Woodbridge CT Senior Portraits – Tory

Woodbridge CT Senior Portraits

Meet Tory!

I loved Tory’s senior session. No, seriously, I LOVED Tory’s senior portrait session. It was so FUN getting to know her and, of yeah, she was a dream to photograph.

Tory and her mom came to visit the studio and we talked about her interests; who she was, what made her unique, what will trigger memories of the high school years and we came up with a plan. Now, the planning stage is one of my favorite parts. It’s not just about what to wear and where to go, it is all about who you are. What makes you YOU? And how can I capture that in a few hours in a portrait session?

Tory has a danced so we had to incorporate that, I thought the hip hop might be better outside so we picked the outfit and I started to pick the locations. Ballet was in the studio, can you believe Tory’s mom saved her first pair of ballet slippers?

She used to ride all the time so we wanted to incorporate that somehow and she LOVES fashion so that crept in throughout the shoot. She was a model for the day and boy, did she bring IT! Thanks to Candlelight Farms for letting us shoot at the horse barn, it was a beautiful evening and the horses were very welcoming.

Tory had loads of great clothes, and I don’t really believe in going out and buying an entire new wardrobe for your shoot, but what girl can resist a little shopping before a portrait session? She found this perfect dress and I am so glad she did!

Tory, I am excited to see what the future holds for you. Good luck in your senior year!

Janet xo

How do you want to be photographed? I would love to help you plan your unique portrait experience. Contact Planet Photo to set up a free consultation!

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New Milford Portrait Photography – Abbi

New Milford Portrait Photography

Abbi

Abbi is a member of the Planet Photo Tribe so I asked her to meet me at the studio so that I could try out a couple of new outfits and techniques. Well of course that turned into a crazy dress up, fun afternoon,when I didn’t even want to put my camera down….. You’ll be seeing more of the photos but here is a little taste of some of the things we experimented with.

Backlight. You’ve seen my studio window and you know how wonderful the light is in the studio, but by shooting in front of the window we get an incredible rim of light in Abbi’s hair. I am crazy about this look!

I had seen her in her “little black dress” at a New Milford High School awards dinner at the end of the school year so I asked her to bring that along for a couple of shots – I love her in it!

Who doesn’t love to play dress up?
Portrait sessions can be held in the studio, on location or a combination of both. Contact me to book your ultimate portrait experience.

Thanks Abbi!

CT High School Photography – Katelyn Class of 2018

CT High School Photography

Katelyn Class of 2018

Can I just start out by saying, I love photographing Katelyn.

She has a classically beautiful face with creamy skin and expressive eyes, so the camera absolutely loves her! I have been obsessing about photoshoots in sunflowers for a couple of weeks (I know, I am weird, I get an idea in my head and I just can’t let it go…..) so I got a bee in my bonnet about finding a sunflower field and shooting there. Luckily Katelyn and her mom loved the idea. Buttonwood Farm was a bit of a drive and I have to admit, the closer we got the more nervous I was to see that it was worth it. Thankfully as soon as we turned the corner and saw the rolling fields of sunflowers I relaxed – it was TOTALLY worth the drive!

Buttonwood Farm is family owned since 1975, and they’re famous for farm fresh ice cream and growing sunflowers for a good cause. Every year they raise funds for the CT chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation selling bunches of sunflowers and inviting the public to experience the sunflower fields over a two week period. I think the amount raised in 2017 is close to $130,000 so not too shabby. The fact that they had about 50 flavors of delicious homemade ice cream just made the experience even sweeter. (In case you were wondering I got coconut and coffee but the sundaes looked out of this world…. Katelyn picked peanut butter flavored ice cream which would literally be my 49th choice out of the 50 but it was her sundae and she liked it. If you are curious, then bubblegum would be my absolute last resort, I could only eat it if I absolutely had to, flavor choice)

What will you pick for the back drop for your next portrait session? Would you choose a natural location or would you prefer an urban environment? I help each and every client to style their own unique shoot.

Amazing Make Up: Blush Couture

Planet Photo for the ultimate CT High School Photography experience

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Water, water, everywhere…. a CT Teen Photo Shoot

Water, water, everywhere….

a CT Teen Photo Shoot

So all good concept shoots start with an idea, I sit on it for a few days and then it develops into a Pinterest board where I gather all kinds of inspiration images and start to narrow the focus of what I want to shoot. A message goes out to the Planet Photo Tribe and this time Nora, Olivia, Taylor and Avery answered the call and we set the date.

In a week of sun and almost 90 degrees temps, of course we picked the day when the temperature dropped 20 degrees and the rain started. So the debate began… to reschedule or not?

