Tina Parsadanov Photography

Tis the Season to be Sexy.

2009-12-20T22:17:00.000-05:00

Awesome Boudoir Special just for the holidays. Take advantage of this one time special. Bring your girlfriends and make a party out of it. Contact Tina to schedule your session at tina@xoxboudoir.com or 860-982-2398. Happy Holidays!

Brian Jarvis Holiday Bash Concert!

2009-12-11T21:43:00.002-05:00

It's official! Studio Blue is event partner for a fabulous charity event called the Brian Jarvis Holiday Bash this December. It's an awesome concert at the Bushnell featuring 3 live CT bands/performers and all proceeds go to the CT Children's Medical Center. To purchase tickets and view details, visit http://www.bushnell.org/index.cgi/45732 or contact me directly at 860-982-2398 to save on all of the added fees the bushnell tacks on. I hope to see as many people there as possible. Thanks for your support!

Tis the Season

2009-12-04T20:23:00.000-05:00

Holiday portrait season kicks off officially this weekend! I'm so excited to have so many families coming back for their holiday pictures. It's such a treat to see how much the little ones change and so quickly they grow up! If you don't have a session booked yet, be sure to contact the studio to schedule your slot. Happy Holidays!

2nd review this week.

2009-11-03T22:00:00.004-05:00

Thanks Katharine & Jon! We had a blast photographing your wedding!

Kind Words...

2009-11-01T19:28:00.009-05:00

It's always nice to receive a nice note :). Thanks Alexis & Shawn.

Halloween Wedding

2009-10-31T22:02:00.003-04:00

Happy Wedding Day Kara & Charlie! More pics to come soon :)

HOLIDAY PHOTOS 2009

2009-10-29T08:25:00.004-04:00

It's that time of year again. Time to start thinking about holiday portraits. November 8th kicks off our holiday season and if you book your session for that day, you will enjoy 25% off all of our portrait products including holiday cards, prints, and even photo gifts. Email tina@studiobluephoto.com to schedule your session today.

Favorites of 2009 Slideshow

2009-10-02T14:43:00.001-04:00

Something BLUE to keep more GREEN in your wallet

2009-09-19T11:21:00.003-04:00

In light of the economic situations we are all faced with right now, Studio Blue pooled together our ideas and tried to come up with a way that we could give back a little bit more to our community and specifically, to all of the engaged couples out there trying to fit wedding expenses into a depleting wedding budget. We were so pleased to come up with this offer that includes all of the basics for under $3000. Award winning photographers covering your event, full day coverage, even a flush mount wedding album to preserve those memories and an engagement session so you can get to know us before your big day. But this offer won't last forever so be sure to book it before Thanksgiving to guarantee these savings. It's always great to see a few extra greens in that wallet!

Reviews...for Studio Blue

2009-08-21T16:52:00.002-04:00

So I look in my inbox and see a review from our beautiful bride Elissa whose wedding we had the honor of shooting in May. It always tickles me pink when our couples are so appreciative and it's such a good feeling to know we are helping to create memories. Here's the review and thank you so much Elissa for such kind words.

"Tina was an excellent photographer for my wedding this past May. She and her fellow photographers took photos of all the special moments that occured and perfectly captured the mood of the event. I could not have asked for anything more from a photographer. Thanks to her, I can relive that day so clearly and beautifully."

the bad blogger

2009-08-19T00:50:00.001-04:00

Okay Okay, so I am terrible at keeping up with this blog thing! But that does mean that I have lots of happy clients who are getting all of their pictures on time! I am finding that with all of this modern technology and this array of options for keeping people informed (blogging, myspace, twitter, facebook, etc), I am so exhausted just from "expressing myself"! The fire is under my butt though since I am so far behind so stay tuned. On the flip side, if you aren't already my friend, be sure to friend me on facebook to keep up with my "to-do's". I am very diligent there and have been putting up a ton of new wedding and baby posts there so be sure to stop by and check it all out! Toodles!!!

Stephanie & Tim!

2009-06-01T17:48:00.010-04:00

We kicked off our season with the sweet, loving, super duper cute couple; Stephanie and Tim. These two were just filled with vibrance and a contageous energy the entire day and we were so honored to be a part of it. The wedding ceremony and reception were held at Saint Clement's Castle in Portland, CT. A beautiful sunny day, a shining beautiful couple and love in the air. The perfect day for a perfect start! Congrats Stephanie and Tim!

Click HERE to view full event.

Simple Pleasures on Chilly days

2009-04-22T14:13:00.002-04:00

Rainy days are a great excuse to enjoy all of the little things we never seem to take the time to do. Nap, light a fire, cuddle up under a blanket, knit, bake, all of the indoor things that force us to relax. Sometimes I think that rainy days might be sent to us to force us to take a little break. What better day for me to start whipping out the recipes and trying some new things. In my early efforts to stick to a vegetarian lifestyle, I've spent the last few weeks reading recipes and trying new things. This seemed like the perfect day to try something new. Vegetarian Split Pea Soup won out as it seemed like the perfect day for it. Easy: YES, Delicious: YES, Quick: YES. It was a homerun so I'll share my version of it here. Enjoy!

1 T. olive oil
2 Large onions chopped up
3-4 garlic cloves
1/2 t. sea salt
1 bag of dried split peas
6 cups of water
3 knorr extra large vegetarian vegetable bouillon cubes
2 carrots chopped up
2 bay leaves
2 T Lemon juice
paprika to taste

Ok, so you add the oil to a large pot and set the heat on medium high. Add onions and sea salt. Saute a few minutes and add garlic. I actually left them as full cloves (skin removed of course). Saute until onions are soft. Add peas, carrots, water, bay leaves, and bouillon cubes. Bring to boil. Lower heat and let simmer for about 20-30 minutes until peas are cooked. Remove Bay leaves. Puree 1/2 the soup. Stir in the lemon juice. Add water to reach the consistency you like. Served topped with a dash of paprika.

Washington D.C. ~ Lina and Robby's Engagment

2009-04-04T00:26:00.036-04:00

We had the thrill and amazing opportunity to travel down for a long weekend to Washington D.C. to photograph Lina and Robby in their hometown. Lina, a graduate of George Washington University, and Robby, a studying lawyer also attending GWU, felt that nothing would tell Their story better than the big city itself. This is where they met, fell in love and are living their dreams. And what better time to display their blooming love than during the annual cherry blossom festival. We had such a great time with them and loved shooting in such a new setting. They were up for anything and we took advantage of that! Here are a few pieces from the session.

A snippet from DC

2009-03-30T12:08:00.005-04:00

I'll post a ton of pictures soon from our engagement shoot in DC but here's a little something fun that we saw there! Talk about talented kids! I was in the band for 9 years and some of our drummers weren't even this good after 9 years of musical training. These kids are awesome, and what an innovative and dedicated Dad to teach them this skill.

Jessica & Will

2009-03-24T14:01:00.001-04:00

Jessica and Will's wedding took place at the brand new Riverview in Simsbury. What a beautiful wedding and such well thought out details. The autumn theme clearly was carried through all of the decor, flowers, attire and ambiance. Congratulations Jessica and Will! It was truly an honor!

Ella Marie Turns 2 ~ Already!

2009-03-15T17:03:00.005-04:00

My beautiful little princess turned 2 years old on Friday the 13th. All of the memories of her birth came racing back and as we heard the number 2, we just couldn't believe it. Two years ago we had no idea if our little one would be a boy or a girl. There was nothing we could think about except that endless question that seemed like everything in the world rested on. Boy or girl, boy or girl. What color clothes do we buy? How do we decorate the room? What will we name (it)? Nine months of wondering and wanting to know. Then the second she was born, it was amazing because the very last thing I was thinking about was whether it was a boy or a girl. The question had completely vanished from my mind and it was as if there were no such thing as gender, it was just my baby and I wanted nothing more than just to hold that baby. Suddenly, time had stopped, finally. Then out of nowhere, as if a reminder buzzer went off, Igor shouts out, "It's a girl!" And it was only then that I remembered we had been so eager to find out and after she was born, I had never even asked! Funny how the things that seem sooo very important, end up being just novelties and it's the real things in life; family, love, health, and happiness, that end up being the only things that really matter in the end. So, my little princess Ella Marie turns 2 and there is no doubt she is a girl. And the sweetest and prettiest princess I've ever seen. Happy Birthday Ella.

Introducing: Erin and Rob

2009-03-05T08:39:00.001-05:00

Erin and Rob were one of the sweetest couples we worked with all year. Carefree and just totally in love. We had a rainy day which afforded us the opportunity to get some cute umbrella shots with the cute couple. Thank you Erin and Rob for sharing your special day with us!

Catching up on blogging.

2009-03-02T17:16:00.002-05:00

With all of the craziness winter brings, I guess I just got busy and haven't blogged as much as I would have liked to about all of the amazing couples we've photographed this winter. It was surprising how busy this winter actually was! Well, starting today, in order, I'll start putting those posts up and give everyone the spotlight as they so very much deserve! Enjoy! Thanks to all of my couples who made this winter such a blast!!!

Awesome stuff!

2009-02-17T07:56:00.003-05:00

This Sunday (February 22, 2009), Studio Blue will be at the Hartford Bridal Expo at the XL Center (the Civic Center). The show runs from 11am-4pm and there will be tons of great wedding vendors there and exciting things happening! Be sure to stop by at our booth #306. We'll be surprising couples with some super sweet perks!!! You'll be jumping for joy! See you there!

A sweet valentine's surprise...from Mom!

2009-02-16T11:25:00.003-05:00

We all LOVE and remember the flowers, chocolates, maybe nice dinner date and sweet kisses we get for Valentine's Day. It's sort of the unspoken rule of tradition and one that all of us girls secretly like a lot, even if we tell you otherwise! This Valentine's Day I got a little extra surprise, from my Mom! For all of us 80's kids, we can appreciate the lost humor and purely innocent entertainment of our generation that has so quickly been replaced with annoying and bad behaving cartoons of today. Yes, I loved the old school fun...Pee Wee (yes he was annoying but super funny!) and Strawberry Shortcake and my all-time favorite...the Smurfs! So simple, so noble, so purely innocent Smurfs. Of course we can comment for hours about the subtle naughtiness that some people's twisted minds can conjure up, but for kids, it's just pure fun and adventure. So for this Valentine's Day, my best gift ever was a DVD of the Smurf episodes. And what a hit it has been for my whole family! Much to my surprise, over the highly animated Nemo, and the violent Star Wars, and even the loud and cheerful Elmo, the Smurfs came out on top as being the requested TV show for both my kids over these last 2 days! Apparently mothers only get wiser as they become grandmothers! Thanks Mom!

Disappearing Act

2009-02-11T11:36:00.013-05:00

With the holiday rush and our insane family timing to have EVERYTHING at this time of year, it seems, even to myself, that we disappeared for a time. Well actually, we technically did disappear for some time this winter! For the last 2 years we have had the tremendous opportunity to do some traveling with a group of 8 friends. Last year was our first time and we loved it so much, we all decided to go again! Our vacation of choice? Cruising! It leaves little for us to think about and if any of us just needs space to get away from the rest of us, there is a whole ship to hide away on and just do sudoku puzzles. (yes, I had a few of those moments!) This year we took a monster trip of 12 nights sailing from New Jersey to 6 Caribbean Islands. Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Maarteen, Dominica, Barbados and Antigua. It was truly off the hook!!! Here are a few pictures from the trip.

This is our ship, The Explorer of the Seas. Just awesome! Had everything from rock climbing to iceskating, mini golfing, a basketball court, roller blading, and everything in between.

Igor and I celebrated our 8th Anniversary while on the ship! The group pitched in and bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate. My parents also surprised us with room service delivering chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. Of course they came knocking on the door while I was naked and discombobulated!!! Figures!

Puerto Rico

St. Thomas - the best shopping EVER!!!

Pictures of St Maarteen to follow.

This is the rainforest in Dominica. This was a very natural island. So much to see but don't rent a car. Not only do they drive on the other side of the street, the driver also sits on the other side of the car!!!

Dominica's black sand beaches.

Mike, Jessica, Igor and I going snorkeling in Barbados. That was a really fun beach club! And just beautiful! We spotted a whole family of squid in the water while snorkeling.

This is Antigua. Just awesome! We actually went kayaking and snorkeling in Antigua. We saw tons of fish and had a blast. I took an underwater camera with me so I'll post those pictures at a later date.

So, now that we are back, after 2 weeks of sunshine, it just might be a little easier getting through the rest of winter! We already have our next trip planned! :)

Happy Birthday Zack!

2008-12-31T11:29:00.002-05:00

I can't believe my little bugger is already 6 years old! It seems like yesterday that I became a mother for the first time not knowing what to do or when to do it. When he was just one he used to entertain himself for hours just looking at books and even fall asleep in them. His favorite foods were carrots and chocolate icecream and he smiled at every single person that passed him by. 6 years later, he still loves books but loves his DS and Star Wars more, his favorite food is still chocolate icecream and he still gives a warm greeting to everyone he meets. Zack brought, to our otherwise quiet lifestyle, a whole new meaning to life, energy and well, more energy. I can't imagine life without him. Happy Birthday Zack, with all our love.

Art Show THIS Friday!!!! Yippy!

2008-12-04T08:36:00.004-05:00

Hi Friends! The opening of the show "Love Interpreted" is This Friday!!! Myself along with 8 other photographers will be showcasing some pieces. Here is the official press release and ad. I hope to see as many people there as possible so please, come check it out! Cocktails and treats will be served.
CONNECTICUT WOMEN'S PHOTOGRAPHY EVENT "LOVE: INTERPRETED" TO BE HELD AT THE MAC650 ARTISTS COOPERATIVE IN MIDDLETOWN DURING DECEMBER

A group of nine award-winning Connecticut female photographers will display their photographs on the theme "Love: Interpreted" at the MAC 650 Artists Cooperative at 50 Main Street in Middletown from December 5th to January 3rd, 2009. The opening reception on Friday, December 5 at 7:00pm is open to the public.

The "Love: Interpreted" theme was chosen because these women primarily photograph weddings, documenting the strong bonds they witness between couples and within families. "What we really do at weddings is interpret the moments of love, and with this show we wanted to get back to our art school roots, creating something creative and personal in the same theme," noted Nikki Rinaldi of Nikki Nicole Photography, who helped coordinate this event.

Artists exhibiting are: Tina Parsadanov, Jacklyn Greenberg, Jo Kaplan Lee, Mary Marantz, Val McCormick, Nikki Nicole Rinaldi, Krystal Prue, Jane Shauck, and Carla Ten Eyck.

For additional information, contact Nikki Nicole at phone 860.436.6937.

Part 2/3 of Torturing the children.

2008-11-11T13:52:00.000-05:00

What a fun holiday season so far! We've had some great kids come in for some festive photos to celebrate fall and the upcoming holidays! Meet this weeks little models: Amanda, Brian, Kara, Payton, and Morgan.

The beauty queen

2008-11-09T15:45:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was Igor's cousin's wedding day. More on that in a later post... As I lay out some clothes options and try different shoes in front of the full length mirror in our room I turn to see our little beauty queen Ella slipping on my shoes on her tiny toes and I almost melted as she scuffed through the room with them on. Does life get any better than this? I think that would be nearly impossible.

Kim and Justin ~ Congratulations!

2008-11-06T14:40:00.000-05:00

A true piece of art! Every last detail planned to a T with the theme of combining the male and female essence. The wedding took place on the cleared land of Justin's parent's home and it was adorned with a Love swing, vibrant colors, and even firecrackers that set ablaze as the couple shared their first kiss. Wow! The couple said their "I do's" on top of the wedding dress themed float that Justin created complete with a waterfountain in the center of it. The couple's dog was wheeled down the aisle by the two "king" ring bearers to reveal the rings. The boys all wore chile pepper boutonnieres and the bride wore a beautiful red necklace from India. The multicultural integration really made the wedding unique and very interesting to photograph. The evenning was complete with a choreographed medly of latino dances that the couple performed complete with full attire and even fireworks. Thank you Kim and Justin for sharing this amazing experience with us. We will never forget it!

The votes are in.

