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.

senior portraits CT

senior portraits CT

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.

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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.

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

 

 

We Are The SEEN – Finalist

We are the SEEN – Finalist Tony Harkin

You might have seen some of my recent posts about the We are the SEEN competition. I am sure some of you have been asking yourself, what’s the big deal? Well, let me tell you!

This year I joined a group of renowned senior photographers so that I could offer something extra special to Planet Photo Seniors; the chance to be featured in a national senior magazine and take part in an editorial fashion shoot in California. My Planet Photo Tribe Seniors are invited to submit an application and Tony was interested in applying. Next year I will be offering the We are the SEEN competition application as part of my Headline Senior Sessions.

It’s not just about the images (although don’t get me wrong, designing a session for submission is a really fun part of the process!) but each applicant must tell their story; why other seniors would want to see and read about them in the We are the SEEN magazine. What makes them unique? What makes them different?

This year there were over 800 applicants from all over the United States. Tony was a finalist. That’s the big deal. We’ll be doing something to celebrate his success in the new year, maybe our own shootout in New York city….. He won’t be traveling with me to Palm Springs as one of the “12 Undiscovered” but I am still incredibly proud of his achievement in the competition and throughout the year as part of the Planet Photo Tribe.janettaub-tonyharkin-compcardblog

I want to share Tony’s comp card and some of the other images we submitted with his application and I am including his story for you too.

“As I began to write this essay, I glanced around my bedroom. I had been attempting to come up with ideas for the better part of an hour, and was left with basically nothing. My eyes flitted about the room, and I realized that from my vantage point, the items I saw defined my whole life, my interests, hopes, and past. My 17 years of life were encapsulated in this collection of eclectic objects
One of the first things you see when you enter my room are my bookcases. I have two, one against a wall, one in my closet. Both are packed tightly with my books, as I personally own and treasure over 100 books. The books traverse all genres, authors, and eras, from Harry Potter to Stephen Hawking, with some Bertrand Russell and Shakespeare in the middle. I’ve always tried to learn as much as I could, and I love learning new trivia and facts, even or especially when they seem meaningless. This helped me a lot when I was 12, because I ended up getting on the show Kids Jeopardy (yes the real one, with Alex Trebek and all). Here my head for trivia really payed off, because I ended up winning. That love for knowledge continued. A few years ago, I got a question about the capital city of Madagascar wrong, and to better myself, I memorized every country’s capital, from Abu Dhabi to Zagreb. I always want to be as informed as possible, to help myself try to make a valid contribution to this world we live in.
My eyes slid past my bookcases and landed on my desk. I have a giant wooden desk that dominates the space, and currently it’s covered with college application materials. As a soon to be graduating senior, most of my free time is spent trying to figure out where the next 4 years of my life are going to be spent. Right now, I’m trying to attend Columbia University, my favorite college in my favorite city. Columbia has one of the best academic pedigrees available, while being in the largest city in the US, surrounded by theaters, museums, and restaurants. The only other major object on my desk is my record player. It was a gift last Christmas, and I use it nearly daily. I always need to have music playing in the background when I am trying to do homework. My music collection is almost as eclectic as my reading choices. My parents instilled me with an appreciation for the classics, so there is a healthy amount of artists like the Beatles and Billy Joel, but I also love newer artists that release work on vinyl, such as Jack Garratt and Raleigh Ritchie.
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Currently on my floor is my dance bag. For 10 years I have danced daily, for multiple hours, in ballet, jazz, tap, and acrobatics. I am lucky enough to have a phenomenal studio in my town that has managed to grant me some element of grace. My friends, passions, and future have all been defined by dance. Tap and acro gave a formerly nervous, fidgety kid an outlet for his explosive energy. Jazz helped me communicate my meaning, and ballet imbued me with strength. Possibly most importantly, they helped me realize that when I am older, I want to be a performer. Most of all, I want to be in musical theatre, perhaps one day even on Broadway. I haven’t been able to find anything that gives me the unbridled joy of performing, and hope to do it all my life.
My eyes complete their journey about the room and end on my mirror. For a moment I stare at my reflection. It’s the end of the day, so I’m wearing glasses over my tired eyes. My messy brown hair is tousled over my eyes, and I’m in a comically large brown sweater. Something clicks in my brain. I was supposed to write about my story, but my story is never ending. As long as I take my breath, my story will be evolving. I can not wait to see where it takes me next.”
Tony Harkin, November 2016

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we are the seen

Do you want to be one of the We are the SEEN 12?

I will be starting a new round on Planet Photo models in the spring, let me know if you want to hear how you can be part of the 2KEIGHTEEN Senior and Teen tribes. All of my Senior Tribe along with Headline Seniors get the opportunity to enter the competition. I don’t know where the final shootout will be next year yet but I can guarantee it will be an experience you will never forget.

Contact me for more information!

Janet xo

 

NMHS Senior Evan – Class of 2017

NMHS Senior Evan

Class of 2017

It was so fun planning NMHS Senior Evan’s portrait session. He had a couple of ideas for outfits and he really wanted to incorporate some familiar locations around New Milford, his hometown, into his shoot. He is a great athlete and is looking at schools with lacrosse programs but he knows that the courses matter most; he will need a good college education and he is driven to achieve that. I will let you know when he decides where the next stage will take place.

If you know New Milford then you know Bank St. Here is Evan at the newly renovated United Bank Building – 19 Main.

NMHS Senior

Evan has done a couple of shoots with me and you may remember he is also part of the Planet Photo team. Check out his lacrosse passion portrait from earlier this year. He got his headshot for the yearbook but see how many backgrounds he chose for his senior pictures! It is not too late to book your customized senior portrait session.

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New Milford Senior Photography, CT Seniors, CT Senior Portraits

 

Graduation Portrait session with Devin

Taking Sides

– A Graduation Portrait Session with Devin

Have you ever considered how light can affect your perception of a situation, how film makers set the scene by manipulation the light? Dark, moody, dramatic, romantic, harsh, bright, airy, soft, golden, broad, short. The list is far longer than I have listed but a photographer is also able to use this lighting bag of tricks to convey feeling and meaning in an image.graduation portraits
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This portrait series of Devin was part of a lighting challenge to use broad and short light.  She is an intelligent and confident young woman about to embark on a new chapter in her life. College life awaits her in the fall but this summer is a time to celebrate her transition; her past, her present and her very exciting future. I can’t wait to hear what the future has in store for this exceptional woman.

“Master-Series-Taking-Sides”

Oh by the way……Devin and I were chosen as part of the We are the SEEN master series #bestofthebest, so head over to see us and other examples of broad and short light from some of the leading senior photographers nation wide. I am constantly challenging myself to grow my photography skills and to offer a unique and modern portrait experience for my clients.

Make Up – Blush Couture

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

 

 

 

 

Teen Passion Portraits – Samantha

Teen Passion Portraits in the studio – Meet Samantha!

Sam is fun, bubbly, social and non-stop action kind of girl but she brings AMAZING focus and dedication to the karate mat. I wanted to show you just a little peek at both sides of her personality….

Sam trains with her Dad at Modern Self Defense and Training Center 

teen passion portraits

Teen sessions can be held at any time of year; either in the studio or on location (or both) and I love to highlight their personalities. Whether they are into dance at 10, karate at 13 and lacrosse at 16 or have had a pair of soccer cleats on since kindergarten, it doesn’t matter, everything is approached with dedication and PASSION! Capture those moments and celebrate them.

Find out more about Planet Photo Teen Sessions!

 

 

 

Senior Photographer CT – Passion Portrait

 

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Senior Photographer CT – Meet Evan

Evan is an amazing lacrosse player. He will be graduating from New Milford High School in 2017 and lacrosse will certainly be a part of his college life. His sister Emily graduated last year and she came along for his photo shoot debut!

Me: So, do you have any nicknames?

Evan: “Fetty-wap”, “Fedz”, “Federous” (they play on his last name so not as random as they sound…..)

Me: What is your favorite candy?

Evan: Tropical Skittles (definitely not one of my favorites….)

Me: What would be your dream job?

Evan: A Big Time movie actor

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Me: Who was your first crush?

Evan: Elisha Cuthbert (I had to google her too but OMG I remember her from 24)

Me: What is your biggest accomplishment so far in HS?

Evan: Making High Honors 

Me: Something to be really proud of – nice job! Do you have an unusual talent?

Evan: I can chugg a naked berry banana smoothie in 5 seconds

Me: Nice! What is your favorite brand?

Evan: Vans

Me: Three things you can’t live without

Evan: Lacrosse, friends, great movies

Me: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Evan: Happy, successful and famous!

Thanks for answering my questions Evan and I can’t wait to see you on the big screen in a scene with Elisha Cuthbert!!!

Janet xo
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Southbury CT Photographer – Happy Birthday!

Southbury CT Photographer – Happy 2nd Birthday Silas!

I just can’t believe how quickly these birthday milestones come around for my own children but it seems to go even faster for my Planet Photo family kids! Silas was a newborn when I met the family for the first time and I saw him again for one year photos but look at him now… a chatty, charming little dude with the nicest parents a kid could ever dream of. I met his parents at their house to show them their gallery and I got a chance to see all their framed Planet Photo images in their home – what a treat.

We lucked out with the weather and chose the golden hour at the end of the day for our session so we had amazing light. I love the images of him playing, running and of course snuggling with all his monsters, but my favorite is the image of him with him mom’s hands guiding him through life.

Enjoy!

Janet xo

southbury ct photographerGuiding Hands

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Silas just learned how to put his hands in his pockets and we were joking that he was practicing for his senior pictures!!! How cute is this little man?!?