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! 

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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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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! 

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Newborn portraits for Julian’s Baby Sister

Welcome to the world, Baby Lucy! I photographed Lindsay’s maternity portraits earlier this year and now her little girl has arrived! She and the family came to my Saratoga Springs studio for newborn portraits and I was so happy to get to meet Lucy! She’s absolutely precious. 

During Lucy’s newborn session, I had some flashbacks to capturing her big brother’s newborn portraits 2 years ago. It was fun to have them all back in the studio for new portraits. During his mom’s maternity session, Julian was a bit hesitant about being on camera. We managed to get some smiles. But, the studio is stocked with lots of toys and snacks (turns out he loves Goldfish!), so we had a good time for his sister’s newborn session. He was amazing - and even came to check on his baby sister while she was swaddled up for her portraits. It was adorable! 

I absolutely love the color palette that Lindsay chose for Lucy’s portraits. We focused on beautiful neutrals and introduced some soft pinks to round out the color palette. Her mom wore a beautiful pink gown from the studio and I loved how the texture photographed. Lucy wore some sweet floral headbands, too. She looked so perfect throughout the whole session!! 

Thank you to this sweet family for allowing me to capture another newborn session. I’m so happy to meet Lucy and thrilled we got to work together to document your growing family again! 

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Baby Starr | Adelaide's Newborn Portraits

Adelaide Olivia

June 17, 2022

We welcomed our daughter in the middle of June, and somehow an entire month has already gone by! I don't remember time going this quickly when our son was born, but the weeks have all blended into one another and time is disappearing faster than we can keep track of it. I swear I barely blink and another week has passed in a blur of feedings, naps, and doctors appointments!

Sweet little Adelaide Olivia was born on June 17, 2022. She is our rainbow baby, and we waited a very long time for this beautiful baby to join our family. She's finally her, and we are over the moon.

Adelaide is perfect in every way, and we are so in love already. Grayson is the proudest big brother, and he lights up every time he's in the room with her and wants to be involved in everything that has to do with his sister. His grandma keeps saying that "he was born to be a big brother," and it's true that he is really doing an amazing job in his new role already. We love watching him in this transition, and it's so sweet to see how he interacts with his baby sister.

She spent the first couple of weeks sound asleep, and we couldn't wake her up for anything! She was literally the sleepiest baby I had ever encountered in my 10 years of posing newborns. But that meant that I got to enjoy multiple mini portrait sessions in the studio to capture a few setups each day. This was such a stark contrast to Grayson's newborn portraits, where he wouldn't settle into a deep sleep because he knew mama was close by, and every click of the shutter startled him wide awake. Baby girl knew what to do, and she snoozed and posed and smiled! I had so much fun capturing these first portraits of her, and now I'm excited to choose which ones to print and frame in our home, and many more to put into an album for our growing album collection!

For Adelaide's session I enjoyed lots of neutrals, and you all know I'm a fan of classic baby portraits on white backdrops and layers. I pulled out all of my favorite headbands and floral crowns from Polka Dot Poppy, and I added a few new ones with baby's breath as a nod to the baby's breath I wore in my hair at our wedding, and that my mother wore in her hair at her wedding in the 80s!

And of course, I couldn't resist using the same tiny camera prop that I used 4 years ago in Grayson's newborn portraits. Every photographer has got to capture her baby's portrait holding a newborn sized camera, right?!

I have so much more inspiration for Adelaide's portraits this year, and I'm excited to share more with you as she grows!

Thanks for celebrating our sweet girl's arrival with us!

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Newborn Portraits with Teenage Siblings

Meet Baby Finnley and his big siblings Austin and Addie! I was so happy when Finn, Addie, and Austin’s parents reached out about scheduling a newborn session to capture their new arrival to the family. As they began to tell me about their family, I knew this was going to be a very special newborn session for all of us. Finn is lucky to be welcomed to the world by his incredible parents and his big twin siblings, who are just so in love with him. He’s one loved little boy, that’s for sure!

Posing Teenage Siblings with Newborn Babies

Photographing a newborn session with teenage siblings is unique, too. It was a lot of fun to work with Addie and Austin as we welcomed their brother to the world. These two are so sweet and it’s clear they love each other and their family very much!

