Lazy Days of Summer - A Fun portrait session at an ice cream shop!

I always have so much fun photographing this family, and when mom told me she was up for a nontraditional session of her boys this summer, I knew just what we should do:

ICE CREAM!

We’ve done cake smashes and milestone sessions together, holiday portraits and family photos outdoors in the summer and fall. But with two toddler boys, you know what we’ve never done? MADE A REALLY BIG MESS AND JUST PLAYED!!!

I suggested we meet at a playground adjacent to an adorable little ice cream shop, and she loved the idea! This is my favorite local ice cream shop because not only is the ice cream delicious, but the red and white striped umbrellas are picture perfect!

Oscar & Miles were definitely up for the challenge of enjoying their ice cream cones, and they didn’t mind one bit that it dripped everywhere with sprinkles raining down all over their clothes. I couldn’t stop laughing with their mom & dad, and we had such a blast watching these boys enjoy such a carefree summer activity. My favorite part is that they’re going to get to look back on these summertime photos for yearssssss and remember their boys just as they were at this stage, with ice cream dripping down their elbows and sprinkles dotting their tiny fingers.

Are you considering a more relaxed and non-traditional portrait session for your little ones? Let’s chat about what you LOVE to do, and what you want to remember most about this stage of life with your kids!

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Colorful Fun at the Fair with Saratoga Springs Family Photographer, Nicole Starr Photography

I am a huge fan of summertime, and also of the amazing and colorful moments all woven together that just scream, "This is what childhood is made of."  Magical, colorful, innocent memories that bring you right back to that summer evening when you were little.  Lemonade stands, carnivals, swimming lessons, sprinkler days, ice cream trucks... the list goes on and on! 

So when Jessi of Lovebug Photography in Rochester, NY, came to visit me for a mentoring session the same week as the Saratoga County Fair, and she told me that her kids would be traveling with her, I knew that we had to spend an evening exploring this amazing space.

Just look at Clark.  Clearly, he was a huge fan of the fair!!

We had so much fun finding little pockets of quiet amidst the chaos, capturing these beautiful moments with such a colorful backdrop.  

Clark & Rosie ran around with hundreds of lights sparkling overhead, the smell of fried dough drifting across the fairgrounds, and fluffy cotton candy tempting us around every turn.  We met a few amazing carnival workers who let us take photos at their game booths, and even got Clark involved in an exciting game or two.  

Plus, aren't their outfits adorable?  Their mom was on point in selecting their wardrobe for this shoot, and I just love how well they combine with our fairgrounds backdrop!

As the new girl in town, I am discovering that fairs are such a huge thing here in New York, and I am so excited about that!  I'm looking forward to joining many more families in this classic & colorful setting that is perfect for family photos and childhood memories, and I can't wait to check a few more fairs out this summer!

Interested in a photo session at your local fair?  Use the contact tab above and send me a message.  I would love to chat and plan the perfect memory-making session for your family!

Summertime Sisters

Charming.  Sassy.  Adorable.  Bubbly.  Sweet as sugar crystals in your iced tea.  That's what these sisters are:

I was thrilled at the chance to photograph Violet and Sophia for the third time.  (Check out their previous sessions here and here.)  They pulled up in their car, jumped right out, and were excitedly chatting with me and remembering the photo sessions we'd done last year together.  Simply that was enough to guarantee we'd have a beautiful and fun session.

But then the perfect golden light, the grassy fields of flowers, and the rustic barn walls just all came together to make this one of my all-time favorite family sessions.