CT HS Senior Photography – New Milford High School Abbi

CT HS Senior Photography

Meet Abbi!

Planning a senior photo shoot around the crazy schedule of marching band, varsity volleyball, college visits and college applications is not easy. But we did it!

I always try to plan locations and styling around each individual client. I knew back in the summer that Abbi wanted to shoot in the classic New England fall colors, so our date was on the calendar way before senior year started to get super busy. We chose Steep Rock Preserve in Washington Depot as our start point but we were on the lookout for road side locations. CT109 didn’t disappoint and we were climbing into the weeds before you know it!

Steep Rock has been a favorite destination for my family for many years and I felt just a tad guilty for not having our dog with us. But what an amazing warm fall day…. we couldn’t have wished for better light.

Abbi is long and lean (hence the varsity volleyball and basketball….) and she has the most amazing strawberry blond curly hair so I love to pose and photograph her. Her mom had a huge selection of outfits in the back of her car so that we could mix it up and match outfits to the different locations as we went. She didn’t wear it all, but we gave it a good college try!

I absolutely LOVED the purple with the colors in the meadow, we didn’t even really notice the purple undertones at the time, but as soon as I opened the files in photoshop I knew I had found the winning shots of the shoot. Did I tell you recently how much I love what I do?

A quick stop at a deserted barn on the way home and our shoot was done. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for beautiful Abbi but I know her family will treasure these portraits of her taken during that crazy senior year.

Do you wish that you had portraits of your High School Senior or college freshman? Let me know and I can design the most amazing portrait experience for you!

Janet xo

Candlelight Farm Airport New Milford – Models and Planes

Candlelight Farm Airport New Milford

Models Photo Shoot with Planes

For the second part of our Planes, Trains and Automobiles shoot we headed over to Candlelight Farms Airport. Nestled in the mountains on the northern side of Candlewood Lake the airport is a green haven for airplane enthusiasts. With a grass runway and planes parked in the shade of the trees, it was also s an idyllic location for our next New Milford models photo shoot.

May your dreams fly high!

Styling for our group shoot was on the glamorous side, harking back to the Golden Age of Flying. The days when people dressed up for flights and airplane travel was only for the rich and famous. A short flight would have cost the equivalent of a months salary for a secretary in the 50s. You would have a lot more room than on a modern flight though and lines at security were non existent! To be an airline pilot or flight attendant immediately propelled you into the glamorous jet set category.

Thanks to Planet Photo Tribe members: Nora, Sydney, Katelyn, Taylor and Maggie for modeling for this. I wish we really were “leaving on a jet plane”

Janet xo

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Vintage Truck Group Photo Shoot New Milford

Vintage Ford Truck

Group Photo Shoot New Milford Connecticut

Take a blue/green vintage truck and five girls from the Planet Photo Model Tribe and drive out to a scenic road in the Northville section of New Milford. What do you get? A totally AMAZING group shoot with Nora, Katelyn, Maggie, Sydney and Taylor.

Country Roads. Take me home. To a place I belong.

OK, I know New Milford Connecticut is not really the typical setting of a good old country song but you get the idea…. there is nothing like a truck on a warm late summers day on a beautiful country road. The girls in the Tribe totally rocked the styling for the shoot and we were all so envious of the vintage Ford truck.

Styling a family or senior session is a great way to coordinate what everyone should wear and help to “tell a story”. Does your family love camping? Sailing? The beach? We can design your shoot around a theme and I can help you to style it.

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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.

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!

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Woodbridge CT Senior Portraits – Tory

Woodbridge CT Senior Portraits

Meet Tory!

I loved Tory’s senior session. No, seriously, I LOVED Tory’s senior portrait session. It was so FUN getting to know her and, of yeah, she was a dream to photograph.

Tory and her mom came to visit the studio and we talked about her interests; who she was, what made her unique, what will trigger memories of the high school years and we came up with a plan. Now, the planning stage is one of my favorite parts. It’s not just about what to wear and where to go, it is all about who you are. What makes you YOU? And how can I capture that in a few hours in a portrait session?

Tory has a danced so we had to incorporate that, I thought the hip hop might be better outside so we picked the outfit and I started to pick the locations. Ballet was in the studio, can you believe Tory’s mom saved her first pair of ballet slippers?

She used to ride all the time so we wanted to incorporate that somehow and she LOVES fashion so that crept in throughout the shoot. She was a model for the day and boy, did she bring IT! Thanks to Candlelight Farms for letting us shoot at the horse barn, it was a beautiful evening and the horses were very welcoming.

Tory had loads of great clothes, and I don’t really believe in going out and buying an entire new wardrobe for your shoot, but what girl can resist a little shopping before a portrait session? She found this perfect dress and I am so glad she did!

Tory, I am excited to see what the future holds for you. Good luck in your senior year!

Janet xo

How do you want to be photographed? I would love to help you plan your unique portrait experience. Contact Planet Photo to set up a free consultation!

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Water, water, everywhere…. a CT Teen Photo Shoot

Water, water, everywhere….

a CT Teen Photo Shoot

So all good concept shoots start with an idea, I sit on it for a few days and then it develops into a Pinterest board where I gather all kinds of inspiration images and start to narrow the focus of what I want to shoot. A message goes out to the Planet Photo Tribe and this time Nora, Olivia, Taylor and Avery answered the call and we set the date.

In a week of sun and almost 90 degrees temps, of course we picked the day when the temperature dropped 20 degrees and the rain started. So the debate began… to reschedule or not?

On the plus side; I had four tribe members ready to go, there was a gap in the rain right at our shoot time and the weather would probably mean that we would have the place to ourselves.

On the other hand, the weather was supposed to be hot again all weekend but that would probably mean that the river would be teaming with people…..we decided to go for it.

I am so glad we did!

Thanks to Avery, Nora, Olivia and Taylor for getting into the river for our water shoot. Judging by the images we got on our concept shoot, I really think that every portrait session should end with a dip in the river – what do you think?

Do YOU dare?

Taylor’s dress and Avery’s outfit came from Forever 21
Olivia’s pants were from American Eagle
Nora’s dress was her own 😉

Taylor helped with make up for the shoot and she rocked it – I think I see a future there….

If you are thinking of booking a teen or senior portrait shoot then we can incorporate multiple locations and concepts into your shoot. I personally plan all the sessions to be as unique and individual as we all are. You let me know if you are more of a wall art person or an album person, that helps to compose shots and make sure you get lots of choices. Don’t worry, I help with that part too. I can design a collection of portraits for your wall or a beautiful press printed album.

Portraits should never be boring!

Janet xo

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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 😉

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!!!!

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!!!

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Winter Wonderland Model Tribe Shoot Dikes Point New Milford

Winter Wonderland – Planet Photo Tribe

We finally got snow! And lots of it…… so time for some winter portraits!

I met a few of the girls from the Planet Photo Tribe out on the shores of Candlewood Lake to have some fun in the snow. Dikes Point is stunning year round. It is the perfect vantage point to appreciate the fall colors and summer boat rides, but on this day the lake was smooth and as calm as could be. Candlewood Lake is usually a great winter destination for ice fisherman, ice skaters and daring snow mobile rides but not this year….. the lake has yet to totally freeze. As everyone keeps saying, it’s early yet, we could still have a lot more snow and many more days of freezing temperatures. I guess you just have to be careful what you wish for!

Thanks to Avery, Kaitlyn, Olivia and Sam for braving the cold and sharing a hot chocolate with me at the lake!

Stay warm!

Janet xo

Some of the group concept shoots are planned out in advance and some are added last minute to take advantage of a particular situation. A combination of 12 inches of fresh powder snow and 40 degree weather meant that we HAD to go out and shoot so this was a last minute add-on for the Planet Photo Tribe! Check back for our next group shoot.

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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.

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.

New Milford Senior Photography, CT Seniors, CT Senior Portraits

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Senior Photographer New Milford CT – Elizabeth

Senior Photographer New Milford CT

Congratulations Elizabeth!

Meet recent Brookfield High School graduate Elizabeth. She is a hard working student, an accomplished Irish dancer and a beautiful girl inside and out so you can imagine how fun it was to be a part of Elizabeth’s senior session. She has also been part of the Planet Photo Model Team and we will miss her when she leaves for college! She will be heading off to school at UConn in the fall and I have no doubt we will be hearing great things about her achievements there.

Elizabeth chose a natural, rural look for her portraits and we planned her outfits to fit the mood she was going for. I have photographed her a number of times through the years and it is always a pleasure.