Photography by LarJ: Blog

Eliana's 2nd Birthday Shoot | Stamford, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 03:37:21 GMT

Eliana is TWO! Time really is just flying by, huh. And there's nothing we can do about it.

Eliana's 2nd Birthday ShootStamford, CT

Eliana's mother wanted something very simple. Just a white backdrop with a cute Elmo dress. I said, "No way!" And I got this Sesame Street themed backdrop that came just in time for the shoot. Eliana didn't end up wearing the Elmo dress, but this cute outfit she wore matched the backdrop as well. Eliana's 2nd Birthday ShootStamford, CT

When I did her first birthday shoot last year, Eliana looked just like her Daddy. Just one year later, I can see Mommy Nessa's face coming through. Genetics is a funny thing. Eliana's 2nd Birthday ShootStamford, CT

Eliana changed into her second dress and gave me THE most beautiful and playful smiles as Mom played peek-a-boo behind my head. Eliana's 2nd Birthday ShootStamford, CT

The crazy thing about photographing little children is being able to catch them quickly. You have to anticipate their next move (kind of like when you're shooting a wedding) or else you could miss something so precious. Eliana was on her belly for literally .2 seconds and just so happened to snap as her little foot kicked up. You can tell I'm not lying because if you look closely, her foot is very clearly in motion. When I saw what I captured, I gasped. How cute is she?? Eliana's 2nd Birthday ShootStamford, CT

I didn't come to the shoot with any expectations, but Eliana far surpassed whatever they would have been haha. Great job, cutie pie!

Eliana's 2nd Birthday ShootStamford, CT

I hope you had an AMAZING birthday party today, Eliana. I'm so sorry we weren't able to make it. I'll make up for it somehow :) Happy birthday!!

Jonathan's 7th Birthday Shoot | Stamford, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 00:40:17 GMT

My little Jonathan is 7 years old today! We did his birthday shoot at the studio in Stamford and had a great time.

I'm not sure what happened in the last 48 hours, but Jonathan did not look like this before this shoot! He seems to have matured right before our eyes.

"I would like to be a scientist because I want to get powers. Speed and teleportation."
-Jonathan, 7 years old

Now that we own a vegan bakery, I gave myself the task of making Joanthan's entire class cupcakes. I asked him what colors he wanted and he said red & blue. So I expected the same color scheme for this photo shoot. Nope! Mr. Jonathan asked for green. Apparently, he wanted a "green screen" so I could put him on an island. He was disappointed today when I told him I couldn't do that for him haha.

"I look forward to playing video games and doing marshal arts. I like those things because they are my favorite things because they are my favorite things to watch on TV."
-Jonathan, 7 years old

Side note--it's very unfortunate that the Stamford Mall has gone from a large place that you can find lots of different stores to buy clothing & presents from to a large place with a bunch of stuff. Where did all of the kids stores go?? I'm so confused. So I didn't get a chance to do my usual last-minute-birthday-shoot-shopping. It's a good thing that Jonathan had these cool clothes in his closet or else we would have been in trouble.

"My friends are Riann S., Felicity, Fiona, Keegan, and Kaitlyn. We like to play games outside at recess. Sometimes we play together, sometimes we play separately."
-Jonathan, 7 years old

Jonathan's favorite cake is chocolate, but I know that most kids don't like chocolate. So I tricked him by putting chocolate Ganache underneath the white vanilla frosting. He was shocked when he dug his fork in! He told me that the kids in his class were impressed that he got a whole mini cake. I like to go for the wow factor :)

"My favorite memory of being a 6-year-old is playing Captain Underpants with Riann S. and Aaron."
-Jonathan, 7 years old

Happy 7th birthday, my love!

Terica's 40th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 00:12:30 GMT

Terica is 40! I told her she doesn't look her age. What a blessing!

Terica reached out to book this birthday shoot earlier this year, so we have had quite some time to think about this. I was happy when I was finally able to put a name to the face as Isabelle did her make up at the studio. We talked about her upcoming trip to England, where she is currently living it up for her birthday. Our conversation made me really look forward to our potential upcoming trip to London, a city I've been wanting to visit since I was a child.

When Terica walked out with this second gown, I said, "Where did you get these gowns??" My jaw DROPPED when she said Shein. I know Shein has some pretty things, but I can't believe how amazing these gowns were! Excellent fit and they looked like they were great quality.

Terica is a huge fan of this UK Football team. I asked her if she was going to see them during her visit. How cool would that be?

Happy 40th birthday, Terica! I hope you're having the time of your life :)

Jaden's 8th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 23:03:27 GMT

I was 7 weeks pregnant and sick with COVID during Jaden's birthday last year, so I didn't get a chance to do a birthday shoot. I'm grateful that I had the chance to do it this year! Jaden is always a pleasure to photograph. He told me that he wanted blue and red, so we bought a couple outfits, blew up way too many balloons, and went to work.

Jaden's birthday shoot was our last photo shoot in our studio in Norwalk. It's the perfect way to [temporarily] close this chapter in our lives. I know Jaden & Jonathan LOVED having their birthday parties here every year, and I know that Thanksgiving was always fun for them as well. We will miss our studio, but we're also grateful for the break that we will have from studio ownership. This means spending more time with our family and focusing on our true love--photography.

I asked Jaden what he would like to be when he grows up. He said, "I would say a movie director because I want to make movies. The thing about movies is that you can make any part that you want and you can tell the movie and make voices and everything."

I've always wanted Jaden to model, but I have no idea how to get him into it. Until we can figure it out, he will be my personal model. Look how handsome he is in this red & white letterman jacket that Roody picked up at H&M!

The joke during the entire shoot was that Jaden only knew how to give a thumbs up and peace sign. Because I told him to stop giving me a thumbs up, he continued giving me the peace sign.

"My favorite part of my birthday is that you can have fun and do things with your family. I liked that this year we played cards and I'm turning 8, which I've never been before. I've been 8 for like the past 12 hours."
-Jaden

At this point, you can probably tell that Jaden was starting to feel tired because of all of the rapping and dancing he was doing. I'm happy he felt that way because I probably wouldn't have gotten this HANDSOME portrait of him. I hate/love this photo because of how much he looks like a teenager. I don't think I'm ready for him to be all grown up just yet.

Mr. Jaden, I hope you can look back on your 8th birthday and remember all the fun you had with us in New Orleans. Happy birthday, my love!

D'nisha & Brenton's Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 02:56:46 GMT

D'nisha walked in with her bestie, Jay, and I already knew the shoot was going to be fire. She wanted to use our black fluffy robe, so I asked her if she would like to use this new backdrop that I was supposed to test out for Fancy Props. I didn't even need to really sell her on the idea haha. The backdrop is beautiful!

Brenton is such a supportive partner. I can tell by how he went with whatever the ladies told him to wear :) I love a supportive partner! It means he will be a great girl dad, too.

D'nisha's favorite trait of Brenton is "his ability to make me laugh in any situation, how affectionate and loving he is, how caring he is, and how hard working he is."

"I came back from basic military training and I didn’t know that I was pregnant so it was a shock to me."
-D'nisha

But here we are, excitedly awaiting baby girl's arrival. I love when initial shock turns into excitement. Babies come into our lives and change us for the better.

I took my time finding the perfect digital backdrops to match this session. It's funny because this first pose wasn't even done on purpose. We captured it after the fabric had landed. But I love D'nisha's poise here!

This is the image that will be on display at the baby shower tomorrow. I made a 16x20 print for them.

After quickly reviewing the photos, D'nisha realized that she wasn't smiling in many of them. So we went back and quickly captured some photos of her smiling, because we're HAPPY! And we want baby girl to know we're happy :)

Congratulations, D'nisha and Brenton! I hope we get to shoot again when baby girl gets here.

Chris & Sabine's Daddy/Daughter Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 01:30:21 GMT

Meagan should win a "wife of the year" award. I'm telling you. Not only did she book this super-cute session for her husband and 6-month-old baby girl, but she made the shirts that they're wearing. ALL of them!

Chris loves music, so he brought some props with him to the session. Watching him interact with his daughter was the sweetest thing. You can tell that Sabine loves her Daddy so much!

The make up room at the studio became the prop room with all of Sabine's outfits and accessories. I was able to capture this photo of her in her sunnies right before she snatched them off her face!

This was Chris' first Father's Day, and it surely was an unforgettable one. Every time I do cute sessions like these, I imagine them being a part of the child's slideshow at her wedding. I know, I know. I'm extra haha. But just imagine Sabine in 20-40 years looking back on these precious moments with her father. Ugh. I just cannot.

If you're trying to think of something to do for your husband for his first (or 15th) Father's Day, I would highly recommend booking a shoot with his child/ren!

Taeja's Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 02:42:38 GMT

Taeja came in with her mother and sister and sat down for make up. Mom started singing my praises immediately. I didn't realize she was such a big fan of my work! It was a breath of fresh air, and she kept doing it throughout the shoot. So of course, this family became my new favorite family :)

Taeja looked absolutely stunning, and I loved the white T-shirt/black under garments combo. It's a classic and it works every time.

Bigs strolled in and was so supportive. I usually worry about partners because they're not too into the photo shoot thing. You know? But my guy was down for it all.

We kicked Mom & Sis out of the room to be able to capture the lovebirds authentically haha. They were being all shy and stuff. With Mom gone, I was able to capture their love. Fr fr.

The height difference was perfect because I was able to do a pose that I can't usually do with couples who are the same height. I love it!

I decided to do a Signature Edit for this photo because it worked! I've been so into flowers later, but they're very expensive. So I'll stick to the digital ones for now.

My favorite part of every maternity session--the part where we get to throw some fabric! I shot these with this kind of Signature Edit in mind.

I know, I know. How many Signature Edits did we do? FOUR. We did four. And I might be in the minority, but I love this "Blue Forrest" one the most. It's VERY unique.

Taeja called Bigs back into the photos and we captured these next few shots.

Baby Boy is so blessed to be in such a loving family. I asked Mom if her love languages were Words of Affirmation and Giving Gifts, and they were. So this kid is going to be SPOILED! I love that for him :)

Seun's 40th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 23:49:13 GMT

Seun booked her birthday shoot months ago. I loved her enthusiasm as she shared her vision for the session. Turning 40 is a beautiful thing, and it was lovely to have her family in the studio as well.

When I met Enoch, Daniel, and Ethan, I realized that I was looking at my future--their age differences are similar to my sons' age differences. This will be me in 7 years!

I have no idea how to spell Shigun's name properly, but he was amazing. This man must have been a photographer back in Nigeria. I don't care what he says lol he knows too much about posing and contrast. He posed all of his sons! It was such a great help.

After Seun got her make up done, it was finally her time to shine. And that she did! Whew, everyone in this family is so beautifully melanated. I love their skin color against the red.

Mom & Dad!

The boys were so well behaved. This session meant a lot to their mother and they played their part well.

And then there was pink!

Seun's birthday party is in a few months, so I made sure she had plenty of different options to choose from for whatever large prints she would have on display.

Seun's style is top notch. She had the perfect accessories for all of her outfits. Everything was well planned out and coordinated.

I love these portraits so much.

I hope you had an amazing birthday today, Seun!

T'Keyah's Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 23:22:54 GMT

I received a text message from my church sister saying that her friend was in need of a photographer for a maternity session for her daughter. LarJ to the rescue! I reached out to Shavelle immediately and she booked a session for her daughter, T'Keyah.

T'Keyah is an absolute cutie pie, and she is expecting a baby girl in a few weeks. What a surprise, right? I'm sure you couldn't tell by all of the pink :)

I love being able to offer clients what I have in my wardrobe. This beautiful gown from Before & Ever wins every time!

I am extremely excited to share something new--our Signature Edits. Our studio is huge, but we don't have all of these props and fabrics haha. This is a digital backdrop that our retoucher so skillfully edited in. I look forward to creating Signature Edits for my clients. They make a VERY big statement.

T'Keyah's baby shower is this weekend, and I really hope Baby Kayla gets all the love she deserves!

Wishing you a safe delivery and speedy recovery when the time comes, T'Keyah!

Bree's Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 25 May 2023 01:51:38 GMT

Bree & Ogens' little family is growing by two feet! I was so honored to capture the family before baby boy's arrival.

Ogens is the calm to Bree's storm, she said. "So chill and care free." I totally got that vibe from him during the session.

Their baby girl, Orabella, is free spirit. Her personality is as bright as her smile! You can tell that she comes from a loving home, and I love to see that. Bree's favorite thing about being her mother is watching her be her own person. "Just getting to know the little person I created out of love," she said.

How did Bree react when she found out she was pregnant again? "I laughed and cried at the same time," she said. Getting a positive pregnancy test can be bittersweet sometimes. I totally know the feeling haha.

We were supposed to change outfits at this point, but Bree realized that the blue dress she packed no longer fit. Blue fabric to the rescue! So we took another family portrait and then it was time to change.

It's funny how I went from not owning a single fabric to now using it during each maternity session. I bought more colors to accommodate more Mamas.

Believe it or not, this was just the test shot. Ogens was holding the left side, Orabella was holding the right. And this portrait is PERFECT!

I'm so happy for you, Bree! I hope I get to meet the little guy soon :)

Tide Family Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 02:15:00 GMT

I pushed myself to do this session because I know this is my last pregnancy. So I wobbled to the studio, got my make up done by Isabelle, and patiently waited for Larique to arrive so she could snap our family photos. While we waited for her to arrive, Roody captured this STUNNING photo of me and the boys. From now on, when I think of motherhood, I will always see this photo in my head. It's probably the most beautiful photo we have ever captured. The Digital Backdrop makes it even more stunning. My goodness.

Black is so elegant. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It's not sad, it's not dirty. It's beautiful. That's why we're all wearing black. I love how our melanin pops.

I don't know... there's just something about a portrait with the eyes closed. No forced expression. Just sentiment that radiates though the image.

So Larique really deserves some flowers for these photos. I know I'm the one who creative directed, but she did her thing pushing the shutter button and I appreciate her.

I love making babies with this man. My Rooney Butt. The best baby daddy a girl could ask for.

I'm looking forward to adding Baby Julian to some moody family portraits in 1 year!

Arjun's 3rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 01:17:29 GMT

Arjun is the third member of this family that I have photographed, and he is JUST as cool as his mother and sister.

He walked out of the make up room with his little Clarke Kent outfit and my heart melted. Because why is he so cute??

And then BOOM! The next thing I know, I was staring at a super-jacked Superman!

I love photographing children for their birthday because they always have so much fun. Parents, I highly recommend doing a themed shoot so that your little one can act out their favorite movie or character.

For our second and final set, we kept the superhero colors (which I didn't even realize were superhero colors until Mom mentioned it haha) and Arjun got all dressed up.

I bought this little throne chair for little kings like Arjun to enjoy. The way this little boy modeled this chair, you would have thought he had been practicing his whole life for this moment!

I hope you had THE best birthday, Arjun!

Shameeka's 31st Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 03:46:37 GMT

Shameeka is back at it again! Her third year doing a birthday shoot with me. How lucky am I to have some amazing clients??

Category: angel. This little white dress is giving everything it's supposed to gave.

Shameeka returned with her bestie, who helped her put her nails on. Honestly, I thought the bestie was her sister all this time! Hopefully, I get to actually photograph Ms. Bestie one of these years, too.

I'm not sure how Shameeka manages to level up every year, but she absolutely does. She SHOCKED me when she walked out this this leotard. I need one!

One reason I love shooting at Spark Studios is that I have a variety of different Apple Boxes to choose from haha.

I love these personality portraits of my girl!

Happy 31st birthday, Shameeka! I hope you had an amazing day :)

Giselle's 25th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 03:38:36 GMT

Giselle booked her session last week! I was just happy that we were able to make it all come together. I got the plum backdrop she requested and all of the balloons. And you KNOW seeing all of this pink & magenta made me happy :)

This Polynesian tattoo stopped me in my tracks because I'm nosey and I love to talk to people about things that are meaningful to them. So although it might look like it was painful (which Giselle confirmed that it was) it meant a lot to Giselle to get it as she entered this new season in her life.

I allowed Giselle to take full control of the set up of the props for this photo because I'm pregnant and I like when I can just sit back and watch things happen haha. Why have I never thought of having a client lie on this white bench before? Shame on me.

Giselle is such a sweetheart. A free spirit. She doesn't look a day older than 15, and I love that for her.

And how cute are these poses??

Happy 25th birthday, Chica! I hope you had an amazing day :)

Kendrick's 27th Birthday Shoot [Norwalk, CT]

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 03:46:02 GMT

Kendrick showed up with 6 outfits. I, of course, gave him the side eye. But you know what? This man knew what he wanted, and we photographed him in all 6 of his outfits.

Kendrick is a business consultant, so I thought it was important to capture some headshots for him to be able to use on social media and on his website. I try to do that for my business-minded clients and those who need an uploaded profile photo for LinkedIn!

I am obsessed with how clean these portraits are. Seriously, I think they should be part of some kind of ad.

These next two photos are very much giving Express. Or maybe Zara?

Kendrick is one of those awkward smilers when asked to smile on cue. So I had to come up with ridiculous things to say to get a genuine smile out of him. As you can see, it worked a few times!

Happy 27th birthday, Kendrick! I hope you had a great day :)

Larianne's 32nd Birthday Shoot & Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 14:48:47 GMT

During last year's birthday shoot, I remember hoping and praying that my next birthday shoot would also be a maternity session. God answered our prayers, and we are expecting our third baby boy!

You can probably tell that I'm far along with pregnancy. Not because of the big belly, but because of the lack of props haha. Do you know how exhausting it is to get make up done on a sore tailbone, change into clothes, blow up balloons, and set up lighting? It's exhausting.

My favorite part of my yearly sessions is the headshot segment. I have a little Dropbox folder with all of my headshots. I think this year's is my favorite!

Even though I have two other children, I had never done a maternity session in a studio before. Jaden's was at a park in Massachusetts and Jonathan's was at Central Park with the rest of the family. This was such a cool experience! I definitely have a better understanding of how my maternity clients probably feel during their session.

Also, it was just my second time working with fabrics. Isabelle was such a great help. We literally could not have done this segment without her. She made sure I was tucked in properly and looking good, and she threw the fabric as many times as I asked her to haha.

I can't decide if I like blue or purple, so here are both options!

I always see these clean editorial-looking bodysuit maternity photos on Instagram and I've been wanting to replicate that for years. Just a couple weeks after I found out I was pregnant, I bought this bodysuit. That's how excited I was. And these are some of my favorite photos of myself! Clean, simple, elegant.

I just want to thank Roody for his patience with me. Our shoots are always 5 hours long, and he never complains. He takes my creative direction so well. I'm so proud of him!

Happy 32nd birthday to me, and I can't wait to meet our little prince in April!

Jodi Ann's 30th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 04:00:35 GMT

We photographed Jodi's 26th in Queens, then her 28th in Bridgeport, and now it's her 30th in Norwalk. Wow! She's my fave for a reason :)

I won't give away the secret that we both know about this dress haha but it's still a SUPER cute dress, regardless of what's going on in the back :) I'm glad we got it to work! Totally worth it.

Every time I see this woman, she is even more beautiful. Inside and out! I love her personality and I love her style. It's always a pleasure to photographer her.

Jodi put this white dress on and suddenly became Tina Turner.

The way she's looking at the balloons is exactly how I felt 2 years ago during MY 30th birthday shoot haha.

Finishing it off with a bang! I love this girl :)

I know you enjoyed your birthday, Jodi! Thanks for always coming back. See you again soon :)

Eliana's 1st Birthday Cake Smash & Photo Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 03:13:45 GMT

Eliana is one of my favorite baby girls in the whole world. I am so happy that I was able to do this cake smash for her first birthday! Momma Vanessa always comes through with the cute outfits, so I knew that THAT was covered. All I had to do was provide the backdrop and props.

I don't want my words to distract you from the cuteness in all 7 million of these photos, so I will say as little as possible.

At this point in the shoot, Eliana revealed that she truly is an amazing baby model. She held on to that apple box and posed like she had been doing that all her life.

This wasn't Eliana's first time eating cake, so she didn't freak out at the texture and taste. She sat there and gobbled up as much as we let her and it was soooo adorable!

Honestly, this was just too much cuteness for me to handle. Happy 1st birthday, Eliana!

Katie's 15th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 02:02:19 GMT

Katie's father reached out to be about doing this photo shoot for her Quinceañera. It was supposed to be in two parts--we shoot in the park for a half hour then we go to the studio for a half hour. As long as the weather permitted, I was down. But the weather did not permit haha. It was freezing cold that Sunday, and super overcast. So we stayed in the studio.

Katie's dog was so adorable and well-behaved. She has had her for 3 years. How cute are they together!

One thing about Quince dresses--they're huge! I tried to get the family as close together as possible. This was the best we could do :)

Katie's violin as a prop was a great idea. I took a close up version of this photo as well, but we agreed that the violin with a full view of the dress was the better photo.

I always encourage clients to look super excited when it's time for the balloon toss. Katie apparently isn't a huge fan of smiling for photos haha but that doesn't matter because she loved her photos so much!

I hope you enjoyed your birthday, Katie! Happy 15th!

Thania's 20th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 00:31:59 GMT

I'm not going to lie, I almost forgot how to blog haha. It's been almost 2 months since my last blog post, but I had to make this appearance because Thania is 20 years old today!

We all know that whenever mentions the word "pink" to me, I go overboard. So pink backdrop, pink props, different shades of pink balloons AND this cute pajama set that Thania decided to start the shoot off with... I die! :)

There was something so very familiar about Thania--the way she posed and her long, straight hair. She revealed to me after her session that I did her sister's birthday shoot back in February!

And now for look number two! The fuchsia and silver look so good together.

"I don't know how to pose," she said. I think Thania did an amazing job with posing :)

Happy 20th birthday, Thania!

Kiara's 30th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 23:59:43 GMT

Kiara is 30 years old! My new amiga. It's a good thing that she waited until the end of our session to reveal to me that is Dominican or else things might have gone differently (in a good way haha). She drove all the way from Waterbury to do her 30th birthday shoot, and it went VERY well!

Kiara is so sweet and just the right amount of sassy. You can't tell by looking at her, but she is a new Mommy! She has a 4-month-old baby boy who is so adorable. I saw his newborn photos (and her maternity photos) and they were SO cute.

I love it when mothers take some time to celebrate themselves. My girl put on 3 dresses that looked like they were designed just for her and she really showed out!

Kiara is an absolute natural at posing. And you know we love a natural model.

These photos are so cute and cheesy haha.

I was so proud of this set up. Kiara originally selected the vertical photo, but I knew that I personally needed the horizontal photo in my life :)

Absolutely stunning, chica! I hope you had an amazing birthday!

David's 1st Birthday Cake Smash & Photo Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 00:48:49 GMT

Ahhh David... My little buddy. We first met last summer when I did his newborn session. Then he came back to the studio last month with his sisters for their birthday shoot. And finally, this month, it's his time to shine again!

One thing about Mamá Stephanie--she's going to keep repping Guatemala. I love that about her! Her beautiful children will never forget where their Mamá came from. I love everyone's outfits!

Dad wanted a soccer theme for his baby boy. David even came with his own soccer ball.

Antionette from Sugarsweetease made this adorable Soccer Cake for David. His favorite part of the cake were the little soccer balls, of course.

David wasn't too sure about the frosting. I'm sure, in his head, he was comparing it to Mamá's breastmilk. David, nothing beats Mamá's breastmilk. I totally understand.

This was Stephanie's attempt to get him to eat the cake haha.

Happy first birthday, David!

Madison's 5th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 01:28:14 GMT

I photographed Madison a couple years ago in Queens and she had the most beautiful smile. It was so nice to see the little dimples again!

Baby girl is 5 years old today! She totally rocked her birthday shoot and gave me so many cute poses in this Barbie Box.

She went with her Mommy to go change into her next outfit and waited for me to turn around so she could show me her cool unicorn wings. Why are children so adorable??

Honestly, this colorful outfit was everything. Also, I have learned that 5-year-old girls move VERY quickly during photo shoots. I have to have High Speed Sync on or else everything will come out blurry haha.

Now, Maddie. Who told you to be so cute?? These are probably some of the most sophisticated portraits of a child I've ever taken. I am LOVING this black and white, and the beret completed this adorable outfit for sure. Great job, Mom!

The next few poses were all Maddie's idea. I think we might have a model on our hands!

I hope you're enjoying your birthday trip, Maddie! Happy 5th birthday!

Crystal's 19th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 01:35:28 GMT

Crystal sent me one inspo photo to work with. Just one haha. But I love when clients send me inspo photos because then I have an idea of what it is that they are looking for. I took Crytal's idea and ran with it!

What I love the most about these photos is how clean and simple they are. That's what I've been into lately. Monochromatic, clean, and simple. Also, Crystal totally killed this pose!

I was about to put the camera down and end the session, but then I remembered using this Vanity Set for another session that I did with lingerie and asked Crystal if she would be interested in doing something similar. Man, listen--I really just wanted a reason to use my new white vase and white pampas grass. You know how prop-obsessed I am!

Crystal, I hope you had an amazing birthday today! Happy 19th!

Greg's 30th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 03:43:28 GMT

Greg went all out for his 30th birthday shoot. We know I don't photograph a lot of men often, so I was very excited when I got his inquiry

I remember stumbling upon a male birthday shoot on Instagram and the gentleman had a really nice suit, but he was holding some balloons. It was so elegant, but fun. So Greg & I did our own version of that shoot.

Greg was our Santa at the studio this past Christmas and he did such a great job with the kids. He is a nurse and an aspiring actor, so we did a few different headshots for him as well.

"My proudest achievement yet is finishing nursing school and passing my boards the week before my birthday this year. When I started this journey I was 20. It took a while but I finally made it!"
-Greg

"I look forward to manifesting and completing every single goal and dream of mine. I look forward to many vacations, new life experiences, more wisdom, and the opportunity to live and laugh with the people I love both old and new to come."
-Greg

Greg wanted a shot of the back of his shirt, so I asked him what "metamorphosis" means to him.

"That shirt embodies my current state in life. If you had met me when I was 20, heck even just last year, I was a completely different person. From my thought process, to my confidence, and even just physically different. I’ve worked hard and God has blessed and protected me during my 20’s or as I like to call it the 'cocooning.' I feel like I finally achieved metamorphosis. The place where my intentions, efforts, and prayers are finally achieved."

That's beautiful, Greg! I'm so happy for you!

My guy now has photos that he can post of Haitian Independence Day and Haitian Flag Day. Just keep all 3 of these photos in rotation haha.

I was impressed by Greg's first suit. Very clean and crisp. Then he stepped out into another crisp suit and I was even more impressed.

"I’m an old soul. I like the classy clean look of a nice suit. I also enjoy wearing something that you don’t see everyday and/or clothes that say/mean something. I see my clothing as an extension of my personality, naturally."
-Greg

Ok, so these next few headshots are my absolute FAVORITE. I took my time with the lighting to make sure that everything is perfect. Not that I usually rush my lighting, but I had a vision for Greg and I made sure I brought it to fruition. Ugh. I love these photos so much!! We love a Black King!

Greg, I hope you had an AMAZING birthday!

James Family Portrait Session | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 00:33:15 GMT

Chenelle booked this family portrait session for her siblings and their mother and I just loooove how they all coordinated their outfits. Black, gold and simple, but oh so elegant.

Queen Mother. That's what I'll call this set. I always love a portrait of Mom surrounded by her brood. It's iconic.

I can't imagine what it's like to be the only brother or to have four sisters haha. But my man did great!

Of course we had to get a Sisters Portrait. To be honest, this pose is quite awkward, but it's always worth it.

Mom wanted to do more poses of the whole family, so we did just that!

Wow, I might have saved the best for last!
The James Family was such a pleasure to photograph, and I'm so happy with how everything turned out! :)

Naomi's 5th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 02:20:48 GMT

Naomi and her sister, Tamar, did their birthday shoots together. Today is Naomi's 5th birthday! She is such a good big sister to both of her siblings. I enjoyed watching the reels her mother, Stephanie, posted all week of Naomi as a baby and then a toddler and now a grown woman!

Naomi is the perfect example of a girly girl. She loved her curls, she kept spinning in her dress, and she looovvvved the flowers I brought out for her.

I pray that Naomi stays this sweet all the way into adulthood. She smiles just like her mamá, and I have a feeling that she's going to be just as silly haha. Feliz cumple, sweet Naomi! I hopee you enjoyed your day!

Kripa's 30th Birthday Shoot | Brooklyn, NY

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 21:25:27 GMT

Kripa is such a fun girl to be around! She has the best stories and such an upbeat attitude. And guess what--she's 30 years old today!

Indian culture is so beautiful, and I absolutely LOVE this close up showing off Kripa's hair and the details in her jewelry and Sari.

Mom sat in the make up chair soon after Kripa was done, and I captured these lovely portraits of the two of them. I hope Kripa's siblings don't get jealous haha.

Ok, Mom! We love a confident queen.

Fun fact: Kripa is currently a nurse, but she's studying to become a pilot. Right?? I told you she was cool!

And ohhhh my goodness, how she ROCKED this gold look. The gold one-sleeve dress with the black and gold sneakers, PLUS the gold throne chair and gold vases and whatever color Pampas Grass that is... ICONIC.

Girl, you didn't have to go this hard. I can't wait to make the products you ordered! I hope you're enjoying your birthday trip!!

Lillian's Graduation Portrait Session | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 20:40:02 GMT

Lillian is back! And this time, it's because she wanted to commemorate her Grad School graduation. My girl is now the proud owner of a Master's Degree in Public Health. We love an educated cutie.

"Public health became a passion of mine when I realized how broad human health really is. Medicine, diet and exercise are not the only things that make you healthy. Health involves your physical environment, social activities, and access and barriers that affect wellbeing. Barriers stemming from racism and our society’s infrastructure prevent many from achieving their optimal health. I pursued an advanced degree to learn theories and practical ways in which the health of populations can be improved."
-Lillian

I cannot with the cute little black dress. I love the frills! And I'm so happy I caught Lillian's beautiful smile. She looks like she was having a good thing, but maybe not more fun that she had in Grad School...

"Grad school is definitely not as fun as undergrad, but the experience was well worth it! There were so many more papers and readings than I was used to. Learning about public health during a pandemic helped me appreciate the field more. The pandemic helped expose flaws in our health system and also allowed me to get creative and think of avenues to get people more healthy despite the many challenges they may face . Overall, I had a great time."
-Lillian

Lillian's boyfriend joined us during the shoot as the Capturer of BTS, and also the Silent Hypeman. Her stole was actually made by his company in Ghana. How cool is that?

"I look forward to emerging myself in a role that makes a real difference to people. I plan on having a career that will allow me to provide more access and resources to underserved communities. People deserve to have their voices heard and should be included in all kinds of strategies to take control of their own health."
-Lillian

I'm so happy we were able to get these BEAUTIFUL headshots. New LinkedIn Profile pic, who dis?

Congratulations, Lillian! I can tell you're very passionate about your field of study, and I'm so proud of you :)

Tamar's 3rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 20:32:39 GMT

Tamar and her sister, Naomi, did their birthday shoots together. Today is Tamar's 3rd birthday, so I want to focus on her! These little cutie pies wore their adorable dresses from Guatemala, which were the perfect outfits for the Encanto themed backdrop that we have.

According to Mamá Stephanie, "Tamar is like nature. You stand in awe at her beauty and personality. However, just a nature has its storms, so does Tamar." That's hilarious because I totally saw what she meant by that! Hahahaha

I've known Stephanie since high school. I love being able to photography my friend's children! It's such a blessing. And I also think it's so perfect that her daughters have her super-cute smile. Her youngest son, David, is up next! Can't wait to see how he reacts to my camera.

At this point in the shoot, Tamar had eaten a dulce and she really liked the flowers her sister gave her. So now we really got a chance to see that face!

"I am proud of her because she has the power to touch her soul with laughter, warmth, peace all with a simple smile and a touch on your cheek."
-Mom

Happy 3rd birthday, Tamar!

Arya's 5th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 23:16:59 GMT

I first met Arya when I photographed her 1st birthday party at Stamford Nature Center 4 years ago. It was the cutest little party! Mom & I stayed in touch, and I even did her birthday shoot this past January. So of courrssssee I got excited when she wanted to book ya gurl one more time!!

My favorite thing to do (especially with studio sessions) is to bring a vision to life. So Superhero & Barbie themes for a girl? Say less. Arya stepped into character as soon as she put her Wonder Woman costume on.

Next up, we had TWO Barbie looks--Princess Barbie & Fitness Barbie. I was amazed at how good Arya was at posing.

Kids are always amazed at my fake cupcakes. She was even more amazed that the rainbow candies were real haha.

Mom was talking to Arya during these next portraits and I was able to capture the most adorable expressions. Princess Jasmine could never!

I hope you had an AMAZING birthday weekend, Arya!

