by Kristin Vacca | Dec 15, 2025 | Babies, Cake Smash, Children, Christmas, Community, Families, Senior Portraits
As we wrap up another incredible year at The Flash Lady Photography, it’s amazing to look back at how much has happened since opening our brand-new studio space here in Newington, CT. From newborn snuggles to smash-cake giggles to empowering professional portraits, 2025 has been filled with milestones we feel genuinely honored to document.
This year, we welcomed 226 client sessions, and we’re still counting as we close out the holiday season. One of the biggest indicators of growth has been our ability to serve more families than ever before through our controlled studio environment and expanded offerings.
Beautiful 1st portrait session
Adorable cake smash session
Sweet newborn portrait session
A Year Full of Milestones
Parents from across Connecticut trusted us to help celebrate some of the most meaningful moments of their children’s lives:
- 31 newborn sessions capturing those fleeting first days
- 29 cake smash sessions filled with laughter and messy frosting
- 27 milestone and family portrait sessions
- 16 First Year Baby Plan clients completing a full year of photographs
- 4 senior portrait sessions, either having siblings or photographed themselves at a young age, and returned to have me take these special milestone photos
We love seeing these babies grow, and having the studio has made scheduling and consistency so much easier for families.
Beautiful senior portrait session
Delightful cherry blossom sessions
Outdoor family portrait session
Precious newborn portrait
A Big Year for Professional Branding and Headshots
With more businesses investing in modern branding content, we saw a rise in studio and on-location sessions for Connecticut professionals:
- 32 headshot sessions in the studio
- Multiple corporate branding projects on-site
- Headshots created for the Board of Directors at MDC
- Photography services for candidates in the Newington local elections
We also captured four special events, such as birthday parties and a First Communion.
First Communion Portrait
Record-Breaking Christmas Mini Sessions
Our holiday season saw a big jump this year with 94 Christmas Mini Session clients (and counting), far surpassing our usual average of 80 families. Being able to leave the setup in the studio after Thanksgiving made that possible.
We also introduced VIP Christmas Sessions for the first time, and 20 families chose this elevated experience that provides extended time, more images, and some extra special features.
Top Products Our Clients Loved This Year
Alongside an increase in sessions, 2025 was also a big year for beautiful printed artwork. Our most popular product continues to be the 10×10 Signature Album, a handcrafted, heirloom-quality book designed to preserve your favorite images for decades. Families love this album for milestone sessions, newborn portraits, and first-year collections because it tells the full story in a timeless, durable format.
During the holiday season, our Bamboo Ornaments and custom Holiday Cards were client favorites. These pieces offer a unique way to share your images with friends and family, and they are produced with exceptional print quality and efficient turnaround times. Whether displayed on the tree or mailed to loved ones, each item is created to be both beautiful and meaningful.
We are always thrilled to help families transform their portraits into keepsakes they can hold, display, and enjoy year after year.
Beautiful outdoor family portrait
Generational Portrait
Cake smash session
Cake smash portrait session
Outdoor family portrait session
Giving Back to the Community
Supporting local organizations is one of our core values. In 2025, we continued to partner with and sponsor groups such as:
National Night Out 2025
Looking Ahead
We are already planning an exciting year of studio portraits in 2026, with more milestone sessions, creative collaborations, and community involvement on the way. And yes, we are already booking for next year! If you’re hoping to secure a spot for newborn photos, a first birthday cake smash, winter family portraits, professional headshots, or a full milestone plan, now is the time to get on the calendar.
Because if 2025 has shown us anything, it’s that this community loves celebrating life’s most meaningful moments, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it!
Sweet newborn portrait session
Beautiful maternity portrait
At home first birthday session
Six Month Sitter Baby Milestone Session
Cake smash photo
Family portrait in the studio
Ready to Plan Your 2026 Portrait Session?
With our studio officially in full swing and the calendar already filling up, now is the perfect time to reserve your 2026 portrait session! Planning early means you get the very best dates, more flexibility around your family’s schedule, and the full studio experience without the holiday rush.
We would love to help you celebrate your baby’s first year, document a new chapter in your family’s story, or give your business a fresh professional look.
Save your preferred 2026 date today, and we’ll take care of everything else.
Contact us today to get started.
by Kristin Vacca | Oct 16, 2025 | Community
Fifteen years.
It’s hard to believe how much life, love, and laughter have passed through my lens since I started The Flash Lady Photography. What began with a small setup, a stage, and a wall full of magnetic backdrops has now grown into a beautiful new studio that finally feels like the perfect reflection of my business and my clients.
This fall, I celebrated 15 years in business and the grand opening of my newly renovated studio here in Newington, Connecticut. Over 75 friends, clients, and community members joined us for an unforgettable night full of hugs, laughter, and happy tears. We even welcomed the mayor, a state representative, and members of the town council for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a very special proclamation. Seeing everyone gathered together was such a full-circle moment!
Very grateful
Had way too much fun cutting the big red ribbon
Of course, we needed two scissors
A surreal moment
A Night to Remember
When I looked around that night, I saw so many faces who’ve been part of this journey, from my earliest clients to my networking group friends, to those who donated gifts for the giveaways, to the family and friends who helped us celebrate this milestone. My daughter, who’s now twelve (going on eighteen), proudly helped host, and my husband Frank worked tirelessly behind the scenes (and, yes, teared up during my thank-you speech).
These two are my biggest supporters
My sweet girl and I
The best family
Frank
It reminded me just how much community matters. I said it that night, and I’ll say it again here: small businesses aren’t guaranteed. We can’t be here for you if you aren’t here for us. And support doesn’t always have to mean spending money; it can be as simple as liking a post, sharing a photo, or telling a friend about a local business you love. Those little actions mean so much.
From Humble Beginnings to a Dream Studio
When I opened my first studio, it was tiny. Charming, but tiny! As my business grew, so did the types of sessions I offered. I went from photographing weddings only part-time to gradually taking on newborns and toddlers to maternity portraits, headshots, family milestones, Christmas mini sessions, and even extended family groups. Before long, I knew the space no longer matched my brand or the full-service experience I wanted to provide.
Welcome to my dream studio
Just some of the prizes and giveaways
So grateful to everyone who came and supported
After years of dreaming and planning, I finally have a space that feels like home, not just for me, but for every client who walks through the door.
The new studio features;
- high cathedral ceilings
- dedicated vanity area
- sitting space for families
- mini fridge
- toy area
All to make sessions more comfortable! My favorite part, though, is seeing clients walk up the stairs for the first time and hearing them say, “Wow.” It’s the best and made all the hard work worth it!
We have the best community
So much fun
The sweetest
Fifteen Years of Growth and Gratitude
Reaching fifteen years feels surreal. Many businesses don’t make it to five, and I’m endlessly grateful to everyone who’s supported me along the way. Some of my current clients are now high school seniors who were little kids when I first photographed them. It’s the most incredible full-circle experience.
Over the years, my photography style has evolved, but my goal has stayed the same: to create timeless images that tell your story. While trends come and go, I’ve always believed in a mix of classic portraiture and authentic connection. I want you to look back on your photos ten or twenty years from now and still love them, not because they were trendy, but because they captured you.
Celebrating the FLP
My lovely WEB Group came out to support
Looking Ahead
The new studio is more than just a renovation; it’s a reflection of how far this little business has come, and a promise of what’s still to come. Whether you’ve been with me since the early days or you’re just discovering The Flash Lady Photography, thank you for being part of this journey.
Here’s to 15 years, and to all the memories we’ll create in this beautiful new space.
Ready to visit the new studio? Book your session here!
My heart is so full
Had an awesome mobile bar
Mobile bar
So grateful
My speech
by Kristin Vacca | Jun 23, 2020 | Community
Newington Chamber Classic Car Show & Business Parade | CT
Every year in early June, the Newington Chamber of Commerce sponsors a Classic Car parade in downtown Newington, CT. It’s an event that car enthusiasts and the public alike look forward to and it’s a great start to the summer fun season. 2020 brought MANY changes to that fun with the arrival of COVID-19 in March and the swift closure of non-essential businesses and most major events. Although Connecticut was proactive in initial containment, most outdoor events of large groups was cancelled well in advance of the summer to ensure safety of the public. But the Chamber still wanted to find a way to bring some fun to the community. So as part of the committee, we came up with changing the event to the Newington Chamber Classic Car Show & Business Parade instead! With the blessing and support (thank you!) of Chief Stephen Clark and the Newington Police Department, a route and plan were put together. Fittingly, on my birthday (June 13th), we were treated to a gorgeous blue-sky day and a HUGE showing of classic cars, and small businesses that joined to sponsor their own decorated vehicles as part of a fundraiser for the Chamber! Your’s truly even put together a camera with working flash that wow’d spectators! It was amazing to see how many came together with such creativity to put on a wonderful parade for our town. Seeing people lining the street and waving as we passed and smiling about looking forward to something fun was such a pleasure! After 3 months mostly at home, I think everyone was happy to be outside watching the old cars pass by. We are already talking about doing it again (or some variation) next year as well! Thank you to all of the classic car owners and small businesses that made this such a special event. Here are just some of the images from the parade (I even took photos from my car as we passed by). More on my Facebook page!
by Kristin Vacca | Jun 16, 2020 | Community
Black Lives Matter Protest | Newington, CT
On May 25th, 2020, an unarmed black man named George Floyd was killed after a police officer detaining him used a technique in which his knee was placed against his neck to subdue for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. This was only one of a series of deaths of black men and women that sparked National outrage and protests following. Many have called for reform of police departments and to look at society’s history of systemic racism that has plagued us as a country. Personally I believe that no system is perfect, and while I immensely support the many GOOD police officers and the sacrifices they make each day, it’s time to reflect on how we can all come together to make sure that everyone is treated the same regardless of skin color or otherwise. It’s time to stand up for those who are suffering because many of us, myself included, have simply been born into a privilege that doesn’t cause worry when simply walking into a store or down a street a certain way. Newington, CT came together for the Black Lives Matter Protest in a peaceful a positive way on June 4th, 2020. Hundreds met in the town center with signs, support, and stories to tell. We marched from the intersection of Main St and Cedar St around the block before speeches and a conversation with Police Chief Stephen Clark ended the event. I was so impressed that nearly everyone I came across wore a mask and was as conscious as possible of distancing when they could be. Since I was there with my family and have our own concerns about COVID-19, we stayed towards the back/side of the protest for the majority of the time. But I thought it was important to take our daughter to listen and understand and hopefully be part of the solution to make a change in our community. I also felt it important to photograph the event for those who could not attend. Here is a short photo essay of the event (more on my Facebook page).
by Kristin Vacca | Oct 9, 2018 | Community
National Night Out 2018 | Newington, CT
Every August, communities from around the United States all participate in the National Night Out 2018 – an event to bridge the community gap between police departments and their citizens and hopefully create a more open relationship to work together. Each town puts on their own evening on the same night, and Newington started participating in 2017 where we were a sponsoring business and photographed the event as well. This year, I was the Platinum Sponsor for the event and again donated my services to photograph the fun! I provide the images for the local police department to use for their own marketing to show what a great community we do have! There were plenty of ways to have fun on this night and despite some early rain showers, everything cleared up just in time for fun! One of the highlights was a dunk tank, and there was a LONG line most of the night to see how many could Dunk-A-Cop! The Tiki waterslide was also a big hit especially with the older kids. A balloon artist and special Kids ID program tent were set up for other activities to visit. Free food and ice cream gave the energy needed for those kids to keep running around! New inflatables made for some hilarious moments as the kids tried to figure out what to do and how to get around the rotating pads. Cornhole, connect-4, and a Kids vs. Cops Tug of War at the end of the night kept everyone busy and the kids won again!! I hope you enjoy some of the images from our wonderful evening with The Newington Police Department & Parks & Recreation. I was proud to be a sponsor again and look forward to continuing to assist this great event in the future.
by Kristin Vacca | Aug 11, 2017 | Community
Ferraris Business Expo 2017 | Newington, CT
Last month we participated in Ferraris Business Expo – their 2nd annual business expo which raises proceeds for the CT Humane Society as well as connect local businesses with residents and area neighbors. It might have been a very hot and humid day, but it was filled with sunshine and people connecting! Families enjoyed a bounce house, food truck from Taco Tequila, ice pops from our booth to keep them cool, an amazing demonstration by Kenpo Karate among others, and I’m sure the best part, getting to try on gear and sit inside one of Newington’s fire trucks! In all, over $400 was raised from the raffle that all participating businesses gave something towards. We met a lot of great businesses and families alike and even had some of the kids sit in the classic corvette for a photo (matching color!) provided by my father-in-law. Many customers stopped by to talk about having me photograph their next photo session for their family and we even spoke to one person getting married soon! Ferrari’s Appliance has become a well-known name here in Newington – providing exceptional service and the ability to take care of a customer in any part of Connecticut, but especially here in town. They also have a second location in Naugatuck, CT. It was great to be a part of Ferraris Business Expo, and I was happy to take some photos of the event to showcase another local day of fun here in Newington! Enjoy!
