A Lifestyle Newborn Session at Home in Troy with NY Baby Photographer

Welcome home, Kiara! I had the joy of capturing Kiara’s lifestyle newborn session at their Troy NY home. Mom and Dad recently moved into their home after spending many months designing and customizing their dream home, and it was the most perfect spot for Baby Kiara’s first portrait session. 

One of the reasons that I love photographing lifestyle newborn sessions is that I adore the idea of looking back through an album with your baby, showing them the nursery that you lovingly decorated for them, talking to them about how you loved to cozy up with them and snuggle on the couch, and letting them see what their house (and their family!) looked like when they were smaller.

Lifestyle newborn sessions offer a relaxed and intimate peek into your lives at home with your new baby. Unlike my studio sessions, we focus on capturing organic moments in the comfort of your own space, allowing you to fully embrace the beauty of those early days as a new parent. There’s no need to worry about packing up all of the baby essentials, dealing with the stress of a car ride, or managing a baby’s schedule on the go. Instead, you can simply relax in your own home while I capture the soft, everyday moments that make this time so special.

One of the greatest perks of a lifestyle session is that it provides a comfortable setting for not just the newborn, but for siblings and even pets. Toddlers and older children often feel more at ease in their own environment, which allows them to be themselves in front of the camera, resulting in more relaxed images. With the familiar surroundings of home, the entire family can truly relax and enjoy the experience, making the session feel less like a photo shoot and more like a special moment captured in time. Although Kiara didn’t have any siblings to worry about, her parents were able to fully relax into being in their beautiful new home with their darling new baby. It was a gorgeous and easy experience for them and her because of it all!

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Simple Steps to Prepare Your Home for a Lifestyle Newborn Photography Session

Welcoming a newborn into your home is a special occasion, and capturing those precious early moments through a lifestyle newborn portrait session is a beautiful way to preserve your family’s early days and memories. Newborn sessions shouldn’t be stressful - whether they’re in our studio or at home, and by following a few simple steps, you can quickly prepare your home for your session!

Declutter the main rooms that you’ll be photographing in.

For most families, that’s the nursery, master bedroom, and living room. Keep in mind that the entire room does not need to be clutter-free, because let’s face it, life with a newborn comes with a whole lot of STUFF (burp cloths, bottles, diapers, bouncers, and so. much. laundry.). Simply move any distracting items to a corner behind where the photographer will stand, or shove them in a laundry basket in the bathroom or hidden in a closet for the session. I recommend keeping nightstands clear of clutter, as well as surfaces that you can see when looking into the main part of the room from the doorway.

Turn off all of the lights in your home.

Most lights create a warm yellow glow and can cause uneven color casting in your portraits. Instead, your photographer will use natural light or boost the natural light with a bounced strobe (flash) to create the natural light look. Turn off the overhead lights, lamps, sconces, cabinet lights, etc. Trust me - one light source is the best way to go! 

Keep your favorite and sentimental items on display in the nursery.

Have a favorite blanket that grandma made for the baby? Maybe an ultrasound photo in a frame? Or a drawing that your toddler made for their new sibling? Proudly display those in the background of your photographs!

Open all of the curtains to let the light in.

No explanation necessary on that one! Brighten up the house, and enjoy the sunshine!

Dress comfortably.

Lifestyle newborn sessions are a relaxed peek into your lives at home with your new baby. Dress in soft, light colored neutrals that you can move around in. Decide if you want to be barefoot in photos, and discuss this with your partner so you’re both on the same page (believe it or not, some partners have strong opinions about their feet in photos – trust me!). 

Use soft, light-colored bedding.

Minimize bold patterns and bright colors so that we can keep the focus on the baby and on your family’s sweet moments of connection when everyone is cuddled up on the bed. A solid white comforter or other light colored blanket/bedding will do the trick!

Set the thermostat to at least 75 degrees, warmer if you’re planning on getting unwrapped/bare skin portraits of your little one.

Babies prefer to be warm. When I work in the studio, it’s warm - so I encourage you to do the same at home. It might be toasty, but if bare skin portraits are important to you, then crank up the heat!

Communicate with your photographer ahead of time.

Send your photographer photos of the rooms you’d like to photograph in, trust their expertise, and let them guide you to capture natural, beautiful moments celebrating your new baby’s arrival in your home. Lifestyle newborn photographers work in many homes, in many situations, and with many families. Trust the one you’ve selected to take care of capturing the moments that matter most to you. 

