8 Tips to Prepare for your Newborn Portrait Session | Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

I know this whole "planning a newborn session" thing can feel a little overwhelming—after all, it’s your first time and there’s so much to think about! But don’t worry, you’re in good hands. I’ve had the pleasure of guiding hundreds of families through their newborn portraits over the past 12+ years in my Saratoga Springs studio. I’m here to make this as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. From choosing the right outfits to prepping your little one (and yourself) for the session, I’ll walk you through every step. Here’s my top tips to prepare for your studio newborn session so that you can enjoy this truly special process! 

Before Your Session

Plan your outfits for the family portraits before the baby is here. 

Once you’re home with a newborn, you’re not going to have time to run to the store and try a bunch of tops or dresses on. Figure out what everyone is going to wear ahead of time to make it that much easier when it comes to the week of your session. I recommend considering working with a photographer who offers a client closet where moms can choose from gorgeous dresses in flattering cuts and fabrics that look amazing on postpartum mamas. Being able to make your session even more stress-free is one of the main reasons I love being able to offer my baby and mama wardrobes! 

Preparing Your Baby for Portraits

Your little one is the star of the show, so we want them to be comfortable during your time in the studio! To help them stay cozy, I wrap newborn babies in the variety of wraps, hats, and headbands I have in the studio. But there’s a few things you can do at home to help your little one feel sleepy and ready to curl up for us:

Give your baby a sponge bath before our session. Don’t forget the lotion after you’re done! I recommend dressing your little one in a onesie that has a zipper or snaps up the front, so we don’t have to disturb them if they’re asleep when you arrive. 

What to do 2-3 Hours Before Your Session

A few hours before your session, it is essential that you help your baby get sleepy enough to pose for us. Feed your little one 2-3 hours before arriving for your session. Keep your baby awake and alert during that time too. Try not to bundle your baby up or they’ll fall right asleep! Once you arrive, plan to give your baby another feeding. They should be ready to slip into the famous “milk coma” once you’re done and nice and sleepy for our posing! 

8 tips to prepare for your newborn portrait session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Bring a Pacifier

Even if you don’t plan to use a pacifier regularly at home, I recommend having one on hand for your newborn session. “Soothies” (the green pacifiers) are great for newborns! They can work wonders for soothing your baby during portraits, so consider grabbing one one for your time in the studio. 

During Your Newborn Portraits 

Sit back & relax

As soon as your little one is asleep, I will ask to take over with your baby. Sit back, relax, and just enjoy some quiet time. Don’t worry about anything! One of the reasons I ask to take over moving your little one is because babies can smell their moms, which can unsettle them. They pick up on stress, so it’s important to just take a deep breath. I’m a mom of two and have been photographing babies for over 12 years, so I promise I know what I’m doing! The reality is that babies will fuss and cry during our time in the studio. Clients have dubbed me “the baby whisperer” and I’ll use my many techniques to help soothe and calm your little one. 

Your little one’s safety is my top priority and I will never put your baby into an unsafe position - just for a portrait. I may ask you to help hold their head or support them. It’s a fun opportunity for us to create images you’ll treasure forever. 

Cleanliness

Pee and poop will happen during your newborn session. It happens and I’m always prepared for it. Please don’t be embarrassed! It’s natural and I promise you, I’m ready for it. 

Leave your cameras at home

To ensure that I can capture the best images for your family, I respectfully ask that you leave your cameras at home. Trust me to capture your portraits - and the ones that will beat any cell phone photo you could take. I truly want you to be able to relax in our warm and cozy studio while I document your precious little baby! (PS. The studio WILL be warm! I keep it nice and toasty for your little one so they’re comfortable - so just be prepared!).

After Your Session

If you know me at all, you know that I love the part after your session most of all, because going through your baby’s portraits is a truly magical process! I love seeing how we’re going to turn in whatever we captured into heirloom artwork that your family will treasure forever. You can expect a sneak peek online within a few days of the session. Please feel free to share it and tag me - but do not screenshot or alter the image in any way. 

Within 2 weeks of your session, I will come visit you at home. Together, we’ll design your birth announcements, as well as any heirloom keepsakes you’ve chosen. I love helping you figure out where you might want to display your new portraits! 

I hope this guide has helped take some of the guesswork out of planning your newborn session! Remember, this is a special time, and I’m here to help make sure you have beautiful, timeless images to cherish for years to come. There’s no need to stress about the little details—I’ve got the experience to make sure everything runs smoothly so you can focus on your sweet baby. If you have any questions or need any additional tips, feel free to reach out. I can’t wait to capture these precious moments for you and your family!


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8 tips to prepare for your newborn portrait session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Newborn portrait session with big sister

I absolutely adore Lauren and Tim. They’re our neighbors, and I’ve had the joy of photographing their maternity sessions for both daughters - and now the newborn sessions, too! It’s been so special to not only document their first portraits for each of the girls, but it’s also been a meaningful walk beside them as our children grow up together. Welcome to the world, Macey Jayne! I’m so happy I got to welcome you to the studio and the neighborhood. 

