A Colorful and Playful Dragon Cake Smash - Saratoga Springs Cake Smash Photographer

Can we stop and appreciate my super creative clients that completely ROCK IT when choosing a theme for their baby’s cake smash?!?!

This sweet boy’s middle name is Draco, so we incorporated a dragon into his newborn session and also did a dragon cake smash with hints of their favorite color — green!

I loved how the whole setup came together with the fluffy cotton clouds, the twinkly lights, their little dragon stuffed animals from home, and the fire-breathing dragon decal on the wall. Just perfect!

Tips for choosing a theme for your baby’s cake smash!

The birthday boy loved his cake, and he dug right into it! There are a few things that make a cake extra-smashable and extra-photogenic for a cake smash.

• the type of frosting

• the flavor of the cake

• the color of the frosting

• how many layers

Want to learn all my secrets for choosing the perfect cake for your cake smash? Check out this super helpful blog post and jot down some notes so you’re ready to order your smash cake soon, too!

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A Mickey Mouse Cake Smash with Gray and Cream Accents

This sweet family reached out to plan Baby #2’s cake smash, and they wanted a Mickey Mouse theme to coordinate with his nursery bedding. The mom sent me a photo of his bedding set, which is a cream and gray Mickey theme by Lambs & Ivy. So we skipped the classic red and yellow and went with soft neutrals, which as anyone that has seen my works knows, neutrals are much more my style!

Since I had photographed this birthday boy’s big brother’s cake smash two years ago, we wanted to setups to complement each other so I incorporated the balloons and marquee letters in both, and a similar style with the character cutouts, too!

Click to see big brother’s Snoopy cake smash here!

This little man wasn’t afraid to get messy and he dug right into his cake! Head first! He loved it and we had so much fun watching how happy he was. By the end, he was completely covered in buttercream frosting and he couldn’t stop smiling!

All of our birthday sessions also include family portraits! This is such a fun way to celebrate your whole family’s year together, and a great opportunity to capture beautiful portraits of each of you with the baby. In the warm weather, we do these family portraits outdoors before heading back to the studio for the cake smash. I love the happy expressions we captured on the boys in these ones!

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Beautiful Family Portraits in their own Backyard - Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

This was by far one of my favorite family sessions this spring! When the dad reached out to me to plan a portrait session as a Mother’s Day surprise for his wife, I knew that this was going to be an extra special session with his girls.

He told me that they “had a lot of land” and that he would love to do their session on their property to make it extra meaningful, but he was worried that they hadn’t landscaped much yet. No worries, I told him! Photographers have a knack for finding picturesque spots in the midst of something that the naked eye would think is just ordinary.

In order to make sure that we planned it for the perfect time of day when the light was most flattering, we chatted a bit about the yard, shared some cell phone pics to see how the sun sets behind the trees, and then walked around the property when I arrived to find the perfect spot. There was this one cluster of trees where the sun was setting directly behind them, and the sunlight was truly sparkling beautifully as it came through the leaves. Everything was golden, and I knew that it would be gorgeous in their photographs. Plus it had bright pops of color from a few flowering plants, and I love how it all came together as a backdrop for their portraits!

These sisters were ADORABLE and so, so good in front of the camera! We didn’t catch a single bad expression because they kept smiling and laughing the whole time! Read these tips for a meltdown-free portrait session with kids!

Don’t you just love how the light sparkles here?!?! Yeah, me too!

It’s hard to believe, but our calendar is already filling up for fall portrait sessions. If you’re planning on capturing beautiful memories like these of your family this year, now is the time to reach out and set a date for your session! I have plenty of locations in mind, and if you have a spot you’d like to try (like your own back yard!), let’s chat!

Check out these excuses to stop making for putting off your family portrait session!

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Stunning maternity portraits in downtown Saratoga Springs

More and more mamas have been choosing gowns from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe for their portrait sessions, and I absolutely adore how beautifully they wear these dresses! Just look at how gorgeous Lindsay was during her maternity session — she truly GLOWS and you can’t help but feel excited for her and her husband as they get ready to welcome their little baby this summer!

Check out the dresses in the Mama Wardrobe here!

This tight crop showcasing her beautiful baby bump is one of my favorite studio shots to capture, and I love how clean and classic it is with the light streaming through the white curtains behind this gorgeous mama!

After her studio maternity portraits, we headed to downtown Saratoga Springs for a few more portraits of these parents-to-be. Two outfit changes, lots of “congratulations” and horn-honking from passerby, and a handful of streets sparkling in the sunset later, and these are some of our favorite images that we created together!

I love how these portraits outside of 15 Church look like they are in their own little world as they lean into each other. They are just soooooo excited to welcome their baby this month! You wouldn’t even know that there were a few diners inside that window peeking out at them to congratulate them!

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Outdoor Portraits for Adorable Sisters in Saratoga Springs

The start of spring welcomed so many beautiful family portrait sessions at some of my favorite photo shoot locations around Saratoga Springs! I truly loved seeing this sweet family again for their family portrait session in Saratoga Spa State Park. We captured so many beautiful images of their girls, and the most adorable sister portraits of the two of them together.

Now they are going to have so many gorgeous portraits to enjoy in their home, and their hallway will look amazing with their new artwork hung in frames of their two little girls!

If you’ve been putting off your family portrait session, check out these 10 excuses to stop making and schedule your portrait session this year!

Clara was all smiles, and she loved getting her turn to sit and be the star of the show! The last time I saw her was for her milestone session at the studio, and she wasn’t quite sitting up yet! Now she is an adorable toddler with so much personality, and she brought so much joy to the session!

Big sister Hannah brought all of the smiles to their sibling portraits, and some adorable sass to her individual portraits, too! She loved looking for caterpillars on the sidewalk and finding curiosities in nature at the park, and we had so much fun watching the little insects cross the path in between clicks of the camera.

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Classic Newborn Portraits with Shades of Blue

I love it when families come back to my studio with their second babies for their newborn sessions, and I truly love watching their families grow. From bringing their first baby home to watching that little one become a big brother or sister, it really is such an honor to be invited into their lives to document these moments for them.

This sweet family joined me at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio with Baby Colton to capture his newborn portraits. We captured a variety of family portraits to complement their photos from daughter Elliana’s newborn session two years ago, and I love the variety and the joy that their toddler brings to these family portraits. Just look at her adorable little grin and how proud she is to be a big sister in these images!

Wondering what to expect during your newborn session? I’m here to walk you through every step of the way and make it an easy & enjoyable experience for you and your family. Check out the blog post below to learn what to expect!

We used classic blues and grays for Colton’s individual portraits, and this sleepy boy was such a gem. He even wore one of our new one-piece rompers, and I love how it turned out.

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Beautiful Milestone Portraits in our Saratoga Springs Portrait Studio

Baby milestone sessions are always such a treat, and I love when families bring their little babies to the studio for portraits to capture their smiles, their personalities, and all of their milestones. There is so much that happens between the newborn stage and the first birthday, and I love capturing that for families to slow down time and remember forever!

Rolling over, sitting up, grabbing their toes, and shyly showing off their gummy smiles and their brand new baby teeth. All of these are such fleeting moments during your baby’s first year, and they all deserve to be beautifully documented.

Giuliana joined me at our Saratoga Springs studio for her 6 month portrait session, and this itty-bitty girl fit into some of our tiniest outfits in the studio’s Baby Wardrobe. We chose adorable headbands for her to coordinate with the colors in her nursery and with her newborn portraits, and started off with a few portraits on the studio’s boho egg chair. (See more portraits on this springtime prop here!)

I love all of these milestone portraits, and I’m excited to share them on the blog today! I hope you enjoy this sweet baby girl’s milestone session as much as I did!

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My Top 3 Baby Items on Amazon

To celebrate Amazon Prime Day, I’m excited to share my AMAZON LIST OF OUR FAVORITE ITEMS FOR BABY’S FIRST YEAR.

