A Wedding Dress Mini Session with Two Sisters | Saratoga Springs NY Family Photographer

What do you do with your dress after the wedding day? So many women keep their wedding dresses for sentimental reasons, and many of them secretly hope that their daughters will want to wear their dress in 25 or 30 years when they walk down the aisle. But chances are that styles will change or they’ll be a different size, so most of those dresses never get worn again!

That’s why I love these wedding dress mini sessions. These are perfect for little girls ages 2+, and they will love playing dress up with mommy’s special wedding dress. These sweet girls had so much fun dancing and twirling, and I adore the images we captured together!

So now, even if they don’t wear this dress to get married in one day, their family will still be able to share these portraits with them now and in 30 years. And if they do get married one day, what an amazing and sweet gift to share with them on their own wedding day! I love how this sentimental session can later be part of the “something old, something new” tradition when the girls are grown.

Plus, honestly, who doesn’t love playing dress up? Especially with the prettiest item in mommy’s closet?

Simple Studio Portraits with Sisters | Saratoga Springs NY Family Photographer

Camille & Lydia joined me in the Attleboro studio for a milestone session, and these two sisters brought all of the cuteness and cuddly hugs with them!  I had so much fun capturing them together, and I can't believe how much they've grown since Camille's newborn session last summer.  It was wonderful to see them again, and I love that we used this same chair in their newborn session and again now that they've grown!

Our milestone sessions are simple & classic with set-ups that showcase your little ones without too much "fluff" in the background.  A cream wall and rug, or a soft white bed are all that you need!  Add the babies and kids, and they bring the cuteness!

Doesn't she look like she's getting ready to conduct an orchestra here?  Camille has SO MUCH PERSONALITY, and she was an absolute blast to photograph!

2017 Best of Siblings - You've Got a Friend in Me | Saratoga Springs NY Family Photographer

We’re continuing with our BEST OF 2017 blog post series, and today we’re sharing a peek into some of our favorite sibling images from last year. 
 

Brothers & sisters share a special relationship that is part friend, part soulmate.  They know how to make each other laugh and how to cheer each other up.  They know how to tattle on each other to mom & dad, and how to push each other’s buttons and annoy them the most. 

But at the end of the day, they love curling up together and just enjoying each other’s company.

2017 was filled with family sessions, newborn sessions, and cake smashes where the siblings truly stole the show and made for some memorable moments captured on camera.  Digging into their baby brother or sister’s birthday cake, the sweetest newborn cuddles, and tickle fights on the beach were just a few of the top sibling moments of the year!  

Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable sibling moments from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Enjoy a peek at a few of our most memorable family sessions from 2017, and be sure to check out our other “BEST OF 2017” blog posts!

Best of 2017 Cake Smash Sessions
Best of 2017 Lifestyle Sessions
Best of 2017 Studio Newborn Sessions
Best of 2017 Maternity Sessions
Best of 2017 Fresh 48 Sessions
Best of 2017 Beach Sessions on Cape Cod
Best of 2017 Family Sessions

A Dreamy Session with Newborn Twins | Albany & Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

Sometimes miracles come in pairs.

Finley Grace & Bella James

I love photographing newborns.  Absolutely adore it.  But when you bring newborn twins to me?  Oh my gosh, I'm in heaven!

After arriving one month early and spending some time in the NICU, I was so excited to finally snuggle with these baby girls in the studio.  They are just the sweetest little things, and I adored our session together.  Creamy, dreamy, whimsical & soft are my favorite types of sessions, and this one was no exception!  I love the soft, neutral colors that allow the babies to be the focus of the session, the way we had the most perfect light streaming through the studio windows to illuminate these new parents and their love, and the most peaceful little girls that slept the entire time.

I adore the stunning mama and baby portrait, below.  I recently came across a motherhood quote, and when I read it this photograph immediately came to mind.

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  

She never existed before.  

The woman existed, but the mother, never.  

A mother is something absolutely new."  ~Rajneesh

Love this fun shot of the babies in their daddy's arms!  They won't be that tiny forever, and it's amazing to see and look back on.

The best compliment that you can give a photographer is to have an emotional connection to the portraits that we take and the moments that we capture.  The photo below is the one that brought tears to their mom's eyes during our reveal session.  I just LOVE that a photograph can do that, and I'm truly honored that the photographs I take of your children mean so much.  <3  

And we'll finish with my favorite shot of Finley & Bella, two little twins all snuggled up together.  I love how they just curl up together and mold their limbs together into one tiny little space.  

Check out other newborn twin sessions here, here & here.

Love the clean and organic look of these photographs?  Me too!  View Lucy's clean and simple newborn session.

A Beacon Hill Family Session

Sometimes, I find myself so caught up in capturing the newborns, the sitters, the crawlers, toddlers, and pre-schoolers that I forget how amazing sessions are with older children.  I actually LOVE these sessions with teens and pre-teens.  I feel so lucky to be able to capture these amazing young adults on camera, learn a little about their lives, listen to their big dreams, and have such a fabulous time exploring and capturing beautiful photographs together!