While working with teenagers during a newborn session is much like working with an adult or a parent, there’s definitely a few differences. One thing I love is that we can do more of the poses I typically reserve for parents with a few adjustments. Not all big siblings are as comfortable holding or moving a baby as their parents are, so it’s easy to change things up so they’re comfortable. I always have my sessions follow the flow needed for the family - and tend to start with full family portraits so that the teens have a bit more time to warm up and be ready to hold the baby, though Austin and Addie didn’t seem to need that!

Once the teens are more comfortable and ready to hold their new sibling, we’ll get started with some of my favorite poses. I always check in with the kids to make sure they’re still comfortable holding the baby or moving them around. Sometimes, I’ll be more hands on if needed, but usually by just adjusting the poses to be seated, the teenagers often find much more confidence holding their new siblings! Having them seated just allows everyone to feel more confident and sure about holding the baby! The baby's safety is always the top priority in any newborn session, no matter who is holding them.

With some patience and guidance, we’ll easily capture some incredible memories for you and your family - including your teenage children holding their new sibling! Thank you to this sweet family for trusting me with this special memory!!

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Newborn Portraits with Hot Air Balloons

We are in the middle of a baby boom here at the studio, and I am loving all of these cuddly little newborns coming in for their first portrait session! Sweet little Luke’s family welcomed him over the summer and we captured the most adorable newborn portraits in my Saratoga Springs portrait studio. The local hot air balloon festival has always been significant for this family, so we made sure to incorporate hot air balloons into one of his setups and these are just the most adorable photos!

Every newborn portrait session starts with family photos. I love capturing the first family portrait with the new baby, and these are such special memories to look back on as your little one grows. Are you going to remember how tiny they were, and how their head fit perfectly in the crook of your arm? Or how their five little fingers wrapped perfectly around one of yours? That’s what we do in these family portraits. Slow down time to preserve the memories that. you never want to forget.

Goshhhh, this backlit parent pose is one of my new favorite images to capture during all of our sessions lately!

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Newborn Portraits with an Elephant Theme

If you’ve worked with me, you know that I am passionate about printing your photos and enjoying them in your home. That is why every family I work with enjoys a design appointment in their home where we go through your gallery, choose your favorites to print, and look at your walls to see how you would like to showcase your portraits and what the perfect size will be!

This family knew they wanted to create a gallery wall of wooden wall art pieces in their living room, combining portraits from both the maternity & newborn sessions. Look how beautifully it all came together with their baby boy as the focal point!

Curious about our artwork options? Learn more here!

Close-up shots like this one that showcase your newborn baby’s perfect little features are always some of my favorites to capture during a studio newborn session! I just love the way you can see Julian’s fluffy hair and how it forms a tiny little mohawk on the top!

This gorgeous white dress from our studio’s Mama Wardrobe has been very popular lately! Lots of mamas have chosen to wear this in their family portraits, and I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of the beautiful details on this dress. From the trim on the neckline to the lace and ruffle on the sleeves, it’s perfect for family portraits!

Julian’s nursery theme is elephants, and his parents brought a few little items to incorporate into his session. Someone crocheted this adorable elephant lovie for him, and the swaddle with little elephants marching across was the perfect layering blanket for portraits, too!

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Classic Newborn Portraits with Shades of Blue

I love it when families come back to my studio with their second babies for their newborn sessions, and I truly love watching their families grow. From bringing their first baby home to watching that little one become a big brother or sister, it really is such an honor to be invited into their lives to document these moments for them.

This sweet family joined me at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio with Baby Colton to capture his newborn portraits. We captured a variety of family portraits to complement their photos from daughter Elliana’s newborn session two years ago, and I love the variety and the joy that their toddler brings to these family portraits. Just look at her adorable little grin and how proud she is to be a big sister in these images!

Wondering what to expect during your newborn session? I’m here to walk you through every step of the way and make it an easy & enjoyable experience for you and your family. Check out the blog post below to learn what to expect!

We used classic blues and grays for Colton’s individual portraits, and this sleepy boy was such a gem. He even wore one of our new one-piece rompers, and I love how it turned out.

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Henry's Newborn Portraits with Adorable Big Sister

I always love capturing family portraits during our studio newborn sessions. I love seeing how tiny the baby is in his parents’ arms, and the happy cuddles as everyone cozies up with the new baby. It’s always exciting when there is a big brother or sister and we can capture those adorable interactions, too!

Choosing what to wear is so important for studio newborn sessions. Neutral colors help the baby be the star of the show, and they are also classic so that they look amazing on your walls for years to come! More outfit tips here on the blog.

Henry’s newborn session at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio was absolutely perfect. We captured the cutest family photos and plenty of individual portraits of their baby boy, too. Just a few years ago we were photographing Emma’s newborn session, and now here she is with a baby brother!

Want to know what my favorite part about this session was? Big sister Emma.

She was sooooo excited to be in photos with her baby brother, and even more excited when I placed him into her arms (for the very first time ever!). The joy on her face was unforgettable, and she kept giggling and looking to mom and dad with the proudest smile. It was so sweet!

Her first time holding her brother! Just look at that huge smile!

This pose of baby in dad’s hands is always a parent favorite!!

Sleepy little yawns are always fun to capture on camera! Especially in tiny striped outfits like this one!

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Love these classic newborn portraits? Pin this image or any from the post above for inspiration!

Welcome, Kona - A Neutral and Minimalist Studio Newborn Session - Boston Newborn Photographer

Many years ago, I remember thinking that white, cream, and beige were "boring."  I lived in an apartment with all white walls, and I couldn't wait to get out of there so that I could paint all of my rooms different colors.

Flash forward, and nowadays there is nothing I love more than neutrals.  Give me all of the whites, creams, and grays, and my heart is happy.  Especially with our newborn sessions -- these babies are so fresh & pure, and these soft neutral colors are the perfect complement to truly showcase how beautiful these new little ones are on their own.  There is nothing to distract from their perfection!

Kona visited me at our Attleboro studio with her big sister Kailani.  Her mom requested all neutrals, because just like me, her heart goes all pitter-patter when she sees those whites & creams together.  Kona's skin was so creamy and beautiful, and her dark hair perfectly framed her face, making her pop against our simple backdrops.

This sleepy little girl wanted to see what was going on, and while she resisted sleep for awhile, she eventually gave in and closed those beautiful sparkling eyes of hers.  Not before we got some great wide-eyed shots first, though!

It's always unpredictable with toddlers and newborns, and Kailani took awhile to warm up to the idea of being in a portrait with her baby sister.  Later in the session, she decided now would be the perfect time and she walked on over and kissed Kona right on her forehead without prompting.  She's already becoming such a good big sister!

Love what you see?  Check out these neutral newborn sessions at our studio, too!
 

Quinn's Neutral Newborn Session at our Saratoga Springs Portrait Studio - Saratoga Springs NY Newborn Photographer

Ohhhhhh my goodness!  Quinn Madlina officially melted my heart during her newborn session.  Please bring me all of your cute, cuddly, smiley little babies!

I just loved photographing this sweet baby girl.  She was so calm and peaceful the entire session, and such a beauty, too!  I don't think I've ever seen a baby with more perfect lips than Quinn, and those dark curls just framed her face perfectly!

I always tell families that if they have a special family heirloom they'd like to incorporate into their newborn session, to bring it along with them.  Quinn's mother told me she still had the newborn blanket that was made for her when she was a baby, and I was thrilled when she pulled this beautiful handmade pink & white blanket from her diaper bag.  Quinn was a fan, too!

I've been having so much fun incorporating our new chunky knit layers into our newborn sessions at the studio lately, and I just love how these soft textures complemented Quinn's beautiful complexion.  Doesn't she look amazing against cream fabrics?!?!  Such a beauty!

Grandma joined us at the studio for their newborn session, and I always love it when grandparents jump in for a three generation portrait and a few individuals with their new grandbaby.  She was absolutely beaming while holding her new granddaughter, and I can already tell that she is going to have so many wonderful adventures with this sweet baby girl.  

Did you know that the best time to book your newborn session is in the second trimester?  But don't worry, sometimes we're able to fit in an appointment at the last minute, too!  Be sure to reach out right away to save a date on the calendar for your little one -- sessions are best done within the first two weeks of their arrival!

Bringing Home Evelyn - A Lifestyle Newborn Session with Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer - Saratoga Springs NY Newborn Photographer

I love going into a family's home for their lifestyle newborn session, and visiting sweet Evelyn's family was no exception.  It's always magical to be invited into a family's space to watch those beautiful moments unfold as they get to know their brand new baby.

We spent an hour together with the most alert baby girl who wanted to observe everything that was going on around her.  Most newborns tire out after a short while, especially with so much activity going on around them, but Evelyn was determined to show off her sparkling eyes in all of her newborn portraits.  I'm so glad she did -- look at how beautiful she is!!

One of the things that ALL families worry about before a lifestyle newborn session is -- what if my house is a mess????

Many times before their session, I reassure the new moms and dads that I 100% expect to see laundry, clutter, dozens of baby items, food, and other evidence of their life around the house.  Honestly, that's what life at home with a new baby looks like! 

But I understand that you might not want to always remember the laundry, so I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make every single home look magazine-worthy.

While our lifestyle sessions looks so perfectly clean and organized, you have to remember that just what's in the frame is magazine-worthy.  There are always mountains of laundry, bulky bassinets and diaper genies, and a couple of pairs of shoes in the corner behind me.  And what's in the frame is pure perfection.

You don't need a lot of space or great big windows to capture beautiful lifestyle images at home with your newborn.  All you need is a tidy little corner of your home, a little bit of good light, and an outlet nearby for me to plug in my studio light -- that's all it takes!  As long as you don't mind when we rearrange a couple of things to pull them out of the camera's frame to keep the focus on YOU & YOUR BABY, we're going to have gorgeous images of your little family together.

Want to see my FAVORITE blog post about seeing a home through a photographer's eyes?  Check it out here, and see how a crowded lime green bedroom became a gorgeous neutral space for this family's session.

Willem Todd's Studio Newborn Session for a Tiny Aviator Pilot - Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

When your daddy works in aviation, you can bet you're going to have a little bit of an aviation theme in your newborn portraits.  And in your nursery.  And probably in your first birthday, too!

Willem Todd joined me at the studio for a newborns session, and I loved the thoughtful little pilot items that his parents brought in to reflect his father's career and also their love of travel.  How cute is this sweet little pilot?

Of course, we always capture some classic and simple shots in our newborn sessions without any props where the baby can be the focus.  Grays and whites have been my favorites lately, and they were such flattering colors against Willem!  Plus, how sweet does he look in my tiny little white romper?

I've been playing with some new white-on-white setups in the studio lately, bringing in the simplest of colors so that the baby is the star and just pops against a classically simple backdrop.  I love these next two images of Willem on the beanbag, with the waterfall wrap cascading around him!

Willem's mom and dad are both Dutch, and his dad actually lived in Holland before they met!  Of course we had to incorporate these wooden clogs into their son's session as a little nod to their heritage.  Do you recognize the tiny clogs?  Take a peek at their maternity session to see where these "klompen" made their very first appearance!

I just love their family portraits!  Amy & Lo are such attentive parents already, and they are so in love with their baby boy.  When they arrived at the studio I told them to relax, sit back, close their eyes for a few minutes to catch up on some sleep.  Like all new parents, they were exhausted, but they said, "No way!  We'll just fight off sleep.  We don't want to miss a thing!"  

They were truly beaming as they held Willem and marveled over how perfect he was -- granted, they were definitely sleep deprived so some of the joy radiating off of them could have also been exhaustion, but still, joy trumps exhaustion!   ;o)  

I first met Willem Todd when he was only 22 hours old at Glens Falls Hospital for his Fresh 48 session.  Enjoy his Fresh 48 blog post here!  

Wondering if a studio newborn session is the right fit for you?  Check out these blog posts about our three types of newborn sessions to determine which is the perfect fit for your family's style & needs!

Declan James - A Saratoga Springs Newborn Session - Saratoga Springs NY Newborn Photographer

You know what I love during our newborn sessions?  When I get a wide-awake baby who is so curious about the world and they give the most amazing eye contact.  

Declan James did not disappoint, and this sweet baby boy definitely won the staring contest at our Saratoga Springs newborn studio.  Don't you just love those sparkling eyes of his?

We recently added new knit layers to the studio collection, and I loved incorporating these soft and chunky textures into his newborn portraits.  

Doesn't he look so cozy all wrapped up and sleeping?  (Because yes, Declan finally fell asleep... which I suppose means that I won the staring contest after all!!)

These overhead birds-eye shots are always my favorite showing just how tiny these newborn babies are in our baskets and bowls!

Like so many of our NSP families, Declan's mom and dad are fans of the ocean and love that nautical theme.  They brought an adorable hand-knit outfit from a friend with a cute little anchor on it, so of course we took a few portraits of Declan in his sailor gear!

And finally, our family portraits always make me smile!  This new mom & dad were so excited to cuddle their baby boy and pose with him when he was all wrapped up tight.  We loved how he kept bringing his feet up to his face, and no matter how we moved his little toes he kept wanting to use that one foot as a little kickstand for his cheek.  What a flexible little boy, and you can definitely tell how he was curled up just like this in the womb only two short weeks before these portraits were taken!

Did you know that the best time to book your newborn session is during the second trimester?  The fall and early winter months are already filling up -- contact us today to book your newborn portrait session!

Is a Studio Newborn Session the Right Fit for You? - Studio Newborn Photographer

With so many options in the newborn photography world, how do you know which is the right fit for you?  Today we're talking all about studio newborn portrait sessions, and how to know if that's the right style for your family.

I offer three types of newborn sessions -- studio sessions, lifestyle sessions in your home, and Fresh 48 sessions at the hospital.  Each one tells a different story, and gives you a different style of images.  Some families choose to do just one session, others do a combination of two (typically Fresh 48 and then either lifestyle or studio), and still others do all three!

Fresh 48 sessions are natural, raw, and filled with emotion.  They are a peek into your first hours meeting your newborn baby, and they are filled with some of the most magical moments I ever have the pleasure of photographing.  Sure, the hospital decorating choices might leave a little to be desired, and you're going to be exhausted because you just delivered a baby the day before, but these are moments you will never get back and you will always cherish.  Check out our blog post about why you might want to consider hiring a Fresh 48 photographer.

Lifestyle sessions are a relaxed, intimate peek into your lives at home in the first few weeks of bringing home your baby.  They are unposed, and we capture you just as you are in your home.  We also take care to capture all of the details of the nursery that you carefully planned for 9 months, and give you portraits that you'll be able to show your child as they grow and tell them all about the house they came home to when they were born.  Check out our blog post about lifestyle sessions to see if this might be the best fit for you!

But today, it's all about the studio sessions!  How do you know if they are the right fit for you? I get asked this question all the time by expecting parents, and here are a few things to keep in mind.  If these facts resonate with you, then a studio session is probably the best fit for you!  

1.  You love those classic family portraits against a clean background, where everyone is looking at the camera.  

In the studio we capture shots with mom & dad, siblings, and everyone alone with the baby.  If you love the more "posed" style of family portraits, book your studio session!

2.  You can't get enough of those adorable little bowls, baskets, and crates that we pose babies in!

The studio is stocked with simple, classic props that won't detract from your baby's beauty.  All of my props are natural wood, driftwood, or painted white.  Wraps and other items are all natural materials that are perfectly soft against baby's delicate skin.  If you love those shots of baby wrapped and curled up in bowls and baskets, a studio session is the right fit for you!

3.  You love those newborn poses of babies on a blanket, with their head on their hands.

Newborn photographers are trained in newborn safety, and they know how to safely position your little one in those sweet little poses that melt every parent's heart.  We use a posing beanbag in the studio covered in blankets to give your baby a safe cushion, and we know just how to prop them up and support them to get them into those curly little positions.  If you adore clean & uncluttered backgrounds, this is perfect for you too since these poses are not something that can be achieved at home on your bed.

4.  Your heart skips a beat when you see those tiny little headbands and hand-knit newborn outfits, and you love a perfectly coordinated set.

We have headbands, bonnets, basket stuffers, and perfectly sized outfits that are 1,000,000 times cuter and more classic than anything you'll find at Target.  Trust me on this one: use the cute little accents that your photographer has in the studio because they are created to be photographed, and they will look so classic on your newborn baby.

5.  You have a prop that you'd like to use.

If you have a special item that is sentimental or a family heirloom, please bring that to your session!  We typically only have time to incorporate 1-2 additional items into your baby's setups, and it's nice to not let your little one be overpowered by too many props.  But if you have something small that is related to your family (your grandmother's quilt, a bracelet you wore as a baby, an item related to mom or dad's career or how you first met), let's incorporate it into your session!  It is always so much fun to breathe a little personality into your portraits, and they're guaranteed to be images that you love for years to come.