It doesn’t feel like it was that long ago that our sweet little guy was a tiny baby keeping us up all night, and I remember countless nights spent scrolling posts in mom groups and jumping on Amazon for one thing after another. From sleep to feeding to books to play time, we tried sooooooo many things that year and the Amazon truck was a regular visitor in our driveway. ;o)

I’ve compiled a bunch of our favorite baby items on this list on Amazon. And check out my other Amazon lists for more favorites (like for the toddler years, baby gifts, photo gear, and what to wear to your next portrait session!)

** All links are affiliate links and I do receive a small portion of sales made by clicking on the links. However, all of these are products we have used and loved and I would not recommend a product if it wasn’t one that we bought and used ourselves! **

1. Ergo 360 Baby Carrier

This baby carrier got the most use that first year! It’s lightweight and easy to roll up and pack, and it makes doing things hands-free a breeze. Plus it grows with your baby and can be worn many different ways for both you and the baby.

When going to the grocery store and walking around town or to the beach, the mesh lining helped keep both me and the baby cool. I also used this a ton around the house because my little guy just loved being held, and it was so easy to pop him into this carrier while I was cooking, doing laundry, working while standing at my computer, and cleaning up the house. He also rode in this carrier many times to stay calm while I was trying to eat dinner, and I mayyyyyy have draped a napkin over his head a few times to avoid any crumbs spilling on him, haha.

Another perk? This carrier makes it easy to nurse while on the go, and there’s a newborn insert (like a little pillow) you can add when the baby is still really small to boost them up higher in the carrier.

2. The Skip Hop Baby Activity Center

We loved this table, and we still use it three years later! I debated buying this for awhile, but after seeing it recommended again and again by friends, I knew it would be worth the investment. The seat spins to reach the different toys positioned around the table, and they are all easy to remove so that you can clean in the crevices (essential when your baby is a spitter-upper!). The whole thing comes apart very easily to clean.

This table also grows with your baby, so you can remove the base and let your taller baby stand in the middle. The leg height is adjustable, and later you can pop the base into the middle like a cover and it becomes a toddler table! Perfect for snacks and mealtime!

3. Sandra Boynton board books.

You’re going to amass quite the collection of baby books, and the books by Sandra Boynton are some of our favorites!

The Going to Bed Book is one that we have read hundreds of times, and both my husband and I now have it completely memorized. And so does our toddler!

These books are sturdy and easy to wipe clean. They are colorful and the pictures are engaging, and the rhymes have a nice cadence that will make you reach for them again and again. I know that I will keep this book long after my son has grown to flip through when I’m missing those baby and toddler years, and it’s one that I’ll want to share with his kids one day when he is grown.

Love these recommendations? These are just a few of MANY!
Check out the full list here on Amazon!

Beautiful blush cream and newborn portraits for Baby Madison

As a newborn photographer, I don’t think I will ever grow tired of blush and cream for baby girl portraits. I absolutely love this soft color combination and it looks so beautiful on every sweet little baby. Madison joined me at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for her newborn session, and we used a mix of white, cream, blush pink, greenery, and dainty floral headbands for her first portraits. Just look how beautifully they all go together!

We always capture family portraits during our studio newborn sessions, and I love watching parents with their new baby. This one was one of our favorite portraits from the session, and I’m so happy that the parents love this image as much as I do!

Madison’s mama wore one of the dresses from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and it looked stunning on her. I have a closet filled with dresses to make it easy for new moms who aren’t sure what will fit and what will look good on them a week or two after they’ve given birth. When you don’t even have to worry about what to wear and your portraits look THIS GOOD, you know you’re going to love them, and love the whole portrait experience, too!

But how do you know if a studio newborn session is the right fit for you? We offer both lifestyle and studio newborn portrait sessions, and this blog post should give you a little more info to know what’s the best fit for your family’s needs!

Of course we captured so many darling portraits of this adorable baby girl. I love the lace accent layers that her mama chose to incorporate into her photographs. And of course, so many beautiful and colorful headbands, all handmade by my favorite vendor, Polka Dot Poppy.

Thinking about booking a newborn session but not sure what to expect? I’ll give you the full scoop in the blog post below!