Macey’s big sister, Anna, was so excited to snuggle up with her new baby, and I was thoroughly impressed with how well she did during the session. At 22 months, she posed herself better than most toddlers that I work with, and it was all so natural and smooth for her. I am completely in love with the sibling portraits we created of these two sisters! They’re always some of my favorite moments in newborn sessions like this. But, they don’t always happen organically - it takes work and focus so the new big sisters and brothers feel special. Having a new baby can change the family dynamic - and this is a great chance to involve them in the process! 

A newborn session with a toddler isn’t always easy, but I try to make big siblings feel like a big part of the session!  I show them the toys in the studio, I let them pick out the snack they’re going to enjoy after they finish, show them my camera and the little toys that I use to help me take their pictures – monkey on my camera lens, a Cookie Monster puppet, squeaky toys. I give them options: “Do you want to start with just you and baby, or should we have everybody all together first?” This helps them feel in control, and they love having some say in what’s going to happen. I like to give them special jobs, and often they’ll take one of my wooden cameras and use it to take pictures of their parents when we’re going some photos of mom or dad with the baby. Even though these portraits are for the baby, we want your toddlers (or older siblings) feel like a big part of the process! 

baby girl smiles in her sleep in ivory wrap in wicker bed with green leaves underneath photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl sleeps in white wrap with rainbow floral crown during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl sleeps in purple wrap on purple floral blanket during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler leans to kiss new baby sister lying in wicker bed during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler leans to hug new baby sister lying in wicker bed during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl sleeps laying on ivory knit blanket with orange and yellow floral headband during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler holds newborn sister sitting on couch during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler holds newborn sister sitting on couch during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad sits on stool holding newborn baby girl and toddler sister during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds newborn baby girl in his arm while mom hugs them from behind during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds newborn baby girl in his arm while mom hugs toddler standing on stool during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in coral dress holds newborn baby girl during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl lays on colorful yoga pillow during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl lays on colorful yoga pillow during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl lays on colorful yoga pillow during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl lays on colorful yoga pillow with toddler sister behind her during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Newborn portrait session with big sister in Saratoga Springs studio with New York newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Flowers and Pearls - Pretty Little Accents for Newborn Portraits in our Saratoga Springs Newborn Photography Studio

Welcome to the world, Alexandra! I had the best time welcoming this beautiful little girl and her parents to my Saratoga Springs studio. She’s one of the newest members of our Collective Membership, so this is just the first of a few sessions I’ll be photographing for this family throughout Alexandra’s first year. It was wonderful to kick things off with her newborn session - featuring some of my favorite classically feminine details! 

Alexandra’s family wanted to include some of the studio's gorgeous headbands and wraps for their little girl. They dreamed of portraits with details like pearls, lace, and flowers - lucky for them, I have plenty of options in the studio! Truly, there’s so many pearl headbands for baby girls and I love that I have such a beautiful variety to offer my families. Everything we chose for Alexandra really worked within a gorgeous blush, ivory, and tan palette. 

Honestly, it was so fun when her parents came into the studio and began gushing about how much they love what I have on hand - and trust my style - to plan their newborn baby’s portraits. It means a lot to hear that confidence from the parents I work with, and Alexandra’s were no exception. I think we settled on some truly gorgeous setups for this sweet girl and I look forward to seeing her in the studio again for her next set of milestone portraits!

parents hold newborn baby girl during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mother in tan dress holds baby girl wearing pearl hand band in white wrap up next to her face during newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mother in tan dress holds baby girl wearing pearl hand band in white wrap up while dad hugs them both from behind during newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds newborn baby girl in his arms during newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds newborn baby girl kissing her forehead during newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds newborn baby girl in front of him while mom holds his hands smiling down at baby during newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mother in ivory dress holds newborn baby girl to her chest during newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl lays in white wrap with pink and green floral headband on top of knit blanket and flowers during newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl lays in knit wrap with pearl headband sleeping during newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl lays curled up in pink wrap on blanket and flowers in a wooden bowl during newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl with pearl headband and white wrap yawns in wicker basket during classic newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs studio with Nicole Starr Photography

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Flowers and Pearls: Pretty Little Accents for Baby Girl's Newborn Portraits in our Saratoga Springs Newborn Photography Studio by Nicole Starr Photography

Older Newborn Portraits with an 8 week old

Welcome to the world (and Saratoga Springs!), Aidan! This sweet family traveled to Saratoga with their 8 week old and booked a newborn session while they were in town! Visiting Saratoga is becoming an annual tradition for them, and they were excited to document their son’s first portraits while on vacation. I love our little town, so it was special to hear about their tradition and how special this year’s visit would be. 