2008-11-05T08:38:00.001-05:00

With record breaking numbers of people forming lines around buildings across America, it's no doubt that America had something to say and they said it loud and clear. "We want change" It was a tight and interesting campaign that had everyone on the edge of their seats for months watching and listening very carefully to what these candidates, both Barack Obama and John McCain, saw as their vision for the future of America. Both candidates amazingly showed such similarity and such difference all at once. As far as similarity, they were both well qualified and driven individuals with families, a plan for the future and a true love for their nation. As far as differences; their way of getting there. Really, no one can see into the future and know what the best way is to tackle the problems we are facing as a nation today. All we have are our gutt instincts and our sense of humanity which we so easily tend to lose touch of sometimes. In a book I'm reading, there is a very interesting quote that I try to keep in mind whenever I am disgusted with the actions or thoughts of someone else. That quote is this, "If you were that person, you would feel and act exactly the same as they do." Isn't this true? If you really were that person, having been in the same position, with the same upbringing, if you were actually that person, of course you would feel the same way and act the same way. You ARE that person. With that thought in mind, as much as people may disagree with the past 8 years of our country's history and the leadership we were under, as the outside person, of course we can see that things could have been done differently. However, good and bad is all relative. Everything is relative to something else or else how would we know good or bad? You cannot know good unless you know what bad is. That said, without having experienced the sorrow of the past 8 years, we may not have known that change was needed and that we need to do something to initiate it. Every president is appointed into office because of their great promises to their country's people. The question is not who makes the best promises, the question is who will make those promises become a reality. I truly hope, from the bottom of my heart, that over the next 4 years and beyond, our wonderful country reclaims its dignity and thrives in prosperity as a result of the humanity, compassion, understanding and leadership it shows. The generations of "I don't agree with you so I'm not going to talk to you" and the "You are wrong so let's fight" are hopefully over. We, as a human race, are in much need of some evolution in that regard and I think we are getting there. Respect is the key in any relationship and it's no different when dealing with big countries. As an individual, of course we disagree on things. If we didn't, we would all be the same person and there would never be an angle or a purpose for thinking! The point is that despite our differences, whether it be as individuals or as countries, we need to start with respect and proceed from there. I believe that this election has gained the repect of many countries around the world in that America does want to reclaim their dignity and respect for people other than themselves. It is an extraordinary day too to see a half African-American man elected as the president of a nation that just a century and a half ago, enslaved such people. It is an honor to be alive at this time and witness our country moving past our history and moving forward to better ourselves as a union; as one with a single purpose. Recognizing that simple yet profound reality (we are One) is really the cornerstone to any and all success. Together, we can accomplish anything imaginable. There are no limits unless we put them there. Congratulations to Barack and to all who worked tirelessly to get him where he is. I hope that this is the begining of something wonderful. Time will tell!

Torturing the kids once again :)

2008-11-02T15:40:00.001-05:00

I'm finding that as kids get older they just don't want their picture taken. They are really becoming little adults and are well on their way to the "I hate having my picture taken" phrase that most of us are so guilty of saying. My kids are no different. Even through the years of having more than the average number of photos taken of them, they still act crazy once the camera comes out! This season is no different of course; they still act crazy and pretend they have never seen a camera before and I am pulling my hair out trying to find ways to coax them into acting like humans and not animals! Too funny! We always see our own kids with a bit of a more critical eye. This weekend kicked off our series of weekends dedicated to holiday portraits and we had 4 really fun shoots! One was even a 3 week old! Here is a shot from each one :)

Announcing....XOX Boudoir!!!!

2008-10-27T21:07:00.002-04:00

Come on now...Boudoir photography is just the hottest thing right now. Not only are gals glaming up for their partners but even more so; for themselves! It's not only a fantastic confidence booster but it's tons of fun too! Studio Blue has just launched a whole entire site dedicated to, you guessed it, Boudoir Photography! You can book personal shoots and even boudoir portrait parties right online. We also are so excited to offer the First Ever, Boudoir photography site that also carries an entire line of lingerie. Check us out at XOXBoudoir.com and be sure to enter coupon code NEWXOX for 40% off of any purchase until Nov. 27, 08. Enjoy!

Holiday Portrait Time :)

2008-10-23T12:07:00.003-04:00

Yup, it's that time of year again! Holiday Portrait time! What better gift to give to family than a holiday photo they will cherish for years and even generations to come. Give the gift that keeps on giving. Come in for a holiday session as a great opportunity for photo gifts and even holiday greeting cards. Schedule your session today. Spaces are limited!

Off to NYC...my favorite city in the US.

2008-10-23T10:51:00.003-04:00

As I get that twitch, a little shake and an antsiness running through my body I realize what's going on. It's called withdrawal. I have a serious addiction to big cities so badly that on a whim I've forced my family to pack up the strollers and a picnic lunch just to go to NYC for the day at the park. I know you're thinking..."Hello there Tina, there are parks EVERYWHERE!" Yes, I know that. But the fast pace, the crowded streets, the amazing architecture that covers every inch of every building and the characters you see in the city are second to none. It's just one of those places we all fit into. So, I'm overdue! And just in time too. Lucky for me the Photo Plus Expo is this week and it's in NYC! My favorite of favorite spots. I'll keep you posted on my trip. Until then "I LOVE New York!" Do you?

Kylah and Mike ~ Congrats!!!

2008-10-21T15:09:00.001-04:00

Congratulations Kylah and Mike! Their wedding (despite the rain) was breathtaking! Every detail planned out and some really awesome locations including the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, NY. Thank you for sharing your day with us!

Stacey & Keith ~ Congratulations!

2008-10-14T09:10:00.002-04:00

Studio Blue...we missed you!

2008-10-07T17:08:00.006-04:00

Back by overwhelming popular demand....drum roll please....Studio Blue Photography. For those of you wondering about the ever lasting name additions we have seen over the last 6 years I have the story here! I have also been asked many times how we got our start. So, here goes!

Six years ago, I had just turned 22 years old and had my son Zack. Igor and I married very young with me at the tender age of 20 years and 1 week old! We were high school sweethearts who met at our first job at the local McDonald's. And were inseparable ever since. We married while still in college and I was an art education major and he was in engineering and the air force. I had received my first camera (a blue 110mm) when I was 5 years old and have taken pictures ever since. Throughout high school I had studied photography and film and video non-stop and if you were ever wondering where I spent my study halls, it was in the dark room. It was a true love. It was well known throughout the school that my "dream job" would have been to be a photographer and I often told people, "just watch, some day I will own a studio". It seemed so rediculous to think that, but hey, we all have dreams. While in college, I worked full time as a manager for a department store and attended college full time also. It was busy but I loved every minute of it! Interacting with people was just so fun. Making friends with random old ladies or little kids or helping that dad find that perfect holiday gift was what made my job so rewarding. The People! That still remains true to date and is still what I love most about my job. So anyways...after having my sweet Zack, I had not realized that for me to return to work and pay for daycare would cost me more than what I was making working full time! That was quite a shock and we reached a brick wall. It was at that point that I stopped and said to myself, "You know what? I'm going to do this!" I had spent my high school and college life dreaming up a wonderful job and putting practice into it but never actually thinking it could happen. This was the push I needed. So, Igor and I built a website with the photography I had done over the years and we waited. A short time later, I got my first call and first booking! We were sooo excited to get (at that time) the $50 deposit because it meant we could finally go grocery shopping! There was a light at the end of the tunnel. Our first year, we ended up photographing 9 weddings. The second year, we photographed 20, the next 32, and the next 45! The business continued to grow and we were ever grateful to each and every couple that admired our work and our dedication. My business started out under my name: Tina Parsadanov Photography. Once I hit a point where I started hiring employees, I thought to myself that it might be a little rediculous to say, "I work for Tina Parsadanov Photography". That's when we adopted the name Studio Blue. The name Studio Blue came from a photograph I had taken while on our Annual R&R in Cape Cod. It was a photograph of my son pointing to the ocean (he was 18 months old). You can see the photo below. As you can see, the ocean is blue, and the sky is blue and the blue just seems to completely dominate the photograph. The blue represented the sky (air) and the ocean (water) both of which are needed sources of life. Life is what we photograph. Studio Blue = Studio of Life. So, after much "trying to reinvent ourselves", we are back! And We're back with a BANG! Studio Blue has started several new programs being implimented this week that we are so terribly excited about! I will mention one....a new Portraits for Life program. For every wedding couple we have photographed over the years and those upcoming into our future, you will receive a "Portraits for Life" membership allowing you free portrait sittings for, well, your life! It's our way of saying THANK YOU! You are the very reason that we have grown to be what we are today. We cannot say thank you enough! Please look forward to other new programs being offered that will show our appreciation for having such fantastic clients! We are truly blessed! Thank you and God bless you!

