Lots of Cozy Cuddles during Aiden's Studio Newborn Session

Now that the temperature is dropping, I’m excited for lots of cozy newborn sessions in the studio! Tiny little Aiden was an absolute dream and he slept through his entire newborn session, letting us fit in parent shots and so many individual set-ups without making a peep!

During every newborn session, I always love to start with a few wrapped shots of the baby in a simple white & cream set. The baby is the star of the show, and white is so clean and classic. Plus we can transition him into a few new poses without moving him!

I mean, can you even deal with the cuteness here?!?!?! Look at how he kept his hands under his chin like that when I unwrapped him!

I have so many tiny handknit outfits, and Aiden rocked this gray sweater onesie during his portraits. Doesn’t he look so cozy all cuddled up on his back?

I can never resist a baby toes shot!

Tyler Francis | A Nautical Newborn Session | Boston & Attleboro Newborn Photographer

Meet Tyler Francis. 

And make sure you read all the way to the end to see the CUTEST SIBLING PORTRAITS EVER of this sweet baby boy and his big brother!

In planning his newborn session, his mom mentioned that they have a little nautical decor in their home and that they would love a portrait or two to match.  Of course, I knew that our driftwood bowl would be perfect with a few layers of blue bump blankets, and I was excited to bring a few tiny new starfish into his session.  This sweet baby boy slept like a champ and was so cozy all wrapped up, making these portraits in the driftwood bowl some of my favorites!

Our creamy white set-ups are our most-requested ones here at the studio.  Parents love the classic look that keeps the focus on the baby, and honestly, I believe that these little ones are so perfect just as they are and that we don't need a lot of distractions with props & colors to take away from their simplicity and perfection!

Now, are you ready for some of the sweetest family portraits you ever did see?

Big brother Henry was a CHAMP, and he casually laid down and tossed his hand behind his head while posing with his baby brother.  I think this might be my favorite sibling portrait EVER!

But then of course, there's this sweet little hug and the cutest little smile spreading across Henry's lips.  I just love how gentle he was with his new brother!

Wondering if a studio newborn session is the right fit for you?  Read more about them here!

Welcome Emma Adele - A Pink and Girly Studio Newborn Session with Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

Emma Adele.

I just love this sweet girl's name -- it's as beautiful as she is, and just as perfect!

This little sweetheart visited me at our Saratoga Springs studio for her newborn portraits, and her mama asked for lots of neutrals with a hint of girly-girl details.  We used soft pinks, grays, lots of texture, and the daintiest of floral headbands.  It was pure perfection!

This little awake series are a few of my FAVORITE shots from Emma's portrait session.  I always love laying babies on their backs when they're starting to stir, and giving them a little wiggle room so that they'll wake up a bit.  That tiny baby yawn is my favorite, and I can't even get over those sparkling and inquisitive eyes!

Emma's parents were just so happy loving on their baby girl, and I adore this sweet moment captured of the three of them.  

Our calendar is filling up at the studio for the winter months!  We're now booking maternity, newborn, Fresh 48, milestone, and birthday sessions through March 2018.  What are you waiting for?  Reserve your session now by emailing hello@nicolestarrphotography.com.

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!

Abigail's Newborn Session at our Attleboro Portrait Studio | Boston Newborn Photographer

Oh, little miss Abigail.  I don't think they come any sweeter than you!

Abigail joined me at the studio for her newborn session, and we used all of the classic girly details to complement her Victorian-style nursery -- pearls, lace, silk, blush pink, the softest fabrics, and flowing wraps.  The end result?  I am in love with the beautiful images we captured of this sweet little girl!

Abigail's big brother, Oliver, was so excited to hold his baby sister.  He did a phenomenal job, cuddling her in close, singing her a song, and giving her lots of kisses on her forehead.  

I love the soft blues in their family portraits.  They live in a coastal town in Massachusetts, and these will look amazing up on the walls of their living room!  Seriously, this family portrait of the four of them can't get any more perfect -- Ollie just has the most adorable expression here!  So, so in love with this sweet family's session!

Camille's Studio Newborn Session with Big Sister Lydia - Boston Baby Photographer

We are in the middle of a BABY BOOM around here, and I am so excited to share all of our recent studio newborn sessions and lifestyle newborn sessions.  Let's start it off with sweet little Camille's session at our Attleboro portrait studio.  

Filled with soft fabrics and whimsical colors, this session was a dream to photograph!  I particularly loved watching Camille's big sister Lydia with her new baby sister -- so many adorable moments together!

Plus, who doesn't love baby back rolls?  Squishy newborns are my favorite! 

While I don't typically do a lot of black & whites, I just love the simplicity of this white-on-white image, and now I'm eager to do more in this style!  The little lace headband was perfect on Miss Camille.

We have a new chair in the studio.  It's a linen and whitewashed wooden chair that I have spent months searching for, and I'm so happy with how beautiful it is in sibling and parent shots for our newborn clients!  The chair arms made it the perfect spot for big sister Lydia to sit securely with her new baby sister, and I love this adorable moment shared with her mama!

Every single newborn session includes family portraits as we celebrate your baby's arrival together.  These ones were just so adorable, and I have so many favorites from this session!  Just look at how excited she is about her new baby sister!

If you loved this session, you're going to ADORE these other newborn sessions at our studio!
Emerson's Blush Pink Session

Matthew's White & Cream Studio Session

Brynley's Newborn Session with Tulips

A White & Cream Newborn Session with Matthew | Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer

Ohhhhh, sweet Matthew.  There is nothing I love more than a brand new baby, all squishy & soft against a simple, clean white backdrop.

It's always an honor when a family invites me into their lives to capture their newborn baby's portraits.  What makes it even better is when they come back to me later on with Baby #2.  I first met this sweet family when their first son was born.  (Check out big brother Joey's newborn session here!)  Then when they told me that Baby #2 wouldn't be far behind, I was thrilled to plan their next session with them!

One of the things that left me awe-struck was just how much big brother Joey and baby brother Matthew look like each other.  Heads full of dark, soft newborn hair.  The same eyes and tiny little chins.  They are so adorable and handsome, all rolled up into such a tiny bundle!

One of the (many) amazing things about working with families who return to the studio with each baby is witnessing the tiny changes that only I would notice in their family & parent images.  The way that their expressions change from surprise/awe/wonder with the first baby, and settle into an easier, contented joy with the second baby.  You can see it in the way they relax their eyes, their face, their shoulders.  In the way that they are 1,000% more comfortable and natural holding the baby the second time around.  It's like, "Yeah, we're parents now.  We've done this before.  We've got this!"  I love watching that transition!

There is just so much love in these family portraits, and it's multiplied when we bring big brother in to get to know his baby brother!  Family portraits with a toddler and newborn are always tricky, but so, so worth it!

Wide Awake Newborn Portraits - Saratoga Springs & Boston Newborn Photographer

I'm going to let you in on a little secret...

Whether it's a lifestyle newborn session at home, or a newborn session here in my Saratoga Springs studio, it's not always guaranteed that the baby will fall asleep!  

Of course, newborn sessions go much more smoothly (and quickly!) when the fresh new baby is asleep most of the time.  We're able to pose the baby into those adorable little curled up poses, wrap them in swaddles, unwrap them, and move them from one setup to another without disturbing them.  

But sometimes, babies are curious little things and they like to see everything that is going on around them -- I swear they must be wondering who this girl with the camera is!  So when we have awake babies during a newborn session, we go with the flow and capture their sparkling eyes and their powerful gaze.  And we hope that they eventually fall asleep by using the million-and-one tricks that I have up my sleeve as a newborn photographer to get tiny little babies to fall into Dreamland!

I do love it when we get those wide-eyed shots during our newborn sessions, though!  This typically happens more often during our lifestyle sessions at home, and it's a great opportunity to capture some portraits in their crib, and cuddles with mom & dad.  If we're bringing siblings in (especially toddlers) that is always much easier with an asleep newborn, though!

So many beautiful little babies!  Check back on the blog tomorrow for another post with a few of our favorite SLEEPY newborn shots from recent sessions!

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Did you know that the best time to book your newborn session is in the second or early in the third trimester?  We are now booking newborns for August, September, October, and November, and I would love to plan the perfect session with you!  

A Studio Newborn Session with Tulips - Boston Newborn Photographer

You know how some things were just meant to be, and certain paths were meant to lead people together?  I 100% believe in that, and it rang true with sweet little Brynley Marie's newborn session at our Attleboro portrait studio.

Right before her session I headed to the florist to pick up some fresh blooms for Brynley's session.  After a streak of one newborn boy after another, I was excited to bring some pretty florals in for a baby girl.  I knew I wanted tulips, and there were only two colors there that day: pink or yellow.  I went with the pink, and I'm so glad I did!  Read on to hear the full story.  

When Brynley's mother walked into the studio and saw the little setup with our pink tulips, I turned around right as I heard her exclaim, "Oh my god, pink tulips!" 

Although we had never talked about this in our pre-consultation, the fates aligned as Jill told me the story of pink tulips in her life.  When Jill (baby Brynley's mother) was born, her aunt brought her a bouquet of pink tulips in the hospital.  Every year after that, her mother gave her pink tulips on her birthday.  When Brynley was born, the excited new grandmother brought pink tulips into the hospital to welcome her granddaughter into the world.  And then at her newborn portrait session, I coincidentally also had pink tulips for this sweet baby girl!

Truly, it couldn't have been more perfect!

We didn't stop with just tulips!  This springtime baby enjoyed lots of beautiful florals in her session, and I am in LOOOOOOOVE with the portraits that we created in the studio.  Brynley was nice and sleepy, which allowed us to capture these sweet poses all curled up and dreamlike.

Capturing portraits of the new mommy & daddy is always one of my favorite parts of our newborn sessions.  It's so magical to be able to see yourself through someone else's eyes, capturing the swirl of emotions that you're feeling during your first days as a family of three.  These are portraits that you're going to come back to year after year, when your baby no longer curls up in your arms or comes to you asking you to kiss their boo-boo.  

Many years from now when they are all grown up, your baby will have a baby of their own.  And you know what they'll want to see, hear, and know?  What life was like for YOU as a new parent when you welcomed them into your family.  They will want to connect with you and share in this life-changing experience with you.  These family portraits are the very beginning of their story, and they are worth capturing every single time.  

I tell all of the moms & dads that I work with -- get in the picture.  You will never, ever regret it.

Check out a few of our recent studio newborn sessions!  

Killian's Cream & Gray Newborn Session

Blake Vivian's Nautical Newborn Session

We are now booking newborns at our Saratoga Springs & Attleboro studios, and the best time to book is during your second trimester.  Be sure to reserve your spot early as we do fill up quickly!

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.