Family Photography at the deCordova Sculpture Park, Lincoln MA

I met up with Emily and Pat and their three beautiful girls in October for a family session, and y’all, it was the most beautiful evening, at one of the coolest places to explore outside of Boston, and just look at how stylish and beautiful this family is. They always bring it with the coordinating and looking effortlessly cool. I’m fine with my life choices living in leggings and sweatpants, but I definitely celebrate anyone wearing real clothes and looking put together! :)

I have now known Emily and Pat for almost 10 years. We met in 2011 when they got engaged and I shot their engagement photos in Boston, and then I got pregnant with Lily and was basically due on their wedding date, so sadly, we ended up not working together on their big day, although it wasn’t all bad, because they still got married and I had my baby girl! I was so thankful, however, when they reached out to me when they were pregnant, and I’ve had the joy of photographing their baby girls and family sessions over the last several years.

And as you can see, this sweet little one in the mustard headband is about 7 months old in these photos! We had planned on a newborn session for her towards the end of March, and then everything shut down and got put on hold. What a year, right? We’ve all had various things cancelled or postponed. So I was thrilled when we could finally, safely, meet up for some photos.

Worth the wait? Definitely.

Shipyard Beach Family Photography :: Duxbury, Massachusetts

I met up with Sarah’s family for their annual family photography session at the end of August, and as always, it was amazing and fun seeing how much the girls have grown this year! They always have the PERFECT matching dresses, this time featuring colorful ice cream treats - I wish they made it in my size!

We enjoyed a quiet morning running around barefoot, with Duxbury Bay as our beautiful background. Here are some favorites!

"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.

Scituate Harbor :: Family Beach Photography

I feel like every few months I remind myself to catch up on family photo sessions here on the blog, and then a pandemic or a hurricane happens and time passes and…

This spring I had the joy of photographing Lauren and Mike’s family at the beach in Scituate, Massachusetts! They added a new baby boy to their family in April, and sadly we were unable to work together for newborn photos due to quarantine orders. But once it was deemed ok to do so, we had a distanced beach session and had a really fun morning drawing in the sand, throwing rocks and shells and discovering jellyfish!

Interested in newborn, kids and family photography?

Contact Shannon to schedule a relaxed kids and family session to document this special time in your lives! Shannon serves families, small business and entrepreneurs throughout Central Connecticut, Connecticut Shoreline, and South Shore, Massachusetts.

Photos at Home :: Documenting Living History from a Safe Distance

This week, I have been trying to wrap my head around how to keep my business afloat moving forward while we are all staying home and keeping a distance. It’s been a challenging week in many ways, but also inspiring in even more ways!

As a family, we have tried to get out for a walk each afternoon to get fresh air, say hello to neighbors who are also outside and walking. Connection is so important during times like this! It lifts the spirits and helps everyone feel less alone when things feel very uncertain and scary.

Seeing families outside together reminded me of all the wonderful times I have photographed families outside their homes, together. Now it feels like we are in the midst of a major time in history. Many of us with young kids probably can’t help but think they’ll grow up and talk about this the way we talked about 9/11, or our parents talked about JFK and MLK and the moon landing.

How did you spend this time? How was it challenging? How did you feel? What did we learn about each other or ourselves?

I know it’s not conventional in any sort of way, but I am offering a very small service, to families, small business owners and entrepreneurs who are now at home, to have some pictures taken, from a distance. I can work from your front yard, sidewalk, or driveway and capture you or your family, so you have memories captured of this time in our lives. Small business owners and entrepreneurs, you can use the photos to talk to your clients and audience, share with them how you’re spending these days.

So what do you think? :)

Due to the nature of these things, I think I would only be able to do this within a 20 minute drive from my own home, so Newington, Wethersfield, Rocky Hill and West Hartford.

I will not come close to your family. I won’t come in your house. You might pretend I’m like the paparazzi, just hanging out by your house.

Sound interesting? Fill out the form at the bottom of this post, or email me at hello@shannon-sorensen.com and we can figure it out!

Fall Family Photography Sessions

Fall sessions are happening, just in time for the holidays!

I sent Lily off to her first day of second grade this morning, and now it feels like fall, my friends. Labor Day weekend is upon us, we’ve had a handful of cooler days, and I am starting to think of sweaters and apple cider donuts and my favorite time of year that stretches out to Christmas. Yes, Christmas!

So, of course this made me think of family photos and cards and the fact that we’re overdue for our own photos. I have a whole wall of pictures from almost two years ago. And that feels like a lifetime ago, especially when you have little ones.

It doesn’t matter if it’s been one year, two, five, or you’ve never had family photos done. There’s no time like the present to capture sweet memories with your favorite people!

Like previous years, I will be scheduling sessions in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, around the South Shore and Hartford County. I have a selection of locations you may choose from, ranging from coastal and beachy to park-like and woodsy. You may even opt to have a more documentary-style session done at your home!

Family sessions start at $500 and include an hour of photography on location, an online gallery, and download access to your digital files for personal use. Dates are booked on a first come, first served basis.

Sessions are booked for Saturday mornings between 7:30am and 10am and afternoons between 3pm and 6pm.

NEW LOCAL WEEKDAY EVENING MINI SESSIONS

Weekday evening mini sessions can be booked Monday through Wednesday, within Hartford County, between 5pm and 7pm before Daylight Saving Time on November 2. These time slots may be used for family sessions, kids, maternity, seniors, and anniversaries or engagements. The price for these local sessions is $250 and includes 30 minutes of photography, digital files and online gallery.

It’s my joy and honor to capture these yearly milestones as your family grows and changes. I hope you see you on the other side of my lens this year!

schedule your fall photos

Family Beach Session at Harkness Memorial State Park :: Waterford, Connecticut Shoreline

I had the joy of photographing Emily and Tom's family again earlier this month to capture their growing family at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, Connecticut. It was a gorgeous, quiet Sunday morning by the water, and I love the images from this session. We got a nice mix of family portraits and those candids you know I love, little moments of giggles, snuggles, silliness and affection.

I've photographed this family four times now, and each time has been different and wonderful. I shot Emily and Tom's engagement photos at Yale, Martin's newborn photos, a fall family session when Martin was about 5 months old, and now this spring session where the kids are 4 and almost 2. It's such a gift for me to be entrusted with documenting this time, when the kids are growing, their personalities are flourishing, Emily and Tom are right in the thick of parenting, and the days are passing so quickly. 

When I shot Martin's newborn photos, I was about 4 weeks pregnant with Andrew. 

Time flies!

Here are some favorite highlights from their session at Harkness Memorial State Park. I especially love the series of mother-daughter images at the end. It was a little cool and Emily picked up Claire to help warm her up. It was very quick, this sweet, snuggly moment as we were walking back to the cars.

If you're a Connecticut resident, parking here is free, and it's a really lovely place to spend time, for a picnic, walking along the water, fishing, or exploring the gardens. And it's a short trip from Mystic, if you are looking for more activities for the kids and sights to see. 

Spring Family Beach Session at Harkness Memorial State Park Waterford Connecticut Shoreline by Shannon Sorensen Photography

Shannon Sorensen is a Connecticut-based newborn and family documentary photographer serving families throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. For more information or inquiries, contact Shannon or email hello@shannon-sorensen.com.

2017 Fall Family Photography Sessions Are Open!

Happy September, ya'll!

I am so excited for fall. I know there are many out there who refuse to acknowledge pumpkin anything before September 22....but I'm not one of those people! I practically tapdanced when I woke up to a chilly 55 degree morning. It's supposed to be in the 80s next week for a couple days and I will be confused and grumbling about New England weather and not knowing if I need a sweater or a bathing suit.

It's. All. Good. 

Fall is an exciting time of year! The leaves are changing, kids are back to school, we start thinking about the holidays (and holiday card photos)! For me, it's busy season and I go go go until Thanksgiving. Last year was amazing, and I learned a few things along the way to make some adjustments this year that I believe will benefit everyone!

Fall Schedule

At the moment, I am only planning on September and October travel dates. I will open up November in a couple weeks. 

9/2-9/4 Connecticut - available for full sessions local to Hartford County.

9/9-9/10 Connecticut - available for full sessions throughout the state.

9/16-9/17 not available.

9/23-9/24 Connecticut - not available 9/23. Available for full sessions local to Hartford the morning of 9/24.

9/30 Connecticut Mini Sessions in the morning at Elizabeth Park in West Hartford; 10/1 Connecticut Mini Sessions in the morning at Lake Mohegan in Fairfield. Contact me for times and availability if interested.

10/7-10/9 Connecticut - not available 10/7. Available for full sessions throughout the state on 10/8 and 10/9.

10/14-10/15 Massachusetts - available for full sessions local to Scituate, Duxbury, and Plymouth.

10/21 Massachusetts Woodsy Mini Sessions in the afternoon at Bird Park in Walpole; 10/22 Massachusetts Mini Seaside Sessions in the morning at Scituate Harbor. Contact me for times and availability if interested. 

10/28-10/29 Connecticut - available for full sessions throughout the state.

Mini Sessions - quick and (fingers crossed) easy!

As you can see, I am planning one weekend of mini sessions in Connecticut and one weekend in Massachusetts. Other than those dates, I will not be booking any other mini session dates this fall. If you are not able to book a mini session on those dates, I would love to chat about scheduling a full session! 

Mini sessions are a great opportunity to get a few updated family photos, or to capture a milestone such as maternity, engagement or senior portrait. Mini sessions exclude newborn photography. Newborn babies may be included in a family mini session, but will not be posed and photographed on their own. 

Mini session investment - $200

Includes: 15 minutes of photography, online gallery of 10 fully edited photos, $50 print credit to be used through your gallery towards any print products, and (this is new!) any image you order as a print, you will also receive the digital file of that image. 

Full Family Sessions - fresh, modern and personal

Gone are the days of stiff posing and plastered smiles! I work closely with each family to plan a session that is personal and tailored to her or his interests or family dynamics. From location to wardrobe, including pets or some fun personal props (think little red wagons, bikes, a trip to go apple picking or to the pumpkin patch), these sessions are less formal and more documentary style. I will guide you through your session so that you feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. I want to see laughter, snuggles, play and JOY!

Click for more info on pricing: senior portraits // newborns

Full family session investment - $350

Includes: 60 minutes of photography, online gallery of fully edited photos, $100 print credit to be used through your gallery towards any print products, and (this is new!) any image you order as a print, you will also receive the digital file of that image. 

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Contact me as soon as possible to book your session! You can email me at hello@shannon-sorensen.com, or use this contact form. I am SO excited for this season and look forward to seeing your beautiful families!

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!

Grayson :: Bethel Connecticut Newborn Photography

I'm getting impatient. I have a confession - I miss my shows. Winter is hard, folks, and it's like adding insult to injury making me wait another week or two before The Mindy Project and Nashville come back into my life. "But Shannon, this gives you time to get more work done at night!"

Shhhhhh....

It's not all bad, I have all my superhero shows. But I miss my ladies. I miss Dr. Lahiri and Rayna James. I need to know if certain people will stay together or not, and if certain people will make a comeback from rehab, and seriously, I need some Lennon and Maisy music in my life.

Oh geez, I didn't even mention Grey's. 

Distraction time! I have a sweet little baby boy to show off to you all. His name is Grayson and he has the best parents. Meg and Mike have been part of my life for close to seven years, when we met on The Knot planning our own weddings. Yup, that's the world we live in now. Many of my close friends are people I've met through online forums like The Knot and The Nest. I'm a lucky lady, too, because they've stayed an important part of my life and my life is richer because of it. 

Stick around to the end and I'll share a special throwback to Meg & Mike's anniversary session at Yale....almost 6 years ago!

Back to Grayson. These pictures were taken just before Christmas, at nearly three weeks old. He was still such a little peanut! It is never a bad day when I get to snuggle and photograph a newborn. Just give me all the babies, please. 

And because I promised it, check out these lovebirds. Someday Grayson can look back and see what Mom & Dad's life was like as newlyweds. This is still a favorite. :)

Studio Announcement

I am excited to announce that I am taking a giant leap and pursuing my photography work full time! It's been almost six years since I started this journey, and I've been looking back through my folders of weddings, families, babies...so many happy memories that have kept driving me forward to this point. I'm thankful for everyone I've had the opportunity to work with, and am excited with anticipation of what's to come!

I have always felt the pull to pursue the work that I love, that not only fulfills my creative heart, but puts something good out into the world. It has always been about making beautiful photographs that can be passed down and treasured for generations. It has always been about connecting closely with the people I work with. It's always been about celebrating love, family, relationships, joy and sorrow, friendship and individual stories of strength. It has always been about creating images that are honest, emotional, and heartfelt. 

Thank you for being here, and for your continued support. It truly means the world to me. 

Cheers,

Shannon

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!