You ask...they answer.

2008-10-06T08:02:00.000-04:00

Tricia and Billy ~ Congratulations!!!

2008-10-03T12:18:00.001-04:00

The beautiful wedding of Tricia and Billy. I can't say enough about how perfectly it went. The locations were breathtaking from the enormous Congregational church in Hartford, to city hall and then the new Gershon Fox Room in the old GFox building. The whole day was gorgeous.

Date Night

2008-10-03T11:56:00.002-04:00

Oh my gosh, the sweetest thing ever!! About 4 weeks ago Igor and I started having weekly "date-nights" and we alternate who plans it. It has been so fun! We have only gone so far as to cooking a gourmet meal at home after 8pm when the kids are tucked in and dreaming of sugar plums and then we dress up and then surprise the other with our fanciful dish in a room of candle-light followed by a card game or movie. I should start posting those recipes because they have been to die for!!! So, although I have no pictures :( ...I did want to let you know what we did last night because it was just the best ever. So for the past 6 years (pretty much since our son Zackery was born) I have always mentioned in passing that I really miss being able to go to art museums. Young children and art museums where you cannot touch, just a BAD combo! So as a surprise, Igor arranged for a sitter to come. I was swept away at about 5:30pm having no idea where we were going. And...we went to the Wadsworth! We spent 2 hours there oohhing and ahhing over the beautiful pictures and pots and just amazing creations and the use of color and balance and framing and composition. It was awesome. Then at 8pm, we headed to a reservation at my absolute favorite restaurant; Max Downtown. I have cheap taste apparently ;) For anyone who has never been to Max Downtown, it is a beautiful restaurant that is very modern eclectic. They have a piano bar on Thursday through Sunday and they serve wonderful steaks, chicken, and wine, etc... We enjoyed their Rhode Island style calamari and then for dinner we had the gorgonzola and carmelized onion stuffed filet mignon served with these tiny and strangely round carrots and a potato augratin. Just amazing. They also do host smaller events such as rehearsal dinners and we have even shot a wedding here so if anyone is looking for a really NICE place to go out or have an event, I highly recommend Max Downtown. Their staff treat you like gold and they have the best food and service I have ever had. (That's why it's my favorite!)

Melissa and Sean ~ Congratulations!

2008-09-25T12:49:00.001-04:00

Annual R&R

2008-09-24T15:29:00.018-04:00

We just returned last night from our annual rest and relaxation weekend in Cape Cod as a family. Igor and I have been doing this long weekend in the Cape for the past 8 years and it has just become a family tradition for us. It's the one thing that we refuse to substitute as to us, nothing can replace the Cape! It's where I reconnect with my inner antique collector (or as Igor would call it; junk collector) and it's where he reconnects with just resting (or as I would call it; being lazy). The kids reconnect with each of us after a busy summer and it's our time to reclaim our family unit in a setting that harbours love and patience and even healing. Each day we did a little something. Although every year up until this year, we seem to enjoy discovering new wonders around the Cape, this year we actually just revisited our favorite family spots. I was able to get my morning jogs in and they were made 10x better because they were along the ocean. We collected all sorts of treasures and well, read on... it was a blast!

Every year we stay at our favorite spot on the Cape. It's a place called Seaside. It's in South Yarmouth and you get your very own little cottage right on the ocean front. I can't say enough about this place other than after our first stay here, we never looked back. We have been staying here for 5 years now and wouldn't even consider anywhere else. http://www.seasidecapecod.com/ for anyone looking for a place to stay!

Ok, so weddings follow me! We checked in to the front desk and low and behold I hear of a wedding taking place right there at seaside! I had to grab a quick picture. Such a sweet wedding and nice group of people. They had a tent set up right on the property where they had a nice gathering with their family and friends.

Our favorite find of all time was what we found last year! If you go down to Chatham to the lighthouse and continue on that road you will find on your right, Nickerson's fresh fish market which not only has the best clam chowder EVA but down at the docks there are also wild seals! They hang out on the sand bars and swim over to say 'hi'. They are the cutest things!

We also went to Nickerson State Park where Igor was teaching Zack how to skip stones. It was such a beautiful day.

Our Junior photographer took this one of Igor and I. :) Nice job Zack!

At the Cape Cod National Seashore.

The kids LOVED this driftwood. We couldn't get Ella away from it! So...took a few pics with the monkeys hanging on the tree.

Back at Seaside, we flew our kite. For the first time we let the entire roll of string out!!!! It was rediculously high and it took a very very long time to wind it back up!

Can you see that dot up in the sky? Yup, that's the kite!

And what better way to end a Cape Cod trip than by relaxing by the fire?

Alexa - Take 2 snap

2008-09-17T21:42:00.004-04:00

Beautiful Alexa! This is Alexa's second baby shoot and at 6 months young, she is already a Pro. Alexa also holds a little something extra special in my heart as she is just shy by 2 days of celebrating the same birthday as my own daughter. How cool is that? When the two of them look at each other though they just aren't quite sure what to make of the other. Well, as you can see, Alexa did a fantastic job and although Mom and Dad got the boot, they too did a great job with their Lilly frog and baby bander. Ahhh....these are the days. Presenting....Alexa!

Meeting Baby Abigail

2008-09-17T15:42:00.008-04:00

What a cutie patutie!!!! Baby Abby was such a doll. Her parents (past wedding clients) came in this past weekend and we did a baby/family shoot in my studio downstairs. When I asked Mom how she was adjusting to being a mom, she replied with, "I'm loving it, every minute of it". After about 2 minutes with Abby I could totally see why! She was just the most gentle and sweet baby ever. Laurie and Josh just totally love their little girl and I'm so happy for the new family. Grandma and Grandpa even came for the excitement of the first baby pictures! Way too much fun! I love my job ;)

"Energy and persistence conquer all things." ~ Benjamin Franklin

2008-09-08T14:36:00.006-04:00

For 4 years now, I've had a dream to "some-day" run the Manchester Road Race. The Manchester Road Race is a 4.748 mile race that goes through Manchester CT on Thanksgiving day. It attracts runners from all around the world! You don't even have to run it, you can even walk it and the participation rate is sky high with more than 9800 participants! All proceeds from the race go to Muscular Dystrophy research. So, this year is the year! I've already started my running and I'm really hoping that I reach the finish line Still running! :) Anyone else up for the challenge? I hope to see you there!

#41; sort of...

2008-09-01T17:40:00.005-04:00

As mentioned in a previous post, at a recent PUG retreat in the Berkshires, we were assigned the task of creating a list of 101 things that we wanted to accomplish is 1001 days. So far I have 8 checked off and was really on a roll and crazily excited when a major number, namely #41, was about to be checked off my list! Get a new car!!!! My car is up there in mileage and we wanted to be sure that I had something dependable; especially since we photograph weddings! This is a huge deal for anyone and even more so because I had the car custom made just for me and waited an agonizing 8 whole weeks for it. My beautiful new Smurfetta (or so I named her)...She is the cutest little button of a car with a lucky birthdate and all (8/28/08). So, what's the sort of part? Well, while shooting a wedding last night in Hartford, my little smurf got her window smashed in! I came out to find her glass all over the place and my gps gone. I had her 3 days and already she was destroyed. My heart sank and as I gasped, I held my breath a little longer than usual and I just didn't know what to do. Sometimes things just happen I guess and we can be fortunate that no one was hurt and the minor detail that it wasn't raining! For now, let's fix her up and get her back on the road again! Motor On!

Before=Happy

After=Not so much.

Congrats Kelly and Patrick

2008-08-29T09:10:00.021-04:00

We had the pleasure of photographing the fabulous wedding of Kelly and Patrick a few weeks back. Everything was so lovely. Yes, lovely. It was just so organized and well, lovely! Kelly was a doll and full of smiles and such a joy to be around. She had the cutest little flower people and it was a day filled with love and pure happiness. They chose Gillette Castle for their photo location which was cool because although I have shot there before, I had never shot a wedding there. Such a pretty view and creative architecture. My day was filled with new experiences because their reception was at the new Riverhouse in Haddam and this was my first time shooting here as well! What a beautiful spot! Crazy ceiling vaults and a balcony made for some interesting photos. Thank you Kelly and Patrick for sharing your day with us.

