and she said…

All I said was, pull out anything from your closet that you feel amazing in. Her smile dropped a bit and said…

I don’t feel amazing in anything.

It takes my breath away every time I hear this. I’m looking at this fresh faced, lanky girl with a beautiful smile and hair that just won’t quit and this is the response I get?! Honestly, I hear this in some way shape or form a lot. I’m going to get to the point very quickly here. This is not JUST about getting your picture taken. If that’s all you want, go to the yearbook photographer.

If you want MORE so much MORE.

Get in touch with me to discuss a photoshoot.

http://www.paigepphotography.com

Get your happy on

When was the last time you just walked out the door and said it’s time to get my happy on. That’s what I’m doing right now. Back next week. Have an awesome day!

Spinning away the heaviness

The soul of my business is to give girls the freedom to be in the joy of the moment. To capture a sense of weightlessness with hopes that their prints will forever remind them of that feeling.

I feel that I have to restate this more to myself than anyone else as reassurance that I’m making a difference for the better. There was a time when it was unimaginable to go to school in fear of not coming home. Added to the mix is the ever increasing pressure of excelling at school, sports and piling on the activities in the never ending race to get into a better school, to get a better job… I quite honestly can’t imagine being a kid today.

I always have a set during photoshoots when I ask the girls to spin. I almost feel that it’s cathartic,

…spinning away the heaviness that we don’t even know is there. Getting back to that little kid without a care in the world. I’ll never stop that. I’ll never stop laughing and getting silly with them.

It may sound frivolous in the whole scheme of things but I do believe it’s one small step towards making kids feel like kids again.

Take a look at what Becky has to say about her photoshoot and how it made her feel or go to Instagram and see Jillian blissfully swinging. What are the little things you do to make your kids feel like kids?

http://www.paigepphotography.com

Happy Valentines Day

This has become an annual photoshoot with my Senior Model Reps and it’s one I’m always sure we’ll be laughing until it hurts. Do what you love. Love the ones you’re with. Have a Happy Valentines day!

There is always laughter involved at our photoshoots. Take a look here at how Squad 2017 kicked off.

http://www.paigepphotography.com

How it all begins…

This is a handful of girls who have been on the Paige P. Senior Model Squad over the past few years. Senior Model Reps are a group of girls that I photograph over the course of a full year. It all begins in the same way irregardless of their personality and whether or not they’re with me for the full year or a single time.

At the start there’s a little bit of a hesitation, a slight uneasiness, feeling awkward. Not too long after that there is a shift. I can see it in their eyes, in the way they move and how quickly they are to laugh and giggle. They look as if they are becoming lighter and filled with light. And  that’s it, right there,  the feeling they will never forget.

That’s from a blog I posted 3 years ago when I photographed, my then, 13 year old daughter (yes, it’s the same even with my daughter). There is nothing better than watching that transformation. For any of you parents who have had their daughters come to you asking over the past week to do this, trust me, it’s worth the time to come to a meeting to find out what it’s about. Below are just a few comments from some of the parents of these girls.

If you have a teen girl this is the photographer for you!…Do it!

I didn’t realize I was holding my breath while watching the most beautiful video montage of my daughter…I didn’t want to miss a thing!!! …Thank you for the incredible experience & photographs you’ve given us.

Oh my gosh! This has been the best experience ever for Giovanna (my daughter). I’m going to miss seeing all the clips and images you put out of the girls. This has been an investment I will never, ever regret. Please don’t forget that I have a younger daughter. Thank you for everything.

Being a senior model rep for Paige P Photography has been an amazing experience for my daughter, as well as the rest of my family! Billye had a blast doing the photo shoots…. I treasure all the beautiful prints we received! .They are absolutely priceless! I know that Billye is very sad that this experience has come to an end.

The pictures were positively beautiful!  As we went from one picture to the next I felt waves of emotion come over me.  My little girl is growing up – getting ready to spread her wings.  And Paige captured dozens of wonderfully precious images that I will treasure as she does just that!

Paige has given me beautiful pictures of my daughters and they have both loved this experience. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Paige and would highly recommend her to everyone!

OMG Paige! The prints and folio box are so AMAZING! So, so happy we did this! We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them.

I wanted to thank you for taking those amazing pictures. You have definitely captured the spirit of my daughter and the way I always want to think of her.I have these image to keep with me forever….

Follow my Instagram and over the next couple of weeks you’ll get more insight into what being on the Paige P. Squad is like.

http://www.paigepphotography

Are you a Junior girl, Class of 2019?

Calling all FREE-SPIRITED, ADVENTUROUS, DREAMERS…

ARE YOU A JUNIOR, CLASS OF 2019? WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING  APPLICATIONS FOR OUR 2019 SENIOR SQUAD! (sneak peek below of a page from the 2019 Senior Model Rep Magazine)

We are looking for free-spirited, adventurous, junior girls (class of 2019). They must be outgoing and energetic, up for anything and love our style.  Over the course of the year they’ll be part of creative photoshoots that take on the spirit and energy of Paige P. and her brand. If chosen, they will be featured on our senior websites, media pages, social networks and in our Class of 2019 campaigns.

Our program is designed for girls that want to meet new friends, who are up for new experiences and want to get their senior portraits done by us during their senior year. There are EXCLUSIVE benefits for our parents and seniors that are only offered through this program.

The Paige P. Model Squad are the faces of our studio during their senior year and beyond. We have a great alumni group that continues to benefit from our program.

Interested?

GO HERE for more information and an APPLICATION.

http://www.paigepphotography.com

Are You Ready Class of 2019?

It’s on its way! We’ll soon be releasing the application for Paige P. Senior Model Squad 2019. Stay Tuned… I’m super excited for what’s to come! (Below: sneak peek of a page from the  2019 Model Rep Magazine).

http://www.paigepphotography.com

 

What you need to know about Social Life on Campus series : Quinnipiac

Christina is one of those people who shines from the inside out. Her enthusiasm is contagious. She’s a sophomore at Quinnipiac and what I loved so much is underneath her signature is this quote: “What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?” -Robert Schuller. Love it! Read on for the social lowdown at Quinnipiac.

Secret Study spot: The second floor of the main cafeteria. It’s pretty quiet, there are comfy booths with plenty of space to work and you are really close if you ever need a snack to keep you going!

Late night cravings: Falcon Pizza mozzarella sticks or Insomnia Cookies!

Most fun campus traditions: The first night of the fall semester, all of freshmen meet up at the bobcat statue in the center of campus. It was a great opportunity to meet new people and I made friends there that I am still close with today!

Dorm, Bar or Greek?: QU is definitely a “bar school.”

A typical weekend is….: TOADS…every Saturday. Going to Toad’s Place in New Haven has been a Quinnipiac tradition for years! It’s one of those places that you can’t describe, you have to experience a Toads night to really get it.

How I met my closest friends: My sorority! I am a part of the Iota Mu chapter of Chi Omega. The girls in my chapter are my sisters, my best friends, my motivators, my study partners, my gym buddies, and my roommates!!

Club favorites: Q30 and Panhellenic Council!! Q30 is the student-run TV station on campus and I love being a part of it! I have made so many friends, I’m gaining great experience, and I always know what’s happening on campus because I am an Associate Producer for the Q30 Newscast.

Panhellenic Council is the executive board that helps run all of the Greek Life on campus and this year I am the Vice President of Communications! I get to meet people in all different fraternities and sororities. It’s awesome!

Best study tip: Always check if there are any useful videos, study guides or pre-made quizlets online before you get started. You never know, what you find could save you a lot of time and work!

Best cup of coffee can be found: I call New England “the land of Dunkin’ Donuts” because it feels like there is a Dunkin’ on every corner. BUT the best cup of coffee definitely is Cheshire Coffee.

Favorite discovery on campus/off campus: All of the different views from the Sleeping Giant State Park that is across the street from campus.

Recent google search: “best places to study abroad”

Most used app: Instagram

When I missed my family the most/how I got over it: I miss my family the most when I can’t find anything good to eat in the cafeteria. Kidding! (kind of kidding) I usually call my parents and try to catch up with my brother as often as I can.

Skype or FaceTime: FaceTime for sure!

Last time I did laundry: A week ago? Maybe??

Dorm advice: Be the roommate that you would want to have! Also, don’t be afraid to “go random” for your freshman year! I went random, and my roommates ended up being my best friends!

We’ve covered a whole lot of schools over the past year and have more coming! Stay posted.

http://www.paigepphotography.com

Lainey L. {Senior Portrait: Kinnelon, NJ}

Lainey is one of four in her family, the other 3 being brothers. When I met her mom she couldn’t have been more excited to give a photoshoot to Lainey as a gift. And as you would expect from a girl with three brothers she is competitive, athletic, strong willed and a lot of fun. She is my answer to the girls, who I know, follow my Instagram account and think

I’d really love to do that BUT sports is my thing, that’s a little too girly…(although it really does look fun).

To me, that’s putting yourself in a box. Why does being athletic and competitive mean you can’t look pretty and feminine. Why wouldn’t you want to be seen as both? Why do we love the “renaissance” guys? You know the ones who are tough but also show their sensitive side, i.e. a lacrosse player who is artistic. If you want to do something but are concerned what others think then maybe it’s time to take a step out of your comfort zone.

If you need a little more convincing go to the blog post about Johnna. She showed up to her shoot with a black eye after an altercation on the field. Not even kidding!

I started a new feature on Instagram for the next few months. #wordWednesday. They are words that closely identify with both the girls that I photograph and myself personally.  Lainey is up this week. What are your words?

http://www.paigepphotography.com

Be good to yourself

Expectations are typically that the New Year, especially, the first few days or weeks of the new year are going to be happy, productive, starting fresh…Well it was the third day of January and I was having “A” day.

You know, one of those days that start with a sense that everything is a little off and then just tumbles into frustration, dropping things, bumping up against roadblocks…you know exactly what I mean.

I don’t know about you but it’s really easy for me to let this kind of day snowball into an all out war with myself. I don’t know what the final straw was but I stepped out of my office, went downstairs, grabbed my ice skates, plugged into my favorite playlist and went ice skating for a while. A long while. I had the whole lake to myself, sang out loud and in general tilted my little world back upright. Lesson for the year. Be good to yourself. The earlier you learn this in life the better off you’ll be.

BE. GOOD. TO. YOURSELF!

I wish you nothing but the best this year and can’t wait to share all the fun stuff I’ve got planned. Not my most flattering picture but it was cold!

http://www.paigepphotography.com

 

Be so happy that when others look at you , they become happy too.

Yogi Bhajan

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

Helen Keller