We started Aidan’s newborn session with updated family portraits on Broadway in Saratoga Springs. It’s such a beautiful and classic downtown, and I love that we were able to make these happen with an early morning session before Broadway became too busy (as it does in the summertime with the tourists in town for track season!). No matter what kind of portraits we’re capturing, I want to document what is special for you. It makes me so happy that we could include this spot that Aidan’s parents love in their first official portraits with their baby boy! We ended their session in my studio - with a white and grey palette for Aidan’s portraits. They feel so classic and timeless! Since Aidan was about 8 weeks old during our portraits, we captured some special moments of him with his parents - featuring his wide and beautiful open eyes. You can already start to see his sweet little personality coming out! 

Aidan’s newborn session was wonderful for all of us. Bringing an older newborn to the studio is perfectly okay! I know that many new parents worry about the “perfect” time to schedule their newborn session, but I’m here to tell you that there is no perfect time. Don’t worry if you were in a newborn haze and missed the traditional 2-3 week window for newborn portraits. Older newborn sessions are actually one of my favorites, and I love this stage when babies are more alert and interactive with their parents. They begin smiling socially around 6 weeks, and we’re able to capture smiles and eye contact, and a lot more engagement with the world around them. 

We still work hard to keep them calm and happy, while also capturing more of their personality. Some older newborns still curl up into the little sleepy poses, and others are a little more stiff and won’t curl up like those early babies, but there are so many beautiful ways to pose them and document the very stage that they are in right now. As you can see from Aidan’s portraits, they’re still just as magical and meaningful, no matter how old your new baby is! 

mom holds 8 week old newborn son on Saratoga Springs street during lifestyle newborn portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in white linen dress and dad in white shirt and khakis hold 8 week old newborn son on Saratoga Springs street during lifestyle newborn portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in white shirt and khakis looks down at older newborn son on Saratoga Springs street during lifestyle newborn portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in white shirt and khakis holds older newborn son and walks with wife holding her hand on Saratoga Springs street during lifestyle newborn portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in white shirt and khakis and wife in white dress hold  older newborn son on downtown street during lifestyle newborn portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
older newborn baby boy smiles in white outfit during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
older newborn baby boy smiles in white outfit during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in white dress holds older newborn baby boy in front of her during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in white dress holds older newborn baby boy in front of her while husband hugs her from behind during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays in white wrap on small wooden bed during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays in white wrap in basket with wooden blocks on the edge during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays in white wrap looking at camera during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays on fluffy grey and white blanket n studio floor during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays on fluffy grey and white blanket on studio floor during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds newborn son in front of his chest looking down at him during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in white dress holds baby boy in front of her during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in white dress holds baby boy while husband hugs them both during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Older Newborn Portraits with an 8 week old in downtown Saratoga Springs and studio with NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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. 

baby sleeps in ivory knit wrap and hat in wooden bed during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sleeps in in white wrap on blue blankets in wooden basket during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents in light blue shirt and blue dress pose with newborn son in white wrap sleeping between them during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sleeps in in white wrap on blue blankets in wooden basket during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in blue shirt holds newborn son in white wrap in front of his chest during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mother in blue tennis dress holds newborn son in white wrap during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mother in blue tennis dress and dad in blue button down hold newborn son in white wrap during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mother in blue tennis dress holds sleeping newborn baby boy during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
new parents in light blue outfits hold newborn baby boy on mom’s chest during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in light blue button down shirt olds sleeping baby boy curled up in his arms during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
NICU warrior baby boy lays on basket filled with blue and white blankets sleeping during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
NICU warrior baby boy sleeps in white wrap laying on pillow during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
NICU warrior baby boy sleeps in white wrap laying on pillow during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
NICU warrior baby boy sleeps in white wrap laying on pillow during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
close up of baby’s feet sticking out of white wrap during studio newborn portraits by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Newborn portraits for 5 week old NICU warrior baby boy photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography in her studio

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!

mom in white dress holds baby boy in white wrap during newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in white dress holds baby boy in white wrap between her and husband in blue sweater during newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in blue sweater holds son in arms in front of his stomach during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in white dress holds baby boy in white wrap kissing his cheek during newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in blue sweater holds son in arms in front of his stomach while mom leans to hug them both during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
man in blue sweater and khakis holds son in his arms during newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps in tan wrap and teddy bear knit hat during newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps in tan wrap laying in wooden basket during newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps in blue onesie hugging grey lovey to him during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps in white outfit with wooden buttons on chunky knit blanket during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps in ivory wrap with sleeping cap during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps in white wrap on green blanket in circular basket during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps in white wrap on green blanket in circular basket during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps in curled up on white blanket during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps in curled up on white blanket during studio newborn session photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
close up of newborn baby’s toes laying on blue blanket photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sleeps holding grey bear laying on blue blanket photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Classic blue and green newborn setup for portraits for baby boy photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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.

baby girl sleeps in white wrap on peach blanket during classic newborn session in Saratoga Springs with NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Mom in long white dress holds baby girl in arms during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl sleeps in white wrap on peach blanket during classic newborn session in Saratoga Springs with NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Mom in long white dress holds baby girl in arms during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl sleeps in white wrap with pearl headband during classic newborn session in Saratoga Springs with NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Mom in long white dress holds baby girl in arms during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Dad in white t-shirt holds out baby girl in front of his chest during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Mother in white gown and father in white t-shirt snuggle holding baby girl during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Mother in white gown with lace detailing holds baby girl to her chest during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Mother in white gown and father in white t-shirt snuggle holding baby girl during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Baby girl in white wrap with blush headband lays in wooden bed with fresh tulips by her head during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Baby girl in white wrap with blush headband lays in wooden bed with fresh tulips by her head during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Parents hold baby girl with their hands on her during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Baby girl in white wrap with pearl headband lays curled up in pink blanket during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Baby girl in white wrap with pearl headband lays curled up in pink blanket during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Baby girl in white wrap with pearl headband lays curled up in pink blanket during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Dad in white shirt holds baby girl in front his chest in hi arms during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Dad in white shirt holds baby girl in front his chest in hi arms during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
Dad in white shirt holds baby girl in front his chest in his arms while mom hugs them both during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Classic studio newborn session for baby girl featuring spring color palette and fresh tulips with Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A peek inside an awake newborn session

At 3.5 weeks old, Patsy was wide-eyed for much of our session in my Saratoga Springs photography studio and we captured so much beautiful eye contact with this sweet girl. Working with awake newborns is much different than working with asleep newborns, but I always remind families that we can capture beautiful portraits of their babies whether they are awake or asleep. No matter what your little one (or their big sibling) might do, we’re going to document their arrival in the world, I promise! 

The trick with the awake babies is to keep them calm and relaxed, and usually a combination of swaddles, heat, white noise (or the amazing Baby Shusher app that all families who visit my studio wind up downloading!), and plenty of patience will get them to stay calm. When the babies are in my studio, I talk to them as if they can understand me, and parents often hear me whispering, “You can be awake, little one, as long as you stay calm.” Sometimes when the awake babies get really wiggly I’ll wrap them up in a swaddle with a layer underneath to keep them from pulling a Houdini and escaping with their arms flailing all over the place, and oftentimes then the parents will hear me telling their baby, “You’ve lost your arm privileges for a little bit!” 

Actually, now that I think of it, this may be why my clients often exclaim some version of “You’re like a baby whisperer! Can you come home with us?!” during their newborn sessions in the studio. It may sound silly, but it always works for me. Patsy was one of those sweet babies who was wide-awake but calm for us! She allowed me to work my magic and we captured so many sweet moments of her. We even got to use my favorite Moses basket and managed a darling portrait of her with her big brother.   

With more than a decade of experience photographing newborns, there are so many tricks up my sleeve. The babies all do give in to sleep eventually, but for some babies it just takes a little more time depending on their age and their digestion – upset stomachs mean upset babies, which always take a little longer to settle. Luckily we never rush our newborn sessions, and we take all the time we need to capture a wide variety of portraits (awake & asleep!) of all of the cute little babies.

Patsy, you are darling and I can’t wait to see you grow up! I am so happy I had the chance to document your beautiful eyes - and little personality!


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Three things I’m loving in the studio this spring!

Every year, my Saratoga Springs photography studio undergoes a huge cleaning and prep for the next season of babies! In addition to this major clean out, I find myself going through all of my wraps, headbands, and outfits for my client closet. It’s a chance to refresh what’s available to each of my families. Not only does it ensure beautiful options for each of them, but it allows me to really evaluate why everything is in my studio. This spring, I can already tell I’m reaching for and using certain props and options for my newborn sessions. Here’s three things I’m loving in the studio this spring: 

Dainty pearl headbands and tiebacks! 

I just added a few new headbands and tiebacks to our ever-growing collection of baby headbands, and every single family has chosen to use at least 1 or 2 of the pearl options in their sessions! I think they’re simply perfect. Timeless and a sweet little accent for your darling baby! 

All of the spring flowers! 

I look forward to tulip season every year, and they are always one of my favorite flowers to incorporate into newborn portraits. Plus, I loved putting some fluffy flowers on our rattan stroller for a new look, too! I will never say no to more flowers in newborn setups! They’re just perfect to showcase the season - without taking away from your baby! 

Soft colors!

If you know me, you know that I can’t get enough of whites, creams, beige, and blush pink when it comes to outfits or setups for babies, milestones, and cake smashes. There was a time when my entire wardrobe consisted of these three colors, and I jokingly said to my best friend that my closet looked like Neapolitan ice cream. Since then I’ve done my color analysis with Amy Latta at House of Color Saratoga Springs (she’s participating in our upcoming client appreciation event in April!) and my closet is less Neapolitan and more colorful with my best Summer colors. But for studio portraits, especially baby girl newborns? Give me alllllll the Neapolitan ice cream colors, please! 

