New Milford High School Senior Prom 2017

Tony, Will and Evan stopped by the Planet Photo studio on their way to the New Milford High School Senior Prom at the Amber Room. I have known them since 1st grade of Hill and Plain School and photographed them many times through the years, but especially over the last year as some of the first members of the 2K17 tribe. They all looked so handsome and happy to be prom bound and probably even happier to be in the final few weeks of high school! Tony has been accepted into the Musical Theater program at Western Connecticut State University, Will is on his way to study business at University of Connecticut and Evan will be playing lacrosse and studying at Lebanon Valley in Pennsylvania.

Will and Stephanie went on to be crowned the Prom King and Queen and it sounds like everyone had a fabulous time. Both Angela and Stephanie work at the Bank Street Movie Theater so we had to get a couple of shots with some movie theater co-workers, they turned out to be some of my favorites from the day.

Good luck guys. I am so excited to hear what the future brings!

Janet xo

Teen Portraits CT Studio and Location Fashion shoot

Teen Portraits CT – Taylor

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be a fashion model for the day?

Taylor is part of the Planet Photo Tribe so she has taken part in a few photo shoots over the last year but this one was different. We planned and styled this individual shoot around her and she chose a combination of studio fashion shots and locations around the town that she has grown up in, so we kept our fingers crossed for the weather to cooperate so that we could be outside!

The day of the shoot arrived and first stop is professional camera ready make up at the studio. Taylor probably has twice as much make up and is at least four times as much talent as I do, but she was still overflowing with excitement to have the full make over experience with Stacey from Blush Couture. She had inspiration photos on her phone (always helpful!) and of course she looked stunning in all her outfits. Most importantly, she was relaxed and confident in front of the camera.

I think it was Coco Chanel who said, “Confidence is the best outfit, rock it and own it”

We braved the wind and chilly day to get some shots outside and the “wind machine” effect actually worked to our benefit LOL! I shared some of my favorite nooks around downtown New Milford and literally stopped traffic and drew a crowd for a couple of the 19 Main shots! Location is everything, but it doesn’t have to be a beautiful field of flowers or an elegant formal building, we found beauty in the most unexpected places.

Taylor is going to be back for the 2K18 Planet Photo Tribe so you will be seeing more of this beautiful young lady. I am so excited to get started on the group and concept shoots that are planned for this year so keep checking back or subscribe to get the blog updates. Taylor is developing an interest in being behind the camera too, so hopefully she will be sharing some of her images soon.

Whether celebrating a milestone birthday, a change of schools or just because they are changing EVERY DAY, remember that teens deserve portraits too!

Thanks for stopping by!

Janet

Hair by my Bank Street neighbors: Joes Salon and Spa

Concept Photo Shoot with Gels New Milford CT Photographer

Tribe Concept Photo Shoot

One of the benefits of being part of the Planet Photo Tribe is that I invite them to be part of concept shoots, it might be a technical aspect of photography or just something cool that I want to experiment with. This shoot was a shooting challenge from Seniors Ignite, to use gels creatively in a photo shoot. I enlisted Olivia and Avery to help me out and we ventured out of the studio into the alleyways of New Milford 🙂

You are probably asking yourself, What is a gel?

“A color gel or color filter , also known as lighting gel or simply gel, is a transparent colored material that is used in theater, event production, photography, videography and cinematography to color light and for color correction.”

That might be the actual definition but what it really translates to is another AMAZING photography trick to make portraits different and to convey a mood in an unconventional way. I love warm tones but I have to say I actually prefer the look of the cooler blue gel.

I guess I should also mention that Avery and Olivia were featured on the Seniors Ignite Master Series Welcome to the Best of the Best! Avery was a master of the hair flip which is not as easy as it looks. I am so proud of the whole 2K17 Tribe, they have been a great group to work and collaborate with. If you are still thinking about joining the 2K18 Planet Photo Tribe time is running out and enrollment is closing SOON!

High School Senior Portraits CT Photographer

High School Senior Portraits CT – Will

A senior portrait session should reflect YOUR personality.

