Family Portraits at Corporation Beach in Dennis, Cape Cod | Cape Cod Family Photographer

Our beach sessions on Cape Cod were a hit this summer!  I loved getting to photograph so many families, and this year a number of families drove a long while to get to the Cape and enjoyed portraits together. 

This very special family actually came all the way from Saratoga Springs to the Cape for their vacation this summer, and they were excited to dig their toes into the sand at Corporation Beach for their family portraits.  Plus, the mother is a photographer, and it's always such an honor when another photographer asks me to photograph her family.

The sand dunes were the perfect spot for lots of laughs, tickles, and family games!

Lifeguard chairs were made for climbing, don't you think?

One of the most fun things about working with another photographer is that she sees all of the trends and ideas in our photography groups that I do.  When she asked if she could do an outfit change for some fancier portraits with just her husband, of course I said yes!  This is the "famous Amazon skirt" that has been making the rounds in photo shoots since last summer, and she brought the perfect shade of pastel pink to go with a lace top for some couples portraits at the very end of our session.  

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Did you love this beach session?
Check out this fun family at the beach, too!

Family Portraits at Low Tide on Cape Cod

Now that everyone is back to school, it's time to look back longingly at the beach days of summer, don't you think?

And what better way to do that than with a family that I once did the whole "back to school" thing with?  I've known this family for years, and their oldest daughter Jenna was a student in my first grade class back when I was a teacher in Massachusetts.  Now she's entering 8th grade!!  

We got together at Corporation Beach in Dennis on a perfect low-tide evening this summer and we had so much fun doing portraits together in the sea grass, on the jetty, and just exploring the parts of the beach that are normally covered in water!

Jenna & Annabelle warmed right up to the camera and they wanted to tell me all about their summer and their school year.  They were absolutely goofy to get the other one to smile, and we laughed so much during their session.  

Enjoy those summer memories as you move back into the school year routine!

Simple Studio Portraits with Sisters | Saratoga Springs NY Family Photographer

Camille & Lydia joined me in the Attleboro studio for a milestone session, and these two sisters brought all of the cuteness and cuddly hugs with them!  I had so much fun capturing them together, and I can't believe how much they've grown since Camille's newborn session last summer.  It was wonderful to see them again, and I love that we used this same chair in their newborn session and again now that they've grown!

Our milestone sessions are simple & classic with set-ups that showcase your little ones without too much "fluff" in the background.  A cream wall and rug, or a soft white bed are all that you need!  Add the babies and kids, and they bring the cuteness!

Doesn't she look like she's getting ready to conduct an orchestra here?  Camille has SO MUCH PERSONALITY, and she was an absolute blast to photograph!

Sunset Beach Family Session with Cape Cod Family Photographer

When THIS is the very first photo captured during our one-hour session together, you know it's going to be an amazing evening at the beach!

I have never laughed so much as I did with this fun family at the beach.  We had such a great time at Corporation Beach in Dennis for their Cape Cod portrait session, and I just love how much personality the boys brought to the shoot.  These brothers were joking around, playing games, and having way too much fun -- I loved every moment of it!  It made for a very entertaining session, and so many beautiful portraits.

For me, the beauty of our beach sessions is that they are about so much more than just the blue ocean.  The sand dunes, sea grass, and rock jetties are beautiful parts of the landscape that I love to showcase as the background of our portraits, and this is one of my favorite beaches with a little bit of everything.

We're still going strong with so many beach sessions this summer!  More to come on the blog soon!

Summertime Family Portraits on Beekman Street with Saratoga Springs NY Family Photographer

One of my favorite things about summertime is scouting new locations for all of our family portrait sessions.  (Okay, okay... trips to the Cape, fresh peaches and berries, lots of porch time, and iced chai lattes are also on that favorite things list!)

But seriously, I love finding new spots where the light just comes through perfectly and that make such a beautiful backdrop for portraits.  This little corner on Beekman Street in Saratoga Springs is a new favorite, and so many families have enjoyed this little block with me this summer!

We started Declan's birthday session with some outdoor portraits, and I fell head over heels in love with this tiny little charmer.  Just look at his adorable smile and that little hand wave!

This is always SUCH a fun age to photograph, and having an active baby/toddler takes the pressure off of mom and dad for "how do I stand", "what should I do"?  Instead, you're just playing with your little one, sharing lots of tickles and laughs, and having a grand old time!

Baby on the go!

We're in the middle of family portrait season, and I'm looking forward to lots of gorgeous new locations to be the backdrop for new family memories this summer!  Have a favorite spot?  Let me know!

Grandma, Mommy & Me! A Light and Airy Studio Session with Ryder | Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

Way back in the fall, one very excited grandmother reached out to me and told me how much she would love to gift a portrait session to her daughter & grandson for the holidays.  She adored her grandson with his big personality and the beautiful way that he has brought so much light & joy into their world, and she was so excited to celebrate with his very first photo session.

When I met Ryder, I knew exactly what she was talking about.

This little sweetheart met me just outside of the studio, ran down the hallway, and let me scoop him up into the biggest hug ever.  He came right inside and was ready to laugh, play, jump on the bed, and just be all around adorable.

Mom and Grandma (Mimi) jumped in for a few shots, too, but really it was handsome Ryder that stole the show.

Seriously, look at how comfortable he was in front of the camera!  You wouldn't even know that this was his first time working with a photographer!

I am so happy that this sweet family joined me for their portrait session at our Attleboro studio, and I just know that they're going to LOVE these memories for years to come.  One day, Ryder will be big & grown, and they'll look back and remember how he curled right up in their arms and let them scoop him up into the coziest hugs.

Best of 2017 Family Sessions with Saratoga Springs and Boston Family Photographer

Oh. My. Goodness!  This is one of the most fun blog posts I publish all year because it is FILLED with laughter, tickles, mama cuddles, splashing in the ocean, little kids flying in daddy’s arms, and all of my favorite moments that unfolded during our family portrait sessions in the past 12 months.  

Every year I love going back through our sessions and sharing a few favorites on the blog.  This year was unlike any other, and it was filled with more smiling families than I can even begin to count.  I had so much fun getting to know (and reuniting with some of my very favorite!) families in Saratoga Springs, Boston, and Cape Cod.  

Our family sessions are very popular during the warmer months from May through October, and we see a few families at the studio during the winter and spring, too.  I love spending time outside during our family photo shoots.  The best location is always somewhere where we have a lot of space to let the kids roam and play — a park, a field, or a beach are always a lot of fun and photograph beautifully.  You know that I’m a coastal girl at heart, so our sessions at the beach are always my favorites and I have so many beaches that I love on the Cape — if you’re looking for the perfect spot for your family’s photo session on Cape Cod, just ask! 
 

Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable family sessions from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

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

2017 Best of Siblings - You've Got a Friend in Me | Saratoga Springs NY Family Photographer

We’re continuing with our BEST OF 2017 blog post series, and today we’re sharing a peek into some of our favorite sibling images from last year. 
 

Brothers & sisters share a special relationship that is part friend, part soulmate.  They know how to make each other laugh and how to cheer each other up.  They know how to tattle on each other to mom & dad, and how to push each other’s buttons and annoy them the most. 

But at the end of the day, they love curling up together and just enjoying each other’s company.

2017 was filled with family sessions, newborn sessions, and cake smashes where the siblings truly stole the show and made for some memorable moments captured on camera.  Digging into their baby brother or sister’s birthday cake, the sweetest newborn cuddles, and tickle fights on the beach were just a few of the top sibling moments of the year!  

Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable sibling moments from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable family sessions from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Best of 2017 Cake Smash Sessions
Best of 2017 Lifestyle Sessions
Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Beach Sessions on Cape Cod
Best of 2017 Family Sessions

Best of 2017 Beach Sessions | Cape Cod Family Photographer

Honestly, if I could live near the coast and photograph families there every day, I would be one very happy photographer!  Sandy toes, salty windswept hair, the sound of waves crashing on the shore, and always bringing home a little bit of sand in my camera bag are a few of the things that make me smile in June, July, August, and September when we head to the beach for our portrait sessions.

Our beach sessions on Cape Cod in the warmer months are some of my favorite sessions that we do all year, and I love planning these summer vacation sessions with families each spring as they begin the countdown to their trip over the Bourne & Sagamore Bridges to the Cape.  

This year was filled with so many fun families, and I spent the entire second half of July and all of early August on the Cape, heading to a different beach every night with families for their sunset session.  We photographed in Dennis, Yarmouth, Hyannis, Harwich, Falmouth, Mashpee, Eastham, Bourne, and off-Cape in Marshfield.  

2017 was also the year of SO MANY RAIN DATES!  All of the unexpected thunderstorms meant that we took advantage of the backup rain dates we had planned ahead of time for many of these beach sessions.  I was so grateful to all of the families for their flexibility in reserving two evenings of their vacation for their session just in case the weather wasn't cooperating. 

Oddly enough, in 2016 we didn't need to use a single rain date for our beach sessions, but in 2017 we used so many of them!  It all worked out in the end, and those overcast evenings at the beach resulted in the most magical moments that were enveloped in fog & mist.

One of the things I love most about our summertime portrait sessions on Cape Cod is reuniting with families that I have photographed for years, and meeting their friends that they have referred for their own family portraits! 

We have so much fun running across the sand, laughing, climbing on jetties, and exploring the coastline that the hour passes quickly and before we know it, the sun is going down and everyone is heading out for an ice cream treat before bedtime.  

This year the families were not afraid to get wet, and almost every single family ventured into the waves for a few truly beachy photos!

Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable sandy moments at the beach 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 Sessions
Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Brothers & Sisters: Candid and Fun Sibling Portraits

Family Fall Portraits with Grandma and Grandpa - Boston & Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

Three generation sessions are always so much fun!  Grandma & Grandpa always bring a whole new level of excitement to our family sessions, and I love watching them interact with their grandchildren. 

In these sessions we always make sure to capture the more traditional "looking at the camera" shots (because that is what grandparents are always looking for!), and then we add in lots of playful candid moments as well!

Josslyn has been coming to me for her portraits since her first birthday, and this was the first time I watched her with her grandparents!  She loved cuddling up with them, and she was a huge fan of tickling them to make them laugh for the camera.  We definitely shared a lot of laughs during their fall family session!

Family Portraits on Saratoga Lake with Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

I always love checking out new locations for our family portrait sessions, and when Nia reached out to me and told me that she lives on Saratoga Lake, I knew that we would find the perfect spot for her family photos!  The lake did not disappoint...

Baby Blake was the most handsome little guy, and he gave us about a million different smiles during our hour together, each one unique.  At 8 months old, he is filled with personality and it's so clear that he brings so much happiness to his parents' lives.  I love all of the adorable moments we captured of the three of them!  

This is the family's dock on the lake where they spend so much time in the warmer months, and it was the perfect spot to document their baby's first fall portraits.  Imagine returning to the same spot throughout the year to document their family's life, and what that will look like 10 and 15 years from now! 

That's the thing about photographs. 
They are a part of your family's legacy.

The More the Merrier! A Peek at our Holiday Sessions | Saratoga Springs and Boston Family Photographer

I love Christmas.  Every year I look forward to the holiday season because it is filled with twinkly lights, delicious aromas, cozy family traditions, and so much festivity everywhere you look. 

That's why our holiday sessions are always some of my favorite sessions of the year here at our studio.  So many families come and visit, and many are families that I have photographed for years, plus there are always a few new families that I'm excited to meet, too!  This year we did holiday portraits with families in Saratoga Springs and in Boston (at our Attleboro studio), and it was so much fun creating a little holiday magic with these babies and children!

Our set-ups were simple & classic this year:

A fluffy red and white bed that was adorable with Christmas pajamas.
And a huge wreath filled with twinkly lights for some family portraits.  

CUTENESS OVERLOAD with these adorable twins!!

Family Portraits at Home with Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

Fall is such a short-lived season here in New York, and we only get to enjoy these colors for a few weeks before everything becomes cold & gray (oh, hey, November!!).  I've been loving all of our outdoor family sessions lately, taking full advantage of the warmer weather, the vibrant colors, and the chance to be outside without a heavy coat.  

When Jenny told me about her vision to photograph their family at home in their backyard with their beagle, and she started talking about a furry vest for her daughter and a leather jacket for her son, I just knew we were going to have a beautiful session together!

These playful, unposed portraits are always some of my favorites, and I loved watching this family love on each other (which from the little ones, sometimes included hugs that turned into sibling tackles!).  I don't think I've ever laughed so much during a session!

Airplane arms!  Isn't he the cutest?

While we've wrapped up our family sessions for the year (because, who wants to be outside when everything is cold and gray???), I'm looking forward to a busy winter at the studio with lots of babies and mamas-to-be.  And I'm already day dreaming about warm springs days, buds on the trees, lots of colorful blossoms, and our playful outdoor family sessions in 2018!
 

Sweaters & Fall Leaves | Family Portraits at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline

As we wrap up the busy fall season filled with outdoor family portrait sessions, I am so excited to share a peek into this sweet family's session at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline. 

Jessica, Danny, and their son DJ were so much fun to work with, and I love how natural and easy they were in front of the camera.  They spent the hour together just loving on their son, making him laugh, and clapping for all of the skills that he showed off for the camera.  They were truly a joy to photograph, and I am so lucky that this job introduces me to such amazing families. 

DJ was so happy that afternoon, and he was in such a relaxed and playful mood the entire time.  I love how handsome he is with his adorable red glasses on, and those tiny hands clapping for himself are the sweetest thing! 

Peek-a-boo!

This little series with his mama makes my heart so happy.  It is so clear to see that DJ bring so much JOY to their lives, and I was thrilled going back through my images from that day to see that we captured these huge smiles and real laughs shared between the two of them.

We may have wrapped up our outdoor family sessions for the year, but we're still inviting families to come visit us at our Attleboro, MA and Saratoga Springs, NY studios for the sessions this winter!  Contact us today to plan your next portrait session!
 

Fall in New England: Fall Family Portraits at Monument Square in Charlestown with Boston Family Photographer

Joanna & I have known each other for EIGHT years -- honestly, even typing that I have no idea how so many years have passed since we first met moving boxes into an apartment one summer!  We were roommates in Boston in our twenties, and we enjoyed so many adventures together with the other girls that we lived with. 

Now she's on a whole new kind of adventure with her husband and their handsome little toddler in Charlestown.  When she suggested a family portrait session at Monument Square in Charlestown, I was so excited to get to explore this beautiful location in their neighborhood that they visit every night with their son Holden to tire him out before bedtime.  

She wanted a perfectly New England vibe, with sweaters, flannel, beautiful foliage, and a hint of glamour with a gold sequined skirt from Rent the Runway that looked AMAZING on her!

Holden, of course, was such a little flirt and he loved posing on my tiny wooden stool and smiling for the camera.  How adorable is he with those rolled cuffs peeking out of his sweater?!?!

One thing about toddlers during portrait sessions is that they are always in the "Energizer Bunny Mode".  We went up and down the hill, chasing Holden all around the monument as he was on the lookout for all of the puppies out for their evening stroll.  This little boy is obsessed with puppies, and they were the only thing that made him slow down and smile -- so cute!

I just LOVE this family shot of Joanna, Matt, and Holden all together at the base of the monument.  Thank you for such a wonderful session!  

A Peek at our Sweater Weather Family Portrait Sessions - Saratoga Springs, NY Family Photographer

We may have spent most of the summer at the beach, but that means we're spending the fall surrounded by beautiful foliage at local parks!  I'm falling back in love with my 85mm lens with the gorgeous soft backgrounds that it's creating in our outdoor portraits this fall.  The greens, yellows, oranges, and reds are so dreamy, and I am loving all of these fall family sessions in Saratoga Springs and in Boston!

We enjoyed two days of Sweater Weather sessions at Congress Park in Saratoga Springs, and at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline.  I got to catch up with so many families that have visited me at the studio over the years, and I loved seeing how their children had grown and developed these amazing personalities!  I also loved getting to meet many new families for the first time, and it was so much fun getting to create these memories with them at the park.

Plus, we had GORGEOUS weather on both days!  Perfectly clear skies, lots of sunshine, and enough warmth to avoid the jackets and scarves!

These fall portraits were our last big "HURRAH" for outdoor sessions until the spring, and I am so excited to share these beautiful portraits with these lovely families.  They're going to have the best holiday cards this year, don't you think?

As we move indoors for the cooler months, the calendar is filling up with maternity, newborn, Fresh 48, milestone, and birthday sessions.  We're now booking through March 2018, and I would love to see your little ones in the studio this winter!  Please email hello@nicolestarrphotography.com and let's plan your baby's next portrait session.

A Cape Cod Family Portrait Session at Bass River Beach in Yarmouth - Cape Cod Family Photographer

What's a little wind matter when your family is this adorable?

Baby Sophia and her family joined me at Bass River Beach (Smuggler's Beach) in Yarmouth for a family portrait session.  With summer coming to an end, it was a windy evening and we had the beach all to ourselves.  It was such a perfect evening!

I have spent the past 15 years coming to this beach since it is close to my family's home in Dennisport, but this was my first time shooting a portrait session there and I fell in love with the landscape.  There's beautiful seagrass, a gorgeous jetty, a boardwalk and a fishing pier, and it overlooks West Dennis Beach and the Bass River.  The sand dunes protected us from the wind, and also gave us a little extra shade as the sun was setting.  

Sophia didn't mind the breeze in the least, and she was happiest when her hair was blowing all over the place!  This little sweetheart loved the sand, and of course she kept trying to eat everything in sight.  

Grandma joined us for a few family portraits, and she told me that this is the beach that her children grew up going to.  This is their family beach, and it'll be the same one that is home to so many summertime memories for Sophia as she gets older.  

Just look at her!  She is already a beach baby!

We enjoyed SO many family sessions at beaches all over Cape Cod and the South Shore this summer and fall, and I'm already looking forward to creating even more sandy & salty memories next year!

A Pastel Cake Smash at our Massachusetts Studio - Boston Cake Smash Photographer

Mia's pastel cake smash at our Attleboro studio was the perfect way to celebrate this sweet girl's first birthday!  

We brought in all of the whimsical elements with twinkle lights, a sparkly dress, a handpainted backdrop, and a "unicorn swirl" cake -- what a fun name for those colorful swirls, right?

Mia brought the adorable expressions and so much excitement!  Seriously, how cute is she?!?!

Some babies don't love getting their fingers all messy, and a spoon makes all the difference!  Mia wanted two spoons, and before we knew it she was digging in and making a great big mess with her chocolate cake.

Her big brother Tai wanted to join in, and he did such a great job showing her how to eat her cake instead of just swirling it around.  Tai was a HUGE fan of the cake, and kept coming back for more!

Two miles from the studio is a beautiful park with so many options for family portraits.  I love going here at the beginning of our cake smash sessions to start with family portraits, giving the kids space to run and explore while warming up to the idea of having a photographer take their portraits.

We found a cozy little spot underneath a low-hanging tree, and the dappled sunlight against the leaves was the perfect backdrop for this sweet family.

Before our session Tai's mom told me multiple times that he really doesn't like having his picture taken, and that we'd be lucky if we got one good image of him.  So many parents worry about this, and it is a completely normal concern to have before your session.  BUT, my goal is to make everyone feel comfortable and capture your true selves together.

With room to play, lots of tickles, and some silly games, this sweet boy warmed right up and showed us his playful personality!  We captured so many beautiful laughs and giggles, and I just love how animated he was during the family portraits!

SUPERMAN!

Did you love this playful session?  Check out some more fun family sessions here!
 

An Extended Family Session at Congress Park in Saratoga Springs NY - Saratoga Springs NY Family Photographer

Let's bring together all of the cousins, aunts, uncles, grandchildren, and grandparents and CELEBRATE YOUR FAMILY.

Extended family sessions are always a lot of fun, and when this family reached out to me about a session with 17 family members, I knew that we were in for a very memorable evening together!

The grandkids were so much fun and they had us running all over Congress Park chasing the ducks.  During these sessions we always capture portraits of the grandkids all together, with their grandparents, and individual portraits, too!

This session was a special gift to the grandparents to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.  In 50 years, they have created this huge and loving family.  That's pretty amazing that they are all together today all because two people fell in love 50 years ago!

So playful!  These brothers kept me on my toes and we had a lot of fun and shared a lot of laughs during their family's portraits.  And every time that Connor, the littlest one, wasn't looking at me?  It's because he was looking at the ducks!  Ducks are clearly much more interesting than photographers.   ;o)  

Alexzandra was home from college and joined us for their session.  She was also the professional cousin wrangler a few times during the shoot!

These boys just blew me away with their compassion.  When I asked what his favorite thing was about his brother, one of them replied "I think his best quality is that he's always very complimentary.  He makes everyone feel good."  What an insightful young man, who completely melted my heart with that comment!

Thinking of a family session for mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and the grandkids?  How about some cousins, aunts, and uncles?  Let's get together and plan your session today!  
 

Family Portraits with Twins at Rexhame Beach | Boston Family Photographer

Another beautiful family portrait session at Rexhame Beach in Marshfield!  I just love this expanse of beach, and it's a new favorite spot for our sessions in the summer and fall.  

I have been photographing Finley & Bella since they were teeny-tiny 4-pound newborns.  These girls have come to me every few months for portraits, and I have loved watching them grow into happy, playful toddlers!  At the same time, I have such a hard time believing that they are growing up so quickly and that they're already running around and starting to talk!

This little ticklish moment below is my absolute favorite portrait of them -- those chunky little toddler legs peeking out from their dresses, their smiles, the nose wrinkles, and the way they stick their tongues between their teeth.  Perfection.  This one shot makes me fall so in love with this stage of toddlerhood!

The girls were all about the TICKLES.  They loved tickling each other and receiving tickles from mom and dad.  Bella even started tickling herself and cracking up, which of course sent all of us into peals of laughter!

Beautiful Finley.  We couldn't tear her away from the water, and later in the evening she sat down in the waves and let them wash right over her!  Once she was wet, she was happy and kept going back to get even more soaked.  Thankfully we captured a lot of photos BEFORE she was wet & sandy!

Bella wasn't as much a fan of the water, and every time her mom tried to lower her toes into the waves she would pick her legs up the second the water came near.  She loved the sand, though -- give her some sand to sift through her fingers and a few rocks to collect, and she was a happy girl!

Watch Finley & Bella grow!  Check out a few of their other sessions in the links below: