Fall Mini Sessions with Boston & Saratoga Springs Family Photographer Nicole Starr Photography

The beautiful fall colors were on full display for our mini sessions in New York & Massachusetts this fall! I absolutely loved working with so many gorgeous families and capturing these fall memories for them.

This is always one of my favorite times of year to head outside for portrait sessions, and I love how the foliage gives us one last golden wave before the winter arrives. This year was no exception, and our mini sessions were filled with vibrant colors, lots of cuddles, and the most adorable smiles.

Enjoy a peek at some of our fall family portraits from our mini session events!

This golden tree-lined path turned out to by one of my favorite new locations in the Saratoga area this fall!

We did our Boston mini session event at a brand new location this year, and I loved every second of it! After spending years at a park that had become all-too-popular with other photographers for family portraits, we found the perfect spot right in the heart of the city. It was quiet, colorful, and easy to find! We’ll definitely be heading back here next year!

How do I luck out with so many adorable families every single year?!?! Love, love, love this job!

I truly enjoy welcoming our returning clients like old friends, and meeting new families for the very first time! Can’t wait to see all of you again in the new year!

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Love these fall minis? Pin this image or any from the post above for inspiration!

What to wear & Where to shop | Cozy outfit ideas for your family portraits this fall

It’s not easy planning for family portraits. You worry about finding the right photographer, choosing the perfect date and a beautiful location. Then you stress about finding something to wear, and you cross your fingers and hope for the best when it comes to your baby’s mood and the weather.

From our very first phone call, I reassure families and I let them know that I will take care of every single one of those worries. We’ll choose a date & time together, and a rain date (just in case!). I’ll share a few of my favorite locations with you that I know are perfect at the time of day we’ve selected, and I’ll also help you find outfits for every single person in your family. You’re even able to wear outfits available at the studio for mamas and babies!

Then during your session I will use every trick up my sleeve to keep everyone in a happy, playful, and relaxed mood. In the end, the whole thing is a piece of cake and you don’t have to worry about a single thing — leave it all to me, and you just relax and enjoy a fun hour with your family!

But of course, the most frequently asked question I always get from families is “What do we all wear?” Read on for tips for cozy outfits for your family’s portrait session this fall.

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8 things to look for when planning your family’s outfits for a fall photo session

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Layers

Layers add dimension and personality to any portrait, and they also help keep you warm in the fall when the temperature starts to drop! Cardigans, rolled cuffs peeking out from under a sweater, lightweight jackets, boots layered over leggings or jeans, a lightweight infinity scarf. These are all great ideas to add depth and color to your photos.

PRO TIP: Start with a base layer on the kids for warmth — this can be a onesie or shirt underneath their outfit, something that won’t show. Then add their outfit on top! Warm kids are happy kids!

Rich Colors

Fall is such a vibrant season, and you can add vibrant pops of color to your outfits, too! Plum purple, mustard yellow, navy blue, maroon. These are all gorgeous colors that really pop against other neutrals in your outfits. Plan to use 2-3 colors (including a neutral like white, cream, gray) in everyone’s outfits, and think about what will really pop against the scenery!

PRO TIP: I recommend avoiding neon colors, black, and green.

Plaid

Plaid looks amazing in the fall, and it evokes such a cozy feeling! Plus, if you choose one plaid shirt or dress you can use all of those colors as inspiration for the rest of the family’s outfits.

PRO TIP: I suggest only having one family member with a plaid shirt because two or more can look too busy.

Patterns

Solids look great, but having everyone in solids is boring! Bring in a pattern with a dress or a blouse to add a little more interest and personality to your portraits. Just like with not putting everyone in plaid, don’t put EVERYONE in patterns either because they can clash and just look too busy, taking the focus away from everyone’s beautiful faces. Do a mix of patterns and solids.

Boots

Boots always look amazing in photographs on moms and little girls! For the kids, think beyond their colorful sneakers or casual shoes and find something a little more stylish. You can find lots of cute options at Old Navy and Target in the kids sections, and Gap also has so many adorable ones, too!

Cozy Knits

Sweater knits look amazing in fall family portraits, especially ones with a little texture. They just invite everyone to snuggle up together! Plan on layering a sweater or two on a few people in your family for the picture perfect look.

Jeans

If you’re looking for a more casual look, jeans are perfect. A darker wash is the most flattering, and I’d suggest avoiding distressed jeans if they have gaping holes in the knees so that when you sit on the ground your kneecap isn’t showing through at an unflattering angle. We’ll do a few family portraits sitting on the grass and playing in the leaves, so I want you to be comfortable!

Don’t be afraid to glam it up!

Ruffles, tulle, sequins, a frilly skirt. These all look AMAZING on moms and little girls, and I love when families want to dress up for their portraits! I was so excited when this mama wanted to wear a gold sequin skirt for her session, and it looked incredible against the golden foliage.

PRO TIP: Amazon has a skirt that has become wildly popular for mamas in portrait sessions. Search “chiffon maxi skirt” and you’ll find plenty of colors. The waist is adjustable, and the length changes based on the size. If you’re short, order a Small. If you’re tall, don’t be afraid of ordering the Large or XL for the length. There are tons of colors available, and these look best with a fitted top. Some moms pair it with a white lace long sleeve top (also available on Amazon!). Others like a white t-shirt. Others do a buttoned up chambray shirt tucked into the skirt. Others like a cardigan over a tank top.

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where to shop

For mom:
Lulus
Amazon
Rent the Runway (rentals)
J. Crew
Loft
Chicwish
Gap
Old Navy

For the kids:
Cat & Jack at Target
Old Navy
Janie & Jack
Crewcuts by J. Crew
Gap Kids/Baby Gap
Zara
H&M
Amazon
Rainey’s Closet (fancy rentals)
Lulu and Roo
Mini Boden
Hanna Andersson

For dads:
Dads have it easy. Layer on a button down shirt, sweater or vest, and jeans. They probably already have all of this in their closet, or they can choose neutrals or a plaid or patterned shirt from their favorite store to coordinate with the outfits selected for everyone else.

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Pin this image or any from the post above for inspiration for your family’s fall outfits!

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About Nicole Starr Photography 

Nicole Starr specializes in newborn, baby & family photography and has been serving families in New York and Massachusetts since 2012.  She has a portrait studio in Saratoga Springs, NY for families in the Capital Region.  Nicole also works with families year round at her Attleboro, MA portrait studio, and on location May through October in Boston and on Cape Cod.  Nicole has a clean and classic style, and the studio is filled with neutrals and luxe fabrics.  We use very minimal props to keep the focus on your perfect little baby.  Our sessions are relaxed and fun, and we’ll enjoy an hour together (or up to 3 hours for a newborn session!) laughing, cuddling, and capturing authentic smiles and belly laughs with your little ones.  

Stop Putting Off Your Family Photo Session | 10 Excuses to Stop Making Right Now

Read on for the top excuses to stop making about putting off your family portrait session, and why I think now is the best time you’ll ever find for scheduling your family portraits.

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1. I’m worried my kids will act crazy.

I’ve never met a parent who DIDN’T worry about how their children would behave during a portrait session, but I’m going to tell you the same thing I tell every single family that I work with. I fully expect your kids to act like kids, and your baby to act like a baby. Even if that means running around, asserting their independence, needing a snack break, needing a cuddle, pinching their sister — I get it! I would be shocked if every child came to me and was polite and quiet and posed with great big smiles and did exactly what I asked them to do. Can you even imagine?! That’s why we play games, let the kids run around, tickle each other, and sing songs. I want them to act like kids, and I want to capture their big personalities and this season of life that you’re in.

2. I’m not photogenic. I’m so awkward in front of the camera and I hate photos of myself.

Me too! That’s why I’m usually on the other side of the camera, BUT I do make it a point to get in front of the camera a lot more often since we had our son. (Check out this fun session I did with him to celebrate one year as his mama!)

This might be your first time being in family portraits, but I promise you that it’s definitely not my first time making moms and dads look amazing! I promise to give you guidance to look and feel your best, and to photograph you at the most flattering angles so that you look back at these photos and go, “WOW! Why did I wait so long to do this?!”

3. I need to lose 10 pounds first.

Oh gosh, I hear this one all the time. Sometimes dads reach out to plan a session with me (which I love!), but it’s usually the mamas so I’m going speak to the moms on this one.

So many moms are putting off family photos because they don’t want to step in front of the camera when they’re not feeling like the best version of themselves right now. But you know what? There is never going to be a more perfect time than RIGHT NOW. To your child, you are perfect. You are the center of their world. You are their safe place, the one that kisses them when they fall and cuddles them when they’re sad. They start and end their day with you. You are the most important thing in their entire world.

So you have a few extra pounds around your midsection — who doesn’t? Let me help you find a flattering, flowy top or dress and you can squeeze your babies tight and capture all of the cuddles and kisses on camera without worrying about how you look. Leave that part to me, and I will create portraits for you that show the true love and adoration, and all of the fun that you have with your kids.

Thirty years from now, your kids will have children of their own, and they are going to want to look back at old photographs and see their mom when she was in this stage of life, too. So step in front of the camera, love on your kids, and please stop worrying. You are perfect and you’re going to treasure these photos with your babies.

4. My husband won’t cooperate, and he hates photos.

So does mine. ;o) But you know what? He married a photographer so he knows how important photos are to me and he agrees to go with the flow for a quick one-hour session once a year. Explain to him how important it is for you to step out from behind the camera and see yourself in your family portraits, too. With him, with the kids, having fun and doing what you love together.

I keep our sessions very relaxed and playful. At the beginning of every session I tell the families exactly what to expect and what the plan is so that they don’t feel like we’re wandering aimlessly with no end in sight. This is always especially helpful for dads when they know that we have three spots we’ll go to and then we’re done, helping them “count down” in their heads if they want to.

But it always makes me smile when so many dads finish the sessions and they go, “Wow, that’s it? That was actually fun! Honey, did you want any others? This was a lot easier than I thought it would be!” Seriously, that happens ALL THE TIME.

5. Planning what to wear is too stressful.

Leave that to me, then! My goal is to make your session stress-free and fun, and I have outfit guides, Pinterest boards filled with examples, and tools to help you find the perfect outfits. I’ve even had moms ask me to figure out what everyone should wear, and I’m happy to do that, too!

If you don’t want to find anything new, that’s why we have a studio closet filled with gorgeous gowns for mom and cute little outfits for baby. Please don’t let outfits stand in the way of you not getting in the picture with your children. I know it sounds cheesy, but whatever you wear will take a backseat to the smiles and the love in your photos.

6. I can just take pictures on my iPhone. Come on, have you seen the portrait mode feature?

If you’re like me, you have thousands of photos of your kids sitting on your iPhone. But maybe they’re blurry or dark, and there are 23 similar shots that you have to sort through to find one good one of the baby with his beach bucket. And if you’re like me, you never quite get around to organizing them, printing them, or creating an album because life just gets in the way and it is a very big and daunting task.

That’s why you want to hire a professional photographer to capture your family portraits. You’re hiring someone who knows all the best locations and who knows how to find the best light to make your family portraits dreamy and magical. Someone who will put everyone at ease and help them feel relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera. And you’ll finally be in your family’s portraits without your selfie arm on the side of each picture! ;o)

I will do all the work for you, and you just have to show up, have fun, and kiss your babies! I’ll take the photos, choose the very best ones to edit, design and print the most gorgeous linen album, create all of your wall art and gifts for the grandparents, and more! You just have to show up. It’s that easy.

7. It’s too early for holiday cards.

It’s never too early to cross that task off of your (very long) to do list! November and December are busy enough, so why would you wait until then to take photos, choose your favorites, create your cards, address the envelopes, and mail them? That’s stressful!

Personally, I love when families use their spring & summer portraits on their holiday cards, and not just their fall foliage portraits. Unless you have a very young baby that changes from month to month, you can send out family portraits from earlier in the year and no one will know the difference! Actually, they’ll probably see them and ask about your fun beach vacation or compliment your springy dress because they’ll want to use it next spring in their portrait session!

When you plan a portrait session with a professional photographer, your photographer is also a graphic designer and she will create and print gorgeous cards for your family. Ours even come with the envelopes preprinted with your return address! No more struggling with clunky design software at the photo kiosk or on a website, and no more return labels to keep track of for your envelopes!

8. I’m waiting until our family is complete before we do a family session.

I hear this excuse sometimes, and it makes me a little bit sad because that means your older children won’t have any beautiful portraits that show what life was like they they were the center of your world. There won’t be any photographs of you and your partner as new parents, or of just the three (or four!) of you when your children were very young. By the time you get around to portraits with your whole family, you’ll honestly feel a bit more stressed and tired trying to coordinate 2+ kids, their outfits, their nap schedules, their snacks…. so take the time now and do a fun & calm session with your single child. Celebrate this special season that you’re in, and put those memories up on the walls of your home. Then when your final baby is here, let’s plan a session with your entire family and update that family portrait over the couch!

9. It’s probably too expensive, and I’m worried that I won’t love the portraits.

I have been working with families since 2012, and I’m proud to offer them the very best experience and gorgeous heirloom products that they will enjoy for years.

Family portraits are an investment, but all of the families I work with say that they are worth every single penny. I promise to listen to what it is you want from your session, learn about your children and your family, make you feel comfortable in front of the camera, create a fun & memorable hour together, and help you discover the very best ways to display and enjoy your artwork at home. I promise to give you only the most high quality products that you’ll be able to look at and share with your children for years & years to come. I promise that you’ll be looking forward to your next session as soon as these portraits are hanging up on your wall, and I promise to do everything possible so that you love the experience.

10. Life is too busy, and I just don’t have time right now.

There is never going to be a perfect time to do your family’s portraits, but I can assure you that life will only get busier as the years go by and that now is as good a time as any.

Let’s capture your baby as they’re learning to walk. Let’s capture those little ringlets in your toddler’s hair. Let’s capture your son’s wiggly first tooth and your daughter’s proud smile when she lands the perfect cartwheel. Let’s capture the way your kids fit perfectly in your arms when they’re all curled up on your lap.

Now is the perfect time. What are you waiting for?

What's the difference between a mini session and a regular session? | 2019 Fall Mini Sessions with Saratoga Springs & Boston Family Photographer

Summer & fall are our most popular seasons for family portraits, and every fall my inbox is flooded with families looking for family portraits for their holiday cards and gifts. Trust me, I get it! It’s such a beautiful time of year in the Northeast, and everyone adores the fall foliage and the vibrant colors that we’re lucky enough to enjoy for just a couple of weeks a year. It’s the perfect season for your family portrait session!

One of the most frequently asked questions that I get from families is, “What is the difference between a mini session and a regular session?” So today, I want to clear that up for you and also give you the details about our availability this fall!

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Let’s start with what is included with each session.

Full Length Family Portrait Session
-client prep guide and wardrobe guide filled with inspiration for your session
-pre-session consultation and design appointment at the studio or on a video call
-complimentary use of studio wardrobe for mamas and babies
-location of your choice within 20 miles of 12866
-up to 1 hour of shooting time
-includes immediate family up to 5 people ($25 per additional person)
-gallery reveal appointment after the session to select your favorite images for holiday cards, wall art, gifts, albums, and digitals

Investment: $225 session fee plus your choice of products after the session.
Many different collections are available to fit all budgets.

Mini Family Session
-welcome email and wardrobe guide filled with inspiration for your session
-one specific location chosen by the photographer
-15-20 minutes of shooting time
-includes immediate family up to 5 people
-images delivered via online gallery within two weeks of the session
-5 digital images available for download, with the option to add on additional images, cards, artwork, gifts, and albums

Investment: $275 - $375 depending on location and session type

Mini sessions are perfect for families that are looking for just a couple of beautiful portraits for their holiday cards and gifts, and maybe one or two for the wall. These sessions are short & sweet, and do not require much of a time commitment.

Our regular (full length) portrait sessions are my personal favorite because I love the opportunity to really get to know the families before & during our session, and then visiting with them after the session for their gallery reveal appointment to plan how they want to enjoy their portraits at home and as gifts. These sessions are longer and allow for more variety in the location and in posing, and we also have plenty of time for the kids to warm up to me and the location when they arrive because we are not pressed for time. If the kids need a break for a snack or a quick cuddle, no problem!

