Mother’s Day in my family was a celebration of my mother and all she did for us every day. It was a day she would receive cards – hand made when we were little – flowers and sometimes to her amusement we would make her breakfast or our idea of the perfect lunch. When I had children of my own, this grew into a day when my children also celebrated their grandmother for all she did for them when they spent time with her.
We have been celebrating Mother’s Day in the United States for over 100 years. Though generally we consider it a day to thank Mom for all she has done for us, the meaning of the day is viewed differently depending on your family. Traditionally, we celebrate the matriarch of the family with cards, candy, flowers, pictures of the kids and other gifts that are either purchased at the store or even hand made.
With households today being as diverse as you can imagine, the meaning of Mother’s day depends on the family dynamic. The person in the “Mom” role may be Mom, Grandmother, Aunt, Sister, or even Dad doing both rolls. To me this is a day to celebrate the love, support and connection that is the spirit of the day.
No matter what your situation, take lots of photos and whoever is the Mom in your family dynamic needs to be present in the pictures. Get another family member to snap a picture with Mom in the image, take turns, use blackmail (ha ha-just kidding), whatever it takes to get her into the pictures.
To all the Mom’s out there – there will come a day when your children will look for pictures of you! What will they find?
If you’re looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, why not pamper her with a professional photo shoot. She gets to have a day all about her and beautiful images to share with her family.
If you have any questions about this article or ideas for other topics you would like me to write about, please comment below or Contact Us from our web page.
If you have dreamed of having a photo-shoot that is all about you, call me to set up a complimentary consultation. You can see the studio and we can talk over coffee about how you want to be photographed. To make that happen, just click to book below! Is it a long trip to visit the studio? We’ve photographed women from all over the eastern part of the country including New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Feel free to contact us and set up a special phone consultation! And, as you now know, Gift Certificates are available.
Where can you go and listen to DJ’s, see Photographers, Jewelry and Florists, sample some amazing Food and Desserts and check out an Inflatable Irish Pub all in one place? Did I mention there were also women walking around in wedding dresses and lingerie? Well that was the scene at the Bridal Show and Women’s Fitness and Health Expo at Mohegan Sun Casino last Sunday, February 26th 2017.
We had a booth at the expo and I don’t think I have talked with that many people in one day – ever! By the end of the day (6am to 5:30pm) I had almost lost my voice and my feet were protesting but it was a great day. I truly enjoyed being able to talk with so many women who were excited about planning their wedding. While I have chosen not to do wedding day photography, I love the women’s portraiture I do. Fashion, fitness, generations, pinup, boudoir, I love it all! I love creating beautiful photographs of a woman that make her feel amazing and like a princess for the day. I am honored to create for her a gift that she can give to her husband on her wedding day.
I can, without a doubt, tell you that Bridal Boudoir is on the top of the list for groom’s gifts. There were so many women who stopped to talk about setting up session dates and it seems that August and September of 2018 are the hot wedding months. If you have either of those months picked out for your wedding, don’t wait to get your venues, caterers and photographers booked!!!
One excited bride-to-be stopped by with her mom and we were talking about what’s involved in booking a Bridal Boudoir session. The mom told me that she had done bridal boudoir 30 years ago when she got married and her husband still has the images and loves them! How awesome that her daughter wants to do the same and give her husband a gift he will keep and appreciate for years to come.
If you have never been to one of these expos and are planning your wedding, I would definitely suggest checking one out near you. You can literally go in with a check list of what you need for your dream wedding and find it there. From your dress and flowers to your reception venue and food, there are people to speak with or book right there on the spot. You can check out the DJs and amazing photos by a variety of photographers, and talk to the travel agents about booking your honeymoon. And let’s not forget renting that Inflatable Irish Pub for your next event or backyard wedding as well!
I am already prepping for the next show on April 30,2017 at the Comfort Suites in Norwich, CT from 11am to 3pm. Although this will be a smaller event, if you are in the area and still working on your list, stop by and say hello. Engaged couples get in free!
If you’ve dreamed of a day like this for yourself or if there is a special someone in your life who would love this experience, give me a call and we can set up a day to talk about how to make this dream come true!
If you have any questions about this article or ideas for other topics you would like me to write about, please comment below or Contact Us from our web page.
If you have dreamed of having a photo-shoot that is all about you, call me to set up a complimentary consultation. You can see the studio and we can talk over coffee about how you want to be photographed. To make that happen, just click to book below! Is it a long trip to visit the studio? We’ve photographed women from all over the eastern part of the country including New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Feel free to contact us and set up a special phone consultation! And, as you now know, Gift Certificates are available.
Your day has arrived and you’re filled with excitement and a bit nervous. You spent the last month preparing your outfits, thinking about what props to bring, making sure your haircut is up to date and getting your nails done.
You arrive at the studio by 9am and take a deep breath… the fun is about to begin! You’ll spend the next 4 to 6 hours here at the studio for your customized photoshoot. I’ll help you carry your things into the studio and we’ll get you a cup of coffee or tea while we hang up things and take a look at what you brought with you.
Your hair and makeup artist is ready to review your look for the day and get started on your makeup. You’ll spend about an hour to an hour and a half getting pampered and styled to ensure your makeup is right for your photos and your hair will look wonderful.
When your hair and makeup are ready, you’ll get into your first outfit and I’ll coach you through posing as we get your photoshoot underway. Everyone is nervous when their session begins and we’ll arrange your outfits and poses to help calm your nerves and make you comfortable.
With music playing and snacks to keep you going between sets, we will change up your outfits, sets and lighting to give you a variety of looks to choose from when you select your images.
By the end of your shoot, your feeling like a pro and your nerves have long since disappeared. There is always laughter and joking to keep things fun and the day flies by quicker than you can imagine.
When we’ve finished shooting and you’ve gotten changed, you’ll get a sneak peak at a couple images from your session and we’ll arrange your reveal date where you’ll see your edited images and select what you want to purchase.
With your final images selected we can get your product ordered and you’ll be able to pick it up in about 2 to 3 weeks. There is nothing quite like seeing your images displayed when you come in and getting to hold them.
If you’ve dreamed of a day like this for yourself or if there is a special someone in your life who would love this experience, give me a call and we can set up a day to talk about how to make this dream come true!
If you have any questions about this article or ideas for other topics you would like me to write about, please comment below or Contact Us from our web page.
If you have dreamed of having a photo-shoot that is all about you, call me to set up a complimentary consultation. You can see the studio and we can talk over coffee about how you want to be photographed. To make that happen, just click to book below! Is it a long trip to visit the studio? We’ve photographed women from all over the eastern part of the country including New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Feel free to contact us and set up a special phone consultation! And, as you now know, Gift Certificates are available.
What is a photo shoot? Models, lights, cameras, professional photographers, hair stylists, makeup artist and magazine style images? Something reserved for Victoria Secret models or famous people? Have you ever dreamed of being that woman at the center of all the attention?
You can be that woman! You can have a photo shoot designed specifically for you that reflects your personality and style. You can be the center of attention for the day, having your hair and makeup done and being posed from your nose to your toes.
Today I’ll share with you how you can make that happen and what to expect as you prepare for a day you will never forget!
When I tell a prospective client that we will be spending a month preparing for their photo session and that it will be an all day event, I’m often met with a disbelieving look or a blunt “Why does it take so long?”
Many people who come to see me about photography sessions have little or no experience with a professional photo shoot. Their experience is limited to traditional 30 minute, book the date over the phone and show up appointments. Often images are digital only and after the initial shares on social media, are never printed or looked at again. There is nothing wrong with that experience at all if it fits the need for your situation well. If you are looking for more, let me share what makes us different.
The services provided at my studio are quite different and are more of a boutique experience that allows the session to be tailored around your personality and style. Our 1000 sq ft studio and professional hair and makeup stylists are ready to make this your special day.
Before you book a session at my studio, you come in for your complimentary pre-shoot consultation. This gives you an opportunity to meet me and see the studio where your images would be taken, the various sets, and hair and makeup room. You also have a chance to see the quality of our work and the various options you have for how your images can be displayed. We talk about why you want to be photographed and what your style is to make sure we are a good fit to provide the images you want.
Once you have decided we are the right fit for you, we book your session date. Normally this will be at least 4 weeks out as this includes booking your hair and makeup artist as well as setting up a private Pinterest board to collaborate on ideas for your session. I have found this collaboration gives an opportunity for you to look at images from our Pinterest boards as well as others to show what inspires you and what your vision is of what sexy means if you’re planning a boudoir session. This is also a way for our stylists to see just what you have in mind for you hair and makeup. You have the chance to pin styles and update the comments to share exactly what you like. For instance there may be a picture where you love the hair style but hate the makeup. The more we share, the better we can plan your day.
You are also provided with guides to help you get prepared along the way to your shoot covering everything from selecting your outfits to getting your Mani-Pedi just before your session. We also keep in touch along the way via email and are always available by phone to talk about any questions you may have. This preparation includes not just getting your outfits selected, but also deciding what props or accessories you may want to bring to make the images more meaningful to you or the person you are giving them to. This may be anything from his football jersey to hats, to fancy jewelry or that killer pair of heels.
The time will fly by quickly and before you know it you special day has arrived… Read about the experience the day of the session in next week’s blog.
If you have any questions about this article or ideas for other topics you would like me to write about, please comment below or Contact Us from our web page.
If you have dreamed of having a photo-shoot that is all about you, call me to set up a complimentary consultation. You can see the studio and we can talk over coffee about how you want to be photographed. To make that happen, just click to book below! Is it a long trip to visit the studio? We’ve photographed women from all over the eastern part of the country including New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Feel free to contact us and set up a special phone consultation! And, as you now know, Gift Certificates are available.
With spring right around the corner and bathing suits already for sale in the stores, it’s time to tackle going through your wardrobe! If you’re like most of us, there are clothes in your closet and dressers that haven’t been worn for years but you can’t bring yourself to get rid of. Well, today we’re going to share some essential tips for organizing your wardrobe and getting ready for the warm weather.
Start Now
Waiting until the warm weather has really hit, inevitably leads to stuffing all the winter items in bins or boxes because you are too overwhelmed to deal with sorting through each item. So start now and pick one of the plans below that works for you. There are different approaches to tackling this project and it’s best to pick which one fits you best. No matter what approach you pick, have your bags, boxes or bins ready for sorting your items.
Make a Plan
For the one step at a time approach, pick one type of clothing at a time, for instance socks & underwear, jeans, jackets, etc. This process will take longer but is less overwhelming and works for those who just can’t dedicate a whole uninterrupted day to getting it done. Take everything of that item you own and assess what condition it is in. Just like on the TV shows that focus on cleaning out a house, make three piles – Keep, Donate, Trash. If you have items you were given as a gift and never wore because they didn’t really suit your style, put them in the donation pile. If you have clothes that are stained or torn and cannot be cleaned or repaired, put them in the toss pile. This is the time to be honest as well. If you have clothes that don’t fit, are you actively doing something to remedy the situation? If that pair of size 6 jeans you had in high school have a ton of memories but no chance in hell of ever fitting again, it’s time to donate, toss or get crafty with them. Remember if you choose the crafty route and you don’t get it done in the next 6 months, time to let them go!
For the brave souls who can tackle their entire wardrobe in one go, remember to set aside enough time and space for your project and have a plan before you start. Take everything out, empty your closet and all your drawers so you have a big picture of what you have and the outfits you love to mix and match. If you have classic items that mix well with everything and that can be worn for years to come, those are a great place to start your keep pile. No matter which approach you choose, this can be a difficult task but you will feel great when you finish.
Storage Tips
Once you have your keep items selected you still have a few things to do. Before you pack everything away when the warmer weather hits, remember to keep a few transitional items for those cool days so you don’t have to pull bins back out later. Throw out the toss pile and pack your donate items in your car to drop off your next time out. If they stay in the house, these items have a sneaky way of crawling back into your closet and drawers.
When you’re ready to store items, it’s important to do it correctly so when you go back to them in the fall, they are still in wearable condition. If you have items that need dry cleaning, get that done before you store them as any dirt or oils should be removed before packing them away. If you have jackets you are storing, make sure they are washed and thoroughly dry before putting them in storage. Make sure you empty pockets, zip or button items before packing to keep things in shape. If you have items that will be stored on hangers, invest in hangers that will not leave your clothes misshapen over time. Use caution when storing items in a basement or attic if they will be subject to moisture or extreme heat or cold as mold can ruin your favorite clothes and leave spots that will not come out. Last but certainly not least, label your storage containers so it will be easy for you to retrieve items when the weather begins to cool off or if you decide to take a vacation to an area that has cooler weather.
I hope these tips help you get this off your to do list and moving on to more fun and creative projects or on a shopping trip to fill in the gaps in your wardrobe for spring!
If you have any questions about this article or ideas for other topics you would like me to write about, please comment below or Contact Us from our web page.
If you have dreamed of having a photo-shoot that is all about you, call me to set up a complimentary consultation. You can see the studio and we can talk over coffee about how you want to be photographed. To make that happen, just click to book below! Is it a long trip to visit the studio? We’ve photographed women from all over the eastern part of the country including New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Feel free to contact us and set up a special phone consultation! And, as you now know, Gift Certificates are available.
A new year a new you! How many times have you heard or said that phrase? New Year’s is a time when people are filled with hope of new opportunities and belief that change can happen for them. Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes to new life, a new year gives us the feeling that all things are possible if we start them today.
In the fall of 2015 I met some amazing women while re-branding my business to highlight women’s portraiture. Each woman came to me with a different reason for having her photo taken. I have been told by clients that the feelings they have at the end of their session and after they have seen their photos make them see themselves differently. They feel empowered, confident and beautiful. Today I would like to share a blog recently written by one of those women on her blog site Desirable Phoenix.
Boudoir or Not to Boudoir
The word, boudoir, is French. It means a women’s private room or bedroom. But, in a photography sense, boudoir is using a bedroom, hotel or intimate setting that is used to create or capture classy and romantic images.
I had previously heard of boudoir photo shoots, but I had yet to be a part of them. I began modeling for a friend, who captured more risque images … As a photographer, my husband had the opportunity to shoot boudoir with a woman who was turning 40 and wanted to get images done of herself! At that point, I knew I wanted to do one as well, but the time had never opened up to do so.
Around September or October of 2015, a friend of mine posted about a contest her mother was having. She was re-branding her photography business and wanted to run a new campaign. It just so happened that it was a glamour/boudoir shoot and she was looking for four models. Although they lived in Connecticut, I decided that it was worth a shot and worth the drive to get a free photo shoot. I went on her website and entered the contest. A couple weeks before the shoot was to take place, I received a phone call from Marilyn Riel, owner and photographer at Menagerie Photography. She explained to me that I had won one of the spot. I was so surprised that I had to know why. She told me that she liked what I put in my description of why I’d be a good model for the photo shoot.
I was so excited, that I made a weekend of the trip of it!
Before the shoot, we laughed and I cried and shared my thoughts about myself and my image. At the time of this shoot, I was struggling with my thoughts of what sexy looked like on me and how I felt. You may even look at these photos and see my petite body and think, “She’s beautiful”, or “She has a wonderful shape”, or “I wish I was her size”, but the reality is I had and still have some insecurities about my body and how I want it to look. Even doing the risque photo shoots did not make me feel like the boudoir shoot made me feel.
I felt vulnerable, and I felt sexy! It was a very powerful and personal experience. Unlike any other that I have had. After the photo shoot, I felt like I knew a little more about my sexy and what “type” I fell under.
Feeling and being sexy is not about what other people think of you, but what you think of yourself. No matter how you look: thick, skinny, fat, curvy, petite, or plus-sized, your sexy is determined by how you feel about yourself.
Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!! Would I suggest it to other women? Absolutely!!
In the long run, you will thank yourself that this was something you did. It may not be as awakening as it was for me… but what if it is? Do you really want to miss out?
Stay Blessed
Lady Lynn”
It is hard to put into words how proud I am of the strides this woman has made in finding herself and in opening up to share her challenges and victories with others. I can tell you about what I do or why I do it but to have a woman share her feelings with others about HER experience with me, truly brings me to tears every time I read it.
Thank you “Lady Lynn” for sharing your story and letting me know that all the hard work and hours spent preparing, shooting and editing each session is so worth it!
My goal is to shoot 100 women before January 1st 2018.
I would love to meet you, do a session with you, and show you how absolutely beautiful you are.
Why are you waiting to have an amazing experience for yourself?
Call me today to meet, have coffee and plan a day you will always remember.
Happy New Year!!
If you have any questions about this article or ideas for other topics you would like me to write about, please comment below or Contact Us from our web page.
If you have dreamed of having a photo-shoot that is all about you, call me to set up a complimentary consultation. You can see the studio and we can talk over coffee about how you want to be photographed. To make that happen, just click to book below! Is it a long trip to visit the studio? We’ve photographed women from all over the eastern part of the country including New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Feel free to contact us and set up a special phone consultation! And, as you now know, Gift Certificates are available.
We all know that it’s very hard to change a first impression; and a person often makes their first decisions about who you are based on your looks. Now, I know that isn’t fair and it’s socially a big no-no, but it is a reality! If a stranger looked at your professional photo, how would they describe you? If you have images of your staff, what do they say about your business?
Professional images of you, and also of your staff, give your business an opportunity to put your best face in front of your customer. People are looking for someone they can relate to, someone they can feel comfortable doing business with. Do your photos show someone who is professional but friendly? Do images of your staff make people feel they can come in and ask them questions? Are they smiling and looking happy to be there? (No one wants to do business with someone who looks like they hate their job!) Do they look like someone YOU want to do business with?
Today’s market is very competitive and the top businesses have invested in new or updated websites and social media platforms, as well as working on brand publishing and content marketing. If you are one of these top professionals, you take your online marketing seriously and are constantly working to build better communication with your target audience. I’ll bet you spend hours publishing your content and sharing it across your social media platforms and updating it on your web page…
There is only one thing missing – the best of YOU!
Very often the most valuable commodity a business has for marketing is its people. There are so many people competing for the same markets that price and flashy web pages are no longer what the customer uses to base their decisions on. They want to know what makes your business unique. What is it that makes you trustworthy, dependable and the business they should choose? If your picture is used on the business cards you hand out, the social media platforms you promote yourself on and your web page, are you showing the best of yourself to your customers? If not, now is the time to get updated images! Professional images should be updated at least once per year to keep them fresh and reflecting who you are today.
Take the time to get updated, professional photos of yourself and your employees to use on your social media, marketing materials and web page. Let your customers get to know you looking your best!
If you have any questions about this article or ideas for other topics you would like me to write about, please comment below or Contact Us from our web page.
If you have dreamed of having a photo-shoot that is all about you, call me to set up a complimentary consultation. You can see the studio and we can talk over coffee about how you want to be photographed. To make that happen, just click to book below! Is it a long trip to visit the studio? We’ve photographed women from all over the eastern part of the country including New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Feel free to contact us and set up a special phone consultation! And, as you now know, Gift Certificates are available.
Another year is almost at an end and it’s time to take stock of where I’ve been and where I want to go. It’s been a little over a year since I started specializing in women’s portraiture and it’s been so amazing! I’ve worked with amazing women, laughed, cried and hugged.
Over the year I’ve been asked a number of times about doing other types of photography from weddings to dog pictures. I always turned them down with a reply that I only do women’s portraiture. I realized that I’ve been a bit blinded by my excitement of the past year’s adventures and I’ve had to rethink what women’s portraiture means to me and to the women I photograph. I chose women’s portraiture because I have a strong desire to have all women realize their strength and beauty. I repeat three words over and over in my brand: beautiful, confident, and empowered. My goal is to take pictures that leave you feeling this way when you look at them; whether that is today, tomorrow or 5 years from now.
For some it was a gift for their groom,
Or for a holiday gift,
Or celebrating a life milestone like weight loss or regaining their health.
For others it was a business headshot,
Or a mother-daughter photo before she leaves for college.
I’ve loved each and every session, and am proud to have those photos become treasured memories for the women I photographed and for the people who love them.
I’ve also realized that sometimes this may mean including the people a woman cares about in her photo. The people she loves, the people who love her. I recently did a shoot that I originally was envisioning as a mother-daughter session. It became so much more when the family got involved. The love that these people share is so important to capture.
I’ve missed out on some amazing moments by narrowing my ideas and it’s time to institute some change! My specialty is women’s portraiture, that’s true, but if she wants to include the people she loves, those that make her feel beautiful, confident and powerful, and that’s what makes memories to treasure. And that ladies, is why I take your picture!
Here at our Menagerie Photography studio, each session is tailored specifically to the woman we are photographing and her style. If you would like learn more about how you can schedule a photo session for yourself or the woman you love, give us a call! And remember, we have gift certificates available for the perfect gift for the holidays or any occasion.
If you have any questions about this article or ideas for other topics you would like me to write about, please comment below or Contact Us from our web page.
If you have dreamed of having a photo-shoot that is all about you, call me to set up a complimentary consultation. You can see the studio and we can talk over coffee about how you want to be photographed. To make that happen, just click to book below! Is it a long trip to visit the studio? We’ve photographed women from all over the eastern part of the country including New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Feel free to contact us and set up a special phone consultation! And, as you now know, Gift Certificates are available.
Ever want to be a magazine cover girl? Well, today I am going to share images and information from the sessions we had creating the cover for our newest studio guide. Yes, there was even a pillow fight involved! I have learned to expect just about anything from the lovely ladies who won our contest!
So, how do we decide who goes on a magazine cover? Well, normally we pick our cover girl from the women we have photographed in the last 6 months as this is a bi-yearly publication.
Our Volume #1 cover was from the first in a series of sessions of maternity shots, and the Volume #2 cover came from a pinup session held during our “Fall 2015 Fantastic Five Campaign”.
This being our third volume, we had a number of women to choose from and it was a very difficult decision. We finally decided that it was impossible to narrow it down to just one woman and decided to do something a little different. We chose two women for this volume and they won a Best Friends session where we would be taking the cover image for the magazine.
Their best friends’ session included a separate 30 minute session for each, along with a time to take some images of them together that represented their friendship. Having shot with both of the ladies before, I knew we would be having a blast! There were amazing images from each of their individual shoots and when we did the time together, they were all about having fun! As you can see by this image, they really did have a good time…
These two were great sports and came into our studio as part of our “Spring 2016 Celebrating You Campaign”. Each woman who took part in the campaign had their individual stories to tell and shared why this was a time of celebration for them. We had women who were celebrating weight loss of over 100 pounds, women who had reached health milestones, and women who decided now was the time to embrace who they were and celebrate that beauty today.
Both of our winners – Jessica Keegan and Jessica King – (yes they even both have the same last initial!) have a mindset that includes being physically fit, which is how they got to know each other. Jessica Keegan owns Jessica’s Dance Fitness in Jewett City’s Slater Mall and Jessica King goes to her classes. We had fun doing some editorial photos with both women as part of their sessions along with lots of fun shots for the two of them.
The idea for our cover came from the shirts they were wearing during part of their joint session “It’s a Jessica Thing”. We worked with a number of Jessica’s during that time and it seemed every new contact we had was with someone named Jessica! We decided why not embrace it!!! This shot reflected their love of fitness and Converse sneakers and was perfect for our latest cover.
Stay tuned for information about our next guide – Volume 4 which will be published in the Spring!
Here at our Menagerie Photography studio, each session is tailored specifically to the woman we are photographing and her style. If you would like learn more about how you can schedule a photo session for yourself or the woman you love, give us a call! And remember, we have gift certificates available for the perfect gift for the holidays or any occasion.
If you have any questions about this article or ideas for other topics you would like me to write about, please comment below or Contact Us from our web page.
If you have dreamed of having a photo-shoot that is all about you, call me to set up a complimentary consultation. You can see the studio and we can talk over coffee about how you want to be photographed. To make that happen, just click to book below! Is it a long trip to visit the studio? We’ve photographed women from all over the eastern part of the country including New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Feel free to contact us and set up a special phone consultation! And, as you now know, Gift Certificates are available.
Welcome to our Celebrating Local Women in Business blog! We are focusing on local Connecticut businesses owned and run by women. The blogs will give you a chance to learn about the women who own these businesses, why they chose the work they do, what drove them to transform that passion into their own business and how their business has a positive impact on others.
Today I’m introducing you to Jessica Odaynik who owns and operates jesslancephoto in Plainfield, CT. Jess has worked in a variety of photography styles and has chosen to focus her business around what she loves most – weddings. She has a style that reflects her personality and has a personality that makes you like her from the first time you meet her. Jess loves sharing these special moments with a couple and captures amazing images for them to cherish.
“I enjoy giving couples a chance to relive their wedding day. Everything goes by so fast and most of the time I show them moments they had missed. My goal is to make the photography process as simple and fun as possible.”
“Growing up I was the baby in my family, aka designated flower girl. I remember the wedding photographers always interrupting! The mother of the bride would be helping her daughter into her dress and the photographer would say okay, stop, hold it, great, now do that one more time….okay now from this side, look at me… smile! Same thing during the first dance, cake cutting… pretty much any important moment. I loved photography from a young age but decided I never ever wanted to be a wedding photographer, because they ruined the moment. Ironically now I spend most of my weekends May-November photographing weddings and loving every second!
When I graduated from the New England Institute of Art in 2010 I saw myself working for magazines or in a museum. My husband’s job brought us to Miami, FL and I began working with a commercial photographer working on ads for Burger King. It sounded like the greatest job ever but I soon discovered that commercial photography had little to do with photography and knew it wasn’t for me. As a military spouse I made some great friends while stationed in Miami. They found out I was a photographer and would ask if I could take some photos of their families. At the time I didn’t think of that as a career, more of a way to meet new people. One day I received an email that said “I wanted to thank you for the photos of my granddaughter. It’s so hard being away from her but your photos made me feel like I was there with her. They capture her just how she is, bubbly and silly and full of energy” That’s when I started to realize I was doing more than just taking pictures of people, I was capturing memories for them.
When we moved back home to Connecticut in 2013 I started to pursue portrait and wedding photography. Three years later I’m happy to call this my full-time job, with a studio in Plainfield and specializing in weddings. As for my “fear” of ruining the moment as a wedding photographer? Well past brides have said “Jess captured all the special moments of the wedding and I didn’t even know she was taking photos at the time! She’s great during the wedding without really being seen or heard.” “She has the amazing philosophy of taking things in as they happen, rather than forcing them. All in all, it leads to wonderful photos that truly capture the events and emotions of the day.”
The wedding experience with jesslancephoto is full service. I meet with couples right after their engagement (sometimes even at the proposal!), they come to the studio to discuss their wedding plans and I pass along all my favorite vendor’s information for florists, caterers, makeups, etc. Engagement sessions are typically done at one of their favorite places and they receive a hard cover book that doubles as a guest book at the wedding. As the big day gets closer we do a walkthrough at their venue to finalize all the best spots for portraits and create a timeline for the day to ensure every moment is captured. I’m usually one of the first vendors to arrive and almost last to leave but I love the whirlwind of the day. A low-res preview is available for the couple within the first week and they’re able to favorite any images they’d like edited first. Four to six weeks later they receive their final gallery and are invited back to the studio to start creating their wedding album and wall art. I enjoy giving couples a chance to relive their wedding day. Everything goes by so fast and most of the time I show them moments they had missed. My goal is to make the photography process as simple and fun as possible. I love when past couples call me for their other big life events….pregnancy, birth, military homecomings, anniversaries, family member’s engagements and more.
I try to give back when I can. I’ve donated my services to animal shelters looking for fun photos to help the adoption process, military homecomings and Chamber of Commerce events. I’m active in the Rose City BNI chapter and look forward to helping with more causes in the future!”
This photo of two canvases Jess made can’t do justice to seeing them in person. The fact that she loves what she does shines through in the photos she takes.
If you are looking for a wedding photographer to capture your special day, look no further, just check out Jess’s info and work at:
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If you have dreamed of having a photo-shoot that is all about you, call me to set up a complimentary consultation. You can see the studio and we can talk over coffee about how you want to be photographed. To make that happen, just click to book below! Is it a long trip to visit the studio? We’ve photographed women from all over the eastern part of the country including New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Feel free to contact us and set up a special phone consultation! And, as you now know, Gift Certificates are available.
