Sara Zarrella Photography is a full-service Rhode Island family photographer offering maternity, newborn, and family sessions. Through the details below, we’ve put together a full guide to help you navigate booking a session, including information on cost, preparing for your photoshoot, and how to have fun and allow your memories to unfold.

Table of Contents

• Family Photography Packages & Cost
• Full Session
• Petite Sessions
• Mini Seasonal Sessions
• Maternity Photography RI
• Newborn Photography RI
• Cake Smash Pictures
• Rhode Island Family Photographer
• Booking Your Session
• Our Mission

Family Photography Packages We Offer in Rhode Island

Full session

A full photoshoot (in-studio or on location) is for the family who desires a full service experience that leaves you with photo albums and printed photos to hang in your home. A full in-studio or on-location photography session gives you time together as a family, but also an heirloom-quality product. As Rhode Island family photographers, we often advocate for opting for a full session, with printed photos. There’s something to be said for the joyful reminder of photos in your home, allowing you to recall a time when your children were so little, as you continue to watch them grow and navigate the world. If you’ve selected a package with prints and albums, once your photos are prepared, you will return to the studio, and we will help you select your favorite images.

Average Cost of a Full In-Studio Newborn, Family, or Maternity Session in RI

Our families typically invest anywhere from $750 (just digital photos) to $2600 (digital photos, prints, and Storybook albums) for a full session. Your session fee to book your session is $250, and you do not need to decide ahead of time which products and prints you feel are a better fit. Wait till you see your photographs and then decide what to put on your wall or to go in your Storybook Album.

Petite Sessions

Petite Sessions are somewhat similar to the experience of booking a full photoshoot experience (in-studio or on location). You and your family will enjoy a fully immersive photoshoot with one another in the location of your choosing. A petite session allows you a glimpse into all of the images captures, from which you can pick your favorite 10 digital images.

Average Cost of Petite Family or Maternity Photoshoot in RI

Though this experience is not available for a newborn photoshoot, it can still be selected for maternity, milestone, 1st birthday or family photography. Petite photography sessions average in cost for $850 and are simpler and more streamlined, intended for those who desire a quick and easy process.

Mini Seasonal Sessions

Our children and family seasonal mini photoshoots offer the flexibility of a discounted rate and are only available throughout select times of the year. Mini sessions are for families who want to refresh their current family photos or have a fun experience together to honor the year. They offer a setup drawn on the current season with vibrant greenery for spring, leaves falling in autumn, a walk on the beach during summer, or a fun holiday-themed session with or without Santa Claus in attendance.

Mini sessions provide you with a selection of digital photos. However, if you desire an all-encompassing experience that leaves you with photo albums and printed photos, we highly recommend inquiring about a more individualized full photoshoot.

Average Cost of Seasonal Mini Session Photoshoots in RI

Our mini sessions begin with a deposit of $50 to secure your date and time and include an added collection of images for $489, putting your total cost of seasonal or holiday-themed photos in RI at $539.

Maternity Photography RI

As Rhode Island wedding photographers, we often hear from our couples in the years following their vows when they share the joyous news that their family is expanding. Our legacy couples have a special place in our hearts, giving us the honor of being there for the milestone moments of their lives. Whether you are preparing to welcome your first baby or your third, this special moment of carrying your baby safely into the world is one worthy of celebrating with heirloom-quality portraits.

Our maternity photoshoots typically last around 45 minutes, making it a manageable but enjoyable experience. You will be given access to our full collection of props and our maternity client closet to curate the photoshoot of your dreams. We provide a collection of flowing, long dresses and skirts with timeless appeal, along with accessories such as headpieces to accentuate your look.

If you want to make your maternity photoshoot an experience enjoyed side by side with your partner, we recommend that they keep their look clean and simple with a crisp button-down shirt and a pair of blue jeans.

When to Book Your Rhode Island Maternity Photographer

The ideal time to capture your maternity photos is between 32-36 weeks when your beautiful bump is visible, but you are still comfortable enough to move throughout your photoshoot. As your Rhode Island maternity photographer, we recommend reaching out to us at the beginning of your second trimester so that we can plan your photoshoot accordingly.

Newborn Photography RI – Enjoy an In-Studio Experience

Our newborn photography experience in RI is one of the few types of photography that we only offer as a full session. While it can be daunting to leave your home with your sweet newborn for the very first time, our studio is clean and comfortable, meets safety standards, provides a welcoming environment for families, and houses all of our wraps, props, setups, and baskets. 

We also have a changing table in the event that your little one needs a break and a quick refresh, and a comfortable couch for you to relax in while we curate unforgettable memories of your sweet baby’s arrival.

We highly recommend bringing your newborn into the studio for their photos around the age of two weeks old. However, we know that the birthing experience is a process of healing for mother and child, and this can sometimes be an unexpected journey. If you and your baby need more time to heal before coming in for newborn photos, then we will photograph them outside the two-week mark. The most important thing is for everyone to be safe and comfortable.

Preparing Your Newborn for Their Photos

Our in-studio newborn photography experience in Rhode Island is around 2 hours long, allowing plenty of time to stop as needed to feed and change baby. Prior to your arrival at the studio, we recommend trying to keep baby awake for at least 1 hour prior. Once you are in the studio, a quick feed is the best way for the baby to nod off into dreamland, and our photography experience will begin. If you have introduced a pacifier, please bring the pacifier with you to soothe baby as needed during posing. Rubber soothie pacifiers are best because they do not leave marks on baby’s face.

If you want to get in front of the camera with your sweet baby, or have brand new big brothers and sisters who would like to join in on the session, please let us know ahead of time, and we will plan accordingly. Wondering what to wear? Neutral-toned wardrobe items are best, such as a simple t-shirt for boys and a neutral tank top dress for girls. You’ll want to avoid clothing with logos, patterns, and bright, bold colors, which tend to clash with the natural, organic setup of a newborn photoshoot.

Do you offer in-home newborn photos?

If an in-studio newborn photography experience is not a fit for your family, we offer the alternative of lifestyle photos in your home. These are photos without the use of props and setups that occur within the spaces of your home where you spend the most amount of time: your baby’s nursery, your bedroom, and your living room. Typically, lifestyle newborn photos happen around the 1-month mark of the baby’s arrival, and images are curated with a welcoming sense of family, focused on the moments you enjoy together every day in your home.

Cake Smash Pictures

Your cherished little one is getting ready to celebrate their first birthday. It’s been a year of exciting growth with fun, new milestones emerging on a daily basis. They are alert and aware of the world around them, and they are adventuring their way through life. First birthdays are celebrated in our photography studio with cake smash pictures. 

The process begins with creativity and design. What do you envision for the backdrop of your baby’s first birthday photos? Do you have a sense of color or thematic presence that we should explore? Send it to us! Once we’ve received your ideas, we’ll take care of everything. From cake to backdrop and decor, our RI photography studio will be set for your baby’s first birthday portraits.

We typically begin with a few classic photos of your baby before moving on to cake. This will give you the space to create those cherished portraits of them in their fancy birthday outfit before they dig into cake and frosting. You can bring a second outfit for their cake smash, or we can work with your baby in a diaper cover or even a tutu. We have an entire client closet full of clothes you can use during your visit to our studio. That way, they can dive in, and you won’t have to worry about frosting stains on clothes full of crumbs.

The final portion of our cake smash photography experience is befitting of the celebration, it’s tubby time. Baby will get in a tot-sized tub full of tepid water to finish their session. Wondering which package to select for your baby’s RI cake smash pictures? Many of our clients choose the petite session.

Working with a Rhode Island Family Photographer

After maternity and baby’s first year of milestones, what comes next? Many of our legacy couples choose to work with us, their Rhode Island family photographer, year after year. Whether it’s through the seasonal mini sessions mentioned above, or for a full in-studio photography experience. 

As your children begin to grow, they quickly go from sleepy baby to adventuring toddler. They are naturally curious about their surroundings and the world around them, wanting to see and experience everything. It may seem like a difficult time to schedule a session with a Rhode Island family photographer, but as parents ourselves, we understand that children were made for exploration, and we would never expect them to sit still and smile for the camera.

It’s ok if your child wanders around. In fact, if we work with you in an outdoor setting to capture your family portraits, we highly encourage it! The element of fun, the infectious giggles, and the time spent with your children are what’s most important, allowing us to create genuine memories and images filled with the special love that your family shares.

As difficult as it might feel at times, allow us to lead the way. If you are in the moment, having fun, your child will follow your lead, and we will steer your photography experience each step of the way, allowing the magic to unfold.

Book your Rhode Island Family, Maternity, and Newborn Photographer

Sara Zarrella Photography welcomes all families to work with us in the studio or through an outdoor seasonal photoshoot. Wondering what the next steps are to get started? Browse through our services page to learn more about our offerings, or view our mini sessions to see if there’s an upcoming date that works best for you. Once you’ve decided on the type of experience that best fits your family’s needs, click inquire to get in touch with us. We’d love to hear your ideas and help you celebrate your beautiful family.

Our Mission as Rhode Island Family, Maternity, and Newborn Photographers

Each year, 3% of profits from Sara Zarrella Photography is donated to The March of Dimes. You can learn more about why the March of Dimes is an organization close to our hearts, and hear Sara’s story about her son Thomas, when you visit this link.