On the plus side; I had four tribe members ready to go, there was a gap in the rain right at our shoot time and the weather would probably mean that we would have the place to ourselves.

On the other hand, the weather was supposed to be hot again all weekend but that would probably mean that the river would be teaming with people…..we decided to go for it.

I am so glad we did!

Thanks to Avery, Nora, Olivia and Taylor for getting into the river for our water shoot. Judging by the images we got on our concept shoot, I really think that every portrait session should end with a dip in the river – what do you think?

Do YOU dare?

Taylor’s dress and Avery’s outfit came from Forever 21
Olivia’s pants were from American Eagle
Nora’s dress was her own 😉

Taylor helped with make up for the shoot and she rocked it – I think I see a future there….

If you are thinking of booking a teen or senior portrait shoot then we can incorporate multiple locations and concepts into your shoot. I personally plan all the sessions to be as unique and individual as we all are. You let me know if you are more of a wall art person or an album person, that helps to compose shots and make sure you get lots of choices. Don’t worry, I help with that part too. I can design a collection of portraits for your wall or a beautiful press printed album.

Portraits should never be boring!

Janet xo

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CT High School Senior Photography – Mike

CT High School Senior Photography

New Milford High School Graduate Mike

When we were talking about locations for Mike’s senior session I asked the usual questions. What have been your biggest interests in high school? How have you spent most of your time? Which locations mean the most to you? What are your overriding memories of your high school career? We put all the answers together and it became quite apparent that we had to plan a trip to New York City.

You see Mike played baseball and golf and he also played and marched with the New Milford High School band. He was section leader for the low brass section, playing the sousaphone and the trombone, all great things to incorporate into his senior session, but what led us to New York city? Well every Sunday for his senior year Mike travelled into Lincoln Center and played jazz with a group there. Every Sunday in the Upper West Side in NYC? Well there we had it; we needed to go to Lincoln Center and we had to walk over into Central Park and capture that aspect of his senior year! An excuse to spend the day in the city? I love location shoots!

We met again a few weeks later because there were some New Milford hang outs that Mike wanted to include. I had a blast spending time with him and I can not wait to hear what the future brings for this bright, articulate and extremely talented young man.

Good luck at University of Hartford studying acoustical engineering and jazz!

Do not let the high school senior pictures represent your senior year! Each Planet Photo high school senior session is unique and designed to show your personality, your interests and your style.

Contact Janet to schedule your free consultation. It is not too late for 2017 high school graduates!

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Sweet as Sugar – Teen Photography Concept Shoot

Sweet as Sugar!

A teen photography concept shoot

The Planet Photo Tribe have been looking forward to the sweet as sugar concept shoot for a while. We were invited to shoot at Tasty Waves on Main Street in New Milford so lots of candy AND frozen yoghurt. Tasty Waves has become a New Milford staple so the tribe was happy to shoot there. Thanks to Abbi for helping the rest of the Tribe with some sweet make-up!

Sweet as sugar Cold as ice. Hurt me once, I’ll Break you twice

I looked into the expression Sweet as Sugar and found a song by an Australian song writer called Lenka. You really can be everything! And work on your simile skills at the same time!

As sly as a fox, as strong as an ox
As fast as a hare, as brave as a bear
As free as a bird, as neat as a word
As quiet as a mouse, as big as a house

All I wanna be, all I wanna be, oh
All I wanna be is everything

As mean as a wolf, as sharp as a tooth
As deep as a bite, as dark as the night
As sweet as a song, as right as a wrong
As long as a road, as ugly as a toad

As pretty as a picture hanging from a fixture
Strong like a family, strong as I wanna be
Bright as day, as light as play
As hard as nails, as grand as a whale

All I wanna be, all I wanna be, oh
All I wanna be is everything

As warm as the, the sun, as silly as fun
As cool as a tree, as scary as the sea
As hot as fire, cold as ice
Sweet as sugar and everything nice

As old as time, as straight as a line
As royal as a queen, as buzzed as a bee
Stealth as a tiger, smooth as a glider
Pure as a melody, pure as I wanna be

All I wanna be, all I wanna be, oh
All I wanna be is everything at once

Thanks to Abbi, Katelyn, Madie, Audrey and Sam for wearing lots of candy for our shoot. Have a sweet summer everyone!
Janet

A Connecticut Senior Concept Shoot at Five Guys

Connecticut Senior Concept Shoot

You know when an idea starts to form in your mind and you get completely carried away and excited with all the amazing possibilities? That’s what happened with this concept shoot… it started with the color RED. Then the brainstorming began and it turned into a game of work association…. red, Five Guys, retro, roller skates, graphic t’s, athletic shorts, high tube socks, RED! the car wash in New Milford, retro again, laundromat, 70’s, converse, Baywatch, RED!