But what would I recommend not bringing?  

Well, you know those little crocheted outfits of animals sold on Etsy?  They're typically made with low-quality yarn and the baby's skin gets irritated when rubbing up against them, plus the baby almost always overheats in those hats and diaper covers.  A sweaty baby is an unhappy baby, and we won't be able to soothe them to get the shot.  

I also wouldn't recommend bringing a shot list from Pinterest -- discuss any inspiration with your photographer ahead of time, but remember that you hired them because you trust their style and their artistic vision.  

Leave the fluffy flower headbands from the baby store at home, as well as all of those cute little newborn onesies and shoes -- they're often too large on the baby anyways, so they're swimming in sleeves that don't fit and shoes that keep falling off.  (Baby toes are adorable -- let's showcase them!)  Plus when your baby is all curled up and sleepy you can't see the text/design on the onesies very well.  Save them for visits with family and cute cell phone pictures of them in their car seat.

6.  Finally, if you love those sleepy newborn shots of the baby perfectly posed or wrapped up to show how small they are, the studio is the perfect place to capture that!  

I have dozens of wraps, blankets, and faux furs in the studio to pose your baby on, and I love finding new combinations to keep every session fresh.  At the studio it's easier to get the baby to sleep because we keep it a toasty 80 degrees with white noise in the background, allowing us to pose your baby naked, or wrapped up snugly in a swaddle to get them to sleep.  If you love those sleepy shots, a studio session is for you!

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So, a studio newborn session feels like the right fit for you!  What's next?

Get in touch with your photographer while you're still pregnant to schedule your newborn session.  Most moms reach out during the second trimester.  Newborn sessions are penciled in on the calendar based on your due date, and photographers only accept a certain number of due dates each month to give each family the flexibility in scheduling that they deserve.  

Then as soon as your baby arrives, tell your photographer so that they can set a date for your session!  It's important that studio sessions take place (ideally) within the first two weeks of the baby's arrival, so don't delay!

Emerson's Blush Pink Newborn Session | Saratoga Springs NY Newborn Photographer

Bring me all of your baby girls, pretty please?  

I just love these studio newborn sessions filled with soft colors, lace, and floral details.  Emerson's newborn session had all of that, plus some twinkly lights.

Did you know that we like to do our studio newborn sessions within the first two weeks of the baby's arrival?  At this age, babies are still very sleepy and squishy, so it's easier to settle them into those adorable curly poses that parents love so much.  

Sweet little Emerson had the most beautiful peaches and cream complexion, and our blush pinks and creams were the perfect accent to highlight this beautiful baby girl's features.  Before every newborn session we talk about each family's style, the colors in their home, and the colors in their nursery.  Then I pull a few wraps, blankets, and baskets or buckets in coordinating colors to create a beautifully styled and unique session for each baby!

Those tiny little details are always one of my favorite things to capture during our newborn sessions -- tiny toes, fingers with little dimples on their knuckles, and those itty bitty lips blowing sweet little milk bubbles.  Those are the things you're going to want to remember years from now when your baby is all grown up, which is why it's a priority to capture them now in those first few weeks of life!

Every newborn session is a celebration of a growing family, and parent shots are a must-have at every single session.  You'll always want to remember the way your baby curled up in your arms, and the feel of her against your chest with her own breath rising and falling against you.  I love these sweet moments we captured of Emerson with her parents during her session!

Newborn sessions are typically reserved BEFORE the baby is born, and it's best to contact your photographer in the second or third trimester!  We're now booking newborn sessions through December 2017.  What are you waiting for?  

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - A Lifestyle Newborn Session in the South End, Boston Baby Photographer

Can we please fill all of the nurseries with twinkling stars?  Pretty please?

I just loved visiting Baby Chance's family at home for a lifestyle session to celebrate their little boy's arrival.  Their South End apartment in Boston was the perfect mix of industrial and modern, with sweet little touches like the wooden doves on the wall and the light-up stars in the nursery.  We had so much fun together capturing some quiet moments at home as the new mom & dad cuddled up with their baby boy.  

Older babies may not be as easy to pose, but they sure are expressive!  Chance is the happiest baby, and he had so many smiles and giggles for us!  Just look at how joyful and handsome he is!  Even their dog, Tessie, was curious about this little baby that had come into their home.

