CT High School Senior Photography – Mike

CT High School Senior Photography

New Milford High School Graduate Mike

When we were talking about locations for Mike’s senior session I asked the usual questions. What have been your biggest interests in high school? How have you spent most of your time? Which locations mean the most to you? What are your overriding memories of your high school career? We put all the answers together and it became quite apparent that we had to plan a trip to New York City.

You see Mike played baseball and golf and he also played and marched with the New Milford High School band. He was section leader for the low brass section, playing the sousaphone and the trombone, all great things to incorporate into his senior session, but what led us to New York city? Well every Sunday for his senior year Mike travelled into Lincoln Center and played jazz with a group there. Every Sunday in the Upper West Side in NYC? Well there we had it; we needed to go to Lincoln Center and we had to walk over into Central Park and capture that aspect of his senior year! An excuse to spend the day in the city? I love location shoots!

We met again a few weeks later because there were some New Milford hang outs that Mike wanted to include. I had a blast spending time with him and I can not wait to hear what the future brings for this bright, articulate and extremely talented young man.

Good luck at University of Hartford studying acoustical engineering and jazz!

Do not let the high school senior pictures represent your senior year! Each Planet Photo high school senior session is unique and designed to show your personality, your interests and your style.

Contact Janet to schedule your free consultation. It is not too late for 2017 high school graduates!

 

 

 

Family Photographer CT – Cake Smash Milestone

Cake Smash Milestone

Family Photographer Connecticut

Greta was scheduled for her first birthday cake smash with big sister Aine along to help out. Hands down one of the best aspects of my job is getting to know some incredible families. I feel honored to be the photographer that Ian and Kate have chosen to photograph their children’s first milestones. I love seeing how they grow and change and catching up on all the family adventures.

So, the family arrived with another fabulous Sweet Spot cake and we got down to business. A couple of cute outfits (Kate loves Hanna Andersson so I can usually look forward to something adorable!) Aine has been working on her British accent with some Peppa Pig so we got the music playing and let the girls dance a bit while we set up for the cake. I LOVE it when the birthday star gets stuck in to the cake! Greta was delicate at first but she ended up being covered in frosting. And sprinkles. Lots of sprinkles! Aine sat in to help with some frosting so we finally got them in the same frame 😉

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Like most one year olds Greta doesn’t exactly sit still for long and this is when I love to bring out the tub. Bubbles and warm water and most babies stay still long enough for me to get some close up portraits and capture the fun of the bath tub. That’s when I get the giggle images too – can you see Greta’s tooth? How cute is that!!!!

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If you are wondering when you should book a portrait session you can follow the milestone plan, schedule around a family event or reunion or just pick a time that works for your family. My summer shooting schedule is reduced to spend time with my family but contact me to schedule your family session. Believe me, time flies – I will have two in high school this year!!!

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

 

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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Back_to_school_2016
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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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!

 

 

 

Family Photographer New Milford – Almost a big brother!

Family Photographer New Milford – AJ is almost a big brother!

It was the end of the school year for New Milford Teacher of the Year Jen but we managed to find a time to take some family portraits of AJ right before he became a big brother. Jen and I have know each other a while now, she was both Sam and Olivia’s 3rd grade teacher at Hill and Plain School and still one of the teachers that all others are measured against. We joke that Sam still uses some of the learning techniques he learned in her class! It was while Olivia was with her that she got married and we are all so excited to watch her growing family.

A.J is a blond cutie who is starting to be really chatty. He loves his Swedish fish but you can already see how much he loves his Daddy. One of our favorites images of the day was the moment he realized that Daddy had arrived at the park – those are the expressions you can’t coax out of a child, they have to just come spontaneously.

Congratulations to Jen and Adam on your growing family!

Janet xo

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Family photographer New Milford

 

 

 

Senior Photographer – NMHS Graduate Cameron

Senior Photographer – Congratulations to this New Milford High School Graduate!

I had so much fun with this senior session.

Cameron was awesome to work with and incredibly patient and mature for his age. Cameron and his mom Lisa wanted some traditional graduation shots (Grandma had requested the cap and gown) but they also wanted something fun and cool.

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They had recently moved from the area, so we definitely wanted to hold the session in and around New Milford. The high school was an obvious choice and our first stop, but I think some of the alley ways of New Milford were new to them both!

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senior photographerA senior or graduate session is about communication. I learned a lot about Cameron and his interests; I wanted to capture his personality, his drive and his ambitions for the future. I have no doubt that he will live up to the “Future leader of America” pose outside of New Milford High School – he was a natural at it. New Milford High School requires standard photos with the school photographer for the yearbook but this special time in your child’s life needs so much more than those!

Good luck in college Cameron and let us know when you and your family are back in town for a visit.

Enjoy!

Janet xo

New Milford CT – Sullivan Farm Family Photography Session

New Milford CT – Sullivan Farm Family Photography Session

I first met Kristina and Mike at the New Milford Tennis and Swim Club, our kids were little and setting up camp pool side was the easiest and most fun way to pass the summer. We would arrive and the kids would find the group their age and just jump right in, no formal play dates, no marathon texting sessions to see who was going and no stress.  I kind of miss those summers to be honest!

Now we are more likely to bump into them on the sidelines of a Bulls Football field or a cheer competition but the easy conversation flows and we are soon caught up. I had been talking to Kristina about family portraits and we never managed to book in advance but one day the stars aligned, it was Kristina’s birthday and they would be getting ready to celebrate that so why not just meet a little earlier and capture the smiles and love of this sweet family? We chose Sullivan Farm for it’s convenience and it’s beauty, it is a reminder of the farm town that New Milford was and a thriving part of the town today with maple syrup and a farm stand offering fresh and locally grown produce.

Family Photography

I always try to capture some individual portraits on my family sessions and love the images of Mike and Kristina alone – when was the last time you did that?

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Family Photography Session_Sullivan Farm CTMike is a survivor. Please take a look at his Relay for Life Fundraising page to make a donation to his #purplezebra team. He is raising money and awareness for a rare of cancer called dedifferentiated liposarcoma. Sarcomas make up only 1% of adult cancers but are 15% of childhood cancers. It is difficult to correctly diagnose and equally challenging to treat.

Family Photography Session_Sullivan Farm CT

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