Isabelle's 32nd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 26 May 2022 22:49:48 GMT

Isabelle does make up for most of my clients. She drives all the way up from Long Island multiple times per week to work in our studio. I cannot thank her enough! Today is her 32nd birthday, and I am soooo happy that we did this super-cute birthday shoot. First we started off professional with some branding photos.

Then we added a little spice!

If you can't tell by looking at the photos, Isabelle is a lot of fun to be around. Even when she comes in dead tired from a long day at work, I hear her laughing and joking with clients as she does their make up.

This green jumpsuit is everything. And I'm a little obsessed with Isabelle's cheekbones.

Show off the brushes, girl!

Alright so noowwwww we start the party. The whole theme of this portion of the birthday shoot was "Adult Cake Smash." So lots of balloons, fun posing, even pigtails. And, of course, cake and wine.

I'm not sure why we never thought of doing this before, but I will most DEFINITELY have some pigtails for my birthday shoot next year and a massive cake to dunk my head into.

I love it! Isabelle, I hope you enjoyed your birthday to the MAX today. You definitely deserve it!

Brianna's 23rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 24 May 2022 23:47:47 GMT

Brianna had a very clear vision of what she wanted for her 23rd Birthday Shoot at the studio. I gave her a small tour during her consultation and we discussed colors and chairs. Honestly, all she had to say was "pink" and I already knew what was up. So I was VERY excited to bring her vision to life. She looked absolutely beautiful when she walked into the studio, and Isabelle brought out that beauty even more with the bomb make up.

At this point, I decided to take over with posing. For someone who had never had a professional photo shoot before, Brianna did an amazing job with her poses. I always love this over-the-shoulder pose to show off hair styles and booties :)

And now for some doll-like fun! Brianna said she wanted to look like a Barbie doll. I think she succeeded!

Any chance I get to use all my props, I use all my props.

I hope you had an amazing birthday today, Brianna!

Opont Family Portrait Session | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 08 May 2022 13:58:06 GMT

I know it's Mother's Day, but can we just take a minute to appreciate how ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE Baby Eliana is?? It was such a pleasure to have my girl, Nessa Veeeeeeee, back in the studio. This time, she came back as a whole mother. Somebody's Momma. God is great!

Vanessa had the cool idea to recreate some of the maternity poses that we did. I tried to not stress myself out about it, but I was low-key nervous. Would I remember the lighting set up? The camera settings? The way the photos were edited? But all I did was throw the photos up on our big screen TV and shoot, and they came out similar enough :) It's amazing what women go through to become mothers. I've heard of men getting jealous of how big of a deal Mother's Day is in comparison to Father's Day. Well, sir. Did you go through 9+ months of pregnancy? How about the pain and trauma of childbirth? Did your boobs become engorged with milk, and did a baby try to rip your nipples to shreds? How about Postpartum Depression. Did you get any of that? Have you had to deal with any hormonal imbalances? I mean, that's just a tiny bit of what most mothers go through. I think the least we can do is get a spa day and chocolates and flowers and whatever else we want and feel we deserve :)

"Motherhood has been an amazing journey! I feel like I was made to be a mother; everything just came so natural to me. Everyday has felt like a new fun adventure. I love learning and experiencing new things daily. Even when some days are exhausting; I look at my baby girl and just get this overwhelming feeling of happiness and joy. She reminds me each day that everything I do is worth it."
-Vanessa

I still share this same sentiment 6 years into the motherhood journey. I look at the faces of my boys after they have nearly ripped the house apart, and I still feel so much love inside of me for them. Motherhood is an amazing thing haha!

"My favorite thing Edson does as a father is play with Eliana. I love how he makes all these fun voices and comes up with all these fun and different ways to play and interact with her. The way she laughs and looks at him is just the sweetest!"
-Vanessa

Edson is probably one of the coolest dads out there. I love the way he looks at Eliana. What a blessed little girl to have such loving parents!

"Eliana has a sweet feisty personality. She knows what she likes and wants and isn’t afraid to let you know when she doesn’t like something. She is so bubbly and fun! My girl enjoys a good time & a good laugh."
-Vanessa

She is my favorite 5-month-old! I'm telling you, she's the cutest. I love her little face!!

I hope you have an amazing first Mother's Day, Vanessa! I can't wait to hang out with Eliana...I mean, you and Eliana again hahahahaha

Melody's 23rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 05 May 2022 17:28:33 GMT

Melody's Birthday Shoot was quite creative. I didn't mind the fact that she gave me a shot list. Listen, if you come into the studio knowing exactly what you want, I'm just here to make sure I capture the shot beautifully.

To say "I'm obsessed" is an understatement. I love a fluffy robe. As a matter of fact, I have this exact robe in our Client Closet in red and black. I will definitely add this color to the collection in the future.

Shoutout to Isabelle for helping us with the flower placement. Like I told the girls, I'm only good at pushing buttons haha.

Melody is originally from Houston, TX. I'm so happy she was able to find me online so we could do this shoot for her 23rd birthday. And also, she let me play in her very soft hair. That's always a plus!

And oh my goodness, these beauty shots... Outstanding. Happy 23rd birthday, Melody! I hope you enjoy it :)

Laila's Decision Day Shoot | USC

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 01 May 2022 21:23:18 GMT

It's National College Decision Day! And Laila has chosen the University of Souther California. This young photographer/videographer will be relocating to LA in the fall. How exciting!

"It’s been my dream school since 6th grade, it’s extremely diverse, and I wanted to attend a school that truly saw me as a student. The black culture and community at USC is something that I haven’t seen before. When I visited I just knew I needed to be there. There is no other place for me."
-Laila

Laila and her mother was so funny during this shoot. We all just kept cracking jokes the whole time. Laila will be following in her mother's footsteps by studying Psychology, as well as African American Studies.

"I’m looking forward to that school spirit because I go to a small high school and never had that awesome experience with live football games and basketball games. Also, LA is just off the chain and I can’t wait for that change in setting."
-Laila

Congrats on your acceptance to USC, Laila! They'll be lucky to have you there :)

Rameisha's 30th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 03:32:08 GMT

Rameisha is on an island enjoying her birthday to the fullest, and I'm not jealous because I'm currently on an island doing the same thing haha. She is celebrating her 30th birthday, and I am enjoying our first REAL family vacation.

If the lighting looks a little different than my usual work, that's because I decided to play around with Color Gels. After the Creative Lab that we had a few weeks ago, I decided to give it a try.

Rameisha's outfit was so classy and cute. I loved capturing her with no props. So timeless!

These two sets are definitely my favorite. I love giving clients photos that they can post no matter what the occasion is.

I hope you enjoyed your birthday to the maximum, Rameisha!

Aniyiah's 16th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 02:24:01 GMT

Aniyiah's Birthday Shoot was a family affair, which I loved. Everyone came to watch me scream and holler at this beautiful young lady who ROCKED her session. First of all, I want that hair. That will be my summer style for sure. Secondly, Aniyiah knew exactly what she wanted out of this session and I soooo appreciated that. Mom said that Aniyiah did a lot of research before picking me as her photographer. Mi feel cute yuh see! Thank you soooo much for trusting me with this whole thing. I'm so pleased with how the images turned out :)

Anyone who shoots on this pink backdrop immediately has my heart.

Aniyiah's aunt helped with the placement of the gold flakes and butterflies. I just knew I had to shoot on brown because of all the beautiful tones in this photo. Aniyiah's complexion is so beautiful and I wanted to make sure it got its shine. Literally.

Ok, hands!

Woosh. We were done shooting, but I asked for just ONE more pose. I would have gone home very disappointed with myself if I didn't do this one, and I'm happy Aniyiah and the whole crew agreed to add this to the final selection.

I hope you had an amazing 16th birthday, Aniyiah!

Choyce's 1st Birthday Shoot & Cake Smash | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 01:21:49 GMT

It's so cool when you do a maternity session for a client one year and then the cake smash for the baby the next year. I felt like I knew Choyce when she and Akeeya walked into the studio. She is so precious!

Of course she smiled for me. We're besties :)

The thing about cake smashes is that we never know how the baby will react to the cake. They either dislike the texture or they're fed up with all the flashes and want to go back to Mommy. Choyce wasn't too sure how she felt, but she didn't cry. So that's a plus!

Then she made THE cutest faces and my heart melted.

Next up was this outfit and I just want Baby Gap or The Children's Place to see these photos and hire her as their newest model.

How cute is she??

Happy first birthday, Choyce!

Kimberly's 30th Birthday | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 00:41:01 GMT

Today is Kimberly's 30th birthday! She saw her friend Esther's photos that I did for her birthday shoot a few months ago decided to drive all the way down from Waterbury to get some photos of her own. That's the kind of networking I like :)

Kimberly is quite lucky because I still had the Canon R5 that I rented for the weekend. So these photos are massive haha. If she wanted to make a 40x60 print, she totally could.

These gold vases must be so tired of me always finding a reason to put them in photos. But it's ok, it's always worth it!

Burnt orange has been one of my favorite colors on melanated skin lately. I just love how it looks!

I hope you had an amazing day, Kimberly! Happy 30th!

Latoya's 45th Birthday Shoot | Brooklyn, NY

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 23:50:14 GMT

Latoya is 45 years old today! Also, I finally got a chance to shoot at Light Studio 2 in Brooklyn, so that was quite exciting. Sophia has so many props, and Latoya was able to enjoy the throne chair she requested. Yay!

The experience of this shoot was a little nostalgic because of Latoya's music preference--we were bumping all the 90's R&B hits and I felt like I was in my old bedroom back in middle school, listening to songs I didn't even fully understand haha.

Can you tell that this was probably Latoya's favorite outfit? I love a colorful dress, and it's so cute that she has matching shoes.

Lots of pink and so many balloons, my two favorite things!

I hope you had an amazing day, Latoya! It was so nice to meet you :)

Christine's 16th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 00:22:12 GMT

Christine is as cute as a button. While I was trying to put her lash back on in the make up room, I felt like I was doing make up for my daughter. I mean, I technically am old enough to be her mother haha. Today is her 16th birthday!

The first time I met Christine was 2 years ago when I did Thamar's (her older sister) 16th birthday shoot. It's amazing how much she has grown since then! I'm so happy she was able to do a birthday shoot of her own.

Christine made this wild face while pretending to take a bite out of the cake, and it cracked us all up. We were laughing like it was the funniest thing on the planet. But it was so perfectly captured! I promise you--she only made that face for a split second, and I somehow captured it. Shoutout to the Canon R6 for the quick focus. The R6 is a real one.

Thamar's Godfather, Richard, was present and he gave a lot of posing ideas that I appreciated. He had a unique way of getting Christine to exude certain emotions and all I had to do was press the shutter button. Yay team work!

Of course I had to get some beauty shots. There's just so much pink in these photos, and it makes my heart happy. Also, work that face, Christine!

I hope you had an amazing day, Christine! Happy Sweet 16!

Tornishia's 30th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 12 Mar 2022 00:23:04 GMT

Roody and I spent more than the average amount of time figuring out the color scheme for Tornishia's balloons. Her dress was way too fly for us to allow her to look crazy, so colors mattered. I'm quite pleased with our decision. Red, coral, black, and silver might sound weird on paper, but loooook :)

And you already know I had to hand her one of our new drink props. Cheers, girl!

So yes, today Tornishia turns the big 3-0! From my experience, 30 is the decade of grown & sexy. And it looks like Tornishia is on the right path.

"I am looking forward to happiness, spiritual growth, and being the best version of myself while accomplishing all my goals. Taking risk and going out of my comfort zone.
-Tornishia Mom patiently stood on the sidelines and quietly cheered Tornishia on as we photographed her. She even gave us some posing ideas that looked amazing!

"I have an amazing relationship with my mom. She is my rock, we speak everyday. She was the perfect person to do my photoshoot with especially for all that she’s done and sacrificed for me."
-Tornishia

I always love taking Mother/Daughter portraits in the middle of a session. This memory is something these ladies will be able to hold on to forever.

"My proudest achievement is being a social worker. Giving a voice to those in need, and educating them on what’s out there for them and their rights."
-Tornishia

Ok, but let's get into this Blazer Dress. I think I need one in at least 3 colors. I love how the black pops against the brown. These colors are everything!

Happy 30th birthday, Tornishia! I'm so happy you stepped outside of your comfort zone to do this birthday shoot. You killed it!

Aiden's 5th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 21:33:10 GMT

Aiden is probably the swaggiest 5-year-old I've ever met. His whole 'fit was on point. Mom wanted everything to be blue, white, and silver. Latoria made the giant number 5, and we went a little overboard at Party City with the props haha.

Aiden was so well-behaved. All he wanted was one of the candies, and I told him he could have one if he did well during this shoot. And he did!

You might notice that there are less and less balloons in the scene as you scroll through this post. That's because I accidentally over-inflated the balloons and they kept popping. Thank God Aiden wasn't scared! #LessonLearned Listen, I'm just the photographer haha.

Right after his session, Aiden went straight to the trampoline park. What fun! I hope you had an amazing day today, Aiden! Happy 5th birthday!

Obelle's 50th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 01:51:07 GMT

Obelle texted me the day before the original date of her shoot and said, "I don't like snow..." Haha! We ended up having a blizzard that day, so rescheduling was definitely a good call.

So we actually did her birthday shoot at the same time that we had a Pop Up Shop event going on on the other side of the studio. I was nervous that Obelle wouldn't like the music and chatter, but it turns out that she was jamming to the music while getting her make up done.

Then she came out, all dolled up, and her energy was the exact level I needed it to be! I'm so grateful for clients like Obelle. I find that clients who are a little more mature in age are also more mature in their confidence. They're not shy. They know they're beautiful. And even if I have to direct them, they end up nailing every pose. I love it so much!!

I was not ready for this outfit change haha. New hair, who dis? And can we also talk about the fact that dress number 1, hair number 2, and all the props match? Whew. Birthday shoot dream come true.

Yessssss, Ms. Obelle. Go ahead now!

Shoutout to Nephthalie for referring Obelle to me. I appreciate it!

Happy 50th birthday, Obelle! I hope you're living it up in Punta Cana :)

Kayla's 23rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 17:23:38 GMT

Today is Kayla's birthday! My girl drove all the way down from Dutchess County, NY for this birthday shoot. That's the kind of dedication I like to see!

Get into this brown on brown! We all know how much I appreciate a monochromatic look.

Kayla's birthday is obviously very close to Valentine's Day, so we did a two-in-one. The first question I asked was, "Where did you get this set??" I should have known it was from Savage X Fenty. I probably already own this set and don't even know it haha.

Believe it or not, this is Kayla's first professional photo shoot. I couldn't believe it. She is actually an aspiring model! I love that for her.

Happy 23rd birthday, Kayla! I hope you have the best day ever :)

Shameeka's 30th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 02:07:50 GMT

She's back! We did Shameeka's 29th Birthday Shoot last year, and she absolutely rocked it. This year is the big 3-0, so she came back for round two!

Shameeka hasn't followed my advice to go into modeling yet, but I hope I will hear some good news from her the next time we shoot haha.

This little number was soooo cute! I love a dress with frills!

While putting the finishing touches on these photos, I was really admiring Shameeka's chocolate skin color. I hope you know how beautiful your skin is, Shameeka. You look like a chocolate bar. That's a high compliment!

I hope you're having a wonderful birthday in LA, Shameeka! Happy 30th!!

Jackie's 35th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 00:13:39 GMT

Jackie and I met in the parking lot at Costco back in 2020 when I used to be an Instacart Shopper. She had been trying to use the app, but the next shopper wasn't available for weeks. Oh my goodness, what a crazy time that was. Anyway, we exchanged information because I had just started my own Personal Shopping business. You guys know I hate working for people haha so it was only a matter of time. And that was the beginning of our friendship.

Jackie and I have had so many deep conversations. We know pretty much all the intimate details about each other's lives. It's the kind of friendship that I like because we might not say anything to each other for 2 weeks, but when we finally do catch up, we catch uppppppp.

Is this my first time photographing Jackie? Absolutely not. We have done so many Influencer Shoots together. We've been all over the place taking pictures for her instagram account. With the family, without the family, with Simeon, sometimes with food... Jackie has grown so much as an influencer over the last 2 years and I am SO PROUD of the platform she has built. She is HILARIOUS!

Go ahead, Miss Jackie!

Jackie is so beautiful, both inside and out, and I hope she never forgets that. My goal for this birthday shoot was to put Jackie's beauty on display. She styled herself, Isabelle did her make up, I clicked the buttons, and we created some beautiful images.

Happy birthday to my beautiful friend! Love you!

Anu's 40th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 02:12:58 GMT

Anu booked this session one year in advance. There was so much build-up of excitement! I can't imagine how she must have felt month after month, watching me post different birthday shoots haha. But the day finally came, and I must say that it was well worth the wait!

I first met Anu when she hired me to photograph her daughter's birthday party a few years ago. Her family is the absolute cutest! When I asked her about her proudest achievement, she said, "My children. They give me purpose." I feel that so much. I don't know what I would be up to right now if it weren't for my boys. Every time I give birth, I aim to level up in life. Children truly are a blessing.

Anu saw a photo that I took during a workshop that I went to in NY. It was during Lindsay Adler's class that I learned Edge Lighting and working hands-on with color gels. We don't have the same equipment that Lindsay had, but we were still able to replicate the photo that caught Anu's eye. I can't believe this was my first time using all of this gear on a client!

I'm always a big fan of women who embrace their age. It's really just a number. Don't hide behind it!, but embrace it For her 40's, Anu looks forward to:

-Personal growth
-Spending more quality with her loved ones
-Watching her kids grow and watching their personalities develop
-More travel

My headshot was very similar to these next two shots, and I think Anu's version might be a little bit cuter. Come throouuughhh, fur coat!

Anu's advice to women who are in their 30's: "Invest in yourself. Quality over quantity. Travel and don’t rush love. You’ll know true unconditional love when you meet your children. Enjoy the ride." Amen, sister!

Happy 40th birthday, Anu! I hope your day was filled with all the love and awesomeness :)

Khadeja's Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 02:45:00 GMT

I went outside to meet Khadeja and her mother at the door so that I could bring them down to the studio. As soon as I saw Khadeja, I thought, where is her belly?? Believe it or not, she is 9 months pregnant haha. She has THE cutest bump ever.

I had never done a maternity session with balloons before, but how cute is this set up?! It makes me wonder why no one else had thought to bring balloons to their maternity session.

Fun fact: this bear came with a messed up paw print. One of them was upside down. I know, right? That's so weird! But not to worry, that's what photoshop is for :)

Baby Kairo is already so loved. Grandma spoke very excitedly about him!

Khadeja and I go way back. We did our first Portfolio Shoot back in 2012. I can't believe that was 10 years ago. And Mrs. Austin said that she STILL has a picture that I have hanging in her home. That's amazing!

Congratulations, Khadeja!

Esther's 30th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 22:03:57 GMT

Esther was thoroughly prepared for her birthday. She got a fresh cut that morning, drove all the way from Waterbury... and this was all done back in November!

I could tell she was a little tired, but I told she had to WAKE UP! So here is wide-awake Esther, looking as fly as ever!

I absolutely love this set design! Classy and elegant, but still fun. And Esther is wearing that burgundy dress!

Go ahead, Queen!

Happy 30th birthday, Esther! I hope you enjoy your day :)

Larianne's 31st Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 21:05:33 GMT

What a difference a year makes. I just quickly reviewed last year's birthday shoot, and I had no idea then that I would be doing my birthday shoot this year in my own studio. Wow!

Pink has been my favorite color for a long time. So when I was browsing through ASOS and found this cute babydoll dress, I knew exactly what needed to be done--a Barbie Doll theme! The Barbie box is something I have wanted since last year, and I finally got my hands on it just in time for my shoot.

I added the glass effect in Photoshop. It took about 20 minutes per photo. I'm clearly not a Photoshop expert haha. But I look forward to doing this for clients who request it. I think the Barbie Box is the cutest thing ever!

Last year's headshots featured my braces, so I was quite excited to update my headshots with my new smile.

Isabelle did an amazing job with my make up, as usual, and she helped me style my hair. Ameerah installed these passion twists the night before the shoot and I love them!

So let's talk about the fact that I'm 31 years old now. Do I feel it? Yes, absolutely. Everything hurts haha. But I'm not sad about my age. I have come such a long way with my entrepreneurship, and I have learned so much about myself. All the headaches and therapy sessions and tears and investing have all been worth it. My goal is to make my future self and my children proud. It's a work in progress, but we're getting there!

I call this set "The Grown & Sexy." I definitely look my age here, and I don't hate it.

At this point in the shoot, I was exhausted. We started make up at around 2:30, and we started shooting this set some time after 7. I struggled to get into these clothes, but I don't think you can tell. Can you?? I would like to think that I did a great job posing myself. So if you can tell, don't say anything.

I'm 11 lbs heavier than I was during my last shoot. I can feel it, but I'm ok with it. I prefer the chubby cheeks. Is that alright? Because I have no plans to do anything about the weight. My body is wonderful and I am grateful to have it.

I always have to throw something cheeky in there. You know me. Happy birthday to me! I look forward to photographing some beautiful birthday clients this year.

Also, SURPRISE! I have launched an Education Program. Right now, the focus is on photographers, but we have big plans to create Courses & Lectures for entrepreneurs in different fields as well.

Check out the website here: www.tideandtrue.education

When I decided to discontinue my Spanish Teacher journey to pursue photography instead, I had a feeling that I would somehow be led back to teaching. It's just a part of me. Both of my parents were teachers, and I had been saying that I wanted to teach since I was 2. Now I'm 31, and look. I'm teaching!

I just think it's funny how things come full circle.

Anyway, I'm very excited to be able to offer this program because I have been mentoring photographers and other business owners for YEARS. Now, I will be able to put all of my brain into one program so that everyone can benefit. Those who were too afraid to approach me before for whatever reason can access all my knowledge in one place.

And when we start adding other Instructors and business owners who have stories to share, it's going to be massive. I'm so happy! Best birthday ever :)

Chery Family Generation Portraits | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 04:15:00 GMT

I started posting some old sessions on my Instagram page because I wanted to play catch up. This beautiful generation portrait session that Daphne booked for her mother and grandmother were next in my queue! It's one of my favorite sessions ever.

I lost my grandmother a few months before we had planned on letting her meet her first great-grandson. I was also pregnant with her second great-grandson. Every year I try to find some photos of us together and not many exist. So I am always happy to capture people with their grandparents because these are photos I know they will cherish forever.

Grandma was so peaceful and patient during this session. When it was time for her solo shot, I was pleasantly surprised when she struck this pose.

Honestly, this whole family is so loving! Daphne and her mother look like they're modeling for the cover of a Mother/Daughter magazine.

It was great to see Adriana again! My little friend. Adding her to this portrait session meant that I photographed 4 generations in one sitting. What a blessing!

Hearing about Grandma's passing today broke my heart. I didn't realize that I started posting these photos just a few days before her funeral. I pray that everyone who saw my posts were blessed by the memories of her.

"I love how selfless she was, especially when it came to her grandkids. She was quiet but always down to joke around and fun with us. And not a day would go by where she wasn’t praying and thank God for her kids and grandkids." -Daphne

May God continue to bless this family!

Travata's Branding Session | Therapist in Shelton, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 01:15:00 GMT

I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Travata, who was referred to me by my good friend Jackie! Travata is a licensed therapist who needed some branding photos for her website. She is the reason our office set was created. Listen, I'll find any excuse to make a trip to Home Goods :)

Travata's exposure to psychology in high school "ignited a deep curiosity within me," she said, "propelling me towards a career in social work and therapy. As time passed, I observed that children gravitated towards me naturally, thus shaping my professional focus on working with children and families. However, this path eventually expanded to encompass adults as well."

"Throughout my journey, I discovered a profound passion for assisting career-oriented women, like myself, who greatly benefit from guidance and support during life’s various transformations, challenges, and transitions. Witnessing their personal growth and development has become an immensely rewarding aspect of my work."
-Travata

My favorite part of a branding session is creating headshots that my clients can be proud of. These are not your typical, boring, white-backdrop headshot. No, ma'am. These headshots exude Travata's strength. They show how relatable she is.

And can we admire how GOOD Travata is at posing?? Wow.

"In five years, I envision myself as a successful entrepreneur, overseeing a thriving group private therapy practice. My primary focus will be on providing unwavering support and mentorship to budding therapists, while also supervising students in their professional development. Additionally, I plan to engage in consulting work and participate in speaking engagements to share my expertise with a wider audience."
-Travata

We love an ambitious woman!

All the best to you in your endeavors, Travata :)

Jayleen's 3rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 22:38:55 GMT

Sweet Jayleen! She was a bit shy when she first saw me, as most children are. But she quickly warmed up to me and even said that she would let me borrow her dress one day! Mom got this beautiful backdrop from Amazon because the one we ordered didn't arrive in time (thanks to the Christmas rush). It matches Jayleen's outfit so perfectly!

Latoria created this giant number 3 for Jayleen. It's 4 feet tall, and I love it!!

Antionette baked this beautiful cake. I love Antionette's baking, and I was jealous that Jayleen had that cake all to herself haha.

Jayleen's favorite part of the cake were the little white flowers. She picked them off ever go gently and ate them to her heart's content. That's my girl!

Happy 3rd birthday, Jayleen!

Brianna's 21st Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 22:58:15 GMT

You know what's a nice feeling? When a client expresses her excitement to finally get to shoot with you. I did the usual pre hair & make up interview, and Brianna was soooo excited! I could tell that it was going to be a great shoot.

Roody and I bought this new Plum backdrop just for this shoot, and it's now my favorite backdrop. It just amazes me how all the colors in the props match this Nova Babe's dress so fabulously!

"Now lemme see you walk" plays in my head when I see this photo.

A true princess! I love this look on Brianna. She's such a sweet girl.

Fun fact: Brianna's birthday is actually the same day as Jonathan's birthday. I've never met a Sag that I didn't like, so she's cool peeps.

Ok, Miss 21! Go ahead!

I hope you had an amazing birthday, Brianna!

Jonathan's 5th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 20:46:14 GMT

It's that time of year again! Our big boy is growing--he's 5 years old today! I always love to ask Jonathan questions because he still has the sweetest, most adorable baby voice. Plus, he's hilarious.

Jonathan's best friends from his party are Jaylen and Kayly. His best friends from school are Felicity, Cara and 3 other names that I don't know how to spell haha. I'm surprised he didn't mention his brother, Jaden. We just moved Jonathan's bed into Jaden's bedroom because they have been begging for sleepovers. Jonathan sometimes wakes up before Jaden does and kneels down right next to him to watch him sleep. Yeah, they definitely love each other!

Jonathan's favorite part of his birthday shoot was when I was taking pictures of him. "Because I like when you take pictures of me," he said. I hope you always feel that way, sir, because we're going to do this every single year until you demand that I stop.

Even though a whole year has passed, Jonathan still wants to be a Paleontologist. His favorite dinosaur this time around: "All of them," he said. So I'm quite surprised that he asked for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle themed birthday party instead of something with dinosaurs. I thought he outgrew dinosaurs, but he apparently still loves them! I guess I know what to get him for Christmas...

Jonathan's favorite part of his birthday party was when he got to eat his Ninja Turtle cake. The cake was mostly green, but he said he liked the red part. His favorite color is red. Can you tell?

Happy 5th birthday to my favorite 5-year-old! I'm so proud to be your Mommy :)

Vanessa & Edson's Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 20:30:36 GMT

Nessa Veeeee!! That's what I yell via text message when I feel like annoying my homegirl. Oh my goodness, she is even more beautiful pregnant. Back in September, Vanessa kept inviting me to Edson's birthday party, but I had a wedding to shoot in NJ that day. She kept asking if I could try to come after the wedding. Hahaha absolutely not, loca! Tell me why I woke up the next morning, checked Instagram and found out that the "birthday party" was actually a "Surprise! We're Expecting!" party!

Vanessa is the queen of surprises, so I wasn't even offended that she didn't text me about it. Ok, maybe just a little haha but I don't hold it against her. I'm sooooooo happy for this sweet couple, and I'm honored to have been able to do this maternity session for them.

"After 2 years, marriage feels like we’re still in the dating stage. We just get to live together now, which is nice. It’s still work, but we try to make things fun by having date nights, hanging out with friends and going out and having fun any chance we get."
-Vanessa

These two are the king & queen of date nights. I always see them watching a movie together like every week. That's awesome!

"I love how my hubby is so caring & loves to put others first and help in anyway he can."
-Vanessa

But let's not forget how Edson is always the life of the party and ridiculously funny. And, obviously, a great dresser. That blazer almost stole the show, but Vanessa and Baby Girl did not allow it!

I took Vanessa out to brunch right after I found out, and we were able to catch up on everything! Is there anything better than tacos and girl talk?

"I was genuinely surprised when I saw that positive test. I literally didn’t think it was going to happen for us anytime soon since it had been months since stopping my birth control. I literally was like i give up then boom! Positive test."
-Vanessa

We have a similar TTC story. I don't know what it is about trying to get pregnant on purpose that makes our bodies go, Nah. Let's make this difficult for you. But I'm glad V & E didn't give up! Their baby girl is due to arrive very soon.

Vanessa is our first maternity client to wear our maternity wardrobe. I got 3 items from Before & Ever a couple months ago, and they're the most beautiful pieces ever. Look at how pretty the pink gown is! And how gorgeous is that gray cape?! "I look forward to having a mini me and dressing up with her and just going through life with her and teaching her everything there possibly is to teach. I def wanna be that cool mom who still doesn’t play that!"
-Vanessa

Congratulations, Vanessa & Edson! I'm still trying to figure out what Baby Girl's name is, but that clue Vanessa gave me is only giving me boy names haha. I'll figure it out eventually.

Nephthalie & Duckensy's Surprise Proposal | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 17:07:56 GMT

It's "Dee" for short. We had a little pep talk while Nephthalie was getting her make up done. Vallery, stylist extraordinaire and Nephthalie's brother, did a walk through of how the proposal would go down. Dee was nervous that he would laugh uncontrollably. I assured him that whatever happened would be fine.

So we had Nephthalie face the "window" while Vallery passed Dee the ring. Mad slick. Dee got down on his knee and I told Nephthalie to turn around and look at her boo.

"My legs almost gave up on me lol. I got to live one of my dreams come true. I dreamed of that day, how I would feel, would I be crying? Happy? Surprised? Well I was happy, surprised but I tried hard not to cry, lol couldn’t ruin my make up before taking our beautiful pictures."
-Neph

She cried. Don't let her fool you hahaha.

Outfit change! Did I mention that Vallery did the styling? Yes, he's wonderful. He puts the most interesting pieces together and makes them look fabulous.

Dee is hilarious, by the way. He got all excited when certain songs on my playlist would play. Neph, he's definitely a keeper!

"There’s a lot of things that I love about him but I love the way he makes me feel. Like I’m the only one in the world. I love the fact that he’s a very good listener and he always do his best to give me the best of everything. He’s the type of man that will put his needs second to make sure mines come first. He accepts me for who I am. He loves me from the inside out. With him I don’t need to pretend and I love love love that about him. And lastly I love the fact that he understands how IMPORTANT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS."
-Neph

Yeah, definitely a keeper!

For a second, I almost forgot that this was supposed to be a Birthday Shoot haha. So we took some solo photos. Nephthalie made Dee take a photo, too. These two are the absolute cutest. I could feel that their connection was genuine, and that's always the thing I look out for during these kinds of sessions. Here's what Nephthalie looks forward to with her future with Dee:

"To get to know him more. Love him unconditionally. Growing old together. Travel the world together. Becoming his wife/ mother to our future babies."
-Neph

I hope you enjoyed your birthday surprise, Nephthalie! And great job with the proposal, Dee. You didn't mess you :)

Lillian's 23rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 01:22:12 GMT

Lillian had a very clear vision of what she wanted her 23rd Birthday Shoot to look like. We had a great pre-session consultation and she sent over some inspo photos. I feel like we did a GREAT job and I'm so excited that I was able to bring her vision to life!

We all know I loooove a high split and a long skirt. This dress had boffum. Yes.

Here I go again, bringing this pose to life. I feel like it's very underrated and I want to change that. Apple boxes are such great tools and they definitely need more air time.

Ok, so let's get into this lingerie set. Helllooooooo *mad heart eye emojis*

Thank you for giving me the set idea for Valentine's Day Minis, Lillian!

Yes, we did laugh during this shoot. Lillian has a BEAUTIFUL serious face, but I love her smile as well :)

Woosh, I just cannot. I'm done.

Happy 23rd birthday, Lillian!! I hope you had an AMAZING day!

We Launched a Rewards Program!

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 15:11:07 GMT

Yeah, so the Photography by LarJ Rewards Program is a thing. I wanted to create a way to offer more than just a "thank you" to everyone who has referred clients to me and has written great reviews on social media. So with this rewards program, I will be giving away lots of things quite often, and clients will be able to use their points as a discount off our services or to redeem cool prizes.

