Botanical Gardens NY Photo Shoot

NY Photoshoot

New York Botanical Gardens

NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location

It was March 2020, a year ago this week. School was closed mid-week for a teacher development day so we planned to shoot Taylor and Olivia that day. Our location was the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. We planned our outfits, ordered new clothes (of course) and reserved our entry tickets for the Orchid exhibit. I’d seen pictures of the orchids and also seen the crowded greenhouses but we figured we might be lucky and get a couple of open shots if we went mid-week. New York was starting to talk about COVID and recommending that older people stay home to stay safe, but we decided we would still go, we would just skip lunch in the Bronx and make a quick trip.

As the day progressed we watched as more and more CT schools closed and we waited for the word on Taylor and Olivia’s school. Maybe we were going to get an extra long spring break! What we didn’t realize was that we picked the last day before the lockdown closed schools in Connecticut for two weeks. Well, of course, now we all know how that two week shut down turned out…. 

The New York Botanical Garden is a living museum, an educational institution, and a plant research and conservation organization.

The annual orchid exhibition is scaled down this year but we were lucky enough to spend some time in the almost deserted conservatories on a spring day in 2020. I realized that I only shared a few of these images and they deserve to be seen. So here are some of my favorites from that wonderful day before we really knew about social distancing and face masks or hybrid school days. 

NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
urban location modern senior portrait photographer unique original fresh stylish
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location
NY Photoshoot Planet Photo on location

I am excited to start planning location shoots again. We will continue to work within health and safety recommendations but we can start to make those plans! Class of 2021 there is still time to create your senior portrait experience and Class of 2022 it is not too early to start planning yours! 

If you are interested in joining the Planet Photo Tribe – the ultimate CT high school senior model team experience then stay turned for all the details for 2K22 coming SOON!

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

Boho Festival Roxbury CT Shoot

Planet Photo Tribe Location Shoot

Roxbury CT Photo Shoot

When a group shoot starts with a styling meeting at a local boutique then you know it is going to be a good one. That is exactly how our latest group shoot began.

Roxbury CT Photo

The Traveling Chic Boutique opened last year near Four Corners in Brookfield, CT and it has an amazing selection of boho, casual-chic clothing. One by one the girls arrived at the shore, and like kids in a candy store, they tried on clothes and we narrowed down the choices for our Roxbury CT photo shoot. Our theme was originally centered around a light and bright festival look but a rainy weather forecast sent us to Plan B. We were invited to shoot at a local farm and the outcome was better than I ever could have hoped! We still got that boho festival vibe just without light and airy blue skies.

Roxbury CT Photo

Twilight Dreams Farm is located in Roxbury, CT and it is the most incredible property. The blue barns are the best backdrop to shoot against and we were able to dodge the rain and still get the shot. It has become one of my new favorite locations and the current owners are the sweetest airbnb hosts so if you are traveling to the area then you have to check them out.

Bella chose a brown teddy bear fur jacket and a super cute Free People body suit.

Roxbury CT Photo

Kinsley looked AMAZING in these bell bottom jeans and Free People blouse and the pink drop necklace finished off the outfit.

Roxbury CT Photo

Olivia was styled in a flowery dress and paired it with a leather jacket.

Roxbury CT Photo

Taylor wore a pink floral Free People dress that looked so cute on her

Roxbury CT Photo

Sam looked STUNNING in a Free People bias cut dress and a cozy but glam fur jacket.

Roxbury CT Photo

If you happen to be Brookfield, CT then you HAVE to check out the Traveling Chic Boutique. It is so nice to avoid the mall and find some unique clothes and accessories – tell them we sent you and I know they will take extra special care of you!

Make Up Artist: Blush Couture

Styling: The Traveling Chic Boutique, Brookfield

Location: Twilight Dreams Farm

Roxbury CT Photo

CT Photographer New Milford

River Portraits

CT Photographer | New Milford, CT

I knew the minute I announced the river portraits date for the Planet Photo Tribe that there would be a rush to sign up! There really is nothing better than ending a hot summer portrait session in the water and I am always thrilled when a client wants to do that. We wanted a soft, floaty pink and green theme for our group and I was thrilled when one after another the girls arrived with these wonderful floaty river outfits, we added a couple of things from the Planet Photo Style closet and we were all set. Right at the last minute we added the flower crowns to a couple of images to tip us over the edge 😉

I hope that my clients can use these Tribe group shoots as inspiration for styling and location tips to help create their own individual portrait shoot or if you want to create a group shoot with a small group of your best friends then we can do that too. I look forward to planning every session and I strive to make each one just a little different from the last! I love to incorporate your ideas, your favorite places and to highlight YOU! We are lucky to live in such a scenic part of the country so it is a treat to incorporate some of Connecticut’s natural beauty in each shoot.

Thanks to Kinsley, Olivia, Taylor, Bella, Isabelle and Sam for bringing your “A-game” to our river shoot!

CT Photographer New Milford
CT Photographer New Milford
CT Photographer New Milford
CT Photographer New Milford
CT Photographer New Milford
CT Photographer New Milford

Planet Photo is a portrait photography studio based in New Milford, CT. Senior and Teen Portraits, Personal Branding and Fine Art Family or Individual Portraits are available in the studio or on location.

Serving New Milford, Brookfield, Newtown, Danbury, Ridgefield, North Salem, Redding, Wilton, Westport, New Canaan, Greenwich, Orange, Milford, New Haven County, Westchester County, Duchess County and available for location shoots around the world – I love to travel!

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.

 

Candytopia A Planet Photo NYC Photo Shoot

Candytopia

A Planet Photo NYC Photo Shoot

Who says you have to choose a conventional location for your senior portraits?

Candytopia, a pop-up location in New York City is ANYTHING BUT CONVENTIONAL!

Here is how they describe it on the website:

“What if an eccentric chocolatier and a daredevil pop star had a whirlwind romance, got married while skydiving, and had a glamorous, glittering love child who grew up to rule a small nation?  Welcome to Candytopia, where colossal candyfloss constructions meld with a tantalizing taffy twistedness!”

I’d seen the pictures on social media and I knew it HAD to be… we HAD to have our NYC photo shoot there! We got the golden tickets and Abbi joined me on an adventure into candy wonderland. It was insane. I can’t even imagine how many 100’s of thousands of jelly beans went into the exhibit, it was a crazy dream world on a massive sugar high and we were going in.

NYC Photo Shoot

I knew we needed something different and special for this location, but you know when you don’t know what you are looking for until you see it? Well the minute I saw this romper on Fashion Nova, I knew we had our outfit!

NYC Photo ShootNYC Photo ShootNYC Photo Shoot

Thanks to the amazing staff and crew at Candytopia for their help. We shot during regular business hours using the built in spot lighting. No off camera flash or light stands. But we made it work – you gotta love a challenge.

NYC Photo ShootSo where would you love to shoot? Let’s design something completely original. I love street photo shoots, don’t you?