I literally twitch when I hear about the school portrait day. Girls are draped in black and the guys wear a fake jacket and bow tie so that everyone is guaranteed to look alike. Cookie cutter portraits in the year book are fine, I guess, but a senior deserves so much more to remember this important year.

When planning your senior portraits ask yourself these questions: What has defined your high school experience? Do you march in the band? Play football? Lacrosse? Tennis? Are there places that mean so much to you that they bring a flood of memories? The answers will help you choose locations, themes and the style of your shoot.

Will is a member of the New Milford High School Band so we incorporated some images with his mellophone into his shoot. He is also a really accomplished tennis player and a member of the high school tennis team, who has spent many summer days on the tennis courts of the New Milford Tennis and Swim Club, so we had to stop there!

Take a look at Will’s senior portraits, I am so glad they didn’t settle for the cookie cutter option! Including his sister Meg (and Tipper the family dog) into a couple of shots was great, I even encourage parents to jump in if they are available.

I can’t wait to hear what the future holds for Will but his parents will always have these portraits to remind them of this special time.

Are you graduating high school in 2017? It is not too late to schedule a senior portrait shoot!

Teen Photo Shoot Studio Portraits of Caitlin

Teen Photo Shoot – Caitlin

Finding a time to schedule a photo shoot is hard for all of us. We are all busy. I know, we all get busier every year and don’t know how we will fit one more thing into our schedules, but you have to get out your calendar and find that gap. Caitlin’s schedule has been crazy with Amity High School Dance Team, competitions, rehearsing for the upcoming production of Fiddler on the Roof and keeping up her grades in her freshman year at high school.

But we found the time.

Do you think her family will regret making time to capture this moment in her life? Teens deserve portraits too!

So of course we had a blast; Stacey did an AMAZING job on Caitlin’s make-up, she brought some killer outfits and being in front of the camera over the past year meant that she was relaxed and completely natural. And she had her gold dance team sneakers. Seriously? What more did we need?!?

Caty is part of the Planet Photo 2K17 tribe and (spoiler alert) she will be back for the next season! I am so happy to have her, not just because I can stand opposite her and look her in the eye (I am a total sucker for my fellow tall girls) but she is a smart, funny and an absolute pleasure to work with. Oh and she killed it at her shoot!!!!

Oh the fun we will have this year, so many things in the planning stages and so many fun shoots in the making. I can’t wait!!!

Janet xo

Passion Portrait CT Senior Photographer

Katelyn’s Passion Portrait

Do you have something in your life that both excites you and calms you? Something that just feels right? Do you feel the need to create something or express yourself through music, dance, sports, or art? The lucky ones do!

Katelyn is a member of the 2K17 Tribe and she is also an amazing artist. We wanted to celebrate that with a passion portrait photo shoot in the studio. I think that Katelyn is lucky to have found art and I hope that her talents will continue to bring her immense joy. Whether that joy comes in the form of art school or a life long hobby remains to be seen.

I totally put her on the spot when she walked in the studio and I began unrolling the white seamless paper and asked her to draw something! She barely hesitated. She picked up her pens and started to draw. (Can we talk about the marker suitcase that she arrived with….. I had some big time marker envy. Who knew that there are at least 100 shades of blue marker!!)

“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire”

The things that you are passionate about are not random, they are your calling.

What is your calling? I’d love to hear from you.

Prom Prep and Portraits Party Prom Portraits

Prom Prep and Portraits Party

This year I am so excited to be offering a unique experience for prom.

Come to the Planet Photo Studio on Bank Street in New Milford and get hair styling by Meagan of Rebel Hair and make up by Stacey of Blush Couture ON THE DAY OF PROM for editorial style portraits. Bring your date or come with your best friends. You don’t have to pay for hair and make up twice but you can still have a mini photo shoot and have the portraits you really want on the day of prom.

Doing your own hair and make up and still want portraits? – No problem! Just mention that when booking!

While you are here you can book a time to come back and view your portraits. If you book hair and make up we’ll even add a FREE 8×10 print.

