A Peek at Our Family's Annual Photo Albums

Our annual family photo albums are definitely top on the list of “things I would save in a fire.”

Grayson pulls them off the shelf multiple times a week to flip through the pages, talk about the photos, and relive the memories and adventures we had. He loves sitting on my lap and reading them, and cozying up with Grandma or Dada to look through the pages.

I finally started creating annual photo albums last year during quarantine. I had printed a few albums of Grayson’s first year, but nothing that held all of our cell phone photos and images captured on my nice camera from our daily lives. When the world slowed down last spring, it was the perfect time to me to get caught up, organize my photos, design a few albums, and get them printed.

I am so proud of these albums, and I love seeing how much joy they bring to our lives. I made 2018 and 2019’s albums last year, and it motivated me to continue capturing photographs throughout 2020 (even when we were just staying home and not doing anything that exciting!). By documenting our everyday lives and the little things that make up the year, I love how it all comes together to tell the story of our family and our year. So 2020’s album, while it may not be filled with trips and friends and visits with family, is still chock-full of memories, so many silver linings, lots of laughs, and plenty of love.

I was hugely inspired by Kate L. Photography’s blog post about her annual yearbooks, and I decided to use the same printer (Blurb Books) and album size that she uses. I loved her colorful covers so much that I wanted those bringing cheer to our bookshelves, too, and I am so glad I did! The covers are one of my favorite parts of these albums! A huge thank you to Kate for the inspiration that I needed to finally tackle this project!

I can’t even begin to count how many dozens of times I have walked down the stairs to find Grayson sitting on the couch, carefully turning the pages of an album and talking about the pictures. It melts my heart!

Overwhelmed with how to begin organizing your own photos? Another helpful blog post is coming later this week filled with tips to get you started!

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10 Things You Didn't Know About Me | Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

Today’s my birthday!  I don’t even know how another year has passed, but 2020 was such a time warp, wasn’t it?!  I’m grateful for another trip around the sun, and this year more than ever I am grateful for my health.  I’ll be celebrating with my little family today, and I’m already looking forward to a toddler rendition of “Happy Birthday”, some FaceTime calls with friends & family, and of course, birthday cake!

 To celebrate I’m sharing a special little blog post with a peek into my life.  Here is a list of 10 things you probably didn’t know about me!

1. My favorite job as a teenager was at an ice cream shop on Cape Cod!

2. I have an identical twin sister. Yes, we look alike. Yes, people confuse us all the time. No, we never switched places growing up. ;o)

3. My perfect vacation is in a tiny little beach house just a stone’s throw away from the shoreline.

4. My first DSLR camera was a Nikon D3200 with a kit lens (the one it comes with when you buy it on sale on Black Friday). I’ve obviously upgraded multiple times over the years, and my latest upgrade is the new mirrorless Nikon Zii!

5. I speak Spanish fluently. In fact, I have my master’s degree in Spanish literature and I used to teach first grade at a bilingual elementary school where the curriculum was taught entirely in Spanish.

6. When I was a teacher, I spent almost every summer traveling in Europe. It was HOT, but those summers were so much fun!

7. Visiting the Christmas markets in Scandinavia has been on my travel bucket list for years. I’ll get there one day!

8. Technically, I met my husband through Craigslist. But actually, I met his sister through Craigslist when I was looking for a roommate in Boston 12 years ago, and after she and I lived together for 3 years I started dating her brother!

9. I’ve never broken a bone.

10. I met my best friend while studying abroad in Argentina in college. Today is her birthday, too! That’s why we call each other “Gemela,” which is Spanish for “twin.”

Tell me something about YOU! Do we have anything in common?

Winter Family Portraits in Downtown Saratoga Springs

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A Mint and Navy Cake Smash for Baby Gabriel

https://www.nicolestarrphotography.com/blog/2020/1/the-best-places-to-shop-for-cake-smash-outfits

https://www.nicolestarrphotography.com/blog/2019/12/how-to-choose-a-cake-smash-theme-for-your-babys-first-birthday-portraits

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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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Sweet and simple portraits for a newborn baby boy

Oh my goodness. I loved Baby Ollie’s newborn portrait session so much! This little guy was the absolute sweetest, and he had a head full of hair that just popped against all of the neutral layers and wraps. His skin was so creamy and he was a dream to photograph. I used a new waffle-knit wrap and posing blanket for this baby boy, and I love how beautifully the texture photographs and that special little touch that it adds to his portraits. Scroll down for some of my favorites!

Those wide-eyed newborn shots are always a favorite for the parents! Ollie was so calm and cozy while awake, and we even captured a few portraits with his mama’s stethoscope as a nod to her profession — she’s a surgeon in NYC!

His mama had seen a recent cake smash of mine with mint & navy balloons, and she loved the look and wanted to incorporate those colors into her son’s portraits, too. I love the variety here!

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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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8 Month Milestone Portraits in our Saratoga Springs Baby Photography Studio

Miles joined me at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for his milestone session, and I loved capturing these portraits of this adorable little guy! He is officially in the sitter stage and it is one of my favorite stages to photograph in baby’s first year —though by the time this blog post is published, he’ll likely be crawling and starting to chase after his big sister!

I love simple neutral outfits for babies, and these gray overalls and white rompers were perfect to keep the focus on Miles and his cute little expressions, baby rolls, and features! He was a happy little guy, and we captured so many sweet portraits of him that really showcase his personality and this stage of babyhood. I’m so happy to got that thumb-sucking portrait where he is grabbing his toes because it is perfectly, 100% baby!

These portraits on the chunky knit blanket are some of my FAVORITES! Love the textures and softness of these ones!

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Christmas Maternity Portraits in a Greenhouse with Poinsettias

When Amy reached out to plan a maternity session, she knew she wanted to go back to her family’s nursery where she did her first maternity session a few years ago. This place holds a special meaning for her family, and it’s a place where her children will spend countless hours growing up. Plus, it’s picture perfect!

We had a private greenhouse all to ourselves filled with poinsettias just a few weeks before Christmas. It was truly magical. We captured portraits of Amy in one of the gowns from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and her son Willem joined in for a few cuddly photos, too!

I absolutely love the colors and how the red flowers pop against the whites and the neutrals. If only I could find a way to photograph all of my sessions in a greenhouse with perfectly soft light and beautiful plants! Just gorgeous!

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Tips for Photographers: Where to buy backdrops & what to avoid

Hey, photographer friends! 

If you’re new here, you may not know that I created a Facebook group three years ago for cake smash photographers.  It has turned into a huge global community filled with inspiration, crazy amounts of talent, plenty of questions, and insightful advice.  If you’re not in our Cake Smash Inspiration for Baby Photographers group on Facebook, go join now!

One of the questions we see most often in the group is, “Where should I buy backdrops?”

This question is often followed up with, “I don’t have a lot of money to spend on these, so where can I get something cheap?”

There are so many options for backdrops besides purchasing a pre-made backdrop from a company.  Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• seamless paper

• paper garlands to match a theme (make them on a Cricut or buy them from Etsy)

• ribbon garlands

• crepe paper walls

• floral walls

• greenery

• hanging branches and hanging flowers 

• hand-drawn backdrop on seamless paper

• watercolor backdrop on seamless paper

• fabric

• print an original image on a fleece blanket

• balloon garland

• shower curtains

• tapestries

If you’re looking to build a collection of actual backdrops, you can start by searching destash groups where photographers are selling their gently-used backdrops.  There are groups like this for most of the major backdrop company brands on Facebook, and your local photography groups will probably have people destashing a few times a year, too.

And then when you’re ready to start purchasing your own brand new backdrop, PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST.
. . .

As a small business owner yourself, you should always support small business backdrop shops.  

I spoke with the owner of a reputable backdrop company, and she told me that “as the owner of one, I can ensure you that we all pour our hearts and souls into our business and supporting companies such as Amazon, Ali Express & Kate is truly a terrible disservice to the industry.”

Wait, what?  You might be confused right now because you thought that that backdrop you bought from Amazon or some other site was such a bargain, that how could that possibly be wrong? 

Take it from this backdrop company owner:

“What many photographers do not know is that these companies steal original designs from small backdrop businesses such as my own, and sell them for a fraction of the price. They are often stealing them off of websites & editing out logos. Additionally, they are messaging customers and offering to pay them to sell them an image of their backdrop hung and then turning around and printing that file. The hard work that goes into each of these designs is then instantly degraded and sold on these platforms. If we could all ban together and educate the industry on why it is wrong to support these companies, recommend them, link them etc we could make a huge impact on stoping these thieves from profiting off of hard working small businesses.”

Before you click “Add to cart” on some too cheap, too good to be true replica being sold online, stop and think about it for a minute.  If this backdrop is a mere fraction of the price of what the backdrop companies sell theirs for, there must be a reason, right?  Very likely it’s stolen and being sold without consent or profit for the original owner and designer.

Think about how hard you work on your small business.  Think about all of the effort that goes into creating each setup, executing each session, editing the images, fostering that client relationship, and creating those beautiful products and heirloom artwork.  Now imagine if someone just steals all of that from you with the click of a button, doesn’t get your permission, and starts profiting thousands of dollars from your work with no commission coming back to you.  That’s just wrong!

Here’s how one backdrop designer feels about it: 

“So - the truth is... as a creator of any kind, seeing your work taken without your knowledge and then sold for money makes you feel like you’re worthless. Income aside, you feel violated. I work incredibly hard on my sets and sell them because I know people benefit from having sets already pre-designed... but it makes me not want to design anymore. Just like when your words on your website are stolen - you feel helpless and hopeless and nothing is worse than someone taking the fire inside you away. Forget the fact that they are also taking money away from you and your family.”

Please, please, please.  We see it too often that photographers say they didn’t know a backdrop was a stolen image and replica.  That they had never heard about this problem in the industry before.  That they can’t afford $80 for a backdrop so the $14 will have to do.  But just stop and think about it before you purchase that and support a business that is stealing from your peers, a business that is stealing from YOUR INDUSTRY.  It is so incredibly damaging to the entire industry and to our entire creative community. 

If you can’t afford the $80 backdrop, take a look at your cost of doing business and adjust your prices to be more profitable so that you can start buying a few drops for your business.  Find a destash group and purchase a used backdrop.  Create your own backdrop with the tips at the beginning of this blog post.  But just don’t hand money to companies that are preying off of talented individuals without their permission, taking their designs right out of their hands and stealing money from their families.  

Wondering which backdrop companies are legit? Check out this doc in our Facebook group with a list of reputable backdrop companies. When you buy from these companies, you are supporting small businesses, designers, and their families.

Giuliana's Studio Newborn Portraits

Seriously now. This is quite possibly the CUTEST newborn photo I have ever taken:

Giuliana was a little sweetheart, and I loved capturing all of her different expressions during her newborn portrait session in my Saratoga Springs portrait studio. She was wide awake and happy for the first half of her session, and then she fell into a deep sleep and she curled right up into all of the little poses and wraps. I absolutely adore the portraits that we captured, and I’m excited to share them with you, too!

Her parents brought this little swaddle blanket from Caden Lane, and it was perfect as a blanket backdrop to show her name! I love when families bring beautiful swaddles from home to incorporate into their session. It always makes for extra personal portraits!

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Best of 2020 Newborn Sessions - Saratoga Springs Newborn Portrait Photographer

Wrapping up our Best of 2020 posts, I’m excited to share a peek at some of my favorite newborn portraits from last year! I was lucky enough to photograph so many sweet little babies, and I loved celebrating each one’s arrival with their family. Of course, the best part was the sweet little cuddles! More than 8 years into running this business, and I can still hardly believe that this is my job!

2020 was a little different because we were closed for three months in the spring at the start of the pandemic, but that gave me the opportunity to welcome so many older babies into the studio for their older newborn portraits in the summer! I loved working with these older babies. Their eye contact was amazing, they gave the sweetest smiles, they interacted with their parents, and they had gained a few pounds so those cheeks were beyond adorable! I fell in love with older newborn sessions, and I will definitely continue offering them for babies of all ages!

Loving the colors & the outfits in this blog post??? Me, too! Check out our wardrobe inspiration for newborn sessions here!

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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!!

A Cake Smash with a Metallic Balloon Garland

Teagan’s mama chose her cake smash theme before her baby girl was even born. She saw a birthday session of mine with an amethyst balloon garland and knew that if she had a little girl one day, she wanted something just like that for her birthday portraits. So when it came time to plan the cake smash, we knew exactly what we wanted to do!

She found this gorgeous dress with metallic hearts on it, and I coordinated the colors to match. I was thrilled to find heart confetti in the exact same colors and the exact same size as the hearts on her dress! It almost looks like the hearts spill off of Teagan’s dress and onto the floor, doesn’t it?!

Teagan loved her cake and she dug right into it! I secretly love it when babies knock the cake stand over because we get such fun photos with them playing with the cake and squishing it into the floor. Plus the “oops, was I supposed to do that?” look they give when they realize it fell down is precious!

Every cake smash session includes family portraits, and in the winter we do those in the white & cream studio. I love these classic family portraits that will match the ones we did a few years ago for big brother’s first birthday!

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Best of 2020 Cake Smash Sessions - Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

Well this is always one of my most-anticipated blog posts every year, and that’s because it is filled with so many smiling BIRTHDAY BABIES!

Today on the blog I’m sharing a peek at some of my favorite images from our 2020 cake smash sessions.

I love it when families bring their little ones to me to celebrate their first birthday, and these sessions are a true joy to plan and bring to life. We come up with the decor together during your preconsultation appointment, pulling together color inspiration or a theme that you have in mind. Then I work hard to create a truly magical setup that your little one will love!

As you’ll see, balloon garlands were very popular this year! My soft pink peonies made an appearance in a few sessions, and custom cut-outs made with my Cricut machine, too! Everything in the setups is made by hand and I do not buy pre-made backdrops for our sessions, making each one unique and special to your family!

This year I even enjoyed not one, but THREE outdoor cake smash sessions. I loved that new option for truly classic and timeless portraits! We did one in the spring, summer, and fall, and they each have such a different look to them!

Are you looking at all of these themes and thinking to yourself, how in the world do parents choose a theme?!?! I’ve got you covered. I have a blog post that will guide you through that, plus tips for choosing your own theme or color scheme!

And I really have to hand it to this year’s families. They did a wonderful job choosing outfits for their birthday babies! I have the feeling that the link below helped them a lot! ;o)

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Colorful Fall Foliage for Family Portraits in Saratoga Springs

This is just the sweetest family, and I always have so much fun with them! I love it when clients become friends, and that is exactly what happened with the C family. Aiden was born a few months after Grayson, and now our little guys are buddies. We love watching them interact with each other, and I always enjoy hearing Grayson’s answer when I ask him who his friends are and he tells me right away, “Aiden is my friend!”

Aiden is such a cute little boy, and he couldn’t stop giggling & laughing during our fall family portrait session at SPAC! He loves nature and he was constantly finding sticks hidden under the leaves to pick up and play with. I’m obsessed with these little overalls and I think for toddlers they are such a classic look for portraits.

Speaking of outfits, can we talk about how amazing the whole family’s outfits are here?!?! That yellow silk blouse is everything, and dad looks super sharp in his blazer. This family took the outfit tips from the blog post below and ran with them, using color and textures for a really beautiful combination that photographed so wonderfully.

We found the perfect little spot in the park that was covered in colorful fallen leaves, and the sun was filtered just right through the trees. A week later this path was bare, and I’m so glad we did our portrait session when we did!

One of my favorite things about this location is that there are so many unique spots just a short walk from each other. In 3 or 4 minutes, you can have an entirely different backdrop for your family portraits!

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Why 2021 is the year to finally schedule your family portrait session

Earlier this week I shared a roundup post with some of my favorite family portraits from 2020. Did you miss it? Check it out here, and then read on!

Today’s post is for the mamas. And dads, if you’re reading this you can keep reading, of course, but I know that it’s usually the moms that schedule family portrait sessions, so this one is for them.

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I am 100% that person that makes resolutions every January with goals for the new year, things I want to work on, little changes to my daily life that I want to get better at. You know the deal.

And the #1 thing I always say every single year is I want to
GET IN THE PICTURE.

How many other moms out there say the same thing? How many other moms out there look back through their family photos and notice that one key family member is missing from almost all of them?

And then, how many of those same moms keep putting off scheduling their family photo session? There are a million excuses that I have heard for why years have gone by without slowing down for a portrait session. I even did a blog post about them a few years ago! But you know what? This is your year to stop making excuses and get in the picture with your babies — because no matter how old your kids are, they will always be your babies!

Reason #1: Let’s start with the obvious. Did you see the year we just survived? Now we all deserve to celebrate with the ones we love!

2020 was something else. But it’s finally over, and 2021 is going to be amazing! Make this the year that you have something to look forward to. Make this the year that you finally do that thing you’ve been telling yourself you’ll get around to scheduling. Book that family portrait session!

Reason #2: Your walls are starting to look a little boring. It’s time for some fresh wall art!

We’re all spending a lot more time at home, and if your walls are looking a little uninspiring these days, isn’t it time you did something to change that? All of our portrait sessions include a complimentary design appointment where we plan artwork to fit your home and your lifestyle. Trust me. We’re going to create something that will be absolutely perfect for your family that you are going to love seeing every day!

By the way, one of the most interesting blog posts that I read years ago was about how when children see themselves in family photos on their walls it boosts their self-esteem. This is so powerful, and every year I keep coming back to this blog post to reread that fact. Check it out here!

Reason #3: There’s never going to be a time when you’re not busy, but you’re less busy now than you used to be!

I know what you’re thinking. Planning a portrait session feels like a lot of work! Picking a date, picking a location, finding outfits, worrying about whether your kids will behave. Who has time for that?

Thankfully, I literally take all of those worries off of your plate when you schedule your portrait session with me. That is why I provide such a hands-on experience to every family that I work with. I’ll help you find a date & rain date. I’ll recommend beautiful locations for the season and time of day. I’ll help you find outfits, and I even have outfits at the studio you can borrow for moms and babies! As for the kids’ behavior? I have a toddler at home and in my past life I was a first-grade teacher. I’ve seen it all! I expect kids to act like kids, and I have a million games and tricks for your session that will make it so much fun for everyone. No stress. No tears. Just laughter and smiles! I promise. :o)

So, with none of that to worry about, you’re not too busy for a session now, are you? One hour. That’s it. Let’s do this!

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Best of 2020 Family Sessions - Saratoga Springs Luxury Portrait Photographer

Happy New Year!

I always love starting the new year off with a recap of some of my favorite photos from the past year, and today we’re getting it started with the best family portraits of 2020! These are a mix of portraits from Saratoga Springs & Cape Cod, and I am so excited to share them with you today!

I have been photographing families since 2012, and each and every session is still such an honor. I truly am grateful for all of the families that trust me to capture their memories for them year after year. It really means a lot that you place your trust in me to beautifully document this time in your lives.

And you know what? I know that 2020 was a rough year. For most of us, it was one of the hardest years we’ve ever been through. There was so much change. So much fear. So much isolation. So much loss.

But the thing I noticed while going back through all of these portraits?

There was also so much joy. So much bonding. So much time for soaking in those little moments that you might have overlooked before. So much slowing down. I spent all of 2020 talking about the silver linings, and I love that the families that I captured in portrait sessions felt the same way.

So without further adieu, here they are! A collection of some of my favorite family portraits from 2020!

Can’t get enough? Check out our Best of 2019 Family sessions here!

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A Peek at Some of This Year's Custom Holiday Card Designs - Saratoga Springs Portrait Photographer

Tis the season to run to your mailbox and tear open the envelopes to see so many smiling faces inside!

I always love sharing a peek at some of the holiday cards that families are sending out with portraits from their sessions with me, and here are a few that are hitting mailboxes all over the country this year!

I really enjoy designing and printing holiday cards for families, and the options for customizing really are endless! A few things that you get to choose when designing your holiday cards?

• fully customizable templates

• change the colors & font & text

• choose how many images for the back of the card

• choose from 3 types of paper

• multiple envelope styles

• return address printing is included

• the option to add on recipient address printing

And my favorite card of all? Ours! Check out how adorable Grayson is on this one!

Studio Newborn Portraits for Baby Boy and Big Brother

Can we talk about how awesome this big brother was?!?!

Luciano absolutely blew me away with how wonderful he was during his baby brother’s newborn session. Usually I expect toddlers to act like toddlers, which means I am always prepared for some hesitating, negotiating, games, bribes, possibly a couple of tears, lots of laughs, a few snack breaks, and more during newborn sessions with a new big brother or sister.

But Luciano? I couldn’t stop exclaiming to his mama how wonderful he was with his little baby brother, how patient he was for photos, and how cooperative he was the entire time!

So for all of the other mamas out there, let me repeat: I never expect perfect behavior and I never expect little angels during your portrait sessions. We capture them just as they are, but Luciano just so happened to be on his best behavior that day and it was a very pleasant surprise! We captured so many beautiful family portraits, and I love all of these!

Here he is shushing his baby brother with his mama!

Baby Antonio was so sweet and cuddly, and we captured so many adorable portraits of this sweet baby boy. I love the mix of neutrals and blues that we used in his portraits, and they will coordinate perfectly with their decor at home!

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