Photo shoot at IKEA

teen photo shoot at IKEA CT

Tribe Photo Shoot Ikea

Pantone Blue Challenge

INTRODUCING CLASSIC BLUE: INSTILLING CALM, CONFIDENCE, AND CONNECTION, THIS ENDURING BLUE HUE HIGHLIGHTS OUR DESIRE FOR A DEPENDABLE AND STABLE FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO BUILD AS WE CROSS THE THRESHOLD INTO A NEW ERA.

I love to challenge myself with new and fun places and themes to shoot. One Collective posted a pantone blue photo challenge and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take some bright, vivid portraits with a photo shoot at IKEA in New Haven. Classic Blue represents stability and dependability, I thought we could all use a little of that in 2020!

A group or concept photo shoot usually starts with a theme and then develops by choosing how to interpret that theme, finding a location, styling the participants and then finally picking up my camera. We were really lucky to have Fiona from Joe’s Salon and Spa to help us with some edgy hair styles to go with our fun outfits. This was the first group shoot for the 2k21 Tribe and I think they did an amazing job! I am so excited to create some amazing images and get to know the team. 

Thanks to Susannah, Daniella, Erinn and Olivia for joining me in New Haven! 

teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT
teen photo shoot at IKEA CT

“Since 2000, Pantone’s color experts at the Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences. The selection process requires thoughtful consideration and trend analysis. including the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, popular travel destinations, as well as new lifestyles, playstyles, and socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures, and effects that impact color, relevant social media platforms and even upcoming sporting events that capture worldwide attention.

Twice a year Pantone hosts, in a European capital, a secret meeting of representatives from various nations’ color standards groups. After two days of presentations and debate, they choose a color for the following year.” – Pantone.com 

Featuring: @daniellamazzza⁠ @susannhah⁠ ⁠@erinnwilli24⁠ @oliviataub

Hair: @joessalonct⁠
Navy Dress: @freepeople⁠
Bag: @denisedcox⁠
Green Dress: @greylincollection⁠
⁠Yellow Dress: @susanamonaco⁠
⁠

 

The Planet Photo Tribe is an exciting opportunity for high school students in 10, 11 and 12th grade. We have fun planning creative shoots, collaborating with local businesses and being positive role models. 

If you would like to talk about teen portraits or plan your high school senior’s portrait session then don’t hesitate! Give me a call. In Frame: @daniellamazzza⁠

NMHS Senior Portraits Paige

NMHS Senior Portraits Paige

NMHS Senior Portraits Paige

New Milford, CT Portraits

Paige and her mom contacted me over the summer for senior portraits. Her mom grew up in the midwest where EVERYONE has senior portraits and she wanted that experience for her own rising NMHS senior. We were able to deliver, right down to the corn fields!

Paige has been involved in color guard at New Milford High School so we didn’t yet know what kind of season would be possible in this new COVID era, nor had she had chance to really look at colleges because of the lockdown. In fact we didn’t really know if school was going back in person at all, so it became even more important for her mom to celebrate this special time with a photo shoot of her high school senior.

I meet all my clients before the shoot to finalize styling and locations and I knew we were going to have so much fun. She brought some of her own pieces and we added a few things from the Planet Photo style closet. We decided to include some downtown Bank Street spots and then got the farm look her mom was hoping for! All good summer portrait shoot end in the water so we got those too. 

I loved hanging out with Paige and her mom and I wish her the very best of luck for her senior year and beyond! I can’t even tell you how much I love how her senior portraits came out, so take a look for yourself – she is stunning!

NMHS Senior Portraits Paige
NMHS Senior Portraits Paige
NMHS Senior Portraits Paige
NMHS Senior Portraits Paige
NMHS Senior Portraits Paige
NMHS Senior Portraits Paige
NMHS Senior Portraits Paige
senior portrait photographer new milford bridgewater kent washington roxbury high school unique beautiful professional
NMHS Senior Portraits Paige
NMHS Senior Portraits Paige

Choosing a location and styling the shoot is one of my favorite parts of the preparation. I love to match personalities with locations and styling with the colors of the location. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle that elevates your teen portraits to the next level. It’s my goal to deliver something unique, personal and memorable for all my clients. 

If you would like to talk about teen portraits or plan your high school senior’s portrait session then don’t hesitate! Give me a call. 

Serving Litchfield, Fairfield, New Haven counties and also available to travel. 

 

New York Portraits

New York Photo Shoot

Denim

"In the right denim a girl can conquer the world"

We took off our masks just long enough to shoot our New York Portraits in denim and if you look closely you’ll see us holding them in a couple of the shots.

We hadn’t been to New York since March so we were excited but nervous for our first day back shooting in the city. Images of New York fighting a pandemic have been on everyone’s mind and we wanted to wait until it was both safe and appropriate to be there. The tourist sights were reopening, the restaurants were welcoming outdoor diners and New Yorkers were getting back to normal life where they could.

It was time.