Meet Chloe & Hannah.

We got together in Beacon Hill for a beautiful sunset session with these gorgeous girls and their mom.  The four of us wandered through the Public Garden and walked the streets of Beacon Hill while soaking in those last sparkling rays of summer sunshine.  I loved listening to their stories about traveling around the globe, adding Morocco to my list of must-see travel destinations.

I introduced them to the famous Acorn Street, the most photographed street in America nestled among the brick homes and cobblestones of Beacon Hill.  They loved how quaint it was, and this portrait became a framed 16x20 that is waiting to find a place in their home.

This blue store front was one of my favorite spots that we found to photograph by.  How absolutely gorgeous do Hannah & Chloe look against the blue, the sparkling glass, and the bright pops of color in the background?  I just love this section of the city, and I'm so happy we chose to do their session downtown!

Would you love to see another senior-style session?  Check out Simi's ballet-inspired session in the woods here!

A Blush & Gold Cake Smash {Daniela's 1st Birthday}

The C family is another one of my NSP families that I feel like I have known forever, and I feel so lucky to have watched their family GROW.

 Arlene and I met in grad school in 2007 when she and Chris were newlyweds living in a teeny-tiny Fenway apartment.  We've spent countless hours together, shared innumerable meals and laughs, and been there for each other through moves and babies and weddings.

I absolutely ADORE this shot of this gorgeous mama and her two girls.

And Alice?  She's such a sweetie and full of so much spunk and personality!  Love these next few captures of her...

Haha, one of our favorites.  "What is happening? Why is she touching me?"  ~Dani

Dani is the sweetest, happiest baby and I was thrilled to capture this little girl on camera.  Her mama is crazy creative and made a gorgeous banner with real glitter on the letters, and the most amazing crown for her cake smash.  Seriously, I see a partnership in our futures.  ;)

And now, the little girl that was all about the cake.  She was SOOOO excited about her very own birthday cake, and I love how into it she got while smashing her cake.  Frosting was EVERYWHERE, but it was so worth it.

Happy Birthday, baby girl!

Yianni {Blue and Teal Newborn Session}

John Eugene

March 15, 2015   |   12:16am

6 pounds, 8 ounces   |   20.5 inches

Little Yianni's family was in for a treat when they came for their newborn session in the studio.  With two big sisters at home eager to welcome home their baby brother, the K family was in for some BLUE.

We had an absolutely wonderful session together with this sweet little boy.  He slept the whole time and didn't even fuss!  I loved wrapping him up in our new springtime wraps, and using our brand new pageboy hat from Sleepy Baby Crafts.   Be sure to check out the Sleepy Baby Crafts page for unique, handmade hats, bonnets, and other cute little accessories for your next photo shoot!

Look at that little furrowed brow, and those teeny-tiny toes peeking out in the basket!  Love this shot of baby Yianni!

Congratulations to the K family!  I hope to see you again soon as your little one grows for a milestone session!

Sisters in the City {Boston Family Photography}

Talk about a match made in Photography Heaven. First of all, I got to go into this session with this glowing review from Kavita first:  "You are amazing, I know I say this all the time, but really...you're such a find! I'm going to have to keep calling you for all my milestones -- my sixtieth, my 75th, daughter's weddings, grandkids..."

How does that NOT make you immensely happy?    :)

I met Kavita at my old roommate's wedding.  She asked me to take her youngest daughter's senior photos a year in advance, and then was immediately talking about booking me for a family session when her eldest daughter was on break from college.

So, why is this Photography Heaven?  This is the most wonderful family with such amazing, strong, and intelligent women.  I've had a few very fun afternoons with them between our two sessions now, and what I love about the girls is that they are up for absolutely anything when it comes to our shoots.  Dangle over a bridge in a ballet costume?  Sure!  Stomp through snowbanks up to your knees to get the perfect shot?  Why not!  Sit on salty/snowy steps to get that awesome texture of the doorway?  Of course! See if we can convince the concierge in the Copley Plaza Hotel to let us pose for photos in the lobby?  Ooooh, yeah!

For both of our shoots they have had that "BRING IT!" attitude and we have had such a fun time scouting out locations and getting just the right shots.  We did our shoot soon after the new year in Copley Plaza, Boston.  It had snowed an incredible amount in the days leading up to the shoot, and as I waited for the girls to arrive I watched giant plows scoop the city's snow up to transport it out of the city in gigantic trucks.

The city was buzzing with people coming out of their cooped-up homes and enjoying the air, the sounds, and the sights of a bustling area. When I saw three women in the distance walking towards me in brightly colored coats, and I knew right then that this was Kavita, Simi, and Meghna.  I LOVED their colors and they worked perfectly against our city backdrops.

