Kelli Dease Photography

06/17/2026

Jk. But also, tag me.

06/15/2026

First birthday? Great. But also: second birthday. Third. Fifth. Tenth.

Birthday portraits aren’t just for babies.

At one, it’s the cake smash or a milestone portrait.

At two and three, it’s toddler chaos. They don’t sit still, they make faces at you, and they’re still cute as hell.

By five or six, they bring goofy faces and missing teeth and lots of personality.

And tweens? That kid who walked in awkward and unsure five minutes ago relaxes into a total ham.

Kids change fast. Every age looks completely different from the last, and most of those years get missed because there’s no built-in occasion to actually do it. The birthday fixes that.

Full breakdown of every option on the blog. Link in my story.

06/14/2026

The confidence of youth is really something. Unfortunately, so is my recurring physical therapy bill.

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.