By the way, have you ever been to Sabrina Style in Sandy Hook? The selection of prom dresses is seriously OUT OF THIS WORLD! It kind of made me wish that I was 17 again and getting ready for senior prom but without all the high school drama! Sabrina’s styled our shoot and every dress was more incredible than the last. If you are looking for a prom dress then head over and tell them I sent you – she has a special surprise for you!

See you soon!

Janet xo

Winter Wonderland Model Tribe Shoot Dikes Point New Milford

Winter Wonderland – Planet Photo Tribe

We finally got snow! And lots of it…… so time for some winter portraits!

I met a few of the girls from the Planet Photo Tribe out on the shores of Candlewood Lake to have some fun in the snow. Dikes Point is stunning year round. It is the perfect vantage point to appreciate the fall colors and summer boat rides, but on this day the lake was smooth and as calm as could be. Candlewood Lake is usually a great winter destination for ice fisherman, ice skaters and daring snow mobile rides but not this year….. the lake has yet to totally freeze. As everyone keeps saying, it’s early yet, we could still have a lot more snow and many more days of freezing temperatures. I guess you just have to be careful what you wish for!

Thanks to Avery, Kaitlyn, Olivia and Sam for braving the cold and sharing a hot chocolate with me at the lake!

Stay warm!

Janet xo

Some of the group concept shoots are planned out in advance and some are added last minute to take advantage of a particular situation. A combination of 12 inches of fresh powder snow and 40 degree weather meant that we HAD to go out and shoot so this was a last minute add-on for the Planet Photo Tribe! Check back for our next group shoot.

CT photographer ct teens friends new milford ct Senior Photographer CT teens

California Dreaming with the We are the SEEN winning models

What happens if you are chosen as one of the 12 Undiscovered “We are the SEEN” winning models?

You are invited to a weekend long model portfolio shoot and a shoot-out with over 30 of the industry’s top senior photographers. This year we met in Palm Springs California! These 12 models were chosen from 800+ entries from around the country for this amazing opportunity for an incredible, once in a lifetime, styled shoot.

The locations were OUT of the this WORLD!

We started out shooting at the incredibly hip and 60’s inspired Ace Hotel, then moved to The Lautner Hotel. The Lautner Hotel and Compound is an architectural gem, a collection of three boutique properties that have been masterfully restored and designed. It has been featured in countless magazines and fashion campaigns so it was PERFECTION for our shoot! We ended the day out in the middle of the desert at a windmill farm…. I know really?

The models were KILLER in front of the camera.

The other photographers who attended were super fun and collaborative.

We want the standard of high school senior and teen portrait photography to be raised every year and we challenge each other to make it better for ALL our clients. It’s a win-win for everyone and so fun to be part of this group.

The images are to die for!

You are going to love them ALL.

Of course, unfortunately we don’t all live within driving distance of Palm Springs but what is to say that we don’t plan a destination session for your senior portrait session? Together we can design and style a portrait experience that you will NEVER forget. Whether you can imagine your self on the fashion streets of New York City or Boston or you prefer an island getaway, together we can make it happen.

Credits for the Palm Springs Shoot:

Styling: Cassie McBride

Hair: Suzii Andrews @suziiandrews and Genevieve Gian @genevievegianhair

Make Up: Krista Kemp @kristask and Jami Cox @redbettie7

We are the SEEN Shootout Senior photography CT Portraits

We are the SEEN Shootout 2017

In one week I am heading out to the Palm Springs We are the SEEN Shootout! I am so thrilled to be part of this incredible group; learning, expanding my experience of photographing seniors and networking with some of the most respected senior photographers from around the country. I am hoping to take one of my senior model tribe next year. Will it be you?

I want you to see just how amazing the experience can be for the 12 Undiscovered Models and I can only imagine just how incredible their portfolio of images will be after the weekend. This time last year I was in Las Vegas, check out the video from the 2016 Shootout.

{{ Las Vegas }} from Katherine Mendieta on Vimeo.

How can you be part of this experience?

When you book a SEEN Headliner Senior session then you entry to the We are the SEEN competition is included.

If you are an outgoing high school senior who loves to be photographed then you can be part of the 2KEIGHTEEN Model Tribe!

I will be holding meetings in late March, fill out the questionnaire if you want to be there.