You heard right, Focus on Wallingford is back! There’s so many businesses to feature we weren’t sure where to begin so we went with one of our favorite places, which is located right in the center of it all. The Dressing Room is a high fashion boutique with great prices and customer service. Its storefront is right on the corner of Main and Center Street at the top of the hill. The owner, Chris and I, have become friends while working on a number of projects together and I admire her love for fashion, approach to client relationships and work ethic. We met up with Chris and asked her to tell us a little about her store, read below!

“With 25+ years of business experience both in the corporate world and as a business owner, it is a joy to incorporate my love of fashion, my passion to empower women and my creativity into The Dressing Room Boutique. I have worked in the world of finance with a fortune 100 company as well as in the position of CFO for an insurance brokerage that my husband founded. I then followed my passion into the world of fashion and currently am the CEO of CM Clothing, Inc. which includes my clothing line Gogirlwrapperz, my retail store The Dressing Room Boutique and my online store The Dressing Room 24-7. www.thedressingroom24-7.com. I just recently partnered with Shoptiques.com which is a global e-commerce site of the best boutiques from all over the world. Just last week we shipped our first order to the UK!

I discovered Wallingford when my oldest daughter Ashley, was attending Choate Rosemary Hall. I loved the charm of the town and have come to love the multi-generational families that live here. It is a privilege to have earned the trust of so many women who come to us to dress them for some of the most important and memorable days of their lives. Whether it’s a wedding, anniversary, reunion, gala or any special occasion where any old dress just won’t do. Our customers know they can rely on us to put them in something that makes them feel beautiful.

In 2012, I was able to expand the store when the frame shop next door went out of business. We were able to double the square footage of the store, add dressing rooms and expand our formal wear offerings. Now half of the store is dedicated to sportswear, jewelry, accessories and shoes and the other half dresses and gowns. We carry everything from denim to evening gowns and all things in between.

One of the things I love about being a business owner is collaborating with other businesses and organizations in town to promote each other and improve the community. Recently we held our 6^th Annual Fundraiser in collaboration with The Rotary for the Liberty Bank Thanksgiving Day Project. We put on a Fashion Show and donate a portion of all sales to feed the homeless at Thanksgiving. It was a huge success and a record breaking year. I am thrilled to be able to make a nice donation to such a great cause.

We have some fun events coming up in the month of December with the Holiday Stroll in conjunction with Wallingford Center Inc. and a fun ladies night we are hosting with local Fashion Blogger and makeup artist Jenna Poitras. Just a few of the fun things we will be participating with other folks and organizations in the near future.

Please stop in just to introduce yourself, browse around and let us help you in any way we can. Our saying is “Enter as Strangers and Leave as Friends.” 

Make sure to poke your head into The Dressing Room this holiday season and keep an eye on the blog to see what other Wallingford businesses we feature in the coming weeks! 

If you are a Wallingford business owner and interested in being featured in FOW in the coming weeks, feel free to contact us HERE.

Two of my favorite senior sessions (and the two most popular) we offer here at Impressions are the "Art" and "Fashion" sessions. They allow both myself and the senior to get outside and express ourselves a little more than when we are in the studio. In years past our senior season has slowed down or completely come to an end by late September due to yearbook deadlines. The last two years though, the deadlines have gotten later and busier summer schedules have allowed us to book through October and get outside with the fall foliage! It has been so much fun showcasing the colors and variety of fall fashion. 

On the Impressions property I try to decorate and utilize  the landscaping as much as possible. Whether it’s including the hanging plants or changing out the potted plants to mums, I think keeping things fresh and seasonal helps add some variety to the images. When going on location I love the challenge of showing up and choosing the most dynamic angles to show off the colors and light of the season. I know how happy it makes our clients as well. One of the perks of living in New England is the change of the leaves. Every season provides a different energy to your images but theres something about the feeling of fall that I love the most.

