"Better Than School Portraits" Kids and Teens Mini Sessions :: Newington, CT

First thing’s first - I have missed you all so much! What a weird year, right? It has been a rollercoaster, complete with loop-dee-loops and feeling like we’d jumped the track at times. I know I’m not alone in having experienced loss in recent months, as well as unexpected joy of an incredible summer with my kids.

With two weeks to go before the school year kicks off and we starting thinking of all things fall, I am excited to have a couple fall photography session offers, as well as information about sessions in regards to Covid-19.

Covid-related Session Info

Based on recommendations and to practice safe physical distancing, all late summer and fall session for the remainder of 2020 will be held outside. This can be at your home, a beach, a park, or any other agreed upon location.

I will wear a mask and will be using zoom lenses to ensure we are keeping a safe physical distance.

I will not be available to travel to Rhode Island this fall. Sessions in Massachusetts will be limited to the South Shore area around Scituate and Duxbury. Connecticut sessions will be limited to the Newington/Hartford area or the Shoreline between New Haven and Mystic.

Now for the fun stuff!

“Better Than School Portraits” - Kids + Teens Mini Sessions

These mini sessions are available locally in Newington and West Hartford, for kids and teens ages 3-18.

This year, we’ve missed out on a lot. Let’s embrace the mess and the weirdness, and document this year for your kid(s) with an incredibly special mini session!

“Better Than School Portraits” will take place outside and I encourage you and your child to think creatively about how you’d like to remember this year. Feel free to bring a couple things to personalize your session! A few ideas:

• Bring their backpack and a first day of school outfit and make it a “back to school” session

• Wear their sports uniform or dance costume they didn’t get to wear, bring an instrument they play, a favorite book or toy

• Get dressed up and make it a special, feel good experience! First communion outfits, birthday outfits, Christmas pajamas - anything is possible!

• Keep it simple and come as you are!

Cost: $175

Includes:

• 20 minutes of photography

• Private online gallery of edited photos for viewing and sharing

• Digital files to download and keep for personal use

• $25 print credit

Additional prints are available for purchase (a la carte style) through your online gallery.

If you have more than one child, I will fit all kids into one mini (which will result in fewer pictures of each child), or you can opt to add on an extra 10 minutes to your session for $25.

Mini sessions are shorter and simpler than full hour sessions. We stick to one scenic location and maximize every minute of our time together!

“Better Than School Portraits” Mini Session Dates and Locations

Fri August 28 - Mill Pond Park, Newington 4:30pm // 5pm // 5:30pm // 6pm

Sat August 29 - Elizabeth Park, West Hartford 8am // 8:30am// 9am // 9:30am

Sat September 5 - Deming Young Farm 8am // 8:30am // 9am // 9:30am

Click here to book your mini session.

Here are some fun photos from past late summer/early fall sessions - you might recognize some of these sweet faces! And keep scrolling for fall family session info!

Fall Family Sessions - $500

Fall family sessions include:

• 60-90 minutes of photography on location

• Online gallery for viewing and sharing your photos

• Unlimited number photos

• Digital files to download and keep for personal use

• $50 print credit

Family sessions typically take place at a local park, beach or otherwise agreed upon location. During our session time, we focus on getting an assortment of relaxed portraits and playful candids, including the entire family, portraits of each individual child, siblings together, parents/partners together, parent and child.

Connecticut dates (Hartford County or Shoreline areas only):

Sat August 29 - 5pm // Thurs Sept 3 - 5pm // Sat September 5 - 5pm

Thurs September 10 - 5pm // Fri September 11 - 5pm // Sat September 12 - 8am + 5pm

Thurs October 1 - 5pm // Fri October 16 - 5pm // Sat October 17 - 8am + 5pm

Massachusetts dates (South Shore area only):

Sat September 26 - 8am // Sun September 27 - 8am

Sat October 10 - 8am // Sun October 11 - 8am + 5pm

November will not be scheduled to allow for postponements and rescheduling as needed due to weather or other circumstances.

Click here to schedule your session.

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Shannon Sorensen is a family and small business photographer based in Central Connecticut. She is available for newborn, children and tweens, family, senior, engagement, and anniversary sessions; elopements and intimate celebrations; creative entrepreneur and small business branding; personal branding and product photography.

Tower Family :: Duxbury Massachusetts Children Family and Maternity Photographer

This morning I'm excited to share this sweet family session with you. It is all things kids and maternity and family photography that I love. Miss Gracelynn and her parents met me on a gorgeous Saturday morning in Duxbury at Shipyard Lane Beach and we all ditched our shoes and felt the wet sand squish between our toes for the duration of the session. 

Addie was in the last few weeks of pregnancy at this point and we talked about having young kiddos and how freaking exhausting it is to be pregnant the second time around. It's so bittersweet nearing the end of pregnancy. You are excited, but also faced with the reality of 'oh my goodness we are doing this again and all the diapers and sleepless nights and hormones and leaky boobs' and to boot needing to also stay focused on the kiddo who has had my whole heart the past couple years. 

Oh my, it's complicated. Beautiful, but so complicated.

I wonder daily if I'm ruining Lily's life. I know I'm not, but bringing a sibling into her life will not be without bumps. And there's the feeling of uncertainty in changing up our family routine. Four and a half years of just the three of us and I've gotten so used to how we work as a family, our dynamics and that will all change. And when Lily expresses that she doesn't want anything to change, I know deep down she's excited and it'll be wonderful most days, but oh, it digs a knife in my heart and twists it around ever so slowly. 

But then I get to hang out with families and watch them grow and see all the fun they are having, siblings playing, family snuggle piles, and I can't even wait. Everyone tells me that the moment you see your baby, the love grows. Your heart expands and you immediately see that you are not dividing your love, but doubling it.

So to the mamas out there who are having their second, third, or bless you, fourth or more, I raise a glass (of water) to you and give you a hug in solidarity. It is not easy and for all the fear and anxiety and uncertainty for what's to come, my hope is that we can embrace the beauty and love of motherhood, whatever form it takes in our lives, and give ourselves some grace that we are badass and capable of so much more than we'll ever know. 

And now I'd love to share some of my favorites with you of my time with Gracelynn, Addie and Jason!

Fiona :: Northwest Park Windsor Connecticut Family Photographer

It's a new week, and I have a sweet birthday session to share with you. I am excited to share this (finally!) because in a few short weeks, I get to hang with this sweet family again when they welcome their newest baby girl!

But this shoot was all about Miss Fiona! She turned two in August, and we met up at Northwest Park in Windsor Connecticut to photograph this fun milestone. It was so much fun seeing her again since her first birthday shoot the year before. She is a very busy little girl, wanting to check out ALL THE THINGS. Lucky for us, there was a lot to see, from flowers, to animals, so open spaces that called out to be frolicked.

Emily and Pat, her sweet parents, also took a moment to let me photograph them since it was their fourth anniversary! I was so sad to miss photographing their wedding due to having Lily that same week, but I am so grateful they've come back to me for their maternity photos, Fiona's newborn photos, and now to photograph their growing family. 

I also loved getting to visit this new (to me) park, and returned in October for some family mini sessions, which will be shared soon as well! It's a great place to bring your family and walk around, especially if your kiddos love animals!

But back to the little lady of honor! Here are some of my favorites from my morning with Miss Fiona.

Fall Mini Sessions!

Whether you believe Fall started September 1st or you have 2 more weeks of beach weather ahead of you, now's the time to start planning for Fall Mini Sessions!

I had so much fun with last year's mini sessions in Duxbury that I am planning early and a LOT of days to make sure you have a chance to get some great updated family shots, a mini maternity, headshots, a mini engagement or celebrate your anniversary! I will be in Connecticut and Massachusetts at a variety of locations!

Drumroll please...

October 15 - Newburyport, Massachusetts

October 16 - Duxbury, Massachusetts

October 22 - Windsor, Connecticut

October 23 - Fairfield, Connecticut

November 5 - Walpole, Massachusetts

Price: $150

Time slots: 8:00am // 8:35am // 9:10am //9:45am

Inclusions: 20 minute session; online gallery to view, share and purchase prints; 15 downloadable high resolution digital files 

All sessions are booked on a first come, first served basis with a signed contract and payment in full. In case of rain or inclement weather, a mini session date will be rescheduled as soon after the original date as possible. 

Please contact me at hello@shannon-sorensen.com or using the Contact form on this site to inquire.

I look forward to seeing your beautiful faces this fall!

Bird Park Family Photography

I am in love with the session. Adorable toddler? Check. Newborn sleepyhead? Check. Gorgeous mama and goofy daddy making their kiddo giggle while snuggling sleepy newborn? Check and check. 

Jess and Mike and their two sweet little ladies met me at Bird Park in Walpole for a family session and my first thought was "Little Isabella is wearing jellies and I might die of cuteness." 

Jellies are the bomb, especially when they're tiny and pink and adorning the feet of a cutie pie. 

We made our way around the park, giggling, taking breaks for the baby to nurse and keeping Isabella entertained. I pulled out all my best mama-of-a-little-one tricks and by the end of the session, I think you could say Isabella and I were very good buddies. She fistbumped me, so that's something.

Join me in delighting over this sweet family's session and let me know in the comments if you have a favorite!

I just love that last one. We reached our limit and everyone was ready to go. Miss Isabella and the Case of the Sillies. 

If you're seeking a fun, relaxed family photography session around Connecticut, Massachusetts or Rhode Island that captures the love, playfulness and joy that your family shares, let's chat!

Eli :: Rhode Island Newborn Photographer

My dear friend Katie brought another beautiful boy into the world. Little Eli slept the whole time I was there with them, while big brother Ben gave him snuggles, kisses, and then ran off to play with his toys - as a busy 1 year old should!

What I loved about this session was how relaxed it was. We rolled him up in blankets, snuggled him, watched him yawn and smile from letting out baby gas. It was such a beautiful day spent with this special family. I love them dearly and am honored to be able to photograph so many of these milestones in their family life!