Sam, Belle, Olivia and I drove into Chelsea and started our day there, wandering the streets and surprised by how quiet everything was. This is one of my favorite areas of the city but it was strange and a little surreal. The area downtown was even quieter, the 911 museum and memorial were closed and the Oculus Transportation Terminal was missing the commuters and tourists that usually gather there. We took advantage of the open views and the girls brought some smiles and laughter to the almost empty streets.

I have been back to New York since this shoot and the streets are already more vibrant and much busier again. New York will be back – just wait and see!

Olivia’s Bardot High-Rise Flare Jeans Stoned Immaculate

Sam’s Two-Toned Denim Mini Skirt: Alice McCall

Olivia’s Majorly Cropped Top: Alice McCall

Game of Thrones Group Tribe Photo Shoot Kent Falls CT

Game of Thrones

Planet Photo Tribe

Photo Shoot Kent Falls CT

I have to admit I haven’t watched Game of Thrones!

I am in love with the styling though and absolutely crazy about the costumes and locations – we actually visited Iceland last year and heard over and over how parts of GOT was filmed there, but I felt like I was just too late to the party. Eight seasons to catch up? That is a lot of catching up!!!

My lack of personal watching history did not stop us for recreating a Game of Thrones theme for our Planet Photo Tribe group shoot. We had the perfect location (OK, I admit that I would have liked to fly to Iceland with the team but that was not quite in the budget….but we had the next best thing – Kent Falls State Park in Connecticut).

The falls usually freeze during the winter but you know what a crazy winter we had this year (do you remember our whiteout shoot with no snow?), so it was actually pretty warm on the day of our shoot. Can you even imagine how nervous I was on the drive up there? I was literally holding my breath when we turned into the parking lot. Thankfully, it was snowy, frozen and perfectly Game of Thrones-esque.

We were so excited to have Sue Snow from Deja Vudu Vintage as our stylist for this shoot. She has an eye for detail and a seemingly endless supply of amazing vintage clothes and accessories so she took our shoot to the next level.

It might have been unseasonably warm but it was still a little chilly standing on the ice waterfall so thank you to our models: Zoe, Sam, Cassie, Madi, Olivia and Julia.

I guess I can’t resist the hype any longer. Game of Thrones is the next thing on my binge watch list.

 

 

White on White group Tribe shoot teen senior portraits

White on White

Group Tribe Shoot

Everyone knows that you can’t count on the weather in New England. You’ve probably heard people say “if you don’t like the weather just wait 5 minutes”. Well we waited for the snow and it never came, but the rain sure did. So we moved our white on white  snowy, winter-wonderland group Tribe shoot indoors and made do with pretend snow balls and hot cocoa!

group tribe shoot
Did you ever read that book about snow, Miss Smilla’s Feelings for Snow? The Scandinavians apparently have hundreds of words to describe snow and frozen water in its various forms, not surprising when you consider that every snowflake is completely unique. I feel like we need more words to describe white… we probably had hundreds of versions between us but they were all beautiful. The Tribe did an amazing job of dressing in shades of white.

Thank you to Madisyn, Taylor, Cassie, Madi, Cadence, Zoe, Julia and Olivia for participating in our latest concept shoot. When you grow up in a small town then there is a really good chance that paths have crossed at some point or another. Have we met at a dance class or toddler program somewhere or have we been in the same school since Kindergarten? The girls love reconnecting with old friends!

Thank you to Seniors Ignite for featuring our shoot alongside some other amazing interpretations of the “whiteout” theme. Be sure to check them all out.

“Featured-On-UN-January-2019”

A New Years photoshoot Times Square NYC

Happy New Year

A celebration photoshoot in Times Square NYC

Almost every country celebrates New Year’s Eve in some way. If you live in the United States then the site of the ball dropping on Times Square is synonyms with the countdown to the New Year. Confetti, champagne, fireworks, glitz and glamour are all part of the New Year’s Eve celebration for many around the world. A time to reflect on the past and prepare and look forward to the future. How many people set New Year’s resolutions? It just feels natural to use the start of a new year as a turning point.

Times Square in December is busy, bustling and ALIVE with all walks of life and for some unknown reason lots of people dressed up as Elmo, Spiderman and Mario….. The famous billboards and signs cover every facade and are all around. Where tourists gather, vendors descend and you can’t walk five feet without being offered a bus tour, a restaurant coupon or discount tickets to a Broadway show. But it is magical and you feel like you are in the heart of New York City! Just blocks from Rockefeller Center, the Christmas tree, the department store holiday window displays and Radio City Music Hall but surrounded by Broadway and the musicals and plays that make it unique.

Madisyn, Julia and Olivia braved the cold and gave each other confidence to “work it girl” – they got lots of encouraging comments from passersby!! We were a few weeks early with our New Years celebration but we had a blast. 3000 pounds of confetti is dropped BY HAND at midnight, we even wrote messages on a couple of pieces.

Happy New Year to you all!

The Future is in their Hands Tribe Teen Photo Shoot CT

The Future is in their Hands

Planet Photo Tribe

Teen Photo Shoot CT

Much has been written about Generation Z. They are more tech savvy than previous generations, most don’t remember not having access to the internet via their phones and they multitask. They are also starting to express their opinions and frustrations with the current political system. Most American school kids experience drills to prepare for an active shooter situation and they want someone to do something about it. They care about the environment and animals, they have lived through the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements and they took notice.

The New York Times wrote: “Alex Dunphy from ‘Modern Family’ represents the Gen Z antidote, Alex is a true Gen Z: conscientious, hard-working, somewhat anxious and mindful of the future.”

The girls in the Planet Photo Tribe picked the issues that they feel most passionate about and we highlighted some of those things. They believe that we should PROTECT our schools, our planet, our children, our water supply, our food supply, the environment, animals, minorities and the earth.

They say NO to racial profiling, labeling, transphobia, violence, sexism, racism, fat shaming, homophobia.

For today’s teens, the nation’s first African-American president is less a historic breakthrough than a fact of life. It is the responsibility and privilege of Generation Z to vote and they intend to do so. They make up almost 25% of all Americans and THEY VOTE NEXT.

They are Stronger Together. The Future is Female. They Support Equal Rights……The future really is in their hands.

 

Photography CT Hamden Hall Skilyn

Photography Hamden Hall CT

Skylin – Class of 2019

The Undiscovered Model Competition Finalist!

The minute I met Sky I knew we were going to have an incredible shoot! She was the sweetest, outgoing girl you could possibly meet with a cute little sister and a really fun mom. When I asked her about her high school experience and interests I was excited to figure out how we could incorporate her love of dance. She wanted a mix of urban and natural beauty so we actually met in Derby, CT. Now Derby doesn’t necessarily spring to mind when you think of a backdrop for a photoshoot…. but it actually was perfect for what we were looking for! Grace and beauty in an urban setting.

All Planet Photo Feature Seniors are invited to submit to The Undiscovered Model Competition and we are thrilled that Sky has made it to the Finalist stage! We find out on Friday if she will be one of the few winners chosen to go to Austin Texas in January for the ultimate destination model experience. You can see all the finalists on The Undiscovered In Print so you can see she is in good company, you might even see another Planet Photo Model – Maddie! Of course I am so proud of them both. All good vibes and luck accepted for both of them!!!

If you are class of 2020 or 2021 then you need to be part of Planet Photo’s model experience! Senior and Teen photography that shows just how unique you are. Drop me a line with Future Planet Photo Model Tribe Member in the subject line and I will make sure you are invited to the informational meetings in the spring.

Now booking Class of 2019 senior sessions!

 

 

Connecticut Photographer 2018 Summer Intern Nathalie

Connecticut Photographer

Meet Nathalie

Planet Photo Summer Intern

I was setting up the studio for the marathon Planet Photo Tribe intro shoot when Nathalie stopped by the studio for the first time. She had a resume in hand and told me a bit about herself…. she grew up near by, she had always been into photography, she was at college studying graphic design and photography. Would I be open to having a summer intern?

To be perfectly honest I was so distracted by the intro shoot that I put the resume on the desk and kind of forgot about it. But guess what? She followed up! A couple of days later she reached out again! So here is the “Lesson of the Day” for all those people out there looking for a job, trying to find more clients or generally just trying to get stuff done. When you follow up you are not bugging the person you are gently reminding them. Life happens. People forget or get distracted. I did and I am so glad Nathalie followed up!

teen photography 2018

She has been a huge help on shoots and behind the scenes and she also started the new @PlanetPhotoStyle instagram account. If you are not following it then you need to be! Most photographers will tell you that they prefer to be behind the camera but it is really helpful to experience both so we arranged a shoot for Nathalie. Our goal was to head to the fields and do a wildflower shoot but while I was waiting for Nathalie and Taylor to arrive I got distracted by some amazing graffiti shots and we decided we needed to add a bit of that too. She did great! So here she is… meet Nathalie!

teen photography 2018teen photography 2018teen photography 2018

 

 

 

 

Pool Party Photography 2K19 Tribe Friends

Pool Party Photography

2K19 Planet Photo Tribe

When Friends first hit the TV screen it was revolutionary. A show about a group of 20 something friends, hanging out, dating, working and living in a cool apartment in New York City. We all wondered how they could afford such an amazing apartment? Where did they buy their clothes? Should you get a Rachel or Monica haircut? Should Monica date Ross? Everyone kind of wanted to live the Friends lifestyle and be one of their friends.

Party PhotographyParty Photography

The 90’s TV line up soon filled up with similar shows; Melrose Place, Beverley Hills 90210, Dawson’s Creek, Baywatch, Saved by the Bell. They all centered on the interaction of friends and they all featured a boat load of DRAMA! We used the 90’s TV show as a springboard for our latest Planet Photo Tribe shoot and planned a pool party (minus the DRAMA!)

Party PhotographyParty PhotographyParty PhotographyParty Photography
Special thanks to Maddy M, Madi L, Madi S, Zoe and Julia for hanging out at our Planet Photo Tribe Pool Party!Party PhotographyParty Photography