At Impressions, we are very proud to offer a variety of session packages but our favorites are the ones that allow us to get outside for a bit. This senior season in particular, we have had the opportunity to go to some amazing locations!

One location we always look forward to photographing in is Gouveia Vineyard. Not only is it right up the street from the studio but no matter how many times we go, the images are always different! There's something about the constantly changing light and breeze that adds instant variety to the sessions.

Another location we have been to this year and always love going to is Meigs Point at Hammonasset Beach State Park. Any beach is wonderful in our eyes (the sound of the crashing waves, the breeze, salty air...I could go on for days...) but Meigs Point has all of the perks of an oversized beach (rocks, sea grass, sand, beautiful sunsets and light...) but is on a nice small scale that doesn't require a ton of walking.

If cars are your thing, we have found Beaumont Farm on E Center Street in Wallingford is a crowd favorite. Between the rusted antique truck and ever changing garden of flowers everyone finds a backdrop or angle they prefer.

Sometimes, the best location is right in your backyard! A lot of our senior clients live in homes with acres of beautiful property. One senior this year, lives on a farm and he invited us over for his outdoor portion. There we were able to capture some images of him with his dog and in different corners of his property that have always been his favorite places to hang out. We definitely encourage "at home" on location sessions!

Another Wallingford favorite is right in downtown, believe it or not! Something about the countless angles, backdrops and corners that allow for ever-changing variety and match of style to each senior we bring. Another "downtown" that's that isn't pictured in this collage, is New Haven. Both areas have so much to offer between buildings and school campuses (of course referring to Choate and Yale) There's so much to choose from.

Last but not least, this senior season we were able to photograph at Goodspeed Opera House for the first time! When the senior mentioned the location I was not only excited to go somewhere new but excited because it was a place I had never even thought of before! I look forward to going back to this location because there are still so many images I am excited to make, but didn't have time for in our session!

If you couldn't tell, going on location is definitely our favorite thing about senior season. There's just so much opportunity to keep your session personal and custom to who you are! If you have an idea for a location for any type of session, don't ever hesitate to ask! We would love to explore and help create beautiful photographs with you in places that mean so much!

Senior season is in full swing! The phones have been ringing off the hook and sessions (especially fashion and top model) have been "flying off the shelves"! (No, seriously, we only have a few more dates available to get these sessions. Call today to book yours!) We are so grateful to have so many loyal clients, new and old.

At Impression Studio, we always want our client's to look and feel their best and most comfortable. Almost always, that is achieved when photographed with someone that they love. Which is why, one of my favorite things (I have oh so many favorite things...) about senior season is our option to add on to your session package.

Not everyone realizes how rarely they get family pictures or portraits of their children taken until they are calling to book their child's senior session. Since it is summer, most families have both of their children home and will bring the second (or third or fourth) along to the senior's session. Having the option to get a few images of their kid's together is something parents are able to cherish, forever!

Our add ons aren't only for siblings, but also for friends and boyfriends/girlfriends! Senior year is a big deal for anyone, but having your best friend at your side is a great feeling. Having a piece of this journey documented and looking back on it, is priceless! With boyfriends and girlfriends, often the only images couples have are from a school dance or covered in sweat after an athletic game. Getting a nice image in your everyday (but probably extra nicely ironed) clothing, is a great thing to have in a frame and to hold on to!

We are excited to announce this month's special which is: $15 off your session if booked in the month of August and $30 off your session if it is booked in the month of July! We also announced last week that we will be holding a day of confetti sessions at Wallingford's one and only, Confetti Bar on August 19th! These sessions can be stand alone sessions or added on to senior sessions. All senior sessions are fun but theres something about Confetti Sessions that make them look and feel even better!

Make sure to call the studio today and ask about our senior sessions as well as our senior session add ons! We can't wait to hear from you and make some fun pictures with you!

Senior season is in full swing here at Impressions Studio and this year we are excited to announce a new add-on/special we are offering with The Confetti Bar!