If you can’t tell, I definitely love spring time here at the studio. It’s a beautiful time for portraits - and I can’t get enough of the soft colors and overflowing florals. What’s your favorite prop or outfit for the spring?


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Newborn portrait sessions with handmade pearl headbands

Welcome to the world Baby Vivienne! I’m so happy that I had a chance to bring this beautiful family back to my Saratoga Springs studio. 5 years ago, I captured  big sister Madeleine’s newborn portraits. Now she’s a big sister! It was very special to see how much she’s grown and to watch her bubbly personality shine through as she showed off her new baby sister.

This newborn session feels very springlike to me! We captured a few portraits inspired by Madeleine’s portraits a few years back - including the overhead circle bowl shot. It was special to recreate beautiful memories for this family. I’ve also added a bunch of new headbands including some with pearl details to the studio, which Vivienne’s mother chose for her daughter’s session. I love them so much and I’m so thrilled to see them being used. 

Many of my newborn clients fall in love with the soft colors and my natural style of newborn posing. I always choose to use minimal props to keep the focus on the baby. Pure and sweet, minimal is my focus - so I can capture the connection between family members. These sibling portraits of the girls are some of my all-time favorites, and the colors in the family’s outfits were perfect for the studio. Everything about Vivienne’s session just fit perfectly with my style and I’m so thrilled to be sharing it with you today! 


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Cozy studio newborn portrait session for Winter Lily | Saratoga Springs newborn photographer

I recently had the honor of welcoming Winter Lily to my Saratoga Springs studio to capture her newborn portraits! Winter Lily was accompanied by her big brother, Phoenix, and her parents. Her big brother was SO proud and it was the absolute sweetest thing to watch throughout our session. Our portraits for Winter Lily really focused on the interactions between these two babies and the family together. Winter Lily’s solo portraits featured beautiful pastel colors - and I even got to play with some fun winter overlays and snowflakes! 

While I was photographing Amanda’s family, I knew I was going to fall in love with the final portraits. And, I definitely did! This family’s outfits were perfect in the studio.

When you’re planning what to wear for your own studio newborn portraits, consider light neutrals. Light color shirts reflect light back onto the baby’s face when you hold them up against your chest, it keeps the focus on the family & expressions & love. I’m a huge fan of creating imagery that will be classic, timeless, and simple. Light neutrals help make that possible! 

I’m so happy for this family of four and I’m thrilled that they asked me to document this incredibly special time in their family’s lives! Welcome to the world, Winter Lily! 


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Beautiful newborn portrait session in Saratoga Springs

I’m so happy to be sharing Baby Sahana’s newborn session with you today on the blog! This winter, I captured maternity portraits for Shreya and I was anxiously waiting until their baby girl was born so we could plan her studio newborn session. Shreya and her family are part of our Collective Membership, where you can receive 4 sessions over the course of an 18th month period, so we’ve been able to document some special moments for them already. As a reminder, we’re currently  booking membership clients for 2024! This is perfect for your family if you’re planning to do 2 or more sessions over an 18 month period (not just for baby’s first year clients, either!).

For Baby Sahana’s portraits, Shreya wanted a soft and light color palette. She was excited to incorporate my Moses basket, as it was similar to the one Ariya was in when they did her newborn portraits in South Carolina. I was more than happy to include it - creating imagery that connects your sessions is important to me. 

The other great part about these portraits was that Sahana’s grandmother was present. It was really special to be able to capture all three generations in portraits of the women in the family. You can tell she’s enamored with her granddaughters - and I think the feeling is definitely mutual. I hope that she’ll be able to hold onto and treasure these portraits for years to come. Including other family members, like grandparents, is a wonderful way to create truly meaningful portraits to display in your home! 

I am SO happy I got to meet Baby Sahana now that she’s made her entrance in the world. Her session was really special to me, and I hope that her family loves it as much as I do!


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Lavender and Blush Pink Newborn Portrait Session in Saratoga Springs

Welcome to the world, Edelyn! This sweet baby girl visited my Saratoga Springs studio for her first portraits (ever!) and I had the best time catching up with her moms and big brother, Everett. Back in 2021, I had the honor of photographing Everrett’s newborn portraits so it was even more exciting to capture his baby sister’s!

For Edelyn’s studio newborn portraits, her moms really wanted to use a hint of lavender and blush pink to bring some color into her setups. I think that the palette of soft, neutral tones with these pops of color came together beautifully for this sweet baby girl. During the session, we captured beautiful portraits of just Edelyn, as well as many of her moms and big brother, too. Have I said how special it was to watch this family welcome their newest member?! 