Melissa and Tommy ~ Congratulations

2008-08-27T20:13:00.016-04:00

I'm way behind on my wedding blogs .... Sorry!

Melissa and Tommy had a Gorgeous day! They were married at the beautiful Waters Edge Resort and Spa a few weeks back. There was so much love and excitement at this wedding and the reception was the craziest dance party I've ever ever ever seen!!! Mind you, it was a Sunday night wedding!!! I left at almost midnight and the dancefloor was still jam packed with kids of ALL ages. We even got a fancy lightning storm in the wee hours of the party. Fun fun times.

First day butterflies

2008-08-27T11:50:00.006-04:00

Today was the first day of school in my town. We frantically did our school shopping yesterday at 12pm to get everything my big boy Zack would need for his first day of 1st grade! I just can't believe how fast he has grown up. It seems like not that long ago we were holding him in our arms and praying he'd fall asleep. Now he's off on a big yellow school bus as independent as can be. 5 years old going on 30! He even requested his hair be done up so he can look "cool". I'm so shocked to see that the word 'cool' is still cool! But anyways...after some Kix, a good tooth brushing and a goodbye kiss for Ella, he was off for his newest adventures. And as for me? I think I'll get some work done now!

No, that's not the street, it's actually our rediculously long driveway!It was a bit chilly this morning!

Happy Birthday my sweet!

2008-08-25T16:08:00.004-04:00

Today is my beloved's birthday and what a special day it is. He has brought so much patience and love into my life and I'm so glad we are together. We have been together for 11 years (since we were 16) and I've seen him grow into the caring man and wonderful father he is today. It has been a blessing having him in my life.

Igor requested we spend Sunday as a family day and so we took an awesome day trip to Boston. We visited the aquarium and wandered the streets and Quincy Market. It was a beautiful day! Today we'll keep it simple though and gather with our families at our favorite pizza place...Frank Pepe's!!!! YUM! :) Happy 28th Birthday Igor! We love you!

PUG spells fun times! (and Pug too)

2008-08-22T22:54:00.003-04:00

We were so excited to host the August PUG (Pictage user group) meeting! Justin and Mary brought the movie "The Man Who Wasn't There" and we viewed it all drive-in-movie style with the movie projected on a big white sheet against our house and lawn chairs, popcorn, candy and blankets. Yes, Blankets!!! Why is it so cold already in August? Thanks everyone for such a fun time!

Congrats Adriane and TJ

2008-08-10T10:50:00.017-04:00

The most perfect day! Yesterday...the sky was the most amazing blue and we were blessed with white beautiful puffy clouds, the temp was in the 70's and we got to shoot a wedding in all of these perfect conditions. Not just any wedding, Adriane and TJ's wedding! It doesn't get better than that! This was her mom's hanky from her wedding which was embroidered with her name and date. Adriane added her own name and wedding date to it so this was very special. There is also a yellowish hanky under it (you can see peaking out from the left) which Adriane's great grandmother had made for her grandmother's wedding. The beautiful bouquet that was so perfect that everyone thought it was fake! And...the rolls :)

This cathedral church was just breathtaking! St. Augustine's in Bridgeport, it was where Adriane's grandmother was married 55 years prior.
And the first kiss...
For the grand exit, everyone circled around the front church steps and blew bubbles.
Adriane and TJ in the sunflower maze.
And the wedding party in the sunflower maze...so fun!

Igor took this AWESOME silhouette shot by the tree!

The first dance.

Congratulations Adriane and TJ. Thank you for sharing such a special day with us!!

Mrs. Jennifer and baby-to-be

2008-08-10T10:18:00.006-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing the beautiful mom-to-be Jennifer in all of her goddess wonder! What a beaming ray of sunshine. We had so much fun!

What's New? LOTS!

2008-08-04T12:34:00.004-04:00

I can't keep up with all of the new stuff we've been up to! First, on Friday evening we went to a really inspiring seminar called "I Shoot People". That IS what we do, right?! And yes, I know I'm in the mafia according to the playing cards but really, it's not for that kind of shooting. The seminar was in NYC and was put on by Sallee Photography out of Dallas Texas. These folks had such great energy and reminded me sooo much of the Marantz's! A cute husband and wife team who were there to inspire. Igor and I stayed overnight at a crazy hotel that overbooked so we ended up in a room with two twin beds! (separated by a nightstand!) Rediculousness. But, other than that we had a great time. We even saw Val McCormick from Val McCormick photography there. So all of that equalled good times, good people and lots of learning. We are sooo reved up with ideas that it can only mean oodles of goodness for our wedding couples.

Next on the agenda...we have entered a new dimension and purchased our first mac! Wow, this is just crazy and we are totally in love. The kind of feeling like you see in the movies when somone opens a book and a chorus starts singing "ahhhh..." and then when you shut the book the singing suddenly stops and then you open it a crack to test it and it starts singing and you shut it and it stops! We experienced lots of "ahhh..." moments yesterday and today and are so happy to welcome it to our collection of work horses. We are most excited because this will mean we can work side by side and get double the work done in the same time while still spending "quality" time together. :)

The last thing I'll mention is...(and this will also be on the next newsletter) that for any bride or couple or past wedding couple that would like to take advantage of getting some extremely unique and interesting not like anyone else kind of wedding, bridal or engagement photos, we will be traveling in January of 2009 to 7 Caribbean Islands. We will be posting our schedule on the blog and newsletter. This is such a great opportunity to have one of a kind photographs/art. This would be great for 'trash the dress' sessions too where the two of you can travel out to the location, have a little vacation time and also get some photographs taken say, walking along or in the ocean or on a mountain. Things you totally wouldn't have done on your wedding day. And seriously, who would pass up the chance to wear their wedding dress again?! The options are limitless and like I said, it's such a great opportunity to get some amazing art and a memorable time. We will be accepting only the first 3 brides/couples that contact us so it is limited. Please email me for more details if you are interested.

Cheerio!

Crazinessssssss

2008-08-01T09:23:00.003-04:00

This week has been so super busy and I'm so sorry that I didn't update my blog until now! Just to keep you in the loop on our happenings, I spent Monday and Tuesday on a fabulous photographers retreat in the Berkshires at the amazing Amanda Harris Herzberger's family lake house. I enjoyed kayaking with Miss Aimee Thomas Oswalt for TWO hours!!!! And swimming (well actually hanging from a floating dock) with some of my photography peeps like the Marantz's and Carla Ten Eyck and Julia from Salty Grapes and a new friend Jacob from NoDo photography. It was really a great time to relax and reflect on life in general. The key 'workshop' we did was to create a list of 101 things we wanted to accomplish in 1001 days. This is harder to create than you think! The list encompassed everything from business to personal goals and even spiritual. Anything could go on this list. It helped me realize just how vast our lives really are. I think most of us went into this thinking that our list would be 90% business related goals but in reality, our life is a little bit of everything that makes it a whole. We are supposed to accomplish one of our goals this week and blog about it so here goes... (I did two!)

#9 Wake up earlier than the kids.
I actually accomplished this today!!! Seems like a small step but I am sooo not a morning person so for me, this was Huge! Now I just have to make sure I do this every day for smooth sailing.

#27 Go camping.
Most of the fellow retreat people saw this goal happen. I totally set up my sleeping station on the floor of the lakehouse, I was lying down ready to sleep when suddenly I sat right back up and said, "nope, I'm sleeping outside!". So, I grabbed my stuff at 1:30am and set up my tent with the help of Jacob and slept under the stars. Check on #27

So two checks off of the 101... still working on #44 Learn how to breakdance.

Congrats Sylvia and Silvio!!!

2008-07-24T11:49:00.018-04:00

What a FUN wedding! I just knew this wedding would be so fun from the moment I met Sylvia and her Mom Angela. They were so passionate about the Portuguese/Italian wedding that they were planning that I was looking forward to it all year! Well, the wedding took place on Saturday and it was absolutely amazing and filled with more fun than I had ever imagined. From reunions that took place with people from across the globe, to the 236 guest count, dancing all night long (and I mean all night as in 10 hours of dancing!), to meals after meals from seafood to chicken to roast pig to clams and even lobster and a full venetian table, this party was rockin the house! Sylvia and Silvio were so easy to work with and they just beamed the whole day. It was truly an honor and privilege to work with such a fantastic group. Thank you for your hospitality and for choosing us to capture such a special day!