As you reflect on these portraits in the years to come, you’ll cherish the memories of those early days with your baby—the soft, glowing light filling your home, the nursery you carefully designed with love, and the pure joy of welcoming your little one into your arms. When you share these memories with them, you’ll be able to show them their very first room and remind them of the warmth, love, and excitement that surrounded them from day one.

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Welcome Home: Cozy Lifestyle Newborn Session in Clifton Park

Welcome home, Baby Sofia! To officially welcome the newest member of the family, we planned a cozy lifestyle newborn session in their Clifton Park home. Our session took place in her beautifully styled boho inspired nursery and her parents’ gorgeous master bedroom. It was the perfect, low-stress session to document Sofia’s first days at home! 

One of the reasons I love lifestyle newborn sessions so much is that we are able to capture your family in the spaces that mean the most to you. Not only that, but being at home allows everyone to feel a little more at ease. Sofia’s big brother, Luca, was able to play with his toys while I started the session with Sofia and her parents. He was able to join us when he was ready - confident and in control, being at home with all of his favorite things. It allows the session to flow more freely and I find that younger siblings often have an easier time with the session overall. Luca was absolutely adorable when he came to join us - wanting to hold and cuddle with Sofia. Sibling portraits always tug at my heart, and this sweet family’s were no different! 

Sofia’s nursery was just gorgeous with the most beautiful boho accents and finishes. My favorite was the hand-embroidered name swaddle on the crib! Being able to capture all of those special touches that your family painstakingly chooses for your little one is also another perk of a lifestyle session! Whether it’s a sweet personalized blanket, handmade artwork, or a family heirloom, we can plan portraits around those special touches while I’m at your home.

Read more about the difference between a studio vs. lifestyle newborn session below!  

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The Difference Between Lifestyle and Studio Newborn Photography

Choosing what kind of newborn photography is right for your family can feel like a pretty big decision. For my families, I capture either lifestyle newborn sessions in their homes or a studio newborn session in my Saratoga Springs studio. I’ve also captured Fresh 48 sessions in the hospital for families, too. All sessions are equally beautiful, culminating in gorgeous timeless portraits to celebrate your little one’s arrival. But, they are certainly different too, and this guide will help you decide which style of newborn session is the best fit for your family.  

Studio Newborn Sessions in Saratoga Springs 

Studio newborn sessions are a bit more posed, and we'll capture family portraits on a neutral background, with minimal props. I’ve carefully cultivated a studio space that is relaxing and timeless, filled with simple props and adorable outfits, headbands, and wraps for your new baby. Your baby’s safety is of the utmost importance to me, so posing is baby led and I don’t do anything that might put your little one at risk. Capturing your family together for the first time with their newest member is the highlight of these sessions. Studio newborn sessions produce gorgeous classic imagery that is perfect in any home decor for display. I have everything ready and available for you (even an outfit for Mama or big sibling, too!), so they tend to be stress-free for the families in the studio. 

Lifestyle Newborn Sessions at Home 

Lifestyle sessions are a relaxed and intimate peek into your lives with a new baby at home.  I won't pose you, but I will guide you -- sit together on the bed, move in close, look down at your baby girl. My goal is to capture our family in the most relaxed setting to them: their home.  At home, a swaddle is our best friend and most of the images of your baby will be wrapped up snugly so that they sleep.  I won't be positioning them into any particular poses, and we'll really treat it as a very natural and unposed session. Lifestyle newborn sessions are also a great way to capture the space your baby is coming home to: their nursery, your living room, and special spaces you curated for them during your pregnancy. 

Still not sure which option sounds best for you? Here’s a few more questions to consider! 

We have a dog! Can he be in our session?

Definitely! Fur babies are a part of your family, and I know how important it is to include your fur baby alongside your new baby. I’ve found that pets are usually most comfortable at home, and I recommend a lifestyle session when we want to incorporate dogs into the portraits. This way they have easy access to head outside, burn off some energy, and then come back inside for portraits, and curl up in their safe space when they’re done.

My house is a mess. We can’t do lifestyle portraits there, right?

Don’t worry! Houses are meant to be lived in, and I tell all of my families that I fully expect to see dishes in the sink, burp rags on the tables, and laundry piled up somewhere. Life with a newborn is chaotic, and that naturally spills over into your home. You absolutely do not need to have everything pristine for your portrait session. Tidy up the nursery before I arrive, make the bed in the primary bedroom and clear off the nightstands, and if you have another spot in your home where you’d like to do photographs (maybe by a window that gets great light, or an interesting little nook in your home where you love the decor), tidy up that little corner. It doesn’t matter how much clutter is outside of the frame of the camera. We’ll capture you just as you are, and remove any distracting elements from the frame.

