Classic Baby Portraits for Two Adorable Sisters

The last time I saw this sweet family, big sister Elena was only 7 months old. And now she’s a vibrant toddler and an amazing big sister!

We did a beautiful sisters milestone session at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for Elena and Julia, and I loved watching these cute little girls together! They wore the sweetest pink smocked dresses and they loved cuddling up together on the studio bed!

It was pretty special capturing Julia at 6 months old, almost the same age Elena was for her milestone session two year ago! We even made sure to capture a few similar portraits for comparison!

So happy! I love watching babies play with their toes! It’s always such a fun stage!

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Classic Milestone Portraits for Baby Henri

We added a few new outfits to our studio’s Baby Wardrobe, and I was excited that Henri was the first baby to model them! This sweet boy enjoyed his six-month milestone session at the studio, and we captured so many gorgeous portraits of him.

He has such a serious and inquisitive gaze, but he could definitely break out into a smile and be 100% silly, too! This sweet boy was so much fun and he had us all laughing with his giggles!

At six months old, some babies are sitting up assisted, and others can sit on their own without any support. Some are comfortable on their tummies, and others prefer laying on their backs and playing with their toes. Every baby is different, which is what I love so much about these milestone sessions. We capture your little one just as they are, celebrating all of their recently acquired skills, smiles, and first teeth.

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A Baby Milestone Portrait Session with Christmas Trees

Although it’s early January, we can share one last Christmas session on the blog, right?

I absolutely loved that this family chose to incorporate holiday lights & colors into their son’s milestone portraits, and we made it a whole family session to celebrate their little 6 month old!

Of course baby Ronan slept through the first part of the session, and these cozy family portraits are just so cute with him all curled up in his daddy’s arms!

Ahhhhh!!! Cutest sibling photo of the holiday season!

This six-month old cutie LOVED the camera! Doesn’t he look like a little model?!?!

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Best of 2019 Milestone Sessions

As we continue our “Best of 2019” blog series, I’m excited to share our favorite milestone sessions from the year! I absolutely LOVE milestone sessions. As a photographer it is so hard to choose what my favorite type of session is, but I must say that milestones come close! This age is always one of the sweetest when babies are developing their personalities, smiling, reacting, and trying out new skills!

Scroll through and enjoy a look into some of my favorite milestone session moments from the studio & outdoors!

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Carter's Milestone Portraits - A Sitter Session at our Saratoga Springs Portrait Studio

Does this little cutie look familiar? That’s because he’s one of our Baby Plan clients, and he had the cutest newborn session earlier this year! Do you remember the photo of him posing with his great-grandfather’s coal mining helmet? It was one of my favorite stories ever!

Carter joined me at the studio for his milestone session at 7 months old, and he brought ALL OF THE CUTENESS AND ALL OF THE SMILES! I mean, seriously, how adorable is this baby boy?!?! I could photograph him and his sweet smile every single day!

A few of my favorite features to capture at this stage?

• that round and soft belly

• grabbing those little toes

• the cute elbow dimples & finger dimples

• the first teeth peeking through

• all of the ROLLS on their arms and legs!!

Peek-a-boo is always a hit with babies during their milestone sessions, and Carter loved cuddling up underneath the blanket!

The whole family joined in for some holiday portraits. I just love that they’re going to have these magical photos to remember his first Christmas forever!

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Baby Milestone Portraits at the Saratoga Springs Track | Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

When Oliver was born, his mama was already talking about his milestone session. They spend their summers at the Saratoga Springs race track, and they knew they wanted to capture their sweet baby boy’s sitter session at the track in August! We dressed him in a dapper little outfit, added a hat (of course!), and enjoyed a beautiful morning at this classic upstate New York destination.

I brought my camera, and Oliver brought the cuteness. 100%.

This age is always so much fun as babies learn to sit up on their own, and they are amazed at everything around them! Oliver looked at the track in such wonder, and he had the most adorable giggles. What a cutie!

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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.  

Penelope's 7 Month Milestone Session with a Strawberries & cream milk bath

I love catching up with our Baby Plan babies for their milestone sessions halfway through the first year, and I was so happy to welcome little miss Penelope back into the studio.

First, I couldn’t even get over how much hair this sweet girl has at only 7 months old, and second she won me over with her smile, tiny little teeth, and the cute little cleft in her chin.

Her mama bought this pretty pink outfit for her when she was pregnant — it was the very first outfit she bought for her baby girl. So of course we had to capture some portraits of sweet Penelope in it at the studio!

I love this phase when they lay on their backs and discover how much fun their toes are!!

Then we used a beautiful new watercolor romper from the STUDIO CLOSET that her mama saw on my Instagram stories and fell in love with. Doesn’t Penelope look so sweet in this?

This happy baby girl finished up with a strawberries and cream milk bath, perfect for a summertime baby!

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Classic and Nautical Milestone Portraits for Baby Holden

I love watching our Baby Plan babies grow! Holden came to our Attleboro portrait studio for his 6 month milestone session, and he showed off his smiley personality and ALL OF HIS ROLLS! This sweet boy seriously has the best leg rolls and arm rolls ever, and I could just hug and squeeze him all day long to enjoy that squishy baby stage that he is in right now!

We started off his session in the baptism outfit that has been passed down in his family and worn by so many little babies.

Then of course we did a striped romper for a few nautical inspired portraits to complement the nautical newborn portraits that we took when he was born. He is just recently working on sitting up, and I love how proud he is of himself when he finds his balance and sits upright without any help! Just look at that big smile!

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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.  

7 Month Milestone Portraits for Baby Jonas

These milestone sessions are so much fun, and I love seeing how much these little babies have grown since their newborn session! This age is perfect for portraits because babies are coming into their little personalities and they’re becoming curious about the world and the people in it.

They are learning to sit on their own, grab their toes, play on their backs, and laugh. They rock tummy time, have the cutest smiles, and some babies even have their first tooth already!

Jonas joined me at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for his 7 month milestone session, and he did such a wonderful job in front of the camera! He was so playful and curious, and he loved all of the attention! Plus, his mama planned the most adorable outfits for her baby boy!

Can you even believe how beautiful his blue eyes are? And that wispy hair?!

Peek-a-boo! Always a favorite game at this age!

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Inspired by this simple milestone session? 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, and she also works with families at her Attleboro, MA studio and on location in Boston and on Cape Cod. 

The portrait studio is filled with neutrals, luxe fabrics, and 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.  

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A Boho and Peony Milestone Session with Corinne

Peonies have long been my favorite flower. We had them on the tables at our wedding, and I even made my own wedding bouquet full of these fluffy pink beauties. I have a vase of faux peonies on our nightstand, and we planted six peony bushes in our front yard when we moved into our house.

This spring I am so excited to use these beautiful blooms in the studio! Corinne came to the studio for a boho milestone session filled with peonies, and I love the dreamy look of her portraits! Her romper & floral crown were the perfect complements to these flowers.

She had the cutest little giggle, and I was so happy that we captured this whole-body laugh!

Funny faces are my favorite! We always capture the smiles, the serious faces, and the faces filled with wonder… but the ones where they scrunch up their faces into the cutest little expressions always make me smile!

A 6 month milestone session for baby Ella

Ella is one of our Baby Planners, and I loved seeing how much she has grown when she came to the studio for her 6 month milestone session! It’s always amazing to watch these little babies during the first year as they begin to master new skills and really come into their personalities, and Little Miss Ella was no exception. This girl is so happy & smiley, and she truly rocked her portrait session!

Ella LOVED hanging out on this tiny bed that we just added to the prop closet. Her favorite part was using it as a teething toy, hahaha! Once she realized she could fit the wooden rails in her mouth she didn’t want to let go, and it had us all cracking up watching how excited she was!

Then we did a few portraits on our big girl bed (a.k.a. the white fluffy adult sized bed!). Ella’s mama packed the cutest white onesie with lace eyelet sleeves, and I love how simple and classic it looked in this all white set up. The lace ruffles really made it special!

Have a favorite toy or doll? Be sure to bring it to your baby’s milestone session! These cuddle + kind dolls have been making an appearance in many of our sessions for the past year or two, and I love it when they’re the same size as the babies!

Ella’s mama and daddy’s favorite portraits were in this chair with the mauve romper from our studio closet. We probably only spent about 2 minutes in this set up, but Ella brought out all of the smiles and belly laughs for so many adorable portraits! Here are just a few favorites!

Baby Outfit Ideas | Wardrobe Inspiration for Your Baby's Milestone Portrait Session

You’re so excited!!! You just booked your baby’s milestone session and you can’t wait to capture their little smile, that tiny curl of hair, and those adorable chubby legs that you love to cover in kisses. These portraits are always some of my favorites

But wait a second… what does a baby wear to a milestone session?!?!

This is probably your first time dressing your baby for portraits (after all, they just wore a swaddle in their newborn photos!), but I’ve dressed hundreds of babies for their portrait sessions and I have plenty of ideas to make it easier for you.

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OUTFIT INSPIRATION FOR YOUR MILESTONE SESSION

Flaunt those itty bitty baby features that you love so much.

Babies are only this little for a little while, and their elbow dimples, chunky thigh rolls, and puffy little tummies are the cutest things ever about this stage. Show it off! I recommend avoiding dresses that cover the legs — instead, choose rompers for baby girls to give them room to move their legs and find their toes. For boys, wearing just a pair of pants to show that cute baby belly is so classic. Plus, you’ll see those photos and just want to smooch that perfect little belly!

There’s nothing more classic than a simple white onesie.

I did my son’s monthly photos in a white onesie, and I always suggest clients go for this look when they want a few simple and extremely classic portraits. They make some cute ones with ruffles and eyelet lace details on the sleeves for baby girls if you’re looking for something a little special, too!

Go for a pop of color against our all white studio!

Pale blue, lavender, aqua, and pink all look amazing against our white walls, couch, and bed!

Make sure baby can move freely.

Opt for fabrics with a little stretch so baby can reach, crawl, and wiggle. After all, they’ve been practicing all of these new skills so let them use their whole body and show us what they can do!

Go barefoot.

Yes, baby shoes are cute, but they don’t look cute in photographs because you can only see the soles of the feet. Let’s show off their toes instead!

Show some skin.

When they’re this little, baby boys & baby girls are oh so sweet with their cute little baby bellies and soft arm rolls. Don’t be afraid to have one of their “outfits” be just a diaper, diaper cover, or a pair of knit pants! We can always use a soft blanket to cover up, too — and to play peek-a-boo!

Ruffles & lace.

Both beautiful options in photographs. You can’t go wrong with these sweet feminine details.

Consider fabric textures and your baby’s sensitive skin.

Remember when you were a kid and your mom dressed you in a scratchy tulle dress or itchy wool tights? You were miserable. Let’s give your baby the best shot at a happy session by making sure they are cool, comfortable, and content. Use soft fabrics that won’t irritate their skin. Opt for knitted fabrics (think sweater knit, not jersey knit) for a truly beautiful texture in photographs.

Avoid anything crocheted for the best portraits — even though sweet Aunt Sally was so excited to give you that crocheted turtle outfit, I’ve found that these are usually made with cheap yarn that cause the babies to sweat and immediately get a red heat rash on their skin. Then they’re crying and inconsolable the rest of the session. Nobody wants that! Plus, crocheted items don’t usually fall right on their little bodies the way clothing that is knitted can hug them beautifully. Thank your dear Aunt Sally, snap a cell phone pic, and share that with her. ;o)

Neutrals never go out of style.

Avoid anything too busy, bold, or neon. Neutrals look amazing with details like stripes, lace, eyelet lace, smocking, buttons, and knitted textures.

Still not sure what to wear? Check out our studio closet filled with beautiful options for your little one! If you’re thinking of wearing a studio outfit, let me know ahead of time what size your baby is and which outfits you have in mind and I will let you know if they’ll fit and get them ready for you ahead of time. Plus, be sure to ask me what’s new in the closet because we’re always adding new pieces for families to enjoy!

Baby Starr | Peekaboo! A Simple White Studio Session with a Blanket

Grayson gets more expressive by the day, and these 9-month portraits are some of my favorites from the year so far! He received this handmade blanket as a gift at our baby shower, and he had so much fun playing peek-a-boo on the bed in our studio.

Grayson has two bottom teeth, and he has started doing a little crooked smile to show them off. It’s so cute!

This month he also started doing an adorable head tilt when looking up at us, and I am so happy I captured that on camera. This portrait is definitely going up on the wall!

Rolls upon rolls upon rolls! At 22 pounds, there is so much squish to love and kiss on our little guy! I can’t even decide which I love more — the arm rolls or those LEGS!

Nora's Six Month Milestone Session

Six month old babies are definitely at the top of the list of my favorite things to photograph.

Nora came to our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for her milestone session, and she was all about showing off those two adorable new teeth! This sweet baby girl was right on the brink of learning to crawl when we did her portraits, and she was happiest on her tummy while moving her little arms and legs as if she were swimming.

Nora’s mama chose a few outfits from our studio wardrobe for her session — did you see that WE HAVE AN ENTIRE BABY CLOSET FILLED WITH OUTFITS for your little one’s portraits? You can show up with just your diaper bag and we’ll do the rest to help you create beautiful portraits with outfits and a style you’ll love!

Nora’s big brother Greyson joined us for a few sibling portraits, and he did such a great job getting his baby sister to smile. He is such an amazing big brother!

A 6 Month Studio Session for Baby Charlotte

Charlotte is one of our Baby Planners, and she came to the studio for her 6-month milestone session with the cutest outfits and the most adorable smile!

I love this age so much! Once babies start sitting up they really start showing off their personalities, and Charlotte was such a gem. She is a very playful baby and she showed us so many different smiles & expressions. It was hard to choose just a few favorites from her gallery!

I always love including these shots with mom or dad’s hands reaching in to catch or help support the baby. While some photographers might edit that out or throw the shot away, I love capturing this little moment that shows how you were always there for your baby. You have their back, you always catch them, and you’re watching right over their shoulder as they slowly start to gain independence and try out new skills, ready to help if they need it.

A 9 Month Milestone Session for Elias with Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

You know what is an often-overlooked age for milestone sessions, yet it’s one of my FAVORITE ages ever to photograph?

Nine month olds who are in the sitting & crawling stage. These are the happiest babies, and they’re into everything but they can’t run away yet. ;o)

Elias joined me at the studio for his nine month portraits, and I loved getting to play with this smiley little guy who loved showing off his brand new teeth!

At this age, many babies are pulling themselves up and they can balance pretty well when holding on to something. This makes for some adorable shots of them standing on the sofa or holding on to a stool!

He came with a traditional Moroccan outfit to honor his family’s heritage, and while he was more interested in eating the shoes than in wearing them, he definitely looked cute doing it!

We finished Elias’s milestone session with a bathtub splash — they’re not just for cake smashes, you know! He loved the soap bubbles, and I loved that you could see all of his adorable rolls on his arms and legs. What a little cutie!

A 9 Month Milestone Session with a Sunflower Milk Bath | Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

I just love our Baby Plan sessions!  I've been following along on Evvie's journey her whole first year, starting back last summer with a maternity session and seeing her every few months for new milestones.  She came to the studio for her 9 month/sitter session, and we decided to sneak in a few family portraits on a beautiful summer morning.  

I love this red and white checked dress on her.  Evvie's daddy picked it out.  Isn't she adorable?

Since Evvie has been coming to the studio all year for her milestone sessions, we like to get creative with one set up each time.  This time we did a cute little beach session, and I love the waves and starfish that go perfectly with her seersucker swimsuit.

Evvie is a breastfeeding champion, and her mama has worked hard with Evvie this year to continue their BF journey for so long.  She wanted to celebrate with a milk bath in the studio, and Evvie loved it!  We added some sunflowers for a nice little touch of summer.

Floral Crowns and Teepees | A Milestone Session for Everleigh | Saratoga Springs NY Baby Photographer

Usually we go for a super simply & classic look in our milestone sessions here at our Saratoga Springs baby photography studio, but sometimes it's fun to add a little bit of flair & whimsy.  That's exactly what we did for little miss Everleigh, who joined me for her 8 month milestone session.  

In planning her session, I told her mama that I had everything available at the studio for her baby girl, including outfits.  She showed up with just her baby & a diaper bag, and left the rest to me!  We used a beautiful floral crown with a simple diaper cover from the studio closet, and later a blush pink and lace romper and a fluffy beige tutu -- also from the studio closet!

And Everleigh was one happy little girl!  She loved sitting up, crawling, and showing off her clapping skills, and she giggled the entire time!  I was excited to use our boho teepee (check out this DIY tutorial to make your own -- it's one of the most popular and most pinned post on our blog!) with the perfect pink and peach floral crown.  

The studio bed is another favorite for our milestone sessions, and Everleigh loved having a soft space to cozy up on and crawl around!  Plus, the moment she had those pearls in her hand she was smiling, laughing, and shaking them all over the place!

Thinking of a milestone session for your growing baby?  Let's chat!  

A Simply Baby Milestone Session with Elena, 7 months

Sweet little Elena flew all the way across the country for her milestone session at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio! 

Elena's mama wanted to capture these portraits before her teeth grew in, and we fit her in just in time as her first tooth was starting to come in right around the same time as her session.  Teething was no problem for this happy little girl, and she was an absolute dream during her session -- filled with personality, sparkling eyes, and so much curiosity!

I love our Milestone Sessions because the babies get to be the star of the show.  We don't need a lot of props and clutter because I believe that your baby is absolutely perfect, and I want their personality to shine through in their portraits. 

We use our simple white wood backdrop, our fluffy white bed, and our cream colored couch for most of these milestone sessions.  Sometimes we'll use bump blankets or scarves for a hint of color, or my natural wood or woven props like baskets, benches, stools, and crates to give baby something to sit on or climb on.  The soft furry rug is always a favorite and babies love sitting on it, the soft texture calming them down immediately.  But that's it!  We keep it simple so that your baby can truly shine.

Our baby milestone sessions are all about the details.  The ones that you don't want to forget 15 years from now. 

The little dimples on their elbows. 

Those rolls on their baby thighs. 

The way your baby played with her toes for hours and hours. 

The way she turned her head just so to look at you, with her tiny little chin turning up towards your face.

The way her fine baby hair curled at the nape of her neck, just barely brushing her collar in soft wisps.

One of my favorite milestones to capture in baby's first year is when they're sitting up on their own unassisted.  This is usually between months 6-9.  But another favorite is around months 3-4 when they're rocking tummy time, smiling, and holding their head up on their own! 

Check out Quinn's 3 month session here on the blog for an entirely different stage of milestones, and then let's plan your baby's next portraits here at the studio!