I always love parent shots like this one when we are doing a lifestyle session at home.  Pure & simple, it shows what your life is like as a new mom.  These are true, everyday moments that you will live thousands of times, and look back on them to show your child one day how you used to cuddle him in the chair by the window, giving him gentle face massages to help him relax.  

One happy family -- though their dog is still trying to figure out if she's happy about this new addition!  

We have enjoyed so many lifestyle sessions lately!  Be sure to check out a few of our favorites on the blog for inspiration for your own newborn session at home.  

Harrison: A Lifestyle Family Session with Blogger of A Modest Life

Catherine: A Lifestyle Session in Charlestown, Boston

Charlie: A Lifestyle Session in the South End

Killian's Studio Newborn Session - Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

April was the month that it rained babies here at our Saratoga Springs boutique portrait studio, and I was getting phone calls from new moms every few days letting me know that their little one had arrived.  It was truly such a magical month, and I am so grateful for all of the baby cuddles that I got to enjoy, and the incredible moments I was lucky enough to capture of new moms & dads welcoming their babies into their families.

Killian came to the studio for his portrait session, and I had so much fun with his mom & dad.  They were absolutely amazing and relaxed the entire time, and we spent the three-hour session getting to know one another, learning about their jobs, the dad's tattoos (such a cool story behind those!), and a very unique baby company that makes gear that this police officer dad loves.  I always enjoy when the clients I work with make it so easy to pass a few hours together during the session, and then we get together a few weeks later for the gallery reveal and it's like old friends sharing the baby's images together.  Really, how did I luck out with such incredible clients?  

But of course, Killian was the star of the session.  He has the sweetest little lips, and soft hair that is blonde in some spots -- I see so few blonde newborns, so it's always a treat when one comes to the studio!  He absolutely loved the Huck Finn pose (below), and was super comfy in this adorable hand-knit romper that I just recently added to the studio collection.  

This sweet little boy slept so well during his session, and he was the perfect little model for us!  There were soft "oooooh, how cute!" cries the moment this bear bonnet went on, and he loved it so much that he couldn't help but give us a cute little smile!

Oftentimes parents like to bring a small sentimental item to use during their session -- a handmade blanket passed down from great grandma, a medal from a marathon mom ran while newly pregnant, an item that represents one of their careers.  Killian's dad brought his police badge & hat to use during the session -- he's with the Schenectady Police Department.  I love how we were able to capture a few images of Killian holding his dad's police badge!  

When his dad told me the significance behind his tattoos (every single item represents a family member and the story behind the entire sleeve is truly amazing!), I knew that we had to incorporate this visual family history into his portraits.  This may be one of my favorite dad & baby images we've capture so far this year!  

And of course, his mama was absolutely radiant and so happy to have her little baby boy cuddled up in her arms.  I love being able to capture these moments that show parents in their first days of parenthood, getting to know their little one.  It really is magical!  

Thank you for such an incredible session together!  I look forward to seeing Killian again this year as he grows!

If you're looking for a newborn portrait photographer, we are now booking through October 2017!  I would love to chat with you to plan your session.  Check out our three unique types of sessions through the link below, and use the contact tab to get in touch!

A Relaxed Newborn Session at Home in Charlestown | Boston Lifestyle Photographer

Welcome home, Catherine Grace.

Your mommy & daddy loved you long before they brought you home from the hospital, and they were beaming with pride and joy holding you in those first few days after you were born.  There are always these moments of awe that take your breath away when you look at a family that has just gone from 2 to 3, and this sweet little family was no exception.

I loved getting to visit Catherine's family at their home in Charlestown for a lifestyle newborn portrait session.  It was a warm spring day, and their home was filled with soft sunlight peeking in through the curtains, with Boston's old brick buildings just outside the windows.  Inside, the three of them cozied up together, the new mommy and daddy cuddling their fresh baby girl.  

She was a dream baby, so sleepy and calm.  We captured so many yawns and smiles from this adorable little girl during her newborn session!

She was also my most smiley newborn to date.  Normally we're lucky if we capture one smile in a session -- Catherine gave us FOUR smiles, all of them captured on camera.  With her beautiful smiles and that full head of hair, she is gorgeous!

I'm now booking lifestyle sessions through October in Saratoga Springs & Boston!  Please contact me today and let's plan your baby's welcome home session!