Sheree Sirpenski Photography | Newborn Child Family Maternity Photographer Southeastern CT

Project 365....or 366, if you will | Southeastern, Connecticut Photographer

2012-01-09T17:49:00.000-08:00

This year, I decided it was time for me to do something I've never done, but is done all over the photographic community.....a project 365 (but this is a leap year so +1). Every week I will come up with a new theme and every day we will post a different picture representing the theme. We're into week 2 now and I've got quite the group going with me. I have to say, even with camera phones, there are some pretty awesome shots being shared! It's so cool that I've actually had people I don't know ask to join!! I'm super stoked!
If you or anyone you know want to join in, come on over to Facebook and show us what you've got! This is open to all skill levels and like I said, even your camera phone is welcome. We don't judge, we just share inspiration. A good time is had by all and hopefully by the end of the year we will all be a little more creative, learn some cool techniques and maybe even have new friends!

Looking back at 2011:The good, the bad and the ugly | CT FAMILY, CHILD, MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHER

2012-01-02T12:43:00.000-08:00

I am awful at keeping up on my blog, I know this. I will try and be better at this in 2012....I promise!

2011 definitely had its ups and downs but I am grateful for every one of them. On a personal note, the year began with one of the hardest situations I have ever had to deal with. I became a single mom. It was nothing that I had control over and nothing that I had ever expected or wanted, but I have come to really accept it and enjoy it. Of course, with that came some hard facts....1. I am not as good of a cook as I thought I was (living with a chef for my entire adult life spoiled me). 2. I HATE laundry! I will wash and dry it and sometimes even fold it, but I can almost never get that laundry basket empty. 3. Time is more precious than ever and that saying "there aren't enough hours in the day" is a HUGE understatement.

Last year also brought more snow than I've ever seen (at least that I can remember). I spent countless hours shoveling while my kids gave me pep talks through the baby monitor I had under my coat. All I have to say is, there are still good people in the world who are more than willing to help someone who is struggling. When I say "ugly", the never-ending snow is what I mean....

Spring came with a family trip to Virginia to see a friend. It was a 3-car caravan going and was so much fun. Being the beach-lover that I am, that was definitely my favorite part. Just basking in that wonderfully warm sun in the first week of May....now that's the life!

Summer had my first trip to Block Island and also the longest I had ever spent without my kids. A friend of mine was getting married and I got to see first hand why she loves the island so much. Her wedding was simple, yet stunning and had some amazing views.

Summer was just a fun season in general. The sights, sounds and good times I had....

Fall seemed to come and go quickly, but we enjoyed time with friends, family and my favorite holiday....Halloween!

My business completed its second full year and brought with it new clients, some awesome portrait sessions and weddings. I am constantly humbled that people love what I do just as much as me. Truly, I cannot express my gratitude enough to all of my clients, old and new, that have trusted me with their family moments and given me the freedom to capture them in my own way.

All along the way, I learned more about my strengths and weaknesses, my loves and hates, and everything in between. I look forward to another fantastic year full of meeting new people and capturing some beautiful moments.

Now, if you'll excuse me, my kids have been making a mess the entire time I've been putting this together and I have a lot of work ahead of me...haha.

Thank you to everyone who helped me through 2011 and those that I have yet to meet in 2012. Happy new year to everyone!

L Family | Southeastern CT Family Portrait Photographer

2011-07-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

3 beautiful little girls! What could be better? Well, taking it to the beach, of course. Oh what a gorgeous group. We had fun in the sun. When I got home I was covered from head to toe in sand. Nothing like doing a little army crawling on the beach to keep you in shape, right?

Sheehan Wedding | Southeastern CT Wedding Photographer

2011-07-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

When this beautiful bride asked me to be her wedding photographer, I was honored. I've known her for a couple of years and there is something really amazing about a friend asking you to be a part of their special day. It tells you that they trust you and love your work but also terrifies the living daylights out of you because there's nothing that can affect a friendship more than screwing up their pictures! Haha!! I had a fantastic time working with this gorgeous couple and can't wait to see the where their love will take them!

Playing Catch-up, T Family | Southeastern CT Family Portrait Photographer

2011-07-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

I've apparently been severely neglecting my blog and am finally catching up with some of my absolute favorite sessions.
Back at the end of May, I had the extreme pleasure of meeting this family. So sweet and just naturals in front of the camera. We walked through the park and I was able to sneak along behind them and snap some truly natural moments of love between them (like blowing the dandelion).

The Joy of Love: Day 5 | Southeastern CT Photographer

2011-02-08T05:26:00.000-08:00

Love to Hate
Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE kids and mine especially, but sometimes the noise level is off the charts. What's one of the loudest noises ever? Marbles in a tin! My dad has so many marbles at their house for the kids to play with and keeps them in tins. So obviously they will swirl them around, dump them from tin to tin, throw them in the tins, etc, etc..... While at my parents' house yesterday, it was a good 10 minutes of marble on metal noise! It's so loud you can hardly hear yourself think over it, BUT they were having fun and not hurting each other, so I guess it's not all bad.

The Joy of Love: Day 4 | Southeastern CT Photographer

2011-02-08T05:21:00.000-08:00

What They Wear
My dad LOVES his boots! I was almost bummed because when I thought about taking a picture of his boots, he wasn't home, but luckily he has 2 pairs of them. I actually haven't seen him in anything else outside of the house (besides snow boots) in months. My daughter says they are "so smooth" and touches them all the time. Pretty cute.

The Joy of Love: Day 3 | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2011-02-08T05:17:00.000-08:00

Then & Now
At the risk of my mom hating me forever, I am posting these pictures. I took a picture of the wedding picture of my parents that is hanging on their wall and then made my mom sit still so I could take a "now" picture. She seriously hates when I take her picture and was muttering things under her breath the whole time. Shhh.....don't tell her that the only lens I had with me was my wide angle (hehe).

The Joy of Love: Day 2 | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2011-02-03T04:59:00.000-08:00

The assignment for yesterday, which I never had a chance to download and post until now, was "What they look like".
Now, I may be biased, but my kids are ADORABLE! I decided to capture the funny little things, like how almost every time I point my camera at my daughter, she gives me a funny face. Now with my son, this is totally my fault. I'm potty training him so I put him in underwear and BabyLegs (which are the greatest help in winter potty training). I try to get his outfit to match, but let's face it, he's going to pee on the leg warmers anyway!

The Joy of Love: Day 1 | Sheree Sirpenski Uncasville, CT Photographer

2011-02-01T07:43:00.000-08:00

For those of you that follow my personal FB page, you'll know that my life has recently been turned upside-down and because of it, I haven't picked up my camera nearly as much as I used to. Once I saw the new "Finding the Joy" workshop by Willette, I knew it was just what I needed to start seeing things more positively and to have the best reason of all to pick up my camera for myself again. Over the next 28 days, you'll see daily blog posts showing the people (and pets) I love!
The first assignment is "What They Do", so here is a little collection of images that I have taken this morning of what my kids (and dog) do.

My daughter still sucks her thumb (you may notice chocolate on her hand as well)

My son watches movies

My dog looks out the window constantly to keep us informed when every squirrel runs by

Together, they play and watch a movie

Miss N sneak peek | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-12-21T07:30:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of photographing this darling little 9 week old, Miss N. She was simply perfect.

"T" Family Sneek Peek | Southeastern, CT Family Photographer

2010-10-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

What a great time I had with this family! They were so sweet and easy to photograph. Of course kids will be kids and run off and explore, but that's the kind of stuff I love! Everyone is just aware enough that I'm there, but not trying to put on fake smiles. These were real smiles that can only come from a family that really loves to spend time together running through big open fields and exploring trails. I would also like to add a big happy 1st birthday to little "B"! She was just too adorable!

The Wedding of Mike & Crystal | Southeastern, CT Photographer

2010-09-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

On September 10th, I had the pleasure and honor of being both a guest and the photographer for a great couple. Crystal and Mike.
I have now typed out 3 versions of this post because I'm trying to condense 8 years of friendship and stories into a couple of paragraphs. I will try to make this as short and sweet as possible.....
In 2002, I had just moved back from Turners Falls, MA where I went to photography school. I needed a job quick so I didn't have to live back with my parents too long. I ended up running into an old high school friend in a clothing store. She handed me an application, I got the job. This is where I met Crystal. She was a manager at the store and as soon as I met her, I knew we wouldn't get along....haha! This is true, but oh so wrong. We actually became very good friends quite quickly. When I became engaged, she helped me....pushed me really, to plan my wedding when I didn't know where to start.
Fast forward all these years. I was in my hospital bed after delivering our son. Crystal and Mike came to visit. This was the first time I had actually seen the 2 of them since their engagement. I could not have been happier. I thought they were perfect for each other.
They had an absolutely beautiful wedding. It was a gorgeous night and I had a fantastic time.
I would like to thank my friend, Kristin, for doing a little second shooting with me. She did a fantastic job, especially considering this was the first time she had picked up a dslr.

Hebron Harvest Fair | Just for fun

2010-09-15T06:28:00.000-07:00

In a last minute decision, last weekend we (the hugs and I) decided to pack the kids up and head to the Hebron Harvest Fair. We were discussing while sitting in an hour of traffic, how long it's been since we've been to that fair. I vaguely remember sitting in my dad's truck (or maybe it was car, not that any of you care...haha) trying to find a parking spot and ending up in someone's yard who was "donating" their land for overflow.
Anyway, by the time we actually got into the fair, it was after 7:00 and the kids hadn't even eaten yet. First stop: FOOD! As we were eating, we met up with the bride and groom from the wedding we were at the night before. Long time friends of ours, we went on rides together and their nieces and nephew became fast friends with Raigan. So cute. Toby kind of kept to himself.
Even though we didn't get home until almost midnight, the kids really had a blast and fun was had by all (except our wallets)!

On the other side | Southeastern CT Photographer

2010-09-02T04:36:00.000-07:00

All photographers (not just professional either - even just the mom or dad who is the one always taking pictures of the family) can relate. When you are the one in charge of the camera, very few pictures are taken of you. When the kids fall asleep on their daddy, I grab my camera and take a few shots because these are the moments I want to remember.....and I think the kids will appreciate them too. However, very rarely does a picture get taken of me playing with the kids or them falling asleep on me. That's just the way it is. Well, recently we went to the beach and I asked my sister to hold my camera. Lucky for me, she didn't just hold it. She actually took pictures, quite a few pictures! She got one of (what I would consider) the best pictures of me with my son. He had just been knocked over by a wave and I picked him up to cuddle him. Not only did she take a picture, but she got a moment that could have easily been forgotten about. I'm pretty sure this will find a space on my wall soon.

Website revamp | Southeastern CT Photographer

2010-08-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

After being ignored for months, I finally took the time to give my website a little love and care. It took some late nights and early mornings, but I'm am so happy it's finally done. It's one more thing I can cross off my list! ::PHEW:: I will NEVER let it go so long again!
Now I need to let my eyes rest and get away from this computer screen for a little while....Go ahead and take a peek at the site.

Thank you to all of my clients for letting me show off your sweet children, wonderful familes, and beautiful pregnant bellies! I love all of you <3

Miss Stella sneak peek | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-08-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

Little Miss Stella is always so much fun! We had a blast running around Mohegan Park. My camera loves her and her expressions are priceless!

Summer Portraits | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-07-22T19:07:00.000-07:00

Oh the heat!!! I hear ya. Outdoor portraits in the summer can be brutal so why not get portraits done at the beach?! Let the kids splash around and make sandcastles while I capture these precious moments. Don't let the heat scare you, work with it. It's a great excuse to have some fun in the sun.

Photography Scavenger Hunt | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-07-08T19:37:00.000-07:00

If you see me around town taking pictures of odd things, don't worry, I haven't lost my mind! I'm doing a photography scavenger hunt with Clickin Moms. So if you spot me chasing a rooster or see me posing people holding a sign, I'm just trying to win some great prizes ;)
I may even ask for your help!

Summer Special | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-07-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

SALE SALE SALE!!!

For July and August only turn your entire session fee into a print credit OR take 50% off ANY print collection!
Book a portrait session with me during July or August and turn your $200 session fee into a print credit. If that's not enough for you, take 50% off the cost of any print collection with your paid session fee. You can save up to $375!!!
Sessions must be booked for July or August 2010. Visit my website for complete pricing information or send me an email at sheree.sirpenski@yahoo.com to book your session now!

Cam | Uncasville, CT Child Photographer

2010-06-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of photographing this little man again! To see how much he's grown and changed in the last year is awesome. He went from crawling to running and he is such a blast to run around with on the playground.

Summer | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-06-09T05:42:00.000-07:00

Ahh, summer is in the air. The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and the kids are playing outside. I'm looking forward to beach days and the smell of people grilling wafting through the breeze.

Summer time has also brought with it an obscene amount of spiders and that I'm not too keen on, but I'll take it....or gently nudge (I might mean squish) them out of my kids' play house, swing and slide.

Lauren & Adam | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-05-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

What a fun session! I loved working with this couple and their dog, Brisco. We went out at 8:00 this morning to get the best light we could get (that's when the park opened) and it was awesome. We felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. Brisco was so well behaved and so darn cute! Lauren and Adam were cute too...

Montville Needs Your Support | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-05-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

Today there is a rally to try to stop a 24-bed sex offender facility from being put in Montville. This facility will house violent offenders who have already served prison time. We already have 2 prisons in our town. We don't need any more risk placed on our community. If this goes through, it will be placed in front of the prisons, right on rt. 32. Daycares, businesses and residents will all suffer from this. We can't let this happen! If you are able to attend this rally, please show your support. It will be located across from the prisons, in between the Montville Hardware store and the Gristmill Plaza.
I don't want my children growing up in this environment, where I constantly fear for their safety. As a personal thank you for anyone going to the rally, I will offer 20% off any print collection. Take a picture of yourself at the rally and post it on my facebook fan page. We need your support!! Spread the word. Let's show them we're serious!!
Not Now. Not Ever. Not In Our Town.

The Littlest Heroes Project | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-04-28T06:51:00.000-07:00

I am so proud to announce that I am now a photographer for The Littlest Heroes Project. This is an amazing organization that provides free portrait sessions from professional photographers for children (age newborn - 21) suffering from a serious illness or life altering disability. Please spread the word about this wonderful non-profit organization!

what is custom photography? | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-04-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

I think this blog describes it better than I ever could. This will help anyone who may wonder "what's the difference between hiring a custom photographer and taking my kids to a chain portrait studio?"
Professional Child Photographer

Special for June 2010 | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-04-26T12:33:00.001-07:00

Contact me through my website or facebook fan page to book a standard 1-hour or newborn session in the month of June and you will also receive a free 8x10 print. This is in addition to the $50 print credit included in the session fee!
June is a beautiful month to take outdoor portraits and I want to give you all an incentive to do so. Take this opportunity to get yourself, your children, or your family outside and make a memory!

Sisters | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-04-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

These 2 were a lot of fun. Sure, they wanted to run away and play after every shot, but they were happy and loved to smile!

Stella sneak peak | Uncasville, CT Photographer

2010-04-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st birthday! She was dream to work with. Her expressions were priceless and she stayed right where her mommy put her (for the most part). We also did a cupcake smash to celebrate her big day!

2010-04-25T08:13:00.000-07:00