Pear Tree Studio, North Hampton

In 2003, Nichole Poirier snapped a photo of her husband holding their 5-week-old daughter. This picture marked two beginnings: her new life as a mom and her new career as a professional photographer. Her parenting skills made her a natural fit for photographing newborns, though she also specializes in capturing images of families, high-school seniors, couples, and boudoir models. She prefers to conduct her sessions at locations meaningful to her clients, such as their favorite apple orchard or park, to elicit natural expressions for a mix of posed and candid images. That combination results in a varied portfolio of moments, from newlyweds tenderly embracing to a father telling his son “That’s why we can’t have nice things,” after he spills his first glass of milk.