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Artist’s Choice Modeling Sessions

BE OUR MUSE

As professional photographers, we design most of our photoshoots around our clients’ needs, wants, and styles. While we LOVE to create a personalized experience for a variety of wonderful, talented people, sometimes we just have our own ideas and need someone who is excited to try them out with us!

How did it all begin?

When Johnathon and I first decided we really wanted to shift toward fashion-styled portraits with professional hair & makeup, we couldn’t get our clients on board. The issue was that we had no examples to show them.

We decided to find a few people who were willing (and excited!) to model our ideas and concepts so we could show future clients our capabilities.

We found a “guinea pig”, hired a hair & makeup artist, and were on our way! Once we got into things, our model was so pumped! We had never experienced the kind of excitement she had for our photography. She went all in, giving us everything she had and helping us produce the most amazing interpretation of our idea.

Not only was it an extremely fulfilling experience for us, but that photoshoot changed our business and our lives. From that day forward, we started receiving requests for the exact kind of photoshoot we had created. In addition, it showed us just how rewarding it was as artists to create a concept and achieve it. We decided to make these creative photoshoots a regular part of our annual business plan.

Where do we find inspiration?

We find inspiration everywhere. We might be running errands and pass someone who stokes our creative juices. We might be scrolling the internet and see an image we can’t help but stop to admire. We might be photographing a dance school event and a dancer stands out from the crowd. We have found inspiration from cinema, fiction novels, YouTube, and just…people being people.

We’re inspired by so many aspects of a person. Sometimes it’s a quirky personality trait or perfectly arched feet or the shape of their jaw. Sometimes we have an idea in mind (like, “Let’s get a 50 lb bag of flour and throw it at someone while they dance”) and we’ll search until we find just the right person who we know will be on board!

What does a modeling session look like?

Modeling sessions vary wildly. There are so many factors specific to what we’re looking for at the time that it’s difficult to specify the details. Here are the basics though:

Step 1) We present our idea to you to see if you’re on board. We’ll lay out the details of what is involved and what you’ll receive as compensation. There will be no charge for the creation of the photos (a.k.a. the photo session). You will also receive a number of digital files and perhaps a bit of fame. 🙂

Step 2) We begin planning the photoshoot time, location, and outfit. Sometimes we’ll work with options you already have. Other times we may need to purchase, rent or borrow an outfit or costume. If hair and makeup are required for the concept, we’ll book our salon, Top Level Salon.

Step 3) We meet for the photoshoot to create inspiring images! Most often, we spend about an hour or so with our models.

Step 4) Within about a week or two of the photoshoot, we meet (in person or virtually) for a viewing session. At this session, we’ll reveal the amazing images we created together and help you choose a few of your favorites to keep for free! You are welcome to share your chosen free images online and make your own prints.

Step 5) We proudly share the final images on our website and social media! Occasionally, we’ll share images on stock media sites where others can purchase them to use in their own marketing, graphic design projects, and product designs. We would only ever do this with your explicit permission and a signed model release. The most important thing for us is sharing our creativity with our client base.

avant garde snow fashion photography Middletown CT

Do we have to meet to review the images?

Meeting together to review images has a two-fold purpose.

  1. It can be quite overwhelming to narrow down hundreds of images to just a few. We have a great system of helping you narrow them down. Many models (and clients!) have expressed their appreciation for our artistic input as well. But in case you want more than we’re offering, you may purchase additional images, prints or products at this time. There is absolutely no obligation to make a purchase and we are very low key when reviewing images with you because of reason #2.
  2. Hearing your feedback about the images and the process is INVALUABLE to us. This is what tells us what to keep and what to change for future photoshoots. So thank you for setting aside a little time to help us in this way.

Do we take requests?

Typically, no. We only have time for a few modeling sessions per year, and it’s important that we spend that time and those resources on our own ideas and inspirations. However, feel free to message us about an idea you have with as many details as possible regarding clothing, location, mood, style, etc and perhaps it’ll be something we’re also excited about.

avant garde edgy fashion tub photography New Haven CT

Black Friday Deal on Portrait Gift Cards

For a limited time only, we’re offering 30% off our gift cards for all types of portraits! Buy now and gift it to your favorite family or friend this holiday season. Or save it for yourself at a later date. [grin]

Gift cards can be redeemed on any of our private photoshoot collections. (Cannot be redeemed on performance or event images images.) Give the gift of a memorable photoshoot experience to your parents, siblings and cousins to inspire much-needed family portraits. It’s easy to put it off for some later date when everyone will have lost all that extra weight and braces have finally been removed. Don’t fall into the “we’ll do it later” trap! Children grow up fast. Our lives, bodies, relationships, and homes change constantly. Capture your family just as they are now–imperfectly perfect! When you look back in a few years, you’ll thank your past self for making the effort.

Families aren’t the only ones who will benefit from creating professional images NOW. Dancers, aerialists, and gymnasts will benefit from creating art of their progress at every stage. There is ALWAYS something beautiful to show off even if you can’t imagine what that might be. We’ve been photographing performers for more than 30 years. We’ve got you covered!

Mark these special promo dates in your calendar with a notification so you can take advantage of this amazing deal!

Learn more

Front Porch Project Portraits CT

We’re back to check in on you. How are you coping? Are you keeping busy and getting some sunshine?

We’re a little late to the Front Porch Project game because we’ve been using every spare minute to make masks for those in need. Now that we’ve had a few requests for front porch portraits, we’re here with cameras ready!

We’ve got rain all week but this Sunday, May 3, is supposed to be gorgeous. So we’re making a day of it! 

We’ll spend 5-10 minutes across the lawn from you and your household, creating portraits to remember this time. You’ll receive the digital images at no charge within a few days of the shoot and may use them however you choose.

One rule: No shopping for outfits or props. Come as you are. Even if you’re in your PJs. 

If you would like to make a donation to a charity in exchange for our services, please consider donating to Sewing Face Masks – Farmington Valley CT to help purchase supplies to make masks for essential workers in need. As a group, we’ve made over 15,000 masks! So many more are still needed.

If you’re interested in having a front porch portrait session, let us know by Friday at 5PM. Include your address in your message to us. We’ll then plan out our route and send you a time frame for your portrait session on Sunday. If there are any times that don’t work for you and your family, let us know and we’ll do our best to work around it.


Weekly Social Media Party & Giveaway During Covid-19

So quarantine is fun, huh? I don’t know about you guys, but the Denney household has kept itself occupied by focusing on art, rushing through the show Devs in 2 days, being as inventive as possible with food, and collecting our dog’s shed fur, which we meticulously braid into an ever-growing totem in our living room.

Tempy, or "Puppy"

The totem’s name is Frank, or Mr. Totem, because even though we’re in quarantine, we’re still a society and respectful titles are important. And late last night, during the braiding trance we have instead of sleep, Frank asked us to create a fun little game we can play with our friends.

If this was a movie trailer, I imagine this is the part where the audience would discover that this is for a new Saw movie. But it’s not. And I can promise with a solid 76% certainty that playing this game will in no way enslave you for eternity to Frank the Dog Hair Totem.

Here’s how it’s going to work:

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 1PM April 20 through May 22, we’ll post a prompt on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. All answers for all posts need to be submitted by 10AM Saturday when we do the drawing. One drawing per week total.

Some prompts will be trivia (list-style) questions, some will require you to post an image (goofy or serious), and some will dig into your repertoire of song titles. To make it more fun, don’t use Google.

Every “answer” will count as an entry into our weekly random drawing. Multiple entries per person are acceptable unless we say otherwise for a particular post. We’re keeping it chill with rules but if you answer with nonsense or 8 of the same but slightly different photo *raised brows*, you’ll be disqualified for the week.

You can win more than once so keep participating!

What are we giving away each week?

A $100 gift voucher that can be used towards a private photo shoot!

photography_fashion_portraits_gift_certificate_connecticut

We’ll see you on Monday on social media! Meanwhile, we’ll be braiding away so as to appease Frank.


Reaching Out To Those With Depression & Anxiety During COVID-19

A letter from Heidi & Johnathon

Dear Exclusive Image Clients,

We’re guessing this is about your 93rd email concerning COVID-19. We don’t want to be just another email. Because we’re more than words on a screen. We’re humans with feelings and needs and worries just like you. And we want to reach out to you for several reasons.

First, we hope you’re all safe and healthy. That’s top priority.

But it goes deeper. While everyone is scurrying around and panicking over the virus itself, very few are thinking about those with mental health issues. Those with depression and anxiety.

“For me, socializing is of utmost importance. And I’m not talking about partying and bar hopping. I need to physically be among people I care about or my depression takes over and is unbearably heavy.”

~ Heidi

While trying desperately to find ways we can continue to socialize while maintaining distance, we read an article that suggested picnic lunches with other families, provided you meet at the park rather than drive together, stay on your own blanket at least 6′ away from each other, and don’t share your food. What a great idea! Nature isn’t the problem. Enclosed, packed spaces are.

Then we got to thinking about an even better idea that would involve you and us. While you’re working from home and the kids are out of school and the weather is getting nicer, why not grab everyone in your household and come out for a family portrait?

This is a tough time. Everyone will be touched by this epidemic. Everyone. We’re all going to be hurting physically, emotionally, and/or financially. And family portraits are difficult to plan ahead for with summer vacations and everyone at work and school.

So we’re offering half off all digital portrait collections scheduled now through April 12.* Give us at least 24 hours notice for your shoot. (Yes, you read that right. We’ll make it happen.) And we’ll turn around your images within another 24 hours.

We’ll re-evaluate this offer and potentially extend it if social distancing perpetuates or cancel it if our area goes on full lock down.

Don’t put this off. If it’s going to be nice outside tomorrow, contact us today. No waiting to lose weight. No waiting for braces to come off. No waiting for a new outfit. You and your family. As you are right now. Come outside and enjoy the fresh air, sunshine, and smiles.

Sincerely,

Heidi & Johnathon Denney

*What is a digital portrait collection? Choose any of our portrait collections with the digital option.


November Mini Sessions

Mini sessions are a great way to update important photos when you’re on a time or money budget. $199 sessions are short, twenty minute events and they include your 2 favorite images as digital files, copyrights included. Use the files to share online, make your own prints and greeting cards.

Great for:

  • Family portrait gifts
  • Last minute high school senior portraits
  • Dance audition photos
  • Executive head shots
  • Social media avatar updates

Friday, November 15, we’ll be at Studio 52 North in Middletown CT from 2-6 PM. Sessions are scheduled on the half hour. Deadline to book is Wednesday, November 13. Book soon! These go fast.


October Portraits and A Special Gift From Us

There is beauty in transition. As the year closes out, it celebrates with a final hurrah. The foliage around New England explodes with color, wrapping itself in a light and warmth that will be far from all of us until Spring returns some four or five months later.

Let’s celebrate with it!

Barrett_0174_H-fall-family-portraits-connecticut

Receive a complimentary set of 25 personalized greeting cards (value $66) with every photo shoot booked in October.

Choose from pre-made designs or simply fill the card with your amazing images. At 5×7, they’re the perfect size to frame. Include a personalized message on the flip side.

Learn more about our portrait collections here.

 

Contact us now


    Model Call – Tweens

    Babies are so cute, new and chubby. Toddlers have those big, bright eyes and lets face it, they just do the darnedest things. But those tween ages are often forgotten. At ages 10 through 12, kids aren’t children anymore but aren’t quite teens.

    We’re making it our mission to capture those lost preteen years. The goal is to help tweens look and feel beautiful and have unshakable confidence in themselves when they hit junior high.

    Introducing The Who I Am Project

    We are starting the “Who I am” photography project to fill in the forgotten photo years while enriching the lives of pre-teens. The main goal is to make pre-teens look and feel beautiful and be confident in who they are.

    Who We’re Looking For

    We are looking for male and female models for our photography project, ages 10-12. We will ask the model and their parents a few questions, then combine the text and photographs to create one piece of art with great impact, which we’ll use to kick-start the project.

    Why “Who I am”?

    We want to capture the personality of tweens and record the last stage of their childhood before they become young ladies and young men. We want them to realize their true strengths so that they are confident in themselves before they hit Junior High. Imagine the impact a single amazing image can do for your tween’s self-image.

    Dates And Locations For Free Modeling Sessions

    How To Participate or Nominate A Friend:

    Please e-mail us by Tuesday, May 14th if you are interested in having your child participate in this project, or if you would like to nominate a friend or family member of yours that you think would be perfect for this. Please nominate people you think would enjoy the boutique, fashion experience we provide.

    The session itself is complimentary and includes a $75 credit (a total $175 value) to use toward prints, digital files, and tween books, which include all your wonderful quotes.

    Our goal is to create a gorgeous group of photos you’ll love and that truly show your tween’s spirit and soul!  Many people like to use these photos as birthday, Mother’s Day, and “just because” gifts for their child. See more details about our portrait collections here.

    After you email us, we will send you specific details and you can decide if this project is perfect for your child.


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