Back to School NMHS

Back to School

The Junior Tribe at NMHS

Jordana, Grace and Katie will be Freshman at New Milford High School this year so we met there for our Junior Tribe Back to School photo shoot. NMHS has a hybrid model this year so students will be learning in person for two days per week and online for three days. That means back to school shopping is a little different (I hear that Lululemon and Athleta are having their best years ever, and jeans companies are struggling, because who wants to wear jeans during quarantine?) but planning your first day of school outfit is still so much fun and we can knock those outfits out of the park for two days a week.

I grew up in the UK and I wore a school uniform until I was 16, but even getting a new uniform and shiny new shoes for the first day of school was exciting, so I LOVE to see all the photos on social media of kids heading off on their first day.

Good luck to all the students heading back to school soon and to all the parents getting ready to drop kids off at college.

We got this! It’s going to be hard to send those kids back but I am excited for them to see their friends and teachers.

Stay safe. Be smart. And wear your mask!

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Teen Studio Portraits

Passion Portraits - what do you love to do?

The teen years are when you start to get serious about training for a sport or practicing dance or playing in the band. I often hear that high school is somewhat defined or at least structured around the fall, winter or spring sport seasons, it is for my daughter for sure!

COVID has not cancelled our fall sports (fingers crossed) but they are going to look a little different. Conditioning is in full swing and the teams will be ready for whatever kind of season they can get!

Dance studios have been really creative about engaging dancers and holding online or outdoor practices to keep skills and abilities in top shape. Studio D even transformed their spring show into an amazing outdoor performance around New Milford.

I was thrilled to spend some time with Planet Photo Junior Tribe members Ella and Katie so that they could share their passions for dance and soccer with me. I had lots of fun creating teen studio portraits with them.

Two more group shoots remain in our summer modeling experience, I am going to miss the junior Tribe but we’ll have lots of portraits to look back on. Make sure you are on the Planet Photo mailing list if you are interested in future junior modeling experience teams.

Don’t forget The Tribe starts soon for 10, 11 and 12th graders!

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Flower Crown Portraits

Junior Tribe 2020

One of the very first teen group shoots I ever did was a flower crown shoot and I was excited to do it again with the 2020 Junior Tribe. We met at Hunt Hill Farm in New Milford and enjoyed their beautiful gardens and surroundings. The Silo at Hunt Hill Farm is a popular stop for both locals and visitors to Litchfield County.

When we arrived the long horned cows were across the road to observe our group but of course they wandered into the back field when we were ready to shoot. There is something very magical about seeing them so drive by if you get a chance and see if you can spot them.

Jordana, Grace, Katie and Ella were all beautiful and graceful in their flower crowns but you know we had lots of fun too!

If you have a creative idea for a group shoot or a themed photo shoot for you and your friends then a BFF portrait session is a great way to celebrate a birthday or a great friendship. We’ll plan the location and styling around your group and you’ll have the portraits as a wonderful memory of your special day.

Now booking family, teens and high school seniors and personal branding for the most popular shooting time of the year – fall in New England!

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Glitter Photoshoot Junior Tribe

Glitter PhotoShoot

Junior Tribe 2020

I am 100% certain that Kate, Caitlin and Grace left a lot of sparkle wherever they went on Tuesday after our glitter photoshoot! Glitter has the habit of staying with you and showing up in unexpected places at unexpected times, but you have to admit it does make you smile!

I am sure you have read one of the many cute quotes and sayings about glitter;

A life without glitter is no life at all.
Toni Collette
“
When life gives you Monday, dip it in glitter and sparkle all day.
Ella Woodward
“
Shower the world with pink and glitter.
Tori Amos
“
If something doesn’t look right, throw some glitter on it.
Adam Lambert

“

Some girls are just born with glitter in their veins.

Paris Hilton

Junior Tribe Glitter Photoshoot

We chose the right week to be in the studio with the temperatures rising outside we were very relieved to be in the air conditioning for our latest Junior Tribe shoot. You’ll notice that there are no group shots, we actually staggered the shoots to minimize the numbers in the studio at one time so we had to cut out the traditional group shots we usually take.

I am so impressed by the girls who took part, they have all grown in confidence in front of the camera and it shows in the amazing images we captured during the glitter photoshoot!

If you would like to schedule a fun shoot for the teen in your life then reach out and let’s get something on the calendar! We had so much fun throwing glitter with the Planet Photo Junior Tribe summer model experience. If your 10, 11 or 12th grader would like to join the Tribe then I need to hear from you SOON! We are getting ready to start planning regular Tribe influencer shoots!

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Portraits New Milford Junior Tribe

Portraits New Milford CT

Bubbles and Balloons with the Junior Tribe

Harrybrooke Park is a popular destination for portraits in New Milford, CT. The gardens are spectacular and I thought we might find a little relief from the sun in the shade of all the beautiful evergreen trees for our bubbles and balloons Junior Tribe shoot.

Ella, Kate and Caitlin were fantastic and we had so much fun because they are all starting to get to know each other. There is something incredibly joyful about seeing bubbles drifting in the air, maybe memories of childhood? I probably put them in the same category as seeing a rainbow or driving past a herd a field of cows…. I can’t resist the temptation to announce that I see them!

We had lots of laughs and maybe just a tiny little bit of competition to see who could blow the biggest bubble!

I am so happy to be spending time with this amazing group of girls this summer! We are three shoots into our summer Junior Tribe model experience and I can’t wait for the next one. We’ll be in the studio next week for something a little different but you’ll have to wait to see what our theme is…..

Every time I asked Ella if she could do something she just leaped into action. It’s so fun to photograph dancers and gymnasts!

Planet Photo is booking family, seniors and teens, portraits and personal branding shoots in New Milford and surrounding towns.

If you know someone who would be interested in joining the Planet Photo Tribe please let them know that enrollment is underway!

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Teen Portraits Bella Stratford CT

Bella at the Marina

Teen Portrait Shoot

I have known Bella since she was in elementary school and she was on my daughter’s pop warner cheer team. so it was such a treat to shoot her teen portraits.

Selecting a location and styling the shoot was easy for Bella. Her parents have a boat in Stratford, CT and she knew right away that she wanted to meet there. Choosing a place that holds so many good memories is always preferable, but having it be a stunning location made it even better! I met Bella and her mom and she showed me around and I honestly don’t think her styling could have been any more on point. The hydrangeas, the fence, the boat dock…… OMG it just got better and better.

Bella is going into her senior year at New Milford High School. It’s going to be a great year and hopefully you will see more of Bella in the 2K21 Planet Photo Tribe group shoots!

Good luck for Senior year Bella – you got this!

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.

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Milk Bath Photo Shoot Junior Tribe

Milk Bath Photo Shoot

Planet Photo Junior Tribe

Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, was renowned throughout history for her radiant skin and her stunning beauty. She was said to bathe in milk to keep her skin soft and beautiful. However, Cleopatra didn’t bathe in cow’s milk. The milk for her legendary baths was instead provided by donkeys. Legend has it that she required 700 lactating donkeys in order to supply the milk for her daily bathing regime.

The Planet Photo Junior Tribe were excited to bathe in milk for our photo shoot, Unfortunately, we had a hard time locating 700 lactating donkeys so we had to make do with Trader Joe’s Organic milk, but judging by the images, the TJ’s milk had amazing results! If you would like to find out more about the advantages to bathing in milk, check out Herb and Hedgerow for some milk bath recipes.

Jordana, Grace, Ella and Kate looked stunning in the milk bath photo shoot and they were all so much fun to work with!

I CANNOT wait for our next Junior Tribe shoot! Next week and every week over the summer we have a different theme for the Junior Tribe.

The Planet Photo Junior Tribe is a summer modeling experience for 7th, 8th and 9th graders.

Our year round influencer group for 10th, 11th and 12th grade is the Planet Photo Tribe.

Through a positive attitude and an inclusive team we lift each other up and support each other.

Your Vibe attracts your Tribe.

Do you know someone who should join our Tribe? Contact Janet to find out more

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Junior Tribe Photo Shoot Cereal

Planet Photo Junior Tribe

Photo Shoot Cereal

I love starting a new project and this summer I decided to start the first ever Junior Tribe for kids in 7, 8 and 9th grade. COVID means shooting mainly outdoors with small groups so the Junior Tribe was invited to pick four themed photo shoots over the summer so that we could spread everyone out and keep the groups small, safe and manageable.

We had so much fun getting to know one another and shooting our first cereal theme shoot. My kids could not believe their eyes when I came back from the store with a stack of fruity colorful cereal! Yes, I bought Lucky Charms and it wasn’t even St Patricks Day!

Everyone is a little nervous before a shoot so I invited Taylor from the regular Planet Photo Tribe to come and help put Caitlin and Katey at ease. As you can see from the images, they were amazing and I can’t wait to shoot with them again soon.

It’s not too late to join in on all the themed photo shoots that we have planned. The next Junior Tribe themed photo shoot is scheduled for next week – they are going to be floating in milk baths. Do you know a teen that would love to take part in our summer model experience? It’s great for self confidence and for trying something new with teens from other groups, schools or towns and it’s open to guys and girls.

Thanks to Katie, Caitlin and Taylor for making the first Junior Tribe photo shoot so much fun!

Planet Photo is scheduling family, senior and teen portraits outside this summer with limited availability. I will maintain a social distance and make sure that we are doing everything to keep your family as well as mine safe. Read more about our COVID policy here.

Personal branding shoots are also available with slight modifications. Your web and social media presence is as important as ever so let’s update your website images.

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Tribe Picnic Group Shoot

Picnic Group Shoot

with the 2K20 Planet Photo Tribe

It seems like a lifetime ago that we were planning the last group shoot so we were so happy to be back for this first post COVID group shoot. We went with a picnic theme so that we could get used to being together again!

Normally the girls are draped over one another, in the way perfected by teenaged girls, but we kept our distance and shot outside. I am sure we will see the restrictions becoming more relaxed as the summer progresses but we were able to pull off a picnic with our own blankets, baskets and individual portions of food and we were comfortable with this gradual introduction to socializing again.

Isabelle, Samantha, Madi, Olivia and Bella styled themselves and did their own hair and make up but we had a little help from The Hunt to style our picnic. The selection at The Hunt changes all the time so you have to keep checking back, but it’s a cute new store in Brookfield, CT so check it out if you can!

Did you notice the message on the sign?

Travel far enough that you find yourself.

What great advice! I have always been a fan of living in another state or country to give you the experience of living as part of another culture but also that unique perspective of seeing your home environment with new eyes. If you could live anywhere in the world where would you go?

Project Beauty 2020 on location

Project Beauty 2020

on location

Project Beauty is always one of my favorite shoots. It’s a way for me to meet a whole bunch of local teens and show them that they are good enough, beautiful enough and deserving of beautiful images of themselves. Usually we shoot in the studio but this year I visited everyone to shoot them in their natural habitat. I have to say, I kind of liked the new twist!

Our 2020 Donation

Every year I select a different organization to support with Project Beauty and this we were able to donate $550 to Camella’s Cupboard. The COVID crisis has affected us all in many different ways and we are all experiencing our own version of hardship. Some are lonely and suffering anxiety and depression. Some have lost jobs or have been sick for weeks at a time and some families are living, working and studying in small homes without adequate food, internet access or the technology to maintain school grades. Camella’s Cupboard has been supporting local families suffering from food insecurity and not surprisingly their number of families needing support has swelled during this crisis. I hope that our project can help to remove some of that stress.

Additional Donations can be made directly to Camella’s Cupboard

Thank you to all the girls who participated in Project Beauty 2020.

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