Kylah and Mike ~ Engagement fun

2008-07-19T09:46:00.022-04:00

Last Tuesday I had so much fun shooting Kylah and Mike for their engagement shoot. We went to Hartford's Bushnell park and also scooted over to the train station for a few pictures. Mike is from Brooklyn and the couple plans to eventually move there so we had to include some pics using the NY sign at the station. They really rocked the shoot and were totally digging the model thing! Mike has a yellow corvette just like his Dad did at his age so we totally used that too. We even got to go into the water fountain!!! Sooo fun!

These really Are the Sweetest days

2008-07-16T13:34:00.002-04:00

Summer days are filled with fun...when you actually have time to enjoy them! These past few weeks I've been so caught up in a tight schedule between the 2 kids home with me for summer vacation, weddings, more weddings and the terrible house cleaning that lurks in every corner and makes you feel guilty about doing anything else. When hubby came home after work he so sweetly offered to take the kids out to the park so I could work. I accepted the offer without a second thought and got straight to work. About an hour later I hear the door swing open slamming against the wall, "MAMA" shouts Zack. "Mama, mama, mama, where are you?" "I'm on the computer," I call back. He comes racing in like an elephant about to fall through the floor and hands me half of an old Easter eggshell filled with clover. "I got this for you," he says. I just hugged him for a long time and realized just how sweet these days really are...

Congrats Elizabeth and Michael ~ Slideshow

2008-07-14T21:45:00.001-04:00

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Current gas prices in my neighborhood.....

2008-07-10T19:56:00.000-04:00

Julie & Chris - מזל טוב‎ (Mazal Tov!)

2008-07-07T17:47:00.023-04:00

I was privaledged to have the opportunity to spend the day with Julie and Chris at Julie's parents gorgeous home in Roxbury which is where the wedding took place. The love that filled these two families was just unmatched and it was very clear how Julie and Chris learned their art of absolute unconditional love. The most amazing part of the day's festivities was the exchange of kind words and memories of the couple. This took place in so many forms from the many toasts, to the childhood songs sang throughout the reception and even the handmade quilted huppa that each guest personalized with a square of their own designing. The location itself overlooked sooo far, I can't even tell you. It was just breathtaking. Roxbury was the town that the couple met in while Julie rode horses at Chris' parents horse farm. It was love at first sight and they've been together ever since. Their love for animals is only the first thing that brought them together and will continue to bring them adventures! Chris is attending veterinary school in Australia so the couple is moving there in 2 weeks and Julie is very excited to join her new husband on this voyage. Their wedding cake was themed after their love of animals and the fireworks closed the evening just perfectly for a 4th of July weekend wedding! Congratulations Julie and Chris!

On the way home

2008-07-05T22:18:00.000-04:00

Yes, I'm driving and blogging...bad girl. How could I not post the
fireworks I just passed in Hartford and ran from the cop to snap an
ultra quick pic on the side of 84? Happy 4th peeps! :)

A night out

2008-07-03T23:59:00.000-04:00

We actually had a night out tonight and are at Mohegan sun right
NOW! Busy weekend ahead so happy holidays everyone! :)

Wowaweewa

2008-06-29T22:08:00.009-04:00

Wow, these two were sooo HOT! sizzlin (tssss....) Today I shot Tricia and Billy in downtown Hartford. What a fun time we had! They were so lovey dovey, kissy and well, exactly what every photographer wants in a couple that they are photographing! Tricia booked up city hall for photos and it was a very good idea indeed because after about 20 minutes of shooting outside, it started to pour. A wedding was on the second floor so we claimed the first floor of city hall and had fun creating some new picture ideas in a space that is not as often used. This was a fantastic dry run for the wedding which will be in just 2 short months! So...presenting Tricia and Billy (yes Billy, after today I know how fly you are!) :)

Congrats Meg and Andy!!!

2008-06-29T21:19:00.012-04:00

Too Cute!!! Those are the first words that come to mind when I think of Meg and Andy. They were just such a cute couple who totally understood what love was all about. The ceremony took place at Stanley Park in Westfield, Massachusetts. It was an outdoor ceremony with beautiful harp music playing as you walked up to the fountain where the couple said their vows. A wedding of only those closest to them made it so private and intimate. The reception followed at the Springfield Sheraton with a night of dancing, dinner and silly fun! Meg's contageous smile beamed throughout the night and the down to earth nature of the couple came out at the reception when the shoes came off and the fun officially began! Awesome time Meg and Andy! Congratulations and we were so happy to share the day with you! For full coverage, log on to www.tinaparsadanov.com

Rene and Jason - מזל טוב (Mazal Tov)!!!

2008-06-26T13:14:00.014-04:00

This past weekend we had the pleasure and fun of shooting the wedding of Rene and Jason. We knew Rene from weddings in the past couple of years that she spent filming when she worked in video and now that it was her turn, we were so honored to have her pick us to photograph such a special event! Rene and Jason are soooo sweet together! Jason was filled with little surprises that day including a beautiful bracelet with the inscription "A woman of valor, who can find? Her value is far beyond pearls." Jason surprised us again when he requested a private moment before the unveiling began to be alone with his soon to be wife. It was just so sentimental. Rene, now a professional wedding planner, had everything organized and it all just fell into place. Her mother was ultra tallented!!! She made all 6 of the bridesmaid's dresses (each one different) AND she even made the brides wedding dress! Everything was stunning. The festivities kicked off after the formal ceremony with a jar of oreo cookies on every table and homemade jams for guests to take home as favors. It was such a beautiful evenning! Congratulations Rene and Jason!

For full coverage, log on to www.tinaparsadanov.com

We're so sneaky!

2008-06-25T23:04:00.009-04:00

So...my gracious in-laws religiously babysit our 2 kids every weekend so we can shoot weddings. They LOVE spending time with their grandkids and we love knowing that they are in good hands. Honestly, we couldn't do it without them. For years we tried coming up with a way to thank them but really, what do you give to people who just buy whatever they want?? MIL has been saying over and over again in passing that she wishes her basement was finished and she wishes the kids had a place to play so their toys didn't kill anyone! (anyone with kids knows how little legos and barbie shoes can really do a number on the safety of a home!! and a number on your feet!!!) So, last week they went on a 10 day vacation and Igor, my sister in law Katy, her boyfriend Mike and myself banded together and poured all of our energy into creating an awesome room. Yes, it was a ToTal surprise and ended with screaming and tears. It was totally TLC material. :) Here's the before and after pics. Thank you so much Marina and Alex for all of your patience and love that you show to our children and us. We couldn't do it without you!

Before

After

The Big Reveal

Yup, I'm alive

2008-06-21T00:42:00.000-04:00

It's 1am and I'm beat and covered in paint and dust. Sorry I haven't updated the blog this week. You'll see what I've been up to soon.... Craziness!

Congrats Jen and Sam!!!

2008-06-10T15:30:00.001-04:00

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Hot Hot HOT!!!

2008-06-07T18:26:00.002-04:00

Man is it HOT out today! Who would have thought? Today we shot a beautiful and super sweet wedding in Portland at Saint Clement's Castle. Jen and Sam were so fun to work with and their families were so awesome! (anyone who puts up with me for 8 hours is alright by me!) Here's one shot just to tease; to be continued this week... ;)

Kristen and Will - Your pics are UP!!

2008-06-05T12:14:00.001-04:00

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My mii ball

2008-06-03T09:25:00.003-04:00

Sooo.....I got the Wii Fit last night! I've been trying to get it since it came out and every time I go to Toys R Us, they say, "Oh, we just sold out, come back on Sunday". So last night we were at Sam's club getting dog food and I figured I'd ask if maybe they carried them. Well they did! They had 4 in stock AND the best part was that they cost $78 instead of the normal $89. We brought that bad boy home and hooked it up. Then all the excitement when to laughter and a little bit of embarrasment when the wii board weighed us. Suddenly the pretty little mii turned into a ball right before my eyes. It was pretty funny but just shows the importance of staying fit. So, this was day 2 of the wii fit exercise program and I'm proud to say that all of the yoga I've been doing really paid off in the balancing tests. Now I just have to get that mii ball back to a fit mii! :)

Presenting....Our team!

2008-06-01T21:48:00.009-04:00

(Left to right top: Sean, Steve. Left to right bottom: Igor, Tommy, Alison, Tina.)

