Our Studio Refresh: A Peek inside our Saratoga Springs Portrait Studio

I can still hardly believe that this studio is mine. It’s one of my favorite places to be in Saratoga Springs, and it’s filled with everything that I find beautiful and inspiring — lots of light, soft fabrics, pretty neutrals, natural wood and rattan, linen, dainty little flowers on itty bitty headbands, and just a touch of subtle sparkle here and there.

With the new year, I’ve been looking forward to spending a little extra time in our Saratoga Springs baby portrait studio getting everything organized. I made some pretty significant changes to the layout in 2023, and I’m finally getting around to photographing the space now so that I can share it with all of you!

We’ve been in this particular studio since 2020, and it has grown and evolved to fit the needs of our clients since then. I’ve always had a knack for maximizing space and carving out little corners to serve a purpose (the toy corner! the snack cart! our prop storage! our new dressing room area! and the secret hiding place for allllll of the cake stands!). Ever since I had my very first classroom as a first grade teacher back in 2009, I’ve enjoyed being able to look at a space and figure out exactly how to configure it so that every space has a purpose, yet it all flows together seamlessly. This studio has been such a fun spot to design and bring to life, and while there will always be more little changes to come, I’m excited to share our 2024 studio with all of you today!

If you’re looking for a Saratoga Springs photographer for your next family or baby portrait session, I would love to chat with you and help you bring your vision to life! We have everything you’ll need in the studio, and I look forward to creating beautiful artwork for your family.

A Tour of Our Brand New Portrait Studio in Saratoga Springs

Ahhhhh, I am so excited to share this with all of you! Welcome to my new baby portrait studio in Saratoga Springs!

I have had a home studio since 2015 when we lived in a tiny little apartment in Boston. That was the year I decided to leave my full-time teaching job to focus solely on my business. Back then we turned our living room into a full-time studio and I crammed way too many props into that itty bitty space. I look back at photos of that first studio now and think, “Really?!?! How did we do that?!”

But the space didn’t matter and my clients were happy, which is all that really mattered!

Then we moved to Saratoga Springs in 2016 and I had a larger, separate studio space in our basement. It worked great for what I needed, but it still had its limitations and things that wish I could change in an ideal world. However, moving a fireplace and getting rid of necessary doorways wasn’t in the cards for our starter home, so I made it work the very best I could and it was a wonderful space where I welcomed so many babies and families over those 4 years!

Then in October 2020 we moved into our dream home in Saratoga Springs, and that home has my DREAM STUDIO SPACE!!! When we first toured the house I realized that the huge basement had so many possibilities for a portrait studio in terms of layout, shooting space, and prop storage. There is a lot more wall space, which is perfect for backdrops and displaying samples, plus the drop ceilings are my favorite way to hang props and garlands for a 3D effect in our cake smash setups.

Everything about the space is truly a dream come true.

When we moved in we had to give the entire space a facelift. It had green walls and red vinyl flooring, which we tore out the very first night we bought the house. We spent 1.5 weeks painting and installing new flooring, and setting everything up just so before my holiday sessions in early November. It was crazy how quickly we were able to get it done, and the transformation in such a short period of time was truly mind-blowing!

Now a few months later I have put the finishing touches on most of the studio space. There are a few more changes and additions I will be doing this winter, but when I look at the studio now I still can’t believe it’s mine. All of these years of hard work, all of these years of pinning studio inspiration photos and saving beautiful studio posts on Facebook, and I have pulled it all together and brought it to life in my very own home. I am truly grateful and still in disbelief that it’s mine!

Without further adieu, welcome to the new home of Nicole Starr Photography, my boutique portrait studio in Saratoga Springs, New York!

The studio is filled with wraps, handmade outfits, and tiny headbands and hats for your newborn session. This is the posing bed where we photograph your newborn baby, and when you arrive at the studio you are able to choose your favorite layers, wraps, and headbands for your little one’s portraits.

All of my props are natural textures and colors, and I favor wood, whitewashed wood, natural fibers, and woven baskets for truly classic and clean portraits. Learn more about why I love neutrals for baby portraits here!

I have also amassed quite the studio wardrobe filled with adorable little outfits for babies and toddlers, and stunning dresses for mamas!