A call went out to the Planet Photo Tribe for a last minute concept shoot and we were off and running. I tried to get the roller skates, they actually became a bit of an obsession I will readily admit, but it was just not meant to be 🙁

I think we managed to pull it off though – what do you think?

UPDATED! Seniors Ignite thought we pulled it off – we were featured on the Seniors Ignite website!

Five Guys was opening a new store in New Milford so we arranged to meet for lunch there and then the heavens opened for one of the many crazy heavy rainstorms we have been having of late in Connecticut – what is going on with the weather? It feels like we are living in a rainforest!! We moved indoors to the new (and much nicer than any laundromat I ever used) Stay Fresh Laundromat down the road to finish up our retro, red, 70’s vibe shoot.

Thank you to Abbi, Nora and Haegan who were amazing with their styling and their willingness to jump into my crazy concept.

If you are a Connecticut senior and want to schedule a session before you go off to college then I would love to hear from you!

Trumbull Animal Shelter cutest pet contest

Vote for the Cutest Pet!

The Planet Photo Tribe is raising awareness for Animal Shelter Pets this month. We visited Lynn at the Trumbull Animal Shelter and got to meet some of the current visitors. The cuteness factor was very high with a litter of puppies, 2 litters of kittens and a couple of the more mature dogs who had some serious personality. The shelter is clean, very well run and the animals there are the lucky ones. They have been taken in by the group to get them healthy, to get them out of dangerous situations, and to find them kind and loving homes. Lynn explained that donations are always needed though and gratefully accepted. At the moment they need have the greatest need for:

Kitten or Puppy Chow, Kitty litter and canned cat or dog food.

So how can you vote for your cutest pet pick?

Write the letter of your pick in the comments below for one point, but we will also be counting votes by taking donations! You can donate directly to the Trumbull Animal Shelter at 300 Church Hill Road in Trumbull or you can drop off a donation at the Planet Photo Studio at 53 Bank Street on June 17th (or call/text if you want to come another time)

If you want to donate to your local shelter that is fine too. Take a photo of your donation and text (203 313-1303) with the letter of the pet you would like to vote for.

For example, if you want to vote for Payton’s adorable dog then write the letter A on the bag somewhere and drop off your donation – it’s as simple as that!

One can of food = 5 points

One bag of puppy or kitten chow = 10 points

One container of kitty litter = 10 points

An ENORMOUS thank you to Lynn Dellabianca at the Trumbull Shelter for showing us around and coming into work on her day off to help us out. Now please help the Planet Photo Tribe to get some donations for all our local animal shelters.

New Fairfield High School Prom Prep – Lyndall

Lyndall chose to get ready for the New Fairfield High School Prom at the Planet Photo Studio so that her family could have some traditional portraits of her in her prom dress. I am so glad they did! Lyndall was anxious for the pampering to begin and with the help of her inspiration photos saved on her phone, Meagan and Stacey set to work on her prom hair and make up.

Her dress was absolutely stunning and she glowed with excitement when the transformation was complete. Lyndall has her heart set on a career in education and I can imagine that she will make an incredible teacher. She is outgoing, confident and has a unique sense of style, she was also part of the New Fairfield High School Marching band this year so we probably saw her at band competitions in during the marching season!

Lyndall had a fabulous time at her senior prom and her family have portraits to remember her day. It was a pleasure meeting you Lyndall, good luck studying education at Western Connecticut State University in the fall!

Janet xo

Make Up Blush Couture

Hair Hair by Meagan Jones

If you would like to have portraits in your prom dress it is not too late! Contact me to set up a free consultation, we can incorporate your prom dress into your personalized senior session.

Call or text 203 313-1303.

Red Nose Day 2017 with the 2K18 Tribe

Red Nose Day 2017

Through the power of entertainment, Red Nose Day raises awareness and money to help the kids who need it most, both at home and around the world. Every dollar raised on Facebook for #RedNoseDay through 6/15 will be matched by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation up to $1 million.

So what does your donation do? The money raised supports projects that ensure kids are safe, healthy, educated, and empowered. Red Nose Day funds programs in all 50 states and in some of the poorest communities in Latin America, Asia and Africa. Head over to the Red Nose Day website to make your donation. I am proud of the Planet Photo Tribe 2K18 for their support of this fun and easy way to bring attention to a very worthy cause.

Get ready—Red Nose Day is May 25. Post your pictures on social media and tag #rednoseday #getyournoseon