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Newborn and Family Portraits for Baby Everett

The spring saw a baby boom here at the studio and I thoroughly enjoyed cuddling all of the sweet newborns that came to see me for their first portrait session.

Everett was one of the little cuties that came to the studio for his newborn portrait session, and we had such a great time with this sweet boy and couldn’t stop exclaiming over how adorably perfect he was. This sleepy baby boy was a dream to photograph, and we captured one pose after another with his mamas. I loved meeting this family and documenting this special time for them as they celebrated their son’s arrival, and I know they’re going to treasure their portraits (and the beautiful heirloom album we made with them!) for a long, long time.

Wondering what to expect during your newborn session? Check out the blog post below!

This close-up of baby sleeping in a parent’s hands is always one of my favorite poses during a newborn session! I love how small they look all curled up against their parent’s hands, and it’s always so sweet with their sleepy little smiles and their head resting on their arms like this!

Do you have a sentimental item you would like to incorporate into your newborn portraits? Bring it with you! We’ve had a lot of families incorporate jewelry lately (necklaces, bracelets), and this thumbprint necklace honoring the baby’s grandfather was an extra special touch.

Right after we got Everett changed and dressed to go home, he started showing off those stunning blue eyes. Of course we couldn’t resist a few more portraits, and his blue sleeper matched his eyes perfectly!

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Springtime Motherhood Portraits with Florals and a Boho Egg Chair

I have been doing a springtime Celebrating Motherhood portrait event for as long as I can remember. It’s one of my favorite times of year to create something beautiful with lots and lots of flowers and photograph mamas just loving on their babies.

This year I went with a boho floral setup incorporating our wicker egg chair, and I absolutely loved how it photographed. It’s the perfect size for some cuddles, and it looks stunning with the white walls and giant white window in the studio. Plus, with the new (bigger!) studio, I was able to keep our egg chair setup all spring and we even incorporated it into a few other families’ portrait sessions for a shot or two here and there.

As always, neutrals are my go-to outfit recommendation in the studio. A few families did a gorgeous pop of color combined with those light neutrals, and it all came together beautifully. Scroll down for a peek at some of my favorite portraits in our boho floral egg chair prop this spring!

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A Fiesta First Birthday Cake Smash

I always love when families choose a meaningful theme for their baby’s cake smash session. Sometimes it’s a favorite book or song, a favorite toy or a nursery theme, or something that reflects the family’s background. Anaís’s mama chose a colorful fiesta theme for her daughter’s first birthday cake smash to honor her Mexican heritage, and I absolutely loved pulling it all together for the birthday girl.

Psssst…. wondering how to choose a theme for your baby’s cake smash? Check out this blog post!

This adorable birthday girl LOVED her cake and she had us laughing the whole time she was digging in. From great big bites to putting her feet in the cake, and having a major interest in the confetti instead of the cake, Anaís was such a joy and I really loved photographing her first birthday portraits.

Her beautiful outfit was handmade to match the theme, tying together the traditional Mexican styles of a serape skirt and an embroidered tunic, and it was so perfect on this sweet girl! Plus, I love how the papel picado banner coordinated beautifully with the garlands on the cake. Too adorable!

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Grace's Newborn Portraits with Two Big Brothers

The last time I saw this family they were welcoming their second little boy into their new home with a lifestyle portrait session, and now we celebrated again with the arrival of their daughter! The S family joined me at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for a newborn session for their baby girl, and we captured so many sweet and beautiful family portraits of this family of five. Their mama wore one of the most popular new dresses in the studio wardrobe, a gorgeous white maxi dress from Baltic Born that looks amazing on so many mamas and also happens to be my favorite style dress that we have, too!

Big brothers Charlie & Henry were in their element and they enjoyed every minute in the studio, especially the toy corner and the snack cart! Having all of these fun things to play with and enjoy in between shots made it easy for them to come in for the family & sibling portraits and give their very best smiles.

Wondering what to expect during your upcoming newborn session? Check out the full blog post here to know just what will happen when you come to the studio for your portrait session with your new baby!

Can you even believe how adorable and proud they are here with their baby sister Grace?!?!