The full length sessions also include more help with wardrobe, including access to the studio closet and my help with finding the perfect outfits for your whole family! So many moms (and sometimes dads!) worry about how to coordinate outfits for the whole family. This is probably your first or second time doing this, but me? I’ve done this literally hundreds of times with all of the families I photograph each year. I’m happy to help make this easier for you so that your session is stress-free and that you adore your family portraits!

Full length sessions are perfect if you’re including Grandma & Grandpa and all of the grandkids because we will capture plenty of variety with all of the different groupings of people.

You also want to consider your plans for your images after the session. Do you want one framed family portrait on the wall? Or a couple for your holiday cards and gifts? Maybe a mini session is right for you!

Are you looking for a gallery wall in the living room, a few more in the office, and a couple in the hallway? Do you dream of turning the pages of one of our gorgeous linen albums filled with beautiful portraits of your family having fun? Definitely go with the full length session.

Here’s a peek at a sampling of images from a mini session and from a full-length session. This is not the entire gallery, it’s just to give you an idea of the variety in images included with each type of session.

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Let’s talk about timing.

I’ve been photographing families since 2012, and every year I hear families tell me how they really want to take their portraits in the fall when the foliage is so pretty. REMEMBER, IT’S THE MOST POPULAR TIME OF YEAR FOR PORTRAITS. DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE!!

I stop photographing outdoors before Halloween, so plan ahead! By November, most of the leaves have fallen down and been raked up, and the temperature is usually too cool for little ones to be comfortable outside in just a light sweater. This is why we plan our sessions early in the season.

You want to book your session for September or early October if…

September is when we enjoy the beautiful days of early fall. It’s still warm outside, the sunlight is perfectly golden, and the trees aren’t quite so vibrant yet. If you’re planning on decorating your home with your family portraits, think of the color scheme inside your home. If you have a more neutral style or lots of cool colors (gray, blue), then maybe vibrant orange and red won’t coordinate so well like you would get from a late October session. However, a September session lends itself to more neutral tones and would look perfect on your walls! September (and early October) is also perfect for families who have little ones under age 2 who might be too cold outside in late October when the weather has cooled off. If it’s a family with just the parents and a baby, I’d recommend planning for a session earlier in the fall so keep everyone happy!

And mid to late October might be a better fit for you if…

If color makes your heart do a little happy dance, then you definitely want to plan your family portraits for October! The trees are bursting with reds, oranges, and yellows, and the whole landscape looks like the sunset. These sessions are always some of my favorites every year, and I love when the leaves have fallen down and the kids can have fun throwing leaves in the air and jumping in piles of leaves to hear the ::crunch::. Mid to late October sessions are especially great for older kids, or very easy-going little ones who might not mind the slight chill in the air.

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We’re opening our 2019 fall calendar on Friday, August 23!!!

This is when we’ll begin filling the mini session dates as well as our full length session dates. Our newsletter subscribers will have first dibs on their date & time of choice, and our calendar is already halfway full with previous clients already!

If you’re not on our mailing list, be sure to join so that you can receive early access to our fall session dates! There’s one for our Massachusetts families, and one for our Saratoga Springs/Albany families!

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Did you find this blog post helpful? Then you are going to love this next one that is filled with tips on what to wear for your family portrait session this fall!

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Want to save this helpful blog post? Pin this image or any from the post above!

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About Nicole Starr Photography 

Nicole Starr specializes in newborn, baby & family photography and has been serving families in New York and Massachusetts since 2012.  She has a portrait studio in Saratoga Springs, NY for families in the Capital Region.  Nicole also works with families year round at her Attleboro, MA portrait studio, and on location May through October in Boston and on Cape Cod.  Nicole has a clean and classic style, and the studio is filled with neutrals and luxe fabrics.  We use very minimal props to keep the focus on your perfect little baby.  Our sessions are relaxed and fun, and we’ll enjoy an hour together (or up to 3 hours for a newborn session!) laughing, cuddling, and capturing authentic smiles and belly laughs with your little ones.