And yes, I have more cake stands than most professional bakers! Perfect for our cake smash sessions!

My ultimate goal is to make the studio a welcoming place for every family that walks through the door. That is why we have a comfy couch to relax on. A changing pad to make diaper changes a little easier for you. An allergy-friendly and kid-friendly snack cart. Coffee and tea. A toy corner to entertain toddler siblings during newborn sessions. I want you to be able to sit back, relax, and let me take care of you so you do not have to worry about a thing while you are in the studio. Just enjoy the experience!

This is the “white room,” my main shooting area. We do most family portraits here, as well as baby portraits!

I hope you enjoyed this little peek into our studio, and I hope you’ll visit in person sometime soon! Be sure to reach out to plan your session a few months in advance since the calendar does fill up quickly!

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Save it for later!

A Note from the Heart: Being a Mom and a Business Owner

I’ve been a business owner for more than 8 years, but I’ve been juggling the role of business owner and mom for less than three years. And you know what? It’s really hard! For example, as I was writing this blog post I got pulled away no less than 3 times to try and settle Grayson down for his nap! The days of having 8 uninterrupted hours to get things done are long gone. Some days are far from perfect, and there’s always that guilt of “Am I doing enough?”

Enough as a mom.
Enough as a business owner.
Enough for my clients.
Enough education and growth.
Enough for my website.
Enough posts on social media.
Enough creativity.
Enough time for myself.
Enough of everythinggggggg.

And most days it feels like some areas take priority over others, but I’ve learned to accept that that is okay. I’ve learned to accept that I just want to do enough as a mom first, and then the rest will always be there.

Because THIS is what matters:

So I carve out pockets of time to work on my business and to serve my clients. I take my son into the studio when I’m setting up for sessions, testing out new lighting, or organizing props. He comes with me when I do client deliveries, and he helps put every package in the mailbox when we’re mailing something out. He even joins in for the occasional cake smash if the baby needs a friendly little face to help them feel comfortable!

Grayson watches everything I do. He welcomes every client that comes in the door of our home studio, and he befriends the little ones close to his age. He chooses which of his toys we can put in the studio’s play corner, and he has all of his favorite spots to visit and things to play with when he goes downstairs (the snack cart ranks as #1 for him!).

I’ve watched him take the little lovies and snuggle them up under my posing blankets and in the little beds and cradle props. I’ve watched him pick up his wooden toy camera and exclaim “Say cheese!” more times than I can count. I’ve watched him turn every rectangular thing he can find into a camera, looking through the “lens” and pretending to take pictures. He has a little keyboard that he pulls up next to me when I’m working on my laptop so that he can “work,” too. It’s so cute!

I love that he’s imitating everything I do. I love that he gets to grow up watching me go to work, watching me AT work, and understanding what it is I do.

He knows I take pictures of babies, and he knows that we turn them into prints and albums. He loves the photos hanging on our walls, and as any client of mine has heard me tell them, he is obsessed with our family’s photo albums.

It is so powerful for him to be able to see his mom as a business owner. To learn that women can run businesses AND be a mom. To understand that sometimes I have to go to work and that I will be with other babies and children, and doing something to make that family happy. Don’t get me wrong. I love staying home with my son and being a mom, and it’s a role I’ve dreamed of for more than thirty years! It’s wildly satisfying, but I also love going to work and growing this business, creating art and heirlooms that make others happy. It’s a balance, and I’m finally getting the hang of it!

For now, I’m soaking up moments like these ones when I’m setting up the studio for a newborn session and I turn around to find my son posing the little teddy bears in a bowl with a blanket and telling them to “Say cheese!” My mama-business-owner heart is so full!!

2018 Holiday Sessions

It’s my favorite time of year! The studio has been filled with twinkly lights, Christmas trees, and plaid accents for weeks now, and holiday music has been playing nonstop on the Alexa. Santa gets mentioned at least once every session, a couple of jingle bells have been my go-to trick to get little ones to look at the camera.

That can only mean one thing…

It’s time to share a peek into our 2018 HOLIDAY SESSIONS!

We did sessions in both the Saratoga Springs & Attleboro studios, and so many families joined us for lots of festive portraits. As the years go by I tend to favor simpler backdrops that keep the focus on the family with just a touch of festive cheer. This year we had a bit of a farmhouse touch to our holiday backdrops inspired by some Joanna Gaines decor — boxwood wreaths, plaid throws, a rustic hand painted sign, and a wooden ladder, yes please!

All of the families brought their A-game in CUTENESS! So many Christmas cuddles and lots of adorable smiles!

Lots of Cozy Cuddles during Aiden's Studio Newborn Session

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

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

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

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

I can never resist a baby toes shot!

Baby Starr | Grayson's Fourth Month

I can't believe that our little baby boy is now FOUR MONTHS OLD!  

Grayson, you charm us every single day with your sweet personality, your bubbly laugh, and those round rosy cheeks that we seriously can't help but squish and kiss all day long!  

Your personality is coming out more each day, and you really are a chill, mellow, happy baby who loves to relax.  You're very observant and you take in everything around you through those bright blue eyes of yours, and now you're starting to interact with your surroundings more now that you've discovered all the cool things you can do with those hands & feet that, as it turns out, ARE ATTACHED TO YOUR BODY!  Seriously, that was the best discovery ever for you when you realized you could make things happen simply by waving your hand through the air!

You've become a super vocal baby, and you're always testing out new sounds when we leave you by yourself on your play mat or in your crib.  It's not uncommon to hear a sudden "Whooooaaaa!" emerge from your corner of the room, and all sorts of little shrieks. 

You love "talking" to anyone that will talk back to you, and the cutest thing ever this month was when you sat on Grandpa Schwalm's lap and talked so earnestly to him, back and forth with a whole little conversation between the two of you!  You're so earnest when you're talking, and you pause for us to answer and ask you questions, and your whole face lights up as you babble away.  These photos below are a few of your "talking faces".  ;o)  

You and I spent two weeks on Cape Cod visiting Grandma & Grandpa Schwalm in July.  You were a pro road tripper, and that 5 hour drive was no big deal to you, little man!  It was a pretty big adjustment for you to learn to sleep in a new space (we're still recovering from that one!), but you loved all of the extra cuddles and play time with your grandparents, plenty of fresh air, and you got to see the ocean for the first time!  (Though, the first two visits to the ocean you passed out the second you heard those waves, so you didn't actually "see" it until your third trip there.  Must be all those ocean sounds we listen to at night and during nap time to help you fall asleep -- they really work!!)

This month Daddy taught you how to stick out your tongue as a little game when you're on the changing table, and now you want to do it all the time.  It's pretty adorable.  You're also teething, and while no teeth have poked through yet, you drool like crazy and everything you find goes straight into your mouth.  Your favorite are my fingers, and you've gotten pretty good at chomping on them to massage those little gums of yours.

We've been working hard on tummy time, and while you're not the biggest fan, you've started trying to wiggle out of it.  Most babies roll.  You choose to inch forwards and sideways while on your tummy, as if you can just skip this whole tummy time thing and go straight to crawling.  Slow down, baby boy!

You adore your dad, and your face lights up every afternoon when he comes home from work.  You have the biggest smile just for him, and you're always cuddling up close to him.  You've even started to let him put you to bed at night, which is a nice little treat for you & for me!    Everyone says you look just like your dad, and you're really his little mini-me.  Lucky me, I get to share my house with the two most handsome guys!

This is the smile you give us when we say "I love you."

You really do light up our lives.  Love you lots, little man.

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A few of your firsts this month:

• The big one for you is that you've discovered how awesome sitting upright is. You're still too little to sit on your own, but you love when we pull you up and support you on our laps (or on a table, the floor, the bed -- anywhere that puts your head above your legs!).  You get the biggest smile, and when we hold both your hands you even start to pull yourself up to sit to show us that you want to go up.  
   
• You met Nana for the first time.  She's 91 years old, and she loved getting to cuddle her newest great-grandson, and show you off to everyone that lives in the retirement home with her!
   
• Your first trip to Cape Cod was a success!  We went to mommy's favorite beaches in Dennisport, the ice cream shop where she used to work, and met up with a few friends while on the Cape, too!
   
• You had your first (two!) visits to Urgent Care, where they misdiagnosed conjunctivitis both times.  Oh well!  You're a trooper, little man!
   
• You also had your first official diaper blowout... All over mommy's lap.  It was followed by a string of funny texts to dad letting him know what had happened, including an "Omg!  It's still coming out!  I'm afraid to stand up now!"  Daddy of course said, "Good job, buddy!"
   
• You also had your first trip to the Saratoga County Fair!  You loved the colors and the sounds, but eventually you fell asleep before we made it back to the car.  Mom & Dad's priorities?  Fried dough, play a carnival game, win a toy for the baby.  But really, fried dough.

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Some of our favorite cell phone photos this month...

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Watch him grow!

Grayson's Newborn Portraits
Grayson's First Month
Grayson's Second Month
Grayson's Third Month

Welcome Baby James | A Neutral Newborn Session with Boston Newborn Photographer

I love watching families grow, and it's always such an honor when parents come back to me with Baby #2 for their newborn session.  

Meet James Christos.

I first met this sweet family when big brother Lucas was born two years ago, and I was thrilled to hear that they were expecting their second baby boy this spring!  We planned their newborn session at our Attleboro portrait studio, and when I asked mom what she was looking for she told me -- "VANILLA."

Whites, creams, and neutrals.  "Vanilla" is my thing, and the simplicity of it goes perfectly with our classic newborn sessions!

James wasn't a huge fan of sleeping, and we were able to get some adorable wide-eyed baby poses with him all wrapped up.  He loved being snug in our wraps, and they kept him nice and calm throughout the session while he looked around at everything going on around him.  

When he finally did fall asleep, it was pure magic!  This sweet baby boy was so cuddly and flexible, and he curled right up into the same positions that he was in in the womb.  I just love how peaceful he is while sleeping!

Curious about our newborn sessions?  Check out this helpful post to see if a studio newborn session is the right fit for your family!  (We have THREE types of newborn sessions, and there's the perfect style for everyone between our studio, lifestyle, and Fresh 48 sessions!)

Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions | Saratoga Springs and Boston Newborn Photographer

Tiny little fingers & tiny little toes.  Cozy blankets, textured wraps, and natural wood accents.  Lots of whites, creams, grays, and plenty of neutral colors with minimal props.  That’s what our studio newborn sessions are all about.

We are so lucky to have two studio locations to welcome new families for their portrait sessions.  We work with the most adorable newborns at our Saratoga Springs, NY newborn portrait studio, and Boston families in our Attleboro, MA newborn portrait studio. 

These sessions are relaxed and calm as we showcase your tiny little baby in all their newborn perfection.  They are simply amazing just the way they are, and we believe that you don’t need a lot of props or clutter in their portraits.  Just a blanket, a wrap, or a simple hand knit outfit. 
 

Timeless, classic, and clean is the style we shoot for in the studio, with a mix of candid family portraits as well as a few more posed ones with everyone looking at the camera — that’s what grandparents love to hang on their wall, after all! 

In 2017 we welcomed more newborns to the studio than ever before, and it is always such an honor when a family trusts me to capture their tiniest miracle on camera for them.  It’s a big job, and one that I love so much.  I truly have to stop and marvel at it all sometimes, completely in awe that I get to spend my days cuddling these beautiful babies and creating gorgeous artwork for their families.

Every year I love going back through our sessions and sharing a few favorites on the blog.  Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable studio newborn portraits from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Best of 2017 Cake Smash Sessions
Best of 2017 Family Sessions
Best of 2017 Lifestyle Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Brothers & Sisters: Candid and Fun Sibling Portraits
Best of 2017 Beach Sessions on Cape Cod
 

Quinn's Neutral Newborn Session at our Saratoga Springs Portrait Studio - Saratoga Springs NY Newborn Photographer

Ohhhhhh my goodness!  Quinn Madlina officially melted my heart during her newborn session.  Please bring me all of your cute, cuddly, smiley little babies!

I just loved photographing this sweet baby girl.  She was so calm and peaceful the entire session, and such a beauty, too!  I don't think I've ever seen a baby with more perfect lips than Quinn, and those dark curls just framed her face perfectly!

I always tell families that if they have a special family heirloom they'd like to incorporate into their newborn session, to bring it along with them.  Quinn's mother told me she still had the newborn blanket that was made for her when she was a baby, and I was thrilled when she pulled this beautiful handmade pink & white blanket from her diaper bag.  Quinn was a fan, too!

I've been having so much fun incorporating our new chunky knit layers into our newborn sessions at the studio lately, and I just love how these soft textures complemented Quinn's beautiful complexion.  Doesn't she look amazing against cream fabrics?!?!  Such a beauty!

Grandma joined us at the studio for their newborn session, and I always love it when grandparents jump in for a three generation portrait and a few individuals with their new grandbaby.  She was absolutely beaming while holding her new granddaughter, and I can already tell that she is going to have so many wonderful adventures with this sweet baby girl.  

Did you know that the best time to book your newborn session is in the second trimester?  But don't worry, sometimes we're able to fit in an appointment at the last minute, too!  Be sure to reach out right away to save a date on the calendar for your little one -- sessions are best done within the first two weeks of their arrival!

Declan James - A Saratoga Springs Newborn Session - Saratoga Springs NY Newborn Photographer

You know what I love during our newborn sessions?  When I get a wide-awake baby who is so curious about the world and they give the most amazing eye contact.  

Declan James did not disappoint, and this sweet baby boy definitely won the staring contest at our Saratoga Springs newborn studio.  Don't you just love those sparkling eyes of his?

We recently added new knit layers to the studio collection, and I loved incorporating these soft and chunky textures into his newborn portraits.  

Doesn't he look so cozy all wrapped up and sleeping?  (Because yes, Declan finally fell asleep... which I suppose means that I won the staring contest after all!!)

These overhead birds-eye shots are always my favorite showing just how tiny these newborn babies are in our baskets and bowls!

Like so many of our NSP families, Declan's mom and dad are fans of the ocean and love that nautical theme.  They brought an adorable hand-knit outfit from a friend with a cute little anchor on it, so of course we took a few portraits of Declan in his sailor gear!

And finally, our family portraits always make me smile!  This new mom & dad were so excited to cuddle their baby boy and pose with him when he was all wrapped up tight.  We loved how he kept bringing his feet up to his face, and no matter how we moved his little toes he kept wanting to use that one foot as a little kickstand for his cheek.  What a flexible little boy, and you can definitely tell how he was curled up just like this in the womb only two short weeks before these portraits were taken!

Did you know that the best time to book your newborn session is during the second trimester?  The fall and early winter months are already filling up -- contact us today to book your newborn portrait session!

A Sparkly Simple Studio Session in our Saratoga Springs Portrait Studio

As we move further into 2017, I love that my style is evolving to include even more soft, airy & whimsical session designs.  Give me all of the creams, whites, blush pinks, florals, flowing fabrics, chiffon, and a little bit of sparkle and I am one happy photographer.  Add in an adorable baby and a twirling little girl, and it's pure bliss here in our Saratoga Springs portrait studio.

When Kahini and Aarnya joined me for their spring portraits here at the studio, I was thrilled to use a few of our sparkly dresses & rompers from the studio wardrobe collection, as well as these beautiful new headbands from Sweet Ivie.  

If you have not heard of Sweet Ivie yet, you must check them out!  The owner of this Etsy boutique lovingly creates the most beautiful felt flower headbands I have ever seen.  Each one has the perfect combination of colors, and they are so wonderfully made that they will quickly become a favorite for special occasions and day-to-day hair accessories for your little girl.  Plus, the nylon headband is super comfy and will stay put on your little one's head without sliding off, and it's stretchy enough to fit all sizes and ages!  Seriously, I kind of want to start wearing their headbands...   ;o)  

Look at that sweet little twirl!  Kahini looks like a flamenco dancer with the swirl of her skirt and a flower in her hand, don't you think?  

While baby sister Aarnya was a little unsure of the camera, we found a few songs and snacks to keep this little girl happy during the session.  You never know how your baby will react during their portrait session, and I always suggest parents come prepared with an easy snack (puffs, cheerios, a bottle) and a favorite song ready to go on their phone.  It does the trick every time to keep babies in a happy mood as they get used to their new space!

We are now booking springtime sessions at our Saratoga Spring boutique portrait studio.  The studio is fully stocked with dresses, rompers, diaper covers, headbands, backdrops, and adorable little props to complement your little one's session while not overpowering the star of the show -- your child!  Contact me today at hello@nicolestarrphotography.com and let's plan your session!