Classic Family Portraits during a Newborn Session

Family portraits are one of my FAVORITE things to capture during a newborn session (even more than baby smiles!). I love watching new parents interact with their brand new baby, marveling at how tiny and perfect they are. I love seeing the size of the newborn in their parents’ hands. I love watching new moms “ahhhhh” over every little movement and expression.

There really is something so beautiful about being invited to capture these first family portraits for your family, and I truly enjoy watching the beauty unfold and seeing that magical bond you share with your baby.

This session was no exception, and I adore the collection of family portraits that this family chose to showcase on their walls at home. Scroll down for lots of tender moments with the new mom and dad, and their baby Rudy!

The all-white clothing for this session photographed SO beautifully and it kept the baby the focus of the images. I have a whole blog post filled with tips for choosing outfits for your newborn portrait session. Have you read it yet? Go check it out!

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Classic Studio Newborn Portraits for Baby Boy

Sibling portraits are some of my favorite images to create during newborn portrait sessions in my Saratoga Springs portrait studio. I absolutely adore watching toddlers in their new role as big brother or big sister as the cuddle up with their family’s newest addition. They always have the biggest, proudest smiles!

But sometimes, those are often the hardest portraits to capture of the entire session! Toddlers are wildly unpredictable and their attention moves so quickly from one thing to the next, so I have lots of tricks up my sleeve to get those portraits that melt mama’s heart of her two babies together, and to get them as quickly as possible so that big brother or big sister can get back to the important things in the studio — toys and snacks!

Big brother Elliott turned out to be one of the easiest big brothers I have had in the studio this summer! He was ready with the cutest smiles, and he loved hugging his new baby brother. He knew he was doing a great job, and he thoroughly enjoyed being the star of the show and getting to cuddle his new baby. We couldn’t stop laughing when he came over, let me click the shutter exactly one time with the most perfect smile, and then ran off to play some more. Hey, as long as we get that one perfect shot, we’re good! ;o)

Did you know that sibling portraits with young toddlers are often composites? This means that two photos are blended together in Photoshop. The number one reason I do this is for the baby’s safety!

Every newborn portrait session also includes family portraits, and cuddles with mama and dada are always the sweetest! Plus, I’m still obsessed with the soft clean light in the studio!

Wondering if a studio session is the right fit for you? Go to this blog post for a simple checklist to see if studio or lifestyle portraits are more your style!

Ahhhhhh, this one in dad’s hands is my fave!!

A newborn session wouldn’t be complete without sleepy portraits of the new baby! Ezra gave the cutest little yawn. I can’t decide which is cuter: newborn yawns or newborn smiles?

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Newborn Portrait Ideas - Sentimental Props to Bring to Your Newborn Session

What should I bring to my baby’s newborn session?

I get asked this question all the time, and while the easy answer is “Not a thing! Don’t worry, I have everything here that you need!”, the more complicated answer is, “Well, what’s important to your family? Is there anything special you want to incorporate in your baby’s first portraits?”

(By the way, if you’re wondering what to expect in your newborn session, check out this post with all the details here!)

My portrait style tends to lean towards simple, clean, classic images where the baby is the focus without too many props or distractions taking away from this perfect little being that you just welcomed into your family. However, I understand wanting to make your little one’s newborn portraits your own and I encourage finding beautiful and creative ways to incorporate something meaningful into their portraits. Here are a few of my favorite ideas!

Bring a favorite swaddle from home.

These custom name swaddles are very popular right now, and there are literally hundreds of beautiful designs on lightweight muslin swaddles. I’m sure you were gifted a dozen of them for your baby shower! If you have one with colors that you love or colors that match the nursery or your home decor, bring it! I always love incorporating swaddles into our newborn portraits, and we usually do them as a backdrop or layering blanket to be able to see the full design. Plus, every time you use that swaddle in the coming months you’ll think back to your favorite portrait of your little baby!

Here are a few of my favorite images using swaddles that parents brought from home.

Grandma’s handmade blanket, or another family heirloom.

The beige blanket in the floor of the image below was passed down from the baby’s great grandfather. So was the bonnet! How special that we got to use it in this sweet girl’s first portraits?!

If you have a blanket that has been passed down in the family, or one that a family member knit or crocheted for you and you would like to incorporate it into your session, just let me know!

Jewelry.

There are so many beautiful ways to incorporate a little sparkle into your little one’s portraits! I’ve had families arrive with pearls that were a first Mother’s Day present for mom and baby. Other families with bracelets that mom wore as a baby and now they fit baby. Families with prayer beads that they used during their journey to get pregnant. Families with necklaces passed down from Grandma to the baby, who was given that same grandmother’s name. Whatever meaningful piece that you have, don’t hesitate to incorporate it into your photographs!

A special prop to honor your family’s journey up to this moment.

Rainbow babies. Miracle babies. IVF babies. We’re so lucky to welcome every single baby into the studio for their portraits, and I know that no two journeys to parenthood are the same. Whatever led you here, feel free to honor that story in a special setup for your little one. From ultrasound pictures and photos of embryos, to pineapples to represent their IVF journey, to rainbow hearts and stuffed animals with their angel brother or sister’s heartbeat inside. Your portraits tell your story. Whatever is meaningful to your family should make its way into your portraits.

A nod to a parent’s career, heritage, or hobbies.

This part is so much fun! Think if there is something special that defines your family or that one or both partners like to do. If you’d like to incorporate it into your little one’s photographs, we can! Stethoscopes for doctors during Covid, wedding saris, hiking boots, a hat or badge from a police officer, wooden shoes for a Dutch family, hot air balloons for the family that met at the hot air balloon festival.

There are all things that I have loved incorporating into photographs, and I know there are so many more creative ideas, too! I can’t wait to see what you come up with to make your portraits your own!

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Welcome Baby Nathan! Newborn Portraits with Big Brother

This blog post comes with a story about your favorite photographer, too many boxes arriving in the mail, and the big reveal of this family’s heirloom album. ;o)

This sweet family ordered an album with all of their favorite newborn portraits, and I placed the order the day before I left for a week and a half on the Cape. For me, a week and a half by the sea is like hitting the reset button, so when I came home I could barely remember what I had done before leaving for the Cape.

When I came back to my studio I had a mountain of boxes waiting for me from my different portrait labs, and opening them felt a bit like Christmas morning because I couldn’t remember what was inside of them. Blame it on the mom brain, or blame it on the salt air.

But then I got to this one box. When I opened it up I saw the gray album box inside, and I remember lifting the cover and thinking, “Who’s album is this one?” Then I saw the sky blue linen and the soft colors in Nathan’s newborn portraits, and honestly I gasped when seeing how beautiful it all was together. This family wound up choosing the most perfect linen to complement their portraits, and the finished product was truly breathtaking. That was my favorite package I opened this summer, and I definitely enjoyed watching the family unwrap it a few days later to enjoy it for themselves!

Big brother Aiden was soooooo excited about his new role as big brother, and he gave us all the smiles! We captured so many sweet portraits of these two brothers together and I love all of the family ones, too. I’ve loved watching this family grow over the past couple of years, and it’s hard to believe that just a few short years ago they were brand new parents bringing their son to my old studio for his portrait session! Check out big brother’s newborn session from almost 3 years ago here!

We used some of the same colors and layers in Nathan’s newborn portraits as we did in his big brother’s a few years ago. I’m a huge fan of blues, grays, creams, and whites in newborn portraits, and I love how seamlessly they all go together!

Nathan’s mama gave me the biggest compliment when she was sitting in the studio during their session. She looked around and told me that the studio was so relaxing to be in, and that nearly three years ago as a new mom she had felt the same way. Despite all of the crazy unknowns of motherhood and the countless things that all of us mamas have to figure out in those first few weeks with a new baby, somehow I helped her feel more comfortable at least during those couple of hours she was here for her session. That made my heart so happy to hear.

Because yes, I want to give you beautiful portraits and artwork that you’re going to enjoy for generations. But more importantly I want you to embark on this journey of motherhood (or the next chapter of it if you’re welcoming baby #2 or #3!) and feel a little more confident, a little more understood, a little more prepared to take on the crazy unknowns. I’m a mom, too. I’ve literally gone through this exact same journey, and whatever it is you’re feeling, you’re not alone. That’s why I try so hard to connect with all of the families that I work with to see how they’re doing and offer any little tidbits that might make those first few weeks at home a little easier with the new baby.

Because your newborn session is not just about the photographs. It’s also about taking your baby out of the house for maybe the first time besides the pediatrician appointment, and connecting with another mama who has been in your shoes who can help you feel a little less lost and a little less alone.

Wondering what to expect in your newborn session? I’ve done this hundreds of times and my job is to make it as easy and stress-free as possible for you as a new parent! Check out this blog post for what to expect!

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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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Beautiful blush cream and newborn portraits for Baby Madison

As a newborn photographer, I don’t think I will ever grow tired of blush and cream for baby girl portraits. I absolutely love this soft color combination and it looks so beautiful on every sweet little baby. Madison joined me at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for her newborn session, and we used a mix of white, cream, blush pink, greenery, and dainty floral headbands for her first portraits. Just look how beautifully they all go together!

We always capture family portraits during our studio newborn sessions, and I love watching parents with their new baby. This one was one of our favorite portraits from the session, and I’m so happy that the parents love this image as much as I do!

Madison’s mama wore one of the dresses from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and it looked stunning on her. I have a closet filled with dresses to make it easy for new moms who aren’t sure what will fit and what will look good on them a week or two after they’ve given birth. When you don’t even have to worry about what to wear and your portraits look THIS GOOD, you know you’re going to love them, and love the whole portrait experience, too!

But how do you know if a studio newborn session is the right fit for you? We offer both lifestyle and studio newborn portrait sessions, and this blog post should give you a little more info to know what’s the best fit for your family’s needs!

Of course we captured so many darling portraits of this adorable baby girl. I love the lace accent layers that her mama chose to incorporate into her photographs. And of course, so many beautiful and colorful headbands, all handmade by my favorite vendor, Polka Dot Poppy.

Thinking about booking a newborn session but not sure what to expect? I’ll give you the full scoop in the blog post below!

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Newborn and Family Portraits for Baby Everett

The spring saw a baby boom here at the studio and I thoroughly enjoyed cuddling all of the sweet newborns that came to see me for their first portrait session.

Everett was one of the little cuties that came to the studio for his newborn portrait session, and we had such a great time with this sweet boy and couldn’t stop exclaiming over how adorably perfect he was. This sleepy baby boy was a dream to photograph, and we captured one pose after another with his mamas. I loved meeting this family and documenting this special time for them as they celebrated their son’s arrival, and I know they’re going to treasure their portraits (and the beautiful heirloom album we made with them!) for a long, long time.

Wondering what to expect during your newborn session? Check out the blog post below!

This close-up of baby sleeping in a parent’s hands is always one of my favorite poses during a newborn session! I love how small they look all curled up against their parent’s hands, and it’s always so sweet with their sleepy little smiles and their head resting on their arms like this!

Do you have a sentimental item you would like to incorporate into your newborn portraits? Bring it with you! We’ve had a lot of families incorporate jewelry lately (necklaces, bracelets), and this thumbprint necklace honoring the baby’s grandfather was an extra special touch.

Right after we got Everett changed and dressed to go home, he started showing off those stunning blue eyes. Of course we couldn’t resist a few more portraits, and his blue sleeper matched his eyes perfectly!

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Grace's Newborn Portraits with Two Big Brothers

The last time I saw this family they were welcoming their second little boy into their new home with a lifestyle portrait session, and now we celebrated again with the arrival of their daughter! The S family joined me at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for a newborn session for their baby girl, and we captured so many sweet and beautiful family portraits of this family of five. Their mama wore one of the most popular new dresses in the studio wardrobe, a gorgeous white maxi dress from Baltic Born that looks amazing on so many mamas and also happens to be my favorite style dress that we have, too!

Big brothers Charlie & Henry were in their element and they enjoyed every minute in the studio, especially the toy corner and the snack cart! Having all of these fun things to play with and enjoy in between shots made it easy for them to come in for the family & sibling portraits and give their very best smiles.

Wondering what to expect during your upcoming newborn session? Check out the full blog post here to know just what will happen when you come to the studio for your portrait session with your new baby!

Can you even believe how adorable and proud they are here with their baby sister Grace?!?!

For Grace’s individual newborn portraits we used a mix of whites, creams, ivory, and peach. Plus fresh tulips because I can’t resist stopping by the florist before my sessions in the spring!

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Elselina's Newborn Portraits with Tulips

Elselina Alice and her family are so special to me. I photographed her big brother, Willem, throughout his whole first year. We captured his newborn, fresh 48 and cake smash sessions. When their mama reached out about capturing her maternity and newborn portraits for Elselina, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I just LOVE these four.

Mama wore one of our gowns from the studio wardrobe. She looked absolutely stunning in it, too! I love knowing that my mamas have one less thing to worry about by using the client wardrobe. It’s all about making your newborn portraits a stress-free experience. Willem was the proudest big brother! He couldn’t wait to show off Elselina!

While planning their session, Elselina’s mama told me that the pineapple has become a universal symbol for families struggling with infertility. The fruit reminds women to "stand tall, wear a crown, and be sweet on the inside." It's a symbol meant to give women strength and solidarity when they are going through a difficult journey on their way to adding to their family. I love that this sweet family wanted to include pineapples to celebrate their miracle baby’s journey.

Since both Amy and her husband are Dutch, we also incorporated tulips to honor their heritage. They’re also Amy’s favorite flowers. I loved the touch of spring they brought to Elselina’s newborn portraits in the studio.

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Neutral Gray and White Newborn Portraits for Baby Easton

Little Baby Easton was a cuddly, snuggly little baby and I absolutely loved capturing his newborn portraits during his session at our Saratoga Springs newborn portrait studio. We used a mix of neutrals with mostly white and gray to match their home decor, and I love how everything came together so beautifully in these classic newborn portraits. These are a few favorites that his family chose to print for their home, and I know they’re going to love their new gallery wall with a mix of family portraits and baby portraits.

Want to know more about our printing options? From fine art prints and albums to matted prints and collection boxes, there are so many possibilities for how you can enjoy your artwork at home!

For many of my clients, this is their very first time doing a newborn session and they’re not quite sure what to expect. What do we wear, what if the baby cries, when do we feed the baby, what if he poops on everything…. I get it! There are so many questions before the session!

I reassure my clients that I have done this literally hundreds of times over the years, and it is my job to take the stress out of it for them and make it a seamless and enjoyable process for everybody.

That is why I spend so much time helping families know what to expect before their newborn session even begins, and then the day of I walk them through exactly what we will do to help everyone be comfortable. I’ve compiled a whole blog post filled with what to expect at your newborn session, and you can check it out here!

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Grayson Noah's newborn portraits with Big Brothers

This sweet baby boy is a NICU warrior. And so are his parents! His family waited a long time to bring him home, and when they finally did they celebrated with a portrait session to document his first days with his family & big brothers. We captured the sweetest family portraits of the five of them together at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio, plus plenty of baby Grayson all by himself. They did such a wonderful job coordinating outfits for everyone and I love how the neutral colors keep the focus on the family and the emotions. Don’t they look wonderful all cuddled up with their new baby boy?!

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Blush Pink Newborn Portraits with Adorable Big Sister

Baby Sienna was as sweet as can be! She joined me at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for her newborn session along with big sister Gianna, who I have been photographing since SHE was a little baby. I absolutely loved watching these two sisters together and capturing their very first portraits as a family of four. We used a lot of creams and blush pink to go along with Gianna’s previous sessions so that everything will coordinate beautifully on their gallery wall in the living room, and I just love how it all turned out!

Plus, I am officially in love with the white room we’ve built into the corner of the new studio. The light coming through the curtains is beyond magical and it is so soft and perfect in portraits. Don’t you just love these family portraits?!?! Mama looked amazing in the white lace dress from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and she chose the most adorable looks for big sister, too!

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Adorable newborn portraits with dainty flower headbands

Adorable Baby Melina joined me at our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for her newborn session, and I absolutely loved capturing these moments of this beautiful baby girl’s first days with her family. She had a head full of dark hair that looked so beautiful against all of the soft colors and dainty headbands in the studio and we had so much fun pulling together the blush pinks, creams, and neutrals for her first portraits.

Melina slept like a dream and was so easy to pose into those adorable, squishy baby poses. Her mama chose a mauve lace gown from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, which is our closet filled with dresses for mothers to borrow during their sessions. It looked amazing on her!

Big brother Vincent was so excited to welcome his new baby sister into the family, and we captured his excitement through great big smiles and giggles and lots of snuggly cuddles with his new sister.

I love it when parents choose this lace bonnet from our shelf for their newborn girl! Doesn’t Melina look so sweet in this?!

Her mama brought her favorite baby swaddle (above) and we incorporated it as a peachy layer in one of her portraits. The theme of her baby shower was mermaids and she received a little mermaid tail as a gift, which we were able to use in two portraits of Melina as well!

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Giuliana's Studio Newborn Portraits

Seriously now. This is quite possibly the CUTEST newborn photo I have ever taken:

Giuliana was a little sweetheart, and I loved capturing all of her different expressions during her newborn portrait session in my Saratoga Springs portrait studio. She was wide awake and happy for the first half of her session, and then she fell into a deep sleep and she curled right up into all of the little poses and wraps. I absolutely adore the portraits that we captured, and I’m excited to share them with you, too!

Her parents brought this little swaddle blanket from Caden Lane, and it was perfect as a blanket backdrop to show her name! I love when families bring beautiful swaddles from home to incorporate into their session. It always makes for extra personal portraits!

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Best of 2020 Newborn Sessions - Saratoga Springs Newborn Portrait Photographer

Wrapping up our Best of 2020 posts, I’m excited to share a peek at some of my favorite newborn portraits from last year! I was lucky enough to photograph so many sweet little babies, and I loved celebrating each one’s arrival with their family. Of course, the best part was the sweet little cuddles! More than 8 years into running this business, and I can still hardly believe that this is my job!

2020 was a little different because we were closed for three months in the spring at the start of the pandemic, but that gave me the opportunity to welcome so many older babies into the studio for their older newborn portraits in the summer! I loved working with these older babies. Their eye contact was amazing, they gave the sweetest smiles, they interacted with their parents, and they had gained a few pounds so those cheeks were beyond adorable! I fell in love with older newborn sessions, and I will definitely continue offering them for babies of all ages!

Loving the colors & the outfits in this blog post??? Me, too! Check out our wardrobe inspiration for newborn sessions here!

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Studio Newborn Portraits for Baby Boy and Big Brother

Can we talk about how awesome this big brother was?!?!

Luciano absolutely blew me away with how wonderful he was during his baby brother’s newborn session. Usually I expect toddlers to act like toddlers, which means I am always prepared for some hesitating, negotiating, games, bribes, possibly a couple of tears, lots of laughs, a few snack breaks, and more during newborn sessions with a new big brother or sister.

But Luciano? I couldn’t stop exclaiming to his mama how wonderful he was with his little baby brother, how patient he was for photos, and how cooperative he was the entire time!

So for all of the other mamas out there, let me repeat: I never expect perfect behavior and I never expect little angels during your portrait sessions. We capture them just as they are, but Luciano just so happened to be on his best behavior that day and it was a very pleasant surprise! We captured so many beautiful family portraits, and I love all of these!

Here he is shushing his baby brother with his mama!

Baby Antonio was so sweet and cuddly, and we captured so many adorable portraits of this sweet baby boy. I love the mix of neutrals and blues that we used in his portraits, and they will coordinate perfectly with their decor at home!

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Classic Newborn Portraits with Family Heirloom Knits

Ten little fingers and ten little toes. The most adorable little baby girl came to the studio, and we captured so many adorable portraits of her!

Wynn was wide awake when we started her session, and I loved capturing her curious eyes and wide-eyed stare in portraits. However, all newborns fall asleep eventually and Wynn did, too! We were able to capture some really adorable sleepy portraits of this sweet girl, and I love how beautifully they turned out with all of the neutral layers and headbands!

This one is my favorite. The bonnet and beige blanket were handmade family heirlooms passed down for generations. It was so special getting to incorporate them into her photographs! I love it when families bring sentimental items like these ones!

Of course, we couldn’t pass up the chance to do some pumpkin portraits for this fall baby! Blush pink and cream kept it fresh and girly.

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Newborn Portraits for Eloise with Saratoga Springs Baby Photographer

There’s nothing I love more than family portraits in neutral colors where the focus is on the family, the love, and all of that sweet emotion! Just look at those smiles, those cuddles, and the cute little kisses. This is one that will hang on the wall for many years!

This sweet mama brought her second daughter to our Saratoga Springs portrait studio for her newborn session, and I absolutely loved capturing these portraits for their family. It’s hard to believe that exactly two years ago we were documenting their first daughter’s arrival, and now here she is a big sister!

Eloise was absolutely perfect in every way. We captured a variety of portraits with blush pink and cream to match her big sister’s newborn portraits, and we incorporated a hint of greenery, too! I love the layering and textures it provides, don’t you?

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Studio Newborn Portraits for Baby Boy & Big Sister

When this sweet family reached out to plan their older newborn session, I knew we were going to capture the most adorable awake portraits of their sweet baby boy with his big sister. What I didn’t expect was how little Matteo would absolutely blow me away with his many expressions! He melted my heart, and I loved capturing his portraits.

So many families have had to delay their newborn portraits due to the closures during covid, but there are actually so many advantages to working with an older newborn for their first photo session. Matteo was a perfect example by giving us a mix of relaxed alert time, and also some deep sleep that allowed for easy posing and those classic sleepy newborn photos.

We chose lots of neutrals and blues to match this family’s decor at home, and these portraits are going to look amazing up on their walls for them to enjoy every day!

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Ravi's Newborn Portraits with a Beautiful Wedding Sari

Ravi’s newborn portrait session at our Saratoga Springs studio was extra special because his mama brought her wedding sari to use in the session! Scroll to the end to see this sweet baby boy’s portraits on the beautifully embroidered red and gold sari as a nod to his family’s heritage and to his parents’ story together!

We started this new Baby Planner’s session with family portraits, and I love all of the sweet cuddles we captured with the proud parents. So many (come on, it’s more like ALL!!!) new moms and dads are tired and exhausted when they bring their babies home, but I promise you that they never in a million years regret stepping in front of the camera to capture these snuggles with their new babies.

These are the portraits that I want my clients to look back on in 5 years, 10 years, 30 years and remember exactly what the weight of your baby on your chest felt like, how their tiny chest moved up and down with each breath, and the sound of those little squeaks as they settled into your arms to get comfortable. This is why I always encourage parents to step in front of the camera. The exhaustion will fade, but you’ll always be so glad you captured these memories.

Ravi’s birth announcements were also holiday cards, so we made sure to capture a few classic holiday portraits of their baby boy.

And finally, the beautiful wedding sari!

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