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!

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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

 

 

Family Photographer Orange CT

Family Photographer Orange CT – Two little girls!

Mike and Kelly were some of my first clients and I adore them and their beautiful (and growing) family! Ella and Cora are as cute as can be and if they inherit their parents relaxed and fun approach to life then they are going to do great.

Cora was at that wonderful stage of sitting securely without crawling away – she was mellow and happy so we could have taken photos of her all day long. Some babies reach this stage around 5 months, some a little older but it really is a great stage to document, they can hold their head up high and you can capture some of those first signs of who they are. Once they start crawling and walking then it’s sometimes easier to get photos of the back of their head!

Every child is different and the beauty of a location shoot in a familiar setting is that we can move around and mix things up so that I can capture the personality of the little people in your family. I can’t wait to meet the new baby!!!!

Love, Janet xo   Family Photographer Orange CTFamily Photographer Orange CTFamily Photographer Orange CTPlanet-photo_orange_CT_family_maternity_milestone session_0004Family Photographer Orange CTFamily Photographer Orange CTFamily Photographer Orange CT

Newborn Photography CT – A baby sister!

Newborn Photography CT – A “Pinkalicious” Baby Sister!

I just love this little Bethel family. There is always something about each newborn photography session that makes each and every one just a little bit different. Whitney had put out a couple of hats and even had a crown for her little princess to wear the day we got together. If I remember correctly her Grandmother had hand knitted the hats and booties we used. I love that personal touch – we can’t all be knitters, but somehow or another, whether it be a photograph, a piece of jewelry or even a name, I see hints of the family history that these babies have inherited. I like to think that these images will become part of that family history as well to be shared with generations to come.

When my son was born I got a package of hand knitted sweaters that my Grandma made for my sister’s son. He was the first Great Grandson and she made sure he had a matinee jacket and matching booties for every day of the week! My nephews are in college now and those old fashioned looking (and not terribly practical) matinee jackets have been packed away after my children had their turn wearing them. Hopefully we’ll use them again (even if just for pictures!) and tell the story of Grandma Logan and her knitting prowess.  Maybe that will lead to other stories and an opportunity for family memories to be passed down to a new generation.

Enjoy this yummy, pink, perfect baby and congratulations to the whole family!

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I love how you can just see big sister Logan giving kisses here.

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Which is your favorite? I loved the second to last the moment I saw it…..but the booties and hat are pretty darn cute too!

Family Photo Session – Danbury, CT

Family Photo Session – Tarrywile Mansion, Danbury, CT

What an adorable family! Another set of twins, this time twin boys with the cutest big sister you could ever wish for. We met over at Tarrywile Mansion a few weeks ago for a family photo session when there were still leaves on the trees and the golden light of fall in New England. Mikey and Tracy have that great relaxed attitude of parents that are used to going with the flow and they didn’t try to micro-manage the shoot. We hung out and played in leaves, we played tag, got running hugs (another great perk of the job) and threw big chestnut “balls” around. I have a feeling they all slept well that night after an afternoon at Tarrywile – Mikey and Tracy earned a glass of wine for sure!!!!

So, I am asked all the time what the ideal age is to take family portraits and I have to say every age has it’s advantages and it’s challenges. One thing I have learned over the years is that you have to follow the lead of the kids and some of the best shots of the day are on the way back to the car. Kids are busy and curious and generally don’t want to sit and “smile pretty”….. so let’s not make them do that! Let’s have some fun and keep it light, the shots will come and the personalities of the family will hopefully shine through much more than any of the manufactured contrived “pretty shots”. I think you can tell that this is a family that has fun together – what do you think?

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Family Photos – Brookfield, CT

Family Photos – Brookfield, CT

This Brookfield CT extended family have a lot of energy between them! We met on a sunny but slightly chilly morning at Happy Landings Farm and they burst out of the cars ready and eager to run and chase each other around. Could you imagine trying to capture these six in a studio????

It was so fun to see how they interacted together and how comfortable they all were with each other. So often today families are scattered far and wide but this family gets the benefit of growing up knowing and loving their cousins. The big ones look out for the little ones and everyone joined in to help make each other smile and look in the direction of the camera!

Erin is a teacher and I imagine she’s a great one – her kids certainly respond well to her fun, outgoing personality.

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I love how the twins are literally doing laps around Mom, Dad and their baby brother – it looks like he is used to it though and not at all phased by the chaos!!!

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twins_cousins_brookfield_CT_familyI was blown away by the classic celtic coloring of this family, their red hair is stunning.

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All the cousins sitting still for a moment or two……

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The kids were getting a little cold but with a tootsie roll waiting for them in the car they were such troopers and I think the rosy cheeks just add to their cuteness!

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Ridgefield CT Newborn Photographer

Ridgefield CT Newborn Photographer – Planet Photo wants you to meet this future Rock Star Baby!

This shoot was planned on a bus ride to the Bronx Zoo – one school trip chaperone and one special-ed teacher chatting over the noise of lots of 4th graders excited to be out of school for the day! I love when a mom has time to look forward to the newborn shoot and has ideas to make it special.

I had an absolute blast with Kelly and her Mother-in-Law Karen and the newest addition to the family. Kelly’s husband plays guitar and loves music so we wanted to try to tie that in to the shoot. I love to make the newborn shoots a unique and personal experience, whether taking a prop from the home or including the colors the family loves, there is usually a way to make all newborn sessions just a little different. Some babies love to be on their tummy, some prefer their back, I listen and look for the cues from the baby and make sure they are always safe and secure. No photo is ever worth risking the safety of the baby. Thankfully my training as a nanny and my own children have prepared me to feel comfortable around babies and newborns and I love every minute of the shoot. Kelly and Karen were spotters in the guitar shots and were just out of the frame in case he came out of his deep sleep and stretched out his long legs!

So, grab a cup of coffee and check this one out – he is a keeper!

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Sherman CT Family Photographer

Sherman CT Family Photographer Planet Photo in a Candlewood Lake Family Session

A relaxed photo shoot on the shores of Candlewood Lake in Sherman CT with an active almost one year old?????? You know that as soon as they are mobile, then chances are you are going to get a few cute shots of the back of a toddlers head as they take off across the lawn. This little girl was no exception, but she loved to smile at the camera, and I managed to get a few of those beautiful big brown eyes as well. She is adorable and everyone who meets her remarks on how much she looks like her mommy. I am sure you can see it too, but she sure loves her Daddy.

Photographing young families is always a question of balancing that “holiday card pose” with capturing the magic interactions between family members. I absolutely LOVE the shots of this family laughing and playing together. That’s what it’s all about for me – those moments of sheer joy when they forget that I am there with a camera and just enjoy each other. But those moments are captured for ever, and to me, they mean of so much more than that holiday card pose.

 

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Family Photo Session – Three generations in Atlanta, Georgia

My kids and I had a wonderful time in Georgia recently and I took the opportunity to photograph my Aunt Susan, Uncle Keith and my cousins and their new families. My kids loved being part of the family mix for a couple of weeks and are already planning our next trip. Sue and Keith emigrated from the UK to the US when Rob and Jon were only 1 and 3, so it was great to have them interact with my kids and remind them all that they belong to a larger network. Our extended family might span multiple continents but thanks to modern technology we keep those family connections alive as best as we can.

So the family photo session started out with a maternity shoot for Rob and Jeanna – their baby boy is due later this month. I know, she has one of those perfect tiny baseball baby bumps – I can promise you that I didn’t look like that at 8 months pregnant! They are all ready for baby Asher to arrive and Caulden is going to make a great big brother!

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Jon and Natalie welcomed their new baby Elizabeth a few weeks ago and Alex is so cute with his baby sister.

Natalie introduced us to some good Southern food and was our guide at Cracker Barrel! My kids were so fascinated by the Waffle House and Cracker Barrel at every exit that they became obsessed by the idea of waffles…..

Doesn’t he have the most beautiful clear blue eyes? He is one of those chatty kids that is completely comfortable talking to almost anyone!

When you don’t have a newborn posing beanbag then of course the arm of the leather sofa works in a pinch!

Can you believe Nat just had a baby…? And just how completely adorable that little baby is?????

These two are hysterical together. Caulden and Alex live close to each other and Grammy and Grumpy so they get to spend time together all the time.

Their friendship is amazing and I am sure it will just continue over time.

Three generations!

Lighthouse Point Park Family Session – Ella’s Family!

Lighthouse Point Park New Haven, CT – Family Portrait Session

I met Kelly, Mike and Ella last year and they are amazing. They are sweet, down to earth, incredibly level-headed and have a great outlook on life. They have the cutest family of three and a new baby on the way. Although Kelly would probably like to start planning and decorating, they have decided to wait for one of the most incredible surprises life has to offer. I love surprises and I didn’t find out either – I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Kelly and I spoke about doing this shoot first back in January. She sent me an email explaining that her Dad was having surgery and even though everyone agreed that it was going to go well and they had absolutely nothing to worry about, she felt like we should get together and take photos of her Dad and Ella. Kelly had no way of knowing this, but it was actually the sixth anniversary of my mom’s passing and I loved the idea of photographing the three generations of her family together. I wanted to do it to honor my mom’s memory and to celebrate the continued health of theirs.

Well, it was January and the weather was ridiculously cold, and then of course everyone got sick, so we decided to wait. Thankfully Kelly’s dad recovered well but with a new baby on the way we wanted to incorporate “the belly” into the shoot.  We decided that we should wait for summer, by that time her belly would be nice and round.

If you live in Connecticut then you know how hot it has been recently. We decided to meet early one Sunday morning at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven. We figured if we met at 7:30 a.m. then the light would be good, the sun would not be too hot, and the crowds would be minimal. Our genius plan worked and we had the whole park to ourselves – well almost, there was a couple of fishermen and grounds keepers raking the beach but they didn’t mind us being there.

I love that you can see how relaxed and happy the whole family is together. Mike just became a Doctor and I was kicking myself for not suggesting that we shoot at Dr Mike’s ice-cream shop…. we will have to do that next time. I hope you all enjoy this family as much as I did.

Ella could see the swings in the distance and she wanted to get going!

Blowing kisses xoxo

Kisses for the baby… I wonder whether Ella will have a baby sister or brother to play with…..