We have SUCH an awesome team! I am so thrilled to have so many fantastic people working with us this year. Each one brings something different to the team and I'm so proud of all of the hard work they did today. Today was day one of the 2008 training schedule. It was intense with 2.5 hours of hard study and discussion and then a 1.5 hour long shoot out. We had so much fun and learned/reviewed some techniques to make great and interesting pictures. Thanks guys for all of your hard work today. You really made it a blast!

Here are a few images from the shoot:

Baby Cole

2008-05-30T13:43:00.004-04:00

Awe....what a cutie pie! I had the great Pleasure of photographing Mr. Cole at the tender age of just 11 days old! Oh my gosh, how tiny! I forgot how little they once are. The proud parents, Jillian and Jamison, were so patient with him and just loved the little one to pieces. Here are a few pics from the shoot. Thanks guys for sharing this moment with us!

Kristen and William

2008-05-28T08:07:00.013-04:00

Wow, what a wedding! We traveled to NYC this past Saturday to cover the AmaZing wedding of Kristen and Will. They really went all out and are just so in love. She kept saying over and over prior to the ceremony, "I just can't wait to see Will." With a wedding party of 30 people!!!!...this event was action packed and sooo much fun! From the glass elevator that emerged from the center of the dance floor to reveal the new bride and groom to the fireworks set a-glow at their venetian table, this event was truly an event to remember. Thank you guys for sharing such a special day with us!
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Memorial

2008-05-26T15:31:00.009-04:00

Today is a special day for many families, especially at this trying time with so many service men and women who have died in our current war or who are over there right now battling in the name of justice. Whether we agree with the current war or not, I think we All agree that we would love to have our loved ones home in safety and with us. Throughout the ages, history has seen war and trial and people have willingly stepped forward to sacrifice their lives for what they believe will benefit the common good of man. Thank you to all who have done just that. Without you, we would not know bravery, selflessness and freedom. We are blessed to live in a nation that has so much wealth, freedom and opportunity.

Memorial day for me is my grandfather's day. In honor of him, we attended our family's home town parade. My grandfather, whom which we called Pere (when we were young we couldn't pronounce Pe'pere which is the french word for grandpa), was in the army during WWII. He lived with my family when I was about 12 years old and my most vivid memory of him was during that time. He would sit at the dinner table every night and talk non-stop about his war stories. That was a time in his life that had a huge impact on him, and understandably so. Following the war, he married my grandmother (Mere, yes we called her that for the same reason!). As the story goes, Mere was engaged at the time and my grandfather who was very much in love with her, told her he loved her and that he wanted her as his bride and then proceeded to take her engagement ring off her finger and throw it out the window. Wow...what a movie like love story! But that really is just how much he loved her until the day he died. She was his everything. He loved fishing, poker with the guys at the bar down the street, boating, bananas, and Oreo cookies. His favorite shows were Wheel of Fortune and watching wrestling on the scrambled up channel because he didn't see why he should be paying for it when he could hear what was going on and he could catch a glimpse every now and again if he watched carefully. He took a nap every day on the couch with the round orange crochet pillow my Mere had made and he loved roast beef sandwiches with mustard. Pere was a simple man, grew up with dirt floors in his home as a child and when he bought his first home (a very small cape in East Hartford), despite the fact that Mere and Pere had 5 kids, they Never moved. His home was his home.

So here's to grandfather's day and to the life my grandfather lived. Here's to the lives your grandparent's, parent's, siblings, aunt's, uncles, and children live(d). Here's to you and here's to me and here's to all who have demonstrated the same sacrificing spirit for the benefit and peace of mankind. God Bless you and thank you.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!

2008-05-25T19:41:00.006-04:00

This is Such a gorgeous weekend! I spent the day spreading grass seed over my current moss lawn in hopes of growing some actual grass that my sweetheart Igor can lovingly mow. :) The season just brings out so many options for fun, adventure and exploration. We are blessed to live in a wooded area and we see so much wild life. We have a red tailed hawk family that lives in our yard, tons of frogs (26 to be as exact as possible), deer, AND our favorite; the hummingbird. I was buying some flowers in the garden dept of Wal-Mart when I spotted a mini hummingbird feeder for like $1 and some 'nectar' for about $2 so I grabbed it hoping for the best. I put the feeder up in a little tree and voila! Hummingbirds galore!

Today we also had the pleasure of spending some adventurous time with our kids. My aunt and uncle generously purchased a rocket for my son Zackery. Igor and Zack spent some time, during the rainy weather, building and assembling it and were waiting for a perfect day to launch it. Well, today was that day! The four of us (Igor, Zack, Ella and myself) all piled in the car. Zack with his rocket, Igor with the amo, Ella with her 1/4 of an orange and I with my camera. We headed to a local field. The boys set up while Ella and I played in the grass anxiously awaiting the show. "5, 4 ,3 2, 1 Blast off", yelled Zack and Igor and I snapped away. So much fun!

Gilead Hill la la la...

2008-05-23T11:41:00.008-04:00

This year, my town of Hebron is celebrating it's 300th Anniversary. In honor of this, my son Zackery's school put on a performance. They sang songs, we watched a slideshow featuring people of honor such as firefighters, police and military personnel, we heard a story teller who was complete in 1800's attire, and we even got to experience a Hebron-resident musician singing a song he wrote about what makes Hebron such a great place to live. It was fun!

You can see in this picture just how much Zack LOVES singing! hahaha

Elizabeth and Michael

2008-05-21T09:26:00.008-04:00

What a beautiful day! Despite weather reports of rain, Elizabeth and Michael ended up with an amazing day for engagement photos. What a sweet couple too! Their engagement shoot took place at Elizabeth Park in Hartford, CT and we got to see everything. The bridge, the ducks and even a whole new family of baby ducks that were still all fuzzy yellow. What a fun day!

http://www.tinaparsadanov.com/

Steph and Tim

2008-05-16T22:50:00.021-04:00

What a CUTE couple! Stephanie and Tim were so much fun to work with, and did I mention they are so terribly cute together?! From chasing pigeons to riding the carousel, this shoot (captured in Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT) was packed with fun and adventure. Stephanie with her bright yellow dress brought a ray of sunshine to what was actually a very cloudy and gray day. They started out shy (as we All do in front of the camera) and then just had fun and that is when all of the magic happened. www.tinaparsadanov.com

2008 Engagement Shoot Schedule

2008-05-15T08:53:00.004-04:00

A reminder to all of my couples, spring engagement shoots are this weekend! Woohoo! We realize that it can be tricky to get together for engagement shoots during the week with everyone's work schedules. It is also tricky for me to find weekends free due to my opposite work schedule! I have set aside a weekend during each season dedicated to just engagement sessions. Of course you can still schedule a session separately with me, but these are guaranteed times that I will be available and really cool places that I felt showcased the season nicely. Here is the schedule for the year:

Spring Sessions: May 17-18 10am-12pm and 4pm-7pm at Bushnell Park and Elizabeth Park in Hartford, CT. Tulips are in bloom and the carousel is running!

Summer Sessions: June 29th All day at Elizabeth Park in Hartford, CT. The roses should be in full bloom.

Fall Sessions: October 11-12 from 10am-5pm at Wickham Park in Manchester, CT. Beautiful spot for folliage and skyline view of Hartford. Sun sets at 5:18pm.

Winter Sessions: December 12, 13, 14 from 3:30pm-5:30pm at Constitution Plaza in Hartford, CT. Amazing white lights and holiday feel.

I'm looking forward to working with everyone and having some fantastic times and fantastic photos! www.tinaparsadanov.com

Catch-up time...

2008-05-10T13:08:00.008-04:00

Hi everyone! Thank you for checking in with the blog to see what's new. I've been busy shooting some adorable little bundles during this spring season.

A past wedding couple of ours had twins (God bless them!) and came in for some baby pics. The two babies (Max and Sam) interact so well together especially given their age of 6 months! Everyone left in one piece and no one's eye had been poked out or anything! I was impressed! Much credit to the parents...Dad is a stay-at-home Dad and Mom is in the work field every day. They make a beautiful family.

We also had the pleasure of photographing little Sabrina and her parents recently. What a cutie pie!!! And sooo sweet. She had so much energy and curiosity, it was so fun! Of course Mom and Dad thought it would be smooth sailing, she might just sit on their lap and we'd click away...perfect senario, right? That's where reality kicks in and the best advice I can give any parent during a portrait shoot is "go with the flow!" Natural pictures are the very best pictures. They did such a great job and are such a sweet family.