On the other hand, a lot of families love coming to the studio for exactly that reason! They know that cleaning their house is one less thing to worry about with a newborn, and I have everything in the studio to keep you comfortable and happy.

How old should my baby be for a studio or lifestyle newborn session?

We typically photograph babies in the studio around 2-3 weeks, and at home between 2-4 weeks. However, I am one of very few Saratoga Springs newborn photographers who also LOVE photographing older newborns, and I encourage families to come in with their babies that are 5-10 weeks old, too. At the older stage, your baby will be more alert and interactive, and less able to curl up in those sleepy poses, but we’ll still capture beautiful portraits celebrating your little one’s arrival into your family.

Now that you know which newborn session feels right for you, what's next?

Get in touch with your newborn photographer while you're still pregnant to schedule your newborn session. Most moms reach out during the second trimester. Newborn sessions are penciled in on the calendar based on your due date, and photographers only accept a certain number of due dates each month to give each family the flexibility in scheduling that they deserve. Then as soon as your baby arrives, tell your photographer so that they can set a date for your session!  Congratulations, this is such an exciting time! 

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Tiny Toes and Tender Smiles: Best Newborn Sessions of 2024 in Saratoga Springs

Welcome 2025! One of my favorite traditions here on the blog at the start of a new year is to share my “best of” blog posts from the year prior! I’m kicking things off with our best of 2024 newborns - featuring many studio newborn sessions and a few lifestyle portraits! 

Newborn sessions might just be one of my favorite things to photograph. We always capture a mix of family and sibling portraits, along with individual portraits of the baby during our sessions. If you know me, you know that keeping things simple is at the heart of what I do. I aim for simple timeless setups in my all-white studio, featuring soft muted colors for accents, natural props and accessories. The focus of your portraits should be on your new little one - and the love and awe of your family! 

Every time a family brings their new baby to the studio, I feel such an immense sense of gratitude. Trusting me with your little one is an honor I hope to never take for granted. Choosing a newborn photographer can be difficult! You want to find someone with the experience to keep your baby safe, while capturing the images you will treasure forever. You should also consider what they offer when your portraits are done. The products and artwork available to you should fit into your lifestyle and home decor. 

Capturing your newborn session is about more than just snapping a photo for me. I truly want my families to feel welcome and prepared for the process. It should be as stress-free as possible (you just had a baby!) and the end results should fit into your home beautifully so that you can enjoy your family. 

Looking back on these sweet 2024 babies, I feel so lucky that this is my job. There is no greater honor than being able to capture your baby’s first portraits - sometimes even your first family portrait - in my studio (or your home).  It is so meaningful and such a beautiful process. Thank you to all of these families for trusting me with your sweet babies!

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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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Best of 2023 newborn sessions in Saratoga Springs

Newborn sessions are special for me. I’m always so honored to be invited into such a beautiful time in my clients' lives to celebrate the arrival of their new baby. Whether their sessions are at home or in my studio, every one of them is as unique as the family I’m capturing. 

For the 2023 year, I was extra lucky with the families who visited me. So many of my newborn clients this year were coming back to see me with their second or third baby, and I’ve been lucky enough to document all of their children’s milestones. It felt beyond special to be in the studio with families I adore and to be capturing yet another milestone for their family. 

In addition to our studio sessions, I absolutely adore our lifestyle sessions. Lifestyle newborn sessions are perfect for a relaxed peek into your lives at home. You get to spend your session cuddled up in the living room or all cozy on the bed together, or getting to know your new baby in the nursery that you so lovingly put together before their arrival. It’s a really unique moment and there’s nothing more beautiful than documenting a family at home. 

If a more traditional look is your style, newborn studio sessions are always a great time! They’re wonderfully stress-free - which is one of the best perks, in my opinion. So many families this year told me how much they enjoyed sitting in the studio and how relaxed it made them feel. My favorite memorable compliment was from a dad (who happens to live in my neighborhood!) that had been in the studio for about an hour or so, and between the flowing conversation, the white noise, the cozy temperature, and his sleep exhaustion from his first few weeks with a newborn, he said “I love your studio! It feels like we’re in Las Vegas and I completely lose track of time in here! I mean, what day is it?!?! Where are we?!?!” It was hilarious but also really spoke to me about the atmosphere we create for my families. 

I can’t wait to watch these little babies grow and invite them back into the studio in 2024 for their birthday sessions! Thank you to every family who trusted me to capture these special moments as they welcomed their littlest loves to the world. 

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Lifestyle newborn portraits for baby #3

Three years ago, I photographed this beautiful family in their home when their middle daughter, Sloane, arrived. It was so special to return back to their home to capture the arrival of their newest little girl, Baby Blake! I could hardly believe how big Sloane and big brother Jack were, too. Time truly does fly by! 

This family’s home has such a neutral and boho inspired vibe. I absolutely love photography in this space. It’s got the best light and the space truly makes my job easy! One of the things mom wanted to do while I was there was recreate some portraits from Sloane’s session with Baby Blake. I’m always a huge fan of families doing this - it creates such a unique connection between portrait sessions. But, I don’t think that she nor I were quite ready for how emotional it would make us, seeing both of her big siblings loving on Baby Blake! 

While we spent most of their lifestyle newborn session in their living room, we also spent a little time in Blake’s nursery. I adored their beautiful Moses basket - it’s a favorite for me in the studio, so I was pleased to see theirs in the nursery! We also captured some sweet photos of Blake and her big siblings in her crib. One of my tricks for creating a new “sheet” in the crib is to add your favorite swaddle blanket, tuck it around the edges, and I’ll clone in the rest later on. This is such a great trick to be able to keep your little one swaddled and show off your favorite blankets during this time! 

To the sweet T family, thank you for asking me to capture these beautiful moments for your growing family. I loved meeting Baby Blake and seeing all of your sweet babies. I hope that you’ll treasure these portraits forever - I know that they’ll hold a special spot in my heart.

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Lifestyle Newborn Session with Toddler in Saratoga Springs

Krystie and Andrew recently welcomed baby Bennett Cyril to the world! I’ve been honored to document this family’s milestones ever since they welcomed their first baby (Easton) into their family, and this time they chose to do a lifestyle newborn session in the comfort of their home to capture these special moments as they welcome their second boy boy home. I loved getting to see them again - and spend time in their beautiful Saratoga Springs home. 

Krystie and Andrew’s home is absolutely gorgeous. It’s got a wonderful light-filled nursery and master bedroom, so figuring out where to capture Bennett’s newborn portraits was a no brainer! Easton was a great sport and snuggled with Bennett in his beautiful wooden crib for me. He was honestly a great big brother our entire session. Lifestyle newborn sessions are wonderful for big siblings, especially toddlers. They can take a break, hang out in their favorite spaces, show me their toys, and even enjoy a snack. It definitely helps them feel more relaxed and excited to be part of the portraits. 

After spending time in Bennett’s nursery, we captured a few portraits of the whole family on Krystie and Andrew’s bed. I loved watching Easton snuggle with his brother! He was so sweet. We finished up the session in their living room. They had the most beautiful built-in shelves and window light - so it turned out to be a perfect spot for their newest family portraits. 

Congratulations to this sweet family! I’m so happy for you all and I loved getting to meet Baby Bennett! I’m so excited to watch him grow and to see Easton settle into his role as big brother. It’s going to be a wonderful adventure.

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A lifestyle newborn session in a mountain-themed nursery

Welcome to the world,  Maverick Henry! I’m so happy to have been able to meet Stephanie and Matt’s sweet new baby boy. They recently came to my studio for maternity portraits, and I was so excited for their lifestyle newborn session. We knew that we wanted to capture Maverick’s newborn portraits at home, in the coziness of his nursery. 

One of the reasons that we wanted to plan a lifestyle session is because Matt is a painter. He hand-painted the incredible mountains on the walls by hand. Stephanie and Matt’s inspiration for the nursery came from the Adirondacks, which is perfect since we live so close! Maverick’s entire nursery was simply beautiful, full of blues and greens. It’s definitely a wonderful space to welcome their first baby boy home to. 

During their lifestyle newborn session, I also got to meet Cash and Cleo, Stephanie and Matt’s two fur babies. They were so precious and very interested in their new little brother. I loved watching them want to be nearby, and hang close during our portraits. Adding your fur babies into your portraits is always a fun perk of a lifestyle session!! 

Maverick, it’s clear you are very loved. Your mom and dad absolutely adore you, and so do your fur siblings. I can’t wait to watch you grow, little guy! 

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An in-home lifestyle newborn session with two big brothers

Welcome to the world, ‌Ella Kate! This sweet girl is so loved and we marked her arrival with an in-home lifestyle newborn session. I’ve been photographing this family since her big brother Miles turned one, and I love capturing portraits for this sweet family year after year and seeing the boys grow into their roles as big brothers. This session was extra special for all of us, too, because Ella is their rainbow baby. She is SO loved and so celebrated. 

We focused on capturing a lot of her portraits in the nursery. Since she’s their rainbow baby, they made the nursery so vibrant and beautiful. I loved all of the rainbow touches, from the tassels on the curtains to the abacus to the sheets and the watercolor mural on the wall. It's so beautiful and a wonderful way to honor their journey with this sweet girl. 

While I loved the nursery, I think I loved the moments with Miles and Oscar even more. They were both so gentle with their new baby sister, as they held her and snuggled near the crib. There’s just something so wonderful about watching new siblings be together. 

If you’re welcoming a new baby this year, consider a lifestyle newborn session! 

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Adelaide's Nursery

It’s a funny thing, welcoming a second baby into your family. With the first, you’re only going from a couple to a family, and while that is a huge change in itself, it’s a wildly different change when you’re going from a parent of one to a parent of two. Our daughter is now 8 months old, and the thing that I have said again and again to my clients who are in the same stage as we are with their second (or third!) babies is: “When you add a baby, 1 plus 1 isn’t equal to 2 anymore. It’s more like 1 plus 1 equals 7!”

Case in point? Our sweet girl’s nursery. With our first baby Grayson, I had everything in his nursery ready before we ever went to the hospital. My husband still jokes about how I made him hang up with wooden G on the wall as one of the top priorities in the days before our surprise induction. I remember taking, editing, and sharing photos of his nursery before heading to the hospital, and everything was perfectly in place waiting for our little boy to come home.

But with Baby #2, Adelaide was 5 months old before I finished hanging wall art in her bedroom, and 8 months old before I finally took photos of her nursery. Time moves at warp speed once the second baby enters the family, and priorities shift. But it was still important to me to document her nursery so that we could put it into our yearly photo album, and even though I’m taking these photos in 2023, they’ll go into our 2022 album because that is when we welcomed our girl home.

Some of my favorite things about Adelaide’s nursery are:
• the sibling portrait from our newborn session with Saren Cassotto Photography
• the gorgeous wool rug that I pined after when I saw it online last year, and then happened to find for 80% off at Homegoods on my birthday last year (which was also 2/22/22, when I was 22 weeks pregnant!)
• the needlepoint that my mom made when we were kids and that hung in our hallway growing up for years
• the crib & rocker that both of our babies have used
• the stuffed animal basket that looks like a rainbow for our rainbow baby
• the natural light that comes streaming through the windows in the morning, illuminating the bedroom in soft, white light

You know another one of the great things about taking these (much delayed) photos of the nursery? This room has a history now. It’s not just waiting in anticipation. We’ve rocked and changed our baby here, paced the squeaky floors, sung her to sleep, rolled across the rug and watched Grayson proudly hold her in the rocking chair. We’ve read books, put on lotion after bath, and FaceTimed Grandma after nap. I’ve added to the space slowly over the past year, and it now has personal touches like Adelaide’s birth announcement in a frame, her footprints on a duckling sketch, stuffed animals that have become her favorite ones of the bunch, and her photos in the frames. This room holds so much LIFE now, and I’m so happy to have documented it for us to always look back on.

Best of 2022 Newborn Sessions

What a year! 2022 marked my tenth year in business, and I am so incredibly grateful to every single family that trusts me to capture their most special moments and milestones for them. My son is in his second year of preschool, and one of the things that his teacher has told us parents multiple times is “Thank you for sharing your children with us.” I absolutely love the sentiment, and I feel the exact same way toward each of the families that I work with. SO, THANK YOU. Thank you for sharing your children with me, and thank you for allowing me the privilege of creating artwork that showcases your family’s story. This truly is a dream job, and it is such a joy working with so many lovely families and their babies.

Newborn sessions have always held a special place in my heart, and those tiny little babies with their sleepy yawns and soft, round cheeks are what drew me to become a portrait photographer in the first place.

We welcomed our second baby into our family this year, a baby girl named Adelaide. And as we introduced her to long-time family friends, it occurred to me that for some of them, it had been DECADES since they had last held a baby that small. It is not lost on me how special this job is that I get to do this every day for my job. It really is an honor to be able to hold these brand new babies week after week, curling them up into the sweetest poses and watching magic unfold when they are snuggling in their parents' arms.

Every January, I love sharing a roundup post of some of my favorite portraits from newborn sessions over the past year. I hope you enjoy these sweet little babies as much as I do! This year they will all be coming up on their first birthday, and I look forward to seeing them back in the studio for their first birthday cake smash!

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Why Most Newborn Portraits are of Sleeping Babies

Have you ever wondered why most newborn portraits are of sleeping babies? It's not just because photographers are pros at getting babies to sleep. There's actually a whole science and reasoning behind it!

When they babies are sleepy, they are:

-more relaxed

-easier to pose

-safer to pose

Sleeping babies make our job easier and safer. As you know, a baby’s safety is always my priority in the studio or at home, so any time we can allow baby to sleep during our portraits, everyone feels a bit better! (Of course, it’s okay if your little one doesn’t sleep, too!!).

Newborn babies tend to sleep more than they’re awake.

All babies are different, but most newborn babies are asleep more than they are awake -- even though sometimes it doesn't seem that way to new parents! Most often in those first few weeks, the only times they are awake are when they are eating or getting changed, and it's rare to have many moments when they are awake and relaxed at the same time. This means that in order to find those moments of peace for our session, we want baby will be asleep and therefore relaxed during our session!

Some poses just aren’t safe to do if baby isn’t sleeping.

The first priority in every newborn session is the baby's safety, and some poses are just not safe to do with a newborn while they are awake. For example, tummy poses are not safe for an awake baby because they can kick their legs and wiggle off the posing bed or prop. In other poses, the babies have their heads carefully balanced on their arms or hands, and even though this is done in a very safe manner to distribute their weight evenly and keep their bodies balanced, an awake baby is too wiggly to attempt this safely.

We work to create a relaxing atmosphere for your baby!

Since we want your baby to sleep (so they’re relaxed and even safer), newborn photographers work hard to get babies to relax during their session. That is why we crank up the heat in the studio, swaddle and rock the babies, use white noise, and use gentle repetitive motions such as patting and stroking to soothe them. Our goal is to get babies as relaxed as possible so that they will fall asleep and be easy and safe to pose for their portraits. Plus we are able to capture the most variety in images and poses while they are sleeping, too!

But what happens when a baby just won't sleep?

Honestly, this happens fairly often, so if your baby is one of those ones that just won't settle, don't stress! Usually it's a digestive issue. Some babies have upset tummies and they're trying to work out some gas or a BM. Others are affected by caffeine in breastmilk, or maybe a new formula just doesn't sit well in their tummies. Some had a stellar night's sleep last night and they're just not tired right now (but you know the second you leave they're going to drift off to dreamland!).

Newborn portraits are about photographing your baby!

No matter what happens (or doesn’t), we'll figure it out and work around it to capture beautiful portraits while you're in the studio. Typically newborn sessions last 2-3 hours, and most babies would struggle to stay awake for such a long period of time in those early weeks. We keep their tummies full and use all of the tricks to help them relax and stay happy. While they're awake, we swaddle them up and capture those big bright eyes and funny little expressions. I looooove photographing awake babies because they are so expressive, and those wide-eyed shots always make it onto the front of their birth announcement cards. Eventually they all fall asleep and they give in to the heat and the white noise, but some babies just take a little longer than others.

When should you schedule newborn portraits?

For the traditional posed newborn session, we usually schedule those for between 7-15 days old. The ideal time to reserve your newborn session is before the baby is born to ensure a spot on the calendar. After the two week mark babies are often much more alert and wiggly.

I love photographing older newborns, too, but the type of images we create in those sessions is more about interactions and expressions while they are relaxed and awake. Older newborn sessions are less posed and they are usually done with babies 4-8 weeks old.

Ready to get your session on the calendar?

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Lifestyle newborn portraits for baby brother in Saratoga Springs

There’s nothing I love more about this job than working with a family year after year as they grow and welcome new family members. I remember when these sweet parents were pregnant and expecting their first baby. Now, they’ve got a new baby boy and are about to sell their gorgeous home to move to Texas. It’s not an exaggeration to say I’ll miss them, but I’m glad we were able to capture their first weeks as a family of four in their house!

It was so special to welcome Brooks William home, especially because just 2.5 years ago, we did a session in this house with his big sister, Georgia. We photographed her and her parents on their front porch in the summer. I love knowing that they will always have portraits of their babies in their first home!

Brooks William was a joy to photograph. He is such a sweet baby and definitely wanted to be awake a lot of his session - so much to look at! Everyone got a chance to cuddle with him, especially Georgia - who was excited to show me her new baby brother! We worked in his nursery, his parents’ room and made sure to photograph everyone (and their dog!) on the porch, too. I’m so happy I had the chance to see everyone again before they head to Texas!!

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10 questions newborn photographers want you to ask before booking a session

Expecting a baby is such an exciting time for families - and planning your newborn portraits is always a lot of fun, too. But it can be overwhelming if you’re not sure who to hire or where to take your newborn baby. As a newborn photographer who’s been photographing babies for many years now, I’ve come to realize that there’s some important topics you should discuss with your newborn photographer before ever booking a session.

1. What safety training do you have with photographing newborns?

This is the most important question you can ask the photographers that you are considering for your little one's first portraits. Newborn photography requires specialized training, and you don't want to trust just anyone with a camera when it comes to your baby that is only a few days or weeks old. You want to hire someone who has in-depth safety training and who knows how to safely handle and pose a newborn -- because posing a newborn safely is much different than handling a newborn in your day-to-day life at home. There are many opportunities for newborn photographers to learn these skills both in-person and online. I have done a variety of workshops and even mentored other photographers, and I continue my newborn education every year with new workshops and trainings. I've photographed hundreds of newborns since 2012, and their safety is my #1 priority in every single session. Safety trumps a cute pose every single time.

2. How many newborn sessions do you schedule a month?

Some photographers run a high volume studio, which means they take on dozens of clients each month. I run a low volume, high service business so that I can devote more time and attention to each client. This also allows me plenty of flexibility in scheduling newborn sessions depending on when each baby arrives. I take on a limited number of newborn clients each month so that I can be sure to fit everyone on the calendar with plenty of wiggle room for babies who are early and late arrivals.

3. Is the studio cleaned and sanitized between sessions?

This has always been important to me as a business owner, and now more than ever we are paying extra attention to all of the ways to make our studio safe for our littlest clients. Every hard surface is disinfected before a session, and every fabric and soft prop is sanitized as well. Read more about our Covid policies here on the blog.

4. What happens during a newborn session and how long is it?

There's nothing more stressful than becoming a new parent. There are so many unknowns in the first few weeks, which is why I like to prep families ahead of time for their newborn session so that they know exactly what to expect. My studio sessions typically last 2-3 hours, and you can read more about what to expect from start to finish here.

5. Do you have a newborn session prep guide?

I give every family a welcome packet upon booking their session, and it includes a prep guide with tips on what to do and what to expect before, during, and after their portrait session! I tell all families that this may be their first time, but I've done this literally hundreds of times, so I do whatever it takes to make their experience easier and less stressful.

6. Is family posing included?

Not every newborn photographer includes family and sibling portraits in their sessions. If the first family portrait is something that is important to you (I know it is to me!), then look for a photographer that includes this. I encourage all families to jump in front of the camera for a few portraits at the beginning of their session because I can guarantee you that these are the memories you'll want to look back on one day -- just how tiny your baby was all curled up in your arms and the way your toddler looks at their new sibling before leaning in for a kiss. See some of my favorite family moments captured during newborn sessions in this Best of 2021 Newborn Portraits on the blog!

7. What happens if the baby cries or won't settle?

This happens. And actually, speaking of things that happen during a newborn session, so does poop. And you know what? We just go with it! I wrap and swaddle the baby, rock and gently bounce the baby, turn up the heat, play white noise or a shusher, and use a few baby whisperer techniques that I've picked up over the years that calm even the fussiest babies. I tell all families that all babies settle eventually, and we just go with it knowing that once they settle we'll be able to capture the most beautiful portraits of your little one. In the meantime, I love a good awake newborn portrait and these are a great opportunity to capture their wide variety of expressions and interaction with family members. No time is ever wasted, but we also take our time and don't rush through anything.

8. What should we wear? Do you offer a client closet?

This is one of my FAVORITE questions, and if clients don't mention this to me on our phone call then I 100% make sure to bring it up! I have lots of tips for families to make choosing an outfit simple, and I even provide a closet filled with dresses for moms to borrow for their portraits. I know what it's like as a new mom when you're not sure what is going to fit right after delivering your baby. That is why I have carefully selected a variety of long dresses in flowy, neutral fabrics and flattering styles that look amazing on new moms. You're welcome to borrow one for your portraits when you book your newborn session with me! Find more tips for what to wear on the blog, including for dad & siblings!

9. Can you come to our home?

Some photographers offer lifestyle portrait session in the client's home. I love these sessions, and they are a beautiful and relaxed peek into your lives at home with your new baby. If you want the convenience of a photographer that comes to you, this might be something to consider! These sessions look and feel quite different from a studio session, so be sure that they're the right fit for you before booking.

10. What is included in the price?

This is going to be different for every photographer. There are some photographers that sell only prints, and others that sell only digital images. There are photographers that will design your birth announcements and albums, and help you select wall art that will be perfectly sized and will complement the decor in your home. There are other photographers that will send you an online gallery and leave the rest up to you to figure out. Find the photographer whose process fits your needs. Are you looking for photos to post on Facebook? Or are you looking for beautiful artwork to enjoy at home and keepsakes to pass down to your children?

Over the past decade of working with families, I have found that most new parents are overwhelmed with life at home with a new baby, and that is why I offer a full-service experience that includes an in-home ordering appointment where I help them select their favorite images. I print everything for them from my professional labs, and bring them artwork that is ready to hang and enjoy. When working with me, families don't have to worry about when they'll have the time to log into a gallery, figure out which images are their favorites, determine which sizes will fit on their walls, make sure the ones they chose look good together, find a decent lab to send everything to print, design an album, make and print their own cards, etc. It's literally all done for them while they get to soak up those first few weeks with their brand new baby and not have to worry about anything else.

I realize that everyone has a budget in mind when scheduling their portrait session, however, I also believe that you shouldn't choose your newborn photographer based on price alone. These are memories that you are going to treasure for the rest of your life, and the birth of your child is one of the most important milestones your family will ever celebrate. You want your portraits to reflect that, and you want your printed products to stand the test of time so that you can pass these keepsakes down to your child one day when they are grown.

Make sure you choose a photographer whose style you love. Look carefully at their work and see if you can imagine it hanging in your home. Learn about the service they provide and the products they will create for you, and think about the ways they can make your life easier as a new parent when it comes to enjoying your portraits.

Are you expecting a little one? Reach out today and let's chat about how I can create a memorable portrait experience for your family!

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Best of 2021 Newborn Portraits

2021 was such a wonderful year here in the studio. I had the chance to meet so many sweet babies and I loved working with each and every one of them. Every family and baby had their own unique setups, so everything was a lot of fun to design and put together! I’m so thankful for every family and baby that came into the studio this year. These recap blogs are always some of my favorite blogs each year. I love the chance to look back at all of my sessions with you!

In this year’s best of 2021 newborns, you’ll see some gorgeous setups, lots of siblings who were incredible with their new brothers and sisters, and many happy families. It’s been such a dream to work with everyone for another year.

If you’re expecting in 2022, I’m currently booking for due dates through May 2022. I usually book sessions and reserve dates with families in their second trimester - so don’t wait on getting on the calendar. I hope these sessions inspire you and make you excited for your own newborn portraits this coming year. Until then, let’s look back at some of my favorite 2021 newborn moments!

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Newborn portraits in a beautiful mauve and floral nursery

Reagan Ann has made her appearance in the world! Alexandra, Dan, and Baby Lincoln are over the moon with their newest family member - and I don’t blame them. When I had the chance to meet her during their lifestyle newborn session, I was instantly in love. This sweet baby girl is SO loved and can we just talk about her nursery?! Her nursery was just gorgeous! Alexandra and Dan chose a mauve and gold color scheme with floral accents and it’s beautiful. I’m so happy we were able to do her portraits in their nursery. What a special memory!

Lincoln’s not quite sure about being a big brother yet but he loved getting to hug mama and look at his little sister. These early moments at home are so precious. I’m thrilled I was able to capture these newborn portraits for Reagan Ann and her sweet family!

Can’t get enough of them? Check out Alexandra’s maternity portraits below!

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Lifestyle Newborn Portrait Session in a Coastal Home

I have been lucky enough to document this family’s milestones since their oldest was just a few months old, and now he is six and he is a big brother to TWO little brothers!! I always adore catching up with this sweet family and we share a lot of laughs during our summertime sessions together. This year they were welcoming a new baby, and we did a lifestyle newborn session in their beach house on Cape Cod.

Big brothers Nick and Harry couldn’t get enough of their baby brother, and they snuggled and loved on him the entire time. They truly made my job easy with sibling portraits like this one.

During a lifestyle portrait session we look for rooms in your house that have great natural light.  We didn’t have to look far, as this sun room was directly inside the door when I walked in!  The wicker sectional sofa was the perfect spot for family cuddles.

Do you love this family’s style? This mama is incredible with interior design and decorating. Go follow her on Instagram here, and check out her blog (A Modest Life) filled with tips for family, fashion, and your home!

The boys enjoyed picking out a few spots in the living room for portraits with the baby.  I always bring a light from my studio to bounce off the ceiling in case the other rooms in your home don’t have as much natural light, and it illuminates the space beautifully.  So if your home is a little dark, don’t worry!  We can still capture light and airy portraits like these ones!

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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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