>>This link has way more info (and how to register)<<

For this entire week, the first 50 people who register for the Program will be entered to win:

A free Headshot Session

Headshot sessions include a 20-minute shoot and 3 Digital Files.
A free Prop Rental

Enjoy our Throne Chairs and Giant Numbers at no extra charge.
2 extra Gift Prints

You did amazing, sweetie. I will select 2 of my favorite photos from your photo shoot and add them to your gallery.
1 framed 13x19 Print

This large print in the 18x24 frame will look GREAT on your wall.
1 framed 8x10 Print

Which photo was your favorite? I'll put in an 11x14 frame for you to hang up on your wall.
25% off

25% off the total of your next booking.
A waived Creative Fee

Make up or no make up? Whatever, it's free!
500 extra Points

Here are 500 Points. Just for you!

The drawing will be done on Friday 12/3 at 12 PM. Winners will be e-mailed and they will have until 12/3/22 to redeem their prize!

I hope you're ready for a different kind of drawing every month, because it's going to happen. Ok? Get excited! :)

Emely's 15th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 16:39:00 GMT

Emely is 15 years old today! So we did her birthday shoot Quinceañera style with the red and gold theme.

For this outfit change, I wanted to make sure the train of this gorgeous dress got all of the attention. Emely looked absolutely stunning in it!

Tia Laury requested this pose with the flying train, and we nailed it in the first shot. My jaw DROPPED when I saw the back of my camera. We tried to do it again to see if we could make it even better, but that was impossible haha. Definitely my favorite train throw of all time!

Emely requested this pose that she saw on TikTok. I'm pretty sure our version is better :)

Feliz cumple, Emely! I hope you have an amazing day!!

Helen's 72nd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 00:00:38 GMT

Ms. Helen is 72 years old today. 72 where??

And I don't know if you can tell, but blue is Ms. Helen's favorite color.

Ms. Helen is the Nana of our past client, Cyré. The two of them are so adorable together. There's nothing quite like a grandparent/grandchild relationship.

Cyre used this same throne chair for her birthday shoot this past summer. She said that her Nana wanted to use the same chair as soon as she saw her photos.

The queen on her throne! I absolutely loooove these last few photos.

Happy 72nd birthday, Ms. Helen! I hope to be as cool as you when I grow up :)

Adriana's 1st Birthday Shoot & Cake Smash | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 15:50:09 GMT

Little Adriana is so loved. Her aunt submitted an inquiry to gift this session to her at around the same time her mother submitted an inquiry. So either way, this Cake Smash was meant to happen!

Working with babies is never an easy task. It's either they think you're cool or they can't stand the sight of you. Adriana warmed up to me rather quickly, so we became besties.

This little outfit of hers... I asked her if I could borrow it. She didn't say no, so I'll take it as a yes! How cute is she?? Good job, Mom & Dad, for making her match the backdrop so perfectly.

We interrupted the session to capture some quick family portraits. You never know how long a toddler will last, so it was best to do this sooner than later. I love when parents get a chance to update their family photo. I strongly believe in existing in photos, and I would much rather take a family portrait and risk not being able to complete the session than to not give this family the opportunity to bless my camera with their presence.

Ok, so back to the scheduled program. This was a Tres Leches cake, and Adriana was feeeeeeling it! She took her time smashing it and she put quite a few handfuls into her cute little mouth. Glad you liked it, baby girl!

Happy 1st birthday, Adriana! I hope we get to hang out again soon :)

Tamar's 25th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 14:04:48 GMT

Tamar has been watching us on Youtube since I was pregnant with Jaden. That's a loonnnnng time. It was such a pleasure to meet her!

The most hilarious thing happened--I was directing a pose and I realized that Tamar wasn't mirroring the pose right. I thought, is she having a hard time seeing? Near the end of the session, Tamar finally admitted that she couldn't see because she wasn't wearing her glasses. Hahaha! I knew it!

Ok, miss thing!! Ugh. I love the burgundy on Tamar's beautiful chocolate skin. This outfit is so fire.

Werk, Tamar! Make those triangles and lines!

Get it. Get it. Get it.

Happy birthday, Tamar! I'll see you on Instagram :)

Megan's 23rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 14:00:02 GMT

Megan is our first client to be photographed in the studio whose ambiance was the sound of a birthday party going on in another one of our sets. Definitely an interesting vibe haha. I probably won't let that happen again, but I'm pointing that out to prove how easy-going Megan is. She just went with the flow and kept posing as if she and I were the only ones in the studio.

Fun fact: Megan's mother is British. I'm a detective, and I detected some kind of accent that I couldn't place. Megan said TWO words that caught my eye, and those two words confirmed my suspicions. I'm obsessed with language and culture. I'm so geeked that I got the accent right.

After taking a few portraits, I was convinced that Megan has previous modeling experience. But believe it or not, this was her first photo shoot. Girl, no way!

Black on black. You know how much I dig this look :)

There she goes, dancing to the music that was coming from next door haha.
I hope you have a fabulous birthday, babe! And I hope you read that in your mother's accent :)

Nana's 25th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 16:24:12 GMT

I first met Nana earlier this year when she tagged along to her friend's photoshoot in Queens. So thank you for the connect, Wephna!

Nana is WEARING this red dress. She told me she didn't want any of my usual birthday props, and I actually agree that all the balloons and gift props wouldn't have done this dress any justice. Good call, girl!

"Do you have a ladder?" is not a question I hear very often. Nana sent me a photo of a woman in a forest, surrounded by roses. I wasn't sure we would be able to pull it off, but looooook!

Yeah, I think we did a pretty decent job with creating our own version of that photo.

Woo hoo! She's 25 today :)

Happy birthday, Nana!

Jaden's 6th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 00:42:09 GMT

We just got home from our Day Out with the Birthday Boy, Mr. Jaden Tide. What a fun day it has been! Jaden was born at 8:22 PM, so my timing with this blog post isn't too bad :)

Our older son revealed to us this week that his favorite color is green. I thought it was blue or red. Dead wrong. So we put together some outfits for him and got some balloons to match the decor for his birthday shoot.

I love the fact that since we now have our own studio just 20 minutes away from our house, we can just walk right in and shoot. Jaden had so much fun playing with the balloons, which we had never provided for any of his past birthday shoots (because they were outdoors). Let's just hope and pray that he will always look forward to these sessions every year and never hate them :)

I love photographing my boys together. They're best friends, just 16 months apart. They love to laugh and joke, but they also love to tease and fight.

Jaden will start the 1st grade in just a couple weeks. He is such a brilliant boy. He loves math, just like his Mommy. My little Math Nerd. He's so good with numbers, and he's good at memorizing numerical facts. Don't tell him your age and your birthday if you don't want him to blurt it out randomly.

Jaden is shy, but he's also quite outgoing. He does well on his own, but he also knows how to mingle. He's quite fidgety. The boy can't stand still for more than 5 seconds. It's like he's got ants in his pants.

And these are all the things we love about him! Jaden is very special to us. Both of our children are, and we're so grateful that God has entrusted us to raise them. Happy birthday, my love!

Isabelle's Branding Session | Derose Beauty - NY Make Up Artist

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 16:15:00 GMT

Isabelle came to me with the request to do a branding session for herself. My whole year was made!

Isabelle has been doing make up for my clients since 2019. She did make up for one of the models at a shoot off event that I attended I loved how it looked. So I reached out, and we've done like 50+ sessions since then!

"I would say I’m a pretty creative outgoing person."
-Isabelle

And that's 100% correct because I see her doing hikes and having fun all the time on her stories. PLUS, she seems to befriend every single client she works with. Exhibit A: Jackie, the model in her chair, shoots with me all the time and hires Isabelle almost every time we shoot. And now we all have a group chat!

"I love Broadway shows. I went to see 'Wicked' the summer after high school and fell in love with the looks. I watched YouTube videos on how they did it and then fell into a makeup rabbit hole and fell in love with the techniques and process of it all."
-Isabelle

It's amazing what Youtube can teach you. Isabelle is so good at her craft and knowledgable about all things make up. She has the unique ability to make every person look their absolute best. It's never overdone--it's always just right and perfect for photography.

If you come to my studio and notice a brown stain on my U Reflector, this shot is the reason that stain exists. And would I do it all over again? Absolutely! #worthit

"My ideal client is the 25+ year old, bride to be, business or entrepreneur, women of color that wants a full glam while still looking like themselves. The girl who’s been scared to get her makeup done because she's worried about not getting her right match. I want to show them they deserve quality service too from someone who cares about enhancing their features, not covering it."
-Isabelle

Finding a black make up artist to cater to my predominantly black clients was so important to me. There's just something about a black woman doing it. We know our skin better than any else does. I actually had a client call and ask me if our MUA was black, and I was so proud to answer, "Yes!"

"My favorite look is a super classic, met gala kind of glam. Glows foundation, simple but stunning eye shadow, smokey liner, natural fluffy lashes, and a brown 90’s lip."
-Isabelle

My favorite look is anything that Isabelle does on my face. I might be biased, but I feel like she does my make up the best out of everyone that she has ever done make up for :)

Isabelle, I can't say it enough--thank you for your hard work. Thank you for the long car rides to the studio (all the way from Long Island!!). Thank you for making my clients feel their absolute best. I really couldn't run this Birthday Shoot business without you. I appreciate you so much!!

Renee's 30th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 02:00:30 GMT

Renee is the absolute sweetest. She was as quiet as a mouse while Isabelle did her make up. Then she stepped into this dress I transformed her into a model. Let's get into it!

Ok, so if you show up in a fun dress with a long train, please expect to have a ton of fun. I LOVE FUN DRESSES! This coral beauty by Oyemwen was absolutely delightful.

I am going to frame both of these photos and hang them in the studio. This is a true example of the LarJ Experience (or what I hope it will be haha).

Not gonna lie, I had no idea what this thing was when she showed it to me. But it's called a "scouter" and it has something to do with Dragon Ball Z. But she's fly!

You know I find any excuse to add pink into the scene. I love all the colors of the props, and Renee's beautiful smile brightens everything up even more!

Renee got this custom jacket from Luca Designs. I like it because it's pink :) Happy 30th birthday, Renee! You were an absolute pleasure to photograph, and I hope you enjoyed your day to the max!

Daniella's 25th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 01:49:02 GMT

Daniella walked into the studio with her mother, Nancy, and we all joked about the donuts that Andrew had left behind for us to eat. I had just started my 30-day Cleanse, and there was temptation EVERYWHERE. But Nancy reminded me that it's ok to do things in moderation. Thanks for the advice, Nancy. I feel so much better about myself :)

After Isabelle finished doing Daniella's make up, I realized that she looked very much like Cardi B! Doesn't she??

Queens clients, this is why I will never desert you--you all are so cute and you have mad style! You LOVE the camera, and the camera loves you.

Daniella booked this session waaaay back in January. Nancy said that she started planning her outfits after she booked, too. Well, amazing job with the planning because these outfits are FIRE! You are definitely a #NovaBabe, chica.

Nancy wanted this photo because she's the one who came up with the pose haha.

One day these fake cupcakes will magically come to life and Roody & will finally have our dreams come true.

Dat walk doe. Love it!!

Happy 25th birthday, Daniella! I hope you had an AMAZING day!

Lakya's Branding Session | Oh Suga Body Bar, Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 01:30:00 GMT

Oh Suga Body Bar's packaging has had an upgrade since we shot this session, but the product is still just as amazing! I'm so happy I was able to do this session for Lakya. I can tell that she is very ambitious and goal-driven. I mean, she came in with a videographer! That's my kind of Branding Session.

"I started Oh Suga after struggling with dark spots all throughout high school! Fast forward a few years, I became a Licensed Esthetician and started formulating products to try and fade my dark spots. There were many trials and errors, but once I found the perfect ingredients that worked for me, my teacher told me I had to share!"
-Lakya "Lately, my go-to routine is the Show Stopper Body Wash, Queen Suga Body Scrub to exfoliate and I finish up with the Rich Melanin Body Butter to help with skin discoloration and moisturize! I have really dry skin and the Shea Butter has helped ALOT in this winter weather!"
-Lakya

Writing this blog post reminded me of the fact that I said I was going to buy this dark spot remover to help me with my armpits. I'm also a huge fan of body butter, so I need to grab a tub of that s well.

This is where I pause and appreciate Lakya's use of the Bedroom Set and the Bathroom Set. I remember taking these shots and just being amazed at how they turned out. Like, this is our studio!

Be sure to check out Oh Suga Body Bar on Instagram, and get yourself something so you can look moisturized in these streets!

Linda's 18th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 23:30:22 GMT

Linda and her crew are soooo chill. They entered the studio and they were quit the entire time haha. They traveled all the way from Waterbury. That's dedication!

Linda and her mother weren't too sure about the Red-On-Red, but I assured them that the gold and all the other colors of the props would make everything pop. I love a monochromatic look.

Anthony waited patiently for his turn to hop into the photos. Aren't they just the cutest? I love young love :)

Next up with this mint green--wait. What color is this outfit? Army green? Mint? I have no idea, but it's cuuuuute. Anthony had the brilliant idea to have Linda hold the bags like they're shopping bags, and she slayed.

We ended the session STRONG with some floor shots. Linda wanted to take her shoes off, so Roody had the idea to put them on the gift box. I love everything about all the colors in this set. So pretty!

Linda Linda!

Happy 18th birthday, Linda! I hope you had an amazing day :)

Maleaha's 19th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 17:15:00 GMT

First of all, how cute?? Maleaha walked into the studio with the butterflies in her hair and I already knew she would be a vibe. Her cousin didn't just come to support, she came to be a part of the pictures. That's the kind of support we all need!

These ladies were having the time of their lives. I just could not with all the cuteness.

Confession: I have to say "ma-lee-ah-ha" in my head every time I type her name out. If that's what you've been saying in your head, you're WRONG! It's "ma-LAY-yuh." Get it right.

These photos are literally night and day. We all know how much I appreciate a black on black look. Maleaha's first black outfit was giving Selena. I was about to type out something so corny, but I'll spare you hahahaha. I love Selena's music so much. Don't judge me!

And then we ended the shoot with this cute little number. I just loooove how much fun Maleaha had on set. This is the kind of joy I want all my clients to feel while shooting with me!

I hope you had an amazing birthday, Maleaha!

Goldman/McKenzie Generation Family Portrait Session | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 02:00:21 GMT

The Goldman Family used to live just a couple houses away from me, so we went to the same schools. Roody also used to hang out with them, which is funny because he probably was at their house a couple times while I was just chilling a few yards away. Now we're all grown up, and it's amazing to see Patrick & Yamelhey with their own families!

Yamelhey reached out to me about doing this Generation Shoot with her grandmother. I love these types of sessions so much. I believe everyone should exist in photos forever.

Beautiful Grandma. I love her hair :)

What a blessing it is to be able to be surrounded by your grandchildren AND great-grandchildren. 4 generations of beautiful women in 1 photo.

Andre wasn't too enthused that I made him take off his bright yellow jersey hahaha but I think it was a wise decision. Such a beautiful family! I really hope you all print and frame this photo.

Modelyne's Branding Session | Bee Royal Beauty

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 01:48:43 GMT

Modelyne reached out to me after seeing a session I did for our mutual friend! Honestly, that session has brought me so many bookings. Even a wedding haha. But anyway, Modelyne re-branded her hair business and decided to take the advice of some of the voices she had heard on Clubhouse--they advised that she do a professional photo shoot to promote her business in a new way, as ALL businesses should do. So she got her girls together and we did the thing. Say hello to the faces of "Bee Royal Beauty" :)

"I started this business in 2017 when I learned that I needed to go to beauty school and walk in the legacy of my mom. I told God that if this is what He wants me to do that the process for me to get into the school would be easy. And it was--I even got a scholarship."
-Modelyne

Well, ain't God good?!

My clients always have so much fun with the props that we have. The throne chair and the crown were perfect for this session!

"In the future, I hope to have a store front salon with an amazing staff. I also hope to travel more doing hair."
-Modelyne

These girls were so cooperative and fun to work with. They rocked the hair, and we didn't have to force the chemistry. Good job, ladies!

To be a young mother who is running a business full time is no easy feat. I applaud Modelyne for taking the steps necessary to market her business and get her name out there. It also helps to have a lot of people to look up to, I'm sure.

"I look up to a lot of hairdressers on Instagram who motivate me, give great advice, and give great tips on different trending styles that are out there."
-Modelyne

For the rest of the session, we worked on some headshots and solo portraits. I love how these turned out!