We even created a few portraits for Edelyn inspired by her big brother’s portraits, and their moms are going to hang them side by side in their home! I absolutely LOVE that idea and am always open to matching color palettes and poses whenever possible between your sessions with me. Similar posing is a really fun way to connect your special moments. Congratulations again to this sweet family - I’m so happy I got to see you again in my studio!


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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. 

toddler pushes baby sister in stroller during newborn session in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography

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. 

baby lays in crib under rainbow mural in nursery during lifestyle newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
newborn baby boy sleeps on changing table in front of mountain on nursery wall during lifestyle newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
big siblings hug newborn sister in front of white crib in nursery with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
siblings hold baby sister on couch during lifestyle newborn session in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography
toddler boy hugs newborn sibling in corner of wooden crib in nursery with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents snuggle with son in custom animal inspired nursery during lifestyle newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of five snuggles with baby girl on bed during lifestyle newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents hug each other looking at newborn son in living room of home in New York during lifestyle newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
siblings hug baby sister in white crib on pink sheets during lifestyle newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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. 

siblings snuggle with newborn sister on couch during newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography
siblings lay on fluffy rug with newborn sister between them during newborn portraits in studio with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom hugs newborn daughter to her while toddler son playfully plays with her headband as dad holds him in studio with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents snuggle with toddler and newborn sitting together in studio with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mother in white lace dress hugs newborn baby to chest during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
newborn baby boy lays on white pillow in all white onesie during newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mother in ivory dress holds newborn in blanket to chest during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in white blanket lays snuggled up on bed with chunky pink blanket under her during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps wrapped in tight white blanket on knit blanket during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays wrapped in blue blanket on white chunky blanket on white bed during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sleeps on wooden bed hugging bunny lovely in white blanket during newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dads hug newborn son in studio during newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl snuggles in white knit blanket with pearl headband during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby lays wrapped in white blanket during during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby lays in tan wrap with bear ears in Moses basket during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby lays curled up on grey knit blanket during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby lays on white blanket in white onesie during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sleeps in ivory wrap on knit blankets during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sleeps on wooden bed with ivory wrap and pastel pink blanket during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sleeps on blanket with foxes and horses during studio newborn session with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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. 


Best of 2023 newborn sessions with lifestyle and studio newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Neutral newborn portraits with soft gray accents for Baby Roland

I recently had the joy of capturing Baby Roland and his wonderful parents in my Saratoga Springs studio to celebrate his arrival! Roland was so adorable our entire session! He gave us lots of cute expressions when awake, and also so many sleepy snuggles. His parents decided on a neutral color palette - focusing on soft grey accents. Dad wore a light blue shirt and Mom’s cream dress was perfect to complement the pastel choices. They both looked amazing! The portraits of all three of them are honestly some of my favorites from the session. Holley and Michael are incredible and I know that Roland will love looking back on these moments in years to come. 

Holley and Michael came to me after Roland was born to book their portraits. While many families book their newborn session while they are in their second or third trimester, every now and then a family contacts me after their baby has already been born. They often find that they got caught up in all the preparations for baby’s arrival (car seats! onesies! diapers! swing! bassinet! alllllll the things!!), and then once the baby arrives the days pass by in a blur for the first couple of weeks. Often they look up from the chaos and realize how quickly their baby has grown and changed already in just a few short weeks, and that’s when they go, “Oh my goodness, we never booked a newborn session!” And so begins the hunt for a newborn photographer for their little one.

If that is you, don’t worry! We’re sometimes able to fit in last minute newborn bookings because of openings in our schedule, and we’re always able to capture stunning portraits of your brand new baby no matter how many weeks old they are. As you can see from Roland’s portraits, anything is possible - and in the end, you’ll have stunning portraits to remember how tiny your little baby once was! 

brunette mother in cream dress holds baby boy to cheek in cream wrap during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in blue button down shirt hugs brunette mother in cream dress holding baby boy in cream wrap during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in blue button down holds baby boy in cream wrap during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mother in cream dress with ruffled sleeves holds new baby boy in cream wrap against her chest during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in blue button down holds baby boy in cream wrap while mom hugs them both and holds dad’s hand on son during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in blue button down holds baby boy and looks at him in cream wrap during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in blue button down holds baby boy in cream wrap while mom hugs them both during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in blue button down holds baby boy and looks at him in cream wrap during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy in cream yawns laying in white and cream blankets during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy in cream looks at camera laying in white and cream blankets during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy in cream looks at camera laying in white and cream blankets during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays in white wrap next to grey bunny with his name on the ear on blue blanket during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays in white wrap smiling on grey blanket during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays curled up on grey knit blanket during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy’s toys peek out of grey knit outfit during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays in grey knit outfit on blue blanket during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Neutral newborn portraits for baby boy with soft gray accents photographed in Saratoga Springs studio with newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Older Awake Newborn Photos With Lots of Smiles

I recently welcomed baby Kiran to my Saratoga Springs studio for his newborn portraits. This little guy was a month old when he and his parents came by, and we were able to enjoy lots of eye contact and adorable expressions during his session because he was a little bit bigger and more awake! I absolutely loved working with Kiran and his family to create their heirloom portraits celebrating his arrival to the world! 