When I mentioned that I had seen a beautiful black and white tiled hallway a year ago while walking out of a back door exit to a store in the area, and that I had marked it back then as a must-go-back spot for photos, they were excited to find this hallway and take some pics there.  See?  Up for anything!

Simi and Meghna were excited to take these pics with the reflections in the Hancock Tower.

Love the salty stairs and the wooden door in this picture!

These photos we took in the lobby of the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel.  We walked in with the intention of warming up after an hour outside in the cold, but once we saw this amazing backlit lobby we just had to stop and take some photos here.  And I'm so glad we did!Thank you, Kavita, Meghna, and Simi, for a truly amazing session.  I'm so glad I've gotten to know you through the lens of my camera!  Enjoy these photos showing your beautiful relationship for many years to come.

Spunk & Sass {A Family Session}

I was so excited to get to meet up with this beautiful family again.  We first met two summers ago for our session at a gorgeous beach down in Eastham during low tide.  It was one of my favorite summer sessions to date, and after working with them again I realized that they are just such a darling family to photograph no matter what the location.  The four kids -- Jack, Ella, Charlie, and Lulu -- are so full of spunk and personality, and both sessions have just been filled with real laughter and truly beautiful beaming smiles. And now, without further adieu, the beautiful G family at home for a stunning fall session...

Charlie is a little clown and I love that I got a toothy second-grade grin and a bubbly laugh out of him in just about every frame.  His big brother Jack is a little more reserved, but I love the moment I got him to crack up just as I was hitting the shutter and caught his true smile peeking through.

Lulu is like a little elf running around her family spreading cheer and happiness.  I love all the different expressions I was able to capture on this little doll!

And big sister Ella was such a joy with her piercing eyes and her beautiful smile.

The moment I saw the color of Ella and Lulu's dresses, I knew I wanted this exact picture.  And right after clicking the shutter and stopping to look at my camera?  I just about died -- LOVE the colors here, love how they complement each other and just pop!, love that beautiful bond captured between sisters.

These kids love the "hold hands and run" pics, just like the last time when we were on the beach together.

And finally, one last family pic on the porch.  The first one up above was what we were aiming for, but this is what we got when the youngest little one insisted on doing a "gangster" pose... why not get the whole family do cross their arms for a silly pose!  :o)

G family -- you are wonderful and I absolutely adore capturing the six of you on camera!  Thanks for ANOTHER stellar afternoon together.

Summertime Sisters

Charming.  Sassy.  Adorable.  Bubbly.  Sweet as sugar crystals in your iced tea.  That's what these sisters are:

I was thrilled at the chance to photograph Violet and Sophia for the third time.  (Check out their previous sessions here and here.)  They pulled up in their car, jumped right out, and were excitedly chatting with me and remembering the photo sessions we'd done last year together.  Simply that was enough to guarantee we'd have a beautiful and fun session.

But then the perfect golden light, the grassy fields of flowers, and the rustic barn walls just all came together to make this one of my all-time favorite family sessions.

Shutter Session: Sophia and Violet

Last weekend I got together with two little girls in pink and purple dresses to shoot some photos for a Fathers' Day surprise.

We went to the Grist Mill at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, and the girls turned the grassy fields into their playground.  The oldest one, Sophia, told me all about how they were taking photos for "Daddy's Day" and that it was a secret.  Amazingly, they kept the secret all week long and didn't let it slip!  So Happy Fathers' Day to all the fathers out there, but especially to the ones of little girls who keep photo secrets to surprise their dads.

Sophia is the oldest, and she came up with all sorts of interesting games for us to play during the session.  I loved catching her staring into my lens (she was searching for unicorns!), and her eyes really sparkled in these pictures.  I used my new 50mm lens, and I absolutely love the results.

I pulled out some more of my new photo props (check out these chairs I bought for $5 and repainted!).  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the chairs and they really made the shots.  I happened to leave the chairs off in a field while we wandered off to take some more photos in a different part of the park, and I came back to find someone setting them up taking a picture of just the chairs.

Plus, the light in these photos is gorgeous and it just worked wonderfully with the girls.  This next photo is my absolute favorite.  Violet put her head down on the chair when she was getting tired, so Sophia stood up and copied her.  Their mother and I were joking, "What are they doing?", but this turned out to be one of my all-time favorite photos.

Violet, at 22 months, was an absolute doll and such a sweetheart.  She spent some time running around chasing after her mom, so when  I finally gave her a chair, down she went.

We came across a beautiful run-down barn, which was a nice backdrop for a few photos of Violet.

And Sophia was game for playing on the fence posts.  Such a cute shot!

After our fun in the fields, we wandered off in search of some ducks.  "Patos, patos!" the girls exclaimed as we drew near them.  I love the story that this next picture tells -- you can see Sophia up ahead on the path to see the ducks, and Violet turning around to make sure we were coming behind them.

Such a fun day, and such adorable little girls to be able to spend the day with!

Happy Fathers' Day, everyone!