Thank you guys for sharing these precious moments with us!

www.tinaparsadanov.com

2007 Couples Highlights

2008-05-01T21:33:00.002-04:00

www.tinaparsadanov.com

It's Official!

2008-04-23T07:27:00.000-04:00

It's official...our new site has officially been launched! You can check it out at http://www.tinaparsadanov.com/. It's really fun so go...play! and of course, let me know what you think!

Too Quick!

2008-04-22T14:35:00.001-04:00

These kids these days just grow up sooo darn quick! This past Sunday we had the pleasure of hanging out with some really good friends of ours who had a baby in October. "Baby" Jacob is blossoming so quickly and I just don't know where the time is going! I feel like we were just visiting the proud parents in the hospital and holding this newborn that couldn't do anything but sleep and make a distressed cat sound when he was hungry. Now he is a real little boy! And not to mention WAY too adorable!!! I'll never forget my son telling me a few months back..."Mommy. I think Ella (my daughter who is one year old) is going to marry Jacob." Ok...that's exactly how you know they are growing up too quickly!!!!! So....here is my future son-in-law, Mr Jacob.

www.tinaparsadanov.com

Welcome baby Alexa :)

2008-04-21T13:40:00.001-04:00

Last week I had the honor of photographing one of my past wedding client's brand itty bitty new baby! I LOVE it when I get to meet the new additions and I feel so "in the loop" so to speak. I love seeing their relationships evolve and it's such an honor to Still be included in such life changing events. We love our clients! Sooo.... it is my pleasure to introduce the newest 1 month old baby girl, Alexa.

www.tinaparsadanov.com

Awesome awesome day!

2008-04-18T13:28:00.000-04:00

Hey hey...has this weather been amazing or what?! I've officially unearthed my laptop from the burrows of the packed aways and have set up a sunny day office on my back porch. Shouldn't every office be outside?

So I went outside and took a little walk around the yard and we have a small koi fish pond. I look

on the rocks and there are a whole mess of frogs sunbathing! I thought it was so funny that I just had to post a photo of it. :)

Spring Updates!

2008-04-10T12:21:00.000-04:00

As the early signs and smells of spring start to bud, I am anxiously awaiting our busy season. We anticipate much excitement and a fast pace.

Our new line of wedding services is well under development and will be launched very soon! Along with that comes a fine selection of new products, unmatched service and convenience. Over the past 5 years we have learned a lot from our clients and we thank you all for that. We are therefor tremendously excited to have compiled a new approach, image and service using all of the feedback we have gathered over the years.

Any couples who wish to do a Spring engagement shoot, I will be scheduling on-location engagement shoots in Hartford at both Bushnell Park and Elizabeth Park on the weekend of May 17-18 between 10am-12pm and 4pm-7pm. Please contact us to schedule your time slot.

June 8th we will be displaying our work at the 35th Annual "Show in the Park" at Manchester's Central Park. Please stop by to say "hello" and view our passion first hand. Show hours are 10am-4pm and is hosted by the Manchester Art Association.

Giving Back

2008-04-09T13:16:00.001-04:00

I believe that we are truly blessed to be living healthy, happy lives when so many people of the world are doing without. I am so pleased to announce that for every wedding booked from May 2008 and beyond, we will be donating $100 towards the charity of your choice And an additional $100 towards the Connecticut Children's Medical Center. It's our little way of giving back.
www.tinaparsadanov.com

busy busy busy updates

2008-03-18T11:28:00.000-04:00

Wow, what fun this time of year can be! Not only is the weather priming up for some great outdoor activities, but also, photographers everywhere are getting motivated to start up an awesome wedding season! The monthly PUG (pictage user group) gathered last week to talk about all of the excitement that this season brings. It was held at Carla Ten Eycks new studio space in Hartford! There were lots of new faces (including my own) and there were 40 photographers in attendance! A wealth of knowledge and energy abounded and it was great fun.

Studio Blue is branching out to form 3 sub companies! It's such an exciting time for us as we prepare for this new idea. I've been working on designing websites to incorporate this new transition yet unified theme. Our sectors will include individual names for each facet of our photography and a whole new wedding website which will knock your socks off! We are incorporating flash which is really kicking my butt! I've been spending day and night trying to learn it and develop the new site based on its applications. A crazy endeavor that has really got me absorbed. We will be introducing an entire new wedding photography concept based on the past 5 years of feedback from our 150+ wedding couples! We have listened, improved, and redesigned our service to keep what you already liked and incorporate new services and ideas of the things you asked for. Such an exciting time! We'll keep you updated once the site is fully launched!

This past weekend we also had a fun birthday party. For those who read my previous blog entry, my daughter Ella turned ONE on Thursday. Her festivities were this weekend and we had about 35 people at our home to celebrate. It was so fun and she LOVED her cake and the company. Thank you to everyone for your kind words and wishes.

The 2009 wedding season is booking up very rapidly! With already 7 weddings booked for 2009, that is our highest record for numbers of weddings booked during the winter season for the NEXT year! With these numbers, we are so excited to see what fun 2009 will bring us! To all of our wedding couples, Thank You for supporting our art and we are sooo excited to have the opportunity to work with all of you! Thank you thank you thank you!

A Year that flew!

2008-03-13T10:05:00.000-04:00

My beautiful daughter Ella is one year old today. It's amazing how time goes by so quickly at times. A blink of an eye and a year is gone. I spent the last year photographing her monthly so that we could look back and see her growth and change. It's amazing how much love you can hold in your heart and how certain people will always bring it out. She has been our joy along with her brother and it has truly been a blessed year! Happy Birthday Ella!

Tina Parsadanov Photography

Tis the Season to be Sexy.

Brian Jarvis Holiday Bash Concert!

Tis the Season

2nd review this week.

Kind Words...

Halloween Wedding

HOLIDAY PHOTOS 2009

Favorites of 2009 Slideshow

Something BLUE to keep more GREEN in your wallet

Reviews...for Studio Blue

the bad blogger

Stephanie & Tim!

Simple Pleasures on Chilly days

Washington D.C. ~ Lina and Robby's Engagment

A snippet from DC

Jessica & Will

Ella Marie Turns 2 ~ Already!

Introducing: Erin and Rob

Catching up on blogging.

Awesome stuff!

A sweet valentine's surprise...from Mom!

Disappearing Act

Happy Birthday Zack!

Art Show THIS Friday!!!! Yippy!

Part 2/3 of Torturing the children.

The beauty queen

Kim and Justin ~ Congratulations!

The votes are in.

Torturing the kids once again :)

Announcing....XOX Boudoir!!!!

Holiday Portrait Time :)

Off to NYC...my favorite city in the US.

Kylah and Mike ~ Congrats!!!

Stacey & Keith ~ Congratulations!

Studio Blue...we missed you!

You ask...they answer.

Tricia and Billy ~ Congratulations!!!

Date Night

Melissa and Sean ~ Congratulations!

Annual R&R

Alexa - Take 2 *snap*

Meeting Baby Abigail

"Energy and persistence conquer all things." ~ Benjamin Franklin

#41; sort of...

Congrats Kelly and Patrick

Melissa and Tommy ~ Congratulations

First day butterflies

Happy Birthday my sweet!

P*U*G spells fun times! (and Pug too)

Congrats Adriane and TJ

Mrs. Jennifer and baby-to-be

What's New? LOTS!

Crazinessssssss

Congrats Sylvia and Silvio!!!

Kylah and Mike ~ Engagement fun

These really Are the Sweetest days

Congrats Elizabeth and Michael ~ Slideshow

Current gas prices in my neighborhood.....

Julie & Chris - מזל טוב‎ (Mazal Tov!)

On the way home

A night out

Wowaweewa

Congrats Meg and Andy!!!

Rene and Jason - מזל טוב (Mazal Tov)!!!

We're so sneaky!

Yup, I'm alive

Congrats Jen and Sam!!!

Hot Hot HOT!!!

Kristen and Will - Your pics are UP!!

My mii ball

Presenting....Our team!

Baby Cole

Kristen and William

Memorial

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!

Gilead Hill la la la...

Elizabeth and Michael

Steph and Tim

2008 Engagement Shoot Schedule

Alexa - Take 2 snap

PUG spells fun times! (and Pug too)