CT Family Photos – Alex and Abby in Harrybrooke Park

CT Family Photos

Alex and Abby in Harrybrooke Park

Abby turned one last month so we got together to celebrate! We started at the house so that Oreo could be part of the action (there’s a saying about kids and dogs but I can’t quite remember how it goes…..) Oreo was a super star and we got what we needed there in no time at all.

CT Family Photos

We headed over to Harrybrooke Park, New Milford’s beautiful hidden gem and we took the wagon for a walk. There are so many studies done on birth order and sibling personality traits that I am sure you can find scientific date to back up almost any theory. Let’s just say that Alex and Abby are pretty close in age and big brother Alex is social and extremely verbal for his age. Abby was as mellow as could be and clearly loved EVERYTHING her big brother did and said. And he has a lot to say!

It is always tricky to know what is going to work for a photo session with such little children. The wagon was a hit and kept Abby in one place and Alex busy taking his sister for a ride. Sunglasses were cute props to wear and to hold and snacking on pirates booty wasn’t too messy (and the pirates booty smiles cracked me up!) Remember if you bring a toy, snack, cup or prop then there is a chance that it will end up in every picture. Pick a small traditional toy or something fun to hold, keys distract for a few minutes but don’t really add to the end result. We played music and sang songs but if your child likes to hold the phone and dance then be prepared to see that phone in the photographs!

Are you thinking about CT Family photos? This is the busy season so call soon for availability!

Happy Birthday Gemma

A sunset walk at Silver Sands for Gemma’s 3rd Birthday Portraits!

Gemma’s mom Joya never disappoints when she is planning for birthday portraits! Gemma had the most adorable dress for her 3rd birthday and it was amazing to catch up with them all again.  It got a little chilly towards the end of the evening but nothing that a snuggle in Daddy’s arms couldn’t fix. Does she look familiar? Here she is as a newborn, on her first birthday and on her 2nd birthday. I love watching her grow up.

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Happy Birthday Gemma!

Love, Janet xo

 

Halloween Styled Photo Shoot

Halloween Styled Photo Shoot

Part II – In color

Thanks for all the great feedback on Part I of our Halloween styled shoot. We really did have a lot of fun and as “creepy amazing” as some of the images looked, we had lots of laughs and so many of the creative ideas came from the girls, so a huge thank you to them.

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Did you know…..The American Halloween tradition of “trick-or-treating” probably dates back to the early All Souls’ Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called “soul cakes” in return for their promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as “going a-souling” was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.

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The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time. Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of constant worry. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter. halloween styled photo shootmodel-tribe_halloween_harrybrooke_park_new-milford_ghosts__0018halloween styled photo shootmodel-tribe_halloween_harrybrooke_park_new-milford_ghosts__0023

When I was growing up in England dressing up for Halloween always centered on ghosts, witches and the more traditional side of Halloween. I don’t remember seeing jack-0-lanterns and the modern version of trick-or-treating and children dressing as princesses and super heroes seems to have been established in the US in the early 1950’s although I am pretty sure it is popular in lots of other countries now. One quarter of all the candy sold annually in the U.S. is purchased for Halloween – how crazy is that!

A huge thank you to Harrybrooke Park and the Harden House for our amazing location and there is still time to visit the haunted trail on October 28 and 29, 2016.

Happy Halloween!

Janet xo

 

Back to School Fashion 2016

Back To School Fashion Trends 2016

The Planet Photo Tribe at New Milford High School

Back to School in CT is the end of August so usually too hot for the fall fashion trends but for many middle and high schoolers planning out their outfits for the first week of school is what they look forward to the most!

So what can you expect to see in the classrooms this fall and winter?

Here are some of the Planet Photo model tribe with some of their favorite fall looks.

Long sweaters and cardigans seem to be everywhere and they are the cozy, wrap around your body style. Perfect with jeans or leggings but also adorable with a dress or skirt. Olivia paired her cardigan with jeans and Belle can extend her summer dress into fall by pairing it with a sundress and boots.

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Military jackets, bomber jackets and khaki green seems to have found its way into a lot of fall wardrobes. I haven’t seen much camo but lots of military inspired looks. Olivia rocked the bomber jacket and Taylor dressed up her simple khaki green T shirt with cute accessories and a denim shirt around her waist for cooler days.

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Sam and Avery look adorable in lightweight sweaters, with colored jeans and a summer dress and Belle’s wearing a long cardigan with raspberry colored jeans.

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Look for pinks, purples, reds and mix them up!back_to_school_fall_2016_model_tribe_0006Back_to_school_2016

Cozy flannel shirts paired with jeans or shorts are perfect for fall. Avery proves that layering is always in style!back_to_school_fall_2016_model_tribe_0008
Overalls are back, relaxed and unbuttoned on one side for a casual look.

What’s new with shoes?….. try metallic, vans or retro styled sneakers. Boot season will be upon us before we know it.

Look for denim and faux suede, skirts, dresses or pants – you can’t go wrong.
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Thanks to Taylor, Sam, Belle, Olivia and Avery of the Planet Photo Tribe for a great shoot! The clothes featured were a combination of the girls own with a selection of the 2016 American Eagle fall collection. Marshalls had the great long cozy sweaters and bomber jacket.

Have a great year girls!

Janet xo

Newborn Photographer New Milford CT – Mia Coco

Newborn Photographer New Milford CT

Welcome Mia Coco!

Mia was seven weeks old when she visited me in the studio. I had heard that she had lots of hair but I wasn’t quite prepared for this much hair and eyes that suck you right in!

I couldn’t wait to share a couple from Mia’s newborn session. There is lots of down time at a baby shoot, feedings, diaper changes, the usual new baby stuff so I always get to know the new parents pretty well. What a pleasure it was to meet both of them! You are in good hands Mia Coco <3

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CT Family – Welcome baby Greta

CT Family Photography

Welcome Baby Greta!

I was thrilled to welcome a new baby to this lovely family. I have followed Aine’s progress since she was a tiny baby to now; an energetic and enthusiastic, chatty big sister. It really is one of the nicest parts of my job to watch these children grow and change. Greta was a dream model baby and raised the question of nature or nurture one more time, was she so relaxed because she is number 2 or will it be part of her innate personality to be mellow??? I think some babies are born more relaxed than others but knowing what you are getting into and being able to interpret cues faster doesn’t hurt either! She really does look a lot like her big sister, I wonder if she will have Aine’s curls too?

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Doesn’t she have the most adorable mouth? It’s the details that we think we will remember forever that I love to capture. She will change and we’ll have the portraits to look back on.

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Look she smiled for the camera 🙂

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So sibling shots are usually a combination of bribery, coaxing, distraction and a very fast shutter!!! Aine was busy and she has that extremely healthy mix of love and indifference towards her baby sister. I am sure they will be great friends in the future though. There is nothing like the bond between sisters.

Congratulations to the whole family!

Janet xo

Danbury Fair Mall – CT Seniors

Danbury Fall Mall Carnival – CT Seniors

Bailey is one of my 2KSEVENTEEN tribe and she brought along a couple of friends – Lucy and Maddy, to hang out at the carnival at the Danbury Fair Mall. The mall takes it’s name from the historical Danbury Fair, it started as an agricultural fair in the 1800’s and the mall was built on the fairgrounds in the early 80’s.

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Bailey was celebrating one year of being cancer free that night (actually the real anniversary was the day before but she was helping at a car wash fund raiser all day). She does not want her cancer battle to define her story; there is so much more to this young woman than that, she is smart, funny, a talented dancer and a good friend, but we joked about celebrating with a photoshoot and cotton candy none the less!

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It was fun to incorporate the lights and craziness of the carnival into the shots with the girls and they did a great job. Part of a senior session is choosing a location that represents a part of your personality. If you want to invite friends along for support then we can talk about that too!

Congratulations to Bailey.

I am proud to have such a strong young woman on my team.

Janet xo

 

 

 

 

Couldn’t be cuter – Aiden – CT Portrait Photographer

Couldn’t be cuter….

Aiden!

CT Portrait Photographer

I met Nichole and Joe at Weir Farm in Wilton, CT. I seem to have been jinxed with bad weather forecasts when I book a session at Weir Farm so we switched our time to early in the morning and we did it again, we beat the rain!!! It was worth the gamble, I love it there.

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I love all kids (well most of them…. 😉 but I can honestly say that Aiden was one of the cutest 7 month olds I have ever met. Usually I have to jump up and down, make silly noises and pull out all the stops for a baby to look in my direction, not the case with Aiden. His smile was turned towards the camera from the get go and he was such a charmer. Seriously, look at that little face!

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A family session in an outdoor location is perfect for small children, we essentially went for a walk together and we got to hang out and catch up. I never want it to be stressful, I want the smiles to be genuine because we are having fun and the laughs to be real. The love between Nichole, Joe and Aiden was completely authentic.

I really hope to see this wonderful family again soon.

Enjoy!

Janet

 

 

Beautiful girls! Newtown CT Photography

Look at the beautiful girls in

the Planet Photo Model tribe!

Newtown CT Photography

Newtown CT Photography

When I first met some of the girls in our team we talked about our group shoots and tossed around some themes and ideas. The flower crown super girlie theme was a winner with this group! I mean really, who doesn’t want to have really pretty make up, amazing boho hair and wear a dress and a flower crown. I know, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but the goal here is to show you possibilities for your own teen or senior session and we had a blast with this one.

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I wanted to keep the look in the pastel family and I had some help from Lindsey’s mom making crowns. If I am being completely honest, she was much better than me and I begged her to stay longer and make just one more crown before she had to leave…. but we made it and I have to say I couldn’t have been happier with the outcome. We found a great Nature Place in Newtown and that was our backdrop. We could see a huge progression in the girls feeling comfortable in front of the camera since that first model shoot and they totally blew me away with their group posing, I can’t wait to see what these girls achieve over the year!

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So, thanks to Caty, Katelyn, Olivia T, Olivia R, Sam and Audrey for being our models and of course, Stacey of Blush Couture for make up and Meagan of Meagan Jones Hair for amazingly creative hair styling.

Enjoy!

Janet

We are the SEEN – Olivia and Avery BE SEEN

We are the SEEN –

One Light Challenge

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Be Unique. Be present. Be creative. Show your personality. Be different. Be SEEN!

Planet Photo is proud to be part of a national group of photographers showcasing the stories of “the Undiscovered” Do you have a story to tell?

Each month I will be shooting a different theme; it could be a style, a photographic technique or a specific location but a selection of the images will be submitted for publication in the SEEN Magazine. SEEN Magazine is a style + culture magazine for a new generation of the Undiscovered. At the end of the year 12 models are chosen by the We are the SEEN team for a location shoot with the very best senior photographers from all over the country.

Olivia and Avery modeled on this month’s challenge – one light source. I will be working with the 2KSEVENTEEN Planet Photo model team to create these monthly challenges. There are limited spots available on the team for High School Seniors, the teen program is full for the 2016-2017 season but I am booking teen sessions.

Do you want to BE SEEN?

 

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