Tips for working with toddler siblings at a newborn session

I adore working with this sweet family! They recently welcomed their second baby girl to the world and brought her to my Saratoga Springs studio for newborn portraits. We had a wonderful time capturing baby Ellie and her big sister, Brynlee. Brynlee was excited to show off her baby sister! Their parents were so patient and lovely - and I even got to meet the girls’ grandmother. All in all, it was a gorgeous newborn session for Ellie! 

Newborn portraits with a big siblings can be a stressor for parents. They wonder what will happen if their toddler doesn’t cooperate or doesn’t want to be around the baby. After doing this for 12 years (and as a mom of two myself), I promise you that I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve. Being a big sibling is a huge adjustment, especially for little ones. Oftentimes, when they come into my studio, it’s their first time becoming a new big sibling and they may not have a lot of experience in their new role yet! That’s completely understandable and it’s important to me that I allow those big siblings to feel comfortable, confident, and seen during their time in my studio. 

When they come to the studio, the most important person for me to connect with at the beginning of the session is the sibling. It’s so important for them to have something that feels like it’s all about them, so I take time to show them the toys in the studio, to have a peek at the snack cart and pick out what they’ll want to enjoy when we’re done with portraits. Sometimes they want just a solo portrait by themselves, and I always say yes to that! All of this comes together to help them feel like they are seen & heard, and they feel a bit of control over what would otherwise be a new and unfamiliar situation. 

Families can let me know if they want to start with just them and baby, or the whole family. I even make sure to ask the big siblings what they think. It goes a long way to be thought of - even at a young age. Additionally, I have lots of fun prompts to help big siblings engage with their new baby – from cuddling to pretending to sleep to looking for glitter boogies in the baby’s nose. I can even hide a squeaky toy in my palm and go to squeak their belly, getting the biggest smiles and so much laughter! Some little ones need more help than others - but I promise you, no matter what, we’ll make magic together! 

In this session, big sister Brynlee did amazing with her baby sister Ellie. She especially enjoyed pushing her in the little rattan stroller and I’m so happy I was able to capture these early moments for their parents to treasure forever.

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A Dusty Rose Cake Smash for Baby’s First Birthday

Happy birthday, Amelia Rose! This darling little girl just turned one and to celebrate, we planned an elegant rose garden cake smash. It was beautiful and so fun to put together. I love any chance I get to use my classic ONE letters - especially filled with flowers! 

As with all of my cake smashes, we started the session off with new portraits of Amelia Rose. Her mother and grandmother were also there to celebrate. There’s not much I love more than generational portraits, particularly when it’s easy to see how much of a special bond these three ladies have. I adored the light purple that Amelia’s mother chose as the base for their outfits. It looked perfect on each of these ladies and their own unique outfits worked well together in the light setup of my Saratoga Springs studio. 

After her studio portraits, Amelia got to change into a super sweet dress. I loved the layers of tulle and the gold accents paired with her floral crown. She was a little princess!  Amelia was one of the most excited babies I have ever had in the studio, and she truly smashed that cake! We were all laughing when she picked up the entire cake in her hands and brought it up to her mouth to bite. So sweet and I loved watching her personality fill up the room. 

Happy birthday again, beautiful girl! I hope you have a wonderful year ahead of you!

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Rose Garden Family Portraits with Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

I am so excited to be sharing this beautiful family portrait session at the Central Park Rose Garden in Schenectady with you! This was my first session here and it’s truly an absolute hidden gem of a location!!! I will definitely be back - it’s certainly become one of my top 5 favorite locations in the Capital Region! A huge thank you to this darling family for exploring this gorgeous garden with me! 

Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better spot for this summer family portrait session. There were roses everywhere - in every color imaginable. The blooming season lasts from June to October, so we were graced with plenty of blooms. For this session, I spent a lot of time in the red and white roses. They were just so pretty! But, the bottom line is that the Central Park Rose Garden offers a true variety that means you have even more options for your family portrait session! 

This family is simply the sweetestI loved getting to laugh and explore with mom, dad, Bradley, Savannah and Jules. All three kids were amazing for me - willing to play and enjoy our time together. Having all of my fun prompts and games ready to pull out during our sessions is always a great backup, but these three were naturals! I also really loved the color palette and outfits that mom chose. Her blue dress is definitely one of my favorites so far this year! The girls wore cute pink dresses - complimentary but not matching. Bradley and his dad rounded out the look with their button downs. All five outfits looked amazing among the roses and greenery of the gardens. Beautiful options! 