For Kiran’s session, we incorporated lots of neutrals with white. I’m obsessed with their family portraits with everyone in white. They’re stunning! We included a few pops of soft sky blue and sage green, which coordinates nicely with his nursery and their decor at home. I always encourage families to think about where they want to display images when deciding on a theme or color palette. I know Kiran’s portraits are going to look perfect displayed at home! 

My favorite part of working with Kiran and his parents might be that we were able to create a special gallery wall in their home to feature their favorite portraits. I love knowing that they’re going to enjoy these images on their wall every single day as their little boy grows. That’s why I do what I do: I want you to remember these moments and be able to relieve them as time slips away. 

Kiran, thank you for being such a sweet boy for me in the studio! Your session brought me so many new favorite portraits and I hope you’ll always see how loved you truly are in these moments. 

new parents hold son in white onesie during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in white button up shirt holds son in white onesie in front of his chest during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in white button up shirt holds son in white onesie in front of his chest while mom looks over shoulder at son during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in white dress holds older newborn while dad hugs them both during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in white button up shirt holds son in white onesie in front of his chest during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in white dress holds son in white wrap while he smiles at her during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in white button up shirt holds son in white onesie in front of his chest during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in white dress holds son in white wrap while he smiles at her during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in white dress looks down at son laying on white blanket smiling during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy in white zipper onesie lays on tiny pillow with eyes open and fists clenched during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy in white zipper onesie lays on tiny pillow with eyes open and fists clenched during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays in white wrap on sage green blanket during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays in sage green wrap on chunky ivory blanket during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays in sage green wrap on chunky ivory blanket during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy lays on wicker basket in white wrap holding bunny during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps in white wrap with sea green blanket around him during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps in wicker stroller on chunky sky blue blanket during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sleeps in wicker stroller on chunky sky blue blanket during newborn session with older baby photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Older awake newborn portraits with lots of smiles for baby boy with white, sky blue and sage green palette photographed by Saratoga Springs newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

White & blue newborn portraits in our light and airy studio

One of the most special parts of my job as a newborn photographer is getting to welcome families’ brand new babies and seeing their first babies turn into big siblings. It’s always so magical to have those deja vu moments when looking at the new little siblings and seeing similarities to their big brother or sister’s portrait session from a few years earlier. That was definitely true with sweet Parker’s session. About 2.5 years ago, I did his big brother Ollie’s newborn portraits. I was definitely experiencing deja vu as I photographed Parker! 

For Parker’s newborn session, we chose a simple palette of white and blue to incorporate in his outfits and setups. I always aim to keep things simple and focused on the baby in our light and airy studio, so that your portraits always remain classic and timeless. Nothing crazy, always classic! Parker looked so sweet, all bundled up and was an angel - sleeping well for me throughout the session. Ollie especially loved when Parker was in my Moses basket and he could look at Parker and fawn over him. It was SO sweet to watch him be so excited for his little brother. I know these two are going to be great friends one day! 

While Parker did sleep for most of his session, we did get a few portraits near the end of him with his eyes open. As much as I love sleeping portraits, I always adore babies with their eyes wide open! They’re so precious. Congratulations to Ollie and his family for welcoming Baby Parker to the world. I can’t wait to watch him grow! 

baby boy lays in white wrap in Moses blanket during Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography

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White and blue newborn portraits in our light and airy studio with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Classic newborn & family portraits in our saratoga springs portrait studio

Welcome to the neighborhood, Kiran! Another beautiful baby was born in our neighborhood this year. We’re now up to SIX babies born within the neighborhood in the last year. I love that these little ones are going to grow up together. This newborn session was also special to me because I photographed Kiran’s big brother’s newborn portraits in 2019, too.

I loved seeing Ravi as a big brother. He was soooo excited and 100% into cuddling up with Kiran and taking pictures of the two of them together. We got the cutest sibling portraits! Amy and Raj also loved watching their boys together. I had a wonderful time catching up and hearing how the adjustment from three to four has been going for this sweet family.

For Kiran’s newborn portraits, we chose a classic setup and color palette featuring white and ivory setups and blue accents. Kiran looked so sweet nestled into all of the blankets and wraps during our portraits. He’s so precious and I adored the chance to meet him in my studio! Congratulations to this sweet family. I can’t wait to watch Kiran (and Ravi!) grow up!

baby boy in ivory wrap curled up during Saratoga Springs studio during newborn portraits with Nicole Starr Photography

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Classic newborn and family portraits in our Saratoga Springs portrait studio photographed by Nicole Starr Photography, NY newborn photographer

Welcome Home, Alexander Pearce

Baby Alex’s newborn session at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio was extra special for quite a few reasons. This sweet boy is the newest member of our neighborhood, and our little baby crew of neighborhood babies born in the last 12 months is now up to SIX BABIES! But even more special was this sweet boy’s surprise arrival. His dads wished and waited for three long years before bringing their baby home, and when they finally got that magical phone call they hopped in the car and drove for hours to go meet their son for the first time. This perfect little baby is now part of the sweetest family and he is already so showered in love.

Tim and Jeremiah are so full of love for their little boy. I was overwhelmed, in the best way possible, while they were in the studio. Every newborn session is special, but when parents wait as long as Tim and Jeremiah have to meet their newest family member, I can’t help but get a little teary and feel grateful. I feel extra grateful to have met Alexander because I’ll get to see him grow up in our neighborhood, too. 

For Alex’s session, we chose to use neutral ivories and whites as well as some blue accents in his setups. Tim and Jerremiah wore blue to bring their family portraits all together, too. Looking back through these portraits with them was so fun because I could already see how these portraits would be displayed and loved in their home for years to come. 

Welcome to the neighborhood, Alex. I can’t wait to get to know you and watch you grow! Congratulations, Tim and Jeremiah. I am so, so happy for you and your beautiful family!! 

black and white photo of baby boy in white wrap on white blanket during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in blue button up shirt with white t-shirt underneath holds son to chest during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad looks down at newborn baby boy in white wrap with hands out in fists in the air during studio newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Studio newborn portraits for newborn baby boy and dads in Saratoga Springs NY with New York newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Newborn Portraits with Blush Pink for Second Daughter

There’s nothing quite as special as watching one of my families grow. I photographed this sweet family and their first baby, Giuliana, in the studio when she was born. Now, Giuliana is a big sister to Gabriella. She and her family came back to my Saratoga Springs studio to capture newborn portraits for their second baby girl. It was so wonderful to see everyone again and celebrate their newest member! 

Throughout the session, we created a few nods back to Giuliana’s newborn portraits, include the portrait with her pink blanket and mom’s bracelet. It was really fun to create these images knowing that there was another set of them at home for Giuliana! Gabby was such a sweetheart for me throughout her whole session, too. She was happy to curl up and let her family snuggle her. 

Giuliana was AMAZING during her sister’s newborn session. She wanted to be involved in everything, and she kept coming close to me to “take pictures” with her wooden camera, check on her baby, and tuck her in with the blankets. Truly the sweetest! I am just so blessed that this is my job - and capturing those sweet moments is work for me. 

I can’t wait to see Gabby back in the studio in a few months for her milestone session! She’s going to be so big!! 

big sister in pink dress pushes baby in wooden stroller during studio newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography
big sister in pink dress sits by sister wrapped in cream blanket with pink floral headband during studio newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography
big sister in pink dress sits by sister wrapped in cream blanket with pink floral headband during studio newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography
husband hugs wife in peach gown holding newborn baby girl during studio newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs NY
husband holding toddler daughter in pink dress hugs wife in peach gown holding newborn baby girl during studio newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs NY
mom holds  toddler daughter and newborn baby girl during studio newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography
mom holds  toddler daughter and newborn baby girl during studio newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography
mother in pink gown holds newborn baby girl against cheek in Saratoga Springs NY studio
dad in white button down shirt holds new daughter in cream wrap with pink headband during studio newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs NY
dad in white button down shirt holds new daughter in cream wrap with pink headband during studio newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs NY
toddler girl in pink gown holds sister in cream wrap on sofa during studio newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs NY
toddler girl in pink gown sits on dad’s lap while mom holds baby sister in cream wrap on sofa during studio newborn portraits in Saratoga Springs NY
dad in white button up shirt olds two daughters during studio newborn session in Saratoga Springs NY
baby girl lays in white wrap with lavender flower headband during Saratoga Springs NY studio newborn portraits with Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl lays in white wrap with lavender flower headband during Saratoga Springs NY studio newborn portraits with Nicole Starr Photographybaby girl lays in white wrap with lavender flower headband during Saratoga Springs NY studio newborn portraits
baby girl yawns in white blanket wrap next to onesie that says “Handpicked for earth by my grandpa in heaven” during Saratoga Springs NY studio newborn portraits with Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in white blanket clasps hands together wearing white bow headband during Saratoga Springs newborn session in studio
baby girl lays in white wrap on namesake pink blanket during newborn portraits with Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl lays in peach wrap on chunky white blanket on wooden bed with peonies around it photographed by Saratoga Springs NSY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography
big sister sits with new baby sister in Moses basket in custom monogramed outfits photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Newborn portraits with blush pink accents for second daughter photographed by Saratoga Springs NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography