Preserving Your Family’s Story
How do you hope to experience the memories you’re creating today?
When you imagine your home years from now, your family photographs should be part of everyday life, greeting you in the hallway, filling the pages of a beloved album, and reminding your children just how deeply they are loved.
Nicole Hawkins Photography is a full-service portrait studio in Maplewood, New Jersey, offering a thoughtfully guided experience and timeless images designed to become part of your home and your family’s story.
Collections begin at $1200, and most families invest $1,490–$3,950 in their finished portrait collection.
For families seeking a shorter milestone session, petite Baby Studio Portrait Sessions are available on a limited basis beginning at $850.
All sessions include planning guidance, wardrobe access, professional retouching, and a private ordering appointment where we design your final collection of artwork and digital images together.
Beautiful portraits deserve to live beyond the screen.
Digital images bring peace of mind because they ensure your memories are preserved.
But the portraits families cherish most are the ones they see and hold every day: the album on the coffee table, the framed portrait your child walks past each morning, and the gallery wall that grows with them.
My role is to guide you through the entire process, from wardrobe and session planning to designing artwork that becomes part of your family’s history.
Artwork Designed for Your Home
CUSTOM WALL ART | HEIRLOOM ALBUMS | FINE ART PRINTSFine Art Prints & Framing
Portraits designed to live in your home.
Fine art prints and framed portraits allow your family photographs to become part of your everyday life. From a single portrait in the hallway to a custom-designed gallery wall, these pieces are created to be enjoyed for years in the home you share.
We are known for thoughtfully designed wall galleries, complete with professional installation. Custom wall galleries begin at $3,400.
Custom framed fine art portraits are available for both the wall and desktop. With more than 30 frame styles to choose from, including a premium line of sustainably harvested hardwood milled in the United States, each piece is crafted to complement your home beautifully.
Frame Collections begin at $1,790, with individual framed portraits available a la carte beginning at $850.
Matted fine art prints are perfect for framing on your own or gifting to family members. Matted Fine Art Print Collections begin at $1,490, with individual prints available to add to any collection or wall gallery.
Many families choose a Cornerstone Collection, which includes their favorite portraits beautifully preserved as artwork for the home while also providing digital files for personal archiving.
Custom Albums
Where Your Family’s Story Lives
A few favorite portraits may greet you in the hallway, but the full story of this season belongs in an heirloom album your family can hold, revisit, and share together for years, reminding your children just how deeply they are loved.
Because these sessions capture so many small moments of connection, many families choose an heirloom album to preserve the complete story of their time together.
When I design your custom album, the complete story comes to life. The sweetness of your little ones, the beauty of your child, and the quiet love between you all unfold page by page.
It becomes something you can hold in your hands, flip through with your children, and return to again and again as the years pass.
This is how your investment becomes your family’s legacy.
Each album is handcrafted in the United States with thick lay-flat pages. Fine art paper is specially coated to resist fingerprints and provide an added layer of protection so your album can be enjoyed for generations.
Customizations include beautiful cover materials and elegant debossing, making your album completely unique.
Most families choose an Album Collection, which includes a custom-designed heirloom album and a selection of favorite portraits as digital files for archiving.
Album Collections begin at $2,390.
Heirloom albums are also available a la carte beginning at $1,500.
How to Work With US
Signature Sessions in Studio
Signature studio sessions take place in my Maplewood studio and are ideal for milestone moments and family portraits. Each session is fully guided and designed to create timeless images for your home.
Sessions are reserved with a $290 creative fee, which includes planning guidance, access to the studio wardrobe, the photography session, and a private viewing appointment.
After your session, we will review your portraits together and select the images and artwork you would love to enjoy in your home.
Digital packages begin at $1,200, and most families invest $1,790+ depending on how many images they select and the artwork they choose for their home.
In addition to our Signature Studio Sessions, we offer a limited weekday milestone portrait experience for babies in their first year, as well as a petite studio maternity add-on for those booking a Signature newborn session in studio or at home.
Signature Sessions on Location
Signature in-home newborn sessions and outdoor family sessions are designed with finished artwork in mind. These relaxed lifestyle sessions capture the movement, connection, and personality of your family, resulting in albums and framed portraits that tell the story of this season of life in a natural and personal way.
The Signature on-location session fee is $390 and includes detailed planning, wardrobe or styling guidance, location selection, and a private design and ordering appointment, either in person or virtually. Additional preparation, travel, and custom setup allow these sessions to unfold naturally in your home or a beautiful outdoor setting.
Most in-home and outdoor clients invest $1,790–$3,950 depending on the artwork and albums they choose for their home.
Petite Baby Milestone Portraits in Studio
Designed for babies 4–12 months, this refined studio session captures your baby’s growing personality in a simple, timeless setting. These sessions are intentionally relaxed and focused on your baby — bright expressions, tiny details, and the joy of this fleeting stage.
Petite milestone sessions take place in our Maplewood studio Tuesday–Thursday at 10:30 AM or 1:30 PM.
The creative fee to reserve your session is $850, due at booking, and includes:
• 30-minute studio session
• classic white studio backdrop
• baby + one caregiver
• access to the studio wardrobe for one
• 7 hand-edited digital images of your choosing
After viewing your gallery, you are always welcome to upgrade for additional digital images or artwork if you fall in love with more.
Please note: Cake smash sessions, siblings, multiple backdrops, and extended family portraits are reserved for Signature Studio Sessions.
Multi-Session Portrait Membership for Newborns
Our Portrait Membership is perfect for busy parents who want to bottle up baby’s first year in the easiest, and most beautiful way possible.
Included in your Session Fee:
– choice of up to 4 Signature Sessions within 18 months
maternity - newborn - 3 months - 6 month - 9 months - 1 year
– $200 heirloom album credit after each session towards a first year baby book or family album, and
– priority scheduling during busy seasons.
Portrait Membership Session Fee – $750
Digital images and products purchased separately after each session.
Only 12 Portrait Memberships are available annually.
These twelve exclusive memberships book up fast—reserve your spot early to capture your baby’s first year effortlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely. For Signature Sessions, Grandparents are welcome in as many images as you’d like — I love capturing those special multi-generational connections.
Pups are always included in in home sessions, and well-trained pups are also welcome at the studio. For the best studio results, I recommend having an additional adult available to care for your dog when they’re not being photographed.
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Yes. My studio wardrobe includes an extensive selection for maternity and postpartum moms, babies and children up to age 8, stunning dresses for girls up to age 12 (featuring companies like Noralee and Tutu Du Monde) and even shirts for men.
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Hair and makeup services are not included, but I work with talented, trusted artists who can prepare you either at your home or in my studio before your session. I’m happy to coordinate this for you so it’s seamless.
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Every client receives a detailed in-person planning session (or virtual over Zoom, if preferred). During your appointment we will:
Review wardrobe and styling options
Discuss your inspiration and preferences for backdrop, posing, and style
Prioritize which images matter most (e.g., full family, siblings, individuals)
Talk about your children’s personalities so I can interact with them in a way that feels natural and fun
Review digital file options and look at artwork samples and create custom quotes for frames as needed.
This ensures the proof gallery I create is perfectly in line with your needs and budget.
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I remove the guesswork and stress from creating gorgeous images. Signature Sessions are truly custom, and every client recieves guidance on what to wear and the best images for their intended use.
My studio is designed for comfort, including cozy seating for family, an open floor plan so children — and moms during hair/makeup — feel relaxed and engaged.We also offer as much time as needed to create the images you envision. We do not schedule back to back photoshoots, so if you run late, or your baby needs some extra time to settle, it’s no problem at all.
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Yes. Many clients love walking away with tangible products to enjoy throughout their home, while others prefer a curated digital collection to print on their own when ready. You can choose either, or combine both.
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If you would like us to handle all printing and do not need high resolution digital files with a personal print release we offer web-size matching digital images for each print purchased. Web-sized digital images are perfect for enjoying on your phone and sharing on social media, but not suitable for print. Many clients want an album, a handful of favorite images as prints for the wall, and a few gift prints for family and the office.
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Signature Studio sessions have a $290 session fee, with digital collections start at $1200, and print and digital packages starting at $1490. Most families choose to invest more to enjoy additional images and fully finished artwork.
Our Studio Milestone Portrait Sessions have a flat fee of $850 and include 7 images with the option to upgrade to 10 images for $350 at your viewing appointment. Additional images may be added on if desired.
For clients looking to add a studio maternity session on to their Signature Newborn Session, we offer a petite studio maternity add on for $495 that includes 5 images. Upgrades are available.
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Yes. I provide complimentary wall gallery design with your order and professional frame installation for orders over $2,500. I also offer album design services so your portraits are preserved beautifully.
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Studio sessions take place Tuesday - Friday at 10:30 am or 1:30 pm. Afterschool and early evening studio photoshoots are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
In home newborn photoshoots take place Tuesday - Friday at 10:30 am.
Outdoor photoshoots take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays about 1.5 hours prior to sunset.
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We have very limited weekend availability; we offer one weekend photoshoot per month, typically in studio, Sunday at 10:30 am. Please reach out soon if you need a weekend photoshoot to discuss availability and rates.
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I was a corporate lawyer before building my photography studio—my attention to detail, responsiveness, and seamless process reflect years of experience in client care and high-end service.
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I recommend booking as early as possible to secure your preferred date, especially if you want a Friday session, during peak seasons and holidays. This also allows plenty of time for your planning appointment and for scheduling hair and makeup if desired.
Maternity photoshoots are scheduled for when clients are 28 weeks up to 32/35 weeks, ideally, but please don’t hesitate to reach out if you are further along to discuss options and check availability.
