Southwestern Connecticut is gorgeous no matter what time of year, so there is no shortage of hot spots to serve as the perfect backdrop for your Senior Portraits. With so many beautiful beaches, parks and city scenes to chose from, deciding on your favorite can be tough! But when you work with Kendra Petrone Photography for your session, I’ll help you come up with ideas, and you don’t have to pick just one!
To provide a little inspiration, I have put together a countdown of my Top 5 locations for Senior Portraits, and I’m sharing some featured photos from each one!
#5: Montgomery Pinetum Park | Greenwich, CT
First up on my countdown is a natural beauty with a rebellious side! Montgomery Pinetum/Pomerance Park is a hidden gem in the Cos Cob section of Greenwich where mysterious stone archways are all that remain from an abandoned mansion. The overgrown ruins of an old garden are dotted with stone steps and walkways leading nowhere, and an arched stone bridge stands in stark contrast to a deteriorating footbridge made of wood that was long ago returned to Mother Nature.
Preserved on land once known as the “Wild Acres” estate, Pinetum is a fascinating mix of picturesque ponds and perfectly manicured gardens set alongside the forgotten and overgrown relics of yesteryear.
With a reflecting pool, sculptures, walking trails, benches and overlooks, a Senior Portrait Session at Montgomery Pinetum is a walk on the wild side.
Pinetum’s beauty is simply stunning. A giant ring of gleaming marble monoliths rise from a perfectly manicured lawn that is surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscaping that Connecticut has to offer. Gorgeous in every season, the lush and green of summer gives way to a fiery display in the fall.
#4: Waveny Park | New Canaan, CT
If classic and sophisticated are more your style, then you are sure to love my #4 spot as much as I do. Waveny Park in New Canaan is the very definition of classy.
The perfectly maintained formal gardens around the Waveny House mansion ooze with style and sophistication. It’s easy to imagine the grand parties that must have graced the flagstone terrace of this grand summer estate. With huge stone arches, flagstone walkways, border walls, and perfectly maintained landscaping, the mansion’s architecture and gardens are a stunning backdrop for a classic Senior Session.
Keep scrolling to see my favorite images from a Senior Portrait Session with Cate, who was just starting her Senior year at Greenwich Academy when we met at Waveny Park in New Canaan. We booked her session during the golden hour, which is my absolute favorite time of day to shoot. The setting sun is super flattering, and I love the way it brings out the golden highlights in her gorgeous curls. For a soft and timeless vibe, look no farther than Waveny Park in New Canaan.
#3: Harbor Point | Stamford, CT
Sailing in at #3 on my countdown of Locations I Love for Senior Portraits is the up-and-coming Harbor Point area of Stamford.
Known for its trendy restaurants, rooftop bars, and towering waterfront condos, this urban oasis is the perfect place for a Senior Session with a slightly sassy vibe. With more than 500’ of boardwalk lined with steel and glass overlooking a yacht-filled harbor, Harbor Point has a city vibe with an up-scale nautical feel – it may be on the water, but there’s nothing beachy about it.
Kasey’s Senior Portrait session at Harbor Point is one of my all-time favorites. The way her crisp white pants and fiery orange top stand out against the grays and blues of the boardwalk gives off a fun, summery vibe.
On a gorgeous day, there is always sure to be a crowd out enjoying the sun and salty air at Harbor Point, and the day of Kasey’s session was no exception. It was so much fun taking her portraits amid all of the couples walking their dogs and families out enjoying the boardwalk. A lot of people think you have to have a secluded location for portraits, but nothing could be farther from the truth! Sometimes, having people in the background gives portraits a fun, energetic feeling. But for those shots where I wanted to see Kasey and only Kasey, I knew how to work the angles and soften the background to avoid capturing any distractions.
#2: Downtown Westport | Westport, CT
Rocking the #2 spot on my countdown of Locations I Love is downtown Westport. Set along the Saugatuck River, downtown Westport offers the perfect combination of sophistication and charm. With Mom & Pop shops and trendy restaurants nestled in among major retailers, this quintessential New England town has a classic street scene with a modern twist.
With cobblestone sidewalks, interesting architecture, painted brick and a gorgeous riverfront, downtown Westport has no shortage of interesting shooting locations so it’s easy to create several different looks within just a few city blocks. Keep scrolling to see some of my favorite images from Karolina’s session in Westport.
#1: Greenwich Avenue | Greenwich, CT
Stretching more than half a mile from the Boston Post Road to the Long Island Sound, Greenwich Avenue, in the heart of Central Greenwich takes the top spot in my countdown of Locations I Love for Senior Portraits.
With a history dating back to the 1600s, Greenwich Avenue and its immediate vicinity offers an eclectic mix of architecture housing high-end retail shops, trendy restaurants and municipal buildings. Beyond the storefronts of the main thoroughfare, there is virtually no limit to the nooks and crannies that offer a unique place for Senior Sessions, from alleyways and side streets to hidden stairwells and walkways, and even a park.
Walking along Greenwich Avenue and the surrounding streets, it’s possible to create a number of different looks for a Senior Session. Even though I have lived in Greenwich for 15 years, I still find interesting new spots every time I’m on the Avenue.
During Jamie’s session, we walked around one block and found several different places to shoot that each gave a unique look, from green and natural to edgy street style.
For another session on Greenwich Avenue, we leaned in to the urban feel, using a number of stairways and brick walls.
Finally, for Emma, we created a fun feel by using an empty water fountain as a unique backdrop. There is truly no limit to the interesting portraits I can create on Greenwich Avenue!
That’s it for my countdown! I hope you have enjoyed learning about my Top 5 Locations I Love for Senior Portraits!
There is no shortage of beautiful locations in Southwestern Connecticut, so comment below to let me know if any of your favorites made the list and which HOT SPOTS you would have added. Before you go, be sure to grab a copy of my Bucket List for Moms, Dads & Grads! It’s filled with inspiration and ideas to help you share special moments and create memories with your teen before they head out on their own.
March 6, 2021
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT