Friday, January 28, 2011

Jan Doyle -- Business Headshots

We have known Jan for over ten years due to our mutual interest in photography so we were honored when she came to us for an updated headshot. We photographed Jan Doyle this week and had a lot of fun doing it! Even though we know Jan we were enlightened to find out that she is the founder and director of Classroom Connections 365, which was Awarded Best General Talk Show in New England and New York in 2010 by the Alliance for Community Media! Wow!

You can view all of the photographs from her session here in her gallery on our website.



About Classroom Connections 365


Jan Doyle, founder and director of Classroom Connections 365, developed a love of learning when she was a little girl. Her aunt, an elementary school teacher, would give her outdated text books and workbooks that Jan used to “teach school” to her dolls.

Jan, a teacher for thirty-six years, is the executive producer, writer and host of Classroom Connections 365, is a public access show she created in January 2008. Classroom Connections 365 is dedicated to helping parents strengthen and support their child’s educational experience.

Jan’s workshops will deepen your understanding and expand your knowledge base in area of critical importance to every child. Jan brings to her workshops and presentations researched based ideas, juxtaposed with practical experience and sprinkled with common sense.

Jan appears regularly on Good Morning Connecticut and writes an education blog in partnership with the New Haven Register.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

We have a couple of last minute openings for Saturday's Glamour Session

Glamour Girl Portrait Session
**Special $50**

Includes skin care and/or makeup by Paula’s Mary Kay Unit, followed by a portrait session by BREA Photos. Also includes 2 copies of one edited JPG file (one copy formatted for printing and another for the Internet).

Display YOUR best image on Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking sites; print it on your business cards or give someone a great photo gift (Valentine's Day is coming!).

Call or email Paula Murphy today to reserve your session 203-996-6312 or Paula-Murphy@comcast.net  

Monday, January 24, 2011

Free Portrait Session for a Heart-to-Heart or Hannahs Tutus wearer

Free portrait Session, plus 50 wallets for a child wearing one of Hannah's Tutu outfits (or similar Etsy outfit, please email us before your purchase) or Zuliliy's Heart to Heart Outfits Heart to Heart: Dress-Up Apparel

Heart to Heart is dedicated to offering the latest in whimsical treasures! Not only do they provide fabulous décor, but we're excited to offer a collection of charming fairy princess couture that will tickle your heart and give her "butterfly feelings." These charming dresses, wings, wands and tutus have captured people's imaginations and lit up the eyes of many little girls. Outfits are actually on sale now, Sale ends 1/26 at 6AM PST  Use this link to visit the site and start finding great new brands











Saturday, January 22, 2011

Carole and Family -- Three generations

We had a lot of fun photographing Carole's family a few years ago -- lots of grown up children and their children. The grandchildren have changed a lot since the last family portrait (no more babies and one is engaged!) so Carole called us for updated photographs. You can view the rest of the images from her session here in her gallery on our website.


Kids change so fast...
compare this photograph to the next one taken a few yeara ago...



We photographed just the grandchildren, the entire family with all 3 generations, and then each family alone. They are an energetic group so it was a lot of fun!




Friday, January 21, 2011

Just a few openings left for the Glamour Girl Portrait Session January 29th

Glamour Girl Portrait Session
**Special $50**

Includes skin care and/or makeup by Paula’s Mary Kay Unit, followed by a portrait session by BREA Photos. Also includes 2 copies of one edited JPG file (one copy formatted for printing and another for the Internet).

Display YOUR best image on Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking sites; print it on your business cards or give someone a great photo gift (Valentine's Day is coming!).

Call or email Paula Murphy today to reserve your session 203-996-6312 or Paula-Murphy@comcast.net


Monday, January 17, 2011

A reminder not to wait for the perfect time!

Happy New Year!

This is a reminder not to wait for the perfect time...

The New Year is full of resolutions and often family photos fall to the bottom of the list waiting for a better time. But your family is changing and your children are growing, so the best time is right now!



I read this great article on another photographer's blog -- wow! I just had to re-post it to remind everyone of the importance of family photographs -- do not wait for the perfect time for photos.


It’s so easy to say


–I’m too fat.


I have too much going on.


we’re too busy.


maybe next year.




but I just want to say STOP IT!



We need to take the time to appreciate the value of family photos, if not for ourselves (because we’re too fat or whatever), then for our children. In 20 years, your children are not going to say,

"I really love this photo of my family but i wish my mom had waited until she lost some weight."

Please just get a family portrait done because these photographs are so important to those who love you!

http://www.debsphotographs.com/photoblog/?p=957

We never know what tomorrow will bring our way.

and life is quickly racing by; before we know it, our kids will be grown and leaving the house.



NO, THERE IS NO PERFECT TIME.



I hope that this will inspire someone, who might be waiting for that perfect time or waiting to lose a couple of pounds, to book a photographer…today!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

One Month to Valentine's Day

One Month left until Valentine's Day, surprise your loved one with Valentine's Day portraits of YOU and/or your children. Dads -- this makes the perfect gift for the woman you love. Tell her that you love her with this special session.

Valentine's Day Portrait Session $120 includes in Studio portrait session and one image printed on 24 5x5 or 5x7 Greeting Cards (with envelopes) and on ten wallets.  Additional portraits and canvases can also be ordered. Call us (203-288-8151) now to book YOUR session.



Ladies, you can also get a special portrait of yourself and give that to the man in your life.


 
 



Friday, January 14, 2011

Glamour Girl Photo Shoot

Glamour Girl Portrait Session
**Special $50**

Includes skin care and/or makeup by Paula’s Mary Kay Unit, followed by a portrait session by BREA Photos. Also includes 2 copies of one edited JPG file (one copy formatted for printing and another for the Internet).
 
Display YOUR best image on Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking sites; print it on your business cards or give someone a great photo gift (Valentine's Day is coming!).
 
Call or email Paula Murphy today to reserve your session 203-996-6312 or Paula-Murphy@comcast.net
 



Thursday, January 13, 2011

Sneak Peak Leilani 23 months

I just had to share this from yesterday -- a Sneak Peak Leilani at 23 months old -- too cute!

Mom and her two sons

We had Ryan (12) and Conner (9) and Michelle into our Studio over the weekend. We had a lot of fun!

You can view the rest of the images from their photo session here on our website. Here are a few highlights.


We are offering "FACES" as a session add on. Capture all those great affects and personality!
Comes with a canvas (16x16 or 11x14) of 9-16 different expressions!



I just love this image of the three of them
(Dad will come in next time for an updated family photo of the 4 of them).



Just for comparison, here are some of these two boys from two years ago -- kids change so fast! Every time I see Ryan he is taller and taller! We photographed both Ryan and Conner as newborns and now Ryan will be a teenager this year! Whew!









Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Signs for Weddings, etc.

Please note that these photographs are not ours, they are from the company's site, but these would make for a great prop for an upcoming wedding or other event!







WEDDING SIGNS and CUSTOM SIGNS

Thank you, Mr and Mrs, lawn signs, chiar signs, signs to hold, make custom photo cards, etc.

We specialize in unique, hand crafted wedding, reception and your house, signage of different styles appealing to a variety of brides and any one else who has a home.


Welcome to "Our Hobby to Your Home & Wedding" Etsy Shop. We are now taking orders for 2011 Weddings. Get on our "To Do" list soon, before "Wedding Season" is here!!! This shop is a family owned and operated business. Thank you for your support!!! Every sign is handmade by my two daughter's and myself. You won't be disappointed with our quality hand crafted workmanship from start to finish.
Our ' Last Name and Welcome' signs make great Christmas Gifts for just about anyone on your List. Order early to ensure that you receive your sign in plenty of time. Let us help make your upcoming wedding or special event a little more personal. If there is anything that you don't see that you are interested in, just send us a message with a picture attached or a description and we will work together to create the perfect sign for you. If you are a Wedding Coordinator, Event Planner, Party Planner, Florist, Photographer, Homemaker or a Bride-to-be, you are sure to find something just perfect for you or the client you are working with.

We have over 50 color choices, for a list of our colors http://www.etsy.com/listing/47647728/our-hobby-to-your-home-and-wedding-paint

The majority of our wood is recycled, which can sometimes add character to your sign. All of the wood is solid, no plywood. With most pieces of wood you could not tell that it is recycled. If you want a "new" piece of wood which is not "Recycled", just convo me and we can make a custom listing for you. It may cost an extra $2.00-$5.00 depending on the size of the sign.

We usually ship 14-21 business days after payment has been received. Each sign is unique, individually hand crafted for you upon purchase. If you need a sign sooner than my normal timeline, please convo me to workout the details for a Rush Order.

♥ Our "Little Mini" signs will be featured in the January 2011 issue of "the knot" magazine.

We will be revealing those signs soon. They are a perfect addition to any Wedding Reception, Bridal Shower, Baby Shower, Candy Buffet, Cake Table, Cupcake Table or Birhday Party....♥ We will be decorating for a Wedding in October that will be featured in Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom Magazine.

Don't have an Etsy account? Its simple and fast to get one!! https://www.etsy.com/register.php
Look for one of our "Thank You" signs that the photographer's at the beautiful Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas have used. Signs from Our Hobby to Your Home and Wedding have been featured on Etsy's Front Page. Here is one example: http://www.etsy.com/listing/40085820/table-numbers-for-any-occasion-this-item

Our Thank You signs:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/59238719/wedding-signsbeautiful-thank-you

We were recently featured on ETSY Weddings weekly picks. http://www.etsy.com/listing/53510610/diywedding-sign-kitfeatured-on-etsy

We look forward to having you as our customer
Thank You for looking. Have a great day!!!
Shelley, Jess & Stephanie, Mother and Daughters

Saturday, January 8, 2011

What to Wear

Happy New Year!

We have a new tab on our Blog -- what to wear. Check it out!

We will also be posting some outfit ideas every month.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Belly Cast

Remember Cameron from the summer? Her mother did a belly cast while she was pregnant and then brought it in with her as a prop for the newborn session. This would make a great shower gift (or a present for yourself)!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Chris and Anne's Wedding

Anne and Chris had a wonderfully serene and romantic wedding. You can view many more photographs from their wedding here on their gallery on our website

Here is a video from their wedding -- love the song "Book of Love" by Peter Gabriel -- just a wonderful song and perfect for the two of them. If you are a subcriber and do not see the video click here to view this on the Blog itself. The MP4 can be downloaded and shared with friends and family.


It was a pleasure photographing Chris and Anne's wedding.
Simple and Elegant with attention to detail evident everywhere.
http://www.breaphotosgalleries.com/

 This next one was one of Tom's all time favorites!


This one of Anne looking in the Mirror at the Grassy Hill Country Club is one of my favorites. You might just find it in our Studio on the wall as a Studio sample...


It was a beautiful day for an outdoor wedding!


Classic Elegance!


I love the fact that because Tom and I shoot together we can be in two places at once. This works well for so many aspects of the wedding, but this is especially awesome for the ceremony because I can get the groom's reaction while Tom is photographing the bride walking down the aisle.

You can see the progression here...
Chris looking a tad nervous and biting his lip to anticipation to his great smile to an aire of amazement as he realizes that he is in love with this beautiful woman soon to be his wife. Wow!


I love Black and White photographs for people in general, but for weddings especially so. This wedding was particularly well bent for Black and White photographs.


That is not to say that the color images are not also compelling.

This next collage would look great as a canvas collage above their sofa or fireplace! You can almost feel the love and the comfort that these two have when looking at these images...



Tom has been really having fun creating distinctive images like these backlit photographs of the first dance.

Father-Daughter --- Mother-Son

Tom especially loves using the prime 2.8 lenses and creating those selective depth of field photographs (like the middle right image with the two of them dancing), but I can also do similar effects in post-processing, check out the HEART bokeh on the top two images.

And we had fun taking a photograph of them holding their cell phone at the reception and then putting a photograph of them at their ceremony into the phone later.


I just love, love, love this next image! It compels me. Anne is such a carefree kind spirited person and most of the images reflect on her beautiful soul, but this one seems to capture her spirit as well.


 I loved this wedding for so many reasons, but it was also great because Anne and Chris were willing to take some extra time to create some awesome photographs in the lobby and outside at the Grassy Hill Country Club. The day goes by so fast so we were in heaven when Anne and Chris made the time to allow us to create some of the images on the grounds of the reception.
   
but this mocha version just has a timelessness about it.


Such a debonair looking groom!


As you can see from looking at their galleries we had fun with the post-processing of their images too -- many special effects!



For a limited time you can purchase photographs from this wedding for yourself and as gifts on sale. You can view all of the images from their wonderful day here in their gallery.