I hope that this family enjoys their summer portraits for years to come. They’re so beautiful and I can’t wait to see how you choose to display them in your home! 

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Dreamy sunlit maternity portrait session in Saratoga springs

This beautiful mama and dad-to-be are the sweetest people and they’re so excited to meet their second baby girl this summer (who will be their first baby Earth side). We first connected a few years ago when this mama reached out to schedule a maternity session, but sadly we had to cancel when they lost their baby girl. As a mama to an angel baby, too, my heart ached for them. They had been on my mind all this time, and I was so touched when she reached out to me to schedule her new maternity session this spring, and excited for them when she told me that they were expecting their rainbow baby. Being along for the journey of any family - but especially those who have experienced this deep sense of loss - is incredibly special to me. I’m so thankful that I had the chance to work with this sweet couple! 

We celebrated their daughter’s upcoming arrival with maternity portraits at one of my favorite spots in Saratoga Springs, and we lucked out with the most beautiful sun-drenched skies that evening. This couple was amazing, and I love the connection and excitement that shines in their portraits! We also incorporated special mementos in jewelry to honor their first daughter, and I know that their new baby is going to be so lucky to have her big sister watching over her from up above. I thought it was so beautiful that we were able to document and celebrate both their baby girls in these maternity portraits. 

No matter what your journey to parenthood is, I am so honored to celebrate alongside your family as you welcome your little ones. Thank you to all of the families that invite me into their lives to document this special time for them. An extra congratulations to this sweet family as they finish their preparations for their baby girl to arrive!

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Newborn portraits at 5 weeks old for a NICU warrior

Brooks Michael, I am so happy I had the chance to meet you and photograph your sweet newborn portraits in my Saratoga Springs studio! This darling little guy was born 7 weeks early and turned out to be a true fighter. He was out of the NICU within a matter of weeks! He was actually the second of two newborns who came to my studio who arrived 7 weeks early in the spring - and both were delivered on the SAME DAY in Albany! How wild, right?!  

Anyway… Back to Brooks! We waited for Brooks to settle in at home and made sure he was strong and healthy before his newborn session at the studio. Because of that, Brooks was 5 weeks old at the time of his session. As a newborn photographer, I care less about how many days or weeks old a baby is when they come into my studio. Instead, it’s more important that they (and their families) are ready for their session, particularly when they’ve had a NICU stay, like Brooks did! There’s never any rush to get them into my studio within that traditional 2-3 week window post birth. I am a photographer that loves older newborn sessions, and we have so many tricks to still get those sweet sleepy poses (plus plenty of awake interaction sometimes, too!) with those older babies. I’d rather everyone involved feel healthy, strong, and comfortable with our time together. 

Brooks was a champion, and we captured so many adorable poses of this sweet boy. His family photos are my favorite, and I love the dress mom chose to wear. We leaned into a simple palette of light blue and white for his studio portraits. I even got to pull out one of my favorite baskets for him to snuggle in!! Brooks was absolutely perfect. I’m so happy I had the chance to work with him. 

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Best Buds: Saratoga Springs family portraits with two brothers in Congress Park

I can’t believe that the last time I saw this sweet family was for Ezra’s newborn portraits - and now he’s running around with his brother, Elliot! This spring, we met up in Congress Park, one of my favorite spots in Saratoga Springs NY for outdoor portraits. We had the most beautiful morning with soft colors and blooms everywhere you looked. It really turned out to be the perfect day to capture new family portraits for these boys and their parents. 

Having photographed them before, it was extra special to see Elliot and Ezra’s bond now that they’re both a little bit older. They have such a playful relationship! It was important for me to capture that as we created new memories and portraits. With their energy in mind, we played lots of games, encouraged many tickles, and I loved watching them run around. Capturing candid and real moments between your family members is always the best part of any family portrait session! 

I have to admit, keeping up with everyone running around can be a lot - especially as the weather warms up. But, sessions pass in a blur and we always capture the most incredible smiles and moments with kids because we’re letting them be who they are at this stage of life. It’s amazing and SO so worth it! Thank you to this beautiful family for trusting me to capture your memories again! It was wonderful seeing you this spring.

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Classic personality portraits for toddler and baby

While I love photographing all sessions in my Saratoga Springs studio, personality portraits really hold a special place in my heart. There’s just something so wonderful about documenting little ones as they are at this exact moment in time. For these two brothers, Mom planned on portraits of her boys as a surprise for her husband for Father’s Day, and I can’t imagine a better gift than unwrapping these two adorable faces smiling back at you. I loved that these were going to be a gift for dad, but also the entire family really!! 

I know that in the busyness of life, it can be easy to say that family portraits can wait. It’s so simple to push them off, until you realize that years have gone by without you documenting what’s special about your little ones at this moment in time. Trust me, there’s something about this stage of life that you’re in right now that you’ll want to remember. Maybe it’s their smile, their freckles, the curve of their soft arms, or their rounded cheeks. As they get older, you want to freeze time with smiles that show the gaps in their teeth documenting how many visits the Tooth Fairy has made. Their personalities will grow and having something tangible to look back on as years go by is one of the best things that you can do for your family. 

It’s never too late for photos. Slow down time, don’t let the little details fade from your memory. This family will forever be able to look back on the special relationship their two boys have together. Not only that, but now they've documented their sons’ silly smiles and bright eyes. Can’t you just imagine having heirloom artwork to hang in your home or flip through as a family for years to come to look back on these special little details? That’s why family portraits or sessions in the studio, like these personality portraits, really matter. 

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8 Tips for your Family Portrait Session at the Beach - Cape Cod Family Photographer

Summer is almost here, and I am so excited to welcome so many families to Cape Cod for their family portrait session on the beach! This is one of my favorite times of year because I love visiting the Cape and being able to capture other families and their special memories at the same time. This summer will be extra fun because I have so many of my longtime New York clients planning their summer vacations to Cape Cod around their portrait sessions! I’ve been living in NY for eight years now, and these families have heard me talk about the Cape for years, and now so many of them are excited to bring their little ones to this classic beach spot this summer!

I have been spending my summers on the Cape for more than 25 years, and I have so many favorite beaches, bike paths, ice cream shops, and more that I love sharing with my clients when they schedule their Cape Cod portraits. Every single one provides the perfect vibes for summer portraits - and it always makes for an unforgettable evening! I love that I know this area inside and out and can give them an inside scoop on where to go, what to do, and what to pack!

Today’s blog post is filled with tips for your family portrait session at the beach. Read on for lots of great ideas, plus plenty of beautiful outfit inspiration for your family! I want your session to be truly enjoyable and feel like an extension of your summer vacation!

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Plan accordingly for traffic.

On the Cape, Saturday and Sunday are typically the heaviest traffic days coming over both bridges. Plan to come early in the morning and make a day of it!

Baby’s first trip to the beach?

The beach can be a sensory overload for some babies.  Get them used to the sand by letting them play with and sit in sand a few times before your session.  Make sure they have bare legs and feet so that they get used to the feeling of the sand on their skin.  Bring a blanket (neutral colors look best!) if they might need a layer to sit on.

What to wear

Colors that you would find at the beach look incredible in portraits — shades of blue, khaki, linen, white, cream, blush pink, lavender, teal, mint, aqua, and gray are my favorites.  We have many helpful blog posts with outfit ideas — check them out here! 

Keep these in the car…

Sunglasses, hair elastics, cell phone, wallet (bulky things that show in your pockets), stroller, diaper bag, baseball caps or visors. Trust me: you don’t want them in your portraits! It’s better to just leave them behind so you don’t have to keep track of them during your session.

Always have a rain date.

I will let you know 4 hours in advance if we’ll have to reschedule due to the weather, but even on cloudy days we can get some great portraits! Clouds mean less direct sunlight, which is better for all of us. As long as it isn’t outright raining or storming, we’ll try to keep your session. But, planning a backup date never hurts!

Protect your skin.

Try to avoid a sunburn the week of your session.  Especially on your face and nose! It’s no fun - but it also will show up in your portraits.

Barefoot is best! 

We’ll leave our sandals at the entrance to the beach so we can walk in the sand easily.

Embrace the sand & the water, and don’t be afraid to get wet!

I love finishing the session in the water.  Let’s be adventurous and walk in the waves or let the kids splash around a bit.  Bring a towel or a change of clothes for the kids just in case they get a little too excited at the opportunity to splash!  

PLAN FOR AFTER YOUR SESSION

Keep a towel in the car to brush sand off of everyone’s feet after the session. I also recommend keeping a travel-sized container of baby powder in the car. Sprinkle a little on everyone’s feet and calves, and the sand slides right off!

If you have a long drive back home, pack the kids' PJs in the car so they can change into them right after the session and sleep on the way home. I’m a huge fan of anything that will help avoid meltdowns after portraits!

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About Nicole Starr Photography 

Nicole Starr specializes in newborn, baby & family photography and has been serving families in New York and Massachusetts since 2012.  She has a portrait studio in Saratoga Springs, NY for families in the Capital Region, and she also works with families at her Attleboro, MA studio and on location in Boston and on Cape Cod. 

Our Cape Cod sessions occur from June through September at beaches all over the Cape. Be sure to reach out early to plan your family’s portrait session as these always fill up early in the season!

My annual July 4 photos of Grayson and Adelaide

Every year, since the summer of 2018 when Grayson was born, I’ve pulled out this beautiful patriotic backdrop and captured my children’s 4th of July photos. It’s become our annual tradition since 2018, and I don’t plan on stopping any time soon! This all began because I had a cake smash that summer for a little boy born on the fourth of July (hi, Oscar!). My son was a few months old at the time, and as a new mom, I was constantly bringing him into the studio for baby portraits. I remember taking photos of him on the handmade backdrop, and then I pulled it out again the next summer, and a tradition began! 

Now I am so lucky to have two little ones to join me in these cute Americana portraits, and I love our little summer tradition. We print them out in our annual photo album every year, and they love looking back through the albums and seeing how they’ve grown. I’m hopeful to get at least a few more years of this!

During these sessions, I love to capture each of my babies and their unique personalities - but as a mama, I also love documenting them together. They’re both so sweet and seeing them love each other in portraits like these is something I know I will treasure forever! 

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Zhua Zhou Portraits and a Cake Smash for Baby’s First Birthday

This was my first time photographing a Zhua zhou, a traditional Chinese ceremony celebrating a baby’s first birthday. When Kayden’s mom reached out to plan her session, she told me she wanted to do it in two parts: a zhua zhou ceremony to honor their Chinese heritage, followed by a traditional western cake smash. I absolutely loved the idea and couldn’t wait for them to come into the studio! 

Zhua zhou is a ceremony marking the baby’s first birthday. During the ceremony, parents place an assortment of items in front of their child and the child chooses what they want. Tradition said that what the child chooses would determine their future capabilities and interests. Each item symbolizes a career path and helps reveal the child’s potential personality traits, too! Zhua zhou is really about parents sharing their good wishes and hopes for the future of their children. It was so special to be a part of Kayden’s ceremony! 

Kayden loved exploring the different objects, picking them up, and putting many of them into her mouth. Some of the objects were a ball (to represent an athlete), a steamed bun (to represent a little foodie), a gavel (a lawyer), a scepter (diplomat), a book (teacher), etc. She kept coming back to the bun, and her parents laughed at how much she enjoyed food and how she was their little foodie.

Next we did her cake smash, and this little foodie did not disappoint! She was certainly one of the most enthusiastic smashers I have enjoyed having in the studio this year, and I adored her session. We had the most beautiful cake from Indulgence Bakery! I loved the swiss dot pattern on the buttercream, and it may just be my new favorite style of a simple cake. Kayden was definitely a fan, too! 

Thank you to Kayden and her parents for trusting me to capture both parts of their family’s story. I’m so honored and I loved learning about this unique tradition! 

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Lifestyle Newborn Session in Nursery

Welcome to the world, Carter August! To document his arrival home, Carter’s parents and I planned a lifestyle newborn session in his nursery at home. This little boy’s nursery is simple and sweet, full of neutral colors and darling accents. It was the perfect space to photograph him, his parents, and his big fur brother! No matter how many times I capture a lifestyle newborn session, it will always feel so special to me. 

Photographing newborns in their nursery is super meaningful. Parents put so much energy, time, and love into preparing the nursery while they wait for baby! You’re creating the very first space that your baby will know as “home” and that’s magical. Families take the time to select the furniture, paint the walls, and decorate with special little details all for their new love. 

Alyssa, Carter’s mama, made a beautiful felted mobile with black labs and stars, knowing that her son’s first best friend was going to be their black lab, Lincoln. She spent months lovingly working on this and dreaming about her sweet baby boy. How special is it now to see her holding him and rocking him in this very nursery, while he watches the shapes of his mobile swirl overhead? 

Carter August, you are so incredibly loved. Thank you to his trio for welcoming me to your home. It was beautiful and your session was wonderful! I’m so happy for you all! 

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Take the photo: why right now is the perfect time for a portrait session

If you’ve been around the blog, you know that I LOVE my Little Loves portrait sessions. These classic and simple portraits are a wonderful way to document your little ones - as they are, right now, forever. I truly believe that there is never a bad time to take photos, and as your kids grow there is never going to be a time when you wish you hadn’t taken more photos. My Little Loves sessions are all about freezing this moment in time for your family to cherish forever. 

Do they still have softly curved baby cheeks? Take the photo.

Do they have their baby teeth? Take the photo.

Have they lost a tooth? Take the photo.

Have they grown three inches this year? Take the photo.

Do they still like to snuggle you and hold your hand? Take the photo.

Are they almost taller than you? Take the photo.

New braces? Take the photo.

No matter what changes they are going through, it is such a gift to slow down time and document this stage they are in right this very moment. That’s one of the things that I absolutely love about our Little Loves sessions.

I’ve been photographing this family ever since Kayden’s first birthday, and now he is so grown! We had so much fun capturing these personality portraits during their Little Loves session. Both Kayden and Karina brought their A-game, and I love how their unique personalities shine: silly, serious, sweet, playful, strong. Because there’s nothing but your baby and a simple studio setup, we really have a chance to photograph what makes this stage so unique and meaningful for you all. 

I repeat: there’s never a bad time to photograph your child. Capturing milestones and memorizing all of the little details that will change as their children grow, and imprinting this on your hearts truly matters to me.

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An Ice Cream Truck Cake Smash for Adelaide’s Second Birthday

Who says cake smashes are just for one year olds?! My son did cake smashes all the way up through his fifth birthday, and I’m sure he’ll want one again as he gets older. So of course with our daughter’s second birthday this month, I knew we had to do a sweet little cake smash to celebrate our birthday girl.

Adelaide has been a fan of ice cream ever since her first taste of it last summer. She had her own little way of pronouncing it for months, calling it “i-ga”, and we all knew what she was talking about. She would run over to the freezer whenever we opened it up, shouting “i-ga! i-ga!,” and pushing aside the top drawer and looking into the bottom where we keep the ice cream.

With our favorite local ice cream shop open again for the season, Adelaide hasn’t missed a beat and she continues to be a big fan of ice cream. When thinking of a theme for her second birthday, I knew immediately that this would be it! I chose to keep the decor simple with just a watercolor ice cream truck and some ice cream cones on the floor as confetti. Her pastel rainbow dress was the perfect match to the beautiful colors, and I couldn’t resist doing our favorite new hairstyle on our little toddler – pigtail buns!

She LOVED IT! She was cute & dainty, dipping one little finger in the frosting at a time. Grayson (6 years old) accompanied us in the studio and took pictures on his own little digital camera the whole time. I loved seeing how excited he was to capture her smiles, and how he kept exclaiming, “Ahhhh, this one is so good!”

While I can’t even believe that we have a two year old already, I’m excited to celebrate our sweet girl. She is most looking forward to blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, and she talks about it every day. Happy birthday, baby girl!

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Maternity portraits in a hospital room just hours before delivery

Christine and Sondra are expecting their first baby. We planned to have a maternity session in my Saratoga Springs studio to celebrate the upcoming arrival of their little one. But, life had other plans. Christine was hospitalized at 33 weeks for HELLP syndrome, which is a very rare complication in pregnancy affecting less than 1% of women. It’s thought to be a type of severe preeclampsia, and it can cause life-threatening conditions in mothers and their babies. This was a very unexpected surprise for this couple, and they called me the week of their maternity session to let me know that they were in the hospital, the baby would be coming any day now (or really, any hour now with how things were going!), and utterly devastated that they would not be able to do their maternity portraits.

My heart broke for them, and I texted them later that night to see if they might want to find a way to make an in-hospital maternity session work before the baby arrived. Christine was ecstatic! With her doctors' permission, lots of breaks, and nurses on standby in case we needed anything for the mama-to-be, I went to the hospital the very next morning and we did their maternity portraits. This was such a special experience for all of us and I’m thrilled that we found a way to document Christine and Sondra’s journey into parenthood. 

I brought a simple white backdrop, gowns from my studio, and lighting because I didn’t know what the lighting situation would be at the hospital. We lucked out and didn’t have to cram into the tiny corner of her shared room, but found a huge open space in the hallway that was private and filled with huge windows to let in lots of natural light. It truly couldn’t have worked out any better! We worked with what we had available, using painters tape to hang the fabric on the wall, and trusting Photoshop to extend the backdrop and edit out her “hospital jewelry” (IVs and medical bracelets) in a few of her photos.

The end result? Two happy mamas and a beautifully documented pregnancy. All I could think when I was driving home from the hospital was that THIS is what my job is all about: finding a way to document something important, no matter what is going on for my families. 

Oh, and perhaps the very best part? Adorable baby Thomas was safely delivered by c-section only 8 hours after we finished their session. He spent two weeks in the NICU and made amazing progress every day, and then he got to head home early and enjoy bonus time with his mamas.

This hospital maternity session truly filled my heart and I enjoyed getting to capture these portraits in what was otherwise an incredibly stressful situation for this family. I love that we were able to safely spend an hour together, bringing a little levity to their week, and helping them ground themselves and celebrate their relationship and their pregnancy before their son’s arrival. It truly was an unforgettable session.

For more information about HELLP syndrome, visit https://www.preeclampsia.org/hellp-syndrome!

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A Mountains and Moose Cake Smash: Using watercolor cutouts to create a cake smash backdrop

Happy birthday, Maverick! This cute little guy is one of our recent baby graduates of the Collective Membership. For the last year, I’ve had the joy (and honor) of photographing Maverick’s milestones. I’ve gotten to know him and his parents pretty well. I can’t believe it’s already time for his first birthday cake smash! We planned a super fun mountain and moose cake smash, to echo his nursery theme at home. It turned out so perfect! 

I am a huge fan of watercolor art. There’s something about the soft colors and the way the edges bleed into each other, not to mention the delicate details. I like to decorate our home with watercolors, and I enjoy incorporating it into my styled portrait sessions, too! When families come to me with a specific theme idea for their baby’s cake smash, I often look to see how I can include watercolor artwork cutouts in their setup. Maverick’s cake smash theme turned out to be the perfect chance for some watercolor cutouts! 

One of my favorite places to find these designs is from independent artisans on Etsy, and you know I love supporting other artists and small business owners! I purchase the design, and print it as large as possible on a 40” poster. Places like Staples can do this for you, and you want to make sure to use a matte finish paper to avoid any shine being reflected back at the camera in the studio. Then I cut it out and use it to create the backdrop. I have done this for countless themes for my clients (and even for my own children’s portrait sessions and birthday parties!), and I love the variety that it lends to my sessions without cluttering up the studio with even more expensive props. Plus, as a minimalist at heart and a huge fan of reduce/reuse/recycle and avoiding one-time-use props and items, this works for me!

Bringing everything together for Maverick’s theme was especially fun, and I scoured the internet for adorable moose artwork. His nursery has a moose & mountains theme, with a mural that his father hand-painted, and we wanted to incorporate that into his first birthday portraits. I adore how it all came together, and the moose really are the cutest little moose I have ever seen!

Happy birthday again, little guy!! I’ll miss seeing you in the studio every few months - but I’m so proud to have captured your big moments this past year.

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6 Tips for an Evening Family Portrait Session

As a family photographer, summertime means one thing: SUNSET SESSIONS GALORE! And you know what that also means? Late bedtimes for your kids - and late photo sessions in the evening!

I absolutely love capturing family portraits in the golden hour when the last rays of sunlight make the whole world glow. This is usually in the hour or so before sunset, and as you know, the sun goes down awfully late in the summer time! This can be so tricky with little ones, and I completely understand.

As a mom of two littles, I know what those meltdowns look like when my kids are overtired, and how quickly those meltdowns can come on, too! I’ve been there with planning my own family portraits, and I absolutely understand your hesitation when it comes to booking a family portrait session at that coincides with your normal dinner and bedtime routine. I promise it’s 100% worth it for the dreamy summer light, though!

So today, I’m also here to share a few tips with you that will make it soooooo much easier for everyone, and I can promise you we’ll still capture smiles, laughs, and adorable moments shared between everyone in your family.

These are my top 6 tips for an evening family portrait session with kids - as both a mom and a family photographer!

1. Plan on a late nap.

For the longest time, my son was religious about napping. We couldn’t skip a nap because he needed that time midday to rest and recharge. When you know you’re going to be going to bed a little later than normal, plan to bump your nap a little later in the afternoon, or if your baby is young enough, do an early nap and then a catnap later in the day, too. If you know your child will inevitably fall asleep in the car, leave a little earlier than necessary for your session and drive around while your little one sleeps in the backseat. They’ll wake up and be refreshed and ready to play!