All the best to you and your future endeavors, Modelyne! I'm so proud of you. Keep up the great work :)

Chakell's Portrait Session | Elizabeth Park, Hartford

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 19:30:00 GMT

Have you ever photographed identical twins before? Like, separate sessions? I photographed Chanae for her maternity session with her family a few months ago, and then I photographed Chakell for her belated birthday shoot. I just kept looking at her like, I know your face. But I don't know your face. Haha!

The last time I shot at Elizabeth Park was back in 2012 when I did a portrait session for a church sister. I was so proud of those photos, and she used them on social media for years! But I've come a loonnnngg way since then, and I was far more prepared for this session that I was 9 years ago.

Elizabeth Park is known for all of its flowers. We had to get a permit to shoot there professionally, which I actually didn't mind. It's nice when you don't have a million portrait sessions going on at the same time.

Outfit change! An African Queen indeed. I love this two-piece set, and the necklace!

Chakell's personality really started to shine at this point of the session, and I love it!

Don't look at these photos and think we had the park to ourselves. I spent a good amount of time photoshopping a girl and her dog out of the background of these photos LOL!!

Chakell, it was such a pleasure to photograph you!

Antionette's Branding Session | Sugar Sweetease Dessert Studio, Norwalk

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:41:00 GMT

First of all, your baker could never. Let's just set the bar THIS high. Antionette was an absolute pleasure to shoot. You can probably tell by the look of it that we had a lot of fun during this shoot.

"I would describe myself as a warm hearted caring person who loves to make and see people smile. Very creative and artsy pays close attention to detail."
-Antionette

And you know what my favorite part of the shoot was? When Antionette told me and Roody that we could have the cake and take some of the cookies. Listen, I eat a lot of sweets. So I was excited, but I didn't expect to feel shock. I took a bite of the cookie and got all wide-eyed. Why did it taste so good?? And the CAKE?! Chile... Roody and I had to stop ourselves from eating all of it that same day. I don't know how Antionette does it, but she has absolutely mastered the art of baking.

"I started baking 9 years ago while pregnant with my first daughter. I started having cravings at hours where everything is closed, so I figured it would try making it myself. Baking went from being a quick fix to cravings to a true passion. My favorite cousin trusted me to make a cake for her friend's 25th birthday and from that moment birthed Sugar Sweetease Dessert Studio."
-Antionette

Thank God for you, Favorite Cousin!

"I love creating cakes that leave each customer in awe. Not only does it look good but it taste amazing! Each cake is a blank canvas that gives me space to be free and fully creative. I love when my customers give full creative control."
-Antionette

Isabelle really took her time with this make up look and absolutely smashed it. I'm telling you, there's no look this girl cannot replicate. Also, fun fact: I used our curved reflector for the first time to help create these beauty portraits.

"My favorite baked goods are my delicious soft baked stuffed chocolate chip cookies and fudge Biscoff brownies."
-Antionette

Yumma!

----------

Be sure to check Sugar Sweetease on Instagram, and make sure you let Antionette know I sent you!

Cyré's 33rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 01:00:00 GMT

If you're wondering how to pronounce her name, it's "sih-RAY." Don't worry, I was calling her "Sire" every time we exchanged an e-mail haha. Cyré is the true definition of a Hot Momma. She's a mother of 3 children, 2 of which are twins. And she SLAYED her birthday shoot.

When we have Throne Chair rentals, we to shoot in the larger part of the studio. With our Grand Opening happening just a few days before this session, it had been an interesting week of getting acquainted with everything in our new space!

Yes, Queen!

Outfit change! This is definitely one of those party dresses that you're supposed to twirl and have fun in. In other words, my kind of dress :)

I hope you had an amazing birthday, Cyré!

Reid Family Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 14:30:00 GMT

Natalie's nieces both have done birthday shoots with me in the past, so she figured it would be a good idea to book a family birthday shoot with her hubby and kids! Natalie and her husband, Ricardo, share the same birthday, so we started off with the two of them.

I love a gold and white theme. Add some black in there for a bit of razzle-dazzle and I'm one happy photographer.

Yay for updating the family portrait! I'm totally here for it. And ok, coordination!

Ricardo was a tough cookie to crack, but I got a laugh out of him hahaha.

They are so sweet together! :)

I hope you both had an amazing birthday, Natalie & Ricardo!

Rachelle's Portrait Session | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 04:15:00 GMT

I think we can call this a "Just Because" session. Rachelle had no particular reason to get all dolled up and bless my camera. She just wanted to, and I'm totally here for it!

She told me she didn't want to shoot against a backdrop. She loved the lighting in the studio and she also wanted to get some natural light portraits in the hallway. The photos inside the studio needed just a liiiiiittle bit of light, though, so I aimed for a natural look by keeping as much of the ambient light in as possible while creating some highlights on her arm.

Outfit change! This next set... my faaaaave. I love shooting in this hallway so much. The light that comes in is always gorgeous. And it helps when you have a gorgeous client, too :)

Ok, legs!

I would love to have more "Just Because" sessions for sure. This was fun!

Juliette's 52nd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 00:36:46 GMT

Jalessa reached out to me about booking a birthday shoot for her mother's 52nd birthday. Just 3 days after our studio's Grand Opening, we were able to shoot this session in the Seamless Area. Roody & I ran around like headless chickens, trying to get everything in order. After renting studios from other photographers for years, we were so used to having rules and regulations. Now that we have our own space, we have to figure out where everything goes, and we have to remember where we put everything, too!

Jayden, Jalessa, and her baby girl joined Juliette for some photos and they were soooo cute! I love it when family hops into the shoot.

Ms. Juliette is definitely more active that your average 50-something-year-old. First of all, she moved faster than I do. Secondly, do you see this swimsuit? Issa wow for sure *heart eyes*

Ok, so let's talk about this lighting. Roody and I spent a lot of time trying to make sure we got the right lighting equipment for the studio. Based on how this birthday shoot turned out, I would say that we did an excellent job. I mean, we didn't use anything unusual... but the lighting somehow looks a little more even that my usual work. Happy 52nd birthday, Juliette! I hope you enjoyed your day to the fullest.

Danielle's 25th Birthday Shoot | Long Island City, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 01:45:26 GMT

Danielle is a model. She could have had any photographer capture her for her 25th birthday, but she chose me. That's a huge deal to me, and I'm happy!

I love balloons and I always expect them at these birthday shoots, but Danielle wanted to go with the Grown & Sexy look. Ok, sis. I feel you!

Woooosh, this purple couch gives the whole look so much life.

And don't get me started on the natural light. I had some strobes waiting for me to use them, but I went really loved how the light was shining through the window.

Outfit #2 was this little number from Fashion Nova. Note to self: add these hanging lights to one of the sets at the studio. Natural light and seamless paper work well, too, apparently. Danielle is such a pleasure to photograph. Really, truly.
I loved this session so much. I hope you enjoyed your birthday, Danielle!

Roody x Tide & True | Norwalk, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 01:58:38 GMT

Roody & I did it--we opened up our very own photography studio in Norwalk, CT! Tide & True Studios is an actual dream come true, and we are so excited to have a space that is just 20 minutes away from our home.

Roody had the brilliant idea of getting all dressed up so that we could take pictures on the different sets of the studio. We definitely needed some photos for the website, so we cleaned up the mess we made after the launch party (LOL) and put the furniture back in place.

The story of how this bedroom set came to be is a VERY long one, but I'll keep it short. I had a vision, but I couldn't properly verbalize it. So we stood there in the empty room with the carpenter and we all tried to figure out what exactly it was that I was saying. Finally, it all made sense, and Marcos made it happen. The "window" was of utmost importance. I didn't originally plan for it to be 8 feet tall, but I'll call it a happy accident. I am so proud of this window!!

"The bedroom set is my favorite because there is so much potential to form a new kind of environment. It's not as simple as a seamless set, but it can be just as easy to transform."
-Roody

The bathroom set was something that Agnes, Dianne, and I slaved over. The wallpaper came in pieces, and I didn't order the right size. Agnes and I sang at the top of our lungs one night while we tried our best to line the wallpaper up. Dianne did an amazing job adding all the floral decorations.
We plan to change the look of this set quite frequently. It's pink right now because that is my favorite color. It might be blue in a few months. Who knows? It's supposed to be a fun spot with a massive bath tub.

This isn't technically a set, but we will probably turn it into one. Latoria did an amazing job with the balloons, and we didn't want them to go to waste. So here is Roody, living in best life in the Darius Throne Chair and a million balloons behind him.

"To finally have our own studio feels like a dream. I never thought I would ever own one, even after all the daydreams I have had. Even after signing the lease, I still looked at the studio and asked myself if it's really ours."
-Roody

"Our plan for the studio is to provide creatives with a place to work. I want it to be a place that attracts the best of the best. We want to revive the arts in CT."
-Roody

We have a lot of work to do before we consider ourself FULLY open, but we're proud of what we have accomplished so far.

Check out the studio website: www.tideandtruestudios.com

Jayla's 1st Birthday Shoot & Cake Smash | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 23:30:00 GMT

Jayla is back! I first met her during her mother's birthday shoot, and then she came back for her own birthday shoot & cake smash :)

This little girl is the absolute cutest and makes the most hilarious facial expressions haha.

My favorite little Puerto Rican family! Stephanie puts so much effort into everything she does (I know that because I follow her on IG) and I loooove to see it! So I knew Jayla's cake smash was going to be just as creative and colorful as everything else she has done!

And now the fun part! Jayla wasn't too sure about this, as you can probably tell...

...just kidding! Back to being happy again :)

The cake might have been a little too pretty to smash. Not gonna lie, it looks super scrumptious. I don't blame you, Jayla.

I hope you enjoyed your first birthday, sweet baby girl!

Debbie's 55th Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 01:50:10 GMT

"Sis. Debbie." That's what I call her because she is my church sister. Debbie has been a client of mine for most of my career, and I appreciate her continued support! I photographed her daughter Kenisha's wedding in 2016, and these her two adorable little ones! Debbie wanted to take photos with her Grandbabies, and they wore matching outfits. How cute is that??

"Being a grandmother is so awesome. The feeling or thought to know that there are some littles that love you so unconditionally, they trust and depend on you and most importantly they are a part of ME. "
-Debbie

Soooo 55! I love the fact that I had two sessions for 2 beautiful 55-year-old women, both on the same day. It gives me hope that I, too, can look this good at 55 :) I always love to speaker to people who are older than I am to see how they reflect on the life they have lived thus far.

"My biggest life lesson is not to judge people and always take disappointment as a blessing."
-Debbie

This standing portrait is my absolute favorite. Just a proud mother/grandmother living her best life.

"My proudest achievement is seeing my children graduated from college.
-Debbie

I usually sit and chat with clients before and/or during their make up application. One of the things Debbie mentioned during our chat is her love for money haha. So using this prop was only right!

Sis. Debbie, it was an absolute pleasure, as it has always been. I look forward to our next session!

Coraima's 25th Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 01:19:03 GMT

Coraima's patience sat patiently as she got her make up done. I thought that was so adorable. Then Isabelle finished up and it was time to put in some WORK!

Coraima has a shy beauty. Did I make that up? Probably. But I think you know what I mean.

Cheers to more closeup photos in 2021.

This shot right here... HAHAHAHA I love it sooo much! This is the epitome of "fun."

Fun fact: Coraima's father chimed in with posing. He had some great ideas! I was pleasantly surprised.

I'm telling you, all the girls do a little shimmy when I ask them to do a dance. LOL!!

Coraima, la reina! I hope you enjoyed your 25th birthday today, Coraima!

Alexis' 21st Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 01:29:39 GMT

I first met Alexis in 2019 when I photographed her Senior Prom portraits in the park. Then we met again when I photographed her high school graduation. Two years later, here we are with her 21st birthday shoot. Time flies!

Alexis is the star of this photo shoot, but I REALLY adore our tissue paper color choices. The little coral we decided to add in there really makes everything come together so well. And also, get into this eyeshadow look that Alexis asked Isabelle to do. Love it!!

Her honey, Freud, hopped into a few of the photos. They are such a cute couple! I love the fact that he had two different outfits.

We added the gold & white throne chair to the backdrop and that changed the whole mood. It's giving exactly what it needs to give.

Woooo hooo! 21!

Happy 21st birthday, Alexis! See you at 25 :)

Kaydian's Branding Session | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 31 May 2021 00:23:14 GMT

Kaydian and I used to go to the same church. I got two e-mails from her about two different sessions, one of which was this headshot branding session. She is a licensed therapist and is starting her own practice. These photos are going to look soooo nice on her new website!

I'm no stranger to therapy. I don't know how I would have made it through this pandemic without my therapists. I think it's a wonderful career, and it takes a kind, caring person like Kaydian to take on other people's issues to help them sort through them.

"I decided to become a therapist because I realized it gave me joy seeing other people overcome, succeed, get through, heal, or even understand who they are as a person and how to best manage their own mental health. I used to enjoy as a kid the company of my grandmother and as I look back at it; what I realized I enjoyed about that experience was the space my grandmother gave me to be myself--vulnerable, curious, and always yearning to hear her wisdom and knowledge about what life had taught her, both good and bad. I believe life is full of lessons and we are all being guided along the way. Therapy--with the help of someone who is non-judgmental, caring, and compassionate, and encouraging--can help you get to that inward healing."
-Kaydian

"When working with me, you will be in a space that is safe, professional, non-judgmental, compassionate, and encouraging. You will see with 10+ years of being a therapist I have the knowledge and skills to get you to a place of clarity, peace, empowerment, and better understanding of who you are, where your coming from, and how to navigate your mental health/life stressors going forward."
-Kaydian

"My passions are helping others, uplifting others and encouraging others. I’ve always had an empathetic heart. I believe I was born with an empathetic heart. The ability to put myself in ones shoes without even thinking twice. Being in the field of social work/ being a therapist have given me numerous opportunities and I can say it has been a privilege to work with people at their lowest and give them a glimmer of hope. I now use my passions, knowledge, my self, and years of being in the field to help others heal, restore, and overcome. I always tell the clients I work with that’s it’s never to late to want better and to do better, because they deserve it."
-Kaydian

I feel you, Kaydian. I have become even more empathetic after having children. I hurt so much for others and I cry when I watch random videos on the internet. So I see a little bit of you in me. Maybe that's why people ask me for advice so much! :)

All the best with your endeavors, madam!

Kassy's 28th Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 30 May 2021 01:00:00 GMT

Kassy's birthday shoot took place just two days after she called me to inquire. We didn't have a lot of time because her birthday was the following week! She showed up with her honey, Nick, who is probably the most loving partner I've ever seen in person. They are so cute together!

I went to Party City that morning to get the gold number balloons that Kassy had requested, only to find out that all the gold 2's were gone. Lawd. So I had to go for silver. When I saw the outfits Kassy was going to wear, silver seemed to make more sense anyway haha. So it all worked out!

My girl looks so much like my good sis, Nesshell. The resemblance is uncanny!

Ayyyy! Get it!

At this point, we really decided to incorporate more gold. This throne chair always brings out the best in my clients.

Yessss, Kassy! Black Girl Joy :)

I hope you had an amazing birthday, Kassy!

Harmoni's 1st Birthday Cake Smash & Photo Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 27 May 2021 01:26:11 GMT

Little Harmoni is now one year old! Baby girl celebrated at her birthday party this past weekend, and I hope she had a ton of fun. Momma Taylor wanted two themes--one to incorporate her red Benz, and then an ice cream pastel color theme.

Harmoni was styling and profiling in this car. I'm telling you, all of these babies keep showing up to the studio with a better-looking car than mine!

Next up was the super-fun theme. I loved putting all of these colors together.

Yes, Harmoni! It's your birthday and you can eat the cake, too!

Happy birthday, baby girl. Stay sweet :)

Kamryn's 13th Birthday Shoot | Astoria, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 22 May 2021 02:40:55 GMT

Sherise booked this birthday shoot for her daughter, Kamryn. I've honestly never done a birthday shoot for anyone younger than 16, so I was kind of excited to try something new-ish!

Kamryn has a sweet personality and a beautiful smile! I love how the color scheme made her pop.

No matter what what age you are, putting that crown on your head will definitely bring out the Queen in you. I love it!

I knew this pink phone would be a client favorite. Kamryn asked for it twice haha.

Soooo many balloons! :)

Dad stopped by after work and he was able to get a little more personality out of Kamryn. You can tell she's a Daddy's girl, and I loved to see it.

I wish I could take a bite out of this cake, too, Kamryn!

I hope you had an amazing birthday, Kamryn!

Ave's Portrait Session | Haitian Flag Day

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 18 May 2021 19:35:46 GMT

Today is Haitian Flag Day! It's a "Haitian holiday to celebrate the creation of the Flag of Haiti and revolution in Haiti that got its people freedom from France and set the precedent for slave uprisings in the US" (thanks, Google). I know there has been a lot going on in Haiti since last year, but Haitians are some of the most resilient and some of the strongest people that I know. If they could overcome all that they overcame in the past, they can definitely overcome all of this mess and unite to make their country better.

Ave's Portrait SessionHaitian Flag Day Ave booked this portrait session without telling me the theme haha. But you know I'm always down and ready for anything. When she changed into her outfits, I got all excited because I've always wanted to do a session for Haitian Flag Day. I have considered myself Haitian for almost 10 years now haha and I admire Haitian culture. Ave's Portrait SessionHaitian Flag Day "I love being Haitian, love the culture and the food. And flag day is my favorite holiday🥰🥰 and it is always a joy for me to celebrate it each year."
-Ave
Ave's Portrait SessionHaitian Flag Day Next up was this super cute matching top & skirt that reminded me of the outfits that Jamaicans like to wear for Folklore themes. Ave's Portrait SessionHaitian Flag Day Girl, you better work this outfit! Ave's Portrait SessionHaitian Flag Day

This was such a cute and fun session. Happy Haitian Flag Day, tout moun!

Brooke's Family Portrait Session | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 18 May 2021 02:53:24 GMT

Brooke reached out to me about surprising her mother with this portrait session, and I looooove a good surprise :) The portrait session almost didn't happen, but we made it! And I'm so happy I was able to capture these memories for this beautiful family.

Ms. Pam & her daughters. I hope these women cherish these portraits forever. I hope to have a portrait like this one day with my sister and mother.

Ahhh the way they look at each other!

Kenzo was quite enamored with my camera. He kept trying to see what it was all about, and he happily stood still to let me capture him.

Whoever coordinated these outfits deserve a raise!

I have photographed Brooke a few times in my almost-10-year career. It's always a pleasure :)

Ms. Pam turned 55 the day before this session. I did NOT expect her to slay this mini birthday shoot the way she did. Sheesh!

And this is how it's done!

Family, it was soooo nice to have you bless my camera with your presence :)

Keshayne's 25th Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:46:18 GMT

I've known KJ since he was 2, and I refuse to call him by his grown man name, "Keshayne." He's still my little cousin, even though he towers over me and is now 25 years old.

KJ's sister, Kabreena, but my first ever birthday client 2 years ago. There were two shoots that came before hers did, but she was the first to ever book a birthday session. So thank God for cousins who support cousins. That's a blessing!

I'm almost tempted to take the "birthday shoot" title away from this session just because there are no balloons or props. Someone *cough cough* convinced KJ that he shouldn't get balloons, and you know that broke my lil heart. I could totally see KJ rocking some burgundy, black and white balloons for this session. Right??

Kabreena and Nicole joined KJ for moral support, and they both loved this set of photos. I love them, too! There goes KJ laughing a little too hard haha, and then there goes KJ doing a little... dance? I don't even know what that is.

Fun fact: KJ cut his hair off right after this shoot.

And this, my friends, is my favorite photo of them all. I know, it's slightly out of focus. But I don't care, I love it.

I hope you had an amazing birthday, Old Man :)

Telesha's 30th Birthday Shoot | Long Island City, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 09 May 2021 02:19:26 GMT

Telesha and I did a consultation for this 30th birthday photo shoot that would be taking place some time after her birthday. We did something a little different than my norm, and I'm happy that we did! Her honey, Sim, is fellow photographer and I felt a little pressure to impress him haha. So my girl showed up to FD Photo Studio in Long Island City, got her face beat my Isabelle, and this mother of twins did her THANG!

"To this day I can’t believe I’m someone’s mother, two somebody’s at that. It’s exhausting and trying most times--the crying, the fighting, the not sharing, etc. But it’s also double rewarding--double the hugs, love, smiles, and all the happy things. One thing I wouldn’t change about my twenties was having them."
-Telesha

I love photographing mothers because it's their chance to get away from the kids for a few hours and just focus on being cute. Self-care is of paramount importance, especially for new mothers. It's the number one tip that I give to my friends when they have just had a baby--make sure you take care of yourself.

"Going forward into Chapter 30, this momma of 2 is carving out time to make sure she is taking care of SELF first--discovering and exploring all of me, doing all the work (well, attempting to), to heal and make me better for these two tiny humans, to figure out my purpose and strive to fulfill that. Whatever it is."
-Telesha
Ok, so we know that Telesha is beautiful and she loves her babies. But fun fact: she's a beauty AND brains.

"My proudest achievement occurred in the chapter I just closed (my 20s): I graduated undergrad 2013 with a BS in Human Biology and then two years later another BS in Diagnostic Medical Imaging (Ultrasound) which was pivotal in the start of my professional career. Shortly after that (another 2 years) I found out I was gonna have twins 😱😳😩 and though they aren’t an achievement per say, they are one of my biggest blessings ever."
-Telesha

Oh, Telesha. I'm so proud of you! Your children have an amazing example to look up to. It was great photographing you!

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Interested in booking your own birthday shoot? Click here to submit an inquiry.

Holly's 22nd Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 05 May 2021 01:42:49 GMT

Holly, Isabelle and I bonded in the studio's hallway while we waited for another photographer to finish up his session. Holly endured my rambling like a champ. That's how I knew she was a good person :)

Roody and I were visibly blown away when we took the first photo of her. That photo above was literally the first shot!

If you look up the definition of "fun" in the dictionary, this photo might pop up!

Oh, sweet Holly. I love this navy color on her.

Fun fact: Holly gets rose gold balloons every year for her birthday. I didn't know this when I got the balloons for her! So it's really cool how it all came together.

Soooo pretty!

Holly, I really hope you enjoyed your birthday today. You are a rock star! Happy birthday!

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Interested in booking your own birthday shoot? Click here to submit an inquiry.

Aiyana's 20th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 03 May 2021 00:11:28 GMT

Aiyana & Mom showed up READY, hunny. Curling iron in hand and first outfit ready to go! I could tell that Aiyana was shy, but I knew how to work my magic to get her to feel comfortable.

That smile!

There is just something about black & gold that I really love. I can't quite figure out what it is, but everyone looks even more amazing on a black & gold set.

Mom helped with posing, and she loved the one on the left. I love it, too!

I did a little "whoooo!" when Aiyanna walked out in her second outfit. We changed her hair up a little bit and continued with the fun!

There is so much joy in this balloon-throwing photo. Love it!

Happy 20th birthday, Aiyana! I hope you had an amazing day :)

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Interested in booking your own birthday shoot? Click here to submit an inquiry.

Justina's 16th Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 03:10:53 GMT

Justina turned 16 last October, but the pandemic ruined her plans. Ugh, girl. I know the feeling. But there's a happy ending to this story--she wore her big poofy red dress, put on a tiara, and did a really cute birthday shoot months later with yours truly :)

I know Mom is going to hang this one up somewhere in the house.

A natural! That's who Justina is. She did all these poses with such ease. When I was 16, I was the most awkward person in the world haha.

Little Cuz loves him some Tina! Brandon explored the studio while Justina did her make up, then Mom changed him into this cute little outfit and he happily hopped into some of the photos.

Ok, so Justina clearly didn't come to play! Come through, white jumpsuit!

Is there anything more adorable than the sound of a child's laughter? Brandon loved playing with the balloons so much :)

The lashes almost didn't let Justina be great, but she was able to hold her eyes open with this cute gold mask just long enough for me to capture these photos. YES!

Ahhhh! So fun. I love it.

Justina, I'm so happy the pandemic didn't ruin this shoot! :)

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Interested in booking your own birthday shoot? Click here to submit an inquiry.

Sadeisha's 22nd Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 01:11:54 GMT

Sadeisha was VERY prepared for her birthday shoot. She came with make up done, balloons & props in hand, and her lovely sisters ready to help her look perfect in front of my camera.

I always encourage clients to bring props with them, so Sadeisha decided to include her MacBook because she has a jewelry business. Very smart! I love to see female entrepreneurs.

Next up was this cute little silver dress. Sadeisha became a whole other woman!

There were supposed to be 22 floor balloons, but one didn't make it haha.

I had never heard of a "balloon tassel" before this shoot. Now I feel like all balloon bouquets need them!

Lastly, Sadeisha changed into this cute pajama set. You already know I love the colors in these photos.

That's right, girl! Make that money!

I hope you enjoyed your 22nd birthday, Sadeisha!

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Interested in booking your own birthday shoot? Click here to submit an inquiry.

Bruno Family Maternity Session | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 02:37:44 GMT

The Bruno family is expecting again! I photographed Kairo's first birthday party a few years ago, and the Baby Shark dessert table has since then gone viral on Pinterest. So shoutout to the decorator who helped my Pinterest following grow.

Anyway, back to the BEAUTIFUL Chanae. Look at her in this white dress! She looks like an angel! Motherhood has definitely been good to her :)

"My favorite part about motherhood is seeing my son grow into his own little person and watching him learn new things daily. He has this laugh that is very contagious and makes everyone smile around him. Kairo definitely is a Momma’s Boy and I love it when he comes to me for snuggles and cuddles. It’s the best.
-Chanae

It was so good to see Big Boy Kaira again after a couple years! He kept coming up to me just to see what I was up to. He has the sweetest little face!

"He is always saying please and thank you for the things he wants and knows how to wear momma out with all the energy he has LOL."
-Chanae

Job & Kairo looked so handsome in their matching suits. Like father like son in more ways than one, I hope!

"My favorite personality trait of my husband is how loving and caring he can be. He has a lot of patience when it comes to stressful situations."
-Chanae

I was pleasantly surprised when Job posted the pregnancy announcement on Facebook earlier this year. Chanae felt the same way, too, apparently!

"I was quite surprised when I found out I was pregnant but nonetheless happy and excited for our new addition."
-Chanae

Let's focus on how much of a clown Job is for a second. This guy has not changed since I first met him over a decade ago! And Chanae loves it.

"After 6 years of marriage, Im still madly in love with my husband even though he drives me crazy sometimes LOL. I cherish every moment I spend with him whether we are sleeping, going for a car ride together, spending time outside with our son and watching our favorite TV shows. He's my whole world. I feel like I'm one of the luckiest girls in the world."

#BlackLove #BlackCouple #BlackFamily :)

This session was so much fun! Congratulations, Bruno family :)

Skyleigh's 1st Birthday Photo Shoot & Cake Smash | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 01:09:41 GMT

Skyleigh was born for this. When I photographed the baby shower held in her honor last January, I already knew how loved she is.

Her aunts, Dianne & Mica, built this whole set just for her. All Demi & Edgar had to do was show up with Skyleigh and some cute outfits! And look how cute she is!

Yay! Bubbles!

There is so much love and support in this photo. I love to see it!

Little Miss Skyleigh was finally ready to dig into that yummy cake!

I think she liked it :)

Skyleigh, I hope your aunties do it big for your 2nd birthday, too hahahaha. Thanks for continuing to let me be a part of the family celebrations, Morales sisters!

Christianna's 30th Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 02:31:05 GMT

Christianna is like a refreshing bubble of energy. Is that a thing?

The second she walked into the studio in Bridgeport, it was as if I had reconnected with an old friend. We talked about music, politics, everything, as Isabelle did her make up and as Roody & I prepared the gift bags & boxes.

Just the fact that she wanted a pink on pink theme ALONE made me appreciate her. You know I love pink, right? Pink is my happy place. Do you see all this pink? I was quite happy.

I love doing birthday shoots for grown women because I love to celebrate matured beauty. You know what I mean, right? The confidence in a 30-year-old is not the same as that of a 21-year-old. The two are so different, and I LOVE to see it! Love yourself, love your body, understand how truly beautiful you are, woman!

Ok, so this outfit. Whew!

I had to run and get my 50mm lens for these shots. Why are you so cool, Christianna? Please help me understand.

And right when I thought it couldn't possibly get any better, homegirl thew on the CK's.

I loooooove these last few photos so much!!

Christianna, thank you for trusting me to bring your birthday vision to life! It truly was a pleasure. Happy birthday!!

Ameerah's 21st Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 01:18:07 GMT

I have known Ameerah since she is 12, and today I am writing about the photo shoot we did for her 21st birthday. Time is FLYING! This birthday shoot took place 1 month after her birthday, though, but that's ok!

Ameerah is a very special young lady. She is the mother of a sweet little girl, and she is an active member of the US Military!

"Being an active duty military single mother can be challenging at times. Over all, I am grateful for my family and work staff support system available to me in any time of need."

"Active duty status can mean that I may uproot and deploy at any moment. Serving this country gives me a sense of honor and it comes with great benefits such as free health care, salary and ranking up based on work ethic and effort, discounts and so many other things."
-Ameerah

I follow Ameerah on Instagram and her workout stories motivate me to get off my butt and get active. Little did I know that she was battling with Postpartum Depression, just like I did for a few years after having my first son.

It's amazing because Ameerah had such an upbeat attitude during her shoot. She and her friends had me rolling with their commentary. To have overcome the dullness that PPD brings is quite an accomplishment!

"Completing basic military training while trying to overcome post-partum depression would be my proudest accomplishment thus far."
-Ameerah

Ameerah has so many things to look forward to this year: "I am looking forward to living a 'normal life' since many individuals are taking the vaccine. I am ready for a promotion and growing in the Air Force."

Thank you so much for your service, Ameerah! And I know we all can't wait to get back to a "normal" life. God bless you!

Zoe's 25th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 00:09:28 GMT

Zoe is smiling in every single one of these photos, as she should! She is 25 years old today, and I'm excited to share these photos from her birthday shoot.

Roody and I were stumped by the colors of her outfit because we wanted to make sure we used the right color tissue paper. After going back and forth, I think the purple and orange were a great idea :)

Next up was this teal and silver dress that shows off Zoe's beautiful, long legs!

Fun fact about Zoe: she's an author! My girl actually has a sizable library of books she has written. That's so cool!

Happy birthday, Zoe!

Desiree's 18th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 01:42:17 GMT

Desiree is 18 years old today! We did her birthday shoot last week in the studio in Flushing, Queens. Isabelle did her make up, and her mother quietly cheered her on while I was shooting.

Desiree initially wanted shades of brown for her session, but I think we can all agree that the pop of silver and yellow look very nice!

Keep your head up, Desiree, so that crown doesn't fall :)

These next few shots were so fun. Desiree's legs dangling off the stool and then the little shimmy she did when I asked her to bust a move haha

Whew chile, I LOVED the dress with the rhinestones. The navy and silver REALLY made it pop. Heart eyes!

And more balloon tossing, because we love the do that! Happy birthday, Desiree! I hope we shoot again soon :)

Sarai's 23rd Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 01:18:49 GMT

Sarai did her make up and then came to the studio to do her birthday shoot. She was an EXCELLENT model, and I was pleasantly surprised.

This photo. Faaaaave. I might need to borrow it from her one day.

You might have noticed a lot of my coral/rose gold, silver, black/white pairings in some other shoots. I have Sarai to thank for that! I had no idea those colors worked together until we did this shoot.

Then we shot some white one white in this super-run white romper! Ahh! I always love this happy balloon shots.

It was so nice to meet you, Sarai! I hope we shoot again soon.

Alyssa's 30th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 02:15:16 GMT

Alyssa wanted to do it BIG for her 30th birthday. As she should! Patricia did this beautiful balloon garland for her, and it went beautifully with her gray dress.

Alyssa asked her mother to not look at her so she could bust this move haha.

Speaking of Mom, here she is!

Alyssa's next two outfits were floral and colorful, so we moved to the white wall and took some simple but super-cute portraits. It was at this moment when I realized that Alyssa reminds me a lot of my friend, Karien. They make the same faces and they're equally as sassy haha.

What I've noticed is that clients tend to get a lot more comfortable at the 45-minute mark. Alyssa was feeling herself, hunty. As she should! And I LOVE the fact that I was able to capture her being herself.

Fun fact: The balloons were not originally red. Thank you, Photoshop :)

I hope this photo shoot was everything you envisioned, Alyssa!

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Interested in booking your own birthday shoot? Click here to submit an inquiry.

Kiara's 2nd Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 02:14:23 GMT

Little Miss Kiara, AKA "Kiki," was not feeling this photo shoot. But I'm a professional, and I worked my magic and was able to capture some super adorable photos of her!

Don't you just love how her dress matches the balloon garland that I made? Yes, I made the garland. And yes, I'm VERY proud of myself :)

The one thing that Kiki loved about this session was the fact that she got to play with these little flower sticks haha. I found them at Michael's and I had to get them for the set!

Next up was this adorable little outfit that I might have to borrow from her the next time I go into the city. How cute is her little purse? Adorable!

Happy 2nd birthday, Kiara!

Natasha's 24th Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 01:17:21 GMT

Natasha came into the studio on a Monday evening and confessed that she had never done a professional photo shoot before. But she also brought some extravagant outfits to be photographed in, so I thought that was funny haha.

This session was literally us laughing and cracking jokes the entire time. Natasha has such a chill and relaxed personality. It felt like I was catching up with an old friend.

My girl had this dress custom made by a designer she found on Instagram. This was the outfit she wore to celebrate her 24th birthday a few days after our shoot. I loooove the purple so much! I was quite excited to whip out the purple cupcakes for the first time.

Next up with this luscious blush robe with beautiful frills. Oh my gosh. I die. But also, shout out to a past client who made me realize that Rose Gold/Blush and Silver go together so well!

This outfit was definitely my favorite. In the future, I plan to have a closet full of these robes so that client can use them. They're so beautiful!

And you know we had to whip out the throne chair so that Natasha could sit all pretty like the Queen that she is!

Natasha, thank you for making our Monday night so exciting! It was a pleasure to photograph you, and I hope you had an amazing time celebrating your 24th birthday!

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Interested in booking your own birthday shoot? Click here to submit an inquiry.

Natallia's 21st Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 00:01:02 GMT

Miss Natallia is 21 years old today! I have known this young lady for a long time. I've been to a church a few times and we follow each other on social media. I was so nice to see her looking all grown and sexy! It made me feel old, of course, but I think that will always happen to me when I photograph anyone younger than 25 haha.

Natallia came with her friend, "Tee Tee," and they were both super silly. There were lots of jokes and lots of laughs. They're so goofy haha.

Then Natallia changed into this black jumpsuit and everything changed. That's usually what happens when girls wear jumpsuits. They just make you feel different.

These photos right here... hahahaha I hope you print these, Natallia. You're hilarious! Happy birthday, my girl! God bless you :)

"But Go Off, Sis" Podcast Branding Session | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 02:25:23 GMT

I had the pleasure of photographing these two ladies for the branding of their new podcast called "But Go Off, Sis." You know I'm nosy, so I asked Sagine & Vanessa a couple questions about this new venture of theirs and I would love to share their answers with you!

We're all dying to know, what inspired the start of this podcast?

"I’ve always had the urge to share my views as well as challenge societal norms that most don’t challenge. I also enjoy talking to people about their experiences and wanted the opportunity to have a platform for them to share."
-Ness

"I love to create, whether its art, work, or just a simple conversation. Hearing someone else's views are just as meaningful as discussing my own. For me, conversation has always led to some type of growth and I love being able to create a conversation that can facilitate the same for others."
-Sage

I know most content creators have a specific audience they would like to reach. It helps to know who you're targeting so you can make your content more relatable and you can create a fanbase that will stick by your side for a lonnnnggg time. Vanessa hopes to reach young adults, she says, "Specifically the black community and if we narrow it down even further black women. I’m a strong believer in FUBU for us by us & there is no such thing as too many safe spaces!"

"I’ve noticed that there aren’t many platforms in the podcast world amplifying the opinion or perspectives of young black voices. With this podcast, I hope to reach my peers, and young black men and women, as I believe we deserved to be represented in all spaces. As Vanessa mentioned, this podcast was whole heartedly created to be a space F.U.B.U."
-Sage

Fun facts about the ladies:

Vanessa is a mental health clinician (aka, a therapist). She works with both children and adults and helps them with their healing process.

Sagine is a Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Clinician. She works with both children and adults who have neurological/cognitive disabilities (e.g. Cerebral Palsy, MS, Autism SD, Learning disabilites), affecting both their speech and language.

Ok, educated black women! We love to see it!

I'm so excited these ladies decided to do this. It actually might be the push that a lot of us need to do the thing we've been putting off. You know exactly what I'm talking about. A lot of us have been meaning to let our creative sides come to life. Well, this is the sign that you should make it happen!

"But Go Off, Sis" is available on Apple Podcast & Spotify. Click here to listen to a recent episode!

Nicole's 40th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 01:37:36 GMT

A couple things I know about Nicole:

1. She loves black & gold. Down to the nails and jewelry.
2. She loves Soca. I felt like I was at Carnival during this shoot haha.

There's something so beautiful about a strong, confident black woman. My girl wore the MESS out this lace catsuit. I was in awe!

Yessss, Nicole! Future clients, when I say, "Give me a little dance," THIS is what I mean haha.

The next dress was another show-stopper. I really love all of the black & gold. It's so regal!

"This Queen makes 40 look fabulous." Ain't that the truth??

I had so much fun, Nicole! I hope you enjoy your 40th birthday :)

Anieta's 30th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 00:02:34 GMT

First of all, I wasn't expecting this birthday shoot to go THIS HARD. Anieta pleasantly surprised all of us. She sent me some inspo photos for her Old Hollywood theme that she wanted to do, so I knew it was going to be really cute. But the way she pulled it off... wow!

"I’m always afraid to try new things. Turning 30 really helped me to realize who I am. I feel so liberated and free to do what my heart desires."
-Anieta

I would have photographed her in that first outfit all day, honestly. And then she stepped out of the little "changing room" with this number and I had to pick my jaw up from off the floor again! Hellooooooo!

"I have an old soul, so I’ve been told. My style has been very conservative over the years but recently I’ve decided to apply some heat to my wardrobe." The heat has definitely been turned up!

"Adding some color and wearing things that compliment my curves. So I would say, I’m trying to create a lane for myself." And we're enjoying this lane, sis!

We almost forgot about the money gun, which was one of her first requests. Girl, you look like a million bucks!

During this new decade, Anieta looks forward to crushing more goals, she said, and "stepping outside of my comfort zone a little more, loving myself unconditionally and apologetically!" As she should!

Yeah, soooooo this was amazing. I can't wait to shoot again, Anieta!

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Interested in booking your own birthday shoot? Click here to submit an inquiry.

Ian's 1st Birthday Cake Smash & Photo Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 02:26:28 GMT

I had the pleasure of meeting the Guillermo family last week! Luzmia & Humberto are related to a client a photographed a couple years ago, and she referred them to me. So they got Little Alain and Baby Ian all dressed up for a quick family portrait.

Then we captured Ian's adorable little face for his first birthday. which is today. Look at him!!

Ian really liked the balloons, as you can probably tell. He is such a sweet little boy.

We sang for him, clapped our hands and did everything we could to keep him entertained! It worked for the most part, and I'm so happy I was able to capture his sweet little expressions.

When it was time for the cake, Ian wasn't feeling it too much. I didn't mind, though. As long as he didn't scream and cry, I was happy :)

You know how we knew Ian wasn't feeling the cake? He decided to crawl on top of it haha. Well played, Ian!

Happy 1st birthday, Ian! Stay sweet :)

Stephanie's 40th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 02:07:04 GMT

It's International Woman's Day, and it's also Stephanie's birthday. So let's show this woman off! She's 40 years old today, and she's proud. As she should be!

One of the first things I noticed about Stephanie is the fact that she knows all of the lyrics to all of the Top 100 songs. Haha! I, on the other hand, am 30 years old and I'm having trouble keeping up.

I messaged Stephanie this morning and asked her how it feels to be 40. She said, "It feels weird." Haha! I love the effort she put into personalizing this shoot and making it look like any other birthday shoot I've done.
Shortly after booking her birthday shoot, Stephanie booked a birthday shoot for her one-year-old daughter. Yes! Let's photograph the entire family haha. Jayla wasn't too thrilled to be photographed, but I'll make sure I get a smile out of her for her cake smash in May :)

Happy 40th birthday, Stephanie! See you again in a few months :)

Denise's 50th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 02:08:51 GMT

Denise booked her session a loonnnnggg time ago haha. She would always comment on my Facebook posts, and then she finally slid into my DM's to lock in her own birthday shoot.

A lot of my clients opt to wear this really poofy tulle skirt, and I LOVE it! It so fun, and it goes with so many different kinds of tops. I'm not sure where Denise bought hers, but I know for sure that they can be found on Amazon.

Next up was the super-fun frilly dress. I caught Denise wiggling in the corner and watching the bottom of the dress move. I love to see adults find pleasure in simple things!

This shoot's timing was perfect because it happened on Denise's birthday. So after the shoot, she and her husband went out to have dinner. That's a great use of the make up!

Denise told me she wanted to replicate one of Shonda Rhimes' portraits. I had never seen the portrait she was referring to, but I think we got some really good close ups!

Denise, it was such a pleasure to finally meet you! I'm happy you made this photo shoot a part of your 50th birthday celebration :)

Nina-Simone's 21st Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 23:10:37 GMT

Nina-Simone was super shy when she walked into the studio with her boyfriend, Marlon. Actually, they were both a little shy. But you know I'm loud & obnoxious and I have a way of getting people to open up, even a little bit.

Nina-Simone mentioned pink one time in her Pre-Shoot Questionnaire, and I decided to run with it. We all know how much I love pink!!

Look at that smile! I love how happy she is in these photos.

Next up with this cute silk PJ's set.

Oh, to be 21 again! It feels like it was so long ago. I love the fact that I get to capture these milestones for my clients.

Everyone slays when it's time to get off the backdrops. This set is my faaaave!

Special thanks to the number balloon for cooperating long enough to snap this photo.

Every time I told these two to look at each other, they burst out laughing. Hahaha!

Happy 21st birthday, Nina-Simone!

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Interested in booking your own birthday shoot? Click here to submit an inquiry.

Nicole's 30th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

(Photography by LarJ) — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 23:30:33 GMT

Nicole's birthday shoot is the one that I'll always remember. Why? Well, she's the first client to ask me for a balloon garland, and the first client to bring her own hair stylist. The resulting images are so stunning and I am soooo proud of the entire team. Nicole is so beautiful, and I am so honored to have been able to capture her for her 30th birthday.

Patricia and Polo did an amazing job creating this balloon garland and column. I was so stunned when I saw it all come together. Now I want all of my clients to make this request because balloons just make everything look even more beautiful!

I don't think Isabelle knew Nicole's red lip would match her Red Bottoms, but I loooove this make up look! Isabelle is the best!

Nicole loves her nieces so much! The older niece, Ali, wanted to be in every photo with her auntie. It was the cutest thing! Then Mom, Dad, and Bro hopped in for a quick photo. I love that everyone wore black!

Nicole surprised me yet again with this 30's-inspired outfit. None of us knew how to hold the long cigarette haha. But I think she pulled it off!

I have no idea if the rotary phone was a thing back in the 30's, but it blends in with the rest of the props!

Nicole decided to change back into her first outfit because she wanted to change her hair. She's giving me Angela Simons vibes. Ayanna, the hair stylist, is very quick and really good at what she does!

Of course, little Miss Ali wanted to hop into the scene one last time for a quick photo with Auntie :)

Nicole, I am so happy we were able to pull this off. 5 hours of studio time, totally worth it! Happy birthday 30th birthday :)

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Interested in booking your own birthday shoot? Click here to submit an inquiry.

Akeeya's Maternity Session | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 02:37:48 GMT

I'm part of a Mommy Group on Facebook, and I saw a post by this young lady asking for recommendations for a maternity photographer. Hello, hi! I am she :) LOL I shot my shot and she booked with quickness.

Akeeya has the patience of an angel, so I know she will be an amazing mother to this little girl.

Every time I photograph a woman who is expecting a girl, I take it as a sign that my next child will be a girl. So what happens when the client is expecting a boy? HAHAHA. Leave me alone.

Mothers-to-be who need cute dresses for their maternity session, Amazon is your friend. You hear me? So far, half of my maternity clients have worn dresses from Amazon and they always look so cute. But then again, pregnant woman are always beautiful. So how could they not look cute??

Shooting in the Bridgeport studio allows me to do 2 different changes of scenery, which is nice. So we decided to do some poses on the new white couch.

This shot right here is my favorite! I love Akeeya's expression and the gold mirror behind her head. Wow.

Congratulations, Akeeya! I'm so happy we were able to make this connection.

Kayla's 16th Birthday Shoot | Bridgeport, CT

(Photography by LarJ) — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 02:15:10 GMT

I have known Kayla since she was in the single digits. She was one of my first birthday clients 2 years ago, and now she's back because she's 16 years old. My, how time flies!

I love this navy blue and rose gold theme so much. We try really hard to give all of our clients a unique experience, and this color scheme is definitely different. Kayla wasn't too sure about it when I mentioned the shooting against the rosy backdrop, but she became a believer once I showed her the first few photos :)

Then she changed into this striped 2-piece suit and we switched things back up again. Kayla is a very quiet and shy young lady. She is VERY talented. She sings and dances like an angel.

My Bridgeport clients get to use our gold & white throne chair. How lucky of them! Kayla had a pose that she wanted to do, and I think we pulled it off!

For this last set, I was being my usual ridiculous self--asking Kayla to do weird things and getting some SUPER cute reactions :)

Kayla's mother reminded her that she had her mic with her, and I made her sing with it. Because this girl can saaannnnggg! And I can totally see this being a photo they use when her audition airs on American Idol or something haha.

Happy 16th birthday, Kayla! I can't wait for your 18th birthday shoot :)

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Interested in booking your own birthday shoot? Click here to submit an inquiry.

Photography by LarJ: Blog

Eliana's 2nd Birthday Shoot | Stamford, CT

Jonathan's 7th Birthday Shoot | Stamford, CT

Terica's 40th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

Jaden's 8th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

D'nisha & Brenton's Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

Chris & Sabine's Daddy/Daughter Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Taeja's Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

Seun's 40th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

T'Keyah's Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

Bree's Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

Tide Family Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

Arjun's 3rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Shameeka's 31st Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

Giselle's 25th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Kendrick's 27th Birthday Shoot [Norwalk, CT]

Larianne's 32nd Birthday Shoot & Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

Jodi Ann's 30th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Eliana's 1st Birthday Cake Smash & Photo Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Katie's 15th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Thania's 20th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Kiara's 30th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

David's 1st Birthday Cake Smash & Photo Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Madison's 5th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Crystal's 19th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Greg's 30th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

James Family Portrait Session | Norwalk, CT

Naomi's 5th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Kripa's 30th Birthday Shoot | Brooklyn, NY

Lillian's Graduation Portrait Session | Norwalk, CT

Tamar's 3rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Arya's 5th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Isabelle's 32nd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Brianna's 23rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Opont Family Portrait Session | Norwalk, CT

Melody's 23rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Laila's Decision Day Shoot | USC

Rameisha's 30th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

Aniyiah's 16th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Choyce's 1st Birthday Shoot & Cake Smash | Norwalk, CT

Kimberly's 30th Birthday | Norwalk, CT

Latoya's 45th Birthday Shoot | Brooklyn, NY

Christine's 16th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Tornishia's 30th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Aiden's 5th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Obelle's 50th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Kayla's 23rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Shameeka's 30th Birthday Shoot | Flushing, Queens

Jackie's 35th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Anu's 40th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Khadeja's Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

Esther's 30th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Larianne's 31st Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Chery Family Generation Portraits | Norwalk, CT

Travata's Branding Session | Therapist in Shelton, CT

Jayleen's 3rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Brianna's 21st Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Jonathan's 5th Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

Vanessa & Edson's Maternity Session | Norwalk, CT

Nephthalie & Duckensy's Surprise Proposal | Norwalk, CT

Lillian's 23rd Birthday Shoot | Norwalk, CT

We Launched a Rewards Program!

>>This link has way more info (and how to register)<<

A free Headshot Session

Headshot sessions include a 20-minute shoot and 3 Digital Files.

A free Prop Rental

Enjoy our Throne Chairs and Giant Numbers at no extra charge.

2 extra Gift Prints

You did amazing, sweetie. I will select 2 of my favorite photos from your photo shoot and add them to your gallery.

1 framed 13x19 Print

This large print in the 18x24 frame will look GREAT on your wall.

1 framed 8x10 Print

Which photo was your favorite? I'll put in an 11x14 frame for you to hang up on your wall.

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25% off the total of your next booking.

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Make up or no make up? Whatever, it's free!

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Here are 500 Points. Just for you!

The drawing will be done on Friday 12/3 at 12 PM. Winners will be e-mailed and they will have until 12/3/22 to redeem their prize!