For Grace’s individual newborn portraits we used a mix of whites, creams, ivory, and peach. Plus fresh tulips because I can’t resist stopping by the florist before my sessions in the spring!

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A Pink and Gold Cake Smash with Balloon Garland and Confetti

Another cake smash, another balloon garland!

I absolutely love how festive balloon garlands are for birthday portraits, and the variety that can be created with them is amazing. I recently learned about double stuffing balloons, which is when you put one balloon inside of another to create an entirely new hue. I did that for this session and I loved the soft pink, gold, and peach hues for this garland.

Brooke’s white & gold cake from Coccadotts was perfect for this session, and it tied in with the gold confetti beautifully. This was a fresh take on a classic cake smash theme - pink and gold!

Her romper was chosen from the studio’s Baby Wardrobe, and it was the perfect fit for this little birthday girl! This particular romper was handmade in Australia, and Brooked happened to be the very first baby to wear it!

All of our cake smash sessions also include family portraits, and we started off Brooke’s birthday session with cuddly family portraits in the studio. I love capturing classic baby portraits on our white couch. They are simple and sweet, and really let each baby’s personality shine. And of course, the wooden birthday cake prop captured the birthday girl’s attention, too!

We couldn’t resist a few portraits in our springy egg chair, which was all decked out for May’s Celebrating Motherhood sessions. I love the variety it lends to their gallery!

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9 Tips to Look your Best in your Upcoming Family Portrait Session

Your family portrait session is coming up, and you want to look your very best in portraits that will be hanging in your home for years. While it’s true that your family portrait session is really about the kids, you still want to look & feel good in photos, too! You and your kids are going to be looking back on these photos for literally decades, and I completely understand the desire to capture your very best self in portraits.

First of all, you might be feeling a little self-conscious in front of the camera. I can assure you that nearly every adult I have ever photographed is at least a little bit self-conscious when the camera comes out, but once we start your session it all melts away. We keep things light and fun with games, laughs, conversation, and plenty of tickles for the kids. By making the session all about the kids having fun, the adults are automatically more focused on the kids and less focused on what their chin looks like on camera.

But still, a few tips go a long way! Read on for tips to look and feel your best at your next family portrait session.

1. Be comfortable in your clothing.

Choose clothing that is appropriate for the weather. You don’t want to be too cold OR too hot because that discomfort will show in your smile. Opt for fabrics that feel nice against your skin. In the summertime I love flowy, lightweight fabrics on moms. Dresses and long skirts photograph especially beautifully in the warmer months. In the fall, lightweight sweaters and layers are beautiful — avoid chunky knits that add bulk to your frame. For pants, tops, and dresses, choose a cut that is flattering and comfortable to move around in, and one that doesn’t keep slipping down so that you have to adjust it every 30 seconds.

PRO TIP: Try your entire outfit on (including shoes!) at least a week before the session and wear it for an hour around the house to make sure you can sit, stand, pick up the kids, and move freely without being too restrictive or too revealing.

2. Hydrate!

Drink lots and lots of water in the week leading up to your session. Also, be sure to pay extra attention to your skin and exfoliate & moisturize. All of this together will give you a beautiful glow that radiates from within, and you are going to love your portraits!

3. Take care of yourself before you take care of the others.

I know, I know. As a mom this is such a hard thing for us to do! But I promise you that a little extra self-care the day of your session will help you be and appear more relaxed in your portraits. Consider having the kids sleep at grandma & grandpa’s the night before so that you can get yourself ready in peace. Sneak away for a blowout at your favorite salon. Leave work a little early if it’s a sunset session so you have some time to listen to your favorite music or an audiobook or podcast, and just be intentional about taking a little extra time for yourself.

THEN get everyone dressed and out the door. Plan to arrive early so you don’t feel rushed in case something causes a slight delay — potty breaks, traffic, a wrong turn. With the right mindset ahead of time, all of those are tiny little speed bumps and they won’t throw you off even a little bit.

4. Consider getting your hair & makeup done professionally.

A hair & makeup artist knows just what to accentuate and which makeups look best on camera. They know how to apply a little more for emphasis without going overboard. Every time you step out of their salon you’re going to feel amazing. If you can, set aside 1.5 hrs before the session and treat yourself!

5. Know your most flattering angles.

I will guide you during the session, but sometimes when juggling a few kids and trying to get them to stay in one spot and smile, we don’t always notice every little thing about mom or dad’s pose. It just happens! So, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

• Angle your body so that one side is slightly towards the camera, and then put your weight on the back leg. Avoid being straight on with your shoulders squared to the camera.

• Tilt your top half slightly towards the camera.

• Be sure to turn your face to the camera. If you feel like your face is hidden behind a family member’s, it probably is. Bring it out so I can see your whole beautiful face!

• Remember that I am going to ask you to get extra close to your family members, so don’t be afraid to lean in and squish those faces together.

• If it bends, bend it! Keep your arms slightly bend and away from the waist to define your waist. If you have pockets (dads!), a great way to do this is to place a hand in a pocket — I prefer just a few fingers in the pocket so your hand doesn’t look like it’s been cut off. Bend your front knee just a little for a relaxed and flattering look.

• Bring your chin out and slightly down to avoid that dreaded double chin.

6. Choose everyone’s clothing carefully.

I have sooooo many blog posts on choosing the right clothing, and every family receives a welcome packet with tips, too. Neutrals with a few pops of color are wonderful, and coordinating colors (but not matchy-matchy) is definitely the way to go. Plus, make sure every single person is comfortable in their outfit ahead of time, and don’t forget about shoes. The last thing you want is neon green light-up sneakers to stick out like a sore thumb in your classic family portrait!

7. Focus on the kids (instead of you!)

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Portrait sessions are so much easier with kids! When you’re busy making them smile and laugh, your natural smiles will come through, too. Focus on them and any worries about how you look on camera will melt away. And trust that your photographer (me!) has plenty of experience with where to stand in relation to you, where to place the kids in a way that’s flattering to you, and how to use light for the very best effect to give you absolutely stunning images.

8. Understand how Photoshop can help (and how it can’t!).

We’ve all heard that Photoshop can do amazing things. And when it comes to family portraits, I let every family know that most things that stand out to parents in their portraits can usually be clicked with just a click or two in Photoshop. Honestly, it’s usually a little more than just a click, but there are so many little things that might bother you in a photo that if they just disappeared you would love it, and oftentimes a photographer will edit those before you ever see the finished images, and it will still look perfectly natural and just like you so that you’ll never even know it was corrected.

Here are just a few. Some of these I do automatically, and others I only do if a client specifically requests it. My goal is to only remove temporary blemishes and leave any features that are more permanent unless a client requests it (i.e. scrapes and pimples are removed, but birthmarks or scars stay unless requested otherwise).

• Removing blemishes, cuts, scrapes, bug bites, nose boogies from toddler noses.

• Slimming arms and legs

• Filling in a sparse hair line

• Adjusting a neckline that may have slipped or revealed more skin than you would like.

• Removing bra straps, bra lines, panty lines.

• Fixing flyaway hairs

• Removing a stain on a shirt or piece of clothing

However, Photoshop is not a cure-all. You still need to do a little work before the session to arrive put-together. Here are things I suggest you do that will not be easily fixed in Photoshop.

• Iron your clothes and remove wrinkles ahead of time. If your child’s outfit will get wrinkled in the car seat, wait to get them dressed until you arrive at the session location.

• Remove any stains in your clothing before getting dressed that day.

• Clean your glasses lenses so they do not have any marks on them.

• Remove chipped nail polish. Have bare or freshly polished nails for your session.

• Choose your clothing and undergarments carefully and be sure they fit. We cannot fix something that is too tight or too low-cut.

• Be sure you love your clothing. Colors will not be changed in Photoshop.

Psst! I recently published a blog post with tips to look your best in your maternity portrait session! Check it out here.

9. Remember to HAVE FUN!

This is the most important part. We’re only together for about an hour, and I want these memories to be ones that you look back on and LOVE. Not ones that you look back on that stress you out. Stay calm, let me worry about getting the kids to show their personalities, and trust that I will capture their very best smiles and the most amazing cuddles that you want to remember forever.

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New outfits in the studio's baby wardrobe!

One of the things that client v tell me they love about their studio sessions is how EASY figuring out outfits is knowing that there’s a studio wardrobe filled with options for their baby. I’ve had so many parents show up to their baby’s milestone session with nothing but a diaper bag, and then choose three gorgeous outfits for their little one from the studio’s closet.

I figured it was about time to start adding some toddler options, and I’m always adding more and more. Here are just a few of the options (with pretty in-use photos!) from the studio’s wardrobe. We currently have over 60 different outfits for baby boys and girls, with new options being added all the time for toddlers so that big brother & sister have easy outfits that parents can borrow for sibling portraits at newborn sessions.

I always tend to choose soft neutrals when looking at clothing options, and I particularly love a little detail on outfits like ruffles, eyelet trim, lace, knit texture, buttons, tulle, etc. Learn more about why neutrals are the best choice for your portraits here in this blog post.

Enjoy a peek at a few of my faves!

This white eyelet dress (below) is from the Gap, and it is always a popular option for babies and toddlers. I’ve had countless families come to sessions over the past few years with this dress, and I now have the dress in the studio wardrobe for families to borrow, too!

Finally, a collage of a few of our new options in the studio’s client closet! Clearly I love suspenders on little boys, and blush pink and cream are always beautiful on camera for little girls!

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Cape Cod Beach Sessions are Coming Soon

Summer is almost here, and you know what that means:
let’s all head to the BEACH!

Every year I look forward to spending a few weeks on Cape Cod in the summer. My parents now live in Dennisport year-round, and we’ve been spending summers on the Cape for more that 20 years. Grayson gets to grow up heading to the Cape with me for a couple of weeks every July & August, and I love every second of it. We walk to the beach multiple times a day, and he loves the sand and the water and truly can’t get enough of his time at the beach. At 3 years old, this will be his fourth summer on the Cape (how is that even possible?!), and I love watching him evolve into a little beach baby as the years go by.

I know that the Cape is special to sooooo many families. And it’s funny, but the number of families I talk to in New York who also happen to vacation in Dennisport is truly mind-blowing. It’s definitely a popular spot for families, and there are so many great places in the area for salty summertime memories.

As summer approaches I start filling up my calendar with portrait sessions on the beaches of Cape Cod. This year I’m spending more time on the Cape than any previous summer, and all of our sessions are almost completely booked!

As I hit “publish” on this blog post today, I currently have room for THREE MORE FAMILIES in August.

***WEEKEND*** August 14 (rain date August 15)
August 18 (rain date August 19)
***WEEKEND*** August 20 (rain date August 21)

The sand. The wind. The sun. These are all natural elements that we embrace during our salt air sessions on Cape Cod. Read on for more tips for a successful portrait session at the beach!

The first step in every portrait session is an email & a phone call. I would love to chat with you to see if this is the perfect session for your family this summer! Send me a message through the button below!

You may have noticed that all of the families in this blog post absolutely ROCKED their outfits, right? They did that with a little help from me! I’ve compiled a list of tips to make planning outfits easy for your beach session. Long gone are the days of matching khakis and white shirts, and here to stay are mixed colors and patterns for real personality in your family portraits. Learn more here as you start to plan your family’s outfits for your next portrait session!

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Choosing the Perfect Cake for Your Cake Smash

Planning a cake smash to celebrate your little one’s first birthday? I’ve got all the tips for the perfect photo-ready cake for your baby’s portraits. Read on for more info, and be sure to save this post to have all of the tips handy when it comes time to order your little one’s cake smash cake.

1. Opt for a smaller cake. 4-6” cakes are perfect for a cake smash.

If you go any bigger than that (a traditional 8” for example) and it’ll just look too big next to your little baby.

2. Triple layer cakes (instead of double layer) have that “wow” effect on camera.

3. Skip the fondant and go for the buttercream frosting.

Buttercream is soft and easy for little ones to dig into. It makes a big mess, and it’s a lot of fun for them to play with. Fondant can be a choking hazard, plus it doesn’t make such a mess and it won’t give you that messy cake smash fun that everyone loves.

4. Opt for lighter colors of frosting.

Avoid red (looks like blood) and chocolate (looks like poo). Bright blue often stains babies’ skin, so a lighter blue is recommended. White, pale pink, pale purple, and any soft, light colors work best for frosting.

5. Bring your cake to room temperature before the session.

Don’t pull your cake out of the fridge and come straight to the session. Your baby will not have any fun trying to smash a cold, hard cake. It’s easier if it’s at room temperature, so you can put it out on the counter for an hour or two before the session to let it warm up a bit. However, don’t keep it out of the fridge for too long or the frosting will get runny and you will risk the layers sliding apart before we even begin the session.

Looking for more cake smash tips? Learn about how to choose a theme here, and where to shop for cake smash outfits here!

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Gallery Walls Plus Ideas for Displaying your Family's Portraits

Now that we are in our forever home I have been planning all sorts of ways to enjoy our portraits up on the walls. Before we moved, I knew we weren’t going to be in our home forever and we had very limited wall space, so I didn’t hang up too, too much. But now we have so many more walls with countless options to enjoy our artwork, and I am loving all of the possibilities!

A few of my favorite options for displaying wall art are:

1. Photo ledges. These are great for swapping out different-sized photos and artwork. I use different frames and shapes on ours, and a variety of sizes for a really beautiful effect.
   

2. One large statement piece on the wall. My favorite size is 20x30 for a medium-sized wall, or 30x40 for a larger wall. The 20x30 gives you the most versatility to move all around the house, and the 30x40 really has a big wow factor!
   

3. A trio of 16x20s over an entry table, bed, or bureau. Or mix it up with a 20x30 or 20x20 in the middle, and two 16x20s on the sides.
   

4. A gallery wall with 7x10” prints matted to 11x14”. I love this size, and it is what we include in our Collection Boxes. It’s very versatile, and you can use 6 or 8 of them over the sofa or in the hallway.

Below you’ll find some inspiration for different groupings on your walls. When we get together after your session we’ll choose your favorite portraits and look at your walls to find the best sizes and options for your home. We have fine art prints, gallery wrap canvases, and wooden wall art so there are styles for every home.

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You’ll notice that I’m a big fan of trios of portraits. Groupings of three are very pleasing to the eye and they feel beautifully balanced without being too overwhelming or cluttered.

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Did you know that there are certain things you can do to care for your artwork and ensure that it looks as good as new for many, many years? I’ve compiled a blog post filled with tips to care for your artwork here. Go check it out!

I love symmetry in gallery walls, and I especially enjoy the versatility of a large family portrait in the middle surrounded by a collection of 8x10s matted to 11x14 on the sides. Then when you change things up in a few years, these are all easy sizes to re-home in different rooms throughout your home!

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Here’s a gallery wall example with a set of 11x14 matted portraits!

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Elselina's Newborn Portraits with Tulips

Elselina Alice and her family are so special to me. I photographed her big brother, Willem, throughout his whole first year. We captured his newborn, fresh 48 and cake smash sessions. When their mama reached out about capturing her maternity and newborn portraits for Elselina, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I just LOVE these four.

Mama wore one of our gowns from the studio wardrobe. She looked absolutely stunning in it, too! I love knowing that my mamas have one less thing to worry about by using the client wardrobe. It’s all about making your newborn portraits a stress-free experience. Willem was the proudest big brother! He couldn’t wait to show off Elselina!

While planning their session, Elselina’s mama told me that the pineapple has become a universal symbol for families struggling with infertility. The fruit reminds women to "stand tall, wear a crown, and be sweet on the inside." It's a symbol meant to give women strength and solidarity when they are going through a difficult journey on their way to adding to their family. I love that this sweet family wanted to include pineapples to celebrate their miracle baby’s journey.

Since both Amy and her husband are Dutch, we also incorporated tulips to honor their heritage. They’re also Amy’s favorite flowers. I loved the touch of spring they brought to Elselina’s newborn portraits in the studio.

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