2. Pack snacks.

Have snacks handy, because hungry kids are grumpy kids and we want to avoid that. ;o) I recommend everyone eat dinner before the session, and bring a little snack for the car in case they need it. Avoid messy foods like chocolate and juice, and opt for cheese, crackers, dry cereal, fruit, a pouch, etc. Be sure it’s a food that won’t stain their teeth and tongue. Basically, gummies and oreos are a bad idea because they will be stuck in their teeth in every. single. photo.

3. Bring their PJs and change into them when we’re all done.

This will make bedtime even easier when you get back home. Toss those pajamas in the car and they’ll be ready when we finish photographing your family. I’m all about working smarter, not harder - and this is one of my favorite hacks for late-in-the-day sessions.

4. Don’t underestimate the power of a bribe.

And don’t feel like you need to apologize for it, either! I know from photographing my own kids just how well a bribe can work to get him to listen and smile for a short period of time, and I fully support whatever you choose and I will help get the kids excited about it during their session, too!

I have created a prize box this year, and after the session your little ones will get to choose a prize! It’s filled with all sorts of goodies, and there’s nothing quite like a good bribe to help them power through. My old classroom skills are starting to come out - but I promise, it’s all in the name of beautiful portraits for your family!

5. Pack bug spray

Summer nights are notoriously filled with bugs who want a little snack! If your session is going to be on the beach or in one of the fields around Saratoga Springs, you’re definitely going to want that bug spray! It’s a simple thing but one that will help your little ones (and big ones!) feel more comfortable during our time together in the evening. 

6. The most important one: relax and have fun.

This is key. If you’re stressed, the kids will sense it and they will feed off of the vibes and be unwilling to cooperate and enjoy themselves. Relax. Take a deep breath. Let go of expectations, and enjoy the moment! Have fun loving on your little ones, and remember that these are the memories you want to look back on when they are grown. Portrait sessions are meant to be fun and joyful - not full of stress. Try to enjoy your evening together as a family and I’ll do the rest. 

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Our 2024 Client Appreciation Event: Gorgeous Motherhood Portraits with Spring Florals

This summer, I’ll be celebrating 12 years of running Nicole Starr Photography - and the last 8 of those years have been here in New York. None of the last 12 years would have been possible without my incredible clients. The last few years, I’ve held a Client Appreciation Event in my Saratoga Springs studio because each of my clients is worth celebrating. I want each and every one of them to know how deeply I appreciate them. Being their chosen family and newborn photographer is a gift - not just because I get to do what I love, but because I genuinely enjoy working with each of them and building relationships as we see each other over the years. Watching their children grow and being able to document more special memories is something I will never take for granted.

My Client Appreciation Event really started as a way to celebrate and thank the mamas. I wanted to thank them for choosing me but also, I wanted to pamper them! As mamas, we’re often the last one to be taken care of or spoiled. Thus, this event was born. My mamas are invited to my studio for motherhood sessions. The #1 goal is for them to feel pampered, loved, and update portraits with their little ones, creating artwork I hope they will treasure forever. It’s so much fun! We have a hair stylist at the studio and they have full access to my Mama Wardrobe to choose a beautiful dress to wear for their portraits. On top of that, they get to leave with an incredible swag bag filled with goodies from local businesses I love! 

While I always document families with their babies when they come in for newborn or milestone sessions, I think it’s important for these mamas to have a chance to be photographed with their babies. It’s special to see them shine with their little ones. I know as a mama myself, we’re always behind the camera, and so rarely in photos with our little ones. But these are the photos that our kids are going to want to look back on when they are grown, and they are the ones that tug at our own mama hearts now and many years from now. My favorite photos in our home are the ones with my babies, and I will cherish them for many, many years. I hope these mamas do, too. These portraits are super special to me and I hope that my clients love them as much as I love making them possible! 

I just want to give a huge shout out of thanks to all of the amazing Saratoga Springs vendors who made this year’s Client Appreciation Event possible with their contributions to our setup or goodie bags for our mamas! Without them, I would not have been able to celebrate and spoil the families who support my small business every day. 

Make sure you check out these amazing businesses! 

Samantha Nass Floral Design
Jessica Lee, A Saratoga Stylist of LaLume Salon
Simply Stated NY
Cookie-tastic
Slice of Saratoga
Advanced Dentistry of Clifton Park - Dr. Katie Tonkin
House of Colour Saratoga Springs
Fit4Mom Queensbury-Saratoga Springs
Glampover Events
The Hair Fairy at Hive Salon
Festivefetti

Thank you again to every business that contributed - and to every client that has worked with me in the last 12 years. I literally couldn’t do this without you! Enjoy a peek into our Client Appreciation motherhood portraits this year! 

