What to wear for your beach session- Connecticut Photographer

I know that figuring out what to wear can feel like the most stressful thing about having family portraits taken. This post is meant to guide and inspire you, and hopefully take some of that stress off! But keep in mind that it is not an exact formula nor is it a prescription of what you HAVE to wear.

The most important thing to remember is to keep it clean and simple, relaxed and comfortable. Keep outfits soft, warm and easy - that way, we can focus all of our time on your family and the connection you have with one another. 

 

Basic Tips:

  • Solid colors always photograph well. There's no risk of distracting from faces, joyful interactions or even the beautiful scenery.

  • Ladies: look for soft, natural fabrics that drape and flow. These make for beautiful portraits and give a sense of motion.

  • Choose colors to pick up the beautiful colors of the ocean and sunsets. Neutrals such as soft pinks, cream, muted blues, soft greens and white all photograph extremely, blending effortlessly with the natural elements rather than competing with them.

  • When in doubt select one patterned outfit for a single person in the family and then pull colors from that pattern to dress everyone else in solid colors to coordinate.

  • Don't worry about shoes. Plan on being barefoot as shoes in the sand aren't really practical and look a little odd. In fact, please don't bring nice sandals to the beach! Sand is pretty good at getting everywhere.

  • Bring a change of clothes or backup shirt/bottoms for little ones and a towel. Someone inevitably gets a bit wet and sandy from the ocean sprays or dips in the ocean!

 

Where to Shop: 

  • For mom: H&M, Old Navy, J. Crew, Forever 21

  • For dad: J. Crew, Zara, Gap, H&M, Target

  • For kids and baby: Zara, Target, Baby Gap, Old Navy

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This family went with a few patterns, but it still flows lovely!

Ellington Family Photographer // Newborn Photo Session //Dominic

Ive known Jess for quite sometime now- and when she asked me to be her newborn photographer I was honored!  Dominic Lorenzo Abrusci was a sweetheart! He was awake almost the entire time- guess he didn't want to miss much ;) 

Jess + Steve are excited sweet new parents! 

Dominic didn't want to miss a beat our entire session + but he was so sweet, it did not matter! 

Thank you Abrusci Family for sharing such a special moment in your lives! <3 

Ellington Family Photographer // Kennedy Twin Boys + Mom

I met Kiera and her sweet twin toddler boys back in October- one of the first things she told me was that her boys wouldn't sit for pictures.  And for me that is totally ok. I said thats fine, lets let them be them! Since then we have done a few sessions together, and I have learned a lot about Maddox + Mason. 

Recently I spent a few hours with Kiera, Maddox and Mason in their home-- it was nothing less then fun! Sometimes I find that people don't really understand what stay at home moms do!  OR how they do it. 

Well here is a peek into a morning....

Being a mom means that you are a chef, nurse, maid, teacher and more... your job is never done. I watched Kiera fold the same 2 pieces of laundry 3x this morning. And then watched Mason go over there and take it apart! HA.    To me these kiddos are so happy and they for sure LOVE their momma! What else matters?

Sessions don't have to be stressful... let me come to you and capture the moments you wouldn't even think are a big deal.  

thank you Kiera, Maddox + Mason for sharing your day with me! 

CT Family Photographer // A Day In The Life \\ Ellington, CT

Theres nothing more special than sitting back and watching a family interact with each other. Documentary photography has been something Ive been wanting to do since I started. But needed to just start it!  

 A few months ago I was able to meet Jess, Ben and Annabelle for her 1st birthday. They are just the sweetest little family.   Jess invited me back for a morning to hang out with them!  So what does a morning look like in their house?

 

Well.. 

There is bed head, and a cute little face running around.  

Pancakes, giggles and coffee... well maybe not enough?

Sorry Jess, I hear Ben drinks all the coffee around here. 

There is also lots of daddy-daughter chats 

and

doggy kisses..

Family time together doesn't have to be anything fancy, your photo sessions don't have to be anything fancy.  You can hang in your pjs, let me do all the work <3 

Dance in your living room, like no one is watching 

Thank you Jess, Annabelle + Ben for sharing your morning with me <3

CT Family Photographer // Nieland family // { South Windsor, CT }

I had met Sabrina + Carter through some cool/awesome Moms that I had met out in the Facebook world.  Sabrina had won a Mommy and Me photo session, but her sweet hubby wanted to of course be included!  I wouldn't ever turn that down, so we had a great family session! 

Carter is 2, and you know what 2 year olds don't do long?...Sit.  So we have to make sure we keep them busy, which of course is fine with me! So we spent some time of the session chasing him around, blowing wishes in flowers and just having an easy fun time! 

Carter is one silly little boy, who loves his mom + dad very much.  I love when you are around a family and can just feel all the love they have for each other. 

We for sure had some good laughs during this session, there was this little bridge that they were sitting near and Carter thought it would be funny to take off his shoes! Silly boy,  Well one of the shoes fell in the water. Brad tried hard to get the shoe until a nice stranger who was walking by decided to help! Luckily, we did rescue the very wet shoe! 

LOL, it will for sure be a story to tell Carter when he gets older! :)  Glad he got the shoe. 

Thank you Carter, Brad & Sabrina for allowing me to share these special memories with you! I look forward to the next time we work together   <3 

Ellington Family Photographer // Addison, Newborn Session

I love catching up with old friends.  Especially when I am meeting their sweet little new addition! I was honored when Kristol and Dave reached out to me for their newborn photography. 

Addison Grace Tepper was a perfect little peanut

When you are a new parent or just a parent with a newborn the last thing I want you to do is stress; I always come to you, and try to make sure you don't stress if they are fussing, won't sleep, etc. Well little Addison wouldn't sleep, she was fighting it. Guess she wanted to hang out with us! Which is totally OK with me. 

Kristol and Dave are so calm,  gentle and sweet.    Little Addison is a lucky girl to have such great parents.  We cant of course forget about the 1st baby of the house- he's a little furry , and his kisses may be slobbery but he's loved oh so much and loves his baby sister already! 

So much love in the Tepper house! Thank you all for allowing me to share this special moment with you all. I look forward to watching addison grow + seeing you on the next milestone! 

Ellington Family Photographer // Mommy and Me session with Bridgette

The entire month of May I offered Mommy & Me mini sessions. I believe being a mom is a special and hard job.  You forget as a mom that you are doing wonderfully and your children love you. I wanted moms to stop for a moment, and just enjoy moments with their children. 

Bridgette reached out to me through facebook, we had never met before but meeting her and her beautiful family at the location I had felt that we had known each other before! Bridgette had a smile on her the entire session.  You can tell that her children are her entire world.  There is no question about that. 

 

Luca is an adorable 2 year old with so much sweetness to him! Giulana is just the cutest, she loves her mama, doing her own thing ( as most 1 year olds do ) - but you know for sure they love their mama! 

I made sure we finished the session with some family shots! 

Thank you D'Angelo family for a fun, easy, sweet family photo session!  See you at the next milestone <3 

Ellington,Connecticut 1st birthday session // Annabelle

Birthdays are special, especially 1.  Its a time to celebrate the 1st year of life. So much has changed since you come into this world.  You start by being a little bundle of joy - who sleeps, poops, and eats. Your loved ones watch you grow into a little person who is most likely running around, saying words, and developing your own little personality! It sure is special & I always love capturing those moments! 

Jess booked me months ago to capture this special birthday session! And before we knew it, it was here.  

Jess is quite the crafty one! I got to their house and there was so much fun decor! 

Annabelle was the sweetest- It was a chilly day, and she didn't even complain once! She ran around, having a great time and even when we needed her to do something silly; she went right along with it! Her personality for sure fit her parents. Easy + laid back <3 

The view from their house is just about perfect.  Even with a cloudy day- it can make you fall in love with Connecticut, if you weren't already. 

It was truly an easy session + with a little help from grandparents ( thank you! ) we made sure this cutie was always smiling + laughing; which again, she was just a happy baby! 

Thank you Jess, Ben, and sweet little Annabelle for sharing this special moment with you-  I look forward to future sessions  <3 

A day on the farm

Its funny, I think about where I live and where I am from. 2 different worlds.  I grew up on one of the most crowded, busiest islands there is- Long Island is where my heart is.  But the more I am living in this small state, in this small town with more cows than people ;)  .. just kidding! But seriously, there are a TON of cows here!  The more I live here, the more I love it! 

Recently I spent some time with a family with a farm + it was a blast! 

I mean; mini horses, chickens, ducks.. oh my <3  Megan & Dave have been around animals their entire lives.  They share the love of animals with each other and now will passing it down to their children Molly + Alex. 

One of my favorite things to do while in a session is make sure I try to spend a few minutes with each person of the family even if its a minute. I get to ask them questions, learn about them- its probably my favorite part. 

 

But this family had 1 amazing thing in common.. the love they have for each other & their farm <3 Thank you for sharing your afternoon with me Megan, Dave, Molly, Alex & all the amazing animals <3 

Jess & Timo // Massapequa, NY

I have to say, one of my favorite parts about this business is the personal connections I make and the people I get to reconnect with <3 I have know Jessica since middle school? And because of the wonderful world of social media we got to reconnect and when she found out she was pregnant. She had asked me to do their pictures. Its always an honor to be asked & their session went perfectly! 

It was a freezing & windy day in March on Long Island but these 2 were troopers!  No complaints, and didn't even need their jackets. There was a perfect amount of snow on the ground to make the background even more perfect  <3 

This little girl is SO so loved & doesn't even know it yet <3  Your mommy and daddy are anxiously waiting your arrival! 

 

Thank you Timo & Jess for such a fun, relaxing & easy session!! 

Morehouse Family

I have known Salina & John for a long time... so when Salina asked to come spend some time with them, meet little John & photograph the family. Why would I ever say no? <3 

That face! The smile! Those eyelashes!

John was such a happy & sweet little boy and after 3 outfit changes he was still a trooper! 

There is NO doubt in my mind that this little boy is LOVED & he loves RIGHT back. The smile he gave when he saw his daddy walk in the door from work was priceless! <3 

 

Salina, Thank you for inviting me into your home! John (s) thank you for being such troopers through the outfit changes! :) I look forward to seeing you all in the summer! 


Brooke turns { 5 } | Connecticut Family Photographer

Stefanie asked me to take some pictures of her adorable daughter Brooke & what better day to do it then on her 5th birthday? Brooke is filled with smiles, and love. I brought balloons for her session & she couldn't be happier. 

The BEST part of the entire session was when I asked Brooke HOW much she loved her Mommy she said " hold my balloons please, I need all my arms and the room I can get to show you " <3

Thank you Brooke & Stef for sharing this precious moment with you. 


Lathrop Family 2015 | Connecticut Family Photographer

Its actually funny how I met Megan. Life is funny, and you just never know who you will meet & who you will befriend. I met Megan a little over a year ago now VIA good ole' social media. We instantly connected and grew closer as time went on. I talk to Megan more than 1x a week and have gotten to know her family as well. They all are full of love and humor, down to earth and just fun people to be around! On Sunday I was able to capture some fun loving moments for her, the hubby and their full of life, personality and beautiful daughter Hailey! 

Hailey is FULL of personality and she is such a little HAM. As soon as that camera was anywhere near here she immediately put a big adorable smile on her face! 

She is so loved by her parents and you can tell she is the center of their world.

Of course I can't leave this without a post from the adorable couple that started it all <3 

Thank you Megan, Kevin & Hailey for such a fun morning and I look forward to future sessions! 

XO