait experience (much like we’re doing in this blog post today) and then we set up a time for a planning call.

Our planning call is a pre-consultation done over Zoom. This is when we talk in more detail about colors, theme, location, outfits, must-have shots, etc. I show you examples of all of the beautiful artwork so that you can start picturing them in your home, and we go over any and all questions before booking the session.

From there we set a date for your portrait session. If it’s a newborn session, we mark a flexible date on the calendar surrounding your due date and finalize the date once the baby arrives. If it’s an outdoor session, we plan TWO dates — a session date and a rain date so that we have both blocked off in case in it rains on the first day. 

Then the countdown begins and we excitedly await the day of your family’s portrait session!

All of our sessions are relaxed and we’re flexible with timing so that we can work around your baby or child’s mood to keep them comfortable and happy. We capture a variety of portraits and looks/setups, and we have a blast while doing so!



After that you’ll enjoy a sneak peek on social media within a week of your session, and then we’ll set a time for your ordering appointment. This is another part of the portrait experience that I love sooooo much. I come to your home, or we can do the appointment over Zoom, too. We spend about an hour together going through your gallery and choosing your favorite portraits that you want to enjoy at home.



Here’s why I do this in your homes. Think back to your wedding photos. If you’re like 90% of the moms that I talk to on the phone, you got your photos back from your wedding photographer and never did anything with them, right? Maybe you hung one or two. Mayyyyyybe you had an album included with your package. But most of the families I talk to tell me regretfully that they haven’t been able to enjoy their wedding photos because they haven’t had the time to go through them yet. 

That is exactly why we set aside an hour to go through the portraits from your session together. We look at your walls and figure out the best locations and sizes for your portraits. We talk about albums and collection boxes to see which feels like the best fit for your home. We figure out gifts for family members and we design holiday cards and birth announcements, checking so many to-dos off of your list for you. And it only takes an hour. All of the printing and design is done for you, making it so easy and stress-free for you to enjoy gorgeous heirloom artwork in your home that is going to put a smile on your face every single day!



After that, I go through and finish editing your images. I send all of your images off to my professional labs and they return as beautifully printed and handcrafted artwork. We set up a time for me to deliver everything to you, and then it’s time to enjoy your portraits at home!

It’s that easy. Pretty sweet, right?

So if you’re ready to take all of the stress out of your next portrait session, what are you waiting for? Let’s chat today and get started!

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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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