Kelli Dease Photography

05/31/2026

Not sure what to wear for your family photos? New on the blog: a complete guide to building a coordinating outfit palette, dressing for Connecticut's four seasons, and what to skip (logos, dark colors, matching outfits). Plus tips by family member and a look at the studio wardrobe, available at no extra charge for all sessions, studio and outdoor.
Whether you're planning a fall session in the Farmington Valley or a spring outdoor session in West Hartford or Avon, this guide has you covered.
Read it here:

Not sure what to wear for family photos? Here's how to build a palette, dress for the season, and what to skip, from a Farmington, CT family photographer.

05/28/2026

I'm opening up a model call, and I'm looking for kids of all kinds. The ones who perform for the camera the second they see it, the ones who need a little coaxing, the silly ones, the serious ones, the ones who haven't smiled on command a day in their life. All of it.

If you have a child you think would be a great fit, the application link is in my bio. And if you're thinking of a friend whose kid belongs in front of a camera, tag them below.

A couple of things to know before you apply: images will be delivered as black and white portraits, and if you have multiple kids you'd like to submit, please fill out a separate application for each one, since these will be individual portraits.

📎 Apply at https://kellidease.com/model-call/

05/21/2026

The warm weather has finally arrived here in Connecticut which means a lot of people are thinking about family photos!

If you've been saying to yourself, "We need family photos," but you're not sure where to start, you're not alone.

Studio or outdoor, which season makes sense, what to wear, whether the timing works for your kids right now ... these are the questions flooding my inbox, and this carousel answers them.

If you're choosing between a studio session and an outdoor family session in Connecticut, your kids' ages are usually the most useful starting point. Fall books fastest (often months out), spring and summer have more flexibility, and wardrobe matters more than most people expect.

The full breakdown is on the blog at https://kellidease.com/family-photography/connecticut-family-photo-sessions/ if you want all the details.

Questions? Send me a DM or tap the link in bio to get in touch.

05/14/2026

When I had my first baby, I had a camera and knew the basics, but I was firmly in the hobby phase. I had never done actual newborn photography. I thought that photographing a newborn would be easy. I was very wrong. I made all the rookie mistakes, and by the time I figured it out, that window had closed.

I'm here to keep you from doing the same thing.

This carousel covers the questions I hear most from families considering newborn sessions here in Farmington, CT: when to book, what to expect in the studio, how wardrobe works, and how I keep everything calm and safe for your baby.

The full guide is on the blog at https://kellidease.com/information/newborn-photography-guide/ if you want more details.

Hiring someone to handle all of this for you is worth it. Trust me. It's much easier said than done once the baby is actually here. You will have enough on your plate.

DM me with questions or go to kellidease.com to see availability for Connecticut newborn sessions.

05/01/2026

This is a new piece of equipment that and I have been trying out, and the results are genuinely beautiful. The folding-it-back-up part, however, is a whole separate conversation that we are not ready to have.

We will figure it out. Eventually. Probably.

In the meantime, if you’ve been thinking about booking a studio session, the link to do that is in my bio. I promise I’m much better at photography than I am at equipment management. (If you see this background set up in the corner not being used, just know I lost the fight.)

04/28/2026

Please hire me so I can afford my son’s spending habits.

04/17/2026

Booking a maternity session and not sure what to expect?
Here's everything you need to know before we get started.

Timing, wardrobe, hair and makeup, how a session flows, and when you'll have your photos. All of it, covered. The goal is for you to walk in feeling prepared, not piecing it together as you go.

If you're in the Farmington Valley, West Hartford, Avon, or anywhere in the Hartford area, this is what a maternity session at Kelli Dease Photography looks like.

The full version of this guide is on the blog at kellidease.com if you want to dig in even further. And my inbox is always open at [email protected] if you have questions before you book.