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Classic blue and green newborn portraits for baby boy

Welcome to the world, Eamon! This sweet baby was born on St. Patrick’s Day, so it was important for us to include some green in his newborn portraits as a nod to his special birthday and heritage. In addition to the green, his parents loved our light blue romper and tiny teddy bear hats. I absolutely LOVED the romper on him! He was absolutely adorable the entire session and so easy to work with! 

Before newborn sessions, I help prepare my parents with a few tips to help their newborn session to be as successful as sweet Eamon’s was. One of the most important is to keep baby awake for an hour before the session. This helps ensure they’re ready to snuggle and sleep during our work together. I also encourage parents to give their babies a bath in the morning before coming to my Saratoga Springs studio so they’re awake but also relaxed! My studio is kept warm, helping babies drift into sleep as we swaddle and hold them. I always have my white noise going and we’ll take our time until your little one is ready (and if they don’t sleep, that’s okay!). Finally, plan for a full feeding right before our session. All of this will comes together for a happy, calm, easy to pose baby just like this little guy.

I truly loved baby Eamon and his parents. After our session, we sat down to pick out their favorite portraits for their beautiful heirloom album. I can’t wait for them to be able to flip through it together - and as Eamon grows up, too. What a special memory!

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Putting Your Trust in a Photographer to Capture Baby’s First Portraits

I had the absolute honor of welcoming Maizie Elizabeth to my studio for her first portraits ever during her newborn session in Saratoga Springs. I adored working with Maizie and her parents. It was such a compliment to me as an artist and such a show of trust when mom said to me, “I love everything in your portfolio! You can pick the colors and the headbands and the setups! I trust you!” Of course I was a little nervous, and I told her to please let me know if I pulled something that she wasn’t a fan of, but in the end the family was thrilled with the session and they were over the moon with their daughter’s portraits. I can’t express how happy all of this process made me! 

Maizie was one of the most smiley newborns that I have had in the studio in a long time, and this sweet girl gave us multiple smiles during family and individual portraits, too. She was super sleepy and I loved watching those smiles form on her face throughout the different setups I planned. Some of my favorites have to be with the tulips - I absolutely love flowers in my newborn setups!! 

I just want to express my thanks again to Ashley and her husband for trusting me to plan a session they would love. Every time a family books me for a newborn session still feels like such an honor. These are once-in-a-lifetime memories and I get to capture them for you! It’s so important to me that families feel comfortable with the entire process of a newborn session, as I want it to be special and stress-free! Building that trust takes time and as we plan your newborn portraits, I’m going to be with you every step of the way. We have phone calls and planning emails to work out details and I pride myself on sharing exactly what to expect with your newborn portraits - from before you ever step foot in the studio to the moment your heirloom artwork is delivered. All of this helps parents feel 100% comfortable during their portrait experience. I never take for granted what a special moment this is and I truly hope that all of my clients feel supported through the whole process! When they do, magic like Maizie’s session is possible.

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A light and airy cake smash with blue and white balloons

Baby Alex is one! Alex is an extra special little guy to me because he lives in our neighborhood and is one of the 7+ babies born in the last year. It’s been such an honor to watch him grow up and to watch his dads become parents. Although I can’t believe it’s been a year since his newborn session, I was excited when it came time to plan his light and airy cake smash to celebrate his first birthday! 

His dads wanted a classic session that was light & airy with blue and white balloons. They found this adorable romper at Lex & Cleo, the cutest little baby boutique in downtown Saratoga Springs. It matched Alex’s eyes perfectly, and complemented the setup beautifully. Plus, you know I’m a huge fan of supporting other local businesses - so I was thrilled to hear where this outfit was from! 

Alex loved the family photo portion of his session, but wasn’t a huge fan of the cake. That’s okay! We went with the flow, tried a few tricks, and moved on to the next part of the session to keep him comfortable. Not all babies love their cake, and that is 100% normal and okay! WE still captured so many adorable portraits of the birthday boy and I know his family is going to treasure them forever. His personality shone through as he played in front of my big ONE display in the studio and I couldn’t stop smiling at Alex! 

I can’t wait to hear stories of Alex admiring their new portraits on the wall of their home and I love that they're planning on sharing their mini accordion albums with the grandparents. Portraits are always a great gift for your loved ones!!

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