Maternity Session in the Park- Pregnancy (Maternity) Photographer West Hartford, CT

My weeklong editing whirlwind is starting to slow down and I now only have one more session to complete from last weekend…Woo hoo!!! But before the weekend begins, I wanted to post a preview on my blog so that the M family can check out the results of their maternity session. The M family and I go way back now. We met three years ago when I was just starting up Kathryn Deane Photography. When I first started photographing their family, they had three young boys and were expecting their fourth baby. Now, three years later, they have a beautiful little girl and are about to give birth to their fifth little blessing in June! I am so happy that I have been able to photograph their family as it grows and changes….and I cannot wait to meet their newest little one in a few weeks!

Thank you again to the M family for always trusting in my vision and happily cooperating with all of my “ideas” I so wish we could have gotten that beautiful sunset that I was praying for, but I know that you are going to love these shots, even with the hazy clouds. Mama M, you look absolutely stunning in all of these photos….pregnancy definitely suits you!  Here are my top picks for the day:

 

Family Session in the Gardens at Wickham Park- Family Photographer West Hartford, CT

For my second session this past Saturday, we decided to meet up at Wickham Park in Manchester, CT. Since it was my first time there, I wasn’t exactly sure of what to expect. Well, I must say that I was blown away by the size and beauty of this park! It is filled with amazing gardens and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to explore this location on Saturday and find all the perfect spots to shoot some family photos for my brand new clients. Their little boy and I hit it off immediately. He was a total sweetheart with the most adorable personality. So, of course, we quickly became good friends. I wish I could share every photo I shot that day because I love them all so much, but I will try to restrain myself and only share a batch of my favorites.  Hope you enjoy!

Portraits in Blue Back Square- Portrait Photographer in West Hartford, CT

This past Saturday, I had three fantastic portrait sessions that I hope to post over the next several days. My first client was looking to get some updated head shots and portraits for professional and personal reasons, so we decided to meet up for a fun session in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square. There were so many cool doorways, stone walls, and stairways to work with that we had plenty of locations to choose from. The best part was that he is really into film, so we got to do some cool shots at the Criterion Theatre as well. It was so great to work with someone who is taking the initiative to hire a professional photographer to help polish their look and present themselves in the best light possible. Between websites, blogs, online dating, Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, etc, there are dozens of ways that we are connecting with people via the internet and photos now. Unfortunately, it has come to the point where many times you are being judged by how you appear online before someone has ever even met you! There is a lot of pressure to look attractive, approachable, professional, fun, etc, etc, etc…..So it makes sense that more and more people are turning to professional photographers to help them polish and present their image. I think it is genius and it has me thinking very seriously about hiring a photographer to do my own photos soon! So here are my top favorites from our session:

 

 

Mother’s Day 2012- Newborn, Child, Family Photographer West Hartford, CT

Just this week, I realized that this Mother’s Day week marks the anniversary of several of my life’s biggest transitional moments. Seven years ago this week, I found out that I was pregnant with my one and only miracle baby. And although I was not a big fan of pregnancy itself, I could not have been any more blessed to have been given the opportunity to become a mother to the most phenomenal little girl ever.

It was a year ago, this Mother’s Day week, that my family and I moved into our new home. It took us 11 months to build the house with a big side order of daily stress and countless sleepless nights. However, it was a moment in time that changed our lives for the better in so many different ways. We LOVE our home and more importantly, our amazing neighborhood. This was a life transition that was worth all the headaches that came with it.

And it was also this week, three years ago, that I officially launched my own photography business and Kathryn Deane Photography was born. As I reflect upon these major moments in my life, it has got me thinking about life and how you get through all of those times without being completely overwhelmed by the stress of it all. There are so many questions that go through your head in those times of major change in life. I find that these are the times when you most want to call your mom and have her tell you it will all be alright. Some of us have the immensely good fortune that we can still pick up that phone and hear her voice on the other line. Others of us cannot make that call, which is truly heartbreaking. For some reason, even as adults, we all long to have our own mother tell us that everything will be okay. For better or for worse, our mothers have been there with us, whether it be in body or only in spirit. They have protected us, listened to us, supported us, and loved us unconditionally. And now that we are older and have become mothers ourselves, we find that now we are riding that daily roller coaster of parenting…hanging on for dear life…just hoping that we are doing the right thing for our children too. We want to be everything for them. But it is often so tough to balance what they want with what they need. And as a result, we now know what it was probably like for our moms. They struggled too. They were exhausted too. They loved us so much that it completely consumed them. They gave everything and usually did not get much in return.

So I think that it is so important for us all to take this Mother’s Day week and let it be a time to remember and reflect. Remember your mom and the other motherly figures in your life. Call them, if you can….or even better, go visit them. If you believe in God, thank Him for having given you the time that you’ve had with your mother… and if she is still alive, pray for more time. Mothers sacrifice everything, whether they are amazing moms or not. Just bringing you into the world is a sacrifice in and of itself. And if there are any husbands out there reading this, take a moment this weekend to really look at the woman who mothers your children. Think of all that she has given you and all that she continues to give to your children. She may be a feeling a little grumpier or frumpier than she used to, but that is only evidence that a)she is giving it her all and b) she needs some more time for herself. Remember to celebrate your moms this week. Celebrate your wives as well. Spend some time telling the moms in your life how much you appreciate them. They would give anything to hear it and it will mean more that you could even imagine. Oh, and it also wouldn’t hurt to throw in any or all of the following:

1) If she has young children, take care of them all day and suggest she do whatever she wants to. This will be the greatest gift of all, I promise.

2) Make/buy her three good meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner that she doesn’t have to cook.

3) Spend at least a good thirty minutes, uninterrupted,  just talking to her and listening to her….I know, that can be excruciating for some people, but it will be greatly appreciated.

4) If you can, give her a really good back massage or buy her a gift card to go see someone who can.

5) If you really want to score an A+, you could even throw in a gift card for a family photo shoot with her favorite kids ….wink! wink!

And to all my mama clients who have made Kathryn Deane Photography what it is today, I thank you all for allowing me to capture the beautiful moments that you are making with your family. I look forward to many more years of  documenting the evolution of your families and the special events that you will remember for a lifetime. Happy Mother’s Day, ladies! Enjoy your weekend….and may you all be blessed with an entire day of appreciation, love, and pampering this Sunday!

Here are a few of my favorite mother/grandmother and child photos that I have taken over the past three years:

 

 

A Sleepy Little Angel and One Sunny Window- Newborn Photographer West Hartford, Connecticut

On Friday, I shot a newborn session with the sleepiest little baby I have ever met. She was a newborn photographer’s dream come true! She was actually so sleepy that by the end of our session, we were trying to wake her up to get one shot with her eyes open. That was definitely a first for me! Another first for me was shooting the entire session while standing or crouching on a twin sized bed. We only had one window in the house to work with that had any natural sunlight coming in and the tricky part was that  there was a bed in front of it! So I set everything up on the bed and shot the entire session in that tiny little space. Oh, and in the process, I think I may have discovered what should be the next biggest trend in workouts…..apparently, if you spend two hours standing or squatting on a squishy mattress while trying to stay completely steady AND hold a beast of a camera at the same time, you will get a killer workout. My muscles are actually sore today…seriously…I am not even kidding about this!  So here are a few favorites from yesterday’s session/workout:

Here comes our one moment with eyes open….I can’t believe how tough this was to get!

I love when clients bring something special to a session that gives it a personal or meaningful touch….In the next shot, the baby is surrounded by lilacs from her great grandmother’s garden. Although her great grandma is no longer alive, these flowers live on and now are a part of one of little Baby C’s special moments in her life. So sweet…

A Beautiful Spring Morning for a Family Photo Session- Family Photographer West Hartford, CT

This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of shooting a family session with some wonderful people whom I have known for several years now. Our daughters went to preschool together three years ago and we have stayed friends ever since. It is always really fun to photograph a family that already knows you because you can make them do silly things right away without much of a warm up! So we got to work and just had a good time from the moment we started. The kids were angels and did everything I asked of them. All in all, it was a laid back, fun shoot with some terrific results. I am positive that these photos will be treasured for years to come. Here are a few of my favorites from this session:

Okay, here is where I make mom and dad kiss…..

….and this is their daughter’s response. Too funny!!

Mentoring and Models in NYC- Child, Family, and Newborn Photographer West Hartford, CT

A week ago, I had the opportunity to travel into the city for a one on one mentoring session with the amazingly talented Benita Cloward of BRC Photography in Oklahoma. Benita and I worked on and discussed everything from shooting and editing to business and marketing. I don’t think there was a single thing we missed! It was not only a ton of fun, but it was also exactly the type of experience I was looking for to take my photography to the next level. What I loved the most about working with Benita is that she is a no frills photographer. She is not spending a lot of time altering her images in Photoshop, carrying around tons of lighting or devices to manipulate the shot, or counting on an entourage of assistants to get the photo she wants. She is so skilled that she knows exactly what to do with just her camera and a lens to get what she is looking for. That is precisely the type of photographer you want when you hire someone to shoot your wedding, family, baby, or child. And I am so thrilled to have been given the opportunity to “look behind the curtains” and see exactly how a photographer with that level of talent makes it all happen. Here are a few samples of my shots of our beautiful model, Brittany, who allowed us to march her through the streets of New York with all kinds of crazy outfits on. Thank you again to both Benita and Brittany for giving me such a fantastic learning experience in NYC….

Spring Photo Sessions Begin!- Family Photographer West Hartford, CT

I am so excited that the spring weather has arrived and I am able to start my photography season a little early this year! This family portrait session was so much fun to shoot. The kids were gorgeous, the parents photogenic, and the location is one of my absolute favorites. I had to work fast in order to keep up with the littlest of the two because, like most toddlers, she was not at all interested in sitting still for long. But it really did not even matter because for those few moments she did slow down, she always gave me an amazing smile or adorable expression to shoot. Her big sister was a complete angel and did everything I asked of her without a complaint. Seriously, this was a dream session! I have so many I would love to share, but I want to save the rest for the family to enjoy when they watch their slideshow for the first time. Here are just a few of my personal favorites:

Okay, the last one is a shot of the baby when we finally let her run free in the grass. She was soooooo excited!!

Summer Camp Time! – Family Photography West Hartford, CT

 

Looking for a list of the best summer camps in West Hartford? Well look no further! Over the past couple of weeks, I have been thinking a lot about summer and the inevitable, “I’m bored….there’s nothing to do”, conversation that will commence approximately three days after school ends. In the past, I have been super laid back about summer plans. And by laid back, I mean that I actually never made any until the very last second. So this year, I have decided that things will be different and I will be all booked up and ready to go by the end of March. Ambitious, aren’t I?! Actually, the truth is that the truly ambitious moms were done with this weeks ago, but hey at least I haven’t waited until the Fourth of July to do it this year! Okay, so since I have been actively doing my research, I thought I would share with everyone the fruits of my labor all in one nice, neat little post with all the links you will possibly need to plan your summer camps this year.

If you are a looking for summer camps in West Hartford, then you should definitely check out the West Hartford Leisure Services first. They have the most unbelievable selection of everything from 1-2 hour camps to full day camps with extended care options. The best part is that they are all extremely well priced for what they are offering. Personally, I am using the town for most of my camp needs, both spring break and summer. Here is the link to check out their offerings: http://www.westhartford.org/living_here/town_departments/leisure_services/index.php

There is also an academic based camp to keep their skills going over the summer. As a former elementary school teacher, I can tell you that summer can lead to major losses for kids who struggle a bit more to keep up academically. It is vital to keep them actively learning and practicing their skills so they don’t forget them before they enter the next grade level. Here is a link to the West Hartford/Bloomfield/Hartford Collaborative Summer School program: http://summer.whlifelearn.org/CourseCatalog/catalogView.asp?id=2

Next up, there is a camp at Renbrook which is higher in price, but I have heard absolutely wonderful things about it. Here is a link for more info: http://www.renbrooksummeradventure.org/

There are also summer camps at the Mandell JCC which you can read about at this link: http://www.mandelljcc.org/clientuploads/Summer_Programs/2012/SummerBrochure.pdf

The University of Hartford offers a great full day camp called the Summer Place. This would be a terrific option for working parents who need a longer day of child care as well. Check them out here: http://www.summerplaceprograms.com/

The YMCA also has tons of camps to offer which I also plan to take advantage of this summer. There is a YMCA branch in West Hartford, but there is also one in Plainville called the Wheeler Regional YMCA. It is actually pretty close to West Hartford if you live towards the Farmington side and they offer an even broader selection of camp options. Here is a link to the YMCA locations map. If you click on the West Hartford link or the Plainville Wheeler YMCA link, it will bring you to the main page for their facilities. On the right, click the link to summer camps and you can see all they have to offer. http://www.ghymca.org/locationsMap.cfm

The Children’s Museum of West Hartford also has several camps for kids who love science and nature. They also have a preschool there that offers their own preschool age camps in the summer. You will have to click on the Children’s Museum Preschool link on the left to see their camps, however right now they are only showing their spring break camp for preschoolers, not summer camps. I would like to say that I can personally vouch for how great their preschool summer camps are. My daughter attended last summer and loved them. Most importantly, if you are seeking a summer camp in West Hartford for kids with peanut or other food allergies, the preschool camp is absolutely amazing with that issue. Summer camps for kids with food allergies can be a total nightmare. I was told by MANY camps last year that unless my daughter, who was 5 at the time, could administer her own Epipen, then she could not attend because they were not allowed to do it for them. Ummmm, seriously? Have they ever met a 5 year old? Can you imagine a 5 year old being calm and capable enough to jab a needle into their own thigh while struggling to breath?! Well, I will stop myself now before I write a 20 page post about that issue alone. But the important thing is, the Children’s Museum Preschool has a real certified teacher in charge who is Epipen trained and certified so you can leave your child and not be a nervous wreck when you drive away!  Check them out here, but be warned….the main Children’s Museum website has a super loud song that plays as soon as you click, so turn down the volume if you are at work or if there is a little one sleeping nearby! http://www.thechildrensmuseumct.org/preschool.php

Okay! So there is all your research done for you…woo hoo!! Book some camps and then get out there and enjoy this amazing early spring weather. Oh and don’t forget to stop back at my blog in a day or two to check out my latest family photo session from this past weekend. And if you haven’t booked your spring session yet, do it soon! My weekends are filling up fast and the weather is perfect for photos. You can go to www.kathryndeane.com and click on the baby to get to my full website. Click the contact button and send me a message to check on availability or just to say hi!

Saint Patrick’s Day 2012 in Hartford & New Haven, CT – Family Photographer West Hartford, CT

Saint Patrick’s Day 2012 is just around the corner, so I thought I would post some of the exciting ways that you can celebrate the holiday here in Connecticut. All of the parades seem to be happening a bit early this year, so be sure to catch one this weekend or you will be out of luck on the actual St. Patrick’s Day. The Hartford parade is this Saturday, March 10th at 11am. Here is a link to a list of the best places to watch the Hartford St. Patrick’s Day parade this weekend:

http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/holiday/st-patricks-day/hartford-parade/hc-st-pats-hartford-overview,0,302105.photogallery

If Saturday does not work for your schedule, then you can head to New Haven’s St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday, March 11th at 1:30pm. Here is the link to find the best places to go to watch the New Haven St Patrick’s Day parade:

http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/holiday/st-patricks-day/new-haven-parade/hc-st-pats-new-haven-parade-overview,0,3910493.photogallery

On Saint Patrick’s Day, there will be an Irish music celebration at the Bushnell with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra at 8pm on Saturday, March 17th. You can get more info and tickets through this link:

http://www.hartfordsymphony.org/2011/02/saint-patricks-day-celebration/

And on Sunday, March 11th at 2pm, you can head to South Windsor’s Wood Memorial Library for a celtic folk music and storytelling performance by the Jolly Beggars. They are a 6 person band of Hartt Music School students. You can call (860)289-1783 to register. The performance is $5/person or $20 for a family of 4 or more.

As for me, I plan to hit the Hartford St. Patrick’s Day parade, which is an annual tradition for our family. After that, we will all gather back at my house for a corned beef and cabbage lunch (which I have never made before, so this ought to be interesting!) and a St. Paddy’s Day craft that I am SUPER excited about. All of the kids are going to build their own leprechaun traps to set up on St. Patrick’s Day weekend in an effort to capture one of those pesky little leprechauns that will be roaming about in search of gold. If you Google “leprechaun traps”, you will get a million different ideas, but here is one link to get you started if you would like to try out the leprechaun trap project as well.

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/to-catch-a-leprechaun-710897/

I will also give you the link to the corned beef and cabbage slow cooker recipe that I plan to attempt on Saturday as well. I will have to let you know how it goes afterwards:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/corned-beef-and-cabbage-3/

The part I am most excited about is creating the mischief that proves that the leprechaun has come by for a visit. Green glittery footprints, green lipstick marks, gold coins left behind….could this be any more fun?!! Okay, so I am planning to post photos of all of my St. Paddy’s Day fun later on, but just thought I would give everyone some great ideas for the weekend. Hope you all enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day week and hopefully I will see you at the parade!!