Classic Studio Newborn Portraits for Baby Boy

Sibling portraits are some of my favorite images to create during newborn portrait sessions in my Saratoga Springs portrait studio. I absolutely adore watching toddlers in their new role as big brother or big sister as the cuddle up with their family’s newest addition. They always have the biggest, proudest smiles!

But sometimes, those are often the hardest portraits to capture of the entire session! Toddlers are wildly unpredictable and their attention moves so quickly from one thing to the next, so I have lots of tricks up my sleeve to get those portraits that melt mama’s heart of her two babies together, and to get them as quickly as possible so that big brother or big sister can get back to the important things in the studio — toys and snacks!

Big brother Elliott turned out to be one of the easiest big brothers I have had in the studio this summer! He was ready with the cutest smiles, and he loved hugging his new baby brother. He knew he was doing a great job, and he thoroughly enjoyed being the star of the show and getting to cuddle his new baby. We couldn’t stop laughing when he came over, let me click the shutter exactly one time with the most perfect smile, and then ran off to play some more. Hey, as long as we get that one perfect shot, we’re good! ;o)

Did you know that sibling portraits with young toddlers are often composites? This means that two photos are blended together in Photoshop. The number one reason I do this is for the baby’s safety!

Every newborn portrait session also includes family portraits, and cuddles with mama and dada are always the sweetest! Plus, I’m still obsessed with the soft clean light in the studio!

Wondering if a studio session is the right fit for you? Go to this blog post for a simple checklist to see if studio or lifestyle portraits are more your style!

Ahhhhhh, this one in dad’s hands is my fave!!

A newborn session wouldn’t be complete without sleepy portraits of the new baby! Ezra gave the cutest little yawn. I can’t decide which is cuter: newborn yawns or newborn smiles?

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Newborn Portrait Ideas - Sentimental Props to Bring to Your Newborn Session

What should I bring to my baby’s newborn session?

I get asked this question all the time, and while the easy answer is “Not a thing! Don’t worry, I have everything here that you need!”, the more complicated answer is, “Well, what’s important to your family? Is there anything special you want to incorporate in your baby’s first portraits?”

(By the way, if you’re wondering what to expect in your newborn session, check out this post with all the details here!)

My portrait style tends to lean towards simple, clean, classic images where the baby is the focus without too many props or distractions taking away from this perfect little being that you just welcomed into your family. However, I understand wanting to make your little one’s newborn portraits your own and I encourage finding beautiful and creative ways to incorporate something meaningful into their portraits. Here are a few of my favorite ideas!

Bring a favorite swaddle from home.

These custom name swaddles are very popular right now, and there are literally hundreds of beautiful designs on lightweight muslin swaddles. I’m sure you were gifted a dozen of them for your baby shower! If you have one with colors that you love or colors that match the nursery or your home decor, bring it! I always love incorporating swaddles into our newborn portraits, and we usually do them as a backdrop or layering blanket to be able to see the full design. Plus, every time you use that swaddle in the coming months you’ll think back to your favorite portrait of your little baby!

Here are a few of my favorite images using swaddles that parents brought from home.

Grandma’s handmade blanket, or another family heirloom.

The beige blanket in the floor of the image below was passed down from the baby’s great grandfather. So was the bonnet! How special that we got to use it in this sweet girl’s first portraits?!

If you have a blanket that has been passed down in the family, or one that a family member knit or crocheted for you and you would like to incorporate it into your session, just let me know!

Jewelry.

There are so many beautiful ways to incorporate a little sparkle into your little one’s portraits! I’ve had families arrive with pearls that were a first Mother’s Day present for mom and baby. Other families with bracelets that mom wore as a baby and now they fit baby. Families with prayer beads that they used during their journey to get pregnant. Families with necklaces passed down from Grandma to the baby, who was given that same grandmother’s name. Whatever meaningful piece that you have, don’t hesitate to incorporate it into your photographs!

A special prop to honor your family’s journey up to this moment.

Rainbow babies. Miracle babies. IVF babies. We’re so lucky to welcome every single baby into the studio for their portraits, and I know that no two journeys to parenthood are the same. Whatever led you here, feel free to honor that story in a special setup for your little one. From ultrasound pictures and photos of embryos, to pineapples to represent their IVF journey, to rainbow hearts and stuffed animals with their angel brother or sister’s heartbeat inside. Your portraits tell your story. Whatever is meaningful to your family should make its way into your portraits.

A nod to a parent’s career, heritage, or hobbies.

This part is so much fun! Think if there is something special that defines your family or that one or both partners like to do. If you’d like to incorporate it into your little one’s photographs, we can! Stethoscopes for doctors during Covid, wedding saris, hiking boots, a hat or badge from a police officer, wooden shoes for a Dutch family, hot air balloons for the family that met at the hot air balloon festival.

There are all things that I have loved incorporating into photographs, and I know there are so many more creative ideas, too! I can’t wait to see what you come up with to make your portraits your own!

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Welcome Baby Nathan! Newborn Portraits with Big Brother

This blog post comes with a story about your favorite photographer, too many boxes arriving in the mail, and the big reveal of this family’s heirloom album. ;o)

This sweet family ordered an album with all of their favorite newborn portraits, and I placed the order the day before I left for a week and a half on the Cape. For me, a week and a half by the sea is like hitting the reset button, so when I came home I could barely remember what I had done before leaving for the Cape.

When I came back to my studio I had a mountain of boxes waiting for me from my different portrait labs, and opening them felt a bit like Christmas morning because I couldn’t remember what was inside of them. Blame it on the mom brain, or blame it on the salt air.

But then I got to this one box. When I opened it up I saw the gray album box inside, and I remember lifting the cover and thinking, “Who’s album is this one?” Then I saw the sky blue linen and the soft colors in Nathan’s newborn portraits, and honestly I gasped when seeing how beautiful it all was together. This family wound up choosing the most perfect linen to complement their portraits, and the finished product was truly breathtaking. That was my favorite package I opened this summer, and I definitely enjoyed watching the family unwrap it a few days later to enjoy it for themselves!

Big brother Aiden was soooooo excited about his new role as big brother, and he gave us all the smiles! We captured so many sweet portraits of these two brothers together and I love all of the family ones, too. I’ve loved watching this family grow over the past couple of years, and it’s hard to believe that just a few short years ago they were brand new parents bringing their son to my old studio for his portrait session! Check out big brother’s newborn session from almost 3 years ago here!

We used some of the same colors and layers in Nathan’s newborn portraits as we did in his big brother’s a few years ago. I’m a huge fan of blues, grays, creams, and whites in newborn portraits, and I love how seamlessly they all go together!

Nathan’s mama gave me the biggest compliment when she was sitting in the studio during their session. She looked around and told me that the studio was so relaxing to be in, and that nearly three years ago as a new mom she had felt the same way. Despite all of the crazy unknowns of motherhood and the countless things that all of us mamas have to figure out in those first few weeks with a new baby, somehow I helped her feel more comfortable at least during those couple of hours she was here for her session. That made my heart so happy to hear.

Because yes, I want to give you beautiful portraits and artwork that you’re going to enjoy for generations. But more importantly I want you to embark on this journey of motherhood (or the next chapter of it if you’re welcoming baby #2 or #3!) and feel a little more confident, a little more understood, a little more prepared to take on the crazy unknowns. I’m a mom, too. I’ve literally gone through this exact same journey, and whatever it is you’re feeling, you’re not alone. That’s why I try so hard to connect with all of the families that I work with to see how they’re doing and offer any little tidbits that might make those first few weeks at home a little easier with the new baby.

Because your newborn session is not just about the photographs. It’s also about taking your baby out of the house for maybe the first time besides the pediatrician appointment, and connecting with another mama who has been in your shoes who can help you feel a little less lost and a little less alone.

Wondering what to expect in your newborn session? I’ve done this hundreds of times and my job is to make it as easy and stress-free as possible for you as a new parent! Check out this blog post for what to expect!

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Organic and Candid Family Portraits in a Field of Wildflowers

I love it when families come back to me year after year to capture their portraits.

This sweet family has trusted me to capture their portraits since late-2018 when Nora was 6 months old. Now she’s a big sister and three years old, and we have created so many beautiful portraits in the studio with her, her baby sister, and her big brother! This time was extra special because the whole family joined in (mom and dad, too!) for an outdoor family portrait session in Saratoga Springs.

The field close to the studio was filled with wildflowers, and we met there on a warm summer evening for a beautiful session together. In the summer we do our outdoor sessions in the evenings to capture that beautiful golden light. In the early summer the sun doesn’t set until late, so our sessions often begin around 7pm (and then they get earlier and earlier as the summer fades into fall, approaching 4:30pm in October!). Wondering how to avoid toddler meltdowns when your session is scheduled for sunset? I’ve got you covered! Check out this blog post below for tips!

This sister portrait just melts my heart! I loooooove the energy in this one, and their little sisterly bond is so joyful here. Definitely one to hang on the wall for many years to come!

Even the dog joined in their family portrait session!

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A Lifestyle newborn session with Albany Newborn Photographer

I first met this family three years ago when they welcomed their daughter into their family. They reached out when Baby #2 was born, and I was excited to join them for another lifestyle newborn session in their beautiful home. And this time with big sister Emerson!

We captured so many sweet moments for this family of four in their home. Baby Madeline’s nursery is the same as her big sister’s was three years ago, and I had a sense of deja vu capturing parent portraits in that cozy little blush pink room. The best part was watching how excited and proud Emerson was with her new baby sister, and she gave us so many beautiful smiles while holding her new sister!

Oh my goodness, those little tiptoes melt my heart! Big sis was so excited to peek in on Baby Madeline, and mom and dad told me that she loves bringing her step stool into the bedroom to look into the crib. Of course we had to document this for the family to remember forever!

It’s always so sweet and unexpected when clients email me a thank you, and I loved getting this note in my inbox. I’m truly thankful for all of the amazing families that I am lucky enough to work with, and I couldn’t love this job any more!

It’s perfect! We can’t wait to have the album. Thank you so much for everything. We feel so fortunate to have had you capture these moments with both of girls that we will have forever.

Wondering how I got started as a newborn photographer? Read more here!

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Summertime Maternity Portraits - Saratoga Springs Maternity Photographer

I love celebrating new babies’ arrivals with their families, but one of the stages that I also really enjoy is the maternity session! There is so much anticipation and excitement as couples await their little one’s arrival, counting down the days until they become new parents.

These parents-to-be joined me for some classic portraits in our white, light-filled studio. This glowing mama borrowed a few dresses from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and she looked absolutely amazing in them!

Did you know I have a client closet filled with dresses for mamas to wear during their portrait sessions? This takes all of the work out of planning outfits and wondering what to wear and how it will fit you — these dresses are neutral colors in flowy fabrics with gorgeous lace details that photograph beautifully. Just look at how perfect they are on this stunning mama!

Then we went to downtown Saratoga Springs for some outdoor portraits at sunset. This mama is having a baby boy, and she chose a blue infinity wrap dress from the client closet for her outdoor portraits. I love how this color pops in the summer sun! And check out the beautiful bokeh with the sun streaming through the trees!

Can’t wait to celebrate their sweet baby boy’s arrival with them soon!

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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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