Connecticut photographer – Milli Stephania Photo

One of the things I love most about living in Stratford is how the community always shows up to celebrate. Whether it’s a local festival, parade, or holiday, there’s always this warm, small-town magic in the air — and Halloween is no exception!

This year, I wanted to do something fun and interactive for the neighborhood, so I set up a Halloween photo booth right outside my home. As trick-or-treaters made their way down the block, they stopped to pose in front of my spooky backdrop — and let me tell you, the creativity in those costumes did not disappoint!

Last year was my little “trial and error” phase. The winds were wild, and my backdrop stand just couldn’t keep up. But this year, I came prepared. I made a few upgrades, reinforced the setup, and learned a lot along the way. And now I’m already brainstorming how to make it even better for next year!

To all the trick-or-treaters who stopped by — and the parents who got just as excited about the photo booth as I did — thank you for making it such a fun night. Your photos are ready to download! You can find your spooky (or adorable) portraits here:

Can’t wait to do it all over again next year. Same place, new backdrop, same Stratford spirit. 💜

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Moving into a new neighborhood is always a gamble. You hope for friendly faces, maybe a neighbor who’ll wave hello… but finding people who feel like family? That’s rare. Lucky for me, my family hit the neighbor jackpot.

In the short year we’ve lived here, these neighbors have become our honorary family. The kind of people who invite you in, offer you food (multiple times, whether you’re hungry or not), and make your kids feel like their backyard is a second home. So, when their oldest was graduating high school, there was no way I wasn’t showing up to help document their celebration.

It was everything a graduation party should be: a backyard BBQ, a pool full of happy, splashing kids, and a grill that didn’t quit. And let me tell you about the food. There were bacon-wrapped mushrooms that quite literally stole my heart. I mean, if you didn’t strategically position yourself near the appetizer table, were you even at a party?

While I worked my camera, capturing every laugh, cannonball, and plate piled high, my own kids were just living their best lives. One was running wild in the backyard like it was her personal kingdom, while the other got passed from relative to relative, collecting kisses and snacks along the way. It was chaos, the sweet, heartwarming kind that fills a home with life.

As a photographer, these are my favorite kinds of events. Not the ones where everything’s staged and stiff, but the ones where life is just happening, and I get to freeze those little in-between moments that people don’t even realize they’ll miss.

It’s wild how life surprises you sometimes. I never expected to have a Ukrainian family that feels like my own, but here we are. And I’m so grateful.

If you’ve got a milestone coming up and you want someone who’ll show up not just with a camera, but with heart (and an extra appetite), I’d be honored to be there. These moments are fleeting—but the memories don’t have to be.