Backyard Photoshoot

Don’t get caught up trying to find the perfect location for your family shoot. Depending on the ages of your children and the different stages they are in, loading everyone into the car, driving to a location which may or may not have bathroom facilities, staying clean, and then getting everyone to play happily can be a challenge!

Backyards make great locations! What matters is the light, not the location.

I took these pictures just steps away from the family’s home. There was no fuss. No styling. No posing. Just play and light, beautiful afternoon fall light.

Joey's Senior Pictures

On a perfect fall afternoon I met up with my good friend Joey to take his Senior Pictures. I knew I wanted to do something different from my other senior shoots, as I usually go to the beach. With Joey I wanted a more urban feel, so I found the perfect spot in Shelton, CT. It had both a nature feel with the peak foliage but also had lots of old abandoned buildings and cool brick. Not to mention train tracks! We had a lot of fun taking these and I think it shows in the pictures.

There were so many cool and unique spots to find that the possibilities were endless.

We lucked out because the Connecticut foliage was in peak color and made the background of these images look fake!

Every photo shoot is special to me in different ways. This one was special to me because I got to photograph one of my friends in a very cool environment. We got to try out ideas and ended up with some super cool pictures. In the end he and his family loved the images, and knowing they are happy and love them is the best part of my job.

The Ventlings

I read about a photographer who wanted a beautiful picture of her own family but

that was a struggle since her son was Autistic and would not stand for a traditionally

posed picture. So she adapted. She followed her son around all day and captured

moments that demonstrate the love her family shares. She realized that not every

family wants a traditional family portrait, nor can every family take one. This led her to

tailor her business to meet the need of every family.

That inspired me to meet the need of every family.

I had this opportunity with the Ventling family. They married ten years ago at Harkness

State Park in Waterford, Connecticut. Now, ten years and three children later, they

wanted to recreate some of their wedding pictures and take some family portraits. They

have an active toddler, a five year old daughter, and a son on the autism spectrum.

They did not want a traditional posed portrait but rather wanted pictures that captured

their family’s personality and playful love. They let me follow along and snap picture

after picture after picture.

We recreated their wedding photos.

We played.

We captured a beautiful family portrait, several in fact.

Our afternoon was about more than taking pictures. We created memories. We

remembered the bond of love that created this family. We celebrated that bond and the

life that sprang forth from it.

Their photo gallery is a testimony to their love. I